Aurora Borealis, shining down in Dallas, can you picture that?

WHAT HAPPENED IN MARCH?!?!?!

The SAGA OF THE FRIDGE AND FLOOR!

So... in January, the fridge that was older than we were finally died. So we went to the landlords and asked for a new one. Which they got...but they decided to go with a low quality $400 fridge. Which after two weeks, promptly died. So Michael went back to Future Shop, and wheeled and dealed, and got us....

Loooookkkkaaatttthhheeeeshhiiiinnnnyyy....

But, the floor was still a massive mess, and we were all incredibly sick of it, so we finally went to the landlords and said "its been a year, its time." So in come the tear out the floor guys!

Out it came, and in came the new. It's linoleum, its brown, and its not my favorite, but at least it isn't cutting up people's feet. Ignore the woman in white, observe the floor. 

What else happened?

Spring sprang, grass rose, and Loki insisted on her favorite toy, the doggie pool, being pulled out of storage and into the lawn. 

What else?

Work work work work work, and then...AWESOMENESS!

General recovery from Fools took a little while. In fact, I still have to put some costumes and props away, and clean up the costume room, and get my sewing room back in order, and I feel exhausted just thinking about it. On the flip side, when we started auditions and rehearsals for our upcoming production of Urinetown; the Musical, Cam stepped up and cleaned the whole downstairs until it shone, which was wonderful!

Soon after, Easter came along. Sarah went home to see her family, so I set up an Easter Egg hunt for the boys and made Easter dinner for some of our friends.

Sometimes its fun to be the only estrogen in the room. 

But, the estrogen is now outweighing the testosterone in this house! Morgan just moved in with us, and she is a lovely addition to the family. She's learning to bake and cook and sew with me, and we all have a blast together. 

Whats the rest of the good news?

I GOT A NEW JOB!!

I'm now working as a teaching assistant at an international school, and I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am. I'm doing work that I love, I'm getting paid way more for it, and I am feeling so much better because of all of it. I even have my own little teaching room, want to see?

 Things are looking up for everyone. And mid-may, I will have an exciting announcement for everyone. No, I am NOT pregnant, quit asking mom!!

Sad and happy news- our cruiser finally pooped out and died, so today we got a new car! Everyone, say hello to the Loki Limo!

Its a '98 Ford Escort, which means practically indestructible. Love having a car that runs again! Oh and Papa? I bartered her down to $600, Fryling style!

Michael decided (and rightly, he's been working really hard all spring) that he wanted some friends on his computer desk. So when Sarah's work at Petsmart had a sale, we got a fish tank! And let it be known, this is the kick-ass techno fish tank. The photos won't load though, so you'll have to wait for the next post to see the fabulous. What is fabulous though, is that my hammock is up.

New job, new car, new roomate, and this afternoon a new phone- so much new in March and April! Whats the next thing on the horizon? No idea, but I'm so excited for all the good things to come, and the awesome surprise I will post about as soon as I can! WOOHOO friends!Meanwhile, here is your moment of Zen. 

PS

Lost my heart in Texas, Northern Lights effect us, I keep it underneath my hat-

And we're back to our irregularly scheduled programming.

Hello everyone! Had lovely holidays? We did! Christmas and New years, nice and quiet here at the house. After that it was a quick trip back east for Michael and I to see our families and be subsequently spoiled rotten by them, and then back to Duncan just in the nick of time for--

FOOLS!

Seriously. We got back the day of tech rehearsal.

That isn't how it was supposed to go of course. We were supposed to be back on a ferry the day before, back to the beloved island. But Air Canada decided that they were going to close up the terminals before we arrived from our last flight to get to that island connector, costing us $400 and a night mostly spent in the Vancouver airport. For the record, most beautiful airport ever. O'Hare, take notes.

But, we made it back, got the show up and running, and that's what really counts is it not?

Well, I suppose the first thing you'll all want to know about is "How did the play go?" That's a layer cake question. Do you mean how did it go artistically? Pretty well, for what it is. Its not exactly a high art show. But the audiences loved it, I nailed the Ukrainian set design (apparently there were some people who were from/had been to the Ukraine in the audience, and they gave me kudos, so I'm happy) and the set made it through the entire show without falling apart. Mostly.

Kulyenchikov. I Like it!

I swear to got that door was trying to kill me. My own fault for cheaping out on hinges. I don't know if my grandfather would be impressed at my jury rigging or ashamed, but I do claim to be the McGuiver of stagecraft. 

super proud of this backdrop. Sarah and I did it in one evening with five cans of spraypaint. Women for the win!

15 cupcake points to whoever finds the hidden joke. 

How was the show in terms of acting? Let me give you some highlights.

The show opens with Cam looking very handsome and talking a lot. Cam's biggest complaint about the show? " I am a wordy bastard. All I do is F*cking talk!". It's true. At least 65% of the script is Cam blabbing. Usually about his 'passion for teaching' which we all think is probably just euphamistic for something else. After a while, you get bored of the script as it stands and start making up ridiculous stuff in your mind. Sadly for us, its usually dirty. We're not proud. But we are amused.

After meeting the wacky townspeople (aren't they adorable!?)

He then meets my wonderfully wacky parents, real names Dave and Rosalind (who were HILARIOUS. Dave is king of amazing ad lib, and Rosalind kept petting that rolling pin like it was Dr. Evils cat).

And then I come onstage. And by me, lets be honest, we all know I mean my chest. This was unabashedly a cleavage show. Cam ran around backstage just referring to me as "Boobs." Story of my life.

And there they are. And here I am, demonstrating my amazing sitting abilities.

Every good story needs a villain, and here comes the audiences' favorite part of the show; Sarah in a moustache. Sarah herself has noted the phenomenon that women in mascara moustaches seem to be the comedic sweet spot for women ages 35 and older. "I don't know what it is," she said "But it cracks them up. Every time."

There are more pictures specifically of this on the Noisy Mime Facebook page. Go there now. Seriously. Better than Lolcats.

The rest of the story basically follows the same old pattern. Two kids fall in love, I stuff a book down my shirt, the villain is thwarted, and there is some kissing followed by a wedding. Observe. 

Also, the one picture that I don't look like a complete Fatty McFatpants in. Weight watchers, here I come.

Cam and I, in the car on the way back home between matinee and evening show to get some dinner. 

Me: "Just think Cam. In a few more hours, you will never have to kiss me again."

Cam: "THANK GOD. No offense or anything, you're a good kisser and all, but that is one dimension our friendship did NOT need. The things we do for theatre..."

Me: "None taken, I totally get it. You are quite literally my little brother. This has been weird. But its all good. Next show you have to kiss Michael."

Cam:" WHAT?!"

He thought I was joking. Hehehehe.....

A note about that wedding picture. In the scene, Cam's character receives a letter that saves the entire situation. So we decided to have a little fun with Mr. Cam. The letter's contents were, on two separate occasions, the following. 

"Congratulations! You have received a DEUS EX MACHINA. Please put this in your Key Items Pocket.

Sincerely,

The Management"

And that was pretty good, he had a hard time keeping it straight for the rest of the scene. But the one that really got him (and got the rest of us a good scolding from Michael) was the Frankenfurter picture. Jennifer Lally, one of the actresses in the show, is a local artist and she is REALLY good. She drew a picture of Tim Curry as Frankenfurter and stuffed it into the envelope. Cam just about lost it. It was fantastic. Michael was furious. Epic win all around. 

Us being Serious

Return of the Boobs.

So that, my friends, was fools. Actually, wait, there needs to be just one more of these.

Maybe you had to be there, but this never stopped being funny.

How did we do financially? Broke even. On our first show? That's FANTASTIC. We are a super happy crew. Next on the show docket? Urinetown, the Musical. My father and I have already been hard at work coming up with puns for the poster marketing. 

So what else is new? Well, I painted Cam's bedroom red, Sarah has switched which room is her bedroom so now I'm going to finish painting the room she was in, and finish getting it set up as a guest room for the arrival of her mother in a week. =) Which will mean that some envoy from each family will have visited! You can all compare notes now. 

I also finished one of Michael's christmas presents which is to refinish a poker table. 

Red velveteen and black satin. Yeah baby! Also, I had a little extra time off, so I did this puzzle. I can't get itto rotate, I apologize. 

What else....

Not much more to report. Just doing as we do. We've all been pretty sick with this coughy hacky flu cold bug thing, and its taking its sweet time leaving the premises. But when Sarah gets back, she and I are going to start working on the audition notices, and writing up teaching posters for me for voice lessons. I need to get me some students and to get myself settled enough that maybe I can cut down my hours at Starbucks and focus on teaching. It would give me more flexibility to go get my teaching certificate. 

so, until there's more to publish, here's a little zen for you, and a hat for you Dani. 

An Important Christmas Posting, for our Friends and Families.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

What? Me? Eat clothes?

Twas the night before Christmas and through the farmhouse, 

Only Loki was stirring-(She was eating my blouse)

The stockings were hung on the faux hearth facade, 

In hopes that St. Nick wouldn't find us too odd. 

The kittens were nestled all snug in our bed,

The tips of their tails tucked up over their heads.

"Asleep? Das wut you tink!"

The four of us humans, all close on the couch, 

Were watching the Grinch be a Christmassy grouch.

When out in the paddock there came such a din, 

We thought we'd forgotten to let the dog in!

I threw off my blankets, and put on my shoes

And ran to the back porch to find out the news. 

The mountain beyond me was crested in white, 

The horses all stabled and snug for the night. 

When what from the mist and the frost should recur,

But Minerva the fairy, I know it was her!

She came on a snowboard as crimson as holly,

Punk-gothic, Sardonic, and clearly not jolly.

Her appearance tonight, it must be conditional,

It could not be plainer- she was non-traditional.

She saw me and said, in a voice like a stone, 

"I'm here 'cause you're spending your Christmas alone.

You've bucked all tradition, all custom, convention,

This new type of Christmas has earned my attention.

You watch silly movies, eat non-Christmas food.

Can you tell me your Christmas is still just as good?"

I smiled at the tiny and glowering fey.

No matter her viewpoint, I knew what to say.

"Traditions are lovely, important and grand. 

But when Christmas is here, here's what I understand.

Whatever we eat and whatever we do,

There's one thing at Christmas that's always been true.

Religious or atheist, pagan or not,

We love one another- that's all that we've got!

The stranger next door, or the friend on the street,

Giving peace and goodwill makes our Christmas complete!"

Her pale brow had furrowed, a snarky reply

Seemed to rise to her lips, when Cam let out a sigh.

He pulled out a large box, opened up the flat lid,

And next, oh then next, do you know what he did?!

He held out the last slice, of our last pizza pie,

And a tiny dark tear coalesced in her eye. 

"You're welcome," said Sarah, "You want to come in?

We were going to watch Star Wars- you'd like Qui-gon Jinn."

She smiled at us all as we stood in the cold,

A smile that was bittersweet, lonely and old.

Her answer was silent, she nodded so slow, 

And said softly "Are you guys fans of Techno?"

We laughed and went in, Michael got on Groove Shark,

And soon it was dub-step that rang through the dark.

So with techno and pizza the farmhouse made merry,

And rocked out to Madeon, with a punk-gothic Fairy.

And Michael summed up, as only he could- 

"It's not Christmas at home... but its pretty damn good!"