write now

I've got to get back to writing. It's been way too long and I miss it! I haven't opened the file that contains my Draha notes in quite some time and while it's still being worked on in my head, I really need to get some of that out onto the screen. Just get it done, you know? I need to set aside some time to work on that. I will do that this week - set aside at least an hour a day for writing. Maybe I'll work on a couple of things. I have a short story in my head that may be a fun short film once it is written and adapted for that purpose. I'd like to do a few flash fiction pieces to put on my website. I have to write a poem for work, but I can do that during work hours!

So this is it, a renewed commitment to finishing the outlines for Draha - the entire series, not just the first book - and to working on some other writing projects when I get home from work every day. Not as an afterthought, but as something that I really want and need to work on. And that is what I am going to do! Wish me luck!

home sweet home

I think I've really settled into the house now and I do love living there. I've even had friends over for movies and dinner and stuff. Tonight I'm having a date over, which will be a first! I'm cooking dinner - another first - I've never actually cooked for someone before. Scary, huh?

Shannon and I are really getting along well. We've been watching Dexter on DVD. Well, first we watched Carnivale and then we went on to Dexter. She's a fan of great writing and acting like I am, so she's totally getting me into her favorite shows.

Oddly enough, she's getting hooked on Gilmore Girls from my DVD sets. She's watching them alone, though. I think she's just watching them now to get to Lorelai's dog, Paul Anka, because I told her how funny all that is and she has a very strange dog so she wants to see it.

The budget thing is getting easier. The first few times I went shopping, I was so careful about everything and now I can relax a little because I know how much I can spend each time and about how much things cost. I even bought sodas the other day! It's been so hot that it's pretty much required to have cold drinks ready, and while I've been really good about drinking water most of the time, I like having a coke or dr pepper every now and then for the sugar and caffeine.

Church is still going great. I'm really happy with the friends I'm making and last night I tried out to be a part of their drama team and was told I'm in! We perform every Sunday morning - the characters rotate so that no one person has to perform every single Sunday. I think it's going to be awesome! Small group is still great too. A bunch of us are going to a Bay Bears game tomorrow night. I always want to go to games but never have anyone to go with - now we are all going! I'm excited!

be nice to me or you'll take your bow in the dark

I find tech to be a very fun thing, especially since the last show was completely on me - whether it soared or failed was on my shoulders. Now the only thing I have to worry about is whether or not the right dimmer is up at the right time. And the lights are simple for this show, so I have plenty of time to knit and just enjoy watching the acting.

The show is "A Nice Family Gathering" and is at Theatre 98. I'll be the first person to use the newly renovated light/sound booth, which is much larger and more comfortable. I love it so far. We open July 10, but have had several tech rehearsals because one of the leads is out of town this week, so the director wanted everything to be ready ahead of time.

It's a great show and a wonderful cast. I'm going to really enjoy doing lights and sound for them.

Upcoming theatre opportunities include auditions for The Beaux' Strategem at Theatre 98 and The Odd Couple at Chickasaw Civic Theatre. There are some others, but I'm just trying out for those for now. Beaux has about 18 characters and is being directed by my favorite person at Th98, so I'm hoping I'll get a role in it. There's a character named Cherry. I think I would enjoy that one. But then, The Odd Couple is also a great show and the director is a friend from way back who I have recently reconnected with, so either experience would be great! I'm reading both plays to prepare for the auditions a little, something I've never actually done before, so I'm excited to see what happens.

Lots going on, but nothing much really

That's kind of how I feel right now.  There's a lot going on, but nothing I can really talk about.  Or if I can talk about it, it's not very interesting.  I've been neglecting this blog terribly and I really need to get back to it.  There are some thing I can report on, I suppose.

The move went well and I'm settled in my new place.  The roommate situation is turning out to be even better than I thought it would.  We've been having a nice time lately watching episodes of TV shows on DVD.  One in particular is very interesting and mysterious - I'm still trying to figure it out.  

With the move came new opportunities for social interaction, which I think is a very good thing.  I'm making new friends and doing more out of the house.  Like this past Tuesday, a friend of my roommate who I hope is becoming my friend dropped by to pick me up for karaoke.  We had a great time.  

I'm also making new friends at church since I decided to start going to a new church and a new small group.  My friend Lesley, who is just completely amazing in every possible way, is the hostess of this small group and is friends with all the members.  She has brought me into their circle and has introduced me to a lot of people in the church and in the group.  It's great to be surrounded by people who care whether you live or die (who are not related to you, I mean!)  

So all these are positive things.  Even having to live within a budget is a positive thing for me, as it's not something I've had to do for a long time, so it's really making me think about all the stuff I want to buy and whether or not I really need it.  

All in all, I think things are going pretty well.

back into the swing of things

Next week, I'm setting aside some quality time for writing.  I've been thinking about Draha a lot and I've also been thinking about trying seriously to get some freelance work.  With the move and new bills to pay, not to mention the fun salary cut I just had to endure, I could use the extra income.  I'm going back to the job boards to see if I can get some work.  I'm also going to start thinking of ways to market my services to local businesses and organizations.

Maybe now is the time to get something started.  Maybe now is the time to start building.  I know it will take a long time, but I know that if I work hard at it and do a good job, it will pay off someday.  That's all that matters, right?

I've had so much on my mind to distract me from my goals and dreams.  Now, I need to come back down to earth and get to work on them again.  Those books won't write themselves!w

packing sucks

So I've decided that packing all of one's earthly posessions into boxes and driving an hour just to unpack them again really, really sucks!  I wish I could just teleport everything over!  I managed to get all my DVDs over today and tonight I've been working on books and the stuff on the walls.  I'll have to leave some things here to sell or donate later, I think.  Luckily, I can leave some stuff here. The fun part will be Sunday, when I move the big stuff - bed, entertainment center, two desks, elliptical, dresser and clothes.  Yeah, Sunday is going to be a fun day!  But I'm really excited about moving - even though the actual moving part isn't fun.

What I really want to do is play Guitar Hero.  And eat ice cream.  That's what I want to do right now.  At 11 pm on a Thursday when I should be packing.  I think I will go to sleep instead.  That sounds like a good idea.

life stuff

Since most of my recent posts have had to do with the show, I felt like maybe I should update the life stuff a little too.  Of course, if you are my friend on Facebook, you've probably already heard this bit of news.  I am moving!  Closer to work and into the "big city" of Mobile, where there are theatres, restaurants, and other diversions just waiting for me to discover them.  But the great thing is, I'm moving in with a friend who I really like and get along with very well, and who is extremely interested in my current writing project and is encouraging me to keep working on it.  I think that's just what I need to get more done on it - someone who will push me to work on it every day.  I push myself, of course, but having another voice there asking me if I've written anything will be helpful.

Work is going okay now.  We had a bit of an upset - some restructuring - but everyone still has a job and things are running smoothly again.  I've found a renewed passion for the job and am really excited to do some new things in the next few weeks, especially with advocacy and media relations, two of my favorite things.  I'm also implementing an advertising campaign that we got some grant money for, so that's pretty awesome.  I planned the whole thing and am now watching it happen.  I kinda love that!  

On the relationship front - I can't say much but I can say that I'm happy right now for the first time in a long time.  I'm happy because there are possibilities that I didn't think there would be pretty much ever again.  I had given up and something made me realize that it's not too late and I'm not destined to be alone forever.  It has done amazing things for the self esteem, I have to say!

Overall, things just seem to be going really well for me right now.  I'm happy, and that is wonderful!