This week

seems to have flown by...Tom has been working late every night, and I have been at the theatre every evening, painting the set. Luckily, it is simple since I am working alone. I asked permission of the director to paint while they rehearsed last night, but she was not too keen on the idea. She didn't say 'no,' but I could tell she would rather I didn't. So I cleaned up and watched the rehearsal--two hours and twenty minutes to get through the script, with one five minute break. Yeah, they need to tighten that up. The funny parts are really funny, but there really are some parts that just d r a g. Not my thing, though, I just paint sets.

During the day I have been handling details for upcoming events like the retirement, preparing to leave this house and getting into a new one. I was pleased to talk with the rental property lady. She seemed to think the rental price for this place would be higher than I was told (by some locals). That will help. One day when I arrived at the theatre, all the doors were locked. That means I have to gain access by going around the building and coming in through the Art Gallery. Great. There is an exhibition right now that I wanted to see, anyway. This forced me into the Gallery, so I decided to take that time and enjoy the show. It was good. There were a few pieces I really enjoyed seeing...and one or two that made me wonder about people. i.e. the "Cry-Cycle." A sculpture of a child's tricycle made of concertina wire! Seriously problematic for me.

I'll try to upload my pictures of the set soon. We leave tomorrow to head north for a family wedding...we need to get some work done tonight!

I Hate Moving!

I hate the details--find a house; finance a house; prepare the current house to be rented or sold; prepare to move; cancel utilities, cable and Internet; set up utilities, cable and Internet for the new home; etc., etc., etc. Argh!

And in the middle of THIS particular move, we get to prepare a retirement ceremony and party and lunch and on and on....

Pray for me!

Not much seems to be going on...

yet we are busy. I have been joining Tom at the theater every evening. He has been working on the costume storage closet and I help where I can. Tonight we are going to work on the set--and the whole concept may have changed. This particluar play--"The Way the Other Half Loves"--is very 'theatrical'. The original set comprised two apartments within the same space. One couple has a very traditional, well-kept home. The other has 'modern' furnishing, but they also have a baby, so the apartment isn't as well cared for. All this sits mixed up together in the same space. I know 'theatre' people will get it eventually, but unless it is explained in the program, I think a large part of the audience will be sitting there with big question marks on their faces.

Anyway, our director originally thought to stage the two apartments separately and only share the dining room table. Tom set it up and they weren't sure they liked it. So last night they rearranged and rehearsed with the mixed set. Tonight we hear the verdict--separate apartments or mixed. Should be interesting.

We have also been doing lots of talking about houses, house-hunting, and the retirement ceremony, the BBQ lunch Tom wants to provide for the squadron, and the party that night, as well as accommodations for the out of town guests and what to do with them when there is no 'Retirement Activity' going on. The ceremony does fall during the second weekend of the play, so anyone who wants can go see that, perhaps Saturday evening. There is also and indoor playplace with Putt Putt golf, go karts and things like that, and there is always Swan Lake. The Art Gallery may have a showing then, too, and there are movie theaters, too. I hope I can make decent suggestions should anyone ask.

Lots to do...

..and the first is to deal with the disappointment of not getting the house we finally decided to bid on. Someone else put a contract on it the very day we asked our Real Estate Agent to do the same. It shouldn't be a big deal--there are lots of houses out there. We just both started picturing ourselves in this one. We are disappointed, but we both believe God will put us where He wants us.

So, Tom has decided on a time frame for his retirement. We have about six weeks and lots to do. Besides retirement invitations and arrangements to handle, we have to prepare to move and get this place ready for rental. Tom is also committed to building a set for the next play at the theater, remodeling the costume storage, building a spotlight alcove, and cleaning up after all that, to include finding all his tools and bringing them home. He also keeps seeing new things he can do to improve the theater before he leaves....but that is just who he is, I guess.

I have to plan and execute a Welcome party for the new Commander's wife, Sarah. The Spouse's Group has decided on a 'drinks and dessert' type of event. We will have it here and possibly even use the pool. We'll see.

So, lots to do and never enough time for it all, so I guess I should go make myself useful. Check back on me. See if I manage to maintain my sanity.