Consumerism

consumerism.

After moving back into my parents house one of the greatest struggles I have has is finding work. I don't want to be extremely picky in what job I will take, but I'm not going to take just anything.

First off, I haven't eaten from a fast food place (minus subway) since I was 16 years old, and there is definitely no way that I am going to work in one. The smell of those places make me feel nauseated. Plus I have ethical issues with the treatment of animals, and much of it is just so terrible for you.

I am so tired of consumerism. Greed. I have only ever worked in retail, and I am tired of people buying more than they need. I am tired of people selling things that people don't need. About a month ago, when I was working my old job this big burly man came into my store and bought $400 worth of statues and sculptures. It was great for the business and I won't deny I was glad to make the sale.

Then I have this sinking feeling in my gut. Guilt. I have a friend who has been to Tanzania, and intends to go back this next summer. She worked in a school in the slums of TZ. She also met many beautiful children, whom I have grown to love through her, with untreated HIV. The treatment is free, but they have to get to the hospital to get them, and most of them can't pay for the transportation. It only costs 9 dollars each month for a kid to get their medication. Perhaps 18, so an adult can go with the child to the hospital.

So I think back to this man that came into my store. 400 dollars. I wondered how many kids he could give medication for a month with that money. 44 children could have their medication for one month with 400 dollars. That just amazes me. It saddens me. If I gave 400 dollars a month to kids who need ARV's 44 children could have normal lives.

I don't know how to go into reality without thinking about this. Put on a smile as I fold up a 30 dollar t-shirt and think about asking them to return it so they can save the life of a child?

Everyone has heard about the HIV/AIDs epidemic...but people don't open their hearts.

I think people are living in the wrong reality. Anyone have any job ideas that could do the world some good?

Oliver!

Well, this is a bit of a delayed post and I have to
catch up on what has happened in the last week. One week ago Oliver closed, and I said goodbye to a town of people that I love dearly. A place I have lived for the last two years. I have never felt more at home in any other place, but it was time to move on. In my opinion the best part of the last two years are the people I have met and grown to love.



Above is a picture of me and our pianist, Sarah. I really enjoyed getting to know her over the summer!

Also above is our Oliver and our Nancy. Two beautiful and talented ladies who I was very glad to get to spend the summer with.

They are both so persnickety and cheeky. It brings a smile to my face when I think about all the mischief Deanne (Nancy) would get into.

Here we have pictures of three of my different Oliver! families. To the right is everyone in who will buy (minus Oliver). This was probably my favorite part of the play. It was just such a beautiful and pure moment.

Above is me as a workhhouse kid with Mr. and Mrs. Bumble. These two are both so hilarious. They crack me up. I have a picture of one of the kids making the exact same face I am making in this picture, but I'm not going to post it here.

Lastly, and once again above are the funeral folk. The Sowerberries. Ha, what snobs. I am so glad that I had this opportunity to be a part of this show, and even though I have decided its time for me to leave the acting world.

Oliver! funnies!

I have been thinking about how the run of Oliver! here is almost over, and wanted to save the memory of some of the amusing things that have happened over the last 2 and 1/2 months. If you don't want to read all of them, at least read the ending one because it is worth it.

On Opening night (The end of may) Nathan (Faggin) was singing the song "Reviewing the Situation." Part way through he forgets the words, but knows that they are important to the storyline. So, he stays completely in character and shouts "Wait! Let me see!" and walks up to the piano looks over Sarah's (the pianists) shoulder reads the words and continues singing. This was a brilliant acting moment.

At the end of the play Bill Sykes is killed via gunshot. So Conrad (Bow Street Runner) goes to shoot the gun and nothing happens. Normally we have a pistol that shoots a blank and it works great. However on this particular day both Conrad and Karl (Bill Sykes) were left standing there looking dumb. The solution? Sykes just withered to the ground suddenly. The audience laughed at this one. I don't blame them. Ha.

At the end of the show we wait off stage in the wings to go onstage for the bows. It's dark back there so Karl decided to try and freak me out getting as close to me as possible. However, wondering what he was doing, I looked over and she shared a few nose nuzzles. He was embarrassed and now makes a point to not get to close to me back there.

It's been been a very rainy summer and therefore very humid as well. The floor on the stage it made up of wooden panels. One day after a particularly wet day we came in to find that the wood on the floor had expanded. The stage was COVERED in bubbles. Imagine trying to do a show while walking and tripping over a bubbling floor? Ha.

Last Sunday's show was an interesting one. Paul (Mr. Brownlow) gets to take a walk outside the theatre to get to the other side of the the stage. (We have a crawl space but some people prefer the walk outside. However on this day the door is locked. This has never happened before. So Paul runs all the way around the theatre again and tries to make his entrance on time. I was in the dressing room at that time and the curtains around the area literally moved from the blur that Paul was. Despite his rush Mr. Bumble was left on stage for a few moments staring at a locket. Oops.

Here's another one with Conrad and Karl. This afternoon Conrad got trigger happy. Karl is supposed to have the line "Stand back! Or I'll kill the boy" instead all he got out was "St.." I'm pretty sure Oliver should have died instead of Bill, but they made it work.

Okay...now here is the doosey that inspired this post. I'm actually not sure I should post this one - but I will anyways. The patrons that come toe show are often...well quite frankly, old. Some of them aren't all there. In the play one of my roles is the Milkmaid. For this role I carry a metal buckets. Now one of the patrons someone managed to wander backstage during the first act - and PEED in my milk bucket. Um yeah. You read that right. Then he got confused about which way to go to leave the room, so he wandered onto the wings of the stage. Luckily dear Kelsey was there to help him back to his seat. She realized what had happened and kindly told our Stage Managers. Needless to say I did not use the same prop that night. Instead Brad pulled the paper off of a paint can and put some fabric on top of it. It was full of paint and somewhat heavy. The man didn't even realize something had happened we don't think, which I suppose is a good thing. I am assuming that he has Alzheimer's and believed that this was a chamber pot or something. Poor man...but its rather amusing.

That's all folks!

Bold.

Over the last year something has changed in my relationship with God. I have been relearning to listen to Him. It's just not in the same way that I used to talk to Him. I am still adjusting to it. At first I didn't even realize that God was speaking to me. In the last 5 months I have gone up to two complete strangers and told them that God wants us to know each other and that it is important that we do. Both times I have been very well received. Here i was thinking that they would give me a "what the heck is this lady on?" sort of look.

I am learning to trust in what He says.

learning to believe that He knows what is best for me.

To tell someone that God loves them.

To be outright about what I believe and not be afraid about it.

A changed heart.

Until about a year ago I didn't know what to do around people with Down Syndrome. It wasn't that I didn't think they didn't diverse to be loved I just didn't know what to do. I am ashamed to admit I thought they were weird. That was wrong.

After reading about Down Syndrome, the adoption ministry of Reece's Rainbow and discovering how truly stunning and beautiful these people are I have been changed. Today in church there was a boy between 10 and 13 who had Down Syndrome. What first drew him to my attention was not the fact that he had Down Syndrome but that there was a young man holding a doll. As we sang to God he made the doll clap along with the music. It was so precious and innocent. He was so beautiful.

I was tempted to point him out to the person sitting next to me but I didn't want them to think that I was pointing him out because he was different when really it was because I was touched by him. I hope that the people around him see him as a precious gem.

Fear makes things happen...?

So, I'm in the play Oliver right now and I have noticed that when I fear something is going to happen onstage more often than not it happens. When I don't think about it it doesn't happen. For example - sometimes when I sing my voice cracks. Yesterday during the show it cracked really bad. I began to be afraid that it would happen again today and during this afternoons performance it happened about 3 times. Well see how this evening goes.

Sigh.

Happy Canada Day!

I would just like to take a moment to say Happy Canada all you fellow Canadians (and American's too, I supposed)! I love living in this country.