Happy Beltaine! April 30, 2004 ~ 2:55 pm
Posted by Julie in : About a Julz , comments closedTomorrow is one of Rick’s favorite Pagan holidays, Beltaine. I’ll admit, it’s one of mine, too, for some of the same reasons. It’s the last of the three major “fertility” holidays that happen in the spring. Guess what’s a good way to celebrate a fertility holiday? You got it. That would be Rick’s reasoning behind claiming Beltaine as a fave holiday. And I’ll admit, I like that part, too. But I like it for a lot of other reasons.
Beltaine (or May Day) is the beginning of summer. With Beltaine we can put behind the fatigue and depression of winter behind us. Flowers are blooming. The sun is shining. The earth is renewing itself around us.
Beltaine celebrates the handfasting (marriage) of the God and Goddess, and their joining together (told ya it was a fertility holiday) to bring forth the new life on earth. On Beltaine, the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, save for on Samhain. There’s all sorts of magic going on.
If you’re in the mood to celebrate, either bury the remains of your dinner tonight, or leave it out as an offering for the faeries. Build a bonfire in your backyard (if you can), and circle it or jump it (depending on your level of daring) for luck. Sit under a tree tonight and see if you can catch a glimpse of Queen Mab as she rides by. Or at the very least, bring some flowers into your house, because they represent the best of the season.
And if you want more info on the Sabbat (holiday, whatever), click on the WitchVox link on the left. It’s a massive site run by Pagans and Wiccans, and an excellent place to find out more about Wicca and Paganism.
As for me? I’m gonna take a walk through Prospect Park and enjoy the sun. Pick up some ribbon and a stick to make a mini-maypole for my front yard. Possibly jump a candle (I can’t make a bonfire in Brooklyn, so I’m improvising). And maybe, just maybe, go out and sit under a tree and wait for Queen Mab to ride by. 
Happy Beltaine, everyone!
I found Larry! April 30, 2004 ~ 12:03 pm
Posted by Julie in : About a Julz, Random Insanity , comments closedOkay, preface on this. I’m almost 27, and have found the occasional grey (actually, because I’m a redhead, they’re white) hair. Starting with the first one on my 18th birthday. I yank them, then don’t see another one for years. Last fall, I got two. Two. At one time. For some reason, I decided not to pluck them. I named the one on the left side Larry, after the actor I was working with at the time who probably caused it. And I named the other one Rick, after the love of my life, who definitely caused that one.
I haven’t seen “Rick” since. Probably because his counterpart has been amazing about trying not to cause me stress, being affectionate, taking care of me, and just generally being a good guy. For all I know, “Rick” may have spontaneously decided to turn red again.
“Larry,” on the other hand, rears his head every so often. Can’t find him all the time, he blends in with my blonde highlights. When I find him, I laugh. It’s like a coiffure “Where’s Waldo”. A few minutes ago, in the bathroom mirror, I found Larry again. I laughed, washed my hands, and looked again. He had vanished. “I’ll fix him,” I thought, and yanked him.
Now Larry is laying on the floor of the Second Floor Women’s Restroom. Take that, Larry.
“I Caused the 5th Grade Moliere Scare” April 30, 2004 ~ 9:28 am
Posted by Julie in : Drama Queen , comments closedSubtitled: “How I made Moliere More Controversial Than He’s Been Since He Died”
Part of the deal when I work at a dramaturg at some theaters is that I have to write a study guide. Many schools around the city take advantage of lower-priced tickets to plays to supplement their arts programs. They bring students to see shows and most likely a talkback with the cast and crew of a show. To prepare them, I write a little historical background on the play, the playwright, some of the themes of the play, etc. I gear it towards high school students, because they are usually the ones who come. This week, we got fifth graders.
The study guide wasn’t geared towards fifth graders. I talked about the Cold War, and not being able to be buried in sacred ground because Moliere was an actor, and coughing up blood on stage (which Moliere did, only hours before he died, as he performed the lead in The Imaginary Invalid). I also made mention that Moliere’s later life and plays were controversial. Tartuffe ignited all kinds of fury because some priests/pastors/what-have-you couldn’t see that it was making fun of hypocrites who practice religion for their own selfish gain, not making fun of religion itself. And I wrote a sentence about Moliere’s wife being rumored by his detractors to have married his own daughter. I was trying to show the lengths to which people were going to try to wreck his career. The daughter thing is probably entirely apocryphal. It has nothing to do with The Bourgeois Gentleman. I was just commenting on the mans life, and critics were very much a part of that. That being said…high schoolers would have gotten a bang out of it. It would have been a discussion point, possibly. It was not on a fifth grade level! But people should have known that the second they saw the analogy between France’s relationship with the Ottoman Empire in the 17th Century and US/USSR relations during the Cold War. Fifth graders wouldn’t get that, either.
So on Wednesday when the cast went to the school to meet with the kids, they were expecting high schoolers, too. Big shock to see the little kids, presentation had to be entirely re-worked on the spot. And afterwards the principal calls my director into his office to discuss the study guide, and how parents are worried because it said Moliere married his daughter (newsflash, I said “it was rumored that the young woman was his daughter”) and some of them didn’t want their kids to see the performance.
Well, fuck. I get my director sent to the principal’s office and make Moliere the most controversial playwright these fifth graders have ever heard of. Go me. But seriously, am I alone in thinking that someone should have read these study guides before distributing them? Whether it was the Education Coordinator at the theater or the teachers, you always read something you’re handing out. It’s just irresponsible not to. I take some of the blame, but not all of it. But I do want a button that says “I Caused The 5th Grade Moliere Scare”.
Didn’t have to go onstage! April 28, 2004 ~ 10:18 pm
Posted by Julie in : About a Julz, Shorty , comments closedEveryone was basically healed. So I came home, instead, and watched Blow Dry on WE instead. What can I say? I’m a sucker for an Alan Rickman movie…
To celebrate being at home, I will take a survey. Because I know you were all interested. And I got this off the archives of My Bitchy Pregnancy.
I may seem: bitchy
But I’m really: just really assertive
People who really know me think I’m: insanely funny. or just insane.
Usually I feel: halfway good
My days are pretty: looong.
In the morning I: hit the snooze button way more than I should.
I like to sleep: period. I just like to sleep.
If I could be doing anything right now I would be: hanging out with Rick. or talking to a friend. oooh, or sleeping. yeah, sleeping.
One thing I wish I could have is: mucho dolares.
One thing I have that I wish I didn’t is: an ass like a $40 prize cow.
All you need is: love. at least that’s what the Beatles say. But where has it gotten them? One assassinated, one dead of cancer, one stuck with the name “Ringo,” and the other stuck singing “Band On the Run” for the rest of his life.
All I need is: a miracle? that’s another song, but I forget who wrote it.
If I had one wish it would be: that my family and friends all had enough cash to take care of whatever they want to take care of.
Love is: amazing. how many times does it happen?
If an angel flew into my window at night I would: scream and possibly try to kill it with a shoe before realizing my mistake in thinking it was a pigeon.
If a demon crashed into my window I would: scream and possibly try to kill it with a shoe before realizing it wasn’t a roach, rat, or wandering drunk. hey, I live in New York.
I live for: pissing people off? making people laugh? one of those, I’m pretty sure.
I dare you all to: stick your tongue to a flagpole in the winter. Go on. I double dog dare ya!
I am afraid of: spiders. really. hate them. probably because every time they bite me, the bite swells up to the size of a baseball.
It makes me angry when: I have to work with fucktards all day.
I dream about: being able to be a dramaturg full-time. for pay.
Number of times a person has made me scared of what they could do to me physically: ummm, never. I actually felt safer after the Mafia made a hit in my old neighborhood. Hey, that person obviously didn’t belong in my hood.
Last book you read: Anne Rice, The Tale of the Body Thief. In the middle of The Queen of the Damned
Last movie you saw: Blow Dry It ended five minutes ago.
Last movie you saw on the big screen: The Lady Killers. So not worth it.
Last phone number you called: My voice mail. Before that, Rick.
Last show you watched on TV: It’s on for background noise, I’m not really watching it. I guess the last show I sat down and really watched was “Trading Spaces: Home Free”
Last song you heard: Sung by the voices in my head, the theme from “Spiderman”. On the radio….hell, I can’t remember
Last thing you had to drink: Welch’s White Grape-Strawberry juice
Last thing you ate: ummm…a chocolate covered pretzel? no, that was before the apple sauce.
Last time you showered: I admit it. Yesterday morning. It’s been a really rough 48 hours.
Last time you cried: Couple weeks ago, I think.
Last time you smiled: 10 minutes ago, when Rick called and didn’t realize I had picked up the phone and inadvertantly belched in my ear.
Last time you laughed: see the above.
Last person you hugged: my stage manager, after she made her acting debut last night.
Last person you kissed: Rick.
Last thing you said: “You too, bye.” In response to Rick telling me to have sweet dreams before he hung up the phone.
Last person you talked to online: Kim. Discussing iTunes’ abysmal taste in the free music they are giving away to celebrate their one year anniversary. Pleh. Opera.
Last person you talked to on the phone: Rick. I mean, duh. You read through all the above answers and were in doubt of this?
My Office Just Got a Shredder April 28, 2004 ~ 2:34 pm
Posted by Julie in : Academic Office Monkey, Random Insanity , comments closedBear in mind during this that I have never been one of those girly-girls who thinks that you can’t set something up without a male present. I grew up in a one-parent house where the one parent was my mother. If we would have waited for men to help us, a lot of shit would have never gotten done. If something needs to be done, I do it my own damn self.
That being said, I got the shredder out of the box with the help of my boss (a woman) while other women in the office were saying “You can’t get that out by youselves!” Wanna bet? Then I needed to get something out of the bottom of the box. The box came to my chin, so I tipped it over, climbed inside, and got the thing that I needed.
And while I was in the box, I realized how cool boxes are. I would’ve killed for this box when I was a kid. It would have made the most kick-ass fort ever. I was tempted to abandon my apartment, take the box to Central Park, and move in. I would have been the envy of the entire place. So tell me how I let myself forget how awesome boxes were when I was a kid?
Do yourself a favor. Find a box and make a fort out of it. Even if you don’t have kids. You won’t regret it.
You know what I really love? April 28, 2004 ~ 2:24 pm
Posted by Julie in : In Da Hood, Shorty , comments closedWhen you lean down to spit a piece of gum into the covered trash receptacle on campus and a squirrel jumps out at you because you’ve disturbed its garbage scavenging. Gaaah! Good times.
Gotta Love Live Theatre… April 28, 2004 ~ 11:21 am
Posted by Julie in : Drama Queen , comments closedBecause it makes you remember the true meaning of “company”. Last night I decided to go to see “The Bourgeois Gent” again. When I got there, the house manager was running a little short on hands, so I took over concessions. Then I noticed our director making several trips to the dressing rooms. This is not normal…normally he leaves the actors alone pre-show to let them get ready. After I closed the concession stand and we went up to our seats for the start of the show, he tells me what’s wrong…
Apparently one of our chorus members, who is onstage for the first 30 minutes of the show and starts off the show with her singing, has been puking up her guts for the past half hour. She isn’t going on. Our stage manager is going on in her place. Who’s in the booth, running the cues? The house manager. Well, who’s going to make the curtain speech? The Artistic Director, who has just been called back - he was on his way home. I got promoted to ASM (we normally don’t have one, but the Stage Manager couldn’t strike props at intermission in costume). And of course, we had a reviewer in the house. So the whole situation was explained to said reviewer, who stuck it out with us. And the curtain speech explained the situation to the audience. And we started.
Let me just tell you, I have never been so proud of and impressed by a group of actors. They had to rearrange musical numbers with almost no notice, re-choreographing several of them on the spot. Our stage manager, who does not like to be in any kind of spotlight, went out on stage and sang and acted her heart out. We had a bit of a rocky start, but they were troopers and won the audience entirely over. And because they were trying so hard to cover, they were selling it in a way they never had before. It was one of our best performances so far.
Of course, something had to jinx it. After coming off stage, the stage manager ran into a wall (not as hard to do as it seems), and when I last saw her had a lump the size of a golf ball coming in over her left eye. She does not respond well to being called “Lumpy,” even though the Artistic Director and I found it hysterical (of course, the AD is also the one who, when he found out my mom is a nurse, asked if I had ever said “Mom, I need milk. Stat!”).
Hopefully our chorus member just had food poisoning and it’s through her system now. Hopefully if she didn’t, our choreographer can fill in the role tonight. Hopefully if that doesn’t happen, our stage manager’s lump has gone down and she can see out of her left eye and can go on stage. Because if none of the above happen, guess who will be making her off-Broadway debut tonight? That’s right. Me. Keep your fingers crossed this doesn’t happen.
And give a mental round of applause, if you would, for my cast and crew, who are wonderful and deserving of glowing reviews and everlasting fame.
Helo, McFly?!?!? April 27, 2004 ~ 4:46 pm
Posted by Julie in : Academic Office Monkey , comments closedI just finished the Commencement Program proofreading. Finally. You know why it took so long? Part of the reason could have been that I was proofing an old copy of the program. I found a couple of large mistakes. A whole degree missing. That’s 20 people not in the book. I called the people who produced the program to let them know what I had found. And here’s the kicker…
They already knew. And it was correct on their version.
Now, excuse me, but if you have someone proofreading, shouldn’t they have an up-to-date copy with all the corrections you have already made?? It seems a little pointless to waste their time with something you’ve already taken care of. I mean, really, “Hello, McFly????”
Forgotten Tattoo April 27, 2004 ~ 12:14 pm
Posted by Julie in : About a Julz , comments closedIs it just me, am I a ditz? I don’t generally think so, but maybe I am. See, sometimes I forget I have my tattoo. Especially in the winter, when I don’t really see it everyday. (And yes, I just realized that it sounds like I don’t take showers…I do. And I often take them when my eyes are not completely open first thing in the morning.) It’s on my ankle, and I just forget about it. I know it’s there on some level, just like I know that I am semi-allergic to the red dye in it, which makes the red part of the tat bump up and occasionally itch. But since it’s now shorts/capris weather, I’m seeing it more often. And I’m wondering, am I the only one to forget about their tattoo? I can’t be, can I? My friend Kim, for instance, has her tattoo on her lower back, where she would practically have to be a contortionist to see it. She must forget about it sometimes.
Maybe it’s like a mole that you take for granted. It’s a mole, it’s always been there, you just don’t think about it.
Except that I don’t find myself looking at my moles and thinking “I oughtta get that re-inked soon.”
Hmmmm….
Kerry Bashing April 27, 2004 ~ 9:26 am
Posted by Julie in : Politically Incorrect , comments closedAlright, we are once again entering the controversial here, just because this something that boils my blood. So if you don’t want to talk politics, or are a supporter of George Bush (either of them, really), you might not want to read this post. Skip it. I won’t hold it against you.
I expect there to be mudslinging during a Presidential Campaign. Not because it’s essential, not because it’s the right way of doing things, but because sooner or later these things devolve into name-calling. However in the 2004 Presidential Race, we seem to be witnessing new levels of it. And we all know which direction I’m pointing the finger in. (If you haven’t figured it out, read whichever “bumper sticker” is under the picture of the leaf above.) I’m not saying Kerry is a saint. Far from it. I don’t believe any politician could achieve sainthood. I’m not even saying he was my first choice for President. I backed Dean first, then Edwards. But I do know that in four years under Dubya, this country has been screwed six ways to Sunday. He lost my support on 9/11. While my home was being attacked, where the hell was Dubya? Up in a plane, somewhere, flying around the country. Rudy Giuliani, whom I previously had no respect for, was at least in the thick of things, doing what he could to aid those who were trapped, lost, and those of us who were in shock that such a thing could happen. I realize the Bush is the President, and is higher in the world scheme of things than Rudy. But running like that when your country needs you is not a way to instill confidence. You cannot tell me that he couldn’t have held still long enough to send us a message of support. And my opinion of him has never recovered. He has not done one single thing that has benefitted me. I am a single woman living in New York City with an income of $30,000 a year. Not exactly his prime focus. But I, and all the other people like me, are no less deserving of government notice than his oil cronies.
But I’ve gotten far off-track trying to give background. What’s pissing me off today is this latest smear campaign of the Bush camp against John Kerry’s military record. John Kerry isn’t fit to lead a country in wartime? A man who served in Vietnam, which was not one of the “good and glorious wars” to serve in, and was wounded three times. The real meaning behind all this is that Dubya is fit to lead a country in wartime. A man whose Daddy got him into the National Guard so he wouldn’t have to go to Vietnam, who was in the so-called “Champagne Squadron,” who was grounded because he failed to show up for a physical, who left the National Guard 8 months early to go to Business School, and who can’t provide records of his actual service time. Yeah, that’s a good guy to have in charge of our troops.
Nuff said.
