Ow.

I feel like someone is stabbing me in the brain with a skewer. I can't quite see out of my right eye. I think I might be a little stressed. What do you think?

The best laid plans

Twenty-three.

It's been a long, crappy day, which was preceded by a pretty nice weekend.

In order to maintain my sanity, I will now share the two comments that I am focusing on tonight.

"You've got a tiny little waist!"

"You looked hot up there in that red and black."

Happy thoughts. Think happy thoughts. Other people appreciate my appearance - I like this.

Take Five (Part 19)

Anna kept quiet through the exchange between the two actors. She had learned early on that, if the actors didn't really notice you, they would say a lot more than they intended. It was clear that Blake's intentions towards Laura were less than honorable, and Anna planned to make sure that he didn't interfere with her cousin. It was hard enough for Laura to keep her secret about Ricardo as it was - she didn't need the added pressure of Blake's advances.

The make-up artist brushed on a final touch of powder, then smiled at Blake as though she hadn't heard any of what he had said to Sophia. "That's it, Mr. Herrington," Anna said, putting away her brushes.

"Thanks," Blake replied, getting up and heading to his place. A moment later, Laura appeared next to Anna, looking frazzled.

"Thanks for getting here so quickly," Laura said, her voice low as Ricardo approached the actors, giving them new directions. "I can't believe I forgot to call you for Sophia's makeup earlier."

"Don't worry about it, Laura," Anna replied. "I heard you were a bit distracted."

"What?" Laura asked, turning to face her cousin.

"Blake was talking about you to Sophia. Be careful with that one - he wants something, I can tell."

Laura sighed and shook her head. "It feels like he's playing some sort of game with me," she admitted. "He's always catching me off guard, and it's getting frustrating."

Anna offered a sympathetic smile. "At least you've noticed. Just try not to let him get to you. You've got to keep certain things to yourself, and if he keeps catching you like that, you might blurt out something you don't want him to know."

"I know," Laura said, sounding more frustrated. "I'll be careful, I promise."

"Anna!" Ricardo's voice interrupted the two women before they could say any more. "Anna, I need you to touch up Sophia again!"

Anna grabbed her makeup kit and gave Laura one last smile. "I know you will. And I'm around if you need to vent."

"Thanks," Laura said, watching her cousin hurry over to the actress. If only it were easier to avoid Blake...

I lied.

I know I promised a new Take Five tonight.

I lied.

Well, I didn't lie. I underestimated the crappiness of traffic, and I overestimated the earliness of the people coming over to hang out.

We'll try again tomorrow.

Can't... resist...

My dog is chewing on a beaver.

I don't know why I had to tell you that, but I couldn't hold back any more! It just sounds wrong... but I think it would be worse if I had a cat...

*pulls mind out of the gutter*

Anyways.

I've had a long freaking week. My creativity is sucked out of me. I don't even have the desire to knit. I just want to sleep. And it's a Friday night, and I'm being a big ol' loser and staying home. So I'm going to go to sleep.

BUT! Tomorrow, I promise there will be a new installment of Take Five! Because I know where my navy blue Sarasa pen is.

A little more reasonable

Note the lack of screeching. I did not walk into any spiderwebs tonight. I did, however, get to see the 'retarded dinosaur walk.' Walking like a lizard is way cooler.

Confusing enough for you? You should have been there - it wouldn't be any less confusing...

On a vaguely related note, I have decided that the blog tonight was sponsored by the number three. I'm enjoying the single digits... they bring peace to me... sort of.

I'm feeling very scattered tonight. I've slept about five hours a night for the last four nights, and it's getting to me. If left to my own devices, I will sleep about 9-10 hours at a time. Alarm clocks are not my friends. They are evil, evil inventions that force me to wake up at unearthly times (like 6:48 am). Unfortunately, they are a necessary evil, because without them, there is NO way I'd ever get to work on time. Ever. Of course, I consider work a necessary evil, too. Stupid rent. Stupid food bills. Someday, I'll be a published writer, and I'll make a living off of that, and it WON'T be evil! (Let me have my delusions. They're what get me through the day!)

Screeeeeech!

I took my dog out for a walk tonight, and we walked over to the little park-like area beside the apartments, and I walked under a tree.

RIGHT THROUGH A SPIDERWEB!!!!

Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew!

I had spiderwebby bits all over me and THE SPIDER WAS ON ME TOOOO!

It was not fun at all.

So sue me

Okay, I'll admit, yesterday's blog was more than a little disjointed. Today's probably will be, too. That's what happens when life is this... full.

The work sucks thing just stands on its own.

There was a wreck near my car today, but it didn't involve me! I just watched. Minor damage, but I got blocked into my parking spot while they waited for the police to arrive, so I sat and chatted for a while. What else can you do, really? Other than appreciate the fact that it wasn't your car involved, of course.

I'm still undecided about today's number. It's either a nine or a two. I can't tell. Right now, it's a two, but if I think about the rest of today, it's a nine. Huh. Maybe tomorrow will be a more decisive day.

Not the bad ass!

Today is brought to you by the number nine. Have I mentioned that work sucks?

We had a costume talk. Someone had a bad ass. It was not me!

I was going to tell Canada stories, but I realized that (aside from the car story), this trip didn't have a lot of stories to tell... It was just a really good visit with my family and some of my friends. I hung out a lot, I relaxed, I managed to go several days without a headache... it was just good. But if you want to see pictures, go here.

The headache returned, btw, on the way to work this morning. Guess we know what's keeping me stressed out, eh?

Soooooo tired....

So today I finished the last leg of my trip. A LOOOOOONG leg. I've been travelling for 14 hours. And that's just today. Since I left on my vacation, I've spent 44 hours on buses, shuttles, cars, planes or in airports or bus depots. That's an awful lot of time.

And I had the brilliant idea that I should just stay up all night last night, since I had to be at the airport at 4am, which meant that we had to leave the house by 3:30. So I did.

I am now so exhausted that I can barely think. But I had a good trip, and got to see my family, and several friends, and I managed not to blog or FB about it until I got home. Tomorrow, when I'm more awake, I will tell more stories.

Family fun

I just got back from a visit with my grandparents - ha! I bet you didn't even know that I was gone! I'm all about the stealth posting...

Anyways, I just wanted to share a photo of me, my sister, and my grandparents. It's been a long time since I had a chance to get out to see them, and it was really nice, if too short for anyone's liking. I'm hoping to get out to see them again soon - they're not in the best of health, but they seemed better while we were there to keep them company.

Smarmy bastard, part deux

So ever since I wrote my last entry, the phrase "smarmy bastard" has been going through my head. It's just such a fun word - SMARMY. It's odd-looking, and it doesn't roll off of your tongue so much as it tumbles head-first. Love it!

Anyways, I've been trying to think if I actually know any real life smarmy bastards. I know some sleazy jerks, and some slimy guys, but I think all of my smarm knowledge comes from characters I've seen on tv or read about (think Captain Hammer).

Do you know the people I know? Are any of them smarmy bastards?

Smarmy bastard!

So I started writing "Take Five" with a specific friend in mind as the template for the Blake character. I tend to do that - take someone that I know, and tweak them a bit. I find it easier to start that way, because I have a definite idea of what they look like and how they'll react. Of course, the character usually ends up moving WAAAAY off from the person that I started with, and that's okay.

Blake was supposed to be a nice guy with a bad reputation. He was going to be the 'good guy,' and Sophia was going to be this horrible bitchy thing that he was stuck working with.

But Blake's turned into a smarmy bastard. And I love it!

He's gone from a nice guy who's had nasty rumours spread about him to this Casanova-type ladies-man who'll sleep with anything that moves and then forget them the next morning. Somehow, he's turned into the bad guy... and I'm liking the 'bad boy' vibe that he gives off. I wonder if Laura will fall for it...

For cryin' in the sink!

I just had my first car incident today. I'm not happy.

I was parallel parking (which I had already done twice today!), and realized that I just was not going to get into the spot. There were cars backed up behind me, and I gave up. I was pulling out, and I scraped up against the other car. Shit. Nice long scratch on the car I was driving, and a paint scrape and a little scratch on the rear bumper of the other car.

I left my name and info on a napkin on the windshield, and the girl called. She was really nice about it, at least. She'll get a quote on repairs, and if it's below the deductible, I'll just pay for the repairs.

Sigh.

This sucks.

Take Five (Part 18)

"Sorry," Laura said instinctively, stepping back.

"You're determined to run into me today, aren't you?" Blake asked. He looked down and adjusted his shirt - not because it was askew, but because he wanted to make Laura squirm.

"You seem to be right where I'm going," she replied, looking away. She could feel her cheeks burning, and she wished that her emotions weren't so visible. "Sorry about that." Laura gave Blake a pathetic attempt at a smile, then hurried towards the set.

Blake watched her leave, one eyebrow raised as he noticed the way her hips swayed back and forth. He could see why Jarvis might have an interest in this girl - she was definitely a pretty young thing. He followed her towards the set, but at a much slower pace. Blake knew that they wouldn't start without him.

The crew was still finishing with readjustments when Blake sauntered onto the set. He settled into his chair and waited while Anna finished touching up Sophia's makeup while she sat in her own chair.

"Good little assistant you've got there," Blake said, still watching Laura as she spoke with one of the production interns beside the cameras.

"You keep your paws off of her," Sophia said, her sweet smile at odds with her tone. "I have enough trouble getting decent help without you running them off."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Blake replied, sitting passively in his chair while Anna moved over to touch up his makeup.

"Right. And Brittany didn't quit after you slept with her and then ignored her... and neither did Amanda or Christina. Stay away from this one," Sophia warned as she rose from her seat.

Blake chuckled softly. Telling him to stay away from a woman was about as effective as telling a dog to stay away from a steak that was dropped on the floor.

Pretty and pink

I had a girly day.

I love girly days.

I got a manicure and a pedicure. All my nails are now bright pink. And my toenails have little flowers on them. It's very cute. And very girly.

And after the mani-pedi, I had margaritas on the porch.

Overall, a very good day. So good, in fact, that it doesn't get a number. Whee!

Take Five (Part 17)

Laura hurried towards the nearest restroom, looking for something to dry her shoes with. Grabbing a handful of paper towels, she sopped up the worst of the coffee and grimaced as she realized her socks were no wet, too. She didn't have time to worry about it, though - with only five minutes until filming started, she needed to get Sophia. Satisfied that her shoes were at least dry enough that she wouldn't leave footprints in Sophia's trailer, Laura hurried back and knocked on Sophia's store.

"Come in," the actress called.

Laura opened the door slowly and saw Sophia on the couch, still reading the book.

"Ms. Cornish?" Laura asked, keeping her voice low. "Mr. Jarvis is ready to get started again."

"Okay, just a second." Sophia read a moment longer, then folded over the corner of the page and closed the book. "Where's makeup?"

"Oh, um... I can get her," Laura said, mentally chastising herself for not thinking of that on her own - of course Sophia would need her makeup touched up before they started filming again.

"Tell her to meet me on set," Sophia ordered, rising from the couch and walking past Laura.

"Yes, Ms. Cornish," Laura said to the actress's back. Alone in the trailer, she heaved a sigh, then pulled out her cell phone and dialed Anna's cell number. "Anna? Yeah, she's headed over to the set and wants you there... Yeah, I'll be there in a few... Thanks, Anna." Laura hung up the phone and took a deep breath. It wasn't as bad as it could be, she told herself. Sophia was in a relatively good, if somewhat odd, mood. Trying to keep her own spirits up, Laura left the trailer and nearly ran into Blake as she turned to head back to the set.

Take Five (Review)

I found my navy blue 0.7 Zebra Sarasa pen! In celebration, I'm writing more of "Take Five" - but it's been a while, so here's a bunch of links so you can remember what happened. (And yes, I realize that you could just go click on the "Take Five" label at the end of this post and see them all on one page, but they'd be in reverse order, and I hate reading like that. But you can do it if you want to. I can't stop you.)

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

Part Nine

Part Ten

Part Eleven

Part Twelve

Part Thirteen

Part Fourteen

Part Fifteen

Part Sixteen

Lost again

I think I need to become less compulsive about the pens that I use.

I hate trying to write in my "Take Five" notebook without my navy blue 0.7 Zebra Sarasa pen. I just don't like the idea of it. I dislike the idea so much, in fact, that when I misplace my navy blue 0.7 Zebra Sarasa pen, I stop working on the story until I find it again.

Is that a bit odd? Maybe...

Each little notebook of mine has its own pen, though, and I try to stick with the same pen (or at least the same brand, style, and colour) for the whole notebook. I don't really know when that started. I don't really know why it started. It's just the way things are now.

Can we pretend that it's cute and quirky?

My Therapist Thinks I Should Socialize More

The title has nothing to do with the blog. I just heard it, and it amused me.

I noticed another thing today that Georgia has a lot of. Lightning bugs. I don't think I'd ever actually seen one in real life until I moved here. From a distance, they're really pretty.

Up close, they're ugly critters that don't look at all like things that should glow. Last week, there was a bug crawling up the bathroom door, and I did what I always do when a creepy bug surprises me - I squished it. Then I found out that it was actually a lightning bug, because there was a phosphorescent glow on the door, my shoe, and the floor. Ick.

Have I mentioned that I don't like bugs inside? I can handle them outside, but they don't belong inside. No bugs!

I can't see my hand!

23.

There's an awful lot of fog in Georgia. In the two years that I've been here, I've seen more fog than I saw in the previous 27 years of my life, combined! There's fog in the morning. There's fog in the evening. There's fog after the rain. There's fog before the rain.

It's kind of cool... at first, I thought the fog was creepy, but I'm finding it more relaxing now... kind of familiar... almost friendly... except when the headlights hit a patch of it off on the side of the road and it looks like something attacking you!

Fairy Feet, Fairy Fingers, and Turn Signals

Tonight's blog is brought to you by the number 8.

Those of you who know me in real life know that I've got small feet.  Tiny feet.  Fairy feet, as a friend once called them.  I wear children's shoes more often than adult shoes.  I always buy kids' socks.  They're just little.  I like 'em.

I also have small hands.  Back when I lived in climates that required gloves or mittens, I actually had to wear children's mittens... size 8-10 years.  With small hands come small fingers - fairy fingers, as I like to refer to them.

Unfortunately, the makers of Volkswagens did not have fairy-fingered people in mind when they made their turn signal stick thingies.  (Yes, I know there's a technical name.  I don't care.)  I have discovered that, when I have my highbeams on, the turn signal stick is just a little bit too far for my fingers to reach!  I actually have to lift my hand off the steering wheel to put on the turn signal.  *Sigh*  I guess there are a few disadvantages to having fairy fingers...

What's a diagram?

Today's blog is brought to you by the number 34.

Tony!

I've never actually watched the Tonys before. I know, I know, I'm a horrible theatre person! But they've just never caught my attention. Tonight, though... I've been watching from the moment I realized they were on, and I'm loving it. And, more importantly, I've made a decision.

I want a Tony.

Yeah, I know, there's a lot that I have to do before I get to the point where I even qualify for a nomination, but I want one. I have a goal.

I don't think that my current WIP could end up being Tony material, but it's been a good experience so far. I think it'll be a good base for further attempts at playwriting. And there's a chance that I'm going to fall in love with directing. Actually, I think it's a pretty good chance. I can't wait to try. So maybe I'll get one that way.

In any case, I want a Tony. They're so shiny...

Owie!

Tonight's post is brought to you by the number seven.

I'm in pain. I hurt. It sucks. Hangers are evil.

I helped out at the theatre today, and I got to unbend wire hangers. About fifty of them. Now I have a huge-ass blister on my left thumb, right in the middle of the thumb pad, and it hurts. And I've got two slices on my right wrist from flailing hanger bits.

Stupid hangers. See if I ever use a metal hanger again! (Okay, I use wooden ones now anyways, but if I didn't, I would switch!)

The secret to success!

Today's post is brought to you by the number eight.

I've learned the secret to successful blogging! And by 'successful' I mean not filled by rants about how crappy my evening was - pre-blogging! If I blog before I go and do things that piss me off, I'm in a much better mood!

Mostly.

My air-conditioner is not working properly, and that makes for a very hot Danie... a very icky-sweaty Danie... a cranky-not-sleeping-well Danie... But I've put in a request to have it fixed, so hopefully, it'll get fixed! Because it's hot upstairs. Downstairs is fine, but that whole heat-rising thing makes the bedrooms too cozy to sleep. On the bright side, I've got an awesome couch to sleep on, so if I have to sleep downstairs, it'll be okay.

How was that for up and down? And totally boring to everyone who is not me?

On a more creative note, I started another project - kind of. I know, I know, starting a project before finishing two others breaks the rules! But it's not technically a project for me... In the musical Chicago, Roxie is supposed to be knitting a baby clothing item while she's on the stand. I'm the only cast member who knits. So I've cast on a baby sock! It's a rather complicated, four-needle knit in the round pattern, and it's definitely NOT something that someone who just learned to knit could do right away, so any knitters in the audience will giggle because the point is that Roxie CLEARLY did not actually learn to knit, she's just faking it. So it's not a project so much as it is a prop. So I'm not counting it, okay? So just drop it! I said, I'm not cheating! (Do you believe me yet? I almost do...)

Marvin, we're going back to the Gables!

Nine.  Yes, today is brought to you by the number nine.

Anyways.

I'm going to be up all night making chocolates for this stupid wedding shower that we're throwing at work tomorrow. I HATE working in an office full of young women, because we have six or seven showers a year. When we have a shower (bridal or baby), we're all supposed to bring food for the potluck, and, of course, a gift. I don't really like a lot of my co-workers all that much - I don't want to spend $36 for a cereal bowl for you, thank you very much. *sigh*

Brain... argh...

Today's post is brought to you by the number six.

My brain hurts.  But in a good way.  I've been reconfiguring user screens for the electronic health record system that our office will be using as of July 1, and I've had to do a lot of thinking and problem solving.  But it's awesome!  I actually feel like I'm accomplishing something!  And it doesn't hurt that everyone is impressed with what I've come up with - compliments are really nice.

So the day was good.

The evening... that's always another story.  I hurt.  Ow.  And I get THE most flattering move in the show!  Luckily, three other ladies are doing it with me, so there's a 75% chance the audience will be staring at someone elses' ass...

Puppy love!

Today's post is brought to you by the number two.  I have no clever links tonight.  Sorry.

This is Mia.  She is also known by several aliases, including Patricia Perrera.  (Don't ask.  Seriously, I don't know.)  She is the most adorable creature living in this apartment.  (But I'm a close second.)  Show some puppy-love!

Happiness

Today's post is brought to you by the number 2:

Just a little thing snagged from MJ.

Six Unimportant Things That Make Me Happy

1. Watching a cheesy movie with friends at the end of a long week.
2. Having Mia curl up right beside me as I sit in the big chair and crochet.
3. Watching Mia burrow under the blankets in the morning because she's not really awake yet.
4. Getting a chance to use my brain at work instead of doing the same thing by rote.
5. Finishing a project of any kind - knit, sewing, crochet, scrapbooking, cardmaking, baking, whatever!
6. Playing hostess and doing quirky things like making the guest towels into an elephant.

And I'm not tagging anyone either, but if you want to snag it, just link back to me!