Let’s imagine we’re in a nice, cozy coffee shop, with a couple of beverages (confession: I don’t drink coffee, so I’d actually be drinking a hot chocolate or decaf iced mocha) and we’re hanging out together after a whole bunch of “We totally need to hang out more” conversations. We’ve finally figured out our schedules and have sat down and are actually doing this thing.

Hi there! How’s it going? It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Yeah, way too long. I’m glad we’re here though, getting caught up.

Things have been busy around here. I know that won’t come as a shock to anyone. I think most of my conversations and blog posts start this way. We’re just into June and already I have directed a show that has opened and closed (Peter and the Starcatcher), started rehearsals for a second show (Disney’s High School Musical 2 Jr., opening in July), assisted on a stage combat gig in Hamilton (Les Miserables: School Edition), and am in the process of choreographing violence for another show (Peter Panhandler). I’ve got three more combat gigs in the works right now, which is pretty cool, as well as plans for at least two pretty major projects in late 2017 and early 2018 (yes, already).

I travelled to New York City for the sixth time back in March and had a fabulous adventure, experiencing the gamut of weather conditions, from walking through Central Park in a t-shirt on the first day to thanking the heavens (and my mother) that I had my winter boots and coat because NYC was hit with a horrendous snowstorm.

I’ve watched a ton of theatre (including The Lion in Winter, Vigilante, The Little Mermaid, Come From Away, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, In Transit, Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour, The Play That Goes Wrong, Amélie, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens, as well as a multitude of shows at OKTC) and saw Green Day in concert. I also got to meet Josh Groban briefly while I was in NYC.

I’ve carved out a little bit of time for creativity and hobbies as well. My mom and I went to a paint night for the first time. We also made homemade, lactose-free potato soup. I made homemade bath bombs with my friend Lizz. I’ve started growing a bunch of veggies and other plants indoors, and have weeded my outdoor garden in preparation for transplanting once the weather is warmer. My onions are growing like crazy already but my carrots aren’t doing so hot. I’ve started composting. I’ve finished reading 11 books, most recently biographies of Malala Yousafzai and Eric Bischoff (two people who couldn’t be more different). I’ve also been doing a bunch of loom knitting, which I absolutely love. I knit and sold a bunch of pussyhats and raised over $215 for various women’s charities. That felt really good.

I’ve been writing a lot. Not here, obviously and unfortunately, but I have already written over 20 posts this year for the Theatrefolk blog, which has been my main focus, and I really enjoy writing for them. It’s challenging, and a lot of fun too. In terms of this space, I’ve been contemplating a new direction for my personal blog. My most successful year blogging-wise was in 2015, but I’ve been neglecting this space. I think I might want to take this blog in a new direction, but I’m not sure what that direction is. I am enjoying being here right now though. The words have just poured out and made me realize how much I’ve missed my personal blog. I also have been neglecting my playwriting. I have a play I want to share but it needs editing, and I’ve been wanting to write a second act for Inspector Noble for a very long time.

It’s interesting how priorities and goals change over time. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Time seems like it’s speeding up more and more each day. I’m trying to slow down and be mindful and “in the present,” but it’s challenging. I get tired more easily now. I need more sleep than before. I remember when I worked on the cruise ship, I used to get up at the crack of dawn, work all day, party at night, sleep for a couple of hours, and do it all again. Now just thinking of that lifestyle is exhausting. I don’t know how I did it. I have friends still living the cruise life, nearly 10 years later. I don’t know how they do it.

Anyway… I still have lots of things I want to do. I want to go camping this summer. I want to make more homemade soup and freeze it. I want to find more art for our house (the walls in the main floor are supremely bare and boring). I want to KonMari my possessions and create a calm, cozy, serene home. I want to find a nice squishy chair for my office. I want to write more. I want to record more podcasts. I want to be more particular about the projects I take on.

Thanks for listening.

What about you?

P.S.: Check out this post that I wrote for Heroine Training, all about London, Ontario. 🙂