Opening Weekend!

Saturday night was La Traviata, and Sunday afternoon was La Cenerentola. Traviata was gorgeous, sad and fluffy. The lead woman sang so very well, and now all of the costume shop women have decided we will too sing a high C the moment before our death. Afterward there was the Cast party which was one of the few times we are allowed to drink at the Opera. They had tiny beers and box wine. All very cute, with a dance party that followed. Unfortunately as it was a sad show it put me in a bit of a mood after the show so I ended up playing wallflower.

La Cenerentola on Sunday after staying out late was not the best decision for me. It was as cute and fun as I remember, but I was sooo sleepy and it was so nice and warm that it ended up being difficult to stay awake. There was another reception after, which had better food though no dance party. Which was fine, because last night was shop party. Oooooh Shop Party. Such fun. They had beer and sodas, snacky foods and such. Everyone who works for the Opera was invited and it was held in the Warehouse, but in the set holding portion. There was a sound system set up and a dance floor. The kegs were actually set up behind a false bookshelf wall. You had to figure out which book to pull on to get your beer. The Hennepin (which is a very good local beer) was behind the book labeled "Hi Mom" and the Yuengling was behind one that I can't remember. It was pretty fun to figure out at first. Word eventually got around and no one had to search anymore but it was fun to see people pulling at the falsely rigged books. The music was random as it was "bring your ipod and we'll play it" night. Not that the costume kids heard about that. Oh well. Outside the warehouse they had benches set up around a fire and even a couch thing for the smokers. As there are a number of them. Thankfully the night was really cool so that if you got too warm you could venture outside to cool down, back in or to the fire to warm up. A few of the underage kids were paid to play shuttle for everyone in big vans so that no one had to drive themselves back after beer time. It was much appreciated, by all.

Work today started at noon. Which was reeeaaally nice, as the shop party didn't end until 2 am. Work was slow today, just starting on the rental show. There was an Intern Picnic that even had an ice cream truck! :D Taaasty.

Hooray for shows opening this weekend, which means that anything that isn't a massive horrible mess is no longer our problem. So La Traviata opens tomorrow, and La Cenerentola opens on Sunday. I'm going to both of those with Morgan and a few others, then to the Opera hosted opening night parties afterward. This past week has been pretty uneventful, not much work to be done. Mainly cleaning and organizing so things will be set up nicely for the next group. I took photos of La Cenerentola the night that I went to dress rehearsal, but I'm not going to post them until the show opens, so I can't get in trouble for exposing things early. But I will say that it's a really really fun show, light and silly, the costumes and set are fantastic looking.

Wednesday through the end of the week we came in late, mainly because on Tuesday night about half the opera went into New Hartford to see Harry Potter 6. Morgan and I didn't, but we did go Thursday night to see it. It was super exciting to see Tom Riddle in the jacket that I got to work on the tiniest bit in London. Monday was a normal day and Tuesday we got out early. Though next week goes back to normal hours, as the over hire show is starting up. They hired a group to stay an extra 3 weeks beyond contract to build new pieces for chorus of a show that we're renting out but have a larger chorus. I'll probably end up working on it by value of just being around.

Morgan heads to NJ on Monday to visit for a while before she drives back here on Friday (a week from today) and we head back, hopefully arriving on Sunday night. Though I don't think I'll be back home-home until Monday. Just too long of a drive/ride. I'm looking forward to getting home though, as much fun as this summer has been.

Canada, land of round bacon.

Last week wasn't bad, actually it was a pretty good week. Work has been winding down for the most part, as the shows start to open next Saturday. Photo dress for one of the shows is actually tonight, though not mine. Thursday night Morgan and I were sociable and went to Karaoke night at the PI. That was actually more fun than I was expecting it to be. We hadn't gone previously because of working late nights those days. Friday was payday and at lunch Liz, Shannon, Morgan and I went out on the lake with Liz's Aunt Mary and Uncle Paul. They gave us a tour of the lake, but I couldn't hear much over the engines, so I can't remember much. It was kinda rushed though, since we only had 45 min out on the boat. It was nice, makes me wanna go and spend a day on Daddy's. :D After work we went to the Otsego for fancy drinks too. After Morgan, Eric, Liz, Sidney (Liz's roommate), Sidney's friend Karl and I went to get pizza at the new pizza place in town. Pizza was enjoyable, we spend a good deal of time after on Liz's porch talking. Morgan and Eric went to a party at Jon's but I stayed in as...

WE WENT TO CANADA THE NEXT DAY, and I drove most of the morning shift. We actually went to the Canada side of Niagara Falls. It's about a 4 hour drive each way, but we managed to make a day trip out of it by starting early and coming home late. It was just the two of us, but it was quite fun. We didn't do any of the pay things, but the views were gorgeous. I got lots of photos. The drive over was really really stormy, but it was beautiful weather at the falls. Morgan and I both had our cameras out, and would hide them when the mist kicked up. Part of why we didn't do any of the pay to do things, they took you into the wet, which would have been bad for cameras. The drive back the weather threatened the whole way, but no rain. We got back late and crashed.

Today was half the beverage trail again and then the Eat and Greet at work. We got to meet all the singers and some of the local people who support the Opera. It was pretty good times. Now I'm going to be a lazy bum in my room.

stupid sprained wrist.

Friday I couldn't go to work. Saturday was the Fourth. Sunday I got back to work (yay!) but I was sent home yesterday with an achey wrist and am useless again today. This wrist thing is pissing me off, but I know if I rush it that it isn't going to get any better. Still I don't like being idle.

The Fourth was fun though. On Friday night Morgan, Maura and I tried to get down to Cooperstown to see the fireworks to which we were late. We climbed up onto a little stone wall and watched them over the trees. Then on to a gathering at Jon's which was a fun little party. Saturday Morgan and I slept until the last minute then rolled out of bed and walked into Springfeild Center, which is a mile or so down the road. There would have been no where to park. We watched the parade that went on and had floats from the surrounding villages (not towns, those are bigger) with a number of little kid marching bands and fire departments. Standing with a few other Opera people we managed to find a section of road sans millions of kids, so we ended up with an inordinate amount of parade candy. My favorite float was of course the Opera float. We had silly signs and people in stock costumes and a trailer full of corn stocks from an older production. See the theme for the parade was Red, White, Blue and Green. So most all the floats were related to recycling. The boy scouts were pretty cute, with their painted boxes and recycling slogans on their heads as they tried to ride their bikes. After possibly the cutest tiniest donkey passed us the parade was over and it was time to go partake in church-lady pie. Seriously fantastic pie. I had blackberry, but there were probably 15 types of fruit pie there. And everyone knows how much I love pie. When we'd taken in all the pie and locals we could handle Morgan and I walked back home. There we proceeded to be lazy lazy bums until dinner and fireworks. These fireworks where at the other lake, not the one we work nearest, in Richfeild Springs. The park we were at called itself a beach... but that's not true, lakes don't have beaches. The fireworks where pretty fun, but mostly because most houses around the lake were all shooting off fireworks. A number of homes had red lights in their back yards, part of the "friendship circle". Anywhere there was a red light you were welcome to sit in their yard and watch the fireworks. Granted you could only see this from the lake, but oh well. I thought that was pretty cool. There were city sponsored fireworks that were a shade fancier than the personal ones. It was fun watching the sparks fly up from all over. It was also the coldest Fourth of July I have ever experienced. It was in the low 50's or high 40's that evening. If you don't believe me, go check tonight's low on the weather channel's site. I'm serious. Freakishly cold.

The only good thing about my sick leave is that I've got all photos I've take recently labeled, captioned and uploaded. So enjoy them. :3

Well this was fun.

So, I had an exciting day yesterday. We were rushed most of the day to get things done as our first dress was at 7 last night, and we had to have everything stage ready in the wardrobe house by 5:30. I’d gone to drop off the last faux fur stole and was headed back when I slipped on the stairs and fell down a few of them. I landed hurting my wrist and generally shocking myself. I walked back to the shop and told Julia the floor manager who got Deb the shop manager who got Safety John. I told them what had happened and John and Deb insisted I go to the ER, or rather the Emergency Care place. Safety John took me, as that’s his job and workman’s comp is going to cover all of this. I got x-rays done and was told I didn’t break my wrist or even fracture it, just a sprain. They braced me up and sent me home. I tried to go to work today, but I can’t yet hold anything long enough to be of use, so I was sent home by Julia and Deb. So today I lucked out that there is a Burn Notice marathon on (hell yes!) and it’s raining out (boo).

The past few days at work have been a bit crazy with all the dress rehearsals and such starting. Our show is in good shape, but I feel bad dropping them down a set of hands, but Barb (my draper) feels bad as she’s convinced it was her fault as she’d sent me over to the Wardrobe house. It’s not tough, just a bit of bad luck. And, well, at least I’m good for the next two years.

Check out my photos from Utica too. They are posted. :3

First weekend in Cooperstown

Friday was a mostly uneventful day. I ended up helping weed our new costume shop flower garden in the morning, and we found wild strawberries! So now half of what was to be flower garden is going to be tiny strawberry patch as well. Erica, one of the drapers, found a strawberry on one of the tiny plants and I helped her figure out which were strawberry plants and which were weeds. We had an hour and a half for lunch as well, so that we could go into town and either cash or deposit our checks as we got paid. The afternoon we spent setting up for fittings that were going to happen on Saturday and we were sent home. We went to the Otsego Hotel, which is the fanciest hotel in Cooperstown. Probably one of the fanciest I've been in outside of Disney. There is a giant porch with cocktail waitresses that serve you while you sit in giant white rocking chairs and look out over the lake. Soooooo relaxing and pretty. The weather here is gorgeous most days (short of the normal summer afternoon rains), so it was just perfect sitting out there. We walked over to the tiniest dinner ever to get dinner before heading home.

Saturday Morgan and I slept late, dyed each other's hair then ran small errands. They were grand trips to the Bank of America ( the only one is a few towns over) and the grocery store. Actually between those two we did stop in at the small arts and crafts fair in Richfeild Springs, which was very cute and everything you'd find at any local crafts fair. Quilts, woodcarvings, small jewlery makers. Apparently fantastic barbeque that I did not get a chance to partake in. I don't have any photos of it though, as I was not expecting our errands to include it. Morgan and I got invited to a party near by that we went to. It was alot of fun, though my favorite part was the ball pit. Yes, a ball pit. It was a kiddy swimming pool filled with balls straight from the Mickey D's play ground. It was fantastic. :D I got to meet a few more of the grad students that are from school, who were very cool. Mostly Techincal Director students, who live in the scene shop, and that being no where near the costume shop, explains why I didn't know them. Everyone there was really friendly and fun.

Sunday we slept even later, having stayed out way too late the previous night. Not having much to do we did laundry. Though finding the laundrimat was quite a challenge. Morgan and I did though, and are fully stocked with clean clothes. I made dinner for the two of us and that was the extent of our day. I've been chruning through books pretty quick here, as there is typically an hour or three spent reading in the room o'Morgan and Adri. Now it's time for a late dinner, so signing off.

Midweek

Tonight's a quiet night, as half of Summer Camp Opera is off at the local bar/Chinese food restaurant for karaoke night. I'm a bit under the weather, so I'm not up for hearing people scream the lyrics of old bad songs in the tiny bar. Though it was quite fun on Tuesday night when we went after work. Good Chinese food too.

There isn't much work to be done at the moment, we're mostly doing house keeping stuff. Organizing, restock, etc. Not the most interesting, but that's fine. Tuesday was our first real day of work, and we got to go early as it was Ice Cream Social day! That's right! the Costume shop held an Ice Cream social for the whole Opera. Even had lactose free ice cream for the lactarded and all fruit popsicles for the Vegans. It was pretty fun. After wards we all went home for a breif second then out to the bar/chinese food. We stayed out for a while, though when we got there it was just the costume shop girls and Safety John. By 9 half the Opera had taken over the tiny tiny bar. We almost got lost getting home, but got back fine. Though just after we got home, the girl we were trying to follow stopped back by and got Morgan out of the room while I was checking my email. Neither of us had our keys. Ooh super fun lock outs. Thankfully our RA guy was still up and let us in no problem.

Wednesday didn't have to be into the costume shop until 2 pm, but had fire estinguisher training and terribly over acted videos about back health and slip protection. Morgan, another girl Holly and I went in to Cooperstown to wonder around a bit. The photos are still on my camera from that, but the photos from before are now all online (they were before, but a bit of a mix up happened.) We went home after that for naps and lunch then headed in to work. It was mostly spent cataloging stock. Nothing terribly exciting. Morgan went to watch the Opera softball game, but I stayed in having a headache. The Opera plays in a company league against the local companies like the hospital, sports store, etc. Apparently we're attrocious, but the crowd it always pretty rowdy.

Today was the first real full day of work, as there had been fittings done yesterday. Those didn't take most of the morning, so I was sent out to the warehouse to do more organizing. We came back for lunch and I stayed behind to clean up the wardrobe house instead of going out there again. Again not exciting, but fine. Now it's after dinner and I'm gunna curl up with a book and be a sicky.

Cooperstown!

We have arrived! :D

Morgan and I actually got in last night, but yeah. We ended up leaving New Jersey yesterday about 2 pm, got lost just at the start, trying to find a Costco to stock up at before getting to New York. Low and behold our directions took us to their offices, not the store. I was headachey at this point from getting into New Jersey from Brooklyn. I was not in the mood to be lost. So I canceled any further expeditions and we got on our way. It really was a better decision, as there was a strange Blue Law in the county of New Jersey we were in that would have kept us from buying anything other than food and gas on Sunday. From there the trip was uneventful until we were getting off the New York Through Way, we got off at the wrong spot. We ended up at a Dunkin' Doughnuts, where apparently we were not the only people who got lost trying to get to Cooperstown. Turns out we'd just taken the wrong exit and got turned around.

We found the Opera just as the office was closing, but managed to get in and get our keys and such before they left. Morgan and I's room is pretty nice, alot bigger than I was expecting and quite comfortable for us to share. We got in, unloaded then headed to the nearest super store, which took us 45 minutes each way, but excitingly we get cellphone service out there! Really, just ten minutes out of here, we get cellphone service. I think we are in a valley that blocks out service. It's amazingly pretty here. Just lots and lots of rolling hills with small farm houses and forest.

Today was the first day of work, which was pretty much entirely orientations and safety workshops. Morgan and I actually walked the 3/4 of a mile to the Opera from our room. Found out the Safety guy is from school, a Techincal Directing student. He's pretty cool. We went on a tour of the Opera campus too, which was very cool. I'm going to have to get pictures later, I'd forgotten my camera today. Morgan and I had lunch today with a few other people out on the lake, which is beautiful! There is a tentitive plan for canoeing this weekend. But really that's all the interesting I've got for you guys. G'night.

NEW YORK! :D :D :D

So! I return to the lovely interwub's blogocircle with a new adventure. New York! As you probably know I'm working at an Opera in upstate NY for their summer stock as an intern. I'm joined there by Jill a recent grad student from our program and Morgan and fellow costume undergrad. Morgan is actually one of the girls I knew in and before going to London. :3 we've had pretty much every theatre class together since our freshman year. Today is actually the first day of our two-ish day road trip up. We left FL this morning around 9ish and are currently staying in NC for the night. Morgan and I took turns driving and made pretty good time, it was a uneventful drive thankfully. We actually stopped in Lumberton, NC to get dinner so that I could get my most favorite BBQ evar. Num Num pulled pork. We had planned to possibly stay with a friend in Raleigh, but as that ended up being way too off course it didn't end up happening. Tomorrow we head to the NYC/NJ area. She's got family in NJ and Cassie (the roommate from London mentioned copiously below) lives in NYC and I'll be staying with her for a few days. :D And that's all I've really got for the night.

excitement

Today has been interesting. I woke up too late to go on another walking tour because of my still eastern central body clock. My whole flat was up until 3 am and no one got up before noon. Terrible. Anyways I was invited to go out to the shop to look around and get aquianted with the place before I start work on Tuesday. I grabbed my camera and Oyster card and headed out. The Tube was fairly easy to navigate, and really not that crowded. I got turned around leaving the Station, but figured it out pretty easy that I was going the wrong way. The section of town I was in was incrediably more residential than where I am living. Not nearly as many people walking around. Then I find the street the Shop is located, and evening the building. But there is no one there or around. I got a bit creeped out and called back to my flat for the number to the costume shop. I call and no one answers. I didn't feel comfortable taking pictures either, because...well... if I was taking a picture I'd look suspicious or just obviously a tourist.. Or so I think. I decided at that point to just go home and call again to see when someone WILL be there to answer the phone so I know it's good to go back out there. Thankfully the trip is only 2 trains and 20 minutes long. Unfortunately, now I have to up my Oyster card.

and it's only 3 o'clock.