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Saturday, September 26, 2009

In loving memory



Mr. Grady Hines
08.05.1937 - 09.25.2009

I had known Grady as a theatre regular until I got to know him better while working as Assistant Stage Manager for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at BRLT, March of 2008. He played Big Daddy & did a fantastic job. I remember in one performance he cut his hand & it was bleeding & he didn't even notice! We were worried about his cut, and we had another actor go on with a damp towel, so Grady could use it to take care of the wound while still performing. But he wouldn't take the towel. The other actor [& i feel terrible i don't remember who it was!] kept trying to nonchalantly give Grady the towel (so that the audience wouldn't notice anything odd was happening!) & Grady just wouldn't take it. He just kept speaking his lines & pushing the towel away, so focused was he on his role! Some of us stood off stage, willing him to just "take the towel, grady!!" but he never did. We have laughed (& teased him!) about that moment ever since!

I fondly think of Grady as i write this. He was such a kind individual, always treating everyone with respect. He'd been doing theatre for YEARS & yet, never was disrespectful or arrogant or impatient with younger actors or crew. I can remember having conversations with him about acting & theatre, and i was always amazed that he talked to me as if I had been doing it as long as he had, even though i'd only been involved in theatre for just a few years!

I found out Thursday evening that Grady had taken a fall the night before. I assumed he'd be okay. Friday morning i found out he was in a coma after having a series of strokes that morning. I am not sure if this was related to the fall or just a coincidence. But by 4:42 that afternoon, Grady slipped away. His daughter had been updating his facebook (yes, Grady had a Facebook at 72 years old!). The current facebook status reads: "Update on our beloved Daddy: The final curtain on the 72 year run of the Grady Hines show has fallen. He peacefully slipped away at 4:42 pm. We will let you know when arrangements have been made. Thank you so much for your love & support. -Melanie & Wyatt"

Melanie & Wyatt are his children. Please pray for them & their families as they bury their daddy. He was a widower & i imagine he has had a lovely reunion with his wife. ;)

I have to tell you that i have been so thankful & feel so blessed to have been able to see Grady one last time just a week before his death. We both attended opening night of BRLT's Evita. Brad & I sat on the last row & as we left the theatre for intermission & at the end of the show, we saw Grady as he exited the theatre about the same time. I am so thankful I got to hug his neck & say "good-night" to him, having no idea that it would be the last time.

God bless you, Grady Hines. And thank you.


*photo by Kyle LeMaire

Monday, September 21, 2009

Evita!


This weekend was wonderful! Kind of a late anniversary date on Friday (our 10 month anniversary was on Monday!). Anyway, after work, i dropped hubby off at the bookstore & i went to Lane Bryant. Got me some clothes. :) Then picked hubby up & we went to eat dinner at La Madeleine's, next door. Yum! Then we saw EVITA at BRLT. It was SOOOO good! I was scared i would hate it because it's considered a "Rock Opera Musical" & i started to watch the movie (with Antonio Banderas & Madonna) & it was so awful i turned it off. I thought the music sounded terrible. But BRLT's version of the musical was REALLY good! Very well done! The ensemble sounded SO good & powerful! Samantha & Cliff & Albert, who were the leads, were perfect. Samantha had me crying in the end. She played Eva Peron. I love how they ended the show. very dramatic. But very sad. Anyway, it was really good! You should go here for tickets!!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Sausage Potato Soup

This is one of my favorite soup recipes. It is delish! I consider it a bit healthier than your traditional potato soup, i guess because it has a lot more veggies! :)

Sausage Potato Soup
(from Taste of Home)
Serves 6.
  • 1/2 pound smoked kielbasa or polish sausage
  • 6 medium potatoes, peeled & cubed
  • 2 cups frozen corn
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 celery rib, sliced
  • 1/4 cup sliced carrot
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tsp minced fresh parsley
In a large saucepan, brown sausage. Drain & set aside.
In the same pan, combine the potatoes, corn, broth, celery, carrot & seasonings.

 I doubled the recipe here. Used about 5 baking potatoes, but doubled everything else. It turned out perfectly!

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover & simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. 

Add the milk, cheese, parsley & sausage. Cook & stir over low heat until cheese is melted & soup is heated through.

 Mmmm! Delish! :) (Used turkey sausage in this one.)

Serve with a yummy salad or a french bread. (or both!) 

*added the pics 1/22/11.


Enjoy!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Poor Little Blazer

So, Tuesday, I was on my way to the theatre for our first Agnes of God rehearsal, when my car died. YUP. Right there as soon as i got off the interstate (which isn't exactly in the greatest area of town!). Thankfully, there was a business right there & the owner was SO nice. My car had smoke coming out the hood & when we popped the hood & poured water in, it started like boiling & water splurting everywhere. NICE. Hubby came & rescued me & actually his parents came too! They are the best! I never made it to rehearsal... terrible for a Stage Manager, but what can ya do?! Anyway...hopefully it's not that big a deal. We are taking it to get it fixed tonight. Brad's family has a guy they use & he does a great job & hardly charges anything! Hopefully he doesn't charge much this time, too!

Otherwise, this week has gone okay. For those of you who don't know, I'm working hard to lose weight. Check out my weightloss blog! My challenge for this week was NO FAST FOOD & so far, so good! Now, if only i could exercise & eat right BOTH AT THE SAME TIME... i'm usually good at one or the other! Ah, well, i'll get there!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Family Time

I love 3-day weekends! And, if i were in charge, we'd have them every weekend! Just saying...

So, let's see. Friday we just relaxed & took it easy. Saturday, we went to my parents & spent some time with them! I'm so glad; i honestly hadn't seen my parents in FOREVER, it seemed! We went over there about 10 AM & came home about 2, i think. Mom & I cooked. Dad & hubby helped with some of it. We had BBQ pork, potato salad, coleslaw... it was delicious! And, i made the potato salad...something i'd never made before...& it turned out so good! Brad LOVED it & he's told me before that potato salad is not his favorite food! But he had 2 helpings of it & said it was the best he's ever had! :) Proud wife here!

Sunday, Brad & I visited his parent's church. We enjoyed it. They go to a baptist church in town. It's a great church; i know a lot of people that go there & i've heard nothing but good about this church. It was cool - several people that were at the wedding (that have known brad's family forever) were there, so it was good to see them again! Plus a few friends of mine go there that i hadn't seen in awhile, so that was fun too!

Sunday evening, Brad & i went to his parent's for some coffee. (If you didn't know it, Brad's family has a reputation of making the best coffee ever - it's because they all do it the old fashion way - on a stove in a drip pot!). Anyway, brad's sister Jaimie (who is my age) was there too & we all just talked & laughed for a little while. I love my in-laws.

And today. What a wonderful day! This morning, Brad & I went walking. When we got in, I started cleaning the house. Got a lot done & it looks so much better! Had some time to chill for awhile, then we went to Brad's aunt's house for a late lunch. His uncle made steaks on the grill & they were delicious!! Add a salad & potato dish with that & man!! Good eating! We had a wonderful time! Brad's Granny, the one who recently had open heart surgery, was there! She is staying at some sort of rehabilitation place, so she had a day pass today. So glad we got to see her & i know she was glad to be home!! (Well, her home is actually next door. But close enough!) We had a really good time. I love brad's family - all of them!!

It's been a wonderful day (weekend, actually) & i love my hubby more than ever! I am telling you, i often think about how lucky i am! It's been almost a year & we still have no clue what people were talking about when they said all throughout our engagement "the first year is SOOO hard!" We keep saying, "REALLY?! Because this has been the best year of my life!" It's so wonderful! I just love him so much! I am more in love with him everyday. I'm such a lucky girl!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Chris & Mary


I am so excited! Two of my very best theatre friends are now engaged!!! Mary & Chris & I all met in our first production at BRLT- Beauty & the Beast. Chris was actually a lead- he played Cogsworth. Mary & I were both in the ensemble. I remember that first rehearsal. I didn't know anyone & I sat by myself. Mary didn't know anyone either. She came & sat by me. We became friends quickly! At some point, i got to know Chris as well. The cast of Beauty & the Beast bonded quickly & many of us have stayed very close. Other plays have come & gone & people come into & go out of your life. But many people from the cast of Beauty & the Beast remained really good friends.

I remember Chris really liking Mary during Beauty & the Beast, but i think it took Mary awhile to realize that she liked him as well! I am not even sure when they became official, but i believe it was well after the closing of Beauty & the Beast. If i'm guessing right, they started dating officially, probably fall of 2006. The picture above was taken at my wedding in November 2008.

I just love these two people! They both are very talented & so sweet! Mary is such a great girl friend to have- you can talk to her about anything. And Chris' laugh. I have heard it from backstage when he is sitting in the audience! Hilarious! They make a fantastic couple & i am so excited that they are going to tie the knot! I don't know if a date has been set. He just proposed today! But i can't wait to see her walk down that aisle!

Friday, September 4, 2009

Mike the Tiger

I just got this email from my friend, Mary.

"I had my camera with me at work today and had occasion to stroll down the street from my office on campus to visit Mike and get his take on the game tomorrow. He said he was ready. Rolled around in the grass a little, looked aloof, and walked around with all the confidence that an LSU tiger should have.

Geaux Tigers! & Enjoy!!
Mary"

AHHHHH!! I love it! Ok, so i know i'm not the biggest football game watcher in the world, but I have watched a quite a few games! And i know I've not gone to every game like most tiger fans! But the *cough*one*cough* game i went to...I actually had a BLAST!! I just am not a sports fanatic... & sometimes i don't even know when a game is till EVERYONE is talking about it! All that aside....i do love LSU. And LSU football. Maybe not like the diehards. But i definitely root for them & am proud of them! (And i love me some Mike the Tiger.)
Ready for the Game!


Walking around.

Isn't he beautiful?!
Ahhhhh...

Take care, Mike. :)


Questions Questions

One of my bloggie friends did this questionaire today. I thought i'd play along!

1. The clothing outfit you remember from childhood and why?
I remember this cute turquoise & red dress that i wore with turquoise & white striped socks that went all the way up to my knees with black mary janes. It was cotton & cute & the sleeves were a little puffed. i have a picture of me in this somewhere i wish i had it scanned so i could show you! :)


2. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I kept going back & forth between Pediatrician or Actress. I gave up on pediatrician when i realized that (a) i'd have to take a lot of science classes & (b) I get sick when i see broken bones. i cannot handle it (blood is okay with me, however. HA!)
I still love acting, but i've chosen to go back to school to be a TEACHER. But i still love acting!! Just won't be doing it professionally...that i know of...ha!


3. What is your must have for Fall?
i am in great need of some more tops & slacks!! Nothing specific, though.


4. If money were no object, how many kiddos would you really have?
I'd still just want 3. 4 at most.

Fun! I might be blogging more today, because i feel like blogging! HA!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Agnes of God

So we had auditions for Agnes of God this week & they went so well. Several new faces & i always love that. I absolutely love auditions when I am on the other side of the table. Actually auditioning is terrifying. Your mind will not stop talking to you & you kind of feel like you're going crazy. (There are some, a small few, who LOVE to audition. These people are wierd & i cannot fathom how they feel this way. But i would love to know their secret!)

Anyway. So this was a very hard selection process. We definitely could have cast it twice. At one point during callbacks, i asked the director, "Can we just cast this twice & alternate performances?!" He laughed, but i was only kind of kidding.

Anyway. It is now cast & it is going to be great! I am very excited to work with Bill. I acted with him in Urinetown, i've seen him in plenty of other shows, but i've never worked with him as director. As far as the cast, we have Blanche playing the psychiatrist, Leslie playing Mother Miriam Ruth & Lauren who is playing Agnes. Auditions were the first time I saw Leslie & Blanche, so working with them will be new! But I've done many shows with Lauren & i love her to death!!!

Our first read-thru is this Thursday & then rehearsals start on Tuesday.

Oh and also BRLT has redone the website & it is SOOOO much better. Check it out here!!