Rapier's Wit

No, that is not me misspelling a word in the title. It's a play on the phrase. Sheesh. The weather has been less than agreeable given that it is late Spring. Today, it was a brisk 53 〫 at a local arts festival. Celebrate strawberries and jazz. At least it is referred to as the Strawberry Jazz Festival. In rebellion against the weather as it was, I wore what would normally be appropriate for this time of year when the temperatures are usually in the upper 80s and sunshine would be baking my shoulders: A sundress and flip flops. My fingers and toes went numb, but damn it! I proved a point to Mother Nature while looking like a fool in comparison to those dressed for the cloudy, chilly weather. Bah. Who cares. I don't embrace fitting in anyway. There were many art and food vendors. We went specifically for the live entertainment. I should mention this is the first outing the boy has made since graduating. Oy. Even with the cloud cover I hope we got a good dose of Vitamin D. ...

Have you ever seen a Christopher Guest movie? A Might Wind, Best in Show, This is Spinal Tap ? They call those mockumentaries. They're set up as documentary films with just an outline and not much of a script. In the spirit of that same theme two long time friends and funny gals are creating a similar web show.  Ya know what, watch this clip. Me babbling is boring and this clip is, in my opinion, funny.  The idea of the teaser is a sneak peek of what you'll see if  the funds can be raised to produce it. Check it out and if you love it, donate to the project. Last season 82 South  St  created very funny sketches. Go peruse those on YouTube! My personal favorites are  Scrabble Bitches and Black Scrapbook.

One of my new readers, CAT, reminded me in a previous post comment that I promised photographic proof of my theatrical hirsute glory. I donned the facial hair in STATE FAIR recently with Kankakee Valley Theatre Association. I was grateful to only have worn the thing for one scene. I will say, without a doubt, that I brought plenty of attention to myself. I loved the laughter and the reactions cast mates gave me each performance. On the final performance, prior to making my appearance, I stuck a pickle on a fork and then placed it between my boobs for later retrieval on stage. The smell of the dill was rising upward. I hoped no one would detect it. Near the end of this particular scene there are two male characters conversing. One, Charlie, says to Pat (the notorious ladies man newspaper reporter) "you must know every dame on the midway!" To that Pat replies, "Only the ( long pause as I approach ) refined ones." I made my presence known. I interrupted his line by sa...

I'm so happy it's Friday. It's unusual for me to be thrilled. Screaming TGIF doesn't have a normal spot in my vocabulary because, in my line of work, a weekend just doesn't take on the same meaning it does for those of you who work Monday through Friday. Chances are I'm not sleeping in on a Saturday. I'm waking up, slurping down java in haste and rushing out the door only to find myself sitting on the bench outside the store because the management thinks its exempt from being on time. *shew* This Friday is different! Due to my involvement in Kankakee Valley Theatre Associations production of STATE FAIR, I am off all weekend. Sure, I'll have my hair in curlers for hours prior to curtain time. I'll wear 3 times the average amount of make-up and a color totally unlike my natural skin tone. Aqua Net is dragged out of the 80's and sprayed feverishly. I'll be dancing in shoes that are clearly a modern day version of Medieval torture. However, none...

Oh, I'm not talking about big screen TVs my friends. I am talking about the BIG silver screen of the Paramount Theater in my hometown. Throughout the month of December the restored and beautiful Paramount Theater in downtown Kankakee is showing the holiday movies we love. Last night my son and I joined my sister, her family and her friend's family to a viewing of one of the greatest movies ever made: It's a Wonderful Life . It was truly a fantastic and remarkable sight to behold. Seeing Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed on that huge screen as my parents viewed it just captivated me. The humor and nuances seemed renewed. The scene where George Bailey feels he's hit rock bottom and he's drinking in Martini's Bar left me with such a sense of profound empathy. As George's tears streamed down his face, I felt my own eyes sting with tears. Having an audience to share my laughter really brought an additional spark to this old movie. I cried for the first time ever wh...