14-hour car rides are brutal, even with the people you’re with graciously let you sleep in the front passenger seat in exchange for navigation and disc-jockey duty. We left Texas later than planned on Saturday because I was vascillating about even GOING after all, and then at the vet/kennel we had to get medieval with Miss Cleo who took issue with being put in a cage. Mind you, these cages have soft beds, water, and heat, so they’re hardly uncomfortable, but Miss C. is clingy. Miss C. is also 27 pounds of Staffie/Poodle/Cocker/Chi, and has Very Sharp Teeth and Very Sharp Claws.

By comparison, Zorro Dogg went into his cage just fine, but was already plotting his escape twenty seconds later. I’m sure he’ll end up spending the weekend curled up on the pile of freshly-dried towels in the kennel laundry room. He’s sneaky that way.

Still, the look of betrayal in their eyes was horrible, and I missed them five minutes later.

Ah well, I’ll come home to puppy kisses and dogs who’ve had heartworm tests done without ME having to be the person with the muzzle.

* * * * *
Friday night’s CSz show rocked even though our audience was simply evil. (And I say this without malice, as I had friends in the front row). We’d made the decision to be over the top with energy, and had the most kick-ass warm up, ever, playing “Yes” in ways never played before, and full-contact Woosh! Bong!

We opened with Schoolyard Insults (“Defenestrating Lovely Calliope”) which we won, partly because our team has a bigger vocabulary, and partly because EL got brown-bagged.

We played Blind Line (which was probably the best we’ve ever done with that, having made the decision to use big characters, and having Bob (working sound) take our cues for “Back when we were in…” and initiate cut-scenes. We also played Interrogation, and I totally thought I’d get yelled at in notes for being too quiet, but Rob was kind – apparently if he laughs he forgives a lot). The blue team played Forward/Reverse and Arms Expert, the latter of which I really hate. It can be clever, but I just think it’s annoying. Forward/Reverse however, was amazing – watching TC almost get an anneurism pretending to lift things is never boring.

We played Five Things, which we lost, partly because the words were hard, and partly because we ran out of time. I was noted for not getting into the craziness at the end, for which I had a reason, but was told, “doesn’t matter.” So it won’t happen again.

Half time was spent catching our breaths.

Blue played the catch-up round, we all played Beastie Rap (which I love, because it’s quick and high energy), and we finished the night with Hey Waiter. And my team – Red – won, which is just groovous.

EL and I both believe we play better in red.
Rob thinks we’re both nuts.
I think we’re all right.

Went to dinner with just Fuzzy and BIL, and then ran into troupe-mates in parking garage. Chatted for a while. Gave my untouched side dish of pasta with mushrooms to J, because I’d taken it to go without thinking about it, went home, and went to bed.

* * * * *

We finally rolled into Sioux Falls around 2:15, and I vaguely remember stumlbing to bed, but it was so hot in here, and quiet and we were exhausted…Fuzzy’s still sleeping…everyone’s out at church now, and I’m posting this from someone’s unsecured wifi, since my aircard barely gets a signal.

Mind you, most of Nebraska is less singalfied than the Mojave desert, so this was not entirely unexpected.

I’m off to take a shower now, and oh – there are bunnies in the back yard hopping around and generally looking adorable. I miss wild bunnies.

Ta!

I woke at 6:30, my head both fuzzy from sinus pressure, and abuzz with thoughts, stories, ideas. This is unusual as I’m not a morning person, and doubly so as I went to bed around 3:00.

My first action, since both dogs were still snoring, was to grab my laptop from it’s usual location on the bedside table, and as I was doing so, there was a flash under the blinds. I passed it off as an illusion – the reflection from the VAIO insignia on the top cover of the laptop – but then it happened again.

Straining my ears, I listened past the white noise of the humidizer we keep running in the bedroom, and head the gentle rolling rumblings of morning thunder. (Morning Thunder, btw, used to be a flavor of Celestial Seasonings tea .) Closing my eyes, I listened as the reverberations crescendoed and decrescendoed, ebbing and flowing like the ocean breaking over a slick rock jetty.

The dogs sensed that I was alert, or heard the thunder, and asked to go out, and so we did, the three of us, and I stood on the back deck and let the first few drops of October rain sniff my hair and kiss my skin, while I mused that the sky was not black or dark, at all, but seemed to be endless layers of lavender tulle.

I sent a silent prayer into the universe – a healing, quenching, balming sort of request – and padded barefoot back to bed, my canine entourage circling my ankles as I walked.

When the early alarm went off, I kissed Fuzzy, and told him to sleep another hour.
And I remain awake, drinking in the natural magic of light, sound, and rain.

Stolen from Blond Girl:
This is a word meaning meme where I write what Blond Girl’s words mean to me. Then I give you a new set of words so you can do the same thing. Fun, huh?

Blond Girl’s words for me:

sunrise – Hope and possibility, and the ultimate proof that even the darkest nights eventually end.
harmony – More than just musical synergy, it’s my version of zen – being at one with myself and the world around me.
affliction – I’m five years old when I hear this word, listening to my mother read about Amy March and her afflicted nose, cured with a clothespin at bedtime.
avocado – For some reason, this fruit means California to me. Dinners with USF friends, guacamole for Fuzzy, and avocado ice cream and Mitchell’s. (I so miss Mitchell’s ice cream). I try not to let it mean 1970’s era apartment decor.

My words for you:

brilliant –
irksome –
perfect –
wind –

Answer in comments, or in your own blog/journal/diary/thing.

Stolen from Da_Zhuang & Rainbowbinky @ LiveJournal

Instructions: Set your music player to “shuffle” or “random,” ask the following questions, and use the songs that come up – without adjusting them – for answers.

How does the world see you?
Voodoo Child (Jimi Hendrix)

Will I have a happy life?
Smile Like You Mean It (The Killers)

What do my friends really think of me?
Happiness Runs (Donovan)

What do people secretly think of me?
Semi-Charmed Life (Third Eye Blind)

How can I be happy?
Beverly Hills (Weezer)

Will I ever have children?
Lullabye for a Stormy Night (Vienna Teng)

What is some good advice for me?
Take the Money and Run (The Steve Miller Band)

How will I be remembered?
Always on Your Side (Sheryl Crow )

What is my signature dancing song?
Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Floyd)

What do I think my current theme song is?
Turn, Turn, Turn (The Byrds)

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Journey of the Sorcerer (The Eagles)

What song will play at my funeral?
Here’s Where the Story Ends (The Sundays)

What is my day going to be like?
Rock this Town (Stray Cats)

Assigned long ago from Closer2Myself @ Livejournal:
Instructions: Leave a comment, and I’ll give you a letter and you have to find ten songs that start with that letter and post them to your journal. I got R.

1. Reallie Rosie (Carol King)
2. Rebel Yell (Billy Idol)
3. Red Letter Day (LFO)
4. Redneck Woman (Gretchen Wilson)
5. Reflection (Christina Aguilera)
6. Rent (from “Rent)
7. Rest in Peace (from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, With Feeling”)
8. Rock ‘N’ Roll High School (The Ramones)
9. Rock You Like a Hurricance (Scorpions)
10. Roll to Me (Del Amitri)

…at least it’s the new color of my hair, as of about 4:30 this afternoon. I spent the afternoon with Natalie at Aveda in Cedar Hill, having my hair unblonded and we chose a lovely chocolatey brown with deep red tones – aka “chestnut.” When were were looking at pictures of colors, I explained that I always felt most confident when my hair had red in it, but I wanted to go dark, this time. “Not too dark, though,” I added, “because with my pale skin color I look goth if it’s too dark.” She said, “I know just the shade,” and went to mix, and, as always, came back with a result that I loved, even if it did look rather like dried blood around the hairline while she was painting it on.

I love Aveda, even though they’re pricey, because they totally pamper you. When I go to the salon, I’m offered tea, water, iced tea, or wine (their “Comforting Tea” is the best). They bring me berries or shards of organic chocolate. When I’m their for a salon service, I get a fifteen minute chair massage for free. And even when I’m just getting a manicure, they do my makeup for me. Sometimes I buy stuff, sometimes I don’t, but they’re happy to do it, either way. Also, their products are all-natural, herbal, non-smelly, and non-toxic.

But this isn’t an ad, really. It’s me gushing about how much I love my new hair. I mean, even the guys in the troupe noticed it. How cool is that?

I finished just in time for us to hit Panera for a light lunch – my first food of the day – before heading downtown, where we didn’t do a seating chart, and things were chaotic because of it. The show was great though, and I owe Jenn big for working bar, because I just wasn’t into it (I spent a lot of time tying orange wrist bands onto our audience members, instead, as the woman who owns the building was charging a cover and was requiring the bands in order to enter the bathrooms). Downtown was a mess, btw, because it was Texas vs. Oklahoma weekend (Texas won), and while we had a late show scheduled, it was called at the last minute because there were too many drunken college students and not enough paying folk.

Instead, BigE took headshots of a bunch of us, for the website, tried to get me to do sultry looks, but that was destroyed because the guys were making me laugh, etc.

A bunch of us went out to dinner (well, not dinner, really, dessert) after that, and got distracted, until I looked at my watch and realized it was after one. My feet hurt, from wearing stupid shoes, and I’m tired, but I had fun tonight.

Tomorrow, Fuzzy’s brother arrives in town for a conference, and after that we’ll be road tripping to SoDak to retrieve things from the farm, and see everyone.

One final thing before I go to bed. There’s a meme going around LiveJournal (in particular) and the ‘net (in general) asking people to post something in their blogs if they believe in gay rights. I think the meme is stupid, because it states that if you don’t post it you must disagree. Bull. I’m not posting it because I refuse to accept that responding to a meme or not is in any way representative of my personal or political views. (And for the record, I’m for universal equal rights: male, female, gay, straight, Christian, Pagan, none of the above, or any combination: It Doesn’t Matter. As long as the common denominator remains “human” that’s all I care about.)

Thirteen Things about MissMeliss: Why I Love Autumn Crunching leaves, so much fun to shuffle through. Warm sunny days, and cool nights made for snuggling. With the change in seasons, I am always inspired to do more creative things. Sweatshirts come out of hiding. Neighborhood children are not playing in the streets to all hours. Pumpkin products become all the rage. Lamplit afternoons become more likely. New fall shows. I’m not a tv-holic, I’m researching pop culture. Perfect weather for mystery novels. I spend more time playing in the kitchen. The mosquitoes disappear. Eventually. The blogosphere seems to expand. Halloween. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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– The problem with working from home is that I watch too much tv, and while I can write some of this off as “research on pop culture” the truth is that I like it for background noise, sometimes.

– And speaking of television, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is my new favorite show. I knew I liked the character of Josh in The West Wing, but apparently I like Bradley Whitford in a lot of projects, and Aaron Sorkin’s writing, while extremely similar to early TWW is quick and sharp, staccato rhythms that feel like verbal tap dancing, and I respond well to that sort of thing.

– Fuzzy didn’t get home til eleven. He ate while I was folding laundry, and then we did pre-cleaning for the maids (because yeah, it’s important to clean your house before the cleaners come. I’m so channeling my Italian grandmother on days like this), and then some sweet together-time, after which I took a shower because I knew I wouldn’t have time this morning, as blogging from bed is oh, so much more important than personal hygiene.

– I finished my shower around 1:10, but had been bitten by a Story Bug while rinsing Aveda cherry almond bark conditioner from my hair with tepid water (makes it shine more), and stayed up til 2:30 writing in the dark bedroom while Fuzzy and the dogs slept next to me.

– I had been reading one of my favorite blogs Swim at Your Own Risk, and my dreams were as sharky as the Pacific in October. Steve Irwin was there too, but I woke before he finished wrestling the great white.

– Morning comes way too soon sometimes.

It’s become a habit that I recap the weekend on Monday. So here I go.

Friday night: Played with ComedySportz. I was nervous to the point of nauseousness before the match, not because I’m afraid of being on stage, but because I was playing with some of the troupe dinos, and I’m still a tiny bit star-struck about working with them, and was afraid I’d be an obvious weak link. I skipped coffee and had a coke backstage. J and I had a belching contest. She won. My belches are dainty and shy. But effective.
Nausea gone, I was now jittery with anticipation, and concern. One of the scheduled playerz TC, from my audition group, called in sick, and the audience was going to be small. We were now playing 2-on-2 with a DJ (designated jokester) instead of 3-on-3. My team captain was late enough that our director almost replaced him, but he showed in the nick of time. Warmups were unfocussed, too much giggling. It was almost time to start before we picked games.

But Captain BigE is cool about letting people try new stuff, so we played Pillars (though we use two volunteers) and Pick-a-Play (aka Playbook and Actor’s Nightmare) though, again, we have two players reading from plays chosen by the audience, and one is neutral. (We were the red team, btw, and I’ve noticed I play better when I’m in red.) I’d seen both, but never played either and had mega-fun.

Blue played Blind Line, which is a variation of Bucket in which the lines are scattered about the field, and Good, Bad, Worse, which is our version of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Advice.

After half time we also played Chain Murder, which I messed up, but R. was kind to me in notes anyway. It was fun, and we used it to exact a little revenge on a regular audience member who frequently offers difficult and complicated suggestions. He had fun too, so it was all good. Went to Hofbrau with troupemates for a fun and boisterous dinner.

Saturday: We went on a mission to buy dog food. I’m switching Miss Cleo back to kibble (health food dental care kibble, mind you) because she’s not chewing her food, and we made kissy faces at the puppies, bunnies, and ferrets while we were at the pet store. We also wandered around Arlington, checking out some coffee places as potential write-in places for NaNoWriMo, and just exploring. We had lunch at a tiny French bakery cafe with a charming French owner who flirted with me while Fuzzy was in the bathroom. I’m such a sucker for men with accents.
Worked bar with D2 at CSz, which was insane because we had 30 kids from 2 church youth groups in the audience, and they kept buying soda and candy – cuz what’s better than 30 teenagers hopped up on sugar? The fridge was blinky (I investigated and determined that yes, the compressor is dying, but the bigger problem was that it was set to ‘1.’ After I set it to ‘max’ it started cooling stuff.) so we had a bin of ice that we chilled the sodas in. Messy, drippy, and still effective. It was a good show, and BigE was great on sound.

Sunday: Woke up at five itching and allergic and took an antihistamine which caused me to sleep through both alarms. We missed church and choir practice, woke around one, puttered around the house, and finally wandered over to workshop after getting food for Zorro Dog and coffee for me. Had dinner at Spaghetti Warehouse with the troupe. Stayed til they closed. Came home, analyzed tax returns as a favor to my mother (for one of her clients), but am missing page one of schedule E for BOTH YEARS, and then sleep called, but I had a fitful night, and ended up reading fanfic on my laptop in bed for several hours.

Am groggy now, and may doze for a bit. Have much correspondence to catch up on, today.
And writing. Must write.

I walked between raindrops,softly falling cool pinpricks barely wet, but delicious, and stirred up a storm of butterflies with rust and mustard and cream wings all a flutter around me, a beat, then two, then a pause to drink in delicious sunshine, all of us filled with glory and wonder and the love of autumn hues.

I feel whimpery, which is like feeling whiney, only less emotional and more pathetic.

I spend the day nursing the headache from hell. Less than a full-blown migraine, more than a conventional headache, but finally, around nine PM the queasiness from the last three days dissipated. Head still hurts though, and I’m incredibly tired. Like, narcoleptically.

The other week at dinner we were talking about bananas as a cure for headaches (I knew they helped cramps but not headaches), and W mentioned that they’re also the best food to eat when you need to eat something but feel queasy (or as he put it, ‘best throwing up food’), not in terms of stomach cushioning, but because they taste the same going down as coming up. I can now report that he was right.

You really wanted to know that, didn’t you?

Caught the pilot of Heroes tonight. Got the biggest kick out of the Japanese guys constantly referencing Star Trek. I think the show has potential. At least, I enjoyed it despite the headache.

Am now forcing down mint tea and water before returning to sleep.
Oh, and half-watching The Princess Diaries on DVD.