Chocolate Apprentice

Chocolate Advent Calendars

It is December 1st.  The cats woke me up early, even though this is a Saturday, and I would have liked nothing better than to sleep in, since this is a two-show day ( I am currently performing in the Arts Club Theatre’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life), and I am doing everything I can to recover from a nasty bout of laryngitis.

But, since they did manage to get me up at a dark 6:45am, once I had fed and watered them, and given them their required stroking attention, it seemed fruitless to go back to bed, only to have them meowing at the door in indignation. [Read more…]

Movember

Well, it’s cold, again.  That “crawling up your back, hunching up your shoulders, why didn’t I put on the big bulky sweater, I can’t feel the ends of my fingers” kind of cold.

November has come to us in full force and although I wouldn’t normally welcome facial hair, I have been looking almost enviously at my male friends who are sporting moustaches for this month, in support of prostate cancer research and programs and men’s mental health initiatives.  [Read more…]

Rosemary for Remembrance

Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada. Our coats are sporting the poppies I remember from childhood, sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion – I don’t think the poppies have changed in all the years I can remember, and the challenge is always to get them to stay on your coat without poking you, or falling off.

Part of the fondness I have for this ritual is buying the poppy from the veteran who is more than happy to patiently guide you through the technique for poking the pin back through the poppy itself. [Read more…]

Opening Night for Some Special Women

I didn’t blog last week, as I have been steeped in rehearsals for a very special play:  My Mother’s Story.  We are a cast of eight women, telling the stories of ordinary women’s lives – except that they are all extraordinary.

The call went out last year, to women on Vancouver’s North Shore, to write the story of their mothers’ lives, in 2000 words.  From all who sent in stories, eight were selected to be woven together into a play.  So we, the actors, each play the writer and her Mum.  The stories range geographically far and wide, and cover many ethnicities.  [Read more…]

Tasting In the Dark

This week, I am fortunate to be in rehearsal with some incredible women, working on a new play:  My Mother’s Story.

The director we are working with is asking us to use senses and muscles I haven’t used in years.

I come home from rehearsal every day very tired … in a good way.  We are working very physically, almost dancing in some parts and since most of us are NOT dancers … there is a lot of laughter. [Read more…]