Thursday, February 4, 2010

Coming Attractions and Collard-Eatin' Chickens


I got permission tonight at rehearsal to write The Story and so I shall.

But not tonight.

I am deadly tired and I don't know why because I slept forever last night and then took a nap today too. After my walk my legs hurt and I was just...tired...and so I slept. But now I'm tired again. Damn that sleep. It doesn't last the way it used to when I was young.

Mr. Moon's in town at a basketball game and so I am here alone and I've eaten my leftovers and I think I'll go to bed. Project Runway will have to make it work without me. Besides, I still have to wash the dishes and finish up some laundry and make tomorrow's smoothie and just the thought of doing all of that makes me want to tear up.

That and the fact that I sucked at rehearsal tonight. I don't know where my mind was. I know my lines. I do. I can do all of them by memory when I am by myself but get me on the stage and my mind goes blank and I can feel the sympathetic eyes of everyone beaming in on me. "Poor thing. She is losing her mind." That's what I think they are thinking. They are metaphorically shaking their heads and grieving for my mind.

Plus, of all the characters I have played, this one seems the least willing to give herself up to me. Or am I not willing to give myself up to her? I can't fucking tell. I just know I feel like the weakest link, the least interesting person in the play and yes, I know, there are no boring parts, there are only boring actors.

Oh well. I planted a row of spinach today. It's not the right time of year. But hell's bells. I'm giving it a shot. And I realized, while I was out in the garden why my damn collards have not performed well this year.

Chickens.

They love collards. I knew this. I don't know why I haven't been paying more attention. They do not like arugula or mustard greens but the collards are manna to their tongues. Do chickens have tongues? I suppose they do. Anyway, as I pulled weeds and howed up a row and planted it, Miss Betty, Miss Bob, Miss Mable and Miss Sukie were busy nibbling at the collards. "Get off my collards!" I yelled to them.
They completely ignored me.

Chickens.

Either Mr. Moon is going to have to put up a fence around the garden or the chickens are no longer going to get yard privileges and that is THAT.

And so on to the final chores of the day and then to bed.
And perhaps, hopefully, tomorrow I will write The Story which I first talked about a week ago.

It's a sweet one.

Night-night, y'all.

16 comments:

  1. I also used to make that salad for green eggs and ham, our own special celebration since my son said the first time I read the book to him "boy, that sounds like Christmas food", and from there on, it was.

    We used to invite friends over and all the food was green and red, the eggs were mixed with spinach to make a frittata, the ham was covered with a wine and sour cherries sauce, the salad was hidden under a cover of strawberries, you get the idea. We used some German food coloring to turn the orange juice green and the milk red, it was really a lot of fun. Then children have this bad habit of growing up and some traditions go the way of the high button shoe.

    Don't worry about forgetting lines, I live forgetting mine and all I get are quizzical looks, although by now it is like a game of Charades: is it this? is it that? poor B.Loved has to play twenty questions to get it out of me these days. Helpless, funny but helpless.

    Go to you bed if you are not already there. I am about to do the same. By the way, today I made your biscuits again, they are made of air in case I haven't told you.
    I told B.Loved that if I didn't think the Southern cook - Aunt Helen, not my aunt but that is what everyone called her - won't come from beyond the grave to give me grief I would say that yours are better than hers. But...discretion being the better part of valor I will just say yours are just as good, and leave it at that. (But they are the best and I am sure she is not in position to read your blog) Love from here, my sweet Mary.

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  2. Damn collard lovin chickens.
    I'm so glad you got a row of spinach in. Hope they take. Seems like the weather would be right. It's not hot yet.
    Sorry about your lines. You'll get it. That's why it's called rehersal, right?
    Sorry I can't spell.
    Oh hey, did anyone ever point out that you spelled popsickle the way you spelled icesickle, because for some reason that just popped into my head and made me love you even more.
    Night night wonderful woman.

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  3. I bet you get it when you need to, the part and the lines. By the dress rehearsal. I bet it comes to you, all in a rush and you become the character.

    I wish I could be in a play, bungled lines and all. Not yet, not there yet. Someday.

    Lucky chickens.

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  4. I admit that I giggled aloud when I read that people were looking at you sympathetically, thinking you had lost your mind. It was that southern "bless her heart" thing, right? You'll get it back and I just about couldn't imagine you in the slightest bit being boring. Your voice is always, always so loud and clear and full of humor and love and interest. I think you have an amazing gift of turning the mundane into something so damn interesting and that's just about all the time!

    And I'm sorry that you're tired lately. I wish that you could visit Dr. Jin, my Chinese doctor. She'd give you some sort of tonic. Take care, Ms. Moon. Get some rest and be sweet to yourself.

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  5. The Story! The Story! The Story! I'm intrigued; you have me hooked. Cheers, Nigel

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  6. This is the Director of the Play talking. And she is absolutely amazed at the perception of this vastly gifted actor. No one looks at her with sympathy, but rather with love and amusement at how she has developed Victoria, a romance novelist, with more idea block then writers block, a woman who does not know how to find the passion in her own life, a woman who hides her attractions and desires under layers of extremely dramtic lines, "He kissed her ruby lips and sent tremors down her sylth thighs and up her heaving bosoms." And yet, our honest, direct writer, Ms Moon, whom we all love and adore has turned that complicated, afraid women into a fragile loved charachter that at the end of the play she has learned more about her herself (that she can have passion in her body and pour it out through her soul into books that really do bring lovers together and feeds the need for romance and desire of woman "of a certain age".) And I think she also finds the connection she needs wtih another human, with the friendship of a woman, and finds her muse and words again, which honestly is her first love. Now, if you are not doing a wonderful job, how would I know all of that? And lines? They are just words, and you have them down, it is simply putting them together with all the distractions around you. And Colin, I mean Bud the Stud, is one of the most lovable distractions in the world, which is why we love playing with him. But he is a distraction with a giant face. I love you dearly Ms Moon, and you are doing a wonderful job. I am getting exactly what I hoped for from my Victoria!!!

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  7. What a lovely reaction from the Illustrious Director of the Play! And only what we would expect. The magic will happen, it always does.
    I think you do need a chicken fence, if only because I love your collard greens more than anything else in the world. They are manna on my tongue, and I definitely have one, even if chickens do not. Chickens! Greedy little things!

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  8. Oh, My, what a tribute from your Director! So glad She made that "deus ex machina" move and gave us a glimpse into Ms Moon at Rehearsal.

    Wish Us of the Ms Moon Commenters Club could get on a Magic Bus and come to the opening night to cheer you on. I'd bring a bouquet of bright red tulips to the Romance Writer with a Heart.

    I was thinkin maybe carrying/wearing an accoutrement (hat, scarf, gloves, book, parasol...?) that speaks to you of your character might help make those words flow. Either way, you'll get it.

    Bisous,
    N2

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  9. Could it be that your lack of confidence is the character's lack of confidence (from what the director describes). Maybe you're a method actor ;)

    And you do need a fence! Damn chickens don't get to ruin the garden OR ruin the fun of letting them out.

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  10. Hope you are well rested this morning.
    And letting the accolades from your director sink deep into your beautiful heart and head, Ms. Moon.

    be firm with the chickens, and kind to yourself.

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  11. I think Ms. Kathleen done said it all... well, except that yea, you do need a fence, those chickens are not good at sharing!

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  12. Woohoo! Go Director Go!

    Ms. Moon, we're waiting for The Story. Not very patiently (adverbs be damned).

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  13. Really, I can think of few things more wonderful than a trip to Northern Florida to see you bring Victoria to life.

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  14. Allegra- Well I got that recipe from Mr. Moon's aunt who is a woman who died in church on Easter Sunday, was resurrected and is still alive and baking biscuits. Aren't they the best?

    Bethany- I am thinking about you today.

    Glimmer- You should DO it! It's the most fun ever!

    Nigel- It's up!

    Anonymous Kathleen- I love you so much it's almost shameful.

    DTG- Damn. I have a lot to live up to now, don't I?

    May- Yep. We need a FENCE. That gals gotta get out and scratch for bugs sometimes without eating my collards. WE need the collards.

    N2- Well honey, I'm hoping it all comes together. I'm going over costumes in my mind constantly. I just wish Victoria would step up and tell me what she wants!

    Stephanie- I have thought of that.

    Deb- You're so sweet.

    Ms. Fleur- Chicken fence, chicken fence, CHICKEN FENCE!

    Kathleen Scott- You have it now.

    Nancy- Well. I can. But thanks for saying that! And actually, coming to North Florida to see Colin and Jack act like menopausal women WOULD be worth the trip.

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  15. I think you should do a post on how to prepare collards. A recipe or two...easy stuff, cause I'm not a good cook

    I'm jealous that you can actually plant something in FEBRUARY!! Though I should start some indoor planters so I can transplant the beginning of May have something before August....it's not REALLY that bad, but I should start something indoors...

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