Productive

This week has been a productive week.
I moved back in with my friends in Arlington.
Work for Empty Chair has really begun full steam ahead:
Publicity planning, directing planning, finding spaces for rehearsals
All sorts of things.
Now I'm relaxing (trying to) and doing a little more work
And going to a wedding.

Good Memorial Day weekend.

back in nova

What i am most amazed by upon returning back to Nova, is how beautiful the flowers are here. How lush. 

Some photos from the beach.

PHOTOS BY ME 

One from here. 

Helping Kids

I have been bitten by the bug to help. To educate. I've always loved teaching. 

I started taking Martial arts when i was 7 and after earning my Black Belt by the age of 11, my instructor instituted a really wonderful program where we had a teach and assist in classes. For the next seven or so years I helped out in the classroom and before injury led me to Rehab for sprained spinal ligaments i was the highest ranking instructor in my school. I was 22. 

And from there i found other opportunities to teach, whether in school or at Drama Camps etc. I can only thank Karate for instilling in me the desire to help others. I think it was very important to my Sensei that we give back, helping younger generations of students (though some were adults) as once higher ranking students had helped us. 

So i just finished reading Three Cups of Tea, a book by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin about one man's humanitarian efforts building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is a truly great book about providing education for children and how this helps to promote peace. I knew it was going to be a touching book when i started crying during the introduction. But it really revved up my desire to work with kids more. 

Then...i stumbled upon this http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2010/05/18/caught_in_the_act_juveniles_sentenced_to_shakespeare/?s_campaign=8315

An article about Teenagers assigned to perform Shakespeare rather than performing community service. I spent 6 years working with kids at a Shakespeare Camp via the American Shakespeare Festival and i know what an empowering experience performing and working in a community of peers can be. 

I feel like everything i'm reading right now seems to be stirring up in me a desire to help people. We'll see where it leads. 

Beach day

What a beautiful day. Thank you all for the good wishes!

A breezy 70 degree day was a great way to start off vacation.

I took several trips to the beach 

and as i planned took tons of pictures. 

I am still learning about this camera, but it seemed to work nicely.

I also collected a great number of shells.
PHOTOS BY ME ! 

This is my bunch of shells. 

In years past I have collected bags and boxes of shells

and this year i'm really trying to be more responsible. 

I brought some black cardstock, some Tacky Glue and some Modge Podge (affectionately called Mish Mash) and i'm going to do small scale collages.

And we're off!!

We're leaving for the beach tomorrow! 

I can't hardly wait.

The car is packed. 

(Because we thought we were leaving today)

And all i need to do is put my computer bag and my purse in and 

GO! 

My goal is to take tons and tons and tons of photos while i'm gone. I'm going to try really hard not to pick up so many shells...and actually do things with the shells that i do pick up. 

xoxo

p.s- check out http://miscalledsimplicity.blogspot.com  been doing a log over there.

Back into the Fray

Wow. Tour is over.

We had our final performance on Saturday night for a good and lively audience. Then we few we happy few went our to Chili's and had margaritas and chips and just chilled. My cast mate Bobby was sorely missed but he was up in Pittsburgh preparing for the Pits Marathon (he ended up placing 110th and has qualified for the Boston!) YAY BOBBY.

I moved out on Sunday morning and Mr. F and I parted ways: he to Nova and Me to visit some friends in Brevard NC (a little slice of mountain heaven). I feel like i am still in recovery mode and making up TONS of needed sleep and these few days spent with my friends was great for that.

There is NOTHING like some quiet contemplation and relaxation up in the mountains.

photos by ME !! 

On Tuesday, my friend and I took a trip to the Biltmore Estate. It was insanely beautiful! They have a Spring Flower Festival going on down there and it was just stunning. I took so many photos my camera died. I cannot wait to go back.

 Look at the Wisteria on this terrace! Its like a tree! Most of the Wisteria had already bloomed but i was amazed at what a Wisteria looks like after a hundred years! 

This is one of my favorite photos...i was trying really hard to overcome my overwhelming fear of bees. But i jerked and the photo is off center.

Happy Mother's Day!

Just what i needed

As a child i LOVED Hard Boiled Eggs.

We'd put them in one of our breakfast bowls, these creme colored bowls with a nice lip and a ring of either orange or blue around the top, with a spoonful of butter and then mash them up with salt and pepper. Divine! 


 I am never able to make them just the way my grandmother did, not too hard and not runny. But i found this lovely site...that give pretty extensive directions. I'm trying it right now to see how they turn out. 
http://simplyrecipes.com/photos/hard-boiled-eggs.jpg