Cabins and Cabinets

Well it's been a quiet few weeks in Laguna Beach, my new hometown. Having finished Eureka! I've been suffering from the usual "where is my next meal coming from?" Panic. Add that to the "I'm going to be on that torture device known as a bicycle for HOW may miles?" and "I need an apartment somewhere in LA" and "I never see my friends anymore" and "We are doing a cabaret WHEN?"...Sigh, I wake up sweating at 4 am a lot.
Last week we had a trip to IKEA which was a little bit like exploring the Congo. Schmuutt and Kuurgles and Haasbekke, where the hell is the thing called "chest of drawers!?" Had Swedish meatballs, bought a Kluumett and constructed it in 3 hours! Without killing each other! T and I agree that a speed round of build an IKEA project with your mate will REALLY prove compatibility. I tried giving T a rock and roll history lesson during our construction time, he listened politely but rather disinterestedly. We're up to Buddy Holly... I think I'd better sell my U2 tickets on eBay.
We also went up to Cuyamaca to do some cabin clean up and exploration. The Shelton family has 100 acres up near Julian, but most of it was devastated by fire 2 years ago. Went with his cousins, including the fabulous K who put us in her UN DVD. I got blown up by a landmine! (On film that is, no one panic....) Also the cabin got measured with an eye to fixing. I had a great time but I'm afraid I'm becoming the "I love you Dahling , but give me park avenue!" gal.... Nah that's not true, I just was feeling ishy, and I couldn't enjoy it to the FULLEST extent. T is salvaging pieces from the burnt down cabins and making a Louise Nevelson. The remaining cabin is cute and rustic and way DARK at night. I'm afraid I misbehaved a bit, as one weird noise in the middle of the night had me sitting bolt upright and hollering, which had T dying of laughter, because what I thought was a mountain lion... Was the front door opening.
T is grouchy. I gave him what I realize now is a TERRIBLE gift for his birthday, laser Teeth Whitening. He's had to go to the dentist twice now, once for the initial and once for the cleaning and he's got to go back again for the actual laser. The dentist is apparently very bossy and mean, but his teeth look great. However he's been a bear for HOURS after his appointments. Next year he's getting a book.
Our cabaret act is shaping up nicely. T is so good on the damn piano! It's intimidating. But I think we're going to sound pretty good.

Randomness:

1: I just bought a new bike! Hurrah, Sea Schwinn AKA 2 Wheels 1 Planet in Costa Mesa. Great guys, no hard sell, and I got new bike pankies for my popo, and the gave me 10% off for being on the AIDS/Ride

2: 6 more Eurekas! to go!

3: Karl Rove is a complete tool.

4: I love my new gym, except for the weirdly stressed out tech employees who hog the cardio machines. I hope they have a defibrulator close by, these guys look like they are about to pop a blood vessel.

5: I was in an episode of "The Unit" I finally got to watch the tape, and I'll be damned, I'm getting better on camera. Now I know how to tamp down the theatre "Bigness"

6: T does not listen to Rock and Roll (!)

7: I love 103.1 Indy and Steve Jones, and I LOVE loud punk rock.

8: Folks are being great about helping us out on the aids ride.

9: My mom sent me a great goodie box from Colombia.

10:Contained theirin was a program from a HUGE theatre festival in Bogota, looks amazing, experimental and challenging theatre.

11: I still miss my cats

12: I need a wee vacation.

13: My nephew is a genius.

Has anyone seen a commercial for the PT Cruiser recently?

Rise up, oh the people.

I've been having an interesting experience doing Eureka! Since the illegal immigration issue has been heating up. Along with various other historical characters, I play Francisca Benicia Vallejo, The wife of General Vallejo, for whom the original capitol of California was named. In the scene where the young gold miner meets the Vallejos, the General talks about how California used to be a part of Mexico, and how Yankees took his land. I sing, as Benicia a corrido (translated into Spanish by my father, Emiro) about the loss and theft of the Mexican land by whites. Now in places like Santa Ana, Fontana, Long Beach, where there is a huge immigrant, even migrant population, the kids were always delighted that I spoke "Their" language, was dressed in Mexican garb and was very dignified and noble. But NOW, since all the Publicity, and the morning DJ's talking about the situation and exhorting their listeners to march, to rebel, to wear Mexican flags, etc, kids as young as kindergarten are cheering, clapping, whooping. They get really riled up. It's awesome and a little scary. BUT as a contrast in the richer areas like Laguna and Newport, a lot of the adults narrow their eyes at us, cross their arms, and when I say, "This once was OUR land..." The tension is so thick you could cut It with a cuchillo.
Odd, odd, odd.
I'm a legal immigrant, but still, I did emigrate to this country, I remember the pride I felt when I became a citizen and I take my responsibilities as a voter very seriously. More undocumented soldiers than ever are fighting as the Army of Juan, Hispanics are poised to be the majority soon, has this wakened the sleeping tigre?
The anger is so real. And I'm afraid that one misstep is going to cause riots and hate crimes to erupt.
WOW....

Dona Benicia came from a long line of strong women. Her mother was one of the first woman winemakers in Sonoma County. At the age of 17, she traveled for four weeks by mule while pregnant to reach her husband, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and was the mother of 16 children of which ten survived to adulthood.
After the founding of Benicia, named after her, she began to go by that name instead of Francisca and was thereafter known as Dona Benicia.

I crave kittens

Yes...I want a boxful of Kittens.
I miss my cats,
Need cats. Cats solve EVERYTHING. They are just so darn practical.
AND since my baby lust is not being fulfilled yet... WELL KITTENS FIT THE BILL!!!!!

Meow meow say MEOW!!!!

hehehehehehe

Happy Damn Easter!!!!

Yes he's cute...isn't he?
Blah day... I couldn't sleep last night, was overwhelmed by nightmares, and had to wake up way to early to do that DAMN gold rush show.
Was mean all day, grouchy, obstreperous and unbearable.Mean to T, mean to M, mean to myself. Desperately missing feline company. Angrier that Johnny Rotten at a Pat Boone concert.
I was really looking forward to a new dance class tonight at my new gym, (side note: NOTHING is available in Laguna Beach unless one is prepared to pay through the nose. No gyms, no pedicure salons, no hairstylists, not even a cheap drugstore to buy a consoling lipstick)
ALAS. The canyon is closed and there is NO way out of town and towards my dance class that won't take me 45 min's out of my way. I KNOW I am acting spoiled and childish.... But geez. Plus a lady (with her baby) is going the wrong way down Temple Hills Drive and nearly pastes me with her SUV. The cops get snotty and tell me to TURN AROUND...
AAAAAAUUUUGGGGHHHHHHH! I am going to bed and pulling the covers over my head and not moving until the morn. I have to get up and do a show at 8:10am tomorrow for 8th graders (in one of the riches enclaves of the OC) knowing they will hate the show and queen mugs-a-lot (or me), then get in my car (Which needs new tires!!! AAAAAAH!) and DRIVE to FONTANA!!! For a 2 o'clock show! I am soooo damn over it!!!!!!!! 19 more shows! 10 days! OVER IT OVER IT OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!

so....

how are you?