Sunday, April 30, 2017

Chocolate Cake






I didn’t work on my script on Saturday.
In the morning I worked on my taxes; hence my understanding of the costs of my dressmaking hobby in the last post. I was so proud of myself I had some chocolate cake.
Then it was Spring Cleaning time. I did three loads of laundry (including bleaching my bedding), washed all my floors, went grocery shopping and got some dressmaking supplies. I did ironing, tidied my closet, did some sewing and I worked on my aquarium. I was so proud of myself I had some chocolate cake.
The rain made being so responsible easy. I lit Pine incense (then Fir, then Alder) and listened to lovely music while I worked. It was a great and productive day. I had fresh sweet speckled corn on the cob for dinner. Oh … and chocolate cake.
Today the sun is back. I'm moving' slowly due to all the work yesterday. Beth is chillin’ today and I'm going to Crystal’s for her son, Cole’s, nineteenth birthday party. Cole is a charmer I’ve known his whole life; it’s a privilege to be part of his party today.
Tonight Beth comes for dinner. We’re having champagne and tortiere. Oh … and chocolate cake.










My eau de vie.









Saturday, April 29, 2017

Department Reports

beth department: Beth is working today, dining with a friend and then going to a play that's performed on ice in a skating rink. I’m on my own today.
Our visit is going excellently; I am really enjoying life with her. My speech is perfect due to the deep level of trust and long history we share. I’m very stimulated by Beth’s visit and the things we’re doing. Consequently, here at home alone, I’m having trouble with the phone and my arms and I’m mute in stores with clerks. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re having so much fun. She loved riding in my little red Fiat convertible last night; she’s christened it, The Tomato and I like it.
holy shit department: This morning I added up my receipts for my Defiant Dress project. I’m doing my taxes. In 2016 I spent $2,778.82 on mannequins and materials; in 2017 so far I’ve spent an additional $699.76 and I’ve three more dresses to go. Plus there are production expenses if I were to produce it. (That’s $3,478.58 to date.)
rationalization department: My trips to India and Africa (fifteen months for twenty grand) cost me $1,300 per month. My Defiant Dress project is costing me $496 per month so it's a bargain.
no shit department:  The Defiant Dress is pure drivel. Is a short script of simplistic silliness worthy of production? At a modest price and with the dresses viewed as an exhibition with their letters (stories), perhaps. The script definitely improves with each re-write — the dialogue lands a little more naturally — but until I get objective feedback I have absolutely no idea of the merit of my silly script. It’s just fun and I like fun. When I get through this draft, I’ll get an idea from Beth and Colin.
who cares what you think department: The Piano Teacher is a work in progress, I think. I was disappointed in it — only because the reviews were so extremely positive. But I found the student too flat. Her part is weakly written, was poorly acted or was poorly directed; grief has far more variety in my experience — especially two years after the tragedy. And in contrast, the teacher is well conceived and very well performed.
The teacher, however, says she is not a therapist and I’d cut that line given the things she does and says for the rest of the play and given all she says about music and its power and purpose. It’s full of wonderful music and ideas. That’s the only reason I quibble.
I also had trouble with the handyman trope. In this show, he’s too perfect as cast and written; he’s too unbelievable. He’s a female fantasy, not a real man. But there’s a lot there and it will evolve in future productions. This was a premiere performance.



















Friday, April 28, 2017

Tonight: The Piano Teacher

Thursday was another sunny day. Costin came in the morning to work on my tank and then I had a speech assessment. After that Beth and I took a walk to the park for tea and a walk through the gardens.
In the afternoon, this old man napped. Chris.2 has limited energy; the rest of the day was groggy until an early bedtime.
This morning started with a seizure and so today I’m on two medications. It’s a no driving day, therefore. But the meds work. I’m excited about an early afternoon walkabout with Beth and then seeing a play, The Piano Teacher, with her in the evening (about which I’ve read and heard great things); it’s by Dorothy Dittrich, an incredibly talented musician and thespian.