Do I wake or sleep?

We had Friday and Saturday off from rehearsal.  I welcomed the opportunity to forget about the show for two days, but I wanted to work on the tap solo and NAIL that entrance, so I booked space at Ripley-Grier for Saturday afternoon.  I've also been sick the past week--Friday night was brutal, I could not stop coughing--so dragging myself out of bed Saturday morning wasn't fun!  Susan and I drilled the hell out of the solo and by the end I was nailing it AT tempo.  Triples and everything.  Yay!  So I think the key is to warmupwarmupwarmUP every night.  Run that thing over and over and over, and then run it listening to my iPod.

I dragged myself back home and curled up in bed, pausing only to email regrets to a Halloween party.  Ugh...

Yesterday I felt a little better.  We had a clean up rehearsal and went over a lot of the music and much of the dance.  Vocally there was a decent amount to clean up--there are a LOT of discrepancies among 1) what we were taught by the music director, 2) what he notated in the score (he wrote many of his own arrangements) and 3) the vocal tracks he recorded for us all.  Kind of annoying, mainly because he's a bit of a dick, one of those guys that is brittle and will not take well to any pointing out of mistakes.  The mistakes are a bit more apparent to me than to the other two altos (I'm singing alto on this) because I read music and see the mistakes he's made--uh, what I'm hearing on the vocal track is NOT what is in the score in front of me!  His arrangements are great though, I'll give him that, I especially like the last number.

Singing alto is weird for me--I enjoy the opportunity to sight-read (sopranos usually just get the melody) but the parts are always a little low for me.  I can hit the notes but they're not terribly comfortable.  And I'm not used to hearing the alto line, I'm trained to hear the soprano line.  So I had to work harder than normal on the score for this.

I gotta say though, I'm a little nervous about two performances.  I have a strong suspicion that the guy who plays Frank N Furter is tone-deaf.  This is not a death knell--Tim Curry talks his way through much of the score--but if that's what he needs to do, then DO it.   Don't massacre the score by trying to sing what you can't, just commit to talking it.  I'm not sure how familiar he is with the score--I don't believe he's seen the movie as he didn't want to go on a cast outing to see it, he was afraid of being influenced by Curry's performance.  (To which I say--man, you need to develop stronger acting instincts.  I've seen the movie many times, and my take on Columbia is nothing like Little Nell's.)  Anyway, I guess he doesn't know the score but in that case, LEARN IT.  Get the soundtrack and listen to these songs, even if it does influence you.  The Sunday before we open is a little late to be stumbling over the Charles Atlas song.  It's a good thing he's a good actor--his performance (other than the singing) is pretty decent.

The other performance is Steven as the Narrator.  Again, don't know if he's seen the movie but his take on the Narrator is all wrong.  The Narrator is the CONTROL character--he (like Janet and Brad) is quote-unquote normal.  He's not a freak, he's commenting on the freaks.  He's supposed to show up how weird this whole journey through his normality.  Steve's playing it almost like he's excitedly gossiping on the story.  Noooooo!  Deadpan, controlled, sober--THAT'S the Narrator.  Not giddy and excited, it undermines his function.  And this is small but it gets on my nerves nonetheless--he sings the last verse of Superheroes instead of speaking out.  Now Steven does have a lovely voice but the way he delivers it, he's all soulful and sad, NOOOOOO!  Again, that's not the Narrator.  This didn't happen to YOU, you're the messenger.  And I know he's singing it not because it's a character choice but simply to show off his (yes, lovely) singing voice--but it's not appropriate for the character or the show.  Ergh.

We have tech/dress tonight and tomorrow, and then an invited final dress for Wednesday.

I'm confused--will Netflix still be offering DVDs?  Because that's all I want--I generally do not stream movies, as then I'm stuck sitting at my tiny laptop with no extras, instead of watching the movie on my huge TV, wandering around the apartment if I need to, with the option of the commentary track.

Told Tim about Rocky Horror, he is thrilled.  He looooves musicals and is always wondering when I'll do one--since I've known him, I've mostly done straight plays.  We are getting together this weekend so I'll have to explain to him exactly what kind of show Rocky Horror is so his mind is blown!

We had the RH sitz probe on Saturday, although they'd sent us the tracks the night before so I was prepared.  Afterward a bunch of us went to East L.A. in Hoboken to eat--I found out that the guy playing Brad was gay and the guy playing Frank is straight.  I really must recalibrate my gaydar, I was very surprised about the Brad-guy.  Mateo (Frank), not so much--I was surprised more because, as I said to him, "I guess I just assume that whoever's playing Frank is gay."  He responded "Tim Curry isn't." Me: "You...have an excellent point, that's a stupid assumption on my part!"  We hung out for awhile and then Steven and I left for Marie's together. On our way there I stopped at a new candy store and bought a big bag and shared it with everyone at the piano.  I wasn't sure if Franca recognized me, but not only did she, but she was mock-annoyed that I even dared to remind her who I was (I came into Marie's saying "I'm Duncan's friend?" because I don't go to Marie's all that often and I thought she might not remember me!).  Lots of fun, at one point she was playing songs from Rocky Horror, so when we did "Time Warp" I changed into my tap shoes and did the number right there on the Marie's floor, everybody loved it!

We've learned the choreography for the four big numbers ("Time Warp," "Sweet Transvestite," "Hot Patootie" and the Floor Show) and this week we learn blocking and the staging for the other numbers.  I am loving the dance numbers for this--they are very cute.  Not difficult technically but a LOT of little, cute steps that I have to drill over and over.

On the subject of Duncan's post yesterday about a Facebook-friend-of-a-Facebook-friend who tried to shame everyone into giving large amounts of money to help their mutual friend whose laptop had been stolen...a friend of mine posted last week begging for everyone to send him money.  The original comment read:

I NEED EVERYONE'S HELP. This is an experiment/ test to see if I can rely on friends in a time of need. I would like everyone to see if they could send me $5. (10/ 20?) I'm not kidding. What's $5 (10/ 20) to you? But, collectively, it could help save me in a time of desperation. I am moments away from being evicted, filing for bankruptcy, and being homeless.
My address is:
[Name]
[Address]
This is not meant to be a "pity party." This is not a joke. This is the reality of the situation. Something major happened late in 2008 that forever altered my finances. Now I'm at the end of my rope and there is no hope for a solution without the help of friends or a job that pays decent money. Please, help me save my house. I am desperate and don't know what else to do. Forward this to anyone who might be able to help.

This is an experiment?  In other words, you're just trying to see how people will react, under controlled conditions?  Because that makes it sound hypothetical, whereas the rest of the post makes it sound like a dire emergency.  Second, the blithe tone of "what's $5/10/20 to you" sits ill on me.  $20 is PLENTY.  You don't get to make assumptions about my finances like that.  Third, the "something major" that happened was...well, let's just say he made a bad choice and suffered the consequences.  As much as it sucks to lose your home, and I know he's trying, but this didn't just "happen" to him.

I have strong feelings about people who try to shame other people into giving them money (or anything) like that.  In 2008 someone who was on the R&J team (who'd asked to be on the team) suddenly and dramatically had to quit because they were "about to be evicted" but if I could lend them $2000 (they promised to pay me back) they could stay.  Oh, barf.  I hardly know you, dude, how dare you put me on the spot like that?  You ask your family and close friends for that kind of help, not just anybody.  This guy (FB guy) is an okay person, has a good heart, but he is sort of a drama queen.  Ryan and I know him from the dinner theater circuit, and when he came out of the closet (shocking absolutely no one), he made a pass at Ryan who declined.  The guy tried to shame Ryan into reciprocating saying it was really hard for him to come out, and Ryan should feel sorry for him and he was all in tears, saying "I won't take no for an answer" and oh my Lord.  Dude, that is not how sexual attraction works.  Pity is pathetic, a total anti-aphrodisiac.  In the arena of sex, you gotta deal from strength. 

And just analyzing the effectiveness of this plea--sending it to everybody, and then asking them to forward it to anybody....not a good idea.  A mass appeal like this dilutes its impact.  And forwarding it isn't going to help at all--no stranger is going to help such a vaguely worded plea for money.  Close friends and family, dude.  He reposted the original plea again this morning.

I want to be compassionate and help people who really need help--this is why dramatic people annoy me, because they abuse people's compassion.

MAN, does this make me happy--thank God! This girl was hosed bigtime. Her case is heart-breaking--after reading about the Italian system I would think long and hard about letting my kid study there. What a travesty, especially when they HAD the culprit!

Great Rolling Stone article on the case.

And oh God, the family of the victim. I can't even imagine what they're feeling. They are firmly convinced that Amanda and the BF are guilty.

So we just got the schedule for Rocky Horror and I'm tentatively looking at Saturday, October 15 for a trip to the orchard. (This is tentative until I can confirm I don't have rehearsal that day.) Who's in for a fun afternoon of apples, pumpkins, win and fall colors? The foliage should be at peak color! Of course I'll bring the football along--what's fall fun without tossing the pigskin?

So I've been reading about how badly Irene hit upstate New York, so I definitely want to plan an apple-picking/pumpkin-patching trip sometime soon, so we can give them our money! Gotta look after our agrarian brothers and sisters...

Rocky Horror Show auditions--as I mentioned, I heard a couple of weeks ago that they'd be bringing it back, minus a few cast members. I told Dave I would be very interested in auditioning for Columbia--I said I could tap some, but my weakness was picking up choreography quickly. This is because of my training--I'm hyperliterate (started reading at a very young age and read voraciously), and as an actor and as a classically trained singer, I've been taught to look at the page first. But dancers don't learn this way--they learn with their feet. Even with my athletic background, it's not as easy for me--there's a whole extra step in the learning process for me that trained dancers don't have, which really slows me down at auditions. When I was in rehearsal for my ship contract, we ran up against this with our choreographer when Aly and I were taught the Land of a Thousand Dances combination. One of the easiest combinations ever--just the dance steps that are outlined in the song (Pony, Chicken, Mashed Potato, etc.)--but we didn't know some of those steps and after an already exhausting day, not much was sinking in and it took us forever to learn the sequence. I was begging the choreography (Stacy?) to just STOP and let me write down the steps--I kept trying to explain to her that singers learn differently. But she didn't understand and just kept drilling us.

I make up for this lack by working my ASS off in rehearsal. No one who sees me dance in a show will ever see anything less than the most polished performance I can give. Susan can tell you, when she and I did shows together, I was constantly pulling her aside and making her breakdown sequences for me. Since I'm not nearly as strong a dancer as I am a singer, I can't get away with anything--I have to work TWICE as hard. At any rate, Dave seemed interested...then the following week I saw the audition notice go up on Facebook. Columbia was not listed, so I thought gee, I guess the other girl is coming back, and I emailed Dave. He said no, I was still in the running and Robert needed to see me tap.

So I did my homework. I hadn't tapped in over ten years, so I took a couple of classes at Steps on Broadway. They have Basic Tap on Saturday and Sunday mornings. (I cannot get over how inexpensive dance classes are--$17 a class! Susan thinks it's a ripoff but I'm comparing it to voice lessons which are easily $80 and up in NYC.) The one on Saturday was with an older black woman and there was just me and on other dancer in the class, so it was almost like a private session. She certainly knew her stuff but it was very, very detailed, small, micro-teaching, focused on technique. We didn't learn any combinations. The class the next day was more like a traditional tap class, with a lot more people (at least 25) and a guy at the front showing us the steps, breaking them down, and then combining them together. He went kind of fast but I'm proud to say I was able to keep up, although I was fudging some of those steps at the end! (Although it helped that I already knew how to do a time-step.) I really enjoyed the Sunday class and found it more helpful--what I need most is to build my tap repertoire and learn steps like back essences and the waltz clog.

The next day I called Susan and asked if she could help me--originally I asked her to make up a tap combination and teach it to me quickly, under audition conditions, so I could get back into that mode. This evolved into my learning Columbia's combination from the movie. I found a breakdown of the steps online and then we compared it with the few clips of the combo that are on YouTube. (Richard O'Brien obviously polices his show quite thoroughly! Clips of RHPS are not easy to find online.) I learned it and was even able to do it a tempo after a couple of days--it wasn't pretty but I did learn it! Most of it looked fine but the chaine turns--turns are NOT my forte! I don't spot very well...

Robert has been sick at last week but was finally better for the weekend and we set up an audition appointment at his place, for Sunday evening. Saturday was my first volunteer shift for RightRides which was fun but EXHAUSTING. I did not get into bed until 5:30 am! So rehearsal for the reading of The Empress of Sex was not easy, because I was trying VERY hard not to fall asleep. After rehearsal I went over to Susan's apartment and tarted myself up good with fishnets, dance shorts and lots of glittuh eye makeup. And I did my hair in messy ponytails--I was going for the "kid who's stayed a little too long at the rave" look for my Columbia. I warmed up at Susan's place and on the train (which naturally took forever). When I got to Robert's place (his apartment is adorable, nice little restored ground floor place in the Heights), he got right to work and tested me on a battery of steps, including double-time steps, back flaps, and various shuffle and ball-change mini-combinations. At one point he asked me "can you do [ describes lunge-shuffle step]" I said "do you mean maxies? Sure." *execute right and left maxies* He asked if I could do wings--I said No! He asked if I could fake them--I hesitated and then, figuring the fake would be most convincing the closer my feet were to the ground, relaxed my legs from the knees down and then whipped out a fake wing. He said, good! Can you do two in a row? Sure. *does so, then does 3 in a row* He said to me in amazement, who knew you could tap?! I said well, I haven't done it in a while but yes, I have tapped in several shows. I was trying to remember them all--I started with Me and My Girl, then The Boyfriend ("Perfect Young Ladies" which technically was not tap as I did not have on tap shoes for that number since I was in the preceding scene but the technique was all tap and the other dancers, when they entered, all had on tap shoes. I *still* remember that combination!), Lucky Stiff ("Welcome back, Mr. Witherspoon!" *stomp, STOMP* "MIS-ter WITH-er-spoon...we always knew you'd be...BACK..." *stomp, shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, stomp, ball-CHANGE*). I know I did another tap show as well but it's escaping me right now. ANYWAY, Robert said you've got the part. YAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!

So so excited!!! I love it that this is a DANCE role, my very first one! (That is, my very first dance principal.) I mean, it's not Anita or anything but it's a by-God DANCE role. And I wanted it and I worked for it and I got it!

Robert told me where to find a rehearsal video of the combination so I looked it up--other than the wings, it'll be easy!

Saturday. Was. AWESOME!!!!

So, all this past summer I've been playing on two different softball teams--in the same alumni league! One was the team with whom I played last summer, University of Chicago, to which Ken Scudder introduced me. The other was the team for the University of Michigan Business School--a guy on the Chicago team had formed that team and needed players. At some point during the summer the Chicago guys found out I was two-timing them! ;) And they got a little territorial and asked me "you're going to play for us for the tournament, right?" I said sure, thinking I gotta dance with the one that brung me.

After yet another game in which Chicago did not play to anything approaching its full potential, I got quite frustrated. The thing is, the Chicago team has talent--but most of them don't care that much, they don't play to win. So when they flub, they don't correct immediately. Example--when the ball goes over your head--RUN AFTER IT. Don't saunter, don't jog. RUN AFTER THE BALL AND GRAB IT AND THROW IT TO SOMEONE. Yes, I am passionate and competitive! But there are too few players on the Chicago team who want it like that.

Whereas the Michigan team wants it more--and so they perform better. We had (I think) only one loss? Pretty darn good, especially with comparatively few power hitters on the team. So after yet another frustrating game with Chicago, I'd decided when the tournament came, I would play for Michigan B School. But then every game we had after that was rained out, so I couldn't tell the Chicago players in person. THEN whoever was supposed to be organizing the tournament slacked off, and instead of its being during Labor Day Weekend in Central Park, it was for mid-September in Red Hook Park, waaaaay the hell out in inaccessible Brooklyn. We got an email from the team captains two weeks ago, letting us know when and where, and asking for RSVPs.

I replied to the Michigan B captain, Cecil, saying I'd be there but not until 2:45 or so, since I had tech for Patrick and Lisa's Wedding. THEN I replied to the Chicago people, saying I couldn't be there until 2:45 so they shouldn't count on me--in other words don't assume I will play, in otherotherwords I'M NOT PLAYING FOR YOU. I probably should've spelled it out because what then ensued was a whole discussion about we're short players and can we get women (they have to have at least 2 for the tournament) and how can we hold on until Clara gets there? I got alarmed and responded again, saying I can't get there until 2:45--realistically will we still be in the tournament? And kind of delicately laid out that I would be playing with Michigan.

After all this a few days later Cecil told us Michigan B couldn't field a team for the tourney after all, not enough people had responded. ARGH. (I blame the slackjaw organizers.) So I emailed Chicago again and said if you still need me on Saturday, text me.

Saturday morning dawns, and I am off to Steps on Broadway for a tap class. I get back, grab my stuff for P&L tech and get to the theater. Someone from the team (Ken Scudder as it turns out) has texted me that they won the first game and are now in the middle of their second game, and winning, could I make it out there? Of course! So after tech I make my way downtown to the Ikea water shuttle which is totally free! A totally free boat ride across the waters of New York Bay, how cool is that? It was SO much fun.

Got to the park and Chicago is halfway through their third round game--and losing pretty badly. They were playing Duke who was HAMMERING them. The score was something like 10-zip. Steve puts me in at 2nd but I sure wasn't much help, and they finally invoked the mercy rule so game over. I'd come all the way for nothing....

But wait! One of the Duke players comes over and tells us they lost one of their female players (and they have to have at last 2)--would I like to play? Sure I would! So now I'm playing in the championship, for yet a third team!

They put me at catcher, which can be a nothing position in slow pitch softball. But I tried to maximize it--I talked a lot to the pitcher, to keep him in the zone, saying softly "just pitch to my glove, Tony. Pitch to my glove." Then around the second or third inning I started chattering, catcher chatter, "no batta. No batta, no batta, no batta." The umpire was giving me tips on how to play the position--I haven't caught very much since my grade school days (I used to catch a little in Little League and on my 8th grade softball team).

The first time I got up to bat the ump called me out on some pretty questionable pitches--I gave him a look and humphed "that was NOT a strike!" Because it wasn't! (Waaaaay inside.) But when I got behind the plate next inning, I chatted with him a little, to show I had no hard feelings, I just disagreed with his call :) Then when I was up the second time, he said to me "now young lady, I want you to swing this time! I don't want to call you out on strikes again." I smiled and said "my small strike zone is one of the FEW offensive advantages I have--of course I'm going to work the count!" But as it turned out I got on base this time--I hit an easy blooper to third but they must've fumbled it because I just barely beat the throw and the 1st base coach smacked my hand and said "THAT'S why you run it out!"

At one point when we were at bat, one of our runners was hit with a throw from their 2nd baseman. Not really a big deal--this sort of thing can happen, and as long as you know it wasn't done on purpose, you move on. Well a few innings later (in fact it was the bottom of the last inning and we were up by 1 run), when the other team was up, their 2nd baseman was running to third and somehow our 3rd baseman messed up the play and she slid safely. As she was half-lying there, he was standing over her talking to the umpire--there was some kind of disagreement and the other team who were generally a bunch of testosteronic jerks, started yelling *really* angrily. A couple of them were just spewing profanities, "motherfuckers, assholes," that sort of thing. And one of them was literally screaming at our 3rd baseman not to stand over her. Uh--isn't this the same player who HIT one of ours with the ball? Why is standing over someone--who's slid, no less--such a big deal? (Answer--it's not. They were just pissed because they were losing.)

So they get another batter up, one of the blowhards, and I'm chattering away and he gets even more pissed. He turns and looks at me, saying back to me sarcastically "no batta, no batta." I looked him full in the face, grinned and said "that's right. No batta, no batta, no batta." You KNOW you're getting to them when they react that way!

Dude popped it up. Heh heh heh.

And then, one out later, we had won! The Duke team got a huge shiny trophy and then each one of us got personal little trophies. I asked if the girl who was normally on the team, for whom I was covering, should get mine and they said they had enough extra, not to worry. So I got to play after all AND I got my own trophy! And I love that the jerks lost--as we posed for a picture, one of the players said "the only better than winning is when the other team wanted it more."

Saturday night I went to the TTC Season Announcement Cabaret. Dave had spoken to me earlier about directing The Vagina Monologues and remounting Pirates again next summer in Frank Sinatra Park. At the cabaret I found out that they were also bringing back Rocky Horror, which they'd done last winter and which was awesome and hilariously fun. And I found out that the actress who played Columbia isn't coming back (I guess she's on tour)--I would loooove to audition. I talked to Dave about it who seemed interested--I will pull my tap shoes out tonight and see about picking up a class at BDC (and of course rent the movie). I can tap a little, though I need time to get the choreography down. No wings though! Rocky Horror is such a damn fun show, I hope I give a decent audition.

Earlier on Saturday we had a rehearsal for Patrick and Lisa's Wedding, which I am remounting for Duncan (we did it first back in '08, for TTC when it was still DeBaun). At this point we are MORE than ready to go up, it's just tweaking and finetuning and shirring the edges to make it more real, less stage-y. All three of my actresses are great. Ashley is reprising her role as Heidi, but I recast the other two roles. Originally I'd asked back Courtney as the flakey bride Lisa but she bailed at the last minute for no really good reason which, frankly, really pissed me off and I will probably not use her again. But her replacement is actually better--Danielle is a naturally comic actor whereas Courtney, while talented, is more likeable on stage than actually funny. As for the third actor, I'd always intended to replace Francesca who has a certain amount of raw talent but whom I just could not get much out of. She never grew in the role, and really lacked energy. So I asked Anya to play Maggie, and she's doing a pretty good job so far, I'm very pleased. She has a harder time with the whininess at the top of the play (but who wouldn't, whininess is difficult to pull off) but does great with the interactions with Heidi and at the end. So, very proud of all my actors.

Looking at pictures of the damage from yesterday, it's kind of amazing no one was killed. The National Cathedral had some pretty sizeable statuary fall, and the Washington Post has a picture of a car whose windshield was smashed from falling bricks. We're pretty lucky.

I was actually outside when the earthquake happened, just coming into the building. I didn't notice ANYTHING--of course, I was born in California, and it's possible I'm just too jaded ;) When I came into the apartment, Anya was freaking out--she said she'd just had "the most intense paranormal experience" she'd ever had in her life. She went on in this vein for 20 minutes or so--I suggested maybe it was an earthquake and she said it couldn't have been, or something besides the couch would've moved. She really went on about it--I grew bored with the conversation after awhile because something like this is ALWAYS happening to Anya. (Love her but she really has this need to be "special"--you would not BELIEVE the amount of drama that seems to single her out.) And lo and behold, she checks Facebook and comments about the earthquake were all over the place. That ended THAT discussion!

I spoke with an advisor at Columbia yesterday--I'd like to take a sabbatical for at least a semester, so I can let my savings account recover! Columbia is quite expensive and of course this is a non-degree program, so I don't qualify for any grants. And I won't take on debt for this, so I have to stop for a little bit. I also talked with her about grad school--specifically about the possibility of tailoring a program to my needs, as I wrote about last spring. She gave me the information for a couple of professors within the Department, and I'm going to email them to set up a meeting. So yeah--if that meeting goes well, then this year I was be applying to the Columbia grad school of Arts and Sciences. *crossing fingers* Like Professor Kosto, the advisor was also surprised to hear about my history blog--she said I was probably better prepared than most of their current students! Kosto told me flat-out "you should have no problem getting in" which is actually a little disconcerting, because the website makes it sound much more difficult (I can't remember exactly what it said, but something incredibly intimidating about how few students they accept). I don't know whose evaluation is more accurate, but I'd better ace my GREs!

At one point in our conversation, I mentioned that two of my brothers have Master's degrees--"and one is from Yale, so I can't just let THAT stand!" She knew exactly what I was talking about :) Where would we be without all our siblings? A lot less competitive, that's for sure!

New Cliopolian entry! Read, comment, click, forward!

Softball yesterday was GREAT, although we did lose. But considering we were playing a player down, *and* our first baseman had a broken freakin' arm and could barely throw, losing by only 2 runs was a moral victory. But I was quite stoked personally--I batted .600!!! And I got an RBI! And I hit a double! And scored two runs! It was all basically mental--I started focusing only on the ball, nothing else. I did a battery of other adjustments as well (choked up a little (the smallest bat yesterday was 26 ounces), held the bat higher behind me, and leaned back) but primarily I just focused on the ball and visualized myself HITTING IT. Oh, and forcing myself NOT to swing on the first pitch--that is a terrible habit of mine, and telling myself, over and over, to WAIT. I can usually see immediately if the pitch is any good, which is why I tend to first-pitch swing, and why I always pull to the left.

I also slid under a tag at second base. Woo hoo!

In other news, Anya and I think we have a visitor! There have been...signs that someone--or something--else is in our apartment. Saturday morning Anya woke up to find something that looked like residue in the tub--and it wasn't there an hour earlier when I'd gotten up to feed the cats, use the bathroom, and then go back to sleep. I *know* I shut the door behind me and I know the door had been shut when I first entered the bathroom (to keep the A/C in--the bathroom window is open to help air it out after a shower). That was the first sign. Then Tibby and Tatia started acting strangely--especially Tibbles-and-Bits who seemed to be "seeing" things. He would stare at what looked like blank space and act scared. Hmmm. We noticed a couple of other things as well, and were trying to figure it out. Anya wondered why Edna Mo wasn't visiting the apartment where she spent the last 6 years--I said that's because Stuart and his family are gone from Naples, there's no one there for her. And she did spend the last 5 months of her life with us. Precious lamb. I started calling out to her, telling her she was welcome to stay with us as long as she liked, and Tibby could use the schooling.