The most conducive work environment

I am tortured when I have to work. 

I live in the most rotten place

my sewing machine is against a window with no view...

Too bad I have no friends to help me haul art work from city to city.

Oh a pirate's life for me....

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The most conducive work environment includes:

Little Women playing in the background. or foreground. Frankly, the mood and message of this movie is  glorious. 

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Marmee:

"I only care what you think of yourself. 

If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that's all that you really are. 

Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind. 

Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. 

These are the things I cherish so in you. "

(Sigh.)

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 and it includes coffee. birds. screen doors. open windows. sunshine. 

and beautiful things preferably with some sparkle or burst of charm.

Also, something about recently inheriting my Great Aunt's dining room table has given me extra support in my artistic pursuit. It is a solid reminder of summers in her North Carolina home when we spent every day pretending, inventing, and entertaining ourselves. The summers were hot and we were always told to quit milling around and find something to do. 

Although at the time, all I wanted to do was go to Wads, the local drug store that had "tall tables" and chili dogs, and get a glass bottled coke. Or go on the girls outing to Big  Lots where we followed my Great Aunt at the pace of a turtle and in the end were rewarded with nail polish and a fake off brand perfume aerosol can of our choice. We never got those things at home. 

and 

Look at me protecting the table I was yelled at so often for drawing on "without something underneath the paper!" I get it now. I'm glad sometimes "things" can make you feel good. And, my Great Aunt, who was a grandmother to me, would be happy about the shimmery kitchen we have filled with her blue glass bottles as well. 

Also The moon is out this morning. perfect.

Good morning moon. 

I think odd is particularly captivating... 

and yes. we know they are weeds. and we haven't chopped them down again... yet

but they are some real fighters that shoot up in minutes.  and, I like letting them spread out and stick up all victoriously for a bit. they earned it. and they do make our deck feel more tropical. 

It's messed up. I know. 

Look, sometimes it is opposite day. 

with a daytime moon. and beautiful weeds.

And sometimes you enter contests where you make a squirrel for money prizes.  

If you are really lucky, Sometimes BOTH are true. 

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And in really fun and exciting news- The weekend of March 21- 23rd is not only the second weekend of the Bushwhack Series<--in which my brother and I have our Old Kent Road Theater company performing, but it is also the weekend my other brother and his improvisational theater group from Chicago will be performing in a five day run in NY.

My sister and I are there for the Bushwhack series and so all siblings will convene in NY that weekend.

 Really happy when we all collide artistically in one location. because, while we stay in touch more than the average fam, we like being close and mashed up in a minivan.. Oh wait.. just me?

Maybe. 

But. Brunch is in order. and... brunch is where my heart is. 

1...2...3.... Go Team. 

Links to the Bushwhack Series. BUY TICKETS

May 13-15 and 20-22

( our company, Old Kent Road Theater, is one of a five group ensemble all showing pieces as part of a festival of performance work. I am the artist for OKRT.) 

Links to the Improvised Shakespeare Company. BUY TICKETS

see Road Shows and find NY Barrow Street Theater

May 20 - 24

(This. Is a ridiculously SMART show. And smart funny is definitely in my opinion... the best funny) 

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Also- Can I please quote Marmee from Little Women one more time. ok. two more times. because to me, she represents all things good about Mothers. And in honor of Mothers Day:

"I wish I could give my girls a more just world, but I know you'll make it a better place"

and 

"Oh, Jo. Jo, you have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You're ready to go out and - and find a good use for your talent. Tho' I don't know what I shall do without my Jo. Go, and embrace your liberty. And see what wonderful things come of it. "

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