gypsygirl

So, not much new going on. I had fun at that workshop in Austin. Our meeting room was a computer lab, so there was plenty of hands-on time. We were at UT, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum was right across the street, so I went there one night. Other than that, I didn’t get out much. I asked Darryl when I got back what we actually use XSLT for here, and he could only think of one example off the top of his head, and that project’s done (though it may need tweaking at some point). So, though I was glad to learn the stuff, I don’t know when I’ll get to use it.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is just over a week away from opening (a week from tomorrow’s our preview performance) and it’s coming along nicely. Yesterday was the first night the actors weren’t allowed to call for lines (except for Big Mama, who only started about a week ago, due to an injury to the original Big Mama) and they did pretty well… except they were concentrating so hard on lines that they tended to lose energy. Tennessee Williams is a depressing enough playwright when the energy is up, so last night’s run-through just dragged in places.

I got a bunch of recording done this weekend. I had the time on Sunday, and I was in the right mood, so I just went for it. I got all my collaborative chapters done (a couple of the Arabian Nights [in French] and a few chapters from Kilmeny of the Orchard [which the BC asked me if I'd be willing to do]), and a monologue for the latest Shakespeare Collection, plus several chapters from my solos. I may get some more done tomorrow morning. I’m taking half a day off from work to get new tires for my car, so I may have some time before they open to get some chapters done. That’s one thing about doing shows, my evenings are pretty much gone. I have time between work and rehearsal to get a bite to eat or take a little nap (not both), but that’s about it. So I usually only get to record on the weekends.

I’m in the middle of rehearsals for The Man Who Came to Dinner at the WCT. I got cast as Lorraine Sheldon, bombshell. The thought still makes me giggle, because I so don’t think of myself as the bombshell type. I wasn’t actually up for the part originally. The director only had one person read for it the night that I auditioned; but when she got up there and started to read (in the same normal voice she had used for all her other readings), I happened to glance at the director and saw her shuffling her papers, shaking her head and muttering to herself in reaction. Well, based on the description she’d given us of the character and the fact that her first word in that scene was “Darling” I had a decent idea of what she was looking for, in the voice, at least. So at the end of the night, when she asked if anyone had wanted to read for a part and hadn’t gotten to, I raised my hand and asked to read for Lorraine. The producer told me later that the director cast me in the part as soon as I started reading. It’s been a fun show, quite apart from playing a vamp, because Tredessa’s in it too (as the female romantic lead), and it’s always fun to play with her! Plus in this show we play rivals, so even more fun.

I’m working on two projects at LibriVox right now; I’m still working on Pride and Prejudice (on the sly, so to speak). I’m more than two thirds of the way through it. And for my “public” project I finally decided on a compilation of short stories by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón. I have one left to go, and it’s the longest in the bunch, so I’ve broken it into three sections, to keep the file sizes manageable. I’m thinking of going back for more Scarlet Pimpernel after this; specifically, the Elusive Pimpernel, which is the book that comes between the two I’ve already done. My output has dropped lately, though, as I’m spending my evenings at the theatre and can only record on the weekends.

I went out to CHS with MB last Saturday to see Mandy’s production of Seussical. It was fun to compare similarities and differences in the costumes, because Mandy costumed the production we did at the WCT a few years ago. It was lots of fun, anyway. And Mandy played Mayzie; I’d always wondered how she would have played the part if she’d auditioned for our production (because I’m pretty darned sure she’d have gotten that part), and it was fun getting to see.

I’ve started a new blog on Xanga to keep track of the books I read this year. Head over there if you’re interested at all.

I did finally finish the Border Collie I was making my mother, though not in time for Christmas (more like New Year). Sewing it up took way longer than I’d expected. I have some pics, but they’re on my laptop and I’m currently at work, so I’ll post them later. I’m not terribly thrilled with the way it turned out. For one thing, I wasn’t able to find eyes in the right size. The pattern called for 12mm, and the smallest I could find was 15mm, so he looks a bit bug-eyed. Also, in retrospect (meaning after I’d sewn him up), I realized I should have put way more stuffing in him, especially in his front legs, because they were getting a bit floppy and he couldn’t sit up straight. Still, it was my first attempt at a stuffed animal, so it wasn’t too bad, and mum was quite pleased with him. She’s named him Toby and she sits him on her bed every morning with his front paws on the window sill “so he can see out and amuse himself while she’s at work”.

Now, in reaction to two fairly complicated projects (the dog and the shawl), I’m working on something nice and simple, where I don’t have to think at all, just let me fingers do their thing while I watch tv. I’m making a Gryffindor scarf. I’m actually nearly done with it. I mean it to be about six feet long and it’s already nearly as long as I am tall (meaning 5′2″). I’ll take some pics of it once I’m done (possibly wearing both it and my masters’ gown, for better effect :))

I’ve also been working on my first pair of socks. I found a toe-up pattern that looked pretty and I started them about two or three months ago, but the needle size they recommended was way too small, and it made the knitting too tight and hard to work (plus I didn’t like the way the pattern said to do the increases - it made the fabric untidy). So, I frogged what I’d done so far and started over with some larger needles. I’ve done about half the length of my foot on the first one and I think, maybe I should have done one needle size smaller (the original was US 0, and I went up to US 3) because it’s a little loose, but I think I can fix it. Anyway, I’ll post pics of them too, when I’m done.

So I was going to go bowling on Sunday with some friends, but we’re all so laid back that we didn’t actually manage to get our plans together in time, so we didn’t. <paranoid>Or maybe they did and they didn’t invite me!</paranoid>

You know, just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not out to get you.

I’m thinking of starting to re-read the Harry Potter books because the sixth one’s coming out in July. I figure, taking it leisurely, and taking time off for stuff I’m actually supposed to read, like textbooks, I’ll be done just before the new one’s released.

So I went bowling the other night with my new bowling ball, and I scored a 160 on the first game!! That’s my highest score to date. Of course, on the second game I didn’t even break 100, but I rallied on the third and managed a 122, which is closer to my normal.

As usual, I had a pretty good time with my mother, but by the end of the first week, I was ready for her to be out of my apartment. I love both my parents, but a week is as long as I can handle with either of them, if we’re staying in the same house.

It’s back to work tomorrow, so I’m making the most of my last day off. At the moment it’s nearly 2:30pm, and I’m still in my pjs. I’ve been doing some reading and watching some shows that got recorded while my mother was here. I have to go to the post office at some point today, but other than that, I’m free to be a slob and a vegetable, and I’m enjoying it a great deal. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go back to doing nothing.

One thing about having a parent come to visit, is that I feel the need to make sure everything in the apartment is really clean and tidy. Ok, let me make that a bit more specific. One thing about having my mother come to visit, because when my dad came, I just vaccumed and called it a day. So… spring cleaning in December. It’s been an interesting (and busy) weekend. And I haven’t quite finished yet.

I’ve also spent a little time finishing a couple of books that I wasn’t sure she’d approve of, so I could get them out of sight. No, no, get your mind out of the gutter! It’s just that my parents are both pretty conservative, and I think they’d have kittens if they saw that I was reading a series of mysteries featuring Chicago’s only wizard that advertises in the phone book (the Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher). Vampires, fey folk, demons… yeah, they’d think I’d gone over to the dark side. But if they don’t know, they can’t fuss me about it.

At the moment, it’s definitely Terry Pratchett. Have to send out a big thanks to Liz for introducing me to Pterry nearly two years ago.

Favourite Discworld characters:
The Librarian - an orangutan swinging through the shelves as though they were the trees in his native rain fore… wait, nevermind, he was born in Ankh Morpork, he’s a city ape (a BhangBhangduc word meaning “definitely not a monkey”)

Death - there’s just something about a personification of death that loves cats, could murder a good curry, and rides a huge white stallion named Binky… and talks in all caps. “I MUST SAY THESE ARE VERY GOOD BISCUITS. HOW DO THEY GET THE BITS OF CHOCOLATE IN?”

Rincewind - my favourite racist (the hundred meters, the mile, the marathon, he’s run them all), though probably the reason I like him so much is because of the Luggage (sapient pearwood, about a hundred little feet, follows him everywhere)

Angua - vegetarian werewolf and one of the few people who could beat up Carrot.

Hex - Ponder Stibbons’ computer. “+++ Divide By Cucumber Error. Please Reinstall Universe And Reboot +++”

The Nac Mac Feegle - “Fighting’s what they like best.”
“Whist, yon fellaight fra’ aquesbore!”
“Drinkin’s what they like best,” Nanny corrected herself.
“Nae, hoon a scullen!”
“Drinkin’ and fightin’s what they like best,” said Nanny.
“An’ snaflin’ coobeastie.”
“And stealing cows,” said Nanny. “Drinkin’, fightin’ and stealin’ cows is what they like best.”
(That’s definitely my favourite quote from anything of Pratchett’s. Mostly I just like the word ‘coobeastie’)