Splatter Zone Opens Friday. Ponchos Optional

Bat Boy props featured in Virginian Pilot

See it early, see it often, bring your friends.
No host bar!

http://epilot2.hamptonroads.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VmlyZ2luaWFuUGlsb3QvMjAwNy8xMS8yMiNBcjA2MDAy
&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

For AOL users: <a href="http://epilot2.hamptonroads.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VmlyZ2luaWFuUGlsb3QvMjAwNy8xMS8yMiNBcjA2MDAy
&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom">http://epilot2.hamptonroads.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VmlyZ2luaWFuUGlsb3QvMjAwNy8xMS8yMiNBcjA2MDAy
&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom</a>

Living on the Edge: Success!

Living on the Edge: Success!

Success!

One of my personal goals was to create an occasion for which this dress would be not just appropriate, but perfect.

Done. Opening night is tomorrow night. Check out the preview video in Sights & Sounds or on myspace.

BatBoy, The Musical.

We're all very excited.

Life Goes On.

If you follow along, you know that the last month has been difficult, if only from a purely logistic standpoint. Trips and memorial services, weddings, ordinary life and a big committment I made when I was feeling particularly optimistic and celebratory.

The stress has left me with a need for a significant amount of drool time just to get through the day.

Time to revisit the Principles of Attraction developed by Thomas Leonard.

As you look them over, pick a couple that appeal to you. Play with them, and if you want to know more, let me know.

A Tribute to Mama

March 14, 1929 - October 1, 2007

New Music

Youngblood just introduced me to a new genre, Gypsy Punk.
I love it. It makes me dance and smile.

here's a video of my favorite song so far.



It's by Gogol Bordello. Here's their myspace.

Another one is Gypsy Vagabond.

Enjoy.

Brain First Aid.

Did you get that email that was going around about the symptoms of a stroke?

I checked it out, and ran across some good information from the American Academy of Neurology, and the American Stroke Association.


Point being, if you suspect someone is having a stroke, please don't stand on ceremony. Don't assume someone else will see what you see. They probably don't know what's happening to them. Help them get help. Fast. Minutes count. You've got the time. All goes well, they'll be on the way to the hospital in 20 minutes and you've done your good deed for the day.
It's a Win - Win.

Thank you.

Brain Candy

For the last two months I've been on the road a lot. My mom had a big ole stroke and the medical system wasn't easy to deal with.

I didn't have access to the internet or cable TV on my "off duty" hours and ended up watching a lot of crackpot TV and listening to local talk radio expounding the relevance of Revelations or the moral corruption that is life in the early 21st century.

All that left me drained and yearning for some intellectual stimulation. I found it at TED.com.

Forward thinkers present short talks about provocative subjects.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

From the fire to here.

Year 18 of the 20 year project.

Youngblood's birthday is this week. So, a little progress report.

He's lovely. Creative, open, kind, compassionate, sensitive. He swears fluently, isn't afraid to wear a dress, and loves hair products. I couldn't be happier or more proud. These last two years have been tough. He's a trouper.

This is the best thing I've ever done.

Terror on Elwood Av

Last night, I saw someone set a fire on my neighbor's deck. After a quick call to 911 I got everyone in my house. Firetrucks, Police and Navy command swarming all over. The guy had called my neighbor earlier to tell her he was going to do it and then later to report that he had heard her daughter screaming. Today he threatened to kill her. Tense.

Here's the good part. We got to know our neighbors a little better and the young ones found out they had more in common than they knew. Another neighbor had cooked a roast and brought it here to feed everyone. In the midst of all the chaos, community. Safety. Warmth.

They're safe. He's still out there. I'm looking out of my windows more than I ever have.

More fun.

Just heard about a show coming up. It's still weeks away from auditions and already it's real.

The director and co-director (they've collaborated before) have written a study guide, character studies, story synopsis, there are contact sheet forms and a set design. People are in place and working now. Preproduction at its finest. Doing it right. Bringing in some very high production values. These guys get it. Kudos.

Very exciting. Stay tuned.

Fun Research.

This week I worked on my new e-course, Drab to Fab. It's going to be so much fun.

Six weeks to a Fabulous You. (FabU). There'll be a basic assignment for the week, experiments, resources and a few really wild ideas to bring out your most fabulous self.

Here's one of the resources I found on line. Isometrics for your face. Makes sense when you think about it. Heck, it's easier than surgery and funnier too. Fabulous!

Oh go on, you know you need a good laugh. Try them for a week. Men too! keep me posted.

Books. Old Friends Return.

One of the things I missed the most while we were at the cabin were our books. Today, while looking for one, I ran across two of my all time favorites.


are you familiar with this one? Written in the seventies, it's charming notebook style makes it easy to pick up, flip thru and be inspired, motivated or get unstuck.
It's a wonderful approach to being.

Long before there was "coaching" this book was in our library. The planning wall has helped me do everything from starting this blog to mothering Youngblood.

Lovely to see them again.

Brutal Brace Brothers in Concert!

The evening was a total success, Great job, all around.


And, as promised, here's the video
compliments of VideoGumbo.
Enjoy.

Go for it.

Exciting night. Youngblood's Psychobilly Band made it's premier tonight.
Film on the eleventh, stills tomorrow.

It's been a wonderful thing to watch. We've been hearing about this since November. To see him go for it has been inspiring. Then, at the end, cash in hand, proud happy boys, stepping a little closer to manhood, as rock stars.

Does it get any better?

Anniversary 2.

Youngblood reminded me this morning that it was 2 years ago to day that "that Panel" caught fire.

Before, after. Very nice desipte the aggravation and inconvenience.

Celebrate! We are. It's tamale pie tonight. OLE!

Have a Vision.

You know this war thing is really on my mind. I think what bothers me most, is that Mr. Prez doesn't have a clear idea of what success is. Not one he can articulate anyway.

What game are we playing? What does winning look like? Is there a win-win solution? (was there ever?)

Now I can't believe he doesn't have the answers to those questions. Maybe he didn't come up with them all by himself, but the answers (objectives, goals, end game) exist in the hearts and mind of the main players.

What I can believe is that if he were open and frank with his constituants (us), it wouldn't be pretty. We'd have to take a long hard look at ourselves, again. It's all a reflection of us.

Tech Week

I love tech week. Sometimes.

When an intricate plan comes together, it's the best. When tech becomes the necessary evil or worse, the enemy, it sucks.

In that vein, I'd like to offer seven ways for directors to make the hottest creative blood run cold ...

1. Keep the big picture to yourself.

That way, no one will know what you really want.

Keep ‘em guessing. It’ll drive them to distraction.

2. Don’t bother with designers or department heads.

Just draw a floorplan on a cocktail napkin and call it a set design.

Ask the actors to bring in some things from home to wear.

Settle for “whatever”.

3. Treat everyone like they don’t know what they’re doing.

They don’t.

They’re too distracted by trying to figure out what you'll want next .

4. Hold everyone accountable, but don’t tell them for what until they screw up.

That’ll teach ‘em a lesson they’ll never forget.

5. Keep the schedule TBA until the last possible minute.

The anti-plan. Exhaustion is great for high stress.

6. Berate, humiliate and belittle.

The trinity of toxic creative environments.
Can't you just taste the contempt?

7. When it’s all over, act like you never met any of them.

You didn't need them anyway.

Break a leg.

2006. Lesson Learned.