Shoo, Flu, Shoo!

Yes, it's been over a month since I've made an entry. Real life has been bl*gblocking me.

So ... where to begin ...

The good news: I am guaranteed to keep a roof over my head until at least Thanksgiving weekend, the week before The Poptimists opens.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful story if the guy who wrote and directed this show was living in his car on opening night?

No. I don't think so, either.

Two weeks into rehearsals and half my cast is out with the flu. (Various kinds, one of which isH1N1.) So I gave them all four days off to stay home and get better. I'm feeling fine, so that means I'll get deathly ill during Hell Week (the week of opening).

It always happens that way to me. Something really bad happens (usually health-related) a few days before something really good happens. The result: I can't enjoy the good thing.

We resume rehearsals tomorrow night. First off, measuring for costumes.

I went fabric shopping with my seamstresses today. (And I can guarantee, I've never typed or uttered that sentence before in my life.) I actually found the fabric we ended up buying at the second store we went to. And we got 20% off! And why am I so excited about that?

And yes, I got a lot of looks in line while waiting to get the fabric measured and cut. It looked like I was with my two grandmothers. (Extremely sweet, generous and talented ladies, they are.)

Also, I found preppy sweaters for my male cast members who will be wearing white pants and deck shoes. So I think we're just about set on the costumes.

Now, just sets, lighting, sound and construction. Oh, yes ... and staging the rest of the entire show, too!

My swine flu cast member is not allowed to return until Tuesday. And I never got the tenth cast member I needed, so I'm writing his part out as we block the show.

I've been blessed with a friend who is sharing vocal director duties with me for a few rehearsals. She's been a tremendous help and really gets the cast singing wonderfully. (Another wonderful, generous friend who's helping me get this show mounted.)

There are other things going on that I can't talk about here that are driving me crazy! (Cast and staff, it's none of you). And on top of it all, unemployment is now gone, I have no money coming in, and am just about completely, utterly, flat broke.

And I'm producing a show.

For a comic writer, sometimes I have lousy timing.

At least my cast is still laughing at all the right places during rehearsals. And they catch on to everything very quickly.

We open in a little under four weeks.

It's going to be a very interesting month ...