Danger, Will Robinson!

My brain exploded this morning. The June theatre overload (overdose?) has finally caught up to me. Last night, quite sober and lucid, though tired, I went to bed knowing that I had my regular Tuesday staff meeting at the GCTC at 9:30 a.m. I went to bed at 1 a.m. and woke up at 8 a.m. for a reasonable 7 hours of sleep. Somehow, I looked at my clock this morning and felt very pleased with myself that I didn't have anything to do until I had to leave for Morrisburg at noon for my SUNDAY matinee. I rolled over and went back to sleep.

Today is not Sunday, is it?

At 9:30, I got out of bed in a big "oh shit!" panic. How the heck did I think it was Sunday? Trying to get through my morning routine, I stumbled and often re-did actions I had already done. My billet was a little worried and so I decided going in to work was probably not the best idea in my frame of mind. I sat around outside for a few minutes, cleaned the filth off my balcony windows, took the car for gas and then headed down to the Fringe Courtyard for another lunchtime artist event.

The coffee from Bridgehead did me some good. I still feel a bit foggy, but it's settled a bit more. I think all I need now is rest and reading through a few blogs, I can see I'm not the only one.

While this unfortunately means I won't be fringing tonight and possibly tomorrow, I really need to just take care of myself right now (and finish my Ignite the Fringe presentation for Friday).

To my fellow Marathon Fringers out there, be safe and well. I'll see you in a few days.

The First Day of School (Part 1)

I couldn't sleep last night because I was so excited. It was almost 1 a.m. by the time my eyes finally shut. I had set my alarm for six. I had set two of them actually, but I wouldn't need either. At 4:50 a.m., I noticed the first few rays of light creeping through my window. Wait. If I just noticed that then... yup, there goes the incessant meowing.

"The suns out, meow. I'm hungry, meow. Come on, meow. Get out of bed, meow. FEED MEEEEEEE!"

Of course you're hungry. You're always hungry. It's something we have in common. But we've talked about this. Not before five. Please.

I roll over and see if I can ignore Winston for another 10 minutes or so. He knows what I'm doing so he pulls out the big guns: he starts licking a plastic bag. He knows how much that irks me, but I leave it one out for him out of guilt. He has so few things to do in this apartment. If licking a bag brings him joy, who am I to take that away?

I get up and feed him and go back to snoozing. It's almost six. The little lazy voice in my head tries to tell me I could sleep longer if I didn't go for a run, but I don't listen. I put on my gear, eat a piece of toast and I'm out the door before the radio turns itself on.

Perfect running weather at this time in the morning. It's glorious.

I get back and get ready. I put on the outfit I picked out three days ago because I am that much of a nerd. I get on the bus and pick up my Vrtucar behind the Bridgehead near work. I grab a coffee - decaf because I'm still off the caffeine, but love the taste. As I try and unlock the car door, I spill coffee all over my pretty dress.

It's a sign.

The Universe is saying "Chill out. It's not like you're about to do brain surgery. Oh, and by the way, remember how you always carry that Tide To-Go pen in your bag? You're welcome."

I get in the car and I'm off to Morrisburg. I'm taking a route I've never used before. I'm super giddy. Everything is perfect. Even the radio is playing everything I need to hear.

The windows are rolled down. I'm car dancing to Kardinal Offishall when suddenly I smell it. Is that...

Oh my God! WATER!

This picture doesn't do it justice. It's so green right now. And the sun was making everything sparkle.

The biggest, most impressive bridge I've ever seen in my entire life. It's so long I wonder how it could possibly be man-made. And all around it, the Saint Lawrence River. It's all so beautiful, I can't believe I never knew this was here. I can't believe I'm actually here.

A short time later, I arrive at Upper Canada Playhouse.

Funny How That Works

I seem to have a lot of trouble writing from home. I find there are just too many distractions. Have you ever seen the movie Hamlet 2? There's this one bit where he just sits at his computer forever, can't seem to get anything done and then just yells at the cat. That's exactly what it's like which is why I usually find myself at coffee houses (or the office), preferably Bridgehead's since they have free internet access. That said, today there was some sort of protest going on today which detoured buses and prevented me from going to my usual spot. So, instead I met up with a friend who was also stranded and went for a little bus adventure. Once he got off at his stop, I just stayed on. Somehow this change of scenery totally freed up my writer's block and I was able to scribble away a second draft of my Fringe Festival script.

Funny how that works.

Hamlet 2 is not a very good movie, but as an artist there are so many "LOL OMG - yes that's exactly what it's like moments" that I couldn't help but be amused. For those of you who haven't seen it, watch the trailer below. Almost all the best moments are in it... well, the ones that aren't crude anyway. Somehow they weren't able to add Steve Coogan walking away from his computer bare ass or his reaction after reading a bad review of his latest high school play (a two hander version of Erin Brockovich) in the high school newspaper and yells, 'I feel like I'm being raped... in the face!' Seriously, that never got old! And because I feel like it, I few more clips from the movie. My gift to you:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0iR_DRcBbI]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meiWRzpil4s&feature=related]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD3s0knCCtA]