I need to be productive

There are SO many things that need to happen today and over the next few days...

And I cannot seem to make myself DO anything about it.

Ok, so I clipped coupons and cleaned out the newspaper holder of the old ones... and I cleaned the upstairs bathroom... and I cleared out the mail holder and put the "to file" items in the "to file" file.

But that does NOT count as being productive today.

There are a million things I need to do to promote the upcoming shows I'm working on plus make a comprehensive PR plan for the theatre.

But I cannot do any of them. I want to sit here and read blogs and watch TV.

Is that so wrong?

I have accomplished absolutely nothing in my life compared to these kids

Because I'm an alumnae of SLU, I was asked to sit on the interview panel for the Presidential Scholarship weekend. The main part of the event was today.

The University brings in current scholars, faculty or staff members and alums to help decide who will receive this scholarship. It's basically a full ride and is a highly sought after award. The numbers aren't announced but I think it's something one in twenty interviewees will be awarded the scholarship. CRAZY.

Let's just say that I wasn't even invited to interview for these things when I was a senior. These kids are SMART.

After hearing those kids talk about their amazing accomplishments and what they would do with their scholarship and their dreams and hopes for the future, I'm struck with the thought that I haven't done ANYTHING in my life.

It's the same feeling I get when someone tells me that they're in medical school and hope to cure cancer someday. I plan events. I know what I do is important - non-profits exist for a reason and I'm doing what I can to help them continue to exist. The events I plan are for cultivation of major donors or to raise money for the institution directly. But sometimes, I feel like what I do is not as important as my friends' jobs.

So interviewing future doctors and aerospace engineers and lawyers, I just wonder about what I've done with my life. They have done over 200 hours of community service in their four years of high school. They plan to do the same in college. I donate my time and talent to SLU right now, because I don't have the treasure to do so. But sometimes I wonder if its enough.

These kids are absolutely amazing. I was so glad to spend just twenty minutes getting to know them. There are a few that were outstanding and I really hope that I can connect with them after they find out about the scholarship outcomes and get them to attend SLU even if they didn't win.

Because SLU needs these kids. They're the future, as corny as that sounds. I hope they become Billikens.

Good Will Indeed!

This afternoon, in the middle of a very long day and an even longer to-do list, I thought to myself….

Jessica: Self, I feel like shopping.

Self: But Jessica, you don’t have any money! You can’t go shopping.

Jessica: Yes, Self, I know that, but I have the urge to buy!

Self: I know, I know.

Jessica: Where can I scratch the itch and not spend a fortune?

Self: This is beginning to sound like a cheesy commercial.

It’s at this point in the recap that I realize I’m better at reading other’s scripts rather than writing my own. A playwright I never will be.

So yes, in the middle of the afternoon, I decided to go shopping at Goodwill. There’s a very nice one – clean, smells good, has a nice selection, brightly lit, good parking – near our favorite movie theatre. Husband and I peeked in there one day and really wanted to go back and explore.

I decided today was the day.

And I was NOT disappointed!

Here’s what I came home with -

This is a JONES NEW YORK skirt, size 8P. Oh. My. Goodness. $3!!!

This is a cute shirt in a color that I love but don’t have a lot of. This was $3 as well!!!

And the pièce de résistance … an amazing Chenille-like jacket. I hope I can get it to the dry cleaners tomorrow morning and get it back before a big meeting/event I have on Thursday. I’d really like to have it to make a great impression! It will look perfect with black pants and my boots.

But yeah, definitely have to get it cleaned. It smells like an old woman! But for $4, it was TOTALLY ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT!

It just goes to you that Goodwill is absolutely worth your time.

Sherlock Holmes - that starts with "S"

Source

We saw Sherlock Holmes on Saturday as part of my Valentine's Day celebration with my Husband.

He spent the morning at Mardi Gras while I was painting the set. I was running late as usual (it's always hard for me to get out of the theatre on time, no matter what I'm doing) and I had to rush home and shower and scrub bits of primer off my fingers so I could be presentable for the movie and dinner.

I really enjoyed the movie - we hadn't seen it yet and had been looking forward to it for a while! Rachel McAdams is adorable, Jude Law and Robert Downey, Jr. were great as usual. The movie was cut in a way that you didn't see any of the reveals coming so even Husband was surprised at some points. This is a major success! Husband always guesses what's going to happen in movies and TV shows and it really bugs me. It was so good to be able to enjoy the movie with him as it happens.

I'm filing this under 101 in 1001 days because it counts as my "S" movie. :)

Watch that first step - it's a doozy!

I've spent most of my free time outside of work at the theatre these past few weeks. It's my calling, it's my passiong, blah blah blah. Sometimes it's just a helluva lot of owrk and it makes you tired!

Last weekend, Husband and I were at the theatre from 7-10 Friday night, 9-3 Saturday and 11-2 on Sunday. Now granted, that's not as much time as the director and producer spent at the theatre. But Husband and I had a bunch of other things vying for our time (me: sleep, him: homework) so we could only give so much.

So I don't have a picture of the completely blank stage but I wanted to show some of the progress we've made in just a few days. And so much has been done since these pictures were taken!

This is on the second day of construction, after creating a 16' platform on 20 castors. These are the supporters going in for the second floor.

This shows Husband in the green shirt, at the end of our work shift on Sunday. There weren't walls, but there would be some soon!

It's a small photo, but this is the look from backstage. You can see the various walls and a bit of the theatre beyond.

I just want to point out that the director of this show has been SO careful to build everything TO CODE. He's a professional carpenter who used to frame houses, so he knows what he's talking about. That means that when the cast of ten starts running furiously up and down stairs, opening and slamming doors, and generally trying to kill themselves on the set, it SHOULD stay together. We've got to make it last until late March, so we'll see how that goes! :)