Saturday, June 30, 2007

Paradise

We're up. Rolf made it to his computer where he's burning CDs . . . burning or ripping . . he's finally downloading them. So, I've had my breakfast bar, Corrine Rae Bailey is singing . . . and it's quiet.

It seems likes ages since I've had a quiet morning at home. We were supposed to head down to the lake last night, but we stayed home because Rolf's mom is in the hospital. I am going ahead without him, but only because I haven't seen my folks in such a long time. Maybe I shouldn't. I thought it was what I should do, until just now.

Hmm . . .

Friday, June 29, 2007

Strawberries for Breakfast

Hi!

We had a fun dinner with Nearly Gay Nick last night. He was there when I got home from work - looking good. He lost his job recently with severance. It was great to see him and know that he's o.k. And even though I had two glasses of wine, and two bourbons - I managed to stay within my Weight Watcher's diet plan.

I snacked on cucumber slices and humus, before finishing off work on the new patio in front. Rolf and Nick sat on the front steps while I laid down mulch and replanted a pot. The Tour d'Ravensworth street bike team flew by. It is so much fun. There are about a hundred of them, and they fly by wearing all the colors you see on t.v. Every Tuesday and Thursday, if I get home work in time, they fly by; and I applaud and cheer like people did for me when I ran the Marine Corp Marathon. Rolf and Nick had a good laugh when the cyclists waved and shouted their thanks.

For dinner I steamed monkish on a bed of leeks and spring onions over a tarragon broth, and served that on a bed of arugula with a tarragon parsley lemon olive oil citronette that Rolf made for me, and big shrimp that I marinated briefly in the citronette . I just piled thick mingions of fish and saucy shrimp on top of the arugula, and topped it all off with the steamed leeks and a drizzle more of the citronette . (Fresh baby spinach would work instead of arugula.) Side dish was zucchini with caramelized onions and diced tomatoes. I let that cool off before serving it so it was warm.

Monkfish is similar in texture to lobster, but much less expensive. I've heard it called poor man's lobster. It was very good. I liked steaming it too. I've had a couple of failures with it before by overcooking it, so I was very careful and it was just brilliant!
_________

We'll get to see my folks some this weekend. We're going the Lake House for the weekend. There will be fireworks on the lake on Saturday night that we'll watch from the pontoon boat. If it's like other years, it will be much fun, followed by the boat breaking down.

Joy's new husband is going to be there, and his sister, two nieces - one with downs syndrome - and also one of his granddaughters. We've never met them. So, we have to come out to more people. I always fear for the worst. Well - the problem is, I always fear.

This our first trip to the lake house this year. My parents are delighted that we're coming.

Then back to work Monday and Tuesday before we take off for Rehoboth for five days.

I'm liking this.

All the best,
Vig

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

My yesterday was blue, dear

What a difference a day makes
Twenty-four little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers
Where there used to be rain

I had a great voice lesson. Gallons of water and Advil had improved my well being. We worked on *Moving Too Fast*, *If I Didn't Believe in You*, and *The Shmuel Song* all from The Last Five Years. It is very exciting. The music is challenging, it requires a voice range of three and a half octaves - and I have it - but, I don't naturally know how to use such a wide range of my voice. It is good that I'm starting on it three months early. Normal rehearsals should begin in September.

I didn't drink. I thought about having a glass of wine. And I just thought "For what good reason would you have wine?! You don't want it!" And I didn't. But . . . I thought about it. I did go to an AA meeting. I can't go to one today at lunch time, because I have weight watchers.

Well, I called Memae last night, because she's a big drinker too. I told her my tale. She can relate, she can ask the "What were you thinking?" question, but it comes out much more on the side of "What are we thinking when we do that!?"

Unfortunately, she said that her partner and my best friend, Puck, has lost her job. I have to give her a call soon.

But not until I get this work done!

All the best,
Vig

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Don't cry for me, next door neighbour

Not good. This is not good. What did I do? Oy. My aching head. Why did I do that?

Tuesday, with a hangover. Monday evening - Vodka martini (in a go cup), one glass of white wine with dinner, and then the power drinking began. Vodka, neat. Not "neat neato cool", just straight in a glass. I remember looking at the clock and thinking, it's only 8:15!? Wow! More time for drinking! And I finished off the bottle. Then I found my flask. And I hid it too. So, when I came upstairs much later, knowing I'd overdone it - Rolf says "Are you drunk?" "What did you drink after dinner?"

He'd been finishing up some work after dinner. I watered the garden, walked the dog, watched Sting on TiVo, looked for some music for my voice lesson tonight. (Oh, my god, I hope I'm feeling better by then!)

We had a wonderful evening. I did, he had half a wonderful evening because he had more work to do. A great old friend had dropped by, and we went out to dinner to a new and wonderful local restaurant. Then I poured myself about three fingers of vodka upon the return, watered the front garden, brought the dog out, got another vodka finishing the bottle, chatted with a neighbor about the lake, his dog "Belle" and how loud our tree was when it went down last year, watered the side garden. . . that's when I noticed it was only about 8:15. So, "Yay" I can have another drink! Why? I ask that my self. I searched the house for my flask from the beach, and popped it open while watering the back-yard - hiding behind a tree so Rolf wouldn't see me.

Then I took the dog for a walk, popped the flask open again before we walked out the front gate. And again when we got back. And again while I watched TiVo, worked on some laundry . . . I can't believe I drank the whole thing. Nine ounces in "cocktails", plus six ounces of wine, and I think I emptied the six ounce flask; f-ck. Twenty-one ounces - equal to fourteen "shots" and a glass of wine.

I can't believe I did that. Can I ever be in control? As far as Weight Watchers is concerned, that's 19 points in booze calories (1466 Calories!) Add that to the 21 points for the garlic bread alone with dinner, I busted my diet plan by 28 points for the day. And I didn't have any left over points either. I used them on Saturday.

I have nothing to be ashamed of at least. I didn't do or say anything unsafe or stupid. I'm glad about that. I didn't break the law. But I am really so disgusted with myself right now. Disgusted, but thank G-d, not ashamed.

I think I'll go to AA for lunch today. It's an open meeting. They allow drinkers in.

Control or quit or die, those are my options. My doctor said so.

He drinks a Whiskey drink, he drinks a Vodka drink
He drinks a Lager drink, he drinks a Cider drink
He sings the songs that remind him of the good times
He sings the songs that remind him of the best times
(Don't cry for me, next door neighbour)

Sunday, June 24, 2007

I'll go out and make it or steal it or take it, or die

Last Friday - Hamlet . . . the Rest is Silence by Synetic at the Kennedy Center New Family Theatre with Leta, J*, Alan, Rolf. Dinner afterward at Floriana's Mercury Grill.

Last Saturday - Rolf's niece's graduation party day. We made fruit platters in the luau theme, and brought orchid leis from Hawaii, that didn't seem to be worth all the effort. Among the highlights of the day was riding out there in the Jeep with Rolf. His cousin Sherri showed up, and I love her, but don't see her often. An Aunt of Rolf's, that is on his dad's side, Jean, told me to just call her daughter "Cousin", because "we're all family." I never get tired of being loved, I tell ya. Oh - and I called Rolf's dad - "Dad." First time in 25 years. We've been giving him Home Depot gift cards, and we gave him one for Father's Day. But his other kids ratted him out. They'd told us how he loves them, uses them like it's a game, tracking the value, shopping the ads. So, we figured we're pretty much going to be giving them to him for ever right? But as we were leaving the party, Rolf's Mom piped up, and said that it means more work for her; because he likes to go buy stuff for the house, but she's the one who ends up installing it and doing the work. I was sitting in the Jeep, ready to pull away . . most of the immediate family is standing there - and I said "Dad? You better enjoy that card then, because it's the last one." And everybody laughed, including him - but he stopped and looked like he was thinking "Wait a minute. What just happened?" And we laughed all the more as we drove away.

Last Sunday . . . I had to work. I fucked up at work, and I had to go in. It was humiliating, but I got it done (financials), and was out of there by 11. Swung by the house and picked up Rolf and d'Ohgy and went down to see Mom and Dad for Father's day. They'd had their first garden party of the season - this one for the Baptist Senior Fellowship, or whatever they're called. And they were just so delighted that people enjoyed the garden. We're delighted too, because we designed and installed it ourselves, with no hired help, as a gift. This is the first spring where we didn't really do much, they've claimed it as their own and have it under pretty good control. They were aglow with pride and appreciation, as we ate at a table pulled close to the flowering hydrangea.

Then, it was off like to the races to pick up Puck and Memae for a drive in the Jeep out to the True Colors Concert Tour at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Where, during Erasure's brilliant set, Rolf turned to me and said "I'm so glad I'm in my forties, and that I'm with you. Because without you I wouldn't have any fun." We left a moment or too before Cyndi Lauper finished up, because the sound engineering was very bad, and Puck and Memae had disappeared long before. When we got back to the jeep, in front of a backdrop of trees, Memae lay across the back seat with her head over the far side, and Puck, looking much like James Dean, had her leg up on the front fender leaning over on her knee. It seemed to be a very happy picture, curious and beautifully composed in the fading light, but when I made a comment about the "poses" Puck said, yeah, well, this is my livid pose." 'Cause Memae was yakking up the drinks. It really put a damper on a great evening. That, and me being so pissed at the sound engineering that I messed up Rolf's good time, and Rolf thinking I'd been plying Memae with drinks - kind of made for a quiet ride home . . . and a pretty quiet week too.

Tuesday - I hired the Music Director from the last Forever Plaid that I did. He's going to be my vocal coach and accompanist for the summer. I'm getting ready for some big stuff! (Well, big to me.) Then Rolf's friends, his "international shopper" and her husband came over for drinks and to bring us the Moroccan Berber carpet they picked up for us. It's 70 years old, the colors are about perfect. It is obviously hand made in an ethnic family way. It is very exciting.

Wednesday- Leta, Alan and I went to see Souvenir at the Studio Theatre. It was brilliant. It's the life story of Florence Foster Jenkins, who thought she was a great singer. Nancy Robinette is brilliant as the subject, and J. Fred Schifman, was just perfect, with audience side glances worth of Paul Lynde. It was perfect. Go see it!

Also, I started back at Weight Watcher's on Wednesday. It was October of 2002 when I started there, and May of 2003 when I'd lost 45 pounds. Now, four years later, I've put 40 back on. My goal is to take my shirt off on stage for The Last Five Years that I am doing in October.


Thursday - after work, we packed and came to the beach. Where there has been much fun, and (thank G-d) plenty of sex. It seemed like a game to play Surf Fishing License Scavenger hunt to get everything we needed. To get the license, we had a nice drive down the Delaware National Seashore to the life saving station, then back and through Rehoboth to Walmart for a $50 in fishing supplies, plus a tow rope, and tire gauge. Then we needed a board, so if we got stuck on the beach in the Jeep, we could use the board to support the jack - or something. All I know is it is required, and if you don't have it, they'll give you a ticket. So we hunted through the shipping crates at a local flower nursery to get the board. We finally drove the Jeep onto the beach for the first time at about 2:30 Saturday. It's going to be fantastic. We're going back in a few minutes.

Last night was the "Is this a quiet party, or am I going deaf" BBQ at Cliff's. Wow. It's pretty rough when I'm the one having to struggle to get conversation going. I'm the quiet one. Rolf had to work at it too. There were 12 of us. Nine of them just sitting around staring at each other. Bears. Very very odd.

Upcoming shows to see: Reefer Madness, Witches of Eastwick, SideShow . . .

Big changes at work. A little scary. A new start? Or prelude to being unemployed?

Sunday, June 10, 2007

I'd poured myself a healthy cocktail by two. Out of sorts after my pleasant visit with my cousin. I don't want to say anything about that. I was going to, yesterday, when after my second cocktail, I thought I'd better get myself something to eat.

Nothing happened - a walk to the beach, happily down the boardwalk, and around to the Aqua Grille for an early happy hour drink. Where I stood amused, silently watching the arriving crowd leer at the half dressed sculpted college boy 'lifeguard' wiaters, slowly drinking a tumbler of cosmopolitan all the while. Then over to the Seafood Shack for a beer and crabcakes on the back porch. Silently, joyously amused by the mixed trio playing cards, using black plastic forks to ante. And two drunk big girl black girl sisters, one with tits that rested on her knees, the other looking very tough, both so happily drunk at 5:30 or so. And laughing.

Believe it or not, I went back to the Aqua Grille, had another Cosmopolitan - passed by one of the couples of house mates on their way in. I had a lovely walk back, and settled in to read for a while, and was asleep by eight.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Like the beat beat beat of the tom-tom

It's a bunny, about the size of a guinea pig, with ears, tho not much bigger, standing straight as he nibbles on the shaggy lawn watching me out of one eye. There are some blooms about, more the promise of blooms than flowers; perhaps they will be lacecap hydrangeas, there's a standard example of the horrid wygealea with a sprinkling of pink flowers that I saw a butterfly - turned hummingbird on specific looking, just before I saw the baby bunny rabbit come out from the hedge for happy hour. There's hardly anyone here this weekend, not even Rolf, who is home, working. It's the first weekend with the Jeep at the beach. He made a play for me to stay home too. And it broke my heart to come without him, but I'm stubborn.

I was so lonely this morning. Another day alone in a crowd on the beach; the "alone" measure outweighed seeing dolphins long enough for me to decide to find my cousin, who I shall call Bunny, just because the baby bunny seems to have an insatiable appetite, and there's a rule here on SideNote - not everything is true, and I don't use anyone's real name. . . because. . . well, . . it's all true. Except it's not.

It's almost 4.

Friday, June 01, 2007

It's the Dream Afraid of Waking

Happy Friday. I'm at my desk. Late to work, coffee has not kicked in. I could have lain in bed for hours. Rolf is probably still in bed.

I have three shows to see this weekend. (I intend to bail on one of them. Two tickets / Sunday / The Nest / Signature. . . want them??) Tonight is very exciting - it's a new theater! It's the New School of Northern Virginia's new black box theatre. I'm dreaming of moving Springfield Community Theatre there. We're going to see A Fine and Private Place there, tonight, that Dominion Stage is producing, in the second step of my plan to get a home for this drastically struggling community theatre. The whole board is going, plus my friend Leta (not to be confused with Flibbertigibbit)!

Tomorrow we're going to see The Musical of Musicals at MetroStage. After a day gardening and working, an evening in Old Town Alexandria should be great.

And Sunday? As long as I get rid of the tickets to The Nest at Signature, I can do anything I want to. Maybe, a venture in the Jeep!

What are your plans?

All the best,
Vig