Red Nose

A Doozy of a Nightmare

I had a doozy of a nightmare the night before last. It came at the tail end of a long, involved dream wherein I was working with a bunch of people in the building where I had my first real job. That whole "other" dream doesn't even matter -- I've forgotten it already, in fact.

This is the nightmare part.

I walked out the building and got in my car. It was very cloudy; a big storm was coming. I looked up at the sky and saw the first small wisps of funnel clouds developing, then dissipating, then forming again. Each was a little bigger than the last; each reached down toward earth a little more. I thought, "I've got to get a picture of this!" I reached into my purse and grabbed my camera, then I fumbled around with it a little as I tried to turn it on.

I looked up again, out of the driver's side window, and saw the black, roiling clouds become a huge evil hand reaching down for me! I cringed and shrank back into the car seat, trying to scream "Get away! Get away!" but I couldn't quite get the words out. I knew that I had to, though, so I finally forced myself to scream as loud as I could -- GET AWAY!

I heard myself actually saying the words out loud and realized that it was a dream, but I lay there under the covers for a minute (or two? or three?) just breathing, just being there safe in my bed, because I couldn't quite move yet.

Finally, I rolled over and sat up. Then I got up and went to the bathroom for a drink of water, so that I could really convince myself that I had, indeed, been dreaming.

Relatively Speaking

Last Sunday, I had brunch with my second cousin Meg (I think I've got that relationship right). Until she read my post about my grandfather and sent me an email, I never knew she existed! It turns out that my grandfather and her grandfather were brothers! She and her husband came to town to visit their son, so we got together to exchange our various life stories and get to know one another.

We had a wonderful time! I gave her one of the several milk bottles from the family dairy; she gave me a ton of ancestral information, including a great photo of my great-grandmother, Mary Jane Cummings Wise. She looks a little grumpy in this photo, doesn't she? But I'll tell what, the resemblance to my grandfather and my Pop is eerie.

Meg also gave me a picture of our mutual great-uncle (I think) John, who was a Jesuit! Just like the Pope! I found a later picture of him in my mom's collection of her favorite pictures, so here he is as a young priest and as an old priest.

We yakked on and ate a great brunch, and parted with promises to keep in touch. I'm going to send her a geneology that I have from another distant cousin. I'm pretty sure that Meg can fill in some of the holes, because I think her whole branch was left out.

A whole lot of other stuff happened last week -- including an overnight trip to Seattle -- but all that is for another entry.

 

Another Visit From Pop

When I get down in the dumps, I try to buck myself up be reminding myself that not everything is disappointing, or irritating, or hard. I count my blessings and list things I'm grateful for and remember that I'm a lot better off than a whole lot of people.

Sometimes it works.

I've had to do that a lot this month, but hey - that's February for you. It's cold, mostly grey, kinda damp, but every few days a bright, sharp, sunny day pierces the gloom. A cloudy spittin' rain sort of day ends with a glorious sunset and rainbow.

So it goes.

In the deep part of the night, I dreamed that I was in some sort of hotel (a dream I have a lot). I was packing up to go when my Pop came around the corner and gathered me up in a great big hug. I hugged him back, just reveling in feeling his face against mine, and he told me that everything was going to be all right, and then the dream dissolved.

This sort of thing never ever happened when he was alive. He wasn't a hugger. But it was definitely him in that dream, definitely hugging me, definitely telling me that all would be well.

But I lay there in the bed, half awake and half asleep, feeling that hug and knowing that it was not just a dream, but a visit.

Thanks, Pop. I think you're right.

 

 

...And Thank You For The Audition!

I had my audition  for Listen to Your Mother yesterday! I'm pleased with how I did. The winner of the "Pick the Piece" poll was Today She Was In China -- I edited it a bit, adding some material and cutting some material, making sure it would be less than five minutes.

I got up at six o'clock -- I'd been more or awake since four -- got ready, took Joe to work, and headed on over to the hotel where the auditions were taking place. I took the winding back roads all the way there, both to eat up time and to occupy my mind, but I still got there an hour and half early.

So I drove on over to a nearby shopping area and plopped myself down at the Corner Bakery with a cuppa and a bagel, and I played Angry Birds and checked Facebook and read articles on Salon and then I walked up and down the sidewalk and browsed quickly through Barnes and Noble and thought about buying a new Moleskine notebook and thought better of it, and finally drove back over to the hotel.

And I was still 15 minutes early, so I pulled out my audition piece and read it out loud, timing it once again to make sure it was under five minutes long. I'm sure the guy changing the tire two cars down wondered what the hell I was doing. After I read the piece, I realized that I was really really nervous! Even though I have years of experience speaking, making presentations, acting in plays, clowning around, delivering keynotes, blah blah blah... I had stage fright. I know -- a little stage fright is a good thing! It keeps you alert. It helps you concentrate. It inspires you to be prepared. Oh, bullshit! It's nerve wracking, plain and simple.

Anyway, I knocked on the door right at 11:00, and Kate and Stephanie (the producer and director) ushered me into the audition room. They were lovely! They introduced themselves and made me feel quite comfortable. We chatted about the show and how it would work; I handed over my paperwork and settled into the Audition Chair.

The reading itself was fine, just fine. (I was happy to hear laughs at the right places!) The one glitch occurred right at the end, when I simultaneously choked up a little and my hand started visibly shaking. But I got myself together, got my hand under control, and finished up.

Kate and Stephanie complimented me on the reading -- win! -- thanked me for coming out, and that was that! Fifteen whole minutes!

I might get cast; I might not get cast. A lot depends on how my piece fits in with the overall theme of the show and how many other pieces are like it. Fifty people auditioned; there are twelve spots in the cast. I admit I'll be a little disappointed if I don't make it, but it was worth it regardless of the outcome.

So thank you to everyone who voted and who encouraged me to go for it! If you live in the DC area, you should go to the show. I know I will, whether I'm a cast member or an audience member. It's going to be great!

Sunday Sundry

Things are better at work, which is good because I didn't get the job in St. Thomas. I decided to relax and not get so bent out of shape about shit I have no control over, for one thing. I'm still getting irritated, but hey, none of this is worth getting my bowels in an uproar (as my Pop used to say). I'm trying to breathe and move instead of getting wound up and stuck. Who knows, it could work.

I did the taxes, filed them, and have already gotten our Maryland refund. Hello, new brakes and shocks! Our federal refund is due mid-week; hello, new stove! I tell you, we are all fancy up in here. I must say, I do like Turbo Tax a lot. I also really like the IRS's "Where's my refund?" feature. Maryland has a similar feature; when I checked it yesterday, it told me that my return had been approved and my refund sent to my bank. Sure enough, there it was! Remember the olden days when you filled out those forms by hand, trusted your arithmetic, sent them off, and then waited and waited and waited? This is better. Who knows, the future could be better yet!

I'm watching news on the blizzard in New England just now. Man! I feel for all my pals in New England. Our last blizzard was Snowmaggedon in 2010; since then the DC area has had a grand total of 13" of snow. Although, as we were clumping toward the train after yet another Caps loss at home, I overheard a meteorologist (that's what he said he was, I swear) say that they were seeing signs that we could get clobbered over President's Day weekend. It makes sense; some of the biggest snowstorms we've ever had in this neck of the woods have been over President's Day. Who knows, it could snow!

It's been a terrible start for my Capitals; they're in last place in the Eastern Conference in fact. But! Last night's game against the Panthers provided a ray of hope -- my boys won 5-0, Ovie scored, and our goalie was brilliant. And the hope? That we can keep it up! Who knows, we might!

We saw "The Quartet" today. I really loved it. Yes, it's kind of another "feel good" British film (although directed by Dustin Hoffman), but the acting is lovely and the story is sweet and the music is beautiful. I love Maggie Smith! And Billy Connolly is terrific too. I hope, when I am old old, that I'll be able to find a place to live that is as nice as the one in this movie. Who knows, it could happen!

 

Family Fun Time!

My sister threw a Super Bowl party last night and I had a blast! It was not a large affair -- just family, a whole lot of good football food, and four (or five?) glasses of wine. For me.

I seldom drink, so those four (or five?) glasses of wine relaxed me quite a bit. We have a lot of fun when we all get together... we crack jokes, share memories, and mostly laugh a lot.

We did have a little bit of business to take of before the game and the food got started. Remember Hurricane Sandy? And how we thought our beach house escaped any damage?

Alas; such is not the case.

For some reason -- probably having to do with the fact that it's a modular home -- all of the duct work for the heating and air conditioning system is in the crawl space under the house. And, to avoid rust in such a humid area, it's made out of thick, thick cardboard (or something close to it).

Yes, friends, we have a paper A/C system.

Such systems do not fare very well in hurricanes where the crawl space fills up with water; neither does the 20 year old compressor. My brother-in-law patched it back together with spit and duct tape, but that lasted all of five seconds and the whole thing basically melted during the next storm.

So we have to replace the whole system, including some decent duct work that runs through the attic.

This is, as you might expect, Not Cheap. In fact, it is damned fucking expensive, and that's for the middle of the road system. So we filed a flood insurance claim, and my sister and brother-in-law braved the cold cold house to meet the insurance adjuster. It looks like everything will go through.

But anyway, we got all that over with early, so that we could enjoy the game. We were a divided family, however. My sister, niece, and brother-in-law were rooting for the 49ers, but the rest of us were rooting for the Ravens. Yes, I am a diehard Redskins fan, but I am also a Maryland gal whose ancestors come from Baltimore and whose son is a dead ringer for Joe Flacco.

What a game! I've got to hand it to the 49ers; they have a way of lulling their opponents into a sense of complacency and then BOOM! Seventeen point in four minutes. Every time Ray Lewis appeared on the TV my sister yelled, "Murderer!" and we all drank some more wine.

But SonnyeBoy Joe Flacco kept his cool and the Ravens defense stood up when they had to and today Charm City is celebrating.

My favorite commercial, by the way, was the "Montanaland" Tide commercial.

And I had a great night's sleep after four glasses of wine; I felt great this morning! I think I was so relaxed from all that lovely white zinfandel and moscato that I didn't grind my teeth at all.

So, lesson learned! Time for a glass of wine!

It Makes Me Feel Better

I'm watching the US National Figure Skating Championships. One of the favorites kinda screwed the pooch on her program and finished in seventh place -- in the whole entire US -- and was obviously devastated.

Poor kid.

(Note: I have deleted some content in the interest of fairness. If you want to read it, email me.)

Recently, I took a look at the eLearning Guild job board. You know, just in case there was something there labeled "Mary's Job That Pays A Ton". There were a couple local openings, but the one that really caught my eye was an instructional design position for a company located in the US Virgin Islands.

Whoa.

So. What's keeping me here again?

I mentioned this to Joe. His store is closing this spring, so he's going to be free. SonnyeBoy has his own life. Mom and Pop are gone. My parents-in-law are gone. So we dreamed a little bit ... I'd get the job, I'd take the job, we'd sell everything we own, get rid of the house, pack our toothbrushes and bathing suits, and off we'd go to live in paradise. (Well, except during hurricane season.)

Okay, it's really just a fantasy. But it makes me feel better.

Then again...

 

Inauguration Day (and Other Stuff)

I've only been to one presidential inauguration, that of John F. Kennedy. I was nine years old. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic president, so all of us Catlicks were beyond thrilled. (In my Catlick school classroom were two portraits: the Pope and John F. Kennedy.) The only thing I remember about that day is that it was freezing cold. I don't remember the parade; I don't remember seeing the presidential motorcade. I just remember the cold.

So I'm very glad that it was not so cold today for President Obama's ceremony. Joe and I watched on TV and listened to the radio; I was very moved by all of the performers. The president's speech was impressive and forceful -- I was particularly happy to hear him mention Stonewall and be explicit about supporting gay rights.

We didn't watch the whole thing, because it's also Joe's birthday! He turned 60 today (yes, he's younger than I am by a whole year and three days), so we went to the movies to celebrate. We saw Hyde Park on Hudson, with Bill Murray as FDR and Laura Linney as Daisy, his cousin and mistress. It was very good. Bill Murray is a very good actor and his FDR was understated and subtle.

I had a great birthday weekend too! My sister and brother-in-law took us out to dinner Saturday night; I think we surprised them when the music started up at the pub and we joined in on a rousing version of The Wild Colonial Boy. Afterwards we divided up our Caps tickets and commiserated over their opening night loss.

I also sent in my request for an audition appointment. At 12:15 am. The rule was that you couldn't ask for an appointment before January 21 -- so I responded right when the day turned. I thought that the producers might think I was a bit nuts (and they would be right!) but I got a response at 9:00 this morning confirming my request! So it is on.

And it's not too late to vote for your favorite. The audition isn't until February 16, so I have plenty of time to prepare and be nervous.

Four Years to Medicare!

Today is my 61st birthday -- time flies when you're having fun!

I came downstairs this morning to find a lovely wrapped package on the kitchen table. What could it be?? Well, it could be (and was) this beautiful dress!

Now I guess we'll have to go someplace schmancy so that I can wear it. Okay!

Tonight we went to a local Asian fusion restaurant for my birthday dinner. It was lovely -- I had steak teriyaki, wonton soup, and a nice glass of plum wine. I like plum wine; it's just sweet enough.

So yeah, I'm 61! I guess that means I'm upper-middle aged, eh? Aw, fuck it -- I'm old. Maybe early old, but old. And that's okay. Some things have changed, for sure; I'm finally going gray and you could pack for the weekend in the bags under my eyes and my knees are rotten and only thing I inhale these days is my asthma medicine.

But even with the gray hair and the baggy eyes and achey knees, I wouldn't trade anything. (Well, I might trade my bank account for a millionaire's.) My darlin' Joe, my handsome son, my wacky family, my amazing friends spread far and wide -- I am so fortunate to be 61 and to have all this.

And hockey starts again tomorrow night! It's a happy birthday indeed!

Working At Home

Yesterday the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the area wherein they called for three to five inches of snow, so I worked at home today. Normally I would have gone in to work, but Joe is working the late shift tonight and I had no desire to ride the bus through a screwed up rush hour and then walk home from the bus stop in the dark and the slop.

However, instead of three to five inches of snow, we got a whole lotta nothin'. Way to go, DC -- stay right above that nasty weather line!

But be that as it may, I got a lot done; in fact, I finished up a set of job aids a day early, so I can spend tomorrow producing and troubleshooting and making last-minute changes and voila and woo-hoo! Pulled another project out of my butt.

I think I got a little carried away there. Sorry about that.

I rarely work at home, because I'm very easily distracted. Today, though, I had the incentive of a hard deadline, so that helped.

(So American Idol is on right this very minute -- and what the hell is up with Nicki Minaj?? Is she real? How is that hat staying on her wig? That has to be a wig, doesn't it? I am so behind the times!)

I do enjoy working in my comfiest clothes, I must say. It's also nice to be able to make a pot of good coffee whenever I want, and to listen to classical music while I work, and to chat with Joe every now and then.

I miss my dual monitors, though. It's nice to have the app I'm documenting on one screen and the job aid I'm writing on the other.

So... comfy clothes and coffee versus dual monitors. Hmm.