@#$%&! Time Change

Let me tell you that today I could gleefully cause great bodily harm to whatever genius came up with the DST idea.

All you out there with young kids know what I am talking about.

The reality of this change seems to have really kicked in today for my young ones.

This morning I had to deal with MASSIVE grouchiness, whiny, fussy, and rude behavior because the children feel as though I am waking them at the ass crack of dawn.

This evening I am dealing with more grouchiness, whining, and fussing and THEY ARE STILL AWAKE AFTER BEING IN BED WITH LIGHTS OUT FOR AN HOUR.

Typically these kids are out a few minutes after the heads hit the pillow.

Of course I am dealing with this on top of my own tired grumpiness as I deal with getting back on schedule after the show coupled with the time change.

I don't see why we can't just stay on DST year round.

It would just be better for me and it is all about me after all.

Anyway it is when I am tired and grouchy.

I'm Tellin' You

This should be the last post with an update about which song from the show is in my head as we had our last performance today.

I am usually a little bummed out after a show ends, it is so consuming that I often seem to be unsure of what to do with myself for a short while.

The previous two or three shows I was in prior to this one, I did not have that short melancholy period after they were over. In truth I was practically foaming at the mouth to have them over and done with and that worried me. I thought maybe I was growing out of performing or being possessed or something of the sort. I think it had to do with a lot of other things that I am just not going to go into here.

At any rate I find myself this evening feeling a bit melancholy about the end. I had a really good time, and overall I was pretty happy with the way I portrayed this character. I got a fair amount of good feedback about the shows and it was really cool that nearly every performance sold out.
I made some new friends and that is always fun, and I got the opportunity to socialize with them over the past three weekends and I really enjoyed that. Beloved and I don't seem to get out and be social with other adults very often together and for me to go out and socialize on my own has been virtually unheard of for the past ohhhh...9 years. I can probably count the times on one hand. I know it is not a great way to be and I have no one but myself to blame for the lack of socializing. I get lazy pretty easily about going out socially since the children have come along. I know all the arguments about "taking care of yourself so that you are in a better frame for your children" and all of that, but at the end of the day..week...month...year....I.AM.TIRED.
But I bit the bullet and pushed past my tired and went out with people. I am definitely out of practice. I don't know where people go to socialize after dark anymore. I do not recover as quickly the next day from staying out past 12 even when there is no drinking involved. I still seem to be able to converse and be mildly interesting however. Glad I still have that.
In a few days my melancholy will pass as I become immersed in the daily stuff that is my regular non-performing life. There is much to do and many things to return to that have been neglected for the past couple of months. One of those things is reasonable bedtimes. I must leave you know to pursue that right now. Nighty night.

Shout out

To my good friend Ali who has a birthday today. Ok technically yesterday, but since I have not been to bed yet I am calling it today. Hope it was a good 'un Ali!

No More Shows for 60 months

#2 informed me last night as I helped her with a shower that she did not think I should do any more shows for at least 60 months. I told her that was 5 years and she changed her recommendation to 60 years.

Wonder what good parts there will be for a 90-something woman.

One more weekend to go. We had pretty consistently good performances all weekend and every show was sold out. Looks to be the same for this weekend as well. Country music sure sells 'round these parts.

Did I tell you about how I learned that apparently country music is popular with the young people these days? I had no idea.

We went to see a variety show at a local high school a few weeks ago and I was shocked at the number of students wailin' away singing country music songs. (Of course I kept looking around for something sharp to slit my wrists with because about the La-hast thing I wanted to do was listen to a bunch of high school girlies sing bad country songs through their noses, especially since it happened to be my ONE NIGHT off from country music...)

Now maybe I am getting prudish and uptight in my old age, but there was one performance that I decided was offensive to me.

A young lady got on stage and proceeded to sing what is apparently a very popular country song about (big surprise here) a woman who finds out her man has been cheating on her. Now what I found offensive was the chorus to this song which describes how she vandalized this man's car because he was cheating on her. Describes in great detail seat and tire slashing, keying, taking a baseball bat to headlights and all that mess. At first I thought...hmm this does not seem like the best choice for a high school talent show. I thought I was being an uptight parent, but then after more thought I decided that it wasn't as a parent that I was offended, but as a professional. I spend a lot of time talking about appropriate ways to express anger, and here is a very popular song promoting violence and young girl(s) are singing their hearts out to this song. Didn't set too well with me let me tell you. I know many of you are probably thinking that it is just a song and all that, but I have worked with enough kids to know that many take the messages in songs to heart. Maybe I am over reacting, but I really think it was inappropriate for the venue. I just wish people would give more thought to the messages given to our children.

We need to be more thoughtful.
Period.
End of Story.

Now it is time for me to pull that stick out of my ass and get to bed.
Can't sleep well when there are protrusions.

Oh to be my dog for today

Then I would get to lie in front of the heater and nap until I was done.

Lovesick Blues

That is the current show tune in my head. I hoped that a couple days off would get them out, but no such luck.

Opening weekend went well. We had good crowds, and I think I did OK. I got applause here and there and that is usually a good sign. I am never truly satisified with what I do on stage. Probably a good thing...keeps me working.

I got really nervous Friday around dinner time. I said out loud that I had changed my mind and no longer wanted to do the show, and didn't want to go. My children were horrified. "Mommy!" said #1 in her most serious voice, "You HAVE to go! You can't stay home!" Then #2 chimed in with, "Mommy if you don't go do the show they might put you in JAIL." (she was dead serious, that is her new fascination..what you do to get in to jail and what happens once you are there.)

Needless to say I went and lived to tell about it, though I had my doubts there in those last seconds before I went on. THIS is why I don't do musicals. They make me too damn nervous and it don't always seem worth the nervy fits I get from them. Uggh.

I have had a good time and this has been a good change of pace for me. I needed to do something different. Next time though I hope to have a less cranky person to portray. I have done that a lot in the past couple of years, and I would like to expand a bit.

Not much else to tell right now... I have a pretty huge headache and I am sure that you all wanted to know about that.

What other mindless stuff can I share?

My camera broke right before #2's school music program. The lid for the battery compartment won't stay closed, which is problematic. Beloved suggested I duct tape it. That made me want to hit him and I told him so which offended him. I was taken back to the two+ years I had to live with a duct taped vacuum cleaner and got a little testy.

I got a magazine with a cover full of chocolate recipes I would like to make tomorrow.

I am thinking about doing the My Space thing. Someone I saw over the weekend suggested it and I have checked it out a little more in depth and it could be fun...I dunno....

It is my birthday in just over two weeks. I am going to be a certain age.

Did I mention that my head hurts?

5 more days

Oy.
I have absolutely no business composing a blog post right now, which is exactly why I am doing so.
5 more days and then I have three blissful days off from the show and country music.
In truth I wish that it were five more days until we open, but alas that is not to be.

The countdown on that is two.
2
Deux.
F-U-C-etc..etc.

I know that the magic of theatre will happen soon. It always does. I just hate that time before it is true.

Yeah I need to go. Cause I am rambling now, and I have 12 hour staying power lipstick to sandblast off my mouth. I am a few short words away from starting to talk about Britney in rehab, and no one else needs to talk about that.

You might be tired if...

Your 9-year old daughter looks at you and says, "Wow Mom you have really big bags under your eyes!"

Awesome.

Loading....

Wonder what would happen (and I mean this literally) if I just climbed in to my bed, turned of the phone, fell asleep, and did not go back to work today.

I would go in tomorrow business as usual and just tell them I was tired, I turned off the phones and took a nap while I was home for lunch.

I really wonder what the response and reaction would be.

Too bad I'm too chicken to find out.

I have given it serious consideration however.

I'm glad I wasn't disappointed

I have been looking forward to seeing The Police perform on the Grammy Awards ever since I heard about it a couple of weeks ago. I was a tiny bit apprehensive as sometimes these things just don't live up to my expectations.

My worries were:

1. They would sing Every Breath You Take.

2. The performance would be a medley of hits. (I hate a medley)

3. It would just suck in general.

4. Sting would no longer be a hottie.

Most of my worries were dumb and not likely to occur I know, but sometimes I am just unreasonable.

Supposedly they are going to embark on a tour.

If they are near I will be seeing them.

Beloved has been prepared for this, and the savings will now begin as I don't imagine this will be a cheap show.

Now I need to find something to eat. I am trying very hard not to become sick and it has got my appetite out of whack. So I must locate something for dinner that is not crazy to eat at 9:00 PM.

Damn germs.

Things likely won't improve over the next month

I know posting has been spotty lately, leaving the two of you who read this in the lurch and for that I apologize.

Things aren't likely to improve much over the next month or so.

I rehearse every evening M-F until the show opens at the end of Feb, which significantly interferes with my ability to waste time on my computer.

Not much is new. The show is coming along I suppose. I really have forgotten how much I hate the blocking process. The past few shows I have done have not required it, so it has been awhile.

I have successfully avoided leaving the house all weekend. I am not sorry about it either. #2 is illin' so we laid low.

Guess what!

Beloved just confessed that he watched some of You're the One That I Want. So Ali, you have a partner in shame now.

Beloved also has let me know that he is ready to pester someone after spending the last hour flipping through TV channels, and I am the only one up. Seeing as how I am a good wife I will say Adios and let my honey commence with pestering me.

Nighty night!

I prefer to catalog this under multi-tasking

Oh dear reader(s).

I am sad sad pathetic pathetic person.

I have reached a new low.

I...I know they say confession is good for the soul so here it goes.

My story begins at about 1:00 yesterday afternoon. I go in to work later on Thursdays and thus take my lunch hour a wee bit later as well.

On with the story.

When I got home I was hungry. VERY HUNGRY. Mind consuming hungry. Need food immediately hungry.

You get the picture.

I also needed to clock some exercise time. I don't like to exercise immediately after eating for obvious reasons, but today I just could NOT wait that long. I needed a snack.

There were many options, apples, carrots, a little juice perhaps to boost the ol' blood sugar.

OR

the men who come in second to my husband for my love...Ben and Jerry.

Now you don't know me at all if you think I did not grab that little carton of heaven here on earth.

I did.

Here comes the pathetic part.

I am pretty tight on time if I am going to exercise and eat lunch, so I decided to do a little multi-tasking.

You can probably guess what I did but I am going to tell you anyway.

Lady(ies) and Gentleman(men) I proceeded to polish off the 1/4 pint of ice cream WHILE I WAS RIDING MY RECUMBANT BIKE. And it was GOOD. Ohh so so good.

It is true. I wouldn't make this shit up even for my blog.

I think that I need to write some kind of manual or book on the art of multi-tasking 'cause baby I got it DOWN.

It's National Pie Day

Woo Hoo!

At Chez Us we will be celebrating with a Marie Callender Chocolate Satin Pie, to be consumed post-exercise whilst viewing season 2 of The Office.

What better way to honor something we all love.

We are choosing to ignore the bad for us part of this experience.

It has a cookie crust! A COOKIE CRUST! Health be damned!

Didja notice the whipped cream and chocolate curls????

What kinda pie did you/would you eat?

File Under Stuff I Did Not Envision Including My Participation

So I find myself doing another show.

Had no plans to participate in any shows in the near future.

BUT a local director called and asked if I would audition, and when a director calls and asks me to audition or offers a part I automatically turn in to The Girl Who Can't Say No.

So I said yes I would audition, I followed through and now I find myself with a role.

IN. A. MUSICAL.

Y'see those who know me know that I don't do musicals. Until now apparently.

I should probably mention one more thing about the show.

It is all about a dead country music star.....
and I play his wife.

That's right folks not only is it a musical, but a whole entire show dealing with country music.

Y'see I don't "do" country music either. Until now apparently.

So beware children..these are the things that can bappen when you become the girl/boy who cain't say no.

Where can I find Cat Barf Barbie?

Tonight we had to do some grocery shopping at The Place I Most Hate to Shop.

Whilst on our quest to get groceries we had to make a detour to the toy department to get a birthday present for #2's bestest friend who is having a big birthday bash on Friday.

#2 has decided that her bestest friend would like nothing more than a Barbie.

Not my favorite gift idea, but...

So #2 picks out the Barbie she thinks Bestest Friend will like best.

I gave it a rather cursory glance and made a comment along the lines of, "oh look Barbie has a dog." and tossed it in the basket.

You see whenever I have to shop at The Place I Most Hate to Shop it is my goal to get out of there ASAP because..I HATE IT.

On with my story.

The checker handed #2 the bag with the Barbie in it and #2 starts talking about how when she gets in the car she is going to take the Barbie box out of the bag and tell us what it can do.

Now you see that should have been my first inkling that sumpin' warn't quite right.

However.. the checkout line at TPIMHTS is surely one of the gates to hell and again I was not giving my full attention seeing as we had been in line checking out for AT LEAST the same amount of time we spent filling our cart throughout the store. For at this place you must pass an exam and skill test proving that you are the slowest and most annoying person on earth but I digress again.....

So after 8 or so hours we are finally in the car on the way home and #2 begins to tell us what the Barbie and her dog do.

What they do is doo doo to be precise. (The dog anyway not Barbie.)

Yes dear readers we have purchased Dog Shit Barbie.

Barbie's pooch eats a little snack and then..

Oh-Oh! Poochie does a doodie.

THANK GOD as #2 pointed out, Barbie is provided with the appropriate tools to clean up the dog doo doo.

THIS is the gift my child will be giving to her Bestest Friend and she is SURE it will be considered the best present at the party.

I have managed to rein in my compulsion to call the parent ahead of time and explain the whole story. I imagine that compulsion will happen at either drop off or pick up at the party.

Maybe I can just give them the blog address. It would be easier.

Haaaapppyyy Biiirrrtthhhddaaay toooo...

My most beloved husband. He is now as old as moi. So for the next two months and one day he can not make jokes about his wife being older than he is.

Because now we are the SAME AGE.

I don't care what all you math minded people out there say.

Since it was cold and very sleety out we opted to stay in most of the day. I am trying not to complain about the weather as I am somewhat relieved to see that we are actually experiencing a little bit of winter. Disappointed that we did not get the snow they had predicted as it would have been fun to play in over this three-day weekend.

Not too much happening. It always seems that we hit a lull in activity after winter break. I don't mind much really, as it seemed that since school started we have been crazy making busy.

Stuff I have been thinking about:

The environment, and personal changes me and my family need to make in regard to reducing our negative impact. Mostly in the thinking stages now. We have been doing a few things such as buying more organic products. Being conscious of shutting off lights. (This may not seem like much but we got a lotta rooms in this house and we have not been so good about keeping unoccupied rooms unlit.) Like I said..still in the thinking stages here's hoping for more action soon.

Goals. I have set some and so far I am making progress. Woo Hoo.

Brownies. There are some downstairs and I want one with a glass of milk.

What exactly

IS a Nymphomania Saber?

12 Years and Counting

The Mister and I have been married for TWELVE YEARS as of today.

T-W-E-L-V-E

Our marriage is entering adolescence.

We still have an awfully good time together and I must say that Beloved is still my favorite person to hang out with.

Our usual celebratory dinner and movie took place last night. (Oh yeah we admired our living room area rug too as anniversary was part of the package justification for buying it deal.)

Am I really old enough for all of this?

I ask that question A LOT lately.

But more on that another time.

Here's to another twelve years (plus many MANY more of course) with my SB.

With an incredible abundace of love,

NP

It gets better from here on out I am sure

I have to say that our New Year is not off to the most fantastic start.

It started off on New Year's Eve with a sickly child.

The first and second days were fine enough.

Today or more specifically tonight not so good.

Car accident.

Everyone is ok obviously or I would not be writing this entry, but I have to say it was the worst accident I have been in since high school.

We were going down a fairly busy street here in town when a young man in a SUV got confused and thought that he was at a four way stop sign and it was his turn to go. Problem is, it was a two way stop and he did not have a clear intersection because we were in it. So he slammed in to the driver's side of the car.

Driver's door is smashed in totally and it broke the window on the driver's door. It was dark so there may be more damage we weren't able to see. Frankly what was visible was enough for me. The car was driveable, but it was a chilly ride home for my honey. Grandma and Grandpa came and took me and the littles home. Beloved was driving so took the brunt of the impact and he is fine thank the Good Lord. The girls are fine. They were a little shaken up, but have handled it very well.

I suspect there may be some stiff muscles tomorrow, but that is ok. Better that than something else.

Now I am off to recouperate from our trauma with a little Office (American version, we just finished the BBC version. HI-Larious. Check it out if you haven't yet.) and something that resembles dessert.

Happy New Year Etc..Etc..

Yeah I might be more enthusiastic if I had not had to return to work today.

That is the thing about vay-cay. You hafta go back and that is just wrong.

Spent the day trying to get back in the swing of things, it may take me a couple days. Maybe when everyone else in da house is back at school and work it will be better.

Had a good time over the past week. It was a very good balance of fun stuff and being really productive. Got several projects completed. The most embarassing being the three years worth of school pictures we finally hung on the wall last night. Three years. That is some kind of lazy.

Got to see our good friend Ali while she was home, and she brought her husband too as an added bonus. We had a lovely visit with them and there were cookies!

Our New Year was low-key. Unfortunately there was some illness back with #2, but she seems to be better now. We ate too much food and played with friends and family which is always a good thing.

No resolutions this year. We have decided to go with goals. Measurable outcomes. I will keep you posted as I know all three of you are on the edge of your seats.

Hmmm....what else.....

Heard on NPR today that there are new regulations being put in place for people looking to adopt children from China. Apparently if you are a single parent, obese (BMI of 40+), are currently taking or have taken anti-depressants in the past two years you will not be eligible to adopt.

Don't seem quite right to me.

G'night.