Duh Duh Duh!!!!!

Well.  Almost two weeks late.  But I finally remembered.

One of the reasons that I forgot to write my last blog post on time is that its publishing date came in the middle of Nickel and Dimed.

The production (which many of you attended) took a great deal more of my energy than was expected.  This energy was expended for many different reasons.   The least favorite of which was the fact that I was expending energy on cast conflicts.  Particularly (which has never EVER happened to me), I was dealing with attempting to keep actors from walking out of performances due to their feelings being hurt and internal conflicts.  While I always knew that the arts drew individuals with mental health issues together, I have never, ever, experienced a period of time where I've had two individuals so opposed to each other that they walk out of a performance.  Both of the women who attempted to walk out of performances have severe depression issues.  I am thankful that I am healthy and aware enough to recognize that I never want to go back there again.

The production played its last performance on Sunday, August 17th.  Strike was over in a very speedy amount of time.  It had concluded by 6:30 pm.  I walked out of the building around 6:45 pm.  That is an accomplishment in and of itself.  In the meantime, I have helped with two Stage 9 events.  The first was the inaugural Third Thursday Film Festival.  Bob Colladay, a HTG Board member and longtime arts cohort, organized the event.  I was on the jury panel for the films as well as being a projectionist and host at Stage 9.  It was poorly attended which for this town is pretty much standard.  But the closing presentations were attended by around 70 people so that kind of made up for some of the empty houses I played films for.  On Saturday, the second in our Stage 9 Live! benefit concert series was held.  I was supposed to take tickets for the event but ended up being the unofficial bar tender, given the fact that the theatre guild does not have a liquor license.  I was not pleased about this but for the most part, everyone in attendance enjoyed themselves.  I could go on forever about why I think these Stage 9 Live! events are a bad idea for the theatre guild but that would I'm afraid be a novella of negativism which is not helpful to anyone.

For the most part, one year later, I am grateful to have been in Hutchinson and leading the production end of the Hutchinson Theatre Guild up.  At this time last year, I was in full production for a project called Be a Good Little Widow.  Now I'm preparing for the final 2014 Season production of Other Desert Cities.  If you haven't made it out for 2014 Season, this is a production to attend.  By far the best written play of the season, it has themes which are near and dear to my heart.  Plus, its just a romp of family dysfunction and keeps you guessing until the end.  And the design that we are working on executing for it is remarkable.

Other than that, life continues moving forward as expected.  I continue to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa K, Grandma Johnston, Aunt Carol and Mom and Dad here in town.  I must say that I am disappointed that I haven't been able to spend more time with the little girls.  This has happened partially out of schedule conflicts and partially out of a desire to give my best self to them.  Due to the extreme stress I was under during this production, I did not want to treat any family members but especially the little ones with less love and cheeriness that they deserve.

A much needed vacation begins on September 3rd.  The trip is a giant loop on Amtrak.  Dad and I leave on September 3rd and get back on September 12th (in time for some quality time at the State Fair).  We visit LA, Emeryville (right outside of San Francisco) and Chicago before we arrive back.  We spend more time on the train then we do on the ground.  I'm thrilled.

My hope is this trip will will allow me to de-stress and return with a renewed sense of love and care for everyone, especially my family.  You all remain inspirations to me for your ability to forgive and support.  Its a lesson I wish everyone could be privileged to learn from you.    

Until the next (and hopefully on time) entry.