Play Contest

Last Saturday night a small bunch of us did something different that turned out to be a lot of fun. We went to see six 15 minute plays put on by The Valley Repertory Company here in Enfield. Then we got to vote on our 3 favorites.

The first one was entitled "Hot Cup of Soul" and was about a young man trying to sell his soul to the devil in return for fame and fortune. They acted out the interview process in a coffee shop! During the interview the devils rep told the young man that he didn't want it bad enough and he wasn't a viable candidate for the devil. The twist to it was at the end, after the young man left and the devil's representative left as well....another man came in and it turned out HE was the devil. The previous guy (who talked the young man into putting an effort into making his own life great) was an angel of sorts sent to save the young man and foil the devils game.
This play was ok in my book but not as good as some of the others that came up later. It ended up winning second place however.

"Another Dover" was up next which was about a young man riding on a bus talking to the spirit of his dead sister. This one was odd and it took some time for most of us to understand what was going on. In the long run you realized that his sister had committed suicide to escape the horrible life their mother had raised them in. But the brother (the one riding the bus) decides to go back to his home town and face all the bad things in his life that had made him an outcast in his present life. A very odd concept for a comedy night...certainly not funny. It made you think but it didn't seem to fit in with the other plays.

Next came "Customer Service" which was a man on the phone with the customer service dept of a company that provides the sports channel at his home. The frustration he went through just getting to an actual human was funny because we've all been there. He eventually talks to a female rep that seems to turn everything around to sound like a sexual advance and in the end he ends up not canceling his sports package but actually extending it for 2 more years!! The play ends up with him realizing what just happened and starting the call all over again. The crowd liked this one a lot!

After an intermission the next play was "How Nice of You to Ask". It took place in an old woman's apartment with a young man arriving to conduct a survey with her. She offers him tea and finds out this is a sex survey! I can't give you a blow by blow on this one but it was very funny. The stuff that this old lady was telling him was hysterical. And she was overly concerned with what her neighbors gave as answers too. Lets put it this way, you never would have believed this stuff was coming from a little old lady....until she admits she used to be a call girl and that explains why she knows so much and has had so many lovers. I loved this one and voted it as my top choice. I believe it ended up getting first place in the overall vote.

"An Actual Baby Person" was up next. This was a play about a young couple having a baby. The father comes in on a skate board and his name is Dagger. The mother is folding laundry and her name is Squishy. You can imagine what kind of parents these two are going to be. Well it was ok I suppose...but not as good as some of the others. I wasn't impressed with the general story line and it was forgettable to me.

The last play of the evening was "What You Wish For" and it was pretty good. It took place in a 'dismal, windowless office' so I could relate to it that's for sure. The characters of Judith (has a secret crush on Benny); Benny (clueless about Judith and always late for work) and Sid (the office dweeb and generally not well liked) and the boss (woman with a love for power) were played out very well. Judith gets three magic wishes and ends up engaged to Sid, who she hates but Sid pulls out a winning lotto ticket (forgot he won) and he's rich now which was one of her wishes too. Sid is very happy with this arrangement but still longs for an office chair with wheels! Benny gets some wishes and blows it by losing his job and yet still manages to get married to Judith with one wish. Now he is penniless; fired and has Judith for a wife. And all the way through it they keep getting caught doing something that ticks the boss off and she spends all her time yelling to make them cringe...eventually firing Benny to make her day.
I know I'm murdering this play in my description. It was really very funny and well written and I enjoyed it a great deal. Unfortunately it didn't win first or second place. I don't think they announced which one won third place...but it should have been this one.

Overall it was a great evening and we're now scouting around for more plays to watch. I'd forgotten how much I love the theater. The next play we're going to see is "Bus Stop" and it's a romantic comedy. Sounds good. I'll give you a run down after I've seen it.

When People Have Had Enough of Winter

HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH SNOW?

Lutz Childrens Museum

Today I look my little princess to the Lutz Children's Museum in Manchester. It had been a very very long time since I had been in Manchester so I took a quick look at map quest before we left. It felt very odd to be in Manchester again....remembering all the people I used to know way back when. The ones I used to work and laugh with daily. Some of them aren't even alive anymore. It's sad how time steals these good times from you only to spit back pieces of it every once in a while. And it felt really weird to suddenly remember so many people and the tiny little snippets of outrageous fun that follows the memory of them. I wondered where they all went ...especially as I drove by what used to be the old machine shop I worked at when I was maybe 17 or 18 yrs old. (sigh!)

But Kaylee and I were on a new quest so I had to pack away those memories for another time. We found the Lutz with no problem at all but it didn't look the way I remembered it. Funny how time will change a memory like that too. I remembered a playground in the back near the parking lot but didn't see any sign of one now. And there's a pretty good size lake next door that I don't remember at all. How could I have missed that??!!

This trip was my Valentine's Day gift to Kaylee. I'm sure she would have rather had candy (at first) but once she got there candy never entered her mind. Of course it took a little bit to wake her because she'd sacked out big time in the back seat. She literally looked like a sack of potatoes too...all slumped over to one side, arms trailing over the edge of her seat. Should have taken a picture of that I think. (It's great black mail for when they are older.) So cute! And she woke up like a little sweetheart too, no grumpy gus!

As soon as we got in the door I noticed the gigantic stuffed bear to the right side. I remember that bear! Neither one of my kids remembers going to this place when they were young but Justin was scared silly of that bear for the first 10 mins...he was convinced it was going to follow him if he took his eyes off it. I pointed out the bear to Kaylee but she didn't seem too impressed with it. I think she thought of it as just a really large stuffed teddy bear! (although I've never seen a teddy bear with teeth like that!)

We went to the animal section first of course. Kaylee and I are both nuts for animals...I like to think she gets that from me. They had birds; turtles; fish and chickens as the first animals you see. There was a spot that said there was a possum in there but it was sleeping and refused to come out. And of course the groundhog was there but he too was sleeping. We moved on and saw the funniest bird! It was a fan tail pigeon I believe...very pretty and solid white. He kept puffing his feathers out and making his chest HUGE while he strutted by the window. Very interesting little fellow and definitely has an overblown ego. (Napoleon complex perhaps?)

Further down we came across snakes of different colors, a variety of lizards (or at least in the lizard family); frogs; small rabbits; guinea pigs and chinchillas. They were very active today and were obviously used to people watching them...not shy at all. Kaylee liked them. Then we turned another corner and came across the largest rabbit I have ever seen! It was gray with white fur underneath. It was a Flemish Giant Rabbit...very aptly named because that rabbit was larger than any cat I've ever seen and most small dogs! It was at least 5 times the size of a normal adult rabbit and again, very friendly...not shy at all. I think her name was Sabrina. Kaylee wanted to pet her but she was behind glass in a very large cage, so Kaylee made due with talking to her through the glass and telling her how very pretty she was.

After the animals we moved on to the activity rooms. They had a marine themed room with a large boat built right out of the wall and a mini submarine built below. There was also a train set up on the opposite wall with trains running constantly. Kaylee wasn't interested in the trains at all..she made a bee line for the submarine part and started climbing all through it. Then she made her way to the top of the boat for "fishing" and steering the boat out of dangerous waters...with a horn and everything!

The next room was a farm theme. Kaylee rode the pony and picked some apples for the farm stand. She even milked the cow! (a first for her). The cow was of course not real and instead of milk it gave water but the principle was the same and she really took to it! She sat on her little stool and drained that cow for 20 minutes! I'm looking forward to introducing her to real milking some day.

We viewed the children's art work along the long hallway and made our way back to the animals again. What a treat it was to find the groundhog was awake and patiently waiting for some food from the caregivers! They had a little side door open and he was watching them prepare his food. Such a stout little fellow too. And I was very surprised to see an arm come in there and pet him like he was a house cat! For some reason I didn't think he'd be that tame but he sure was. Kaylee wanted to pet him too and I have to admit I would have loved to myself, but the public is not allowed to touch him...just have to admire him through the glass. He posed for many pictures and let us watch him eat his carrots for quiet awhile.
But it got even better from there. Another caregiver had taken the giant rabbit out for a stroll while her pen was being cleaned. Kaylee was the only child in the area at the time and they let her pet Sabrina for a long time...and follow her around the hallways...and pet her some more....and follow her some more and on and on. The rabbit looked even bigger in person and Kaylee was having a ball! And I'm proud to say she showed no fear what so ever and did everything the girl said about petting and being careful with the rabbit. That rabbit made Kaylee's day!

When the girl was finished cleaning the pen and putting in new bedding Sabrina just jumped right back in like it was nothing. The pen was at least 2 feet off the floor and that rabbit jumped it with no effort at all. Then she splayed out in her pen for a nap. It was time to go. Kaylee sang songs all the way home. She is such a sweet little girl and it's so gratifying to be able to do something fun with her like today. I hope she remembers today but even if she doesn't I have plenty of pictures. This was the best Valentine's Day I've ever had!
(sorry this is so late posting )

Peeing In The Woods

I have questions. And one of my questions is.....why is it such a big deal about me peeing in the woods? Guys do it all the time. They are EXPECTED to do it. So why is it such a terrible thing that I do it too? Nobody sees me (almost got caught once but not quite) and I'm very discreet. I've never run through the woods screaming with my pants around my ankles. (ok, not since that one time!) I'm not a secret nudist just waiting for my chance to spring at people. So why all the fuss? Are we a society of prudes? Are we all secret sexists? What's the problem here?

And while we're on the subject, why do I have to pee every time I'm in the woods? How come I can go a million times at home before I leave but still I'll have to go when I get there? Is there something about trees that make humans pee? Is it the wind? Or is it maybe a sense of freedom and oneness with nature that stimulates the bladder? Perhaps it's just that it's a challenge....no bathrooms...possibility of being caught....climbing over downed tree limbs to find a good spot....who knows? All I know is I think it's perfectly natural and if I'm comfortable with it..well, the rest of you should stop laughing!

Trees Take Notice

Take a close look at this picture. And tell me...is this sign intended to warn people about the odd road construction with the tree in the road? OR is it a sign warning the tree about the drivers??

Forgotten Treasures

I've been inspired (slowly and sneakily...like snow melting in your shoe and you don't notice it right away) to dig up some of my old art work and post it on my blog. Throughout my life I've gone from one interest to another. People think these interests have gone by the wayside but really they were just sleeping; waiting to be rediscovered or waiting for a stiff wind to blow through my head (if it can get through my hair!)and blow the remnants of real life out of my way. It's easy to get caught up in day to day life. But eventually you reach (at least I am) a point where it's not enough anymore....a place where you wonder who the hell you were before all this "life" got in the way. I figure a good way to get back in touch with the spirited, fun side of me is to take a look at some of the "stuff" I've churned out over the years.

I remember doing a lot of sketching; sewing; clay work and poetry. Some of the sketches I will post; the sewing projects if I can find them (I tend to keep things that I liked at the time); but you will not see any of my old poetry. I've gone over it and it's just way too sappy...not me at all anymore so that will stay tucked safely away. (waiting for my kids to find it and have a good laugh some time after I'm gone.) At one time I was deeply into photography also but all of it was on actual film (am I dating myself here?) I don't have any way to post those photos and it's a shame because a camera can really capture your mood. Now a days it's all digital and that has it's uses...but I still feel that my film cameras took a better picture and actually caught the exact moment I wanted. I have a ton of photo albums upstairs that I refuse to part with ever!

I come from a family that is bursting with artistic talent. I have cousins that produce stuff that would blow your socks off. I am not cut from that same cloth. I FEEL much more than I am able to show in my work. (a frustrating issue with me) And I tend to have stuff in my head that I simply don't have a way to express. One of the things stuck in my head is a person...I want to make a person. I want it to be jointed so I can pose it and have some parts that are automated. It should be made of cloth so it's soft to the touch too. I want to make a wardrobe for it and set it up doing odd things in my house. I figure it would give my friends a shock when they come over! ha ha Just think how much fun it would be to have "my automated friends" dispersed throughout my house during a party! What a trip it would be!

Years ago I made several attempts to obtain mannequins from local dept stores. Twice some artistic soul got there before me and these days the stores don't even have full body mannequins. I guess I missed the boat there. I'm even willing to use just body parts...although that will take more thought if it's just a random arm or leg.

And then there's cloth...color...texture...blending...it's all there with beautiful fabrics. I have full pictures in my head that I've never even attempted to create with fabric. One of the best fabric displays I ever saw was in the emergency room at Hartford Hospital (of all places!) and I wanted so badly to just take it home with me. However, stealing art is frowned upon even at the hospital....which is surprising considering how long they make you wait there...seems only fair that I should be able to select a piece of artwork as compensation!

Ok...so enough blabbing here. I've posted something from my past for your enjoyment. If you don't enjoy it...well hopefully you will get a good laugh at least. Be aware however, that all of these are extremely old...from my high school days actually. It was the beginning of my interest in sketching and I'll readily admit there are many mistakes, but at the time I drew them I thought they were wonderful! ha ha The sketch of the woman's face is my mother...done from an old photograph...and I was never satisfied with it so I never showed it to her. I still have problems with faces and people in general. Maybe some day......

Still Blue...

A big chunk of my crazy crew is away soaking up the sunshine in Florida and riding every ride possible at Disney World. It's cold and yucky here....yeah, I'm still blue. **Sigh***

Blue

What can I say? Feeling blue......