cannibalclaire

I found out late last night that Theatre Unbound's dear, sweet, Board Chair passed away from cancer May 18. Bonnie Borchardt. All of us are stunned and terribly sad. She was a phenominal lady, kind, sarcastic, funny and beautiful. We had been watching her battle her disease for over two years and learned that it had come back only a few months ago. She dropped out of the company last year due to her illness and we had heard nothing from her. We all missed her memorial service. I am crushed. She was only 59.

We have decided to dedicate our 10th anniversary season to her. She would be so proud.



Farewell Bonnie, you were an inspiration and a good friend.

I went to Bemidji this weekend with the Theatre Unbound Crew. We performed three short plays by our Resident Playwright Anne Bertram for the Mask and Rose theatre collective there. I haven't toured a show since Undergrad, I haven't stayed in a strangers house since grad school auditions, I haven't gone out of town without B since my mom had cancer in 2001.  I had many flashbacks of lots of experiences.

It was a whirlwind tour of Bemidji, only 26 hours. We left mpls at 10 am on Saturday and left Bemidji around 3:30 pm on sunday. I'm pooped and my body still feels like it is in a car...But the gal Kari Kelly and I stayed with was wonderful....Very kind, trusting people in Bemidji. :-) 

This was taken just before our Sunday performance (in costume)...can you tell we are all pooped? Yeesh.



But the best part about going away.....My "PERFECT, WONDERFUL, AMAZING  HUSBAND" installed a new sink and faucet in our bathroom...It is so beautiful and perfect. I am so happy! I am also really proud of my hubby...This is a big project and it was executed perfectly. Wow.

  

  I can't tell you how much I love this faucet. Is it sad that I am now thrilled by rennovations to our house...I am giddy over a bathroom sink.

Tomorrow I plan to visit Ikea to look for a cute little drawer unit to put under the sink....I get cute stuff! :-) happy....I love my husband.

Of course, now I want him to install a garbage disposal. Now that I know he is capable of large projects....He will never be done. Mooohahaha.

Thanks C for letting me repost all your hard work. ;-)

Tomorrow night, March 26th, we’ll be presenting a scene from Galileo at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.

We’ll be performing on the Atrium Stage on Level Three at 7:00 PM. Admission is included in your admission to the museum itself.

http://www.smm.org/sciencelive/varietyshow/

Galileo opens next Saturday, April 4th! Go to http://www.theatreprorata.org to make your reservations!
 

I have come to discover that everyone has a few things that they wish to own in their lives. Yes materialistic things. But items that they became interested in as child and have continued to want. Toys come and go, but there are certain items that just stick with you. They become pipe dreams, wishful items that may not be practical but you still hope for them some day.

There are only four things that I have wanted for most of my life.

1. A cabin - of my own. Preferably log, by a lake with a big cozy fireplace. It has to have a place for chopping wood and a place for horseshoes. I want a big log cabin bed with down comforters and an amazing view. No TV, but lots of games, puzzles and books.  It must be accessible year round, a snowmobile to go with it would be awesome! I want to be able to decorate it any way I like and it must be fairly close so that I can go there whenever I need a quick vacation.

I believe this want stems from an amalgamation of several cabins I was lucky to stay in as a child.

2. A telescope- I have always had a passion for the stars and planets. Getting to see the giant red spot swirling on Jupiter was amazing to me. I hate that sometimes I forget to look at the stars, I forget why they are there and that I should always be in awe.

When I was about 12 years old, my grandfather asked all of the grand kids what they wanted for christmas. I told him a telescope, no ifs, ands or buts about it. I waited patiently for the family holiday party. As the cousins all opened their gifts I came to see that all of the the boy cousins got telescopes and I received cookware. My mother was livid, grandpa told her astronomy is not for girls. I never forgave him for that. I never got a telescope.

3. A swiss army knife - On the scale of coolness, these things are a perfect 10. So many useful items crammed into one little contraption that you can take with you. I am surprised at how often I have actually needed one. They are so handy.

Growing up, my mom and I were poor. Very poor. A swiss army knife was never an option.

4. A pottery studio - A room in my house with a kiln, a throwing wheel, a clay table and shelving to store my work. I love pottery, I love playing with mud and clay. I love making beautiful things with my hands. Being dirty makes me happy.

I started pottery in high school and took many classes in college just to keep me close to the clay. My contact with pottery ended when I moved to Minnesota. I have never had an opportunity to make a pot for Ben. About 6 years ago Ben's grandparents moved out of their life long home. His grandmother owned 2 kilns!  One of them has been offered to me and it is being held for safe keeping at Uncle Jon's house until we have a home where I can set it up. I have yet to see it or use it.

So, yesterday, to my absolute surprise, I received one of the items on my "life long dream list". A Swiss Army Knife! (And a penny) :-) 

Ben and I took his parents out to dinner and then to see the Cody Rivers show last night (Fab show by the way). Ben's paternal Grandfather passed away several months ago. While we were at dinner, his father gave Ben his "inheritance" from grandpa...his old, beautiful swiss army knife. It was an awesome gift and homage from this wonderful man who loved to fish and camp, an item that he used throughout his lifetime. I was envious. :-) 

After the show we came home and Ben surprised me by giving me his old, wonderfully used swiss army knife. I was so shocked, humbled and happy. I'm sure Ben was confused as to why I was so emotional over such a simple thing...Honey, I hope this explanation helps. 

Life is good.  

I have listed the quotes again and who guessed them. There are three quotes which haven't been solved yet...

7. Mouldy mildew, mother of mouthmuck, dangle and strangle and death.
Hint: Another quote -
a) "Wings? But I don't have wings!
b) Of Course not, you're a boy. 

9. You are a miserable little son of a bitch, you know that? I don't know why she took you in the house.
Hint: Another Quote - 
a)  Stay to dinner, Murphy?
b) I won't do that unless I'm still here at breakfast.
a) How do you like your eggs?


13. a) Alright, I've got them right where I want 'em.
       b) Where's that? 
       a) Right behind me with my pants around my ankles, but it's a start.
Hint: Another quote - "....I've told you my name: That's the Who. The Where could most readily be described as a prison cell. But there is a vast difference between being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison. The What is easy..."


( movie quote meme )

They have started. I think I am a bit stressed about the Big G, because it is now invading my sleep.

I dreamt I was doing a show at a local high school. We were in the gym and the audience was all there from the instant the doors were unlocked, so they watched and laughed as we set our props. Meanwhile there was a basketball game going on in the same room. We got our 5 minute call and I realized I needed to pee. So I headed down this long lonely hallway. As I approached the bathroom, I remembered that the only way to get into the room was by crawling through this really tiny hole in the floor. I attempted to squeeze my bulk through the hole, realizing that not only did I really need to pee but the show was starting. There I was stuck on the floor, in a hole, with the show starting without me, needing to pee very badly...I woke up. I needed to pee. It was 4 am and I never got back to sleep.  WTF!!!

*sigh* 

I think it will be better once I am officially off book. My brain is fried.

The rules:
1. Pick 25 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for everyone to guess.
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
5. NO GOOGLING/using IMDb search functions.
6. Anyone can play, even if you're not tagged.


( The Quotes )

Well, the 24 hour play project is over for the year. I think we did well. It was the first time I haven't been in any of the scenes so that was weird. B and I were out bid on everything we tried for, which is actually a good thing seeing as how I had already spent a hefty amount of money on the event (food and gift bag extras).

Everyone seemed to like the skirt I had made to wear that night. It is the first piece of clothing I have crocheted beyond scarves and hats. Pretty proud of that.

My body is worn out though, I think I sat down for a total of 15 minutes the entire night. My feet were throbbing.

But I did make a mistake at the end of the night for handing out gift baskets. The pressure was on and the items were a bit confused, it's fixable but it makes me feel like a heel. *sigh*

So I am going to attempt to recoup today and not move around much. It's just nice to be able to see out of my back window in the car again. That was the fullest my car has ever been. crazy.

So, Falstaff and I went outside for his frolic in the snow. I was on the sidewalk contemplating life and I look over at some movement. In between the two garages there is a tiny bunny. OK, a terrified tiny bunny. He is half the size of Falstaff's head. Falstaff, being his usual oblivious self is in the kennel relieving himself. The bunny makes himself very tiny and twitches a bit. I say " Dude, you really shouldn't be here." And the bunny takes off. If you have seen our backyard you know the distance between the garages and diagonally to the southside metal fence is pretty far. This tiny creature made the dash in 2 seconds flat....Impressive. Falstaff didn't see it until it was going through the fence.  

Now there will be hours of Falstaff running to each window of the house in an attempt to see the bunny again. At least he has something to look forward to when going outside.

I think I was picking my nose in my sleep. I woke up with a huge, painful scratch on my upper lip. How is that fair?

A package from mom arrived yesterday! Due to snow in SLC it was too difficult for her to mail x-mas until wednesday (she can't get out when the sidewalks are snowy, too dangerous). She sent B and I both ping pong ball guns....Oh, the battle is on. She also sent me a Novel by Ann Marie MacDonald - Who wrote Good Night Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). I had no idea she wrote novels! Hooray! Mom also send an obscene amount of presents for Falstaff. He was beside himself with joy. The best was a cartoonish plush elephant, pink and purple with a huge brown belly button. Very funny. Falstaff loves his plushies, He carried it around the house all night and then dropped it on my face this morning to wake me up. Plech.

The holidays were lovely! Got to see family and friends. Two game nights were held with lots of Apples to Apples.

We have a few new year parties to attend, we shall see how that goes as I would very much like to drink 2008 to completion. I also have a baby shower and the Tallen Family Festivis party this weekend.

Happy New Year!

Ever since I purchased Sominex to help me sleep, I have had that song from Little Shop of Horrors running through my head. Well, actually only the first two lines..."I couldn't sleep, I took a Sominex, But voices in my head kept saying Go to Seymour, talk to Seymour"  That's it. My ear-worm. I thought maybe I could get rid of this re-occuring worm by listening to the enitire song...

It seems to have made it worse. Now I feel completely like Eric Cartman who has to sing the entire "come sail away" song everytime it pops into his head. AAAAARRRRGH!

But! I did get 7 hours of sleep last night. It was a first in over two weeks! Unfortunately I slept from 7 pm to 2 am. I missed a party and woke up just in time for Ben to return (from said party) home and go to bed.

So, now it is 9:30 am and I am awake. I did hook up the Wii Fit though! I played for about an hour. It is quite fun....I like the hoola hoop!

So my headshot contact sheet has arrived....Damn, It feels good to have pretty pics of one's self!

Theatre folk, I need your help.

( VOTE!!!  )

So...I haven't been sleeping very well. Over the past two weeks I have been attempting to get myself into some type of normal sleep pattern. It has been very difficult and it kinda scares me. I haven't had insomnia this bad EVER.

Lately my days consist of me going to bed (exhausted) when B does..11:30 pm or so. Suddenly I find myself awake at 2 am, Often I lie in bed and attempt to fall asleep again. When that doesn't happen I get up and wander around for a couple of hours. B gets up and either I try to go back to sleep or I stay up. If I stay up, I feel really icky all day. (I have stayed up this entire week.)

At around 7 pm I crash...HARD... If i stay upright I can usually last until bed time, but if I sit or lie down I suddenly find myself face to the floor, unaware that 2 hours have gone by. 

If I stay awake all day I still wake up at 4 am. 

Over the past 2 weeks I have gotten an average of 4 hours of sleep a night with narcoleptic cat naps through the day. What the hell is going on!

So today I ran and purchased sominex. I am hoping it will help me sleep for 8 hours. I do not like feeling this gross all day, every day. It can't be healthy.  

The Vikings Won! Hooray! The first 6 minutes were the best of the game. Happy.

It was a great weekend...B and I met with Brian B and went to Bill's Shooting Range and fired guns on saturday. Awesome! We hadn't done that in many years. I figured, I have been playing guys alot lately I should do some "guy" stuff. I came to discover that I like the .357 magnum most...revolvers agree best with me. Yet, it is a small cannon and has quite a kick. I got better once I learned to cock the revolver for each shot. We did a .22 and 9 mm and a .357. Revolver was best. Awesome!

This is video of me firing the .357 for the first time...I got better after that.


Yes, I killed the hostage...But he was wearing Girbauds so I don't feel so bad. That target makes me laugh.


Then B and I ran over to St. Paul to usher for Commedia Beauregard's fundraiser "A Klingon Chistmas Carol". It was a fun evening. The house was packed and there was lots of laughter. Saw many people I knew, Jen was fantastic! I really love that Klingon women are the kickers of ass that they are...very sexy.

Sunday, I went to the company meeting for TU. It has been a while since all of us were able to be in the same meeting...It was great to see all my best gals and give gifties! Warm fuzzies.

Came home and watched Hot Fuzz with the hubby and slept a bit then turned on the game!

B ran off to go to rehearsal and I watched the game. At one point I got up to do something and this was what awaited me when I returned. Sneak, sitting in the warm spot.


I baked Chocolate Chip Cookies and made some dinner. B stopped at Best Buy and bought Dark Knight on DVD!!! OMG, I really love that movie. So happy.

Which creature of the night are you? Your Result: Incubus/Succubus   It's all about feeding, isn't it? You pay them back from their energy, though. You give them something (your drama) that will keep them distracted from life, which you consider a terrible joke.
Sorceror
Vampire
Ghost
Werewolf
Demon
Cthulu Spawn
Which creature of the night are you? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

You gotta watch this. I can't stop laughing!

Wow! That was fast! The Wii Fit has arrived. I am not going to open it tonight because of previous plans but rest assured it will be opened and played with immediately. So excited!! 

I stayed up most of the night making a scarf and hat set for my mommy! Isn't it cute? They were from two different patterns but I taylored them to have the same fringy cuteness and added the fuzzy ball....I am quite pleased with myself. :-) I made a hat!!! 

Ok so geekdom is MINE!  I was slumming the interwebs this morning and came across the Wii Fit for $50 less than anywhere else AND it was in stock!  So after a quick consultation with the hubby it was purchased! B and I have been talking about it quite a bit lately, we really need something to kick our asses and get us up and working out again....Perhaps some friendly competition will do the trick.

Added bonus...Rayman Raving Rabbids (the cow tossing, carrot jizzing game) has come out with a new game that uses the balance board...OMG!!!!  "IT MUST BE MINE!!!"

It will arrive in 2-10 days....WANT.

Well, I helped run the Quilters auditions today and Some amazing singers came out to audition.  Now I know why I don't audition for musicals. I think I have a pretty good voice but auditioning with an accompniast is always a terrible experience for me. Now, I could only hear their songs, I have no idea if they could act them.. That is where I think I do well. But there was a gal who came at the end of the day and she had this amazing range everyone in the building stopped. Holy crap! I will never audition for muscials again.

What a week.

Tuesday and wednesday there were meetings for Unbound..development and play readings. I got back into the swing of reading plays in my inbox...I had stopped for a few weeks, I had grown so tired of reading and was a bit overwhelmed by the volume of new plays getting sent to me. Now I am doing it again...I think I must have at least 20 to read. Maybe someday I will catch up.
 I also got a phone call from one of my temp agencies asking if I would accept a 6 month gig at a bank. Even though it is a couple of dollars under my lowest price hourly, I said yes...They have sent my resume in for consideration. I don't know...Data entry for 6 months!

Thursday was a roller-coaster day.  Phone call in the morning from my father-in-law...Louis (grampa Tallen) is dying. He went into the hospital right after Thanksgiving and now he is refusing to take his meds. B and I went to visit him on monday. It was actually lovely to get the chance to sit down and talk to him without the rest of the family there. His mind is very sharp, but his body is done. He has been more of a grandfather to me than my own was so it is sad.
Right after that call I got a call from my agency sending me to a YMCA commercial audition!!!  Hooray! The scripts were weird and quirky fun.
Then I ran over to Dani's studio and spend 3 1/2 hours getting my head shots. She is really great! I splurged a little and had her makeup gal come in. I felt totally spoiled and absolutely beautiful. They really made me feel good about myself. It was wonderful! :-) I have taken many head shots over the years but this was the first time I really felt that the photographer was looking to know me and find good pics. A couple of weeks and I will have new photos! Hooray!

Thursday Night!!!  My sexy party!!! Women only. It was a blast! The gals came over, we drank hot apple cider and rum, ate mini quiches and eclairs and talked, giggled and learned about sex and "toys". Items were purchased, booze was consumed. It was a blast! I think I may have to host one of these parties every year. I really like the gal that runs the party she is awesome, kind, funny and knowledgeable. Julie Ann and I  were talking about it afterward, they really should have stuff like this for men as well. There is so much people do not know about sex and no one is willing to ask. This gal made it very easy to ask questions and learn. I love it!

Friday: I had an interview with a staffing consultant who is trying to help me find a full time job. She was a college friend of James L and really kind. English major who is fascinated with actors. :-)  We talked about James, and laughed. I took a few tests, we talked about stories from MPR ( she is a big MPR junkie, just like me) we talked about Galileo and theatre, oh AND my job prospects. She seems confident she will be able to help. Then I ran home for some food, changed into "work out clothes" and went to the commercial audition. It has been a long time since I have done a film audition. A LONG time. I did ok..but I doubt I will get a nod. I am  pleased though that NUTS is calling me. When I got home I had two phone calls at the same time (on the cell and homephones) from both of my temp agencies. One told me they had a position that paid very little, data entry, was part time, evenings from 5 -10 pm, 6 weeks, inflexible and some saturdays...WTF. Who on earth would say yes to that? I told him I can't just for the money alone, I would loose my unemployment benefits and wouldn't be able to have a life. *Frown* At least they are both calling, I am just disheartened that they aren't sending jobs that I could even live on.

B and i watched movies and I started a new scarf for myself.

Today we are going to visit his grandpa in the hospital and then over to his parents' for dinner. Lovely.

Sunday I will help run TU's Quilters auditions.

Life plugs along!!!