-I like my cheese sandwiches toasted, open face, in the broiler. I like the cheese blackened, but not the bread. American cheese alone is the best, but a nice change of pace is to mix a couple of cheeses (swiss, american, bleu, cheddar) and put a little salt, pepper and a tomato slice on there and broil it that way.

-Every time I see those books, calendars or websites listing all of the things that come out of the mouth of George W. Bush, I find myself embarassed for us as a country. The following is a direct quote, read it, and see if I’m wrong. “And so, in my State of the–my State of the Union–or state–my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation–I asked Americans to give 4,000 years–4,000 hours over the next–the rest of your life–of service to America. That’s what I asked–for 4,000 hours.” – George W. Bush, addressing the nation.

-True story; yesterday, I’m at the gas station, filling up my tank. Only $2.03 per gallon, whoohooo. I look over at the gas pump next to mine. A guy is standing outside his car, pumping the gas, talking on his cell phone. The car is still running, his driver side door is wide open. Their stereo is on (a country song I didn’t recognize.) Inside the car, the woman in the passenger seat is smoking a cigarette. I looked back to my own pump, reading the sign that says, basically, to NOT do all of those things in order to avoid, y’know, blowing up. I looked back to Mr. Cell Phone and just thought “How bad would it suck to die like THIS?!”

-At home I prefer my popcorn popped in oil, on the stove, and served with just salt. However, at the movies, I like it with butter all the way through, and no additional salt. (And no candy, thank you very much – movies are for popcorn!)

-I’ve recently finished Sarah Vowell’s book, The Partly Cloudy Patriot. She’s a marvelous essayist; insightful and funny with a distinctly interesting way of looking at the world. She has other books out, I’m looking forward to reading them! One of the funny things about her is that although she’s primarily a writer, and a contributor to This American Life on NPR, she also provided the voice of Violet in the movie The Incredibles!

I love Thanksgiving, and the whole celebration and togetherness with family and friends that comes with it.

I love a succulent, well cooked, juicy turkey.

However, I could not imagine eating a 10 pound turkey all by myself.

This woman did it in 12 minutes.

Here’s me as a South Park character!

Go make one of your own!

The PrideSource/Between The Lines review by Don Calamia has been released, and it’s very positive.

He does a nice job of summing up “Story Theatre”, the style in which the script is written, and compliments us on our work. At the same time, he talks about a woman in the row in front of him who loudly proclaimed her hatred for the play but her love of the actors! Very funny!

So, 3 good reviews, 0 bad = good ticket sales, hopefully!

Happy Thanksgiving!! Happy Thanksgiving!! Happy Thanksgiving!! Happy Thanksgiving!! Happy Thanksgiving!! Happy Thanksgiving!! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Yay! First Snow! Been snowing since this afternoon, doesn’t show signs of stopping…(I broooought some corn for popping….)

They’re not great pics, I only had my PDA, so I just took a couple of quick shots.

The drive home

Home Sweet Home

Martin Kohn of the Detroit Free Press enjoyed the show. Called my staging “sprightly“. 3 out of 4 stars: seemed only to object to a little script stuff. Let’s hope that sells tickets!

We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.
Charles Schaefer
———-

Jeanne and Maggie were at swimming, and Max and I were home playing. After some good ol’ fashioned wrasslin’, He wanted to play Ninjas! So he got dressed in his ninja costume (yes, he has one! They have a whole slew of dressup clothes/costumes to play with) and I dressed in black sweats and my black hoodie. We turned out most of the lights, and spent about 45 minutes skulking around the house, being quiet and ninja-ish!

Occasionally he would show me a Ninja Move or Ninja Pose that I had to copy, or explain a new part of the game to me.
“We have to hide in the shadows, and protect everybody! We’re good guys!”

So, just before the ladies were expected home, I made a sign on notebook paper: Warning! This house guarded by ninjas! I posted it on the front door. We were, of course, hiding in the shadows of the living room when they walked in – they entered quietly, looking around cautiously.

“Careful Maggie, look for the ninjas!”, whispered Jeanne.

Max and I, as he had arranged, stepped in front of them in VERY commanding Ninja Poses. (Oh, don’t laugh, you know you have a commanding Ninja Pose, too!)

Barely visible in the deep shadows, Max stood before the potential intruders.
“Password?” he queried, face hidden in his ninja mask.
“Um, Ala Kazaam?” answered Jeanne.

A beat of Ninja silence.

“You may enter” he said solemnly.
Then he and I slid silently back into the shadows of the living room.

The ladies removed their outerwear as Max and I continued stealthily guarding the house. Once coats and shoes were off, of course, Maggie and Jeanne wanted to play too, so Max and I showed them our best “roll from one shadowy corner of the living room to another” moves, and we all skulked about in the shadows for a few minutes practicing our best Ninja Moves. (In all modesty, I must say I look absolutely fabulous as a shadowy lump on the cedar chest. Even Jeanne thought so!)

Eventually, of course, I had to break the spell, and order teeth brushed and books read for bed. Not before, however, Jeanne took a snapshot of Max and I in our VERY commanding Ninja Poses.

That’s gonna be a good one for the scrapbook.
———-

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw

So, the new Board Of Directors for the Williamston Theatre Project has its first official Board Meeting in early December.
Excellent.

In prep, we’re sending out Board Packets, with lots of info, and John and I are sending letters from the Executive Director and Artistic Director. I thought I’d post mine. Click the link!

Feedback is openly invited!