Followup to Ho. Lee. Shit.

Julie told me yesterday that Psycho Susan (Ms. Hyde) called her on Christmas to beg to be let back into the show. But she just wanted to do the Richard III scene. Julie said no, of course, and Susan asked why. I think Susan may be some kind of textbook narcissist--she honestly didn't think she'd done anything wrong, or worth staying fired for. It was all about her, what had been done to her. Julie reminded her of what she'd said and done and she launched into another diatribe about Tracy and how inexperienced she was and she wasn't ready to perform professionally yet (a complete crock of shit, may I add--I would cast Tracy in a heartbeat, she's talented and has a great attitude) and how "disrespectful and arrogant" she and I were. It's interesting which terms Susan picked to criticize us--she seems to be emphasizing things like rank and experience and respect, and it sounds as though she thinks, or wants us to think, that these are more important than actually learning your lines, and being talented (again, I will say I think Susan is talented, but her issues were really getting in the way of it). It's basically an argument against meritocracy.

Ugh. Glad we're rid of her.

Gadsby's Tavern

Yesterday Mom and I went into Old Town Alexandria and visited Gadsby's Tavern, a recreation of a tavern and inn in 1785 Alexandria. It was too cool. I love visiting historical sites--there's something so...fascinating about being in the same setting as someone from hundreds or thousands of years ago, seeing what they saw, imagining what they heard and smelled. Old Town is really neat that way--the whole area is just so darn colonial, with cobblestoned paths and townhouses, narrow streets, the noise of the river nearby.

Sigh. I wish I could go back in time. There are so many interesting periods I'd love to visit, like colonial America, and ancient Greece and Rome, and Tudor and medieval England.

The Dow is Up, Presents from Home

Holy cow. The Dow is up 125 points today. I think we may be a wee bit overvalued at this point--I can't imagine what's driving it (although admittedly I didn't read the business section today).

I got a bunch of stuff in the mail today from my parents. Liz knit me a scarf (she just started knitting a couple of months ago and still only knows the knit stitch so everything is in garter stitch right now!) and it's all purple and shiny and pretty. Someone loves me. That's what handmade says to me. They ALSO sent me a box of Godiva, in addition to another box of chocolates they'd sent me earlier this month. I've got so much sweet stuff right now, and my show opens this week--I don't dare touch any of it. Julie wants to open the show with my Titania monologue (wherein I am dressed skimpily, per my preference...oh, yeah, and it's right for the character) and stalk all over the stage. (I love that monologue. I'd love to play that role, as well as Puck. "...But with thy brawls, thou hast disturbed our...sport." In my Titania, sport is the ladylike word for...sex.) So I'd best stay away from the Godiva...*sigh*...