A Rationing of Kisses

Malachy, now seven-years-old, is a very different creature from Malachy-at-four, or Malachy-at-six. He was such a snuggly little fellow, and on many occasions would put his dirty little hands around our necks, and cover our faces with ferocious kisses, to the point where we called for mercy.



However, he has reached a point in his life where he feels kisses are just too unmanly. But his sisters and mother are slow to agree with him, so he has devised a plan.



His plan runs thus: if he establishes the routine that each family member may have one kiss in the morning, and one kiss in the evening (and by kiss, he means holding out his cheek in tolerant disdain) then he will appease our silly whims, without his character being completely marred.



As his older sister, who used to cover his soft baby face with kisses, this takes some getting used to. For now, when I bend down and brush my lips across his fuzzy head, I hear him say "You realize that counts as your evening kiss, and you have no more left today."



Oh well......



At least I know he still loves me. About three weeks ago, just after school got out, he nestled next to me on the couch. With a sad face, he told me he was going on a trip to visit our relatives for Christmas. I smiled, and said "Of course. I'm coming too!" His eyes grew very wide, then very happy. "You! You're coming with us?" he asked. Then he told me he was happy to go after all! So Cute.

Riding his bike at a campground near Crater Lake

Stage Make-up

Stage Makeup

One Kit—Many Uses

Image—such a fragile thing

Can be heightened, altered, covered—

Self-nature changed first outside then within

Wearing another’s identity with a sort of wonder.

Realizations. Curiosity. Empathy.

A mind opened by donning a different persona.

Corrective:
What if my nose was thin? My face less round?

Glamour:
Smooth skin, large eyes, glossy lips
One questions beauty—what do what do appearances signify...

Old Age:
Augment frown or smile lines?
Softening, creasing, portraying experience that can only truly come with time

Alien:
Unearthly—Other-worldly

Animal:
Zebra—stark stripes—opposites=depth
Individuality balanced with community membership

Historical:
What distinguishes one time from another? Humanity…certainly not.

Gender reversal:
Subtleties too lengthy to mention. Unimportant fact: fake facial hair itches

Plaster Mask—
Simply Anonymous

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stage make-up was decidedly one of my favorite classes this past semester. We would spend one day a week doing research and designing, and the following class would be application. I have a binder FULL of drawings, and images used for inspiration. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to post a couple of the applications:

Sad Clown

Alien (of sorts!)

Fantasy: peacock masquerader

etc.

etc.

Moderate Old Age (grumpy)

Extreme age (I was assured the colors would work under stage lights)

Gender Reversal (duh)

My absolute favorite

(I went to get a chai with a friend after class, and these little kids couldn't keep their eyes off me--so much fun!)

MUNCH

1920s accurate

(Outlined lips, thick fake lashes, rosy cheeks)

1920's surreal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Don't Mention My Name"

This past semester, I had a wonderful opportunity with my friend Kathy to co-direct (and costume design, prop design, etc. ) a high school show for the charter school my siblings belong to. The production was "Don't Mention my Name," by Fred Carmichael. It is a comedy/mystery about a fellow who shows up at a hideously furnished bed and breakfast, not knowing who he is, or why he is there. All the other characters have different names and identities for him, and the plot leads everyone on a merry round of confusion.

Our cast was so dedicated and enthusiastic. I have never met such a sweet and talented group of high schoolers. We had no offstage drama between the cast members! Matthew designed and built the set. It was so impressive, and I am so grateful, and so proud of him. The school (Principle, teachers, staff members) were so supportive and nice to work with. I think they enjoyed watching their school be "magically" altered into an entirely different world. Also, a local (haunted!) bed and breakfast lent us the furniture and props. Jason, Kathy's husband, took all these beautiful pictures.

Altogether, this was an amazing experience. I admit there were moments when I was worried about logistics, but everything came together in the end with beautiful results. The list of things I've learned from this project seems infinite. I feel more sure than ever that my vocation lies in the world of educational theatre.

Thank You to everyone involved. I LOVE YOU!

The Cast and Crew

"Dexter Chandler, you DID make reservations?"

"A new color my accountant gave me--book keeper red!"

"He could hurt his back...pushing up like that."

"We're sardin-ees"

Bart and Spike, our devoted techies

Notes at the final dress

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Father's Day Thank-You

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My mass today was offered up for one of the most important, special, and wonderful men I know..........my father.


I could not stop thinking about everything he has done for me, and how blessed I am to have him for my papa.


Whenever I am fretful, stressed, or just plain grumpy, he knows how to soothe me--he makes me feel safe and secure, deep-down inside. He also knows how to make me laugh. And when ever I overcome some little obstacle, get an A on an exam, sew something new, or learn exciting news, I always feel like I am bursting at the seams until I share my delight with him.


I remember what it feels like to be really small, and spread my arms trustingly as he swung me round and round. I remember outings to the "tunnel slide" park, where he was always the highlight of the playground, with kids running from every corner to line up for spins on the tire swing.



He has influenced every aspect of my life, from teaching me to clean the kitchen to the point of "perfection" :) to inspiring me with determination to succeed at school........................

He says I'll be his baby girl forever, and I sure am glad..........because I wouldn't want it any other way.

~~~

There are two other dads I particularly love and want to thank this Father's Day.

My Paternal Grandfather, otherwise known as Jiddee.......................

who taught me all that I know about making Lebanese food, and who passed on his love of, and ability to dance (all day, and all night).

~~~

My Maternal Grandfather...........................known as Georgie-Pop (a name of his own invention), who shares a love of reading historical non-fiction, and provides a never ending source of over-the-phone encouragement for everything I undertake.

I acknowledge and thank these father figures who have my truest love and gratitude!!!!!!!

Still Playing Dress-up

School ended two weeks ago....... my joy and relief is scarcely to be described. As the turmoil and stress of finals subsided I was seized with a new energy. It was almost terrifying! The need to exercise my creativity, to make something, to sew, seemed to dominant all my thoughts. I found a pattern that I was saving for the far off day when I became an accomplished seamstress, four yards of fabric that just begged to be sewn, and started cutting at a feverish rate. Then, after I got home each day (from my one summer class) I would spend the afternoon sewing. It was a challenging pattern for someone who has only sewn simple skirts, but I learned a great deal, and I had the help of a dear and experienced friend, who I called every time the instructions on the pattern seemed like gibberish.

The result was a dream come true.

After years of reading and rereading everything by Jane Austen, or similar to Jane Austen, and watching all the historical and literature-based movies I could get my hands on, and enviously looking at pictures on sewing websites of stranger's regency dresses, I finally have my own regency dress.


I do feel rather silly about posting so many pictures of myself, but then, the dress is so pretty, and Matthew (my personal photographer!) did such a lovely job with the photo angles that I couldn't decide which ones to leave out.

Sarah is a magician with hair, and she kindly swept it up into a proper regency style...

It's a book of poetry, of course...

Finally, a sunset view of the mountain...such splendor..........

It is probably unnecessary to mention that I shall always love to play dress up...

I wonder what era shall come next...

Phew!

I am so happy to be home!

Yes, the vocal jazz tour was a great deal of fun...and I learned quite a bit...but I am so relieved to have healthy food, showers, and all the little luxuries of home again at my disposal. We arrived back on campus at about five, and I really had to hit the ground running, because I have a medium stack of homework with due dates this week. Also, I have to be at school in the morning (which is rather difficult after five days of waking at 6 am and going to bed at 12 am). So I will go work on a biology paper...and as soon as I get the more urgent assignments done, I will write all about the trip to Sonora!

Dah bah dah doo dat, dee bah dah doo bop......................

Grand Entrance, the second...

Well now,

It hasn't quite been a year since I began my blog. I shall again attempt this, and hope that a second effort proves less futile. I had the fantasy that summer would provide many blogging opportunities. However, a two-month "star-spangled adventure" across the beautiful US monopolized my time. Then, when we finally returned home, rehearsals and performances of Beauty and the Beast were immediately underway--the duties of which continued three weeks into the school year. Once school began, I had very little time between essays and speeches, for writing for mere pleasure. This is an unhealthy state for me though, and I simply must write down the musings, mutterings, and moments of daily life. Thus continues (I hope) the blogging life of Miss Anne....