Author: Lara

My computer’s still vacationing at Apple, but I thought I’d steal away on Ted’s computer (which is still limping along, remarkably, at the moment) to take a moment to share some of the things that are making me happiest this week! A little dose of sunshine never does any harm.

1. I’m eagerly anticipating an actual, real, live, WEEKEND OFF. I haven’t had a Saturday off in….months? In fact, I don’t even know when my last free Saturday was. And the last day I had two consecutive days off in a row was….????? And it’s my first day off, where I don’t have to do work of any kind – for any of my jobs, in over three weeks. Ted and I have a magnificent day of awesomeness planned. More on that later!

2. I smoked two auditions this week. As always, live theatre is an unpredictable business, so something may or may not come of it, but regardless of the outcome, it’s nice to be getting myself back out there and to feel good about it!

3. We caught Maverick out of her cave – that sneaky little cray! We were graced with the presence of five whole minutes of Maverick, in the flesh, strolling about her tank this morning! This is big. Girlfriend’s been feeling under the weather lately, first with the tank cycling fiasco and then with the dud craybie eggs and resulting nasty fungal infection, so she’s been camped out under her rock for the past three to five weeks. We know she must come out sometimes, likely at night when we’re asleep, but it was wonderful beyond words to really get to see her, all of her, up and at ’em and clambering laps around her plants again. She’s eating much better too. She’s just so cool!

4. Last night I had a delicious gourmet chocolate chunk cookie and Ted made me mac n’ cheese for dinner so I didn’t have to cook. He makes a mean boxed Kraft mac n’ cheese – magic touch? It was perfection. It’s the little things in life.

5. Lots of great opportunities have presented themselves lately! Doing my darndest to take advantage of them and hoping for some great things and good changes in the future. Fingers crossed.

6. Getting excited for the summer – I think it’s going to be a really fun one, for many reasons – the summer jobs I’m booking, the personal summer fun bucket list I’m compiling, and more. The more research I do and the more things that get scheduled, the more excited I get! Stay tuned for more on that as well.

7. We have a roof over our head, food on our table, jobs to go to, vehicles to get us there, good health, each other, a sweet cray, and great family and friends. Boy, are we ever lucky!

The husband of one of Ted’s work friends had a heart attack last night. While, thankfully, he’s expected to be okay, it really puts life into perspective. It’s been a busy few weeks, with lots of planning, and big decisions and opportunities, and fears and stresses, and that can get overwhelming and consuming. But really, life is pretty great because, as you can see from bullet #7, we’ve got all that we need to be happy in this life.

What are you happy about this week?

A few months ago I decided that if I was going to get serious about advancing my career that I needed to make the investment to own a few standout audition and interview dresses. It’s really, very common to see a whole awful lot of black at auditions. Black dresses, black heels, black cardigans, black skirts, black blouses…black black black. I get why everyone does this. You don’t want your outfit to distract from your work. But I don’t think colorful outfits have to always be distracting; I think they can enhance your look in a memorable way by letting your personality shine through. So I spent a few weeks perusing the WWW seeking out several boldly colored, solid, flattering silhouettes. I found a few options that I think are great investment pieces, one of which was a pear/lime frock. It’s a fairly unusual color, I think, as far as dresses are concerned. But it stands out without distracting, is extremely flattering, and works well with my coloring and personality.

I had the opportunity to wear it yesterday morning for the first time at an audition. It definitely suited me well! I walked into the green room to await my audition and the girl ahead of me was also wearing a very lovely dress – in the EXACT same shade of pear/lime as my dress! And we were both wearing brown heels. The dresses were different silhouettes and we looked nothing alike, so it was totally fine (although ironic), but still, what are the odds!? It was great! We complimented each other on our great sense of style and agreed that we both (obviously) favor bold color statements at our auditions. It was funny.

On Sunday night Pones Inc., one of the fantastic arts non-profit companies I work for, turned five years old! To celebrate Kim & Lindsey threw a big old birthday bash at Neon’s Unplugged – this chill outdoor bar that calls itself “the back yard of Over-the-Rhine.”  There were DELICIOUS braised pork and kale tacos with caramelized onions, queso fresco, chipotle salsa and cilantro, cherry lavender margaritas, live music from an instrumental collective, a giant Jenga game, a Bocce court, cafe string lights draping from the trees, a piñata, phenomenally glorious weather, dancing, lots of celebrating a great young dance company and her co-founders, AND a surprise singing telegram (dressed as a chicken) for a special birthday boy, complete with terrible chicken jokes!! I was entirely unaware that Cincinnati actually has a singing telegram company, and this was my first time to enjoy one live. It was amazing…I’m thrilled beyond measure to know that I now have access to an entertaining new way to humiliate my pals on special occasions.  It was a magical evening! I really think I need to hang out at Neon’s more often.

And finally, I was going to post an update, with cute photos, of our sweet Mav – who is doing very well, by the way, despite a fungal infection we’ve been treating with meds (this girl is a real trooper for enduring all that she has had to deal with so far and we love her so!!!) – but apparently my computer, and Ted’s computer had other plans as they BOTH crapped out on us yesterday. Mine is back at Apple for the week being repaired (for real this time) and Ted’s will be making its way there shortly. So my posting and updates may be sporadic this week, but bear with me please. I should be back on track by next week.

How has your week been so far?

Two nights ago I used our new cedar planks to make cedar plank salmon with candied pecans. It was delicious but more importantly, as soon as those soaked cedar planks hit that dry oven, it made the whole place smell like cedar, which is the precise smell of steamy, relaxing cruise ship sauna.

Cheapest vacation I’ve ever taken.

In other news, despite this flattering description of overalls,

Unless you are a tyke or a farmer, this is not an attractive look. Try to wear pants that don’t extend over your shoulders and wear clothing in general that doesn’t instantly bring to mind characters from Hee-Haw. 

in one of my most favorite books in the whole entire world,  563 Stupid Things People Do To Mess Up Their Lives by Dr. Larry (highly recommended if you want to laugh so hard that tears are streaming down your face), I really, desperately want a pair of overalls this season! When cuffed at the ankle and paired with the right shoes, tops, accessories, and some braids, they’re not the tacky overalls of the 90s!

I think I could probably find a vintage pair at the thrift store if I put my mind to it. Sure beats the $398 price tag for a new designer pair!

Cedar planks and thrift store overalls, my friends, is today’s lesson in creating a relaxing summer vacay on the cheap.

I saw this today, and whether it’s a true story or not, it was touching and I was glad to have taken the time to read it. It’s entitled “A Sweet Lesson in Patience.”

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

“I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. On the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. ‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’ ‘Oh, you’re such a good boy,’ she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’ ‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly. ‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.’ I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft voice.’The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. ‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. ‘How much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse. ‘Nothing,’ I said. ‘You have to make a living,’ she answered. ‘There are other passengers,’ I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. ‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’ I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life. We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware – beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.”

Sometimes I like to post these things when I come across them, because I think, fact or fable, there’s a lesson in here for all of us. I have a lot crammed into the end of my week this week, and it’s so easy to get wrapped up in the things we need to do. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed and to focus on the things we think are important, and to let all the little moments, all the little opportunities to appreciate or feel or be helpful or grateful or kind, even in the smallest of ways, pass us by as we hurry to prepare for and accomplish the next thing, and then the next. As I go through the rest of my week, I am trying to keep this story in mind so I can remember to experience ALL the moments, big or small.

Bakersfield.

Gourmet Mexican snackitizers, chips & salsa/queso/guacamole, sangria, and margaritas.

Downtown on Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine.

Within a block of Ensemble Theatre (where I work), Taste of Belgium (where two fine lady friends of mine work) and Cincy Haus (where I kind of want to work!).

A perfect, chic, chill after work hot spot. I’ve been dying to try this place for months!

Last night I met Allyson there for dinner, where we were joined by Allyson’s friend, and consequently my new friend, Abigail – who is awesome! Turns out we all have a lot in common.

Allyson & Abigail

I have been looking forward to this girl date since last week! I actually put on a cute gray & yellow outfit (read: not dance pants), painted my nails, and blow dried my hair for the first time since, well November? I know. I didn’t have to teach at all yesterday, or attend a physical job of any kind in fact, so it was kind of worth it. I had the whole day off to get some serious acting and personal work done, and I was READY to have a relaxing evening with some girlfriends.

We chatted about relationships and religion and moral issues and lifestyles and jobs and families and more while we dined on chips and queso and salsa and tacos and sangria and margaritas. It was pretty amazing. And, truth be told, I was kind of thrilled to make a new friend. I love how open these girls are, how easy the conversation is, and how instantly comfortable friendship can be.

The queso was so, so good it was unreal. I’m pretty sure I could make an entire meal out of the chips, queso, salsa and guacamole, wash it down with a margarita and be set for life.

We followed up at 1215 Wine Bar, the wine & espresso bar next door. None of us had been in before, but it looked so relaxing and inviting with the picturesque French doors that opened out onto the balcony enclosed in wrought iron fencing, fresh flowers, candlelight, a bike and a few boutiques parked across the street, lovely weather, and a delicious selection of full-bodied, flavorful wines.

Oh yeah, we’ll be back for more.

It was like Paris in Cincinnati.

Not bad for a Monday night.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a pretty big fan of Mondays.

What did you do last night?