Where to start?

Now that I've announced that I'm doing this blog, I've started to re-think my overwhelming need to share my life's details on a regular basis. This is actually going to take some thinking.

What should I say? Where should I start? Are they going to correct my grammar? You know to whom I am talking... What if I bore my friends and family...to death?

I figure enough goofy things happen to me to keep the entries interesting. No, I'm not talking about the time my parents left me on an island. However, keep that incident in mind as I am sure it will come up in other blog entries...

Goofy for instance: I decided to make a margarita last night to celebrate my blog birth. Simple, yes? Ice, margarita mix, blender. The drinks are made without incident. However, having underestimated the potency of my margarita, I found myself incapable of refilling my ice trays...turning the faucet to full blast instead of off, I was reminded of a time when my sister opened a jug of fetid fermented orange juice, which exploded with the force of a Lucy and Ethel science experiment up to the ceiling and then rained rotten OJ back down on top of her. So, note to self: refill the ice trays before you drink.

So, jump in, right? Even if the water is so cold it stops your heart for a moment, the first gasp of air after the initial shock is invigorating.

Ok - seriously. The blog.

The photo above was taken a couple years ago during a staged concert opera rehearsal at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap, my most favorite place to work. (I know it's just a rehearsal because I'm not all swanked out - for swank see future blogs). I am at the stage manager's console from which I 'call the show'. From the console I can see the Maestro on the large TV monitor (a must have) and the orchestra and singers onstage on the smaller monitors (also a must have). I have a headset on so that I can talk to the light board operator, the followspot operators, my fabulous assistant stage managers, and apparently anyone else who has a biscuit (a speaker)...note to stage managers: you NEVER know who is listening. I never seem to be in short supply of putting my foot in my mouth or making a fool of myself.

At the console is also the paging system through which I make announcements to people in the dressing rooms. Announcements that are endlessly mocked and applauded alike. Announcements like, "Attention ladies and gentlemen. This. Is. Your. PLLLLLAAAAACES Call. Places please for the top of ACT I. Places, Please for the top of ACT I." This is supposed to be the starting gun of the performance. However, this boisterous announcement is sometimes followed by, "Seriously folks. Please come to the stage so we can start the show..."

I think one of my favorite annoucements was from this summer when one of our singers requested that I call him AND his prosthetic arm to the stage. It went something like this: "Attention please. Mr. Hurt and Arnie to the stage." Arnie was the arm's name. Of course, there is always room for bloopers if I mispronounce a name or better yet if I say the name correctly but the order in which I call them leaves room for interpretation: "Mr. Smith, Mr. Small, Mr. Cox to the stage...Mr. Smith, Small, Cox to the stage..." You get it.

Since this particular entry has droned for a bit, I'll log off and let you breathe.

There is oh, so much more.

Don't forget to occasionally click through "Valerie's Photos" - these are updated once a month.

Remember: refill the ice trays first.

--v