Chris' Update

My update is a little belated both because I'm still a workaholic and because Theresa and I have been traveling. First up is one major work project, Apollo 13 Redux.

The program was a big success, with coverage in the HutchNews since we had some original Apollo 13 VIPs and it was during our big fundraising event. Grandma and Grandpa kindly hosted me in their basement for a number of days to complete the below "prop." (A 3/4 scale version of the docking probe used to join the Apollo Command Module and Lunar Module).

I still have tons of work to do, including the last 5 hours where I've been tinkering with our schools database to get some data we need for a grant. The enjoyable parts should be finishing a Van de Graaff generator to make insane amounts of static electricity and figuring out how we'll make a rainbow in Dr. Goddard's Lab.

Theresa and I just got back from her friend's wedding in Colorado. Soon we'll be moving to a new apartment so that'll keep us busy as well. While in Denver we went to 5 different bookstores, but I only bought 1 book.

Sadly it wasn't this book, but I have talked Theresa into going around with me and taking pictures of elevators and silos—then we're going to replace them with rockets and pictures of people from old magazines. Below is one of our first starting images. 

There's a windmill hidden in that picture. We'll replace it with a rocket soon, but since all art is subjective I'm just calling it crafting.

Greetings family!


What fun to be able to share our happenings with each other on this blog.  I've got a lot to share this time around, so here we go.

First, since last I posted, I have had a number of exciting projects and life events happen. I'll try to list them out and summarize as appropriate.

1. I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

In the spring, I directed this great little musical to great acclaim and an even greater attendance record.  We sold out nearly the entire run of the production.  Out of the 680 tickets available, we sold 665.  Only the Sunday of the first weekend had any tickets available.

This musical was a lot of fun because I got to work with a number of lovely people, including Amy Bretz (of Bretz and Young Attorneys fame) and Katherine Eberly (formerly Kline - a high school theatre idol of mine). This production is one that will not be easily forgotten.






2. Trip to Seattle to Visit Estelle
Estelle Cowie (formerly Hatcher) is one of my closest friends but certainly lives the farthest away.  Estelle calls Ketchikan, Alaska home where she is a substance abuse counselor.  We try and get together at least once a year in a big meaningful way (in graduate school we hung out nearly every day in some form or another).  This year, we returned to Seattle and had a blast.  There we many highlights but my favorite was going to the San Juan Island chain for Orca Whale Watching.  We caught up with the "J" Pod and saw a number of  Orca whales.  There are amazing pictures and amazing video of the experience (including this lovely video)

3. Hutchinson Municipal Band
Another fun season of playing.  It was a far less stressful year of Municipal Band.  And it was so great to just be playing my french horn.

4. 1022 E. Sherman
Mom and Dad had to vacate their rental property because the tenant had allowed the house to deteriorate to a point of it not passing the new rental requirements of the city of Hutchinson.  I will be leading the repairs and remodeling on the house that is required and then living in the house until I move from Hutchinson.  This property is very near and dear to my heart because of the childhood memories I have from here.  It will be an honor getting it back into a respectable condition.  And pretty awesome to have my own place.

5. Miami to Hutchinson on the Train
We (Grandma Johnston, Mom, Dad and I) took a lovely train trip.  Flew from Wichita to Miami and explored the Everglades before having dinner at a lovely Cuban joint.  After a night in the hotel, we boarded the Silver Meteor to Washington DC.  This is one of the few long distance trains I have not been on.  It was quick overnight to Washington.  We pulled in at 7:30 am, zipped off to Arlington National Cemetery.  Spent some time seeing JFK's grave and the Tomb of the Unknown before zipping back to Union Station to board the Cardinal train to Chicago.  This is called the second most scenic ride on Amtrak and it was a lovely trip.  We arrived in Chicago at around 10:30 am, had lunch at my favorite Chicago pizza place (Giodorno's) and boarded the Southwest Chief to Hutchinson arriving just in time for Fox on the Fairway auditions.

6. Fox on the Fairway
Fox on the Fairway is the next production at the Hutchinson Theatre Guild.  I am directing an amazingly talented group of people.  Auditions were a little bit of a struggle but we've since hit the ground running and things are going very well.  The play performances September 24 to 27 and October 1 to 4.  Hope you'll be able to come see it.

7. The Follies
Finally, I was asked by Mimi Meredith (former HTG Board member and leading Hutchinson social butterfly) to assist with The Follies.  This community-wide event comes back once every decade or so (the last one was in 2000).  In this case, it is a tribute to the Armed Forces being used as a tool to raise money for the Reno County Veterans Memorial.  I'm not quite sure what I have gotten myself into but whatever it is, it's going to be interesting.

That's all that's been going on in my life.  In my spare moments, I am happy to help out with projects around town for the family and am especially grateful to be assisting Grandma and Grandpa with managing the pasture.

Much love to all!

Remember When

                                            Guess what year it was.

Mostly work, but a lot of fun!

Here we are, if not a little late!

Life has been a bit crazier and busier than you would suspect for this time of year. And, we are so grateful for that!!! In a working world where jobs definitely come and go frequently, it is important to remember to be thankful for each opportunity.

Turns out that Kurtis has been continually working at Hudson Scenic since April. And, as Dr. Zhivago came to an end, Jersey Boys filled my plate with all sorts of work. Plus, a little something from Matilda each week for day work. 

We have escaped the city for a couple of quick camping adventures this year, which has been very welcome as we never have a full day off together currently. Over the 4th of July, we headed upstate to a friend's house on the lake with the group of FunkCamp-ers that we were introduced to through Tanya when we lived in Brooklyn. We had such fun hanging with them that we booked ourselves in to the canoe trip at the end of July too. Both trips were sun filled and full of great people. And, who doesn't enjoy a great 2-day camping trip?!

So, what does the fall hold? Well, with any due luck Kurtis will continue working for Hudson Scenic, possibly traveling out to do some work with them and hopefully completing his first year toward Local 1 qualification. Mary will be headed to a new adventure. After 4 seasons with Radio City, I will diverge this year to do another musical with Rick Kelly. This one is called Allegiance. It is a true story based on George Takei's life in a WWII Japanese internment camp. George Takei (Sulu on Star Trek) will also be one of the stars in the show.

Excitement is all around. Hope that your return to jobs, the fall and regular normal life is great!

Much love,

Mary and Kurtis