Tired!

[pyratelady]

Like most people, I've been pretty busy this holiday season. Unlike most people, I haven't been busy buying gifts for kids or setting up a tree or baking. I've been working, working, working. (That is not to say that nobody else is working, just... you know what I mean.) I'm even going to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day like I did last year. Don't feel bad for me, I'm making hay while the sun shines, and the sun usually doesn't shine all that much for me in January.

Some highlights from the gigs:

Getting polite applause from Stephen Colbert while he was passing through during the Downtown Holiday Market. What a guy!

Two very nice lunches in downtown D.C. with an_idle_fellow. At one place, I came THISCLOSE to delivering the "Waiter, taste my soup!" line when someone brought my soup without a spoon. But darnit, the waiter was on the ball and swooped in with said spoon, saying "I'll bet you could use this."

Seeing friendly faces at the Downtown Holiday Market.

Singing "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth" to a very vivacious and enthusiastic kid who was missing his front teeth.

Being applauded in Do or Die's "Dead Ringer" when my character was murdered. I guess they didn't like me!

Getting a bit drunk at a party * after I was done entertaining, so I was off-duty, okay! * on gluvine, a delicious spiced German wine.

The shot of tequila that same night didn't help matters.

Singing "You Don't Know Jack" to a super nice guy named Jack who laughed and was a very good sport.

Giving the same Jack a hard time when he complained that the gluvine was supposed to be served warm... "So, you brought the wine! YOU heat it up!"

Showing a bunch of younger people (20s and early 30s) how to play the bones, and being treated with courtesy and respect even though I was dressed up like a pirate.

Taking the Metro into D.C. three times in one week with mixed results. (Carrying a lot of stuff: bad. Metro line delays: bad. Having to get a ride to and from the Metro: bad. Growing old while waiting for someone to finish using the "Add Fare" machine: bad. Signs directing where to exit: confusing. Not having to look for parking: good. Strolling around Dupont Circle and having enough time to get a coffee: lovely. Being drunk on the Metro: amusing.)

Driving through a beautifully-decorated Georgetown on the way to a gig. Yay! I got to see Georgetown all done up for Christmas!

Dressing up like a Dickens character for one gig, then driving to a murder mystery gig while still dressed up. "From one costume into another," I replied when my director commented on it.

Telling one audience, "I'll bet you've been hearing rather a lot of Christmas music in the past few weeks, so how about I play some irish tunes instead," and getting an enthusiastic response.

Meeting a very nice Russian man (in a fur hat, of course) who told me that in Russia the hammered dulcimer is called a "goose-lee." (that's the pronunciation as I heard it)

Solo playing. LOTS of solo playing. Exhausting, but really good for me.

Developing a more cohesive solo act. Exhausting and scary, but really exciting and good for me.

Wow, I thought I had neglected my training last week. That was respectable compared to this week! Oh well... I have a plan to get back on track.

Sunday 12/16 -- skipped
Monday 12/17 -- 3 miles on the treadmill
Tuesday 12/18 -- off
Wednesday 12/19 -- skipped
Thursday 12/20 -- 20 minutes on the treadmill (1.75 miles)
Friday 12/21 -- skipped
Saturday 12/22 -- skipped

Yesterday we finally did some baking and decorating and wrapped gifts. Today Glenn and I drive to my parents' house to have a pre-Christmas visit with them and one of my brothers. (They're going to my other brother's house on Christmas Day to visit with him and his wife and kids.) Tomorrow Glenn and I drive back home and I work in the evening while Glenn visits with his brother and his brother's extended family. Christmas Day, I work early, then Glenn and I visit with his brother and his brother's extended family figure out something else to do... have ourselves a nice turkey dinner? Take in a movie?

I have 2 rehearsals the week after Christmas, a gig on December 29, and then it's off to Delaware to A) visit with my brother, sis-in-law, niece, and nephew (hopefully) B) pick up something at the Kalmar Nyckel shipyard (hopefully) and C) perform at First Night Dover. Whew!

However you celebrate the holidays, I hope they're wonderful and satisfying for you!