Home from the Big D

Wow....what a whirlwind, roller coaster ride of a weekend! From various illnesses and trips to the ER (glad you are better Q!) to some of the BEST coconut curry EVER to amazing swimming and time with Miss Julia--it was just a great weekend. That my circle of friends grew by one this weekend made it even better. Thanks, J-man!

Pax

Indy!

Juila and I will be heading to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Jealous????

Sunday...

...in the Pool with Friends. Great show!

Ahhh...Dallas

Just out of the pool....getting ready for a delicious lunch...then to a spa for a pedicure and then back to the pool. Ahhhh.....very happy to be here surrounded by my dear friends....old and new. Pax

Graduation day at WATC

Tonight we graduate a whole bunch of terrific students...my college awards certificates of completion, technical certificates and associate degrees. I am not sure how many people know how difficult our programs of study really are. I do--and I am extremely proud of those who manage to complete the curricula and go on to find meaningful employment. Check out our website at www.watc.edu and check out our college blog at watconline.blogspot.com Congratulations Graduates!

Moon Over Buffalo

I will be making my Wichita Community Theater debut in Ken Ludwig's hysterical comedy "Moon over Buffalo" opening July 10 and running until July 26. It is directed by my dear friend Shaun-Michael Morse and has a really top-notch cast (yes, I know I included myself in that compliment). The script is a hoot and it promises to be a fun evening of theater. Pax!

New Music

Lots of good new music in my life right now. Bought the new Indiana Jones soundtrack...lots of good cuts on it--brings a big smile to my face. Surprised at how rich the score is for the West End "Lord of the Rings" musical. Really rich themes--Celtic and Indian and they work very well. Love the new samplers from Q and still in love with the new Carly Simon CD. Peace!

Home

Home from Dallas. Hopefully today will bring my contract for our new learning platform at WATC. I have an HMU class first thing and then I will spend the rest of the week dreaming of the Hotel Abandon and the Q lagoon! Of course, I will be back there on Friday night, so my dream will come true.

Pax

Lake Dallas High School

So...if one of our challenges as educators is to pass the existing culture on to the next generation, the folks down here in Dallas are doing a fine job. Tonight's concert of music and dance was top-notch and had lots of talent and energy. Well done! And Q's daughter Julia brought the house down with her amazing rendition of 'Autumn Leaves". Woo-freakin'-hoo!

Saturday in the Big D

Just out of the pool....heading to the mall to buy a new shirt for tonight's concert. Perfect 82 degree tempature and the pool is even better. Just the tonic for me! Of course, Q's crazy family will be arriving soon (we are attending Julia's spring concert tonight) so the mania will begin shortly. Chaos and drama....ugh. Oh well! I will hide in the bedroom with my tribe and watch Torchwood....woohoo!

Peace!

Prepping for a Dallas Trip

I leave tomorrow for the first of two consecutive weekends in Dallas. Saturday night is Julia's (Q's daughter) Spring Concert and a bunch of us were invited to attend. I am excited about hearing her terrific voice (which always, always, always reminds me of her mother's beautiful voice) but I am also looking forward to a little down time and some quality time on my floaty in the pool with my tribe.

Peace!

Mid-Week

Been listening to Carly Simon's new CD. Love it. The second cut is a really beautiful song--listen to it! Been working on my WATC Online Website today and trying to get all of my new classes arranged wtih faculty. It's a good day.

Pax

A Perfect Day?

What would be your perfect day? Would it include spending some time with those you love? Would it have some good work in it for you? Would you sing out loud on occasion? Would you praise your God? Would you be thankful that you have a day at all? Would your perfect day include little children to make giggle? How about a crowd of happy Wichitans at a Riverfest event that was just right? Or a bike ride through west Wichita that left your legs with that small amount of pain that lets you know you are alive? Or sharing a chocolate mocha sundae with someone special? Would your perfect day include the anticipation of a dinner someplace special with a group of friends? How about buying gifts for your beloved mother? Does your perfect day include just a bit of television watching? Does it have you writing a blog entry about your perfect day? I am just wondering what your perfect day might include because mine had all of the previous and more!

Pax

Frazz

At lunch today one of my faculty members mentioned a comic strip that he enjoyed called Frazz....I LOVE it. Here is a sample!

A Delay

Well...I had hoped to be able to go to Paris for my 45th birthday, but it appears the trip will have to be delayed until the fall. By the time I got around to getting a ticket for a June trip, the prices had trebled....so, after much debate, I am postponing my trip until November. C'est la vie!

Grad work update

I know you are all dying to know where I am on the road to my doctorate, so here's an update: I am almost done with my first year and still love my program. The readings, assignments, discussions and papers have been rigorous, challenging and very rewarding. I mostly work with two mentors (as HMU calls their professor); Chad Redwing and Robert Burns. Both men are brilliant in their own right and we have had some amazing discussions--mostly on the philosophy of education and how people actually learn. It's been a terrific year and I look forward to the remainder! (Remind me of this post in a few years when I am sick of this program! LOL)

PAX!

Another Grapes of Wrath Pic

OK...I like this pic much better than the other one! It must be because of the smile!

Cotton Patch Gospel Pic

Here's a terrific pic from our production of Cotton Patch Gospel in February. It was such a terrific show--I can't wait for the chance to doit again!

The End of Grapes and New Beginnings

So...we have closed Grapes and struck the set. The costumes are packed away and the props returned to the closet for their next use. I was so honored to be a small part of this important and amazing show--honored to have so many friends who love me and put up with my own special brand of insanity--honored to have gifts that I can share in many, many ways--blessed to have family that love and support me (hi, Mom!) --but mostly, I am so lucky to have a second chance at this rich, thick, amazing, important, tedious, lovely, happy, God-given life. Knowing how lucky I am makes it even better. Knowing that some of you out there love me makes it even richer.

As I was driving home Q called to talk about Torchwood and Julia's concert in May and all of the things happening in Dallas and he pointed out kindly that I don't often receive the love from the people in my life. All of the love from my family and friends that I tend to take for granted--well, not take for granted, but I don't always acknowledge that I know I am loved. I appreciate this feedback more than Q will ever know. I KNOW that people love me, but I think I am afraid that if I acknowledge the bounty of love in my life that it might go away. Now, I know that is crazy, unhealthy thinking--but it is there--at the core of who I am. How to fix that? It will take time--but at least I know that I am not broken and that I am loved by lots and lots and lots of people. Know what? I love them all more than they could ever know!

PAX

Paul and Ms. Mouse

Here is a pic of me and the Nonny Mouse.

The band in Grapes of Wrath has been terrific to work with...really great musicians!