Strange and Wonderful

Despite a restless night (mild food poisoning + a brain that wouldn't go quiet), my students and I tackled the strike for the musical today.  Between the two drama classes we cleaned out the backstage areas, sorted all of the leftover props and costumes, put away the ones that belong to this theater and folded up the ones that students need to pick up this week.  Miraculously, we even got all of the new platforms to fit in the back storage area.

Check out my theater now:

Wing Stage Left

Behind the Cyc

Wing Stage Right (which is also the shop, such as it is)

Dressing Rooms

What really amazes me is how we did it with time to spare. It's taken three years, but I've finally shoveled out all of the crap the old teacher left behind and organized everything to the point of working order. I love how much easier strike is when everything has a designated place.

It was with even greater amazement that I found this after work:

Look! I'm walking out to my car and it's still daytime!

It's been months since that has been the case, and over six weeks since I've spent more than two consecutive nights in my own bed. I'm looking forward to that tonight.

I'm also looking forward to other treats this non-after-school-activity-laden week:
- Getting my hair cut tomorrow
- Wrapping up state testing
- No school on Friday (the kick-off to Spring Break)
- Hopefully spending some time with Rachel and co.
- Reading! Reading! Reading! (Oh, I've missed you! It's been two weeks since I've read a book! Do you know how long that is in Amanda-years?)
- and, just because I can, I bought myself a symphony ticket for this Friday night.

The Colorado Symphony is doing a special event where they... well, here, I'll let them tell you:

Beethoven’s masterpiece is deconstructed in front of your eyes with stunning visuals, musical sound bytes and clever anecdotes, including revealing information about the composer’s relationship with Napoleon, to whom the symphony was originally dedicated. Heroism and an idealized vision of redemption through love permeate the great master’s work. Then hear the entire “Eroica” with a renewed understanding and appreciation for the art that was and will always be Beethoven.

Sounds like fun, doesn't it? I've curious to see how they educate a large audience about this work, and I'm looking forward to hearing it. I've lived in Denver for almost 4 years (this time around), and I haven't been to the symphony yet. Shame on me!

Happily, I now have time to remedy that.