Jesus H Christ...on a popsickle stick

music: Scorpions, Our Lady Peace, Fiona Apple
mood: Hot

Okay, it's hot. I will admit it. It was 85 in the house last night. You know its pretty hot when you have NO covers and NO pajamas and you are still sweating. You also know it's hot when susannah doesn't eat and actually takes a cold morning shower. I honestly don't remember the last time I took a cold shower intentionally. 104 today and I'm sure the valley over is taxing their air conditioners. I, being anti air conditioning, wouldn't mind a little reprieve admittedly....this is what jeep is EXCELLENT For. Not only is there a breeze if I drive fast enough, I can get myself to the coast where it is currently 16 degrees cooler making it a nice 88...that's hot sand...its that or the movie theatre and I hate to miss the sun on days like this no matter how sweaty you get whether you move or you are still. The nights are AWESOME though. NOTHING (okay, I perhaps am being over dramatic and make this statement in hast, sue me) better that 75 degree nights...makes me want to sleep even less! Here are the things it's actually too hot for.

1) way too hot to keep Anu's garden alive... my mom even lost a TREE in her garden from this heat. I'm doing the best I can though, don't panic if you are reading this Anu...

2) way too hot to keep a candle I bought as a birthday present in the car. yeah....it pretty much melted. My poor car. He puts up with almost as much as my phones do. Okay, maybe more. At least it was a good smelling candle.

3) It is too hot to eat an ice cream cone. It melts way too quick, all over, very sticky. Cosuming such a refreshing dessert would require another person to help. This is not a current option. Thus... I have my ice cream in a bowl instead of a cone. It proves less messy.

4) To walk barefoot. This one sucks, cause I hate shoes, and even with my calloused deck feet, the pavement is friggin scorching.

5) Too hot to stop my brain...Most people I think go into sleepy unmotivated heat wave mode. I however am superwoman today. I think I do have a form of photosynthesis...I am more motivated to create, move, and do stuff. It also makes me silly.

MISC NEWS: I SAW my FROGS in the yard while gardening yesterday morning. I was so stoked. I almost raked them, but they were both hanging out. So cute!!! I hadn't named them becuase I didn't think I would see them again, but now...Bonnie and Clyde. I have no idea if I have a male and a female, but that is what they wished to be called. I told my mom and she wants some. Too hot (number 6) to transport them today though. I hope it doesn't turn into a cain toad scenario. FROGGIES!

Saw two versions Fri and then Sat night of the show Jesus Christ Superstar. One in a small space in San Jose, one in a very LARGE space in Alameda. Both had some REALLY great moments. Overall though the San Jose production was much more cohesive and Rock. The Alameda production had a better Jesus (I knew the second he opened his mouth I was in for a treat in the second act) and was very spectacle and musical theatrey. Not my preference. I could go on and on...but I won't. Suffice to say I want to be a rockstar (that Guitar riff is so incredible) and I very clearly am a tech head (the video, lighting, stage craft, and set in many ways was even more amazing than the music and acting). This has been reaffirmed. I don't need to see this show for a few years now.

Somewhere half way through the show last night while I am sitting in thought by myself, the memory of my friend Aaron popped into my head. He does this from time to time. I pondered the timing of this particular thought. And then it became very clear. We were in this show together and he played Pilate.
This was in fact his last show. He passed a few months later at 21 of heart complications. His birthday is next week. I should call him mother. I smiled. He always was such an only child...even in death he makes it all about him. Miss you Aaron. Thanks for the visit. Doofus.

And now...I'm off to give some extra T.L.C to the Khanna's garden, and perhaps to Santa Cruz...

Try not to melt!

princess on 07.23.06 @ 01:28 PM PST [link] [5 Comments]

Monday, July 17th

The Epic Saga Comes to a Close..

music: Low Fidelity All Stars, Gypsy kings, They Might Be Giants
mood: Relief

Show closed to great audiences both full and responsive (except for one night, when I think they in fact died out there...major crickets). Auditions went AWESOME, and I have a great cast committed to the show. I only need three more men to round out the cast. I was admittedly a bit exhausted this week and wondering if I had gotten in over my head, but I really do love directing and as soon as I started hearing those words out loud all sorts of ideas came to mind and I just really felt the adrenaline flow. More on that later.

The most exciting of news is that I now have a phone. (until it goes through the washing machine or gets shampoo in it.) Thanks to Adrienne Wilkinson (the winner of the week who also brought FLOWERS with her when she cameto see the show last week) lent me a cingular phone. My sim card has apparently only sustained minimal water damage and though the phone is very different then I am used to (you know how I hate change) I should be able to retrain myself and function normally very soon. So call and text away loved ones!!!

Met an actor this weekend whose stage work I have quite admired for several years. SO nice to have talented people not only be nice, but to be SMART and witty and have good taste in romantic partners. He's seeing another friend of mine as of very recently and it's just awesome. One of those folks ( well two of those folks actually) that just restores your faith in humanity, your instincts and makes you happy you are involved in the Arts. Yeah happy people. Bad news is he's moving to New York next month....but you know what... I'm totally thinking selfishly here...he won't stay...not long...he'll be back to grace the Bay Area with talent and kindness soon...

At South First Street Billards, where one goes after a show for a Cape Cod or a Guinness (or..uh both on occasion) the bouncer asked to look in my purse. I have a small lunchbox purse. I asked if he was checking for explosive makeup or somehting. He very seriously told me he was looking for food or drink. This is a case only big enough for wallet and keys (and a bikini as I discovered at the ast party Sunday nights) and he thinks I am bringing food in. I'm surprised he let me in, I told him except for the nachos, I didn't have anything. He didn't find it that amusing.

Writing project....not sure when, but Michael and I have decided (well I've decided for him) that since he is the only friend I have that knows all about poker (I hardly know her) and I like to not sleep we are going to write a play/screenplay called 24 hours from Garden City which is a really shady casino nearby. We are going to stay up for 24 hours and observe the comings and goings (perhaps even interact) and then after our character study write up a cool piece....Good writing exercise for the writing muscles... and with enough luck...I can make millions and afford this trip!

And on that note since I am still at work and still have work to do at 11pm on a Monday I will sign off for now...Word to your mother....

hehe

princess on 07.17.06 @ 11:14 PM PST [link]

Friday, July 14th

Friday Frogs

music: Bonnie Raitt, Mary Chapin, Susan Werner
mood: FRIDAY, enough said

Another busy weekend with RTE auditions, ticketing, work and shows. This is closing weekend of California Suite and last night it was super to see 8 unexpected friends in the audience. Even better that it was 8 of the 12 in the audience. Drinks and a talk on the swings at the park until late capped off thursday and kicked Friday into high gear. And if by high gear you mean AWESOME, then yes.

In housesitting for Anu and Gaurav while in India (and yes, Gaurav emailed to tell me they were okay, not near the train that day) I noticed as I was watering plants lots and lots of little tiny frogs jumping about. I was reminded of my sister Rebecca's frog that she kept for a month when I was little. Fremont was about twice the size of these frogs, but we would scavenge for caterpillars in the yard for him as he lived in a fishbowl condo for about a month before being released back into the wild by the creek. Since the bird feeder that I have put up in the yard we have had more and more birds, very VOCAL birds I might add, congregate in the woods behind the house, but I miss the frogs. So I borrowed two on a permenant basis from Anu's house. She won't miss them. They are small but with a huge yard to frolic in, maybe they will enjoy their relocation and produce some night music for me while I soak in the hottub.

Update on my horse...well, not MY horse...but you know...they are all mine...I'm hoping he just pulls through. I bet if I could have a chat with him, he'd cheer up and heal.

Saw Underworld: Evolution. Pretty to look at, excellent costuming, a slow clap for the special effects, but I really didn't get this movie. I mean I GET it, but it was kind of a "huh!?" film. Sadly it wasn't sexy, thrilling, or even scary. 2 Rutgers/Rockwells/D'nofrios. and speaking of Rutger Hauer.

Saw Batman Begins. LOVED Rutger Hauer, unfortuantely this movie...was...lame. 1st off, Danny Elfman did not do the music. Hello, what? No, I don't think so. It's not a batman movie without the batman theme. James Horner, not dark enough. Liam, I love you, but who do you think you are in this movie, Qui-Gon Jinn? 2 RRD's...and 1 1/2 of those are in fact for Rutger.

World cup final was just as it should have been. Well matched, double overtime, red cards, histrionics, and the French ultimatly losing. Ah tant pis. Zindane is lucky he wasn't the one insulting Materazzi. Tell an Italian his sister is a whore and he's a terrorist, and you will end up not just head butted but dead. Many funny parodies coming from it. I loved the last 3 minutes....as a former (still recovering) athlete, I so identify with the pressure there at the end, and the relief when it's all over. Really puts me in the mood for a nice little competition. Beach Volleyball anyone? I got a pool table even....hell I'll beat you at scabble...game on!

Helping to spread the word here....this is huge...donate, get involved...There are some really fabulous, superior human beings running this...the world needs more people like this... BEST PROJECT EVER.

princess on 07.14.06 @ 01:54 PM PST [link]

Wednesday, July 12th

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

music: The Killer
mood: Don't get me started...

The Dreams have been wacky over the last few weeks and I keep trying to remember to log them here. Per my usual dreams they are all in color cartoon, but I think my animation has been upgraded in my psyche. Pretty difficult in some instances to tell, particularly because of the graphic nature of some of these dreams. Here are a few of the three most vivid ones I can recall as of late�I don�t know what they MEAN, but they were funny when I woke up. Well, funny because I don�t know why I dreamed them�not if they were real.

#1. My mom is pregnant at almost 70. She is told there is a very high propability that she will die in childbirth. My mom says she doesn�t care, she is willing to take the risk. What more beautiful way for a mother who is SUCH a mom to die then during childbirth and bringing new life into the world. Plus it would give my father the best possible gift she could give him. They decide to have the child. She ends up bleeding an absurd amount like horror movie amounts. It is assumed she has no blood left�but the baby seems okay. I wake up. So random�but�.so like my mom too�

#2 I go to the San Jose Repertory Theatre for an audition, but I don�t have an audition piece and I don�t bring my resume with me. And there is a delay somehow and I end up standing by the directors just shooting the shit with them, basically making up my monologue disguised as witty banter. I�m dropping information that one would find on a resume ridiculously. Stuff like my address and phone number, how do you work that into regular conversation!? And I cleverly leave my photo headshot on the table where everyone is hanging out, and I am basically hoping the fact I don�t have a resume or monologue prepared is not going to matter somehow. That acting like I�m important will make them think I am and make me exempt from the process. As I�m talking the artistic director grabs a napkin and starts writing notes, but I can�t see what he�s writing. Then he attaches the scribbled napkin on my headshot. And the auditions begin. And I wake up, not knowing if I have to fake a monologue, if the notes are good, or what the hell I was thinking. This was a night I woke up and felt extremely unrested. Imagine an all night nerve wracking audition.

#3 I wake up in my friend�s apartment in the guest bedroom, and I walk into the living room and he is sitting there with a woman. And I think, oh, I�m interrupting something, I better go, so I leave. When I get back to the guest bedroom there is a very drunk man outside the window with a nail gun. And he shoots a nail and it breaks through the glass. I panic a bit, I don�t want anyone to get hurt, so I go out to warn my friend and he is now sitting on the floor of the living room with 7 women�.teaching�a scrapbooking class?! Random�.and I�m like�uh I don�t mean to disturb you but there�s a crazy man with a nail gun outside. And he looks at me as if that�s really not his concern, and a few of the scrapbooking women say hi to me, and I decide for some reason to go back in the guest room and climb out the window (because now we are somehow on the 4th floor and not the ground floor) and walk about on the roof. I then see from the roof a orange school bus driving and sideswipe my car parked on the street. Somehow the Jeep gets attached to the bus and the bus driver doesn�t notice. I start yelling and waving at him and telling him to come back with my Jeep, but he doesn�t he just flips me off instead. Rude. I magically somehow get off the roof and start running after the bus and a few people run after it with me trying to help. I�m yelling almost crying saying I can�t do anything without my car, you have to come back, I just need my car! I woke up as if I had in fact run a mile after my jeep.

So these dreams don�t have a lot of resolution as my dreams usually do. There wasn�t cutting and editing much in the either, I for once just let them kind of happen instead of controlling them like I usually do. There were no do overs. Maybe I was just too tired. I�ve gone on Holiday as I call it, started sleeping with my head at the other end of the bed for a few day to see if my dreams improve. Clean sheets and pillows have seemed to help as well�I�ll keep you updated�

Sweet Dreams!

princess on 07.12.06 @ 10:02 AM PST [link]

Wednesday, July 5th

Reviews all around with an international flavor.

music: Jackson 5, Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder
mood: Is it Friday yet?

The Holiday weekend was packed with shows, work, errands, meetings, and lots of list making. I got projects coming out my eyeballs but had time to have a couple of good phone, online and in person conversations with family and friends. Despite the BEST sunscreen EVER, I managed to still get burned a bit during my several hours of topless jeep driving. (The jeep, not me, how many times do we have to go over this)

Chris Bartlett- Irishman extraodinare has made an attempt to hook me up with a (virtually) free and functional phone for the remaining two months until my free upgrade...the hand off will be made tomorrow...wish me luck.

Menalie Geiger - German extrodinaire will be our new J-wong replacement roomate. She's fantastic, and I'll get to practice or let's face it relearn my German! She just moved out here from near Stuttgart in January and she loves it. I love it when people love my state...or rather northern California. We are pretty cool. October ( September) fest will be head quartered this year at the highland Palace.

The Metro reviewed California Suite pretty decently. Our Milpitas Review hasn't showed up yet. The shows are solid and I have a fair number of folks who are going to try to make it this week so we will see what the REAL thought on the production is.

Sunday I was burnt after the weekend with 2 days of technical holiday left but a list a mile long that was daunting. So I went to Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club after stopping by to see the parents for a bit. I saw a GREAT comic (Colin Moultin)and sample a pint each of 3 of my favorite beers (Bass, Guiness and Fat Tire)

Saw Three films over the weekend as well (Tuesday I didn't even go into work!!!) Transamerica, which was delightful. powerful and humorous (kind of like me...oh wait...no, nevermind). I have no idea why Reese Witherspoon won an oscar/golden globe for Walk the Line when Felicity huffman really built a character here. Such a real and thoughtful job. It gets 4RRD's, skip the special features though...lllaaammmeeee...

Breakfast on Pluto. This is a neil Jordan film and as we know, I love Neil Jordan. Always have. In the same league as Johnny Depp as far as the stories he chooses to tell and how he executes them. From Company of Wolves through this film I've only disliked one film I've seen of his. This was a great movie with Cillian Murphy who for a butch lad, plays a pansy pretty damn well. Thoughtful, fair and not unlike transamerica, laced with unexpected positivity, lightness and joy. This is a really GREAT story and told exceptionally well of which I will spoil none of it. A bit of tongue and cheek. Lighter than the normal plight of Irish films/stories. Think hedwig and the angry Inch minus the music and bitterness. 4 1/4 RRD's.

The Skeleton Key: Caught this on TV. Creepy but not scary. Kate Hudson and Peter Saarsguard do a decent job, the star of course of this movie as alwasy wehn you film there, New Orleans. Spanish moss, Creepy graveyards, iron balconies, the Willows and giant cypress, add in a creepy plantation home and you've got me. 3 1/4 RRD's with most of that going to voodoo, the cinemotography and a decent somewhat unpredicatable ending.

Next on the Netflix List, Underworld sequel ( Cool outfit, kick ass fighting fix), The Libertine (Johnny fix, though I'll see Pirates tomorrow night most likely after the show) and Suenos (John Leguizamo fix)

Potugal will have to battle Germany for the Bronze in World Cup, maybe I'll take Melanie down the street to Garibaldi's in Little Portugal and watch the game there! Now I can cheer for both Italy and Portugal guilt free as they have the best looking teams and that's what it should really be all about right =]

princess on 07.05.06 @ 07:32 PM PST [link]

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