Julia Cameron, in her book “The Artist’s Way”, talks about Filling The Well, the idea that sometimes you need to renew your creative spirit. Once in a while all of our reservoirs run dry, and you just need to replenish and nourish that reservoir of energy and creativity.

Today was a day like that for me. A day full of wonderful things, and things of wonder.

We had a great family morning: breakfast, cleaning up around the house a little, then Max and I played a little JUSTICE LEAGUE: HEROES on the XBox! 🙂 Time well spent with my son laughing, strategizing and beating up pixelated bad guys with pixelated superheroes!

Following that, my brother Dominic brought his wife and kids over, and both families went to Max’s last basketball game of the season. (His team won, and they played well and had fun!)

THEN, Dominic, his wife Alesha, and Jeanne all went to Williamston Theatre to see THE SMELL OF THE KILL, and I stayed at home with both of my kids AND both of my nephews, ages 1 and 3! We had a ton of fun, those boys are awesome. It’s been a while since I got to sit with a baby – well, he’s technically a toddler, I guess, since he’s over 1 and walking… but he still needs a bottle, naps and diaper changes, and it was fun to do all of that and remember what it was like doing it with my kids! Best moment: He was just about to fall asleep on the blanket on the floor, when he sat up, got a *very* sad looking face, walked over to where I was sitting on the floor and snuggled up to me with his head on my shoulder. After cuddling him for about 30 seconds, he was out like a light! Such a sweetheart! 🙂

So, after all of that, (everyone had a great time: the adults loved the play, the kids loved the playtime), I was able to catch up on some emails, some reading for work, and went to see a play: Tipping Point Theatre’s closing performance of a fabulous production of THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS, a story about Eppie Lederer, the woman who was Ann Landers, directed by my friend Quintessa Gallinat and starring Julia Glander. It was a really lovely show, truly one of those “See, THIS is what theatre can do!” type of productions – loved it, was inspired by it. Got to chat with some friends before the show and after, and then was lucky enought to sit in the lobby and watch Julia have a chat with the woman who was the younger sister of Ann Landers’ husband! The story of Ann Landers/Eppie Lederers marriage was a big part of the play, and her husband Jules was discussed quite a bit… and then here in the lobby was, in the flesh, his younger sister telling Julia how much she’d loved the play, and her portrayal of her sister-in-law! The whole thing was very moving, and inspiring, and pretty darned neat!

I think Julia Cameron is right, about Filling The Well, and there’s something really wonderful about having a day when you don’t PLAN for it to happen, but it just happens anyway!

It’s a chilly March day but I’m listening to Dan Dickerson and Jim Price, the voices of the Detroit Tigers, as they broadcast the Tigers Spring Training game from Lakeland, Florida.  This day, the first broadcast of the pre-season games, is always a little giddy-making for me!  🙂

I’m thrilled to say that The Smell Of The Kill is closing with strong houses and appreciative audiences at the Williamston Theatre this weekend.  (There are still some tickets left, so if you’re reading this and want to catch the show, call quick!).  The show will then move to Tipping Point theatre in Northville, MI, where it will enjoy a healthy run of 5 weeks.  People are really really enjoying this dark comedy!

In addition, the next show that we’ve got coming up at Williamston is our co-production of IT CAME FROM MARS, which is currently getting fantastic reviews at the Performance Network in Ann Arbor!  I’m very pleased and grateful for the wonderful responses from audiences and critics both!  Links to the reviews are below:

Encore Michigan
Detroit Free Press
Ann Arbor.Com
New Monitor
Michigan Entertainment
The Oakland Press

One of the nicest comments, and one that makes me proud of the whole team: 
It’s thrilling to see all the elements of a fledgling production fit together so seamlessly. Of all the works by Michigan playwrights I’ve reviewed over the past two years, "It Came from Mars" is the one most likely to be staged a century from now. 

And, if that’s not enough good stuff, last night I got the chance to sit and watch some TV with my son, who has been very excited to share with me a show that’s been around for a while but that he has just discovered, "Avatar: The Last Air-Bender".  It’s a very cool fantasy/sci-fi cartoon, and I think it’s something that we’ll love watching and sharing time over.  I love, love, love finding those things that I can share with my son!

At the Williamston Theatre, our fantastic apprentice Erin has undertaken a re-organization of some of our storage areas, and the project is going wonderfully.  It’s great to see someone tackle something that could be really mundane work, but attack it with a "Let’s make it better" attitude and really make a difference.  Team players = absolute goodness. 
*****

Tonight at the Performance Network Theatre we had a great rehearsal and run of It Came From Mars.  Some fantastic work has been done over the last 7 days by everyone involved, and I’m proud to be a part of that team.
*****

I have to send out a big fat special "YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME" to 21st Century Insurance:  Tonight the roads were horrible – we had a big ol’ snowstorm and lots of folks found driving to be difficult.  I had no trouble driving, I just had trouble avoiding the deer AND the snowbank, so to avoid the big furry living one I wound up sliding into the big fluffy white one… *sigh*  Tapping on my brakes sent me right into a slow, gentle skid on the icy, snowy road and as I honked my horn the deer ran away, but I did wind up sliding into a snowdrift, and my car wasn’t getting out of it without help.  I called my insurance, since we have roadside assistance, and they said "Someone will be there in 15 minutes."  

Well, I doubted that would happen – I mean, it was 11pm on a snowy Wednesday night.  And yet, at the 15 minute mark a tow truck pulled up – a very nice gentleman got out, asked if I was alright, and if I needed any help other than just being pulled out of the drift.  I didn’t, so he quickly and effiiciently got my car out of the drift and back onto the road.  After a quick check to make sure it was drivable, he wished me the best, and watched me drive away just to make sure the car was running properly.  

Total time from deer running in front of me to me back on road: 22 minutes.  Unbelievable.  

AND – in the time between landing in the snowdrift and the tow truck getting there, 4 different people stopped to see if I needed help, including one woman waving her cellphone just in case I didn’t have one, two nice guys my age who both offered me rides somewhere if I needed it, and one strapping young man who l think was a Chelsea high-schooler, who was convinced that he could push the car out of the drift if I just put it in reverse and gunned it.  (That didn’t work, but it was nice of him to try.)

So – it was also nice to have my faith in people restored.  Thanks, universe.
 

Some things from the week that made this Dad/Director/Artistic Director happy:

SNOW DAY!  Yesterday was a snow day for Chelsea Schools, AND for the Williamston Theatre (because we needed one!), and it was great.  Spent the day with my family, had an impromptu snowball fight with my son, we all went to see "Percy Jackson" at the movies. 

It Came From Mars previews have gone really well at the Performance Network Theatre.  We’ve learned a TON, which is what I love about previews.  Today at rehearsal we’ll implement some rewrites, polish and tighten some things, and generally have fun lifting some moments from "good" status to "great"!  🙂 

Clearing my driveway with the snow-thrower was very therapeutic yesterday.  There’s something incredibly gratifying about a nicely cleared driveway after a giant snowfall. 

The Smell Of The Kill continues to please audiences and critics at the Williamston Theatre.  We got another great review from The Rogue Critic and this show is going wonderfully.  With only two weeks left, we’re looking forward to packing the house for the remainder of the run!  (Oh, interested in some behind the scenes scoop from the director of the show?  Check out her entry on the Williamston Theatre rehearsal blog!)

Spring Training has started.  The Tigers signed Johnny Damon, who will be a much needed left-handed bat in their lineup this season.  The first Spring Training game is on March 2nd, only a week away.  I can’t wait for baseball to come back!

Be bold and mighty powers will come to your aid.
-Basil King

Yield not to evils, but attack all the more boldly.
-Virgil, Roman epic poet (70 BC – 19 BC)

When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson, US essayist & poet (1803 – 1882)

These are great!  30 Dumb Inventions!  I think my favorite is the Phone Answering Robot, just because I really want a giant robot hanging out by my desk.

Williamston Theatre is 3 for 3 with reviews for <i>The Smell Of The Kill</i>!  Here’s the latest:  "Moving In For The Kill"

"Total Eclipse Of The Heart" – The Literal Version.  An oldie but a goodie, this is hilarious. 

Jonathan Coulton sings what has become one of my favorite songs: THE FUTURE SOON– this song is fun, sweet, and full of love for geeks!  🙂
(As a bonus, here’s him singing CODE MONKEY, which is also awesome!)

Awesome Picture:  The Space Shuttle Endeavour silhoutted against the Earth.