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Isn't Alaska gorgeous?

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Fake wine... in an unbreakable glass. A stage manager's dream come true in the rehearsal hall.

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I forget which mountains these are but they're gorgeous, especially from 8 stories up.

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Rosaries for our nuns...

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Let me introduce you to Penguin Mary. Our Mary statue is about the height of the coat rack that Mary is on, and we were trying to find out which way Mary should face. She was put up as a joke but we kind of got attached to her. I'm going to miss Penguin Mary.

Happy List, Week 48

1. my iPhone. Yup it made the list again. I've been so thankful for the ability to send email from rehearsals. It's been priceless. It means I can get a lot of work done without the interruption of a phone call.

2. Cut/Copy/Paste on the iPhone. Without it, I would not have been able to email the chorus to schedule their fittings during the first music rehearsal of the second show on the double-bill.

3. SoBe drinks. No high fructose corn syrup and flavors that are unique. It's all about keeping hydrated and having variety from water or Diet Coke.

4. Getting to sleep before 2am. Nearly impossible up here so far.

5. A hot shower in the morning. My room is nice and warm, but a hot shower before going out into the fall chill of Anchorage is lovely.

6. My hostess. Because she's just fabulous.

7. The weather in Alaska that allows one to use one's car trunk as a refrigerator.

8. A morning off to do laundry and sleep in an extra hour. What a difference an hour makes.

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Yet another catch-up post. The project is still going without missing a day... the pictures are occasionally taken desperately after rehearsal before midnight, hence the lack of normal creativity that I'd usually use. Ah well - with shorter work days means more photo ops, right?

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My host is a big fan of fresh flowers... aren't they pretty?

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The view at dusk from the rehearsal hall - isn't it lovely?

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A barrel of fun - a Pagliacci rehearsal prop.

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More rehearsal props for Pagliacci - this time for the commedia portion of the show.

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I was staring at this rehearsal prop all rehearsal - just quietly leaning against a window pane. Too cute to not photograph.

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Mmmm... french fried goodness. And surprisingly photogenic.

Happy List, Week 47

1. Anchorage in Fall. Its really beautiful. I thought I'd miss fall but apparently not. And I'll be here for first snow.

2. The good people of AO - its so nice to be back.

3. CV, my hostess during my Alaskan adventure. She's fabulous and she has a lovely dog, Maya, who greets me with delight every time she sees me. Helps in not missing my pups as much.

4. The view from the rehearsal hall. We've got 360 view, 8 floors up. It's pretty great.

5. Diet Coke. Without it, I would not have survived.

6. McDonalds. Without it, I would not have survived.

7. 24 hour grocery store, without it, I would not have survived.

8. Partial days off (if I can't have any, I'll take a partial one.)

9. Photography. My 365 project continues... and it might be keeping me sane.

10. New work. I've never worked "Suor Angelica" before, it's rather pretty, albeit depressing. I can hear so many other Puccini pieces in it. Is that a sign I've worked too much Puccini?

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Time for yet another catch-up post. The internet is great here, but the time is limited (70 hour work-week and counting... oy.)

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That's my super-comfy bed at my host housing in Anchorage. Lovely home, lovely host, lovely bed.

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The view from our 8th floor rehearsal hall, also known as an empty floor in a new office building.

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If you look closely, that's Mt. McKinley aka Denali inbetween those buildings. If you're curious which one it is, click on the picture and see the note in Flickr. It was clear enough to see that from Anchorage, 237 miles away.

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My constant companions, my own iPhone and a company provided cell phone with local number.

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I'm thankful for iTunes and these earbuds that allowed me to time the two operas in peace and quiet.

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This is Maya, my lovely host's dog. She's such a sweetheart and greets me with great love every morning.

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Yup, that's a moose... in my front yard. She was actually in the driveway but meandered onto the lawn as I dove for my camera.

Happy List, Week 46

1. Good friends. DJB very nicely drove me to and from the airport for my venture to Phoenix.

2. The pups. What a greeting I received at nearly midnight when I finally arrived in St Louis after flying half the day away and then hitting the road for 4+ hours.

3. The Aristocrat. What a wonderful treasure in Indy with a delicious cranberry turkey burger.

4. Extended family. They may drive me crazy, but they're still family. And in the end, that's what counts.

5. My roommate. We didn't see each other much, but it was fun when we did. I can't believe I'm off again, and neither can she.

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This is what it did ALL day on day 146. I kept waiting, hoping things would change, but no. UGH. Fall is definitely here.

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My going-away-again meal, cooked by my parents. Purple garlic mashed potatoes (with a few tiny sweet potatoes from the garden), swiss chard (homegrown) with feta and currants, and pesto (also home-made)-covered salmon. YUM.

Off to Anchorage and another Alaska adventure, not sure of internet access. Hopefully will update soon!

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Another catch-up post. I hope to have better internet access at my next job... wish me luck. Regardless, the 365 project will continue...

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This is Zerbinetta's hat - and figures greatly into staging of the Prologue aka Act I of "Ariadne auf Naxos". In the background is my ASM score.

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Travel size toiletries. Surprisingly photogenic. Getting ready for my 36 hour trip to Phoenix.

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The sunset in Indy as I leave for Phoenix to surprise my grandfather for his 90th birthday.

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Happy Birthday, Grandpa! 90 years young!

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Klondike and Snow, the bear cubs who flew with me from Phoenix to Denver, Denver to Indianapolis.

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I lost my last boots, bought just under a year ago, to the Great Closet Disaster of 2009. These are similar but not the same.

Happy List, Week 45

1. Amazing cupcakes, sent to me as a surprise for my Gotcha Day at the top of a slightly evil tech week. Yay.

2. Binkley's for serving 'late'. When you eat really early in the day, you're starving by the time the show's over.

3. Day off. Blessed day off is always welcomed.

4. Breakfast for dinner. Because sometimes its just what you want.

5. Spending time with old friends. LCR and I were roommates and college buddies. I enjoy the fact that I get to see her as often as I do.

6. Opening and closing a show. It's a wonderful feeling, both versions.

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More catch-up.

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Look at these absolutely delicious cupcakes that my parents surprised me with at work in honor of my Gotcha Day. SOOOOO yummy and so unexpected.

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Clowes Hall, where we perform. The haziness comes from the pyro effect in the end of the show.

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Stage manager's rewards after a long tech week... let's open this show! (No, they're not all mine.)

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Yup, that's breakfast for dinner. Having dinner with my former college roommate and bestie, LCR. This is an old tradition from my senior year of occasionally just wanting BREAKFAST no matter what. So good to see here - it is one of the perks of coming to work here.