The Oxen are Dying!!!!

Yes.

They are dying.

It's that point where the play basically consumes my brain. All I can think about is everything that needs to be done. I write lots of lists. I freak out because everything on the list can only be accomplished while at school. But I'm only at school when I'm directing rehearsals. So how are these tasks to be accomplished in time?

The oxen are dying!!!--we have to throw out the piano, the books, the fashionable dresses. There's only space for the dried pork and cornmeal. We'll have to keep the seeds for spring planting next year, but please, please, please, throw out the hat boxes and the parasols.

I have to settle something with myself. This play might not meet my highest hopes. It might surpass my expectations, but it might not be as grand as I dream.

There's problems. Like how to get the wrinkles out of the backdrop? How to block the backstage on stage right--because it's so visible to everyone on house right.

Why oh why couldn't I find top hats?

Will the last set wall be painted in time?

We need more make-up help!

Ticket sales....grrr.....need to sell more.

More and more, I feel like this might be my last play to direct. Who knows what the future holds, but doing this as a sole director is just too difficult for me. I don't like my 'job' to get in the way of my current role as a mom. It stresses me out to feel conflict of priorities. I spend so much time on the play that I miss out on Willow. And even though I need to work on the play now, I wonder if I will regret it someday.

Anyway, if I ever make it to Oregon---it will be interesting. There are still some rivers to ford, and some cholera to overcome. Might even get bit by a snake along the way. Just trying to keep the oxen alive.

The Play's the Thing!

Today, I was supposed to go out to Wu Ai (a huge market) and pick up some large white columns for "Pygmalion". I wasn't sure how to do this on my own, since I have never done it before. It usually involves renting because these are wedding stalls that usually just rent their materials out. So, I had a Taiwanese friends going with me to help. 

ThenI woke up sick! We CANNOT get better here. Adam has been sick for a month, Willow has been sick at least twice, and now I'm sick again. It's Saturday, and Adam has the following week off for Spring Break. Tomorrow is Easter and despite some good intentions, I don't have the makings of an Easter Basket for Willow. I just have to remind myself that she doesn't know the difference--and it's not the reason we celebrate anyway. 

So what else is happening with "Pygmalion"? After we get back from spring break, we'll be rehearsing with backstage crew, and soon after with costumes and everything else. The students' lines are still not perfect, but I'm really hoping that they take advantage of Spring Break to really polish their memorization. 

Thank goodness for awesome markets. 

They are a charm! 

These are some of the accessories. We also have like 30 pairs of gloves, bow ties, other hats, shawls, coats, aprons, watches, key chains, broaches, sashes, etc....There are so many accessories this year.

Somehow, the students have to manage not breaking any of these pieces....or misplacing them! This pregnant women spent hours hunting down these items and was rendered unable to walk afterwards. Back pain!

These pictures are from January, when I was working on buying fabric, creating pictures for the tailor, and gluing swatches to the pictures for her reference. This year, I even had spreadsheets to help her keep all the costumes/students from becoming confused. Well, now it's the end of March and we're seeing the costumes for the first time today. About 80 costume pieces with expensive fabric and difficult patterns/textiles. Total price: 4,800 kuai for tailor services. That's the most we've ever spent on costumes! But it's possible this year.

These are the cool t-shirt designs for the drama t-shirts. A student who is in the play designed them somehow--she is quite an artist!

It's that point where I have no idea how everything that needs to get done will....get done! And the point where I start throwing out ideas and aspirations because the money or the time is just not enough. I feel like a pioneer on the Oregon Trail throwing my piano and treasured books out on the trail because the oxen are dying. 

Pygmalion, Pregnancy, Preparing

Willow is taking her nap, I'm listening to some worship music and feeling the occasional movements of baby. I need a break from Pygmalion.

Thinking Pygmalion. Talking Pygmalion. Dreaming Pygmalion. Shopping Pygmalion. Problem-Solving Pygmalion. Delegating Pygmalion. Planning Pygmalion.

Willow is 20 months old, I'm nearly 20 weeks pregnant. We have 6 more weeks until Adam's mom arrives. 7 more weeks until opening night. 9 more weeks until I'm back in America.

Life is about count downs right now. How many more days until the landlord will finally take the guest bed away so that we can paint that room? How many more weeks until I can buy new furniture for that room so that Willow will be able to move in after the baby arrives? How many more weekends can I utilize to buy props? How many more weeks do I have to wait before we ask for all the sets on the stage? How many more weeks until backstage starts practicing with us? How many more weeks until I should buy a carseat for Willow to use in America?

But right now, I just want to sit around and not think about all that. I would rather drink some coffee and try to think about baby names.

I've been organizing all our nooks and crannies. I'm nowhere near finished, but I've gotten more done that I was expecting so far. We're having a sale next weekend to help de-clutter our small apartment. We need space for our baby! I hope we can find out if our baby is a girl or a boy next week.

Slowly checking tasks off of my various project lists. But they don't get shorter. They get longer!

Watching Project Runway, Season 10! Or maybe it's season 11? Pregnancy brain!

Starting to sell tickets for Pygmalion. Hanging posters. Getting reimbursed for all those inane expenses. I told Adam that Secret Garden, Treasure Island, Little Women, and Pygmalion are like my children. Secret Garden got seriously jipped. Pygmalion is in dangerous risk of becoming spoiled with it's frivolous expenditures (like real bow ties--$5 each--this is HUGE compared to what we were able to spend on Secret Garden).

We're all sick right now. Adam came down with a fever/cold last Friday and is still hanging onto his illness. He passed it onto me--but I seem to be doing better today. Even though I've been boosting Willow with lots of fruit, water, and washing her hands alot, she now has a runny nose.

Tomorrow, I'm planning to make a run out to Tai Yuan to buy gaudy, frivolous jewelry that people actually wear here. I'll probably treat myself to Starbucks because it's impossible not to.

Willow has finally started saying "mom" again! I'm so happy! It seems like she has refused to say mom since she was such a little thing. If I would ask her to say 'mom', she would say 'dad' and then laugh. This has gone on for months! I think she's finally figured out that if she calls out to 'mom' then she can get attention much faster. It feels so good to be acknowledged again!

We have community groups tonight and I'm making deviled eggs. I'm in love with deviled eggs this trimester. That and chocolate ice cream.

Sorry for the neglect, blog. Just too busy. Too busy to read, blog, or even take pictures.

Long time no type

It's been a few weeks since I last updated....like a real update. Lots has been going on and keeping us busy. I don't really know what to say or where to begin.

Willow 

Willow passed the 16 month marker a few weeks ago. Craziness! She's completely weaned now, and hasn't nursed in three weeks. It's still hard for her, and I'm surprised that she remembers what nursing is after three weeks! She used to have a few cues to communicate that she wanted to nurse--and she STILL is giving me these signals (e.g. handing me a pillow, getting in position to nurse, etc.). For a few months she was nursing only at night for less than 5 minutes. I kept waiting for her to wean herself, but it wasn't happening. I was ready to be done since she was nearly 16 months old. But as soon as we took away that night feeding (quite by accident, actually. I was at a ladies night and was out later than expected), she started asking to nurse 10 times a day! Ah....But really, she's doing fine. She doesn't need it. She drinks cow milk or smoothies every day, and eats tons of food.

With all the eating she's doing, you'd think she'd be clinging to some baby fat. But, she's definitely stretching out and thinning down. The rolls on her legs are all but gone. Just one tiny roll that's on its way out the door. Last week, I noticed that you could see her rib cage when she's lying down. That has never been the case before--since she was such a plump dumpling baby.

She has been into mischief as usual. She's been caught drawing on our water cooler, walls, and even TV screen with a crayon (thank goodness it wasn't a permanent marker). She has discovered that when she's in her crib, she can open her dresser drawers and take out all her clothes. This means that every morning when we get her out of her, or after her naps, there's clothing everywhere. I've given up folding her clothes because of this constant battle.

Willow likes to assert her independence. We see her climbing onto the tall window sill in her room from other surfaces, or carrying around her chair. She opens doors, and practices her jumping.

Sometimes I worry about her development. I hear and read that every kid develops at a different pace, but it's hard not to compare sometimes. I especially wonder about her verbal development. She still babbles up a storm (although even that is starting to lose it's appeal to her). But her 'words' are not many, and not very clear. She has difficulty with hard consonants and mostly speaks in vowels. But she does have several words that she uses consistently, and I've read that that's normal for her age.

Adam 

He continues to teach science, math, and student council. They've had a few events at school, like the middle school lock in and some fundraisers. Right now, his student council is planning the middle school banquet. He spent four days in Chengdu two weeks ago for a soccer tournament--finally, after nearly 4 years--he got to visit the city where I lived for a few months during my student teaching in 2009.

Adam turned 26 on November 15. We didn't have anyone come over to celebrate....once again....But, I did make a pumpkin cake for him. I'll have to share the link for that recipe, because it is so delicious. Adam loves how pinterest benefits our existence.

He keeps very busy--with his graduate studies, work, and family. He also finds time to play pick up basketball games, play video games, and help around the house. Willow loves playing with Adam and looks forward to seeing him everyday. She says 'Daddy' quite clearly and frequently.

Julie....er....me....

I have two excuses for not blogging:

#1 Drama
#2 Reading

Drama started up three weeks ago, and it's been a little busier around here ever since. Ok. It's been A LOT busier around here. There have been some issues adjusting to the new workload. I'm the only director, and I have to monitor the school bus after each rehearsal. If not for a really understanding parent, I'd have to ride the bus all the way to the last stop and then take a taxi back home after every rehearsal. This would mean spending 90 minutes in rehearsal, and then 120 minutes in transportation. But because of this great parent, I don't have to ride to the end of the line, and only have to spend 60 minutes in transportation. Still not ideal. But......sigh.

How is the play going? People ask me this question all the time. The play is going great so far. But we haven't really started yet---today the blocking commences. This year, I would have had to cut over half of the students that auditioned. I couldn't handle it! So, I cast way more students---and now I have to choreograph.....what the heck. I'm super excited about the Edwardian costumes which I'm researching right now. You probably know that if we're pinterest buddies.

Reading is my new thing. Ok. Reading has always been my thing. But I just forgot that for ten years. I've read over 20 novels this autumn. Last week, I read 4 novels. Because of all the time and money I've spent reading, I think I need to take a break from it for a while. In case you're wondering, I chose books over food, clothes, coffee, showers, blogging, and adequate sleep. Lovely, huh?

 But if anyone is wondering what to get me for Christmas---gift cards for books (iTunes, or Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc.) are wonderful. I have a wish list of books as well. If I lived next to an impressive library, life would be beautiful.

Injury Prone

Adam and I are hurting ourselves left and right. This morning, I dropped my cell phone on my toe. Sounds painless, right? Wrong. It was terrible. Might lose that toe nail. Didn't think my pink phone was capable of breaking the skin of my foot. Adam burned his thumb terribly on a light bulb this weekend. I scrapped my knuckles on a cheese grater a few days ago. Adam cut off the tip of his thumb. Willow dropped the iPad on my foot and caused some bruising. Adam cut himself on tin can he was opening with a pocket knife, then pulled a muscle at basketball. I just twisted a muscle in my back and can't turn my head............The list goes on. Are we losing it?

Ok. No pictures right now. But promise some more later.

Next Year

Coming off my last Little Women post, you might be surprised that work for next year's play is already starting. But no. Little Women was a ten month project for me. Four months for the students.

Today, we announced next year's production to the students.

Announcing the next play to hit the stage,

Concise little article about why the Pygmalion ending is so much better than the My Fair Lady conclusion. Let's not be so Hollywood.

Where to find a hat as epic as this?