This is a gratuitous New!Layout post. It's not even a whole new layout, just a new banner really. But it is pretty. *g*

Last week I finished a nine month run on stage, working simultaneously on at least two productions at once. I went out for lunch with bluespirit_star, xanthe, saffron_1 and carnelianred on the Sunday and they did their best to remind me that there was a life beyond my theatre. We had a fabulous time, squeeing and giggling and filling the restaurant with laughter. Their wise words had some effect - this week I've baked a shed load of choc chip muffins and two Hummingbird cakes (it's my Momma's 60th this weekend) and I've been to see the Avengers (again), started reading Game of Thrones (love it), watched the entirety of season one of the series (loved that too), written the first 2,500 words of a John/Sherlock that promises to be pretty long and plotty (and hawt!) taught a drama lesson at our Musical Theatre Academy (and did a bit of singing), and went shopping and bought a new dress.

My world is spinning relatively smoothly right now. It's been pretty crappy lately, but I'm keeping my head down and working on the old one-day-to-the-next survival strategy.
How about you, darlingest Flist?

Also, heaven help us, my Momma has turned 60 and decided she's going to master this "LJ thing" - she's a fan, introduced me to the world of fandom all those many moons ago, and she's awesome. So, welcome battyoldflapper to LJ. (Batty Old Flapper is a term of endearment I use when talking to her, we gacked it from Sapphire and Steel when I was a kid).

Loves.xx.

Tags: ramblings - me stuff
Current Location: 221b Baker Street

This is how it goes:

1. Reply to this post with "UNICORNS", and I will pick five of your icons.
2. Make a post (including the meme info) and talk about the icons I chose.
3. Other people can then comment to you and make their own posts.
4. This will create a never-ending cycle of icon glee.

The gorgeous, fabulous, wonderful sgamadison chose these five icons for me...

( This way to icon yummyness and some waffling )

Wanna play? ;-)

Hope you're happy and well, dearest flist.
.xx.

Tags: ramblings - me stuff
Current Location: 221b Baker Street
Current Mood: tired

We had dress rehearsal today. It went really well. I'm so excited to put this show in front of an audience tomorrow. It's thrilling and absolutely terrifying.
Today, we had an audience of a few society members and a couple of theatre committee members. This was the reaction our Artistic Director posted on the society Facebook - after she'd finally stopped crying.
"I have just sat through a dress rehearsal of a play on a bright sunny Sunday afternoon. Rarely have I been so privileged to witness a piece of pure theatre that has moved me so much. This is a wonderful production full of fine detailed performances from four actors who should be justly proud of the work they have produced. The script is excellent, and the director has created an atmosphere that took me straight back to the USA. If you want to see the best, come and see it. ‘Proof’ runs all this week, and you will be really sorry if you miss it."

It was fascinating to watch the reactions of those few audience members present. We knew we had something pretty good but this is already more than we could have hoped for.

I'm truly thrilled.
.xx.

Tags: ramblings - theatre
Current Location: Back porch in Chicago
Current Mood: accomplished

That patch of white there, that's a nice patch of white. And that sort of swirly bit in the paint work, that is without a doubt the most exciting swirly bit I've ever seen...what? This is all part of the intense study of my ceiling that's going on while I'm flat on my back with a virus that's causing constant dizziness.
I'm making like Sherlock in my pj's and a dressing gown and stretched out on the sofa going out. Of. My. Mind. I can't stay on the laptop too long because the screen makes my head spin. I can't read because the words just jumble on the page and make my head spin. TV? Ugh, no, head spin. Can't sit up because my head spins!!!
I'm so rested right now I may never sleep again. I wanna learn my lines, I wanna go to the theatre, I wanna be able to read Sherlock/John.
I feel fine - so I bump into the odd wall/door frame/tree when I'm walking but what's that between friends?!
*sulk*
Dudes, I really hate to say this but I'm bored. Bored. BORED!!
</rant>

Tell me how your world is turning, oh great and glorious Flist of mine?
.xx.

Tags: ramblings - me stuff
Current Location: 221b Baker Street
Current Mood: bored

Okay, some pictures of Iceland, as promised. Please be warned this is a fairly image-heavy post, obviously - I had an amazing time and these are some of my favourite pictures. :-)

You're more than welcome to come in and explore with me...



( Reykjavik \o/! )

Now all I need to do is get back there. Beautiful place and beautiful people.
.xx.

Tags: iceland
Current Location: 221b Baker Street
Current Mood: happy

Just calling in here to let you know I'm still alive - I've been swimming in the geothermic pools at the Blue Lagoon, visiting Geysir, the original geyser, been to Gullfoss waterfall, and walked the rim of a volcanic crater. Today, I've spent the day on a winter sea whale watching - and tonight I'm going in search of the Northern Lights.

In conclusion, I love Iceland. It's so very beautiful.xx.

Hope y'all are happy & well, dearest flist.
.xx.

Tags: iceland
Current Location: Reykjavik
Current Mood: thankful

Totally stole this from Wihluta, who was writing a list of 'Good Things' and I left a comment in her journal and then thought, 'I'd like this list in my LJ too.' So, here it is, my list of good things:

Music that makes your heart hurt.
The smell of hairspray & make up & sawdust & paint backstage.
The warmth of the stage lights.
The cold of an icy draft in the wings.
Breezes that lift your hair.
A book spine that creaks.
The smell of old pages.
The forever of being out at sea.
The excitement at the start of a journey.
A brilliant story.
Being happy.
Watching my friends do something awesome.
A hug with someone you love.
Laughter in the dressing rooms.
Tears in the dressing rooms.
And my favourite thing in the world, above all else; standing alone on a dark stage at the end of the night, looking out at the empty auditorium, wrapped in the ghosts of every production that has come before you, and just breathing.

Tell me some of your 'Good Things' dearest F-list.

*Hugs*
.xx.

Tags: ramblings - me stuff
Current Location: 221b Baker Street
Current Mood: calm
Current Music: A Pair of Silver Wings

I seem incapable of sitting down and writing at the moment - it might have something to do with the fact that I've had at least two productions going on at any given time since October and will continue to be in this position until April, at least. It may also have a little to do with a great deal of my energy being focused on battling the Goofy Head Syndrome. It may just be that I have lost my mojo, despite the number of ideas I have floating around in my head - but they're just glimpses and too ephemeral to pin down into an actual story.
So, tonight I had a play on Photoshop. Evening off and no story to tell so you get a picture instead.
I've put it behind the cut in case anybody on my flist is completely unaware of what happens with Sherlock Holmes at the end of The Final Problem or has never heard of Reichenbach. Just in case...*g*

( Landlord to a Ghost )

Take care, my loves, my doves.
.xx.

Tags: sherlock_fic; sherlock
Current Location: 221b Baker Street
Current Mood: calm

*Iz ded of Sherlock*

Omg! Oh my. Brilliant - just absolutely brilliant!





.xx.

Tags: ramblings - fandom
Current Location: 221b Baker Street
Current Mood: Blown away. Totally blown away
Current Music: Patty Griffin - Impossible Dream

I can't decide. This one...

"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back. There are some things that time can not mend. Some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold."

Or this one...

"End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it.
White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise."

Sigh. I love them both with a fantastic kind of ache in my chest.
.xx.

Tags: ramblings - me stuff
Current Location: The Shire
Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: Joan Osborne (*shakes fist at you S*)