Day 110

All the Good Ones are Married.

Lifetime Original Movies.

Trashy.
Terrible.

Totally addictive.

Day 109

National City Bank.

We live in a society of fear.

You see the commercials.
You read the billboards.
You listen to our politicians.

But do you buy into their propaganda?

Do you worry about that upcoming pandemic?
Do you stress over those potential terrorist attacks?
Do you lie awake wondering when the next stock market crash will be?

Fear.
Not worth living under.

Day 108

Holy Ghosts.

Pentecostal snake handlers without the snakes.

Last night Beck Center performed a final dress rehearsal of a play called Holy Ghosts.
I attended.

The play, while not to my personal taste, was intriguing in a PBS documentary sort of way.
Make that, part PBS Docu-drama/ part Spoon River Anthology.
Really, it functions as an explanation, not of the religion, but of the people who seek refuge within that religion. People who need a place to wipe out the past, make a fresh start, and find an understanding group of new friends who make your own issues seem obsolete.

Outcasts.
Adulterers.
Elderly.
The mentally challenged.
All find solace within the four walls of the rundown building.

And then there are the snakes.
Snakes symbolizing your struggle with the devil.
Poisonous snakes that won't bite you if your faith is strong.
Snakes are the true test.

And lets just say, imaginary snakes in this prodection work just fine.
Especially from the 2nd row.
Phew!

Day 107

Easter Lily.

Who knew that lilies are poisonous to cats?
That they cause acute kidney failure if the cat so much as nibbles on them?
Bringing almost certain death within 36 hours?

Not me.
Hope I won't have to find out the hard way.

I caught Sondheim eating my Opening Night floral arrangement while on the phone with my stage manager this afternoon, who informed me of the poison and to take him to emergency care immediately. The vet, in turn, told me to watch Sondheim closely for signs of depression and lethargy. Its the afternoon, he is always lethargic.

Watching and waiting.

Even if he is poisoned, there isn't much to be done.
They can try dialisis which can cost between $5,000 and $15,000 but its only 15% effective.

Unthinkable.

Watching and waiting.

Maybe even tossing out a small prayer here and there.

Day 106

Around Noon with Dee Perry.

My boss at Virginia Musical Theatre keeps a to do list on his computer.
He calls it:
The Big To Do

Nothing is too small to be included on the Big To Do.
Grants.
Groceries.
Greeting Cards.

He claimed it kept him on task.
Allowed him to focus.
Made his job easier in and out of the office.

For years I didn't understand the function.
It seemed silly.
How could making such a list help your day?
How could writing down a few things keep my day intact?

But I tried it once.
Just once. I was convinced that would be the end.

Now, I am a listing king.
Everything that needs to get done better be on that list.
Try it sometime.

Powerful stuff!

Day 105

Sydney White.

When financial panic threatens to ruin your day, you can:

Run screaming through the house, naked.
Blame others and sit alone on your couch with german chocolate cake.
go see the new Amanda Bynes movie to clear your mind (and empty your wallet.

Get a job.

Day 104

Geauga Lake.

The end of an era.
The dismantling of 119 years of a legend.
The closing of another valuable cultural center.

Going too far?
Quite possibly.
But it is a sad day.

Cedar Fair could have at least given us a chance to ride the coasters one last time.
View the (truly horrific) live shows again.
Eat the overpriced and unhealthy food we craved before shutting the gates for good.

What a shame.

Why, someone may ask, would you prefer run-down little Geauga Lake when Cedar Point is a mere 70 miles away?

When you enter Cedar Point, you are instantly aware just how little time is in a 12 hour day. You rush from one ride to another, barely maintaining conversation over the the sweltering heat. Your legs ache by 6 pm and you end the day with very little enthusiasm and patience.

Geuaga Lake, while not offering nearly the same amount of "thrills", provided this relaxed "no pressure" atmosphere that was easy to soak in. The lines, if any, were never long. And you could guarantee you weren't being judged by fellow attendees.

Where will we go for cheap thrills now?