I know what this is.

It’s the getting up a half an hour earlier every day so I can get to school at the new (earlier) time this year. It’s messing with my writing, and I don’t like it, not one little bit.

Since 4:30 this morning, I’ve made coffee and paid bills. That’s it. It’s now 5:28, and at 5:40, I have to hit the shower and get dressed. I haven’t eaten breakfast yet (I’m plotting what it’ll be as I write this), and I have no idea what I’m going to wear.

Sounds like one of those “let’s get organized” things is about to take place, because going days on end without writing to you ain’t cuttin’ it. Ya know?

The week after a show, I’m usually pretty much useless in the evenings. It’s so wonderful and new to have nighttime free, I rarely get anything done. I guess this has been “that week,” and I don’t really feel guilty about blowing off stuff — especially when I got to spend time at the hospital with A2, my new awesome grandson. Mr. A. is going to be a cool big brother to him.

Well, now that I’ve identified the problem, I need to come up with a solution. Write at night? Sounds like a plan.

Until Dinner Theatre rehearsals start, that is. Have a great Finkday, fiends. It’s the weekend!

Photo by Jessica Florence

…about the “Monday” after a show:  getting out of bed.

I thought that since I had yesterday off (I can now say I have the “Js and the As,” thanks to my daughters-in-law choosing alliterative names ), I’d feel all rested and ready to jump headfirst into Christmas.

I was wrong.

What I’d really like to do this morning is wrap up in an electric blanket on the couch and read all day. But hey, like Mick Jagger once said…

For those of you who have done theater, you know the job’s not done once the curtain falls and the set is struck. Now there’s the erasing of orchestra books, counting up of scripts, and boxing of all rental materials to get back to Stoney so she can return them to the pirates at MTI in New York, who will most certainly find something wrong enough for them to keep at least part of our deposit on their already-too-expensive show. Ah well. Even scoundrels have to eat, I suppose.

But enough complaining, ja? What a great weekend. Now I hear sleigh bells in my future. Get bizzy!

Hugs to all my RtB fiends for their support and comment love through the Fiddler run. Onward…

FO

The greatest Fiddler photo in the history of high school theater

How fun is that, I ask you. Just the right facial expressions — and the ghost of Fruma-Sarah is rocking the demonic, red eyes. Hahahaha

Awesome picture, taken by our fiend and occasional RtB commenter, Wendell.

Today marks the final performance of our show. I could almost – almost – be persuaded to extend the run for another week. Um…almost.

I struggle to find the words to accurately describe the pride that Stoney, Greg and I feel when these kids pull off good singing, professional backstage work, and truly remarkable dramatic performances. All this from a high school with only 250 students, grades 9-12, where most of the kids are involved in 20 other things besides theater. I’m telling you, fiends — if it can be done here, it can be done anywhere.

Again, I marvel at how these kids can do everything they do (sports, theater, after-school band, Academic Challenge, FFA, part-time jobs, church work) AND manage to keep up their grades and get all the piles of homework done that seem to pool into great huge oceans during tech week. Honestly — I don’t think I could have done it when I was their age.

But pull it off they did. Two excellent performances yesterday, with the finale today. Off I go…gotta pick up the delicious pastries for their breakfast. Another thing high school students can do like no other: eat.

Happy Sumday, luvs — after more coffee, it’s off to the theater one last time.

FO

It’s almost here. Showtime/Gotime!

Last rehearsal tonight, before opening on Saturday. Maybe a pick-up rehearsal tomorrow…we won’t know until 10 p.m.

Just checking in on my fiends, making sure you know what tomorrow is. YAY! TGIFinkday.

All right, I must fly. Yes, I’m going in to school late this morning — it’s parent/teacher conference weekend, and we all got to sleep in a bit, since conferences go until 7:30 tonight. I won’t be there, but…yeah.

Have a goody!

Aaaaand we’re off to the circus.

Production week has arrived, and poop gets real. Welcome, butterflies. Welcome, insanity. Welcome, Subway with Stoney every night.

Yesterday was a total thumbs-up. Had a great rehearsal with my pit orchestra, then got to spend some fun quality time with Lars and the Fabulous Mr. A., who ran the square footage of my main floor and ate granola and played with toys like it was his job. Adorable child.

Only thing missing was the Js, but hopefully we can score a visit with them this coming Friday night — the only night I have “off” until next Monday.

OK, enough about me, me, me. So, what do you think about me?

Kidding. I gotta git. Production week waits for no rat. Hugs to you, my fiends.

J’aime le théâtre!