I know, I know. What a horrible shot. The lighting is not the best backstage and my phone takes horrible pictures but that’s The Boy practicing with his Lumiere hands/torches. Not in full costume yet, but the show is coming along and hopefully between now and the actual shows The Boy will grow some muscles because those torches are heavy. Wait, is it Wednesday already? Yes, I do believe it is and tonight is the first full dress rehearsal for Beauty and the Beast.

The costumes, the sets, the talent… it’s all amazing. I am having a hard time getting a shot of The Girl as she enters from stage left this time around and I am usually on stage right, but I will try to snap of photo of her tomorrow during her dress rehearsal.

I am exhausted! These late nights and then having to get up so early to come to work is a total burn-out. It’s very tiring for the performers as well but they are young! They typically spring back and since school is out for this show, they can sleep-in for the most part.

We have a full run-thru tonight. Another one tomorrow and then the shows begin Friday morning with the summer field trip performance. I get to see the show (for real) Saturday afternoon. Come Sunday night I will be a useless noodle!

Reading? I haven’t done much since my time is not my own right now but I am deep into Breakfast of Champions and let me tell you, it’s a little bit offensive. I don’t think I have ever read Vonnegut before but he’s a little different. That’s all I’ll say for now. Have you read any of his books?

Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (ESCAPE)

See that theater? It’s empty at the moment but come Friday, it will be filled with ticket holders!

The Boy is doing a promo for a radio show today at 11:30 a.m.! Hopefully he’ll get to sing a little bit as Lumiere. I am going to attempt to listen live. We’ll see how that goes.

Tonight is a long night in the theater but everyone is looking forward to the show. If you don’t see me around here too much this week, this is why. Between work and working backstage, time will be limited but I will try to pop-in to say “Hi!”

As a mom I worry about all sorts of stuff but hopefully this week will go smoothly and The Girl won’t break her leg for real at her roller skating field trip this Wednesday. Cross your fingers! She narrowly escaped an eye injury when a kite clipped her in the eye right before headshots. She is an injury magnet so if you could think good thoughts for both of them this week, I’d appreciate it.

It’s Sunday, it’s Father’s Day and it’s the beginning of production week for Beauty and the Beast. It’s a very busy week so today, we are celebrating at home. A little bit of reading, lots of movie watching and later I plan to grill-up some tri-tip for dinner.

The Hub is not a fan of picture-taking, so I am sneaking this pic in from a couple of years back.  Happy Father’s Day!

What am I reading?

I am reading Big Brother by Lionel Shriver. I am also about to start The Slippage by Ben Greenman.

What am I cooking?

Later I am grilling up a bunch of yumminess: tri-tip, chicken breast, hot links, corn and then whipping up some garlic mashed potatoes and chocolate cake!

What am I watching?

I just finished watching We Bought a Zoo. What a wonderful movie. Now, I want to read the book. I think later we’ll watch Mr. Mom (yep, from the 80′s!) or Dream House with Daniel Craig. Yesterday, we saw Man of Steel and it was pretty good.

What are you doing today?

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a list post like this. I find them oddly interesting when I see these lists on other blogs. Especially if it’s from a blogger who I have been following for a long time. There is always something more to know about them, and for this reason, I am sharing this list with you.  I first saw this on Mari’s blog and thought, why not?

Plus, it’s Friday and a little happiness can’t hurt.

1. Clean, crisp sheets
2. Coffee with cinnamon and nutmeg (names of Murakami characters too, BTW)
3. A hug from my kids
4. Snuggles from the Otter Pup (Chloe, a Yorkie mix)
5. A well-organized bookshelf
6. The smell of star jasmine wafting through the window
7. Breakfast
8. A fresh bar of soap
9. Concerts in the Park
10. Movie Night at Home (with homemade popcorn)
11. Haruki Murakami (he could use a personal assistant, no?)
12. Spotify
13. The smell of freshly cut grass
14. Bookmarks (I collect them)
15. The sounds of summer (splashing, birds chirping, the AC kicking on and off, ice tinkling in a glass)
16. Thanksgiving with all the trimmings
17. Opening a notebook for the first time
18. Pencils (Ticonderoga #2)
19. Gathering around the fire pit
20. Green, leafy trees
21. Laughter
22. Cold, ripe watermelon
23. Toasted marshmallows
24. Swedish Fish (a more chewable version of my fave Jujyfruits)
25. “Doing” Lunch
26. Alone time
27. A clean house
28. Pinot Grigio
29. Beach towns
30. Museums
31. Vacation
32. Grilling
33. Lake or ocean views
34. The 80′s
35. Tacos
36. Reading (Duh! How can I not list it?)
37. Lobster, cooked correctly and dipped in garlic butter (The Girl used to call them “bugs”)
38. Anthony Bourdain (rugged, smart, worldly, a professional smart ass)
39. Keeping in touch with friends
40. Roasted corn
41. The smell of Hawaiian Tropic (which smells like the classic Coppertone smell from the 70′s)
42. Old TV shows (Adam 12, Emergency!, Leave it to Beaver, Mary Tyler Moore, Newhart)
43. Nostalgia
44. The pitter-patter of rain on the roof (a rarity in So Cal)
45. Wimbledon and The Masters
46. Watching my kids perform (sing, dance, etc.)
47. Coffee creamer or straight cream (too much but soooo good)
48. Stir fry (any kind!)
49. Listening to my iPod
50. The convenience of my Kindle
51. Fresh smelling perfumes
52. Movies featuring the Brat Pack (16 Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club)
53. 007 (lately, the Daniel Craig version)
54. Netflix
55. Wi-Fi
56. Watching high school football, under a warm, snugly blanket
57. Picnics
58. My numerous face and hand creams
59. Family time
60. Community Theater
61. Lemon (the color, the scent, the fruit)
62. Andrea Bocelli (mouth opens, sounds come out, I swoon)
63. Movie themes (JAWS, Star Wars, Legends of the Fall)
64. Adirondack chairs
65. Funny, happy people
66. The arts and crafts my kids have made me over the years
67. Orange blossoms
68. Readalongs
69. Gap Essential Tees
70. New calendars (full of promise, if you ask me)
71. Dining by water (dockside, poolside, marina, etc.)
72. Blue skies
73. Ginger Ale
74. Candles (beachy, woody or green like bamboo)
75. The time between sunset and dusk
76. The way my dog greets me every time I come through the door
77. Seeing my kids be successful
78. Magnolia blossoms
79. Christmas lights
80. Mint Juleps
81. Main Street at Disneyland
82. Lavender
83. Staying in
84. Road Trips
85. Herbs (basil, rosemary, dill, mint)
86. Cooking
87. Long weekends
88. Changing into my PJ’s the moment I get home from work.
89. Suburbia in photography (see Bill Owens)
90. Grilled cheese with tomato soup
91. PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)
92. Alfred Hitchcock and Woody Allen movies
93. Seinfeld (I can quote many episodes word for word)
94. Being still (usually only happens when I am sick)
95. Iced coffee in the summer
96. Spicy food
97. Burger stands (especially by the beach!)
98. Reserved seating at the movies
99. Exploring a new town
100. Visiting Palm Springs

What makes you happy?

I so rarely participate in this stuff. Mostly because I never have the time or I don’t know who the bloggers are, but these gals, I know!

Stop by if you can!