So we had auditions

And the kids were great. They amazed me and thrilled me. There weren't as many kids as we had hoped, but the ones we had were great. I can hardly wait to see what they will do in the roles we put them in. We have just a few wrinkles to iron out.

I just talked with Dad and we might - on the probably end of might - get more rehearsals. Currently we have 26. I wouldn't mind a few more to make sure we can pull this off.

High school kids seem to be really busy, what with extra-curriculars, jobs, extra music lessons, and home work. Poor kids. If only they knew it not only gets more busy, you get more responsibilities too. Maybe some things (like drama) would be more important that other things (like track or basketball). What I really mean is that they struggle with so many issues, balancing their time is just one of them, and the issues they struggle most with (who they are impressing) is really not nearly as important as forming solid friendships.

It pays to be honest and sincere. I really like seeing that in an audition. It lets me into your thoughts and emotions, which gives me the freedom to see what I have to work with. It is kind of hard to ask a highschooler to do that though - to let down enough walls to become vulnerable.

Auditions are cruel and heartless. I ask them to show me who they are, what they can do - to open themselves up and share their dreams and desires, but then I post the cast list and crush their hopes. Then I get to deal with lots of little pieces, always wondering what they aren't telling me. Are they really mad? Or are they ok with it? Or have they been crushed beyond hope? Ah, drama, interacting with people and their emotions, thoughts, and personalities to get a beautiful peice of art, I am thrilled to be a part of it. But I must remember, be gentle, they are still highschoolers, and don't even know who they are yet...

Pretty Thanksgiving Pictures

On Thanksgiving Day my family took a walk on my grandparents' property. I have always loved the scenery and whenever Grandpa would take us up on the hill, he would tell us how we could trace our lineage back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, three brothers who settled the area.

This Thanksgiving was beautiful. We went out just as the sun was setting and the tops of the trees caught the sunlight.

But the sun hadn't set on top of the hill yet, and we saw both ends of a rainbow.

The lighting was perfect for some really fun photographs.


I think milkweed is really pretty. I wonder if I was a monarch butterfly in a previous life.

An old apple tree: there used to be a whole orchard but only a few are still standing. The apples are still delicious.

Friday

I started to post on Monday, but the pictures that I tried to post took forever and then they didn't look right. So I gave up. I was going to show you some pictures of the pumpkin patch, but one of my students parents don't want their child's pictures posted in public forums. I had some pictures with out her in it, but they were the ones that were giving me trouble.

Now it is Friday and I am very glad. However, this weekend came too fast. I wouldn't mind a few Friday nights in a row, but that sounds really lazy. There are just many things I want and need to do, but I haven't been doing them and having really good conversations with different people instead. So now it is Friday and I will leave in about 15 mins. and I haven't decorated my classroom or finished our Christmas tree made out of paper cut-out hands.

I gave a speech on the benefits of participating in drama. I don't think I had any converts, but I do think I encouraged people who already agreed with me. I guess that is a small benefit.

Thats all folks.