red hair and black leather

As is evidenced by many people on my f-list, today is More Joy Day. I approve of this, as I and many other people I know need more joy.

So, my small contribution to this day is: Leave a comment about something you'd like me to write a limerick or haiku about. (Preferably something I've a shot at knowing something about, or at least easily Wikipedia-able.) I will attempt to write it today, but it might take me a bit.

Yes, I will write silly, short poems for More Joy Day. I think this apropos.

The presents for zmayhem and hecubot were very well-received. Sylvie held baby Matilda and crooned to her in French, helvirago snapped pictures, and I handed them things.

In order:
Individual giftcards in birthday cards
Gift basket (they looked at everything and ooh'ed)
Big giftcard in a group birthday card (which had a bunch of dogs on it, so I tried to put a name on each dog)

I was sure to impress upon them that they should use their individual gift cards as a treat for themselves. They enjoyed the nummy things in the basket. They found the doggy card very amusing. The big gift elicited tears from zmayhem, bless her softie soul.

The rest of the evening was taken up with drinking martinis and wine, eating Chinese food, and watching Due South. A very successful evening, if I do say so myself.

Thank you so very much to those who contributed. As Opus once said, "I got the best friends in all known space!" I often feel the same way.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

So, yeah. The weekend. I did have some apprehension surrounding it, for what I think were good reasons, but none of my fears were realized. It was the best possible visit and weekend that I could have hoped for.

Friday - I was picked up at MSP by briandmage, who took me to lunch at the Chatterbox, which is a very SF-feeling place. After lunch, I toured B's new (salmon-colored) home and then we went over to redwright's house. Much hugging and chatting and me ooh-ing over the home improvements ensued. S took me to the uptown Leaning Tower, where I met up with Marcy & Adam and their two daughters, Lisa & Spencer and their son, and Sean & Jen. I didn't recognize the Tower! They totally remodeled! Sigh. After dinner, I hauled ass down to Intermedia Arts to see scoundrel01 in Great Moments Of Kung Fu Theater History. Hi-larious. I especially liked the Kung-Fu Ionesco bit.

Post-show, Mike and I went back to his place so I could frass with his roommate (Bean) a bit while Mike warshed up and changed, and then we went over to dorajar's for a small gathering o'peeps. Mo, Mikey, Brian, Sally, Fred, Alisa, Dustin, Bob, Matt, and Dave were all there, and it was good. It was very good. I introduced everyone to Fernet (or, as they call it now, Ferret) and Corb Lund (mighty neighborly, mighty neighborly), we saw the "Rehab" video (no, no, no), there was much chatting and one-on-one time, and we were all very happy. Also, we had cowboy hats! It was a good time. Sally and I wandered home and hopped in the hot tub, and then beddy-bye.

Saturday, Sal and I went party-shopping and dress-shopping, because I LEFT MY DRESS IN SF. Augh! So we had to scour Dayton's/Marshall Field's/Macy's for a dress that would appropriately show off my tat and still not make me look preggers. We finally found a cute black-and-white polka-dotted halter dress that is vaguely rockabilly (and not at all stripper-like!). We finished up the shopping at Beyerly's, and then home, where I napped and they cleaned. Bad guest, no biscuit.

That night, I went with Sal to her show - I ended up having to park the car as she ran in to the theater, because downtown was insane. We found out later that Prairie Home Companion was at the State that night, with Wilco performing. I had to remember where my cheap super-secret parking spot was, but I got to see the show! It's amazing - Autistic License. Just wonderful. And then Sally and I sped back to the party - which was already in progress. That was the second time I've "returned to the fold" at a Sally party, the first one being after my accident. Both times, I was nervous as hell pre-party, wondering how it was going to be.

Oh, the party was wonderful. It was great to see so many people, and to have so many people see me happy and healthy, as opposed to the hollow shell I was when I left. I did my usual Sally-party thing of hanging out in the kitchen, right in front of the sink. At least that way people have to pass by me and say hello, right? PLUS, The Baron Von Raschke himself showed up to my party! How awesome is that? (Fred is in a show at the History Theater about MN wrestling, and it stars The Baron.) We partied far into the night, with a post-party hot tub. Yay. So much love contained in that night. So much.

Sunday, we staggered around, Fred made bacon and Grand Marnier French toast, Sal and I went to Target, and we all made calls to our respective mommas. Mo & Mikey came over to hot tub, and then we all went to karaoke at The 1029 Bar. The 1029? Large with the WTF and the amusement. It's a Nordeast bar, so it feels like a small-town dive bar. It's also a cop bar, and we were pretty much the only people doing karaoke that night. This made for some interesting expressions on the faces of the regular patrons. I heard one woman call her friend and said, "There's a bunch of theater people doing karaoke at The 1029. You gotta come down here and see this." Highlights of the night included Mo doing an interpretive dance to Carolyn's "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", Mike (and Terry and Fred) dancing to Sally singing "Everything's Comin' Up Roses", Mo and Sal and me singing "Rehab", Terry, Carolyn, Fred, and Mike singing "Bohemian Rhapsody", Carson singing some Motorhead song and "Apeman", Sal singing "I'll Fly Away"... Much hilarity. Oh, and Carl stopped by! Awesome. It was great to see him.

Monday, I just packed up and waited for Mikey to pick me up for lunch at Wasabi, where we were joined by Mo, Brian, Debbie, Sally, and Heather (my college roomie). After lunch, I said my good-byes to most everyone and went with Heather to see her husband John and their new house in north St. Paul. Then, I flew home. And left my cowboy hat on the plane, which upsets me all out of proportion. I choose to blame the toddler that was in the row with me - he was small enough to sit on his parents' laps, and he would. not. shut. up. the. entire. damn. flight. I'm pro-kids, but that was a little trying. To his parents' credit, they were doing their best to keep a very active toddler occupied and quiet - he just wasn't cooperating. I think they even gave him toddler Benadryl at one point, which didn't seem to have an effect. So. I miss that hat - it had a lot of great memories attached to it.

It was a wonderful and odd weekend. Minneapolis is at once familiar and strange - I know where most everything is, but it repeatedly struck me how flat/green/spread-out it is. It felt a little isolating, actually - everyone in their own houses, doing their own thing. I think I would have to still be in theater if I had stayed - otherwise I'd be too apart from everything. Given how much healthier I am out of theater, that's a little scary. I miss everyone so much, it physically hurts. But it felt so nice to be back in SF, to see the Bay, to be among a lot of people. I spent the weekend listening to people talk about their houses and theater, and I have no personal stake in either. My path has seriously diverged from the life my friends lead, from the life I was leading. I still mourn what I had, while being happy in this new life. I enjoyed all the love from this weekend, and it was brought home to me that I probably cannot return permanently. When I left Alaska, it was gladly. I knew all along I didn't belong there. When I left Minneapolis, it was because I had to. I never quite fit in, but I managed to carve out a niche for myself. I miss my friends and that community so very much.

However, living here has been incredibly good for me. It was remarked a few times how much more relaxed I am now, how much more able I am to roll with things. I don't worry about my place here, I don't worry about being wrong, I'm not in fear of saying the wrong thing. (Well, I do, because I'm me, but you get the drift.) Part of that is not being in an unhealthy relationship any more, and I do think part of it is how accepting California is. And, part of it is due to the relationship with Martin. He's taught me a lot - or, at least, listened to me and offered comments as I've worked through things.

I need a French phrase or German word for feeling happy and melancholy at the same time. Happiness at the present situation, but keenly missing the past. Something. That's where I am, at any rate.

Almost no pictures were taken last weekend, so here is a fuzzy one from Edwin's cellphone:

Ari, Carolyn, and Juliana, 5-11-07 Carolyn and I are (drunkenly) trying to look like Bond girls. Ari is, of course, Bond. Ari Bond.

hecubot posted and I responded in another area:

hecubot: Juliana: I love Jada Pinkett. There's this thing she did during an interview which kind of sounds like she was an asshole, but I love her anyway.
Me: Because we've already established that you're not afraid of loving an asshole.

There was also an involved metaphor with the binky and in short, Juliana took some (affectionate) abuse (cheerfully) tonight. There might have been some riff about "lumberjacks with issues" about her love mates too.

Me: Heh. I like them burly and conflicted, 'tis true.

Yeah, last night was good. And yes, I do have a type (points at icon).

Dude, I don't even know where to start. So I'll just post a short note to reassure y'all that smonsterbite and luluminion are okay, much fun was had, I love my Buffistas (and didn't get enough time with them!), and I'm going to have to stay sober for a couple of weeks just to give my liver a rest.

Honestly, I can be mellow. I swear.

Whoo.

At the bar tonight, I mentioned to K (after he gave me a backrub that loosened me up enough to give me a headache - I am one large bundle of stress) that I'm feeling very lonely right now. He nodded, looked around, and said, "Well, at least you're among family."

That I am. That I am.

I've been feeling pretty damn tongue-tied lately. Partially because nothing is really stirring me to write anything. I don't - I've felt kind of bleah lately. Like I've lost whatever little charm and/or talent I had in the first place. I'm hoping a lot of it is due to the work situation and recovery, but still. Annoying. Even more annoying? I'm repeating myself.

I'm listening to The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack tonight, and I am forcibly reminded of 1) how freaky the song "Time Of The Season" is and 2) how much I love Scott Weiland's voice. I prefer it when he's straight-out singing instead of wailing/howling, but I'll listen no matter what.

Other things I love: The Matrix. It's my new favorite long-run movie, because I can get so wrapped up in watching the pretty and retro-fitting Reloaded and Revolutions into one sense-making movie. Also, watching Carrie-Anne Moss kick ass in tight shiny clothes is quite the motivation.

We just had a smoking ban on bars & restaurant instituted here in the Cities. You would think the sky is falling down for some smokers. I don't know, NYC and California seem to have weathered their bans just fine, with no jack-booted squads showing up. We've got bigger things to focus on and actual rights being lost. A public health regulation seems small potatoes to that.

I've not been spending much time out lately, and some of that time feels, well, wasted. I'm not able to connect with good friends for many reasons, and it's starting to bother me. At the same time, I've realized that an early social pattern of mine was to hang out with people that I didn't have much in common with beyond a superficial level and (more importantly) had a mutual disdain for. I musn't allow myself to fall into that pattern again. Better to be a recluse, which is what I seem to have turned into anyway.

On running - I've realized that I'm capable of far greater speeds that I thought previously. I've had to consciously restrain myself from running too many miles. because I am concentrating on getting my speed up. My next goal is an 8:30 mile, which I should get in a couple weeks. After that, a 26:25 5K (8:30 over 3.1 miles), which should be attained by the end of the month. I also need to remember that strength training and yoga make me a much better runner. Especially yoga.

CT scan was clear, bloodwork was clear, so I think the headaches are a part of my recovery. We'll see what the doc says.

I'll talk about Carmen first, since it's been on my mind for 48 hours.

We saw the remount of Carmen at Theatre de la Jeune Lune, a company that came over from France a couple decades ago, and a company that is like no other I've seen. Most of that is due to the French roots, I'm sure, but Jeune Lune is very odd, as a rule. I disagree with who they are run on occasion, but I will admit that they always make bold choices. The choices don't always work, but one cannot accuse Jeune Lune of being bland.

Carmen was originally produced last year when most of the Jeune Lune company was in New York, opening Hamlet. It stars a powerhouse pair of sisters, the Baldwins, with Jennifer playing Micaela and Frasquita and Christina playing Carmen.

It was an amazingly done show. Don Jose is a baritone instead of a tenor, but it worked for me. The stage was simple - a thrust with entrances underneath the main audience and on the back wall, as well as a door a story up that had a path down for the mountain scenes. The costumes were very simple, with the exception of Carmen's last dress. The script was arranged so that it almost felt like a drama with singing than an opera-opera, and it worked.

The only problem I had with the show was some of the ensemble's acting. I had to remind myself that opera acting is not our acting, and adjust accordingly. That problem was not present with the four leads, thankfully.

Hmmm. More tired than I thought, because I can't really come up with an analysis. Oh, well.



Yesterday, I ran 8 miles and then ran around like a madwoman trying to find a bloody skirt. I forgot that IKEA had just opened up across the way from the Mall of America, and so was not prepared for the madhouse that greeted me when I went to the MOA. Oy. I did drop off the fabric for the corset & meet with Z's cousins who are decorating the reception, so I felt a little accomplished. When Zach got home from work, we went through the rest of our CD collection and picked out songs for the reception. We now have approximately twice the amount of music we need, which is good, but the winnowing process will be harrowing. Harrowing, I tell you.

This morning, we got up early and went to the Farmer's Market with Z's mom. I love going there, especially with Sadie. We went to her favorite flower guy, who creates monstrous bouquets for only $10, and talked about what I want for the wedding. Then we just wandered about, and I got the world's densent watermelon. Seriously, this thing is 16 pounds and is not all that large. Also got tomatoes and avocados for guacamole, but I'll wait to make that until tomorrow. Or Tuesday.

Dropped Z off at work, went to REI for a new sports bra & CLIF shots, and then went to the fabric store and got taffeta and netting for the skirt. Dropped that off, went into Uptown to get Bodyglide and return the library book, and I decided to stop into Ragstock to see what they had in the way of fun clothing. Lo and behold, what did they have? Friggin' ballerina skirts. I was only saved from a meltdown by the fact that they only had purple & ice blue.

Gave Z the truck, regaled him with my shopping expeditions, and came home to clean and bake oven-"fried" chicken for us and our friends who just had their baby. Oh, and chop up 16 pounds of watermelon.

Now, I think I'll go to bed. Yes.

Wow, I've really not been updating much, have I? Whoops.

So, last weekend, I went up to Alexandria, which is where Zach has been since before I got back from Alaska. That's right, we haven't really occupied the same space for nigh on a month. No wonder I'm getting so freaky. Zach is up at Theatre l'Homme Dieu, performing as Lenny in Of Mice And Men (actually, it closed Sunday), and then directing Last Of The Red-Hot Lovers, which opens tomorrow night. Homme Dieu is amazing. It's like summer camp for actors. Actually, that's exactly what the St. Paul Pioneer Press called it. All they have to do up there is go to rehearsal and learn their lines and then go sit around the campfire. Verra nice, in a rustic sort of way. So, I was up the weekend of the 4th with some of the other spouses in which over $300 of illegal fireworks from North Dakota were set off), and then half of the small theatre Mafia descended on TlHD for Don and Tina's wedding last weekend.

The wedding was quite lovely. It was on the grounds of an oldold church that had been the main church for the area back in the late 1800's. Almost everyone was in some sort of Hawaiian print, the vows were touching and funny, and the first kiss as bride and groom was the kiss at the end of the song "There's A Kiss At The End Of The Rainbow". (It was much less cheesy than it sounds, honest. More goofy.) Then, everyone piled in cars and went to a picnic area about a mile away and we barbequed.

Most ovary ache-inducing moment: a couple of our friends - Lloyd and Lynn - have a two-year old boy named Lloyd (we call him Lloydlet). I first met him when he was 10 days old and they brought him to a party. He was a cheeky active monkey then, and he hasn't slowed down. He was right in the middle of the football toss game some of the guys had going, doing his best to catch the football that was as big as his torso. After a while, the guys got bored with football tossing and decided to play baseball with the football and the pinata stick (don't ask me why). Lloydlet was very determined to participate, so Zach scooped him up in his left arm and used his right arm to pitch. When the ball was tossed back to him, Zach would let it drop on the ground, hold Llyodlet by his ankles, and let the kid pick up the ball. It was kind of like the skill claw games you see in arcades, and possibly one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Oy. Ovaries aching all over the place.

After the BBQ, we all went to go see (or do) the show, and then there was much carousing. A good time was had by most people. There were some people whose got very drunk and decided that playing in the mud would be the best idea evah. Those people also had fun, but the people who had to clean the muddy people off did not have as much fun. Or so I hear. I was asleep by then, thankfully.



I go back up Friday morning, see Z's show, and then bring him home Saturday, just in time for my birthday party. It will be very nice to have both of us home.

For some reason, that song is almost always in my head on Tuesdays. I have a very cheesy subconscious.

I had a good day yesterday, once I got out of work. I unpacked even more, went for a run, and then Sally picked me up and we went to the Market (where Z was working a double, poor boy) and sat and talked about theater and other things. Then I came home, finished Neuromancer, and slept. Poorly, but sleep is like pizza for me. Actually, it's better than pizza, because it doesn't give me heartburn or make me feel like I need to run an extra mile to make up for eating the entire thing.

Now that I've stretched that metaphor as far as it will go, I will tell you about my run. I went later than usual, due to the momentum I had picked up while unpacking. It was still daylight, and there was an occasional patter of rain. Nothing too uncomfortable, just enough to help me cool off and then it was gone. I've been working on my form and trying to run in the Kenyan style, and I think I'm succeeding. I felt very light and balanced as I was running, and my foot turnover was rapid. I'm also working on another part of my form - trying to keep my feet at a 15-degree angle or less. I have a bad tendency to turn out while walking and running, and it's been affecting the muscle that wraps around from the top of the quad to the side of the pelvic area. So, I concentrated on that, and I did just fine for my four miles. The problem hit when I was walking the quarter mile home as a cool-down. The afore-mentioned muscle cramped up so bad that I could hardly walk. No fun. Plenty of stretching when I did make it home, yes indeed. More stretching tonight.



Weird meatspace address of the day: Hemlock Lane in Othello, WA. That's like a double dose of death and drama.


And finally, a quiz:

( Pretty picture! )