On the second day of summer...

My true love, kids and me (I),

Went to TWO Canada day celebrations!

And, enjoyed a stay-cation camp out in the back yard!!

On the first day of summer...

My true love, kids and me (I),

Went to the public lib'ry!

And, hiking on the BX Creek trail.

Ahhhhhhh.......summer!!!

We Got Annie!

Powerhouse Theatre is producing "Annie" in the fall, and auditions have already been held.  I have the good fortune of getting to play Miss Hannigan with my daughter, Shaughnessy, who will be an orphan.  She is in the running for the title role, which will be announced after the summer.  They won't be able to cast an orphan who is taller than Grace Farrell who in this production is only 5'4.  Either way, she'll be amazing and we'll have a blast together!!  Now... (I know, I've said it before, but here I am, saying it again) time to shed these extra pounds which only look WORSE on stage.  Here's to a fun and fit summer holiday.

My Bleeding Heart

 Long ago there lived a noble prince who tried in vain to win the heart of a very beautiful princess. The prince had brought the princess wonderful gifts from his travels far and wide. Yet she had taken no notice of him. One day the prince returned from a long journey with very special gifts to surely win the love of the princess. First he presented her with two magical pink bunnies.

The princess only sighed and barely looked at the little bunnies. The hopeful prince had one more gift saved for last - he presented a pair of slippers made of the finest silk.

Again, the princess hardly noticed the prince's gift. Now the poor prince was utterly heartbroken. He could try no more to win the heart of the princess. He rose up, pulled a dagger from his sheath and stabbed himself in the heart. 

 

                                                               

The princess was overcome by the dedication of the dying prince and his unending love for her. She realized too late that she loved him also. "Alas," she cried out. "I have done wrong, my own heart is broken also. I shall bleed for my prince forever more!" And her heart bleeds to this very day.

The Queen of Hearts

As promised...some pics from the other winter production I was in.  (That's me, as the Queen)

Komasket 2011

Reconnecting
Move, Sing, Stomp
Feet in sand
Levitate
Sing full mouth
Sound sliding
down
my
throat
and shaking the nargles out of my brain

Dramatic, Soulful, Enchanting
I move, shake, strut, and cha cha cha

Millions of stars wink me to sleep
Cool air wraps me in its blanket
Tantric drum rhythms tend to the sore places
in my soul.

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

So...I've been immersed in creativity (once again) producing the show you see pictured below, while starring as The Queen of Hearts, in "Alice in Wonderland" simultaneously  (pictures to follow later).  Needless to say, no time to blog!

Happy holidays, EVERYONE!!  Much love.

More photos and the story of our little theatre available at...

http://www.sd22.bc.ca/~lobrien/http___www.sd22.bc.ca_%7Elobrien/Welcome.html

orange cones and high viz vests
fluorescent signs
all point the way to Progress
pulling my focus from
Autumn dressed trees in
newly oranged garments

water falling over manmade mountains
keeps pace with urban giraffes
craning loads higher - and still higher -
blocking my vision of
Autumn dressed hillsides in
vivid golds and greens

The "weapons of mass destruction"
were never found.  Or so they tell us.
But, how can we be so blind?
They surround every moment of our
existence,
threatening quietude,
and peace of mind.

reformed earth in ugly concrete
water displaced from its rightful path
Shovels on steroids - in an endless
search to find treasure in the centre of the earth -
spoon out the eyes of the helm keepers
as they build for the next
Generation Alpha Centauri.

Archeologists from a parallel universe
will bear the only witness
to undiscovered organisms as they
teach this pristine example.
The epitome of what not, to do.

Blank Verse

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Mom, what does the ocean taste like?

My kids had their first ocean swimming experience in Vancouver this summer. It was a gorgeous hot summer day and the water was perfect. They explored and paddled until they finally leapt in and started swimming. Their reactions are too funny!!

Can we swim?

Paddle harder!!

Cool seaweed!!!

Can we eat it?

Getting deeper...

Holding her breath and keeping the water OUT!!

Salty!!!!

Thickened

If your game was to steal my voice, you win.

Words flew like great winged bats
From the cavernous recesses of my soul
Out the gaping open mouth of my empty head
Into the approaching darkness.
Flying for an eternity.

If your game was to collect me, I lose.

I gifted myself like a spoiled toddler's Christmas parcel
Wrapped in shiny paper and ribbons.
Cooed over briefly, then torn to shreds,
And left in a heap on the floor.
The toy, too, abandoned for another.

Each thickens the scars that are becoming my new skin.