Saturday, February 25, 2006

What a day

I was finally freed by the garage people at about 4:00 pm. I spent the day kinda-cleaning the house, meaning I cleaned the really bad areas, and made some not so bad ones worse.

You see, I am a compulsive stacker. Somewhere in my mind I feel that if things are stacked neatly it really isn't a mess (a habit I really must work on breaking). Picture if you will, stacks of magazines waiting to be read (I don't feel like I have time because of all the stuff that needs to be done (I am one of those people who just can't sit still, drives Michael crazy)), stacks of books that need to be read, craft stuff that I can't bear to put away because I want to get the project done, ads that I haven't looked at yet, papers that need to be filed. Wow, when I write it down and look around it actually doesn't look as bad as it sounds, but it is still a mess.

I don't understand how I can move and move and move, and the house never seems to get any cleaner. Why is that? Are the cats going along behind me and putting the stuff back in the middle of the room? Is Herb sneaking out of his habitat at night and throwing gecko raves while I sleep? Why isn't this house company ready? I cleaned for hours today! ARGH!!!!!!

The Perils of Home Ownership...

I love my house, everybody I know loves my house. It is just a really cute house. Now, I hate my garage door opener. Since I moved in almost 4 years ago I have had minor issues with it, sometimes the sensors don't work and it won't close, so I have to get out of the car and futz with them . But for the most part that was the worst of it...that is until about a year and a half ago. The first time I had to call people out the big spring thing broke, the second time the cable broke on one side and the door jumped the tracks with it half way open. Today, the cable has jumped the pully and has left the door partway open.

I normally would have been frustrated by this, but not too upset. But this happened as I was getting ready to leave to get my hair cut! And every woman knows how important that appointment is.

Like the adult I am I called the home warranty people to have the door company sent out, and the woman tells me that the company will get back to me in 24 hours....WHOA!!! I say, I can't be traped at my house for 24 hours, I don't want to be traped at my house at all. And I am only really traped because the garage door won't close all the way (I have a thing about leaving access to my home open - even if it is just the garage). So, in my most controlled voice, because I want pull this woman through the phone line, I ask if I can call the garage people myself, she seems put out by this and tells me I have to wait an hour to make sure they get the work order. Now, how is my not wanting to be traped in my home an inconvience to her? She doesn't have to call them, she isn't stuck in her house waiting for the garage people.

So, in another 40 minutes I will make the call to the garage people and ask them to please come save me. I was planning on spending the day at home, other than the hair cut, but I want it to be my plan, not the garage door's plan. I may just buy a new opener today, just what I wanted to do...buy a new garage door opener...I would much rather buy shoes. I will explain to them, they at least have to come and get the door open so I can get my car out and then get it shut so I can leave, even if they can't completely fix the problem today.

I really wanted to get my hair done!!!!

Friday, February 17, 2006

Scrapbook Expo

Today was a big scrapbooking day...I spent several hours at the OC Scrapbook Expo, which is like being in one giant scrapbook store. I am glad I went, but I don't think I would do it again. It was so crowded and for the most part I didn't find any exceptional deals. There were a few great steals, but for the most part, the lines for those booths were way too long.

Attending the expo did motivate me to get organized and get scrapping. I discovered that while I have been getting very sloppy with my organization of the scrap supplies, I have misplaced several packets of photos. Fortunately it will be a while before I get to those pages. I am YEARS behind (divorce will do that to you). I am so far behind that I can't even journal on most of the pages because I don't remember details of the events.

New goal for 2006 - catch up and stay up with the scrapbook.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Three weeks into rehearsal, almost the entire show is rough blocked, I don't have a choreographer, the vocal director has been gone more than he has been there, and there are some major attendance problems.

For the most part the kids seem to be enjoying themselves. Which is good, but many just seem to be there for the social aspects, instead of really wanting to put on a good show.

I have one student who I have been told might make Varsity Swim and if he does he plans on quiting the play. He is one of the principals...if he quits I will never cast him in another show. He says he knows this (other kids in the show have talked to him), and he says he will just do community theatre instead.

This is what I don't understand about this culture of students...they want to have a good show, but they don't want to rehearse or do the fundraising needed to make the show quality. Last year I actually had a student tell me "It's Orange High School" when I commented on not wanting things to look bad. Implying that we can't have a quality show because of where we are. I don't care how disadvanged a school is, there is not reason why we shouldn't have a quality program, doing quality productions.

But other than this kid and one or two others, I am really happy with the cast and am enjoying working with them. I just need to get the ensemble more involved. That is one of my plans for this weekend...figure out their staging for alot of the ensemble scenes and numbers, and figuring out how to make them feel more important in the dialogue scenes.

I think one thing I might do is check out a bunch of Peanuts comics from the library so they can read them and get to know their characters.

So we are now at 13 weeks and counting. Which may seem excessive, but with only working 2 hours a day 3 days a week, I feel it is not enough time. Especially with these kids. When I have trained the kids to work harder then we can work on shortening the time period.

Anyway, wish us "break-a-leg"!

Sunday, February 12, 2006

..............

today I learned that I am self-centered and make people miserable when I don't get my way. This is apprently the way many people view me. This is not the person I thought I was or the person I want to be.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Things theatre students learn

After spending an entire day trying to convince people that students do more than "play" in a theatre class, that we do have rigor and relavance (the new educational buzz words), here are ten non-theatre things that theatre students in my class learn...

1. time management
2. to work together as a team
3. how to present in front of an audience
4. communication skills
5. how to offer ciriticism in a productive and kind manner
6. how to take criticism and use it for self improvment
7. the importance of deadlines
8. how to access creativity
9. thinking creatively
10. how to think "outside the box"

Now, how many employers would love to hire someone with skills like those!

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Suncatchers for a Cause


I made leaded glass suncatchers, and for the next several months I will be selling them to raise money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

For those of you who don't know, my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2005. She is currently undergoing treatment after a masectomy. She is doing well, but the treatment makes her really sick. Seeing her go throuhg this experience has really made this an important cause for me. I want to be a part of finding a cure for breast cancer.

If you would be interested in purchasing a suncatcher please leave a comment for me with an email address and I will send you all the information. The suncatchers will be sold for $25 each and will be in various shades of pink, white and clear class. If you would like colors other than that please let me know and I will be happy to make a custome suncatcher for you.

Thanks again for your support. If you would like to make a direct donation to my Avon walk fund please see the post below for the information.

Did you know...

that nobody in my face to face life knows where to find my blog? Most of them know I keep one, but I won't tell them where it is or even how to start looking for it. I am just not ready to share with them. Yet, I am always pleased when I find that strangers have found something I have written interesting. Go figure!

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Avon walk for Breast Cancer

Dear Friends and Family,

Did you know that every three minutes another woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer? I didn’t, and I was shocked to learn how prevalent this horrible disease has become in this country. In November 2005 my mom become one of those women. As I watch her go through her treatments I feel helpless, wanting to help, to make things better and to stop the suffering. With that I have committed myself to doing something about it, and I’m writing to ask for your help.

On September 16 – 17, 2006, I’ll spend the weekend walking, along with thousands of other people, in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I will walk approximately 39 miles, or a marathon and a half.

I will spend the next eight months training, fundraising and preparing for the event. It’s the biggest challenge I’ve ever taken on, but I’m very excited about doing it because I know it will make a real difference to the millions of people affected by breast cancer.

The money raised goes to the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade, a 501(C)(3) public charity whose mission is to provide access to care and to work toward finding a cure. They provide funding for organizations all over the country in five areas: medical research, clinical care, support services, educational and advocacy seminars; and community-based, non-profit early detection breast health programs.

On a bit of a side note, I was pleased to discover that the Avon Foundation has an official policy that no funds raised through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade program will be used to support breast cancer research projects involving the use of animals. You’ve got to like that.

I’m required to raise at least $1800 to participate in the walk, I have set a personal goal of $2500. Please help to support me and the breast cancer cause by making a contribution to my efforts. You can make your donation online by logging on to
www.avonwalk.org and then click on “donate.” My participant number is 661411. You can check my personal webpage on the Avon site to check my progress and for other ways you can help raise funds for the walk.

And remember when making your donation, that in less than the time it took to read this letter, another woman in the U.S. was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Thank you for your support.


Rachael Paschal