All The Best for 2011

As 2010 draws to a close, I am in my usual, reflective state. This year has been a good one for me - a sweet volunteer gig during the Olympics in Whistler, leaving my job to become a freelance writer (then actually working consistently after that), and continuing on the path to where I want to be in life. Though some of the lessons this year were harder than hard, I am calmer, more confident and genuinely feeling that I'm heading in the right direction. As I've always said, things may seem like hell at the time, but when you look at them later on, they seem ridiculously minor. It's all worth it.

So I'll close by saying to you, and to everyone you love, have a happy, prosperous and safe 2011. May it be the best one you've ever had.

This Show Has GOT to be Cursed!!!

Any new show needs to work the kinks out. Apparently Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has more than just kinks to work out.

Just some of the problems getting this show to Broadway?

• Production has been delayed several times, due to technical issues and to add/delete/write new scenes and work out story problems.
• The show was temporarily shelved in 2009 for being $25 million in debt
• The first preview performance had to be stopped five times due to glitches
• Injuries to actors on the show have included a concussion, a broken toe, two broken wrists (on the same actor!) and now today, broken ribs from a 30 ft fall because a tether cable was not properly attached

I have worked in theatre for many, many years, and I can't even begin to imagine the pressure that this show is under. It seems to me that maybe Julie Taymor, Bono and The Edge have created something that now, after so many years of labour, could very well become this generation's Ishtar.

Some believe that, because of big-budget/scale shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, etc., that Broadway shows have to be huge spectacles to be successful. But I beg to differ. Previous Tony winners for Best Musical in the last ten years include The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hairspray, Avenue Q, Jersey Boys and this year's Memphis - all shows that are much smaller in sheer ooh-aah factor, and yet they seem to have no problem living on (both professionally and in community theatre).

Maybe $65 million is too much for a play. Besides, how do you tour it?

It's time for quality to override spectacle. After all, the play IS the thing.

Nativity 2.0

This really made me laugh.

A New Look for New Posts!

So I finally decided, after a very long procrastination period, to update the look of this blog. Blogspot's templates have improved greatly, and I'm very pleased with this one. Who knows - I might change my mind, but for now, it works.

I have a little idea percolating in the back of my head right now for a small project that will help me get off my butt and get moving in the right direction. Can't give any details now, but even just writing down some of the details is very exciting! The funny thing about chasing a dream is that, like all things, your interest can wane sometimes and you fall off the horse, only to have it come by again and some hand picks you up and puts you back on for the ride. Now we just need to stay in the saddle!

Super Omelette

I just made the most amazing omelette. Nothing super spectacular - sauteed mushrooms and lots of cheddar, but the thing that made it amazing was the addition of minced garlic in the butter while sauteeing the mushrooms. Deelish!!

We All Need a Refresher on Manners

I've noticed lately that people seem to need a refresher course on simple manners. Not people being rude or bossy or nosy, but just the general questions that we should all have the answers to.

Today there was a string of them on the way home from work. See if you can answer these questions better than they did:

1) Should I stand in the middle of a busy sidewalk while I gab to my friend about how great her boots look? Yes or No

2) Should I acknowledge the person who held the door open for me after they went inside the store? Yes or No

3) When bumping into someone while rounding the corner of a building, should I stare at them vacantly and wait for them to move out of my way? Yes or No

4) When at work, and a customer engages me in friendly small talk, should I bother to respond? Yes or No

5) When pulling out of a parkade, should I nose out in front of the pedestrians on the sidewalk because my Flintstone feet will never get it moving again otherwise? Yes or No

I have a friend in North Carolina who told me once that her classmate's mother would slap him across the back of the head when he didn't add "ma'am" to the end of any words spoken to a lady. Can we bottle that? We could create a whole new industry for retired ladies who just want to supplement their pensions, following an assigned person around and giving them a quick smack every time they don't acknowledge the people around them.

Either that, or create a shock collar for it, so that way she doesn't have to be on her feet for the whole shift.

Wow! Is This Thing Still Here?

I look at this site, and discover that it's been nearly two years since my last post. :o

I still call myself a writer, but seem to be lacking a little in the volume department. So as a start, I am going to try and contribute to this blog as often as I possibly can, to flex the writing muscles and to hopefully entertain my two faithful readers (now lost to the electronic sands of time, I fear).

Getting motivated to write is hard enough - getting motivated to write when you're going through a mountain range full of crap is about ten times worse than that. To say that the first nine months of this year have been challenging would be a grotesque understatement. But like nine months, the result has been the birth of my new life, one filled with wonder, questions, and a need to follow my heart and my passion.

I may tell you the details later on; but for now, suffice it to say, the journey has really been worth coming out at the other end, a level up from where you started, with your whole life ahead of you to continue trying to make a change for you and for everyone else.

I really couldn't say it any better than this...