May 31 - Social

I've noticed lately that I'm doing great on my own, but not so much when subjected to other people. Other people are making me very tired of late, and some of them even make me really angry. But when given time to spend on my own, doing what I need (or want) to do, I'm great. It's like a really big introvert rut or something. 

Honestly, I don't mind it. I'm getting a lot done when spending time alone. I only bring it up because tonight I have a fundraiser to go to for this film I'm working on and I'm (supposedly) going to meet cast and crew and probably friends of cast and crew and this prospect is giving me anxiety. I'm going to be working with these people so I want to make a good impression, but if I force myself to be "friendly person" just now, I'll be false and exhaust myself. If I just park myself at a table with a beverage, I'll be the weird one. I know - this is very much a first world problem, but this is very much how social anxiety goes. I just have to remember that I don't have to stay any longer than I want to, I don't have to drink alcohol at all (and likely won't since I'm driving quite a way), and if I walk away from the evening branded "the weird one..." Well, there are worse things that could happen. 

I wish I had done laundry today so I had a better t-shirt to wear. 

May 30 - A Day

Sometimes, I am amazed at my ability to take care of myself. Procrastination comes so easily, but when I really want to or really need to, I can bring it. I can be a grown-up. 

I mopped my floors today. We're talking move furniture to other rooms and use the Swiffer twice and get all of the stray cat hair off of the things I'm moving around before mopping and then mopping. All of the floors in my apartment. And it felt oddly wonderful. Like, people could come over to my apartment today because I managed to clean it. A lot. Not totally - I still need to do bathroom and kitchen surfaces, but still that's the easy stuff. I even made a trip to get more Swiffer cloths because I ran out, and I picked up a lilac candle so my apartment smells like spring. Spring cleaning. At the end of May. Because we finally have spring-like weather. 

And through all of this cleaning, I managed to make myself a healthy breakfast and a healthy lunch to boot. Like a real person!

I know I'm a real person every day. But after those really long months when I'm not home much and the "mundane chores" start piling up, it feels good to have the time to do them and to actually get them done. 

Now for some Thai food and a beer, to undo all of the grown-up-ness I built up today. Hopefully it won't fully derail my plans to be productive for the rest of the weekend. 

May 29 - Hamlet

Hamlet: The Series is available in its entirety on YouTube. I put all of the videos into this playlist so you don't have to go searching for them.



I want to say, really quickly, that what probably gets me the most about these videos is that when it gets to the end credits, the special thanks and list of supporters are full of people I know. It melts me every time.

Thank you, guys, for supporting this project. Without you, it would not have happened. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and for the rest of my life, I get to say I was Hamlet once. I could not think of a nicer gift. So thank you!

May 28 - #YesAllWomen

This particular #YesAllWomen story of mine is not as egregious as some, but I am going to tell it anyway. Because the point of this hashtag, as I understand it, is that while not every man has treated a woman like she exists purely for his pleasure, every woman has been treated like that by someone. At least once. Often times it feels like at least once a day. 

A few years ago, I was taking the train with some friends after work to go to a speed dating event. We went straight from work, so the train was crowded with rush hour commuters. I had worn a skirt that day - not extraordinarily sexy, but a skirt nonetheless. It was a small, almost-houndstooth-but-not-quite pattern in gray and black, knee length, pencil skirt, not overly form-fitting. I think I was wearing it with tall boots and a black top. My thought in putting the outfit together was that it was something appropriate for work in an office that with the addition of some lipstick would also be appropriate for a speed dating event. In retrospect, I was probably underdressed for the speed dating event (read: not sexy enough).

So my friends and I were on this very crowded train, smushed in among dozens of other commuters, standing near the doors because that was as far into the train car as we could get. And suddenly, from behind me, I felt a hand lifting up my skirt to gain access to my inner thigh. I smacked the hand away, turned, and gave a very stern look to the guy standing behind me. I could only guess which guy it had been. At the next stop, we got off the train. I would like to think we would have done so even if it hadn't been our stop. I told my friends, they agreed that the guy was a creep and out of line, and we went to our event. 

Like I said, the story I just shared here is not as egregious as some. I was groped by a stranger on a train. Nobody was physically hurt and the psychological trauma for me was minimal. But seriously, who sticks their hand up a strange woman's skirt on a train? Who thinks that is okay? Who thinks that it's really not that big of a deal?

In retrospect, I wish I had done something louder and more obvious than give the guy a stern look. I wish I had shouted at him, "What makes you think you have the right to touch me without my permission?" so I could have embarrassed him in front of everyone on that train. Because that is what he did to me by touching me inappropriately, he embarrassed me. He made me self-conscious about my perfectly acceptable office attire. I think you would be hard pressed to find even a mysoginistic jury that would say I was "asking for it" in that outfit. The groper made me uncomfortable, he invaded my personal space in a public forum. And really, who does that on a crowded rush hour train? Was he counting on the fact that I wouldn't want to make a scene? If he was, I am even more annoyed that I didn't. 

I have ridden the train hundreds of times since then. I've been stepped on and whacked in the head with oversized purses, but I have never been groped by another man like that. Meaning, I know that not all men grope strange women on trains. Not all men are rapists. Not all men are mysoginistic asshats. Not all men think they are owed sex. Not all men think women exist purely for male gratification. I know these things, you know these things, we all know these things. That's not the point. The point is that there are enough of them out there who do, and they are bold enough in their life choices, loud enough with their hoots and hollers, strong enough in their physical demands, that every single woman has had to deal with them on some level at some point in her life. Every. Single. Woman. 

So I would ask, those men defending mankind against the "online onslaught" of female empowerment, even if you, personally, are not the aggressor, how would you feel if your mom told you she was groped on the train by a stranger? How would you feel if your girlfriend was attacked walking to her car one night? How would you feel if your sister was shot and killed at school because some guy was pissed that she didn't want to date him? 

Not all men are aggressive and violent toward women. All women have been targets of violence and aggression. Something needs to be done about that second statement. 

May 28 - Tired

I'm tired of living in a world full of so much fear and blame.

May 27 - Nothing

I have nothing interesting to say today. It was a day. I went to work, I came home, vacuumed my bathroom, I'm pretty sure my vacuum has choked to death on the volume of cat hair I have asked it to consume over the past year and a half, I made some really yummy fishless fish tacos for dinner with my new favorite Gardein product and an Isa cole slaw recipe, and I worked out. Because as good as my intentions were, I did not lose ten pounds in May. Nowhere close. I didn't gain ten pounds either, so that's good, but I lost nothing in May. So it's time to get back on the wagon. And in my post workout stupor, I have nothing interesting to say today. 

Sorry about that. 

May 26 - Change of Plans

Happy Memorial Day!

My plan was to do all the things today. Bring my life back to normal, after too long not eating right, postponing simple chores. I was going to clean and make things and prep food for the week. 

I managed to make it to the grocery store and got food to make some interesting and healthy salads. I've made two of three recipes already and will make the last one soon. But my body has also been telling me to take it easy today. I've spent too much time running around, I've not been sleeping well. So part of my day off has been spent reading a book and napping with my cat. Because as much as my floors need to be vacuumed and my refrigerator stocked, I needed to get my body back to it's normal balance, too. I am going to have a lot going on in the next couple of months and I won't be able to do it if I don't have energy. Sometimes plans need to change, and that's okay. 

May 25 - Endings

I just realized that I have not one, but two projects coming to an end today. The play I am currently in is closing and we have the premiere party for the second half of Hamlet: The Series. 

I'm sitting backstage just now, listening to my cast mates say these words for the last time and it is a lot sadder than I thought it was going to be. Granted, it is very likely that these people will do this show again, but not with this exact cast, not in these roles, not in this space as this group. So while it may not be the last time we say these words, it is the last time we say them in this setting. We will all go on to other projects and many of us will stop hanging out, as happens when shows end. Back to our regular routines. Back to making new friends in new shows. 

And Hamlet...that one has been on my plate and part of my life for about three years. I get to see the final installment tonight and then it's all done. Maybe some time spent harassing people to watch it, but no more audio commentary recording sessions or rehearsals or shoot days or anything. My days of being Hamlet will officially be over. That's kind of a big hole. 

So if I'm a little quiet for a couple of days, it is because I am mourning not one, but two projects, and I am doing it without my usual coping mechanisms. I'll be fine. But I will miss these people and these projects. 

Thanks, guys! It's been fun!

May 24 - Almost

Whenever I finish a show, or am close to finishing a show, there is a mourning period involved. I have to get used to not seeing the same people four times a week who I have spent so much time with for the past few months. I have to re-develop a "normal person" routine that doesn't involve hours of rehearsal, strange make-up, and hair styles that involve product and bobby pins. There is always a let-down period after every show and it can be very sad. 

For the last three-ish years, I have dealt wth the mourning period by jumping right into the next project, so it has been coping through denial. After this show, I'm just going to have to mourn because I don't have the next project officially lined up yet. So I have to find another way to mourn this show. I think I'm going to do it by focusing on the things I will not miss. 

I will not miss putting my hair in jelly rolls.

I will not miss covering my tattoo. 

I will not miss scrubbing eyeliner off of the back of my legs. 

I will not miss being the angry character in the show. 

I will not miss using make-up to try to make myself look older. 

I will miss the people, though, and the language of Shakespeare. I'll just have to get into another Shakespeare show soon. 

May 23 - Almost

You know that feeling when you're just on the verge of something amazing and you don't want to jinx it by talking about it but you need to acknowledge that things are different and they are likely (hopefully) going to become more different?

Yeah. That. 

May 22 - To My Future Husband

I have several guy friends who have written blog posts to their future wives, talking about what they hope and dream and making promises for what their lives together will be when they finally meet and fall in love. I even have one guy friend who set up a website taking applications from women who would like to be his wife someday. And I came to a realization today about what I am currently finding ridiculously attractive in men, so I thought I would write a little note to my future husband. If I ever meet him. Or something. This may be terrible; please bear with me. 

To my Future Husband:

Thank you. It amazes me every day that you have managed to hang in there through my highs and lows and ups and downs. I know there are those who would rather avoid extreme emotions in favor of a steady calm, but we're not middle of the road people. We fight. We love. We share. We celebrate. We rage. And I think another man would have turned around and run away by now, so thank you for not doing that. 

In return, I promise to always be honest with you. I promise to face my fear of vulnerability and weakness so we can grow closer. I promise to never judge your weaknesses, but to hold your hand as we deal with the low moments together. I promise to encourage your silliness and celebrate your joys. I promise I will never tire of your adorableness if you promise to never hide it from me. I promise to maintain a healthy physical relationship that includes the appropriate amount of space, both physical and emotional. I promise to let you geek out in my general direction about whatever you want to geek out about, and I promise to at the very least try to enjoy those things with you that you would like to share with me. I promise to not get squidgey when you need time with your guy friends, or with other people who are not me. 

My dear, future husband. I hope you know I find you most attractive when you are doing what you love, so I hope you don't feel the need to hide those things from me. I love when you play with our kids, and I love you for throwing all dignity aside to make them smile. And I love that through all of this, you still surprise me and challenge me and excite me. Thank you for letting me be part of your life, and for taking the time to be part of mine. 

To many, many happy years together!

Your Future Wife

May 21 - Addiction

Hi. My name is Kitty and I'm an addict. 

It has been about two hours since I last did theatre and I'm already jonesing for more. I can't get enough of making people laugh and cry and feel things and think about stuff. It is a high like no other. 

Fortunately, my addiction is detrimental to no one but myself, and even then, less detrimental than beneficial. So I'll not be seeking help at this time. Just more auditions. 

May 19 - Sexism

So as I was setting up this trade show booth last week, I was reminded of the rampant sexism that occurs in such situations. It's not surprising - I mean, I get it. There aren't a lot of women who do things like trade show set up and heavy lifting and industrial electrical work. So these guys, like many construction-type workers, are used to spending their days talking to other guys and may or may not know how to behave properly when a woman shows up. Not that they're rude, but they do pull out the "sweethearts" and "honeys" and they make comments about the woman's appearance. My guess is that they think they are being proper and polite, when really these comments are micro-aggressions of a sexual nature. "Let us lift that for you, sweetheart. No need to break your fingernails." That kind of thing. 

But what I noticed working in the booth during trade show hours today was that these micro-aggressions are not limited to the men who set up the booths, and they are sometimes not even limited to the men. Other women were calling me sweetheart and darling and commenting about the pretty girl in the booth (meaning me). And while I know none of these comments were made with malicious intent, they all still served to make me uncomfortable. 

I don't know if I'm receiving more of these comments than I used to, or if I am just more aware of them than I used to be. Either way, the end result is approximately the same. And because of that end result, I would just like to remind people that the proper way to treat a woman is as if she was an actual person. Because she is one. If she goes to lift a heavy box without thinking about it, let her lift it. She likely can. If you are talking to her about something specific, there is no need to remind her to smile more when the conversation is over. And for the love of all things holy, please remember that she is more than set decoration - she has a brain and most likely enjoys using it. 

I don't think sexism will ever go away completely. But maybe we can curb it a bit by remembering that we're all just people. Maybe. 

May 18 - MV

I knew an amazing woman many years ago, with a brilliant laugh and an infectious smile. She always signed off, "love and laughter," and those who knew her picked it up, too, her life motto. She was love and laughter in a brilliant human package.

I say "knew" and "was" because she passed away about a year and a half ago. I find myself missing her on the oddest of occasions even though I didn't get to see her very often. Today, I find myself missing her laugh and her hugs in large part because it is her birthday. And though I am not a religious person, I can't help but think today is beautiful and sunny and warm in her honor. 

Happy birthday, Miss Vicky. I love you to bits and miss you terribly. Love and laughter always. 

May 17 - Over

I knew I would see you and I was afraid of what seeing you would do to me. My heart still skips when we talk, like it did a million years ago when my love for you was young. But I saw you, and felt nothing. 

I don't know how to feel that. It's probably good that my heart did not skip, that I did not feel the old compulsion to touch you. But it also makes me a bit sad, knowing that I will always love you, to know that the love has gotten older and is more comfortable. The kind of love that simply allows me to be happy for your success, not the kind of love that requires I see you every day. I kind of miss that passion. 

It's probably healthier that I felt nothing. Given where we will never go. Perhaps I can actually find someone now who I will not compare to you, with whom I can have a healthier relationship. 

It was good to see you. And I'm glad you are doing well. And I'm happy in my settled-down love. 

May 16 - Yay

Mmm...I love the rampant sexism amongst people setting up for trade shows.  

*sigh*

May 15 - Stuff

The one major down side of doing theatre is that you miss out on a lot. I'm not just talking about standard "fear of missing out" type things; I'm talking about actually missing out. I have missed family weddings, friend's birthday parties, reunions, all sorts of events that I would have liked to attend, all because I have had theatre to do. Most of the time, the people involved understand and I don't think there are hard feelings. Or if there are, they haven't told me. But I do feel bad about it from time to time. Am I missing out on LIFE because I'm pursuing my career?

I apologize if this offends anyone reading, but I am going to say that nine times out of ten, no, I'm not missing out. This is my life and I love it. I've already written a half-dozen posts on why I love theatre so dearly, so I won't get too gushy today. But this is my life. This is what makes me feel alive. This is when I get to be most alive and most happy. 

I do sincerely apologize to those who's events I have had to miss in the name of theatre. If I have hurt you with my absence, I am truly sorry. But I do not regret the time I have spent following my dreams. I can't. And I would love to say that someday, it will all slow down and I'll have more free time, but in all truth, I hope that days is many years off. And if you ever start to miss me too much, come see a show and we'll get a drink afterwards. 

May 14 - Revolution

There is no such thing as a comfortable pair of high heeled shoes.

I don't care what you say, I don't care how many years you have been wearing high heels to train your feet and your body to do things they're not supposed to do, I don't care how much you pay for your shoes; there is no such thing as a comfortable pair of high heeled shoes.

I keep finding random cute heels that I think will be fine, and that often times are fine. For a little while. But after actually wearing them for any period of time - to a wedding, to work, to an audition - my feet end up screaming at me, begging for soft, cushy socks and sneakers. The heels I wore yesterday were not particularly high, and have the extra cushioning in the ball of the foot for comfort, but they ended up rubbing off about four layers of skin at about the sesamoid bone (where bunions form, if one has bunions - do I have a bunion?) that is still screaming bloody murder at me. And I only wore the heels at work, and I didn't walk around very much at work yesterday, so that is, what, nine or ten hours of mostly sitting while wearing heels and I'm limping today because of it? And these are supposed to be comfort-designed high heels. Really?

High heels, though they are considered a symbol of female oppression by some, are cute and fun to wear from time to time. I like being taller than normal on occasion. But I honestly think they are little more than a torture device designed to make women look a certain way and to lessen a woman's power. It is harder to walk in high heels, it is virtually impossible to run in high heels, and in order to ever get used to wearing them, one has to wear them all the time to the point her feet are calloused and mangled and hard and numb to most kinds of pain. Wearing high heels too often can lead to back problems and knee problems and foot problems. And yet we wear them so we can be a smidge taller from time to time and have kick-ass calves. Which begs two questions:

1) Why?
2) In all the time we've been doing this to ourselves, why has no body taken comfort and wear-ability into account when designing the super cute high heels?

I get it - a lot of high heels are designed by men who don't actually wear them. So they don't know that while all of those little strappy things are cute, making them out of plastic means a woman is going to have all of these hard-edged plastic bits digging into her foot all day. And he doesn't realize that while cute and dainty, putting all of a woman's weight on the ball of her foot and supporting the ball of her foot with what amounts to a quarter-inch of plywood is not really comfortable. And he doesn't realize that the cute open-toed shoes that you really can't or shouldn't wear pantyhose with, but that are lined with leather (or a leather-like material that doesn't really breathe) induce foot sweat, which induces stickiness, which induces chafing, which produces blisters. And he doesn't get that while the heel of a shoe needs to narrow a bit so it will stay on a woman's foot, the joints in a woman's ankle need to move in that general area, too, so making that part of the shoe really stiff will lead to chafing and blisters, as well. And he doesn't get that pointy shoes are just ridiculous because nobody's foot is shaped like that.

So here is what I would like to do. A lot of people, once they become rich and famous and have all sorts of disposable income, start a business of some sort. Some sell perfumes, others clothing, other food stuffs. I would like to put money into shoe research and development. Make shoes out of flexible, breathable materials that don't make you look like a hippie. Change the design of high heeled shoes to encourage a more even weight distribution so that the wearer is not walking en pointe all day. Offer support and cushioning where it is needed. Place straps where they don't cut up the foot. And with any luck, even make them affordable. Because everyone loves a cute pair of shoes, but nobody loves the blisters and Band-Aids that follow.

It is time for a shoe revolution! Who's with me?

May 13 - Four and Five

I make a very interesting Hamlet. 

May 12 - Hot

It is hot and muggy and humid and I love it. My skin loves being outside and feeling the air. The wind on my skin is just about the most glorious feeling in the world right now. Especially on the walk home from an amazing rehearsal with brilliant people. I love it. 

Thank you, Mother Nature.