The Party is over!

Bittersweet feelings...glad to have my time back to myself...sad to not have my Brother XII peeps around me most days. What a wonderful experience it all was though...I must say. All 8 of us involved put a truck load of work, effort, drive, talent, strength, stamina and of course plenty of fun into the whole production...it was well worth it. Two nights in a row, we actually had to add more seats to the house to allow the mass fans to enjoy the show. ;o) It truly was a hit. With a stellar cast; Kathy McIntyre, Nicole Busby, David Botten, Chris Jans and Joelle Baird...our awesome writer/director; Bill Miner (who also played Linus the psychiatrist), plus the amazing talented efforts of our musical director; Antonio Gradanti who did all of the music (like every instrument from accordian to guitar)...we had a hit show! Review that was in the Nanaimo News Bulletin...

The Cult of Brother XII

Child of a Hoodlum Productions

Based on Nanaimo’s favourite cult legend, the musical recounts the last days of Brother XII’s reign, using a fictional trio of reporters to help uncover the truth by going undercover.

The Brother XII legend is nothing short of a storyteller’s dream, complete with religious fanaticism, fraud, infidelity and a mysterious woman with a whip.

The original songs and dances were ably performed by the cast of local actors, who took their legendary characters over the top to make a memorable show.

Major highlight: Bill Miner as Brother XII’s psychiatrist. It’s slightly gratuitous but most definitely hilarious.

– Melissa Fryer

We hope now to have at least one more performance...here on Gabe. Entertain our community! ;o) I am excited to once more don the News Hound Mask...first, relaxation. ;op 

To check out the "pre-show" interview/sneak peak...go to You Tube.

As I have been too busy to even think these past few weeks...I have been negligent on my 12:12 picture posts. For the month of August, thus far, I have put together a collage of my days. Unfortunately for August 1st, I did not have my camera on hand while we were on the beach chilling. The pics are Aug 2-27th...beach walks, painted glasses, forest walks, driving, playing, plant watering, rehearsing...it's all there. My computer deco-page! ;o)

The sun is out...and so am I! Peace out party people in da house!

YES!!!

The Premiere of "The Cult of Brother XII" was a sensation! There were only a FEW empty seats...it was PACKED. It was amazing. Ohhhhhhh, what a feeling...what a RUSH! It was fun watching my friends be so fabulous on stage...super talented I tell ya! And then to actually get to join them twice on stage...ohhh yeah! What a fun evening. Sushi and beer after even...how fun to be in the big city. ;o) Hard work ALWAYS comes with rewards...we just have to remember that and life is easy peasy! Well, life will never be "easy peasy", but when you take time to enjoy each moment...it sure makes life pretty darn sweet! peace. :o)

This is my only photo from said "opening night"...this is at ACME restaurant, post performance. Where we all enjoyed ice cold bevvies and delicious foods...mmmm sushi!!! The look on Joelle's face is exactly how we all felt...PURE EXCITEMENT! Cheers to The Musical "The Cult of Brother XII" and to the 5 remaining performances. Yeee ha!

I am NOT a schlepp...

I have just been way, over the top, extremely busy these past few weeks. Yup, that is right. "The Cult of Brother XII" musical has been eating much of my time. It is like having a part time job...which is a heck of a lot for me. When you suffer with chronic pain, it is difficult to get up to much...something I have definitely learned this summer. Which, on one hand is a VERY important lesson...good for me to know my limits and stick within it. And, on the other hand (not that I have the other hand to look at...ha ha haha!) it has taught me that I really can not do these things anymore. That is the sad and honest truth...that makes me cry. For real. Living with disability sucks big time. It is not as most people figure..."Oh you're lucky you don't have to work". I can not even count on all of my fingers and toes how many times I have heard that phrase. And it's a crock of 'you know what'. When you can't work, can't hold down a job because you are physically unable to, it makes you feel useless. (well, it makes me feel useless) Like, I am not a part of society because I can not contribute like everyone else. It is no picnic to feel that way. Plus the fact that all that I do even at home to take care of myself and my animals and my husband takes so much strength that I have none for anything else. I AM very lucky to have a husband that takes REALLY good care of me. Thank goodness he is a good cook and likes to help with the cleaning. Without Clint...my life would be way too difficult...I'd be a shut in...spending all time in the tub and hardly eat. Yikes!

Anyways...right now I am feeling like I am on a teeter totter with my feelings. I am super stoked for tonight...opening of the Musical at the Dodd Narrows room in the Nanaimo Conference Centre. How exciting!! I have not done theatre since High School...that was a VERY long time ago! hee hee. My other feelings are almost total despair...low to the lowest. My realization this summer...I can not be part of something fabulous like this ever again. I do not have the physical wellness to do so. The other day I actually was frightened that my arm was going to stop working...that is very scary. Very scary indeed. So, for now, I am going to enjoy every bleeding second of our 6 performances and soak up all of the fun and store it in my memory banks of joy. I am blessed to be working alongside some top notch actors, an amazing talented artistic director and a fab director who has been fun to watch direct. It's a long process getting from first read throughs of script to the performance...I have loved every minute of it. And I am grateful to have been a part of it all. (I can not get depressed about this...it is just the path that my life is on and it just requires another bout of acceptance on my part. ugh.)

As for my 12:12 project....I am still taking pics daily. I just haven't had the finger/wrist strength to get to typing much. Hence the massive pause in my blog posts. I got to just start doing vid blogs or something. I am a video taker anyways. My last vid I spoke about what I just wrote about...you can see me whine here.
I'll add a few pics now...I stopped at July 19th!!! Boy, I am waaaaay behind! ;op

Friday July 20 12:12 pm. Watching Clint work on one of his sandwich boards for HTF Creations.

Saturday July 21 12:12 pm Brother XII rehearsal...creepy tango scene! (you gotta see it!)

Sunday July 21 12:12 pm Me, looking exhausted waiting for Clint to drive me to...you guessed it...rehearsal! ;o)

Monday July 23 12:12 pm Coffee at Artworks...saw this amazing pitcher. Made by fabulous potter Vincent Fe of Mudge Island.

Tuesday July 24 12:12 pm Our friend Rick stopped over for 23 hours whilst on a bike journey on the islands and into the interior. I think he is still riding somewhere today! ;o)

Wednesday July 25 12:12 pm Helping out Antony this day. Tea time...was loving his yellow roses.

Thursday July 26 12:12 pm Getting our walk on...me and Larry.

Friday July 27 12:12 Brother XII's cello. (rehearsal!)

Saturday July 28 12:12 pm Rehearsal again...thank goodness I have sweet JoJo with me! ;o)

Sunday July 29 12:12 pm beach walkies! my favourite part of each day. ;o)

Monday July 30 12:12 pm Who is this cutie? Larry wants to get to the beach! Ball time!

Tuesday July 31 12:12 pm Pretty Calla Lily at Antony's place. Flowers are so amazing to me!

I got to stop there. My hand has gone numb and very cold. Wah! Opening night for Brother XII tonight...yippeeeeeee!!! I need a vacation. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Peace!