"Cast Down!"

Poker Night, hosted jointly by Juanita & Joey. Juanita provided us with punch, pizza rolls & popcorn. Joey brought his poker face & poker case of chips & cards. Emily, Sam & I were uneducated in the Ways Of & so became the educatees. (I felt more comfortable to be serving up potato chips from the sidetable than to be dealing in poker chips however.)
Emily did however share her expansive poker terminology of "cast down!" & "all in!"

Start of the Night.

I was glad we weren't therefore dealing in real money. (L-R:) Nickel, Dime, Quarter, Dollar.

We thought we'd move it up a notch to make it more exciting. Thus it was no longer a quarter anymore ~ in Joey's best commentary voice: "Twenty-five thou-sand DOLLARS!"

Learning (& losing).

Joey started calling me "Miss England" to get my attention. It was then decided that it was only fair for more countries to compete & be represented. Luke got in there first to become "Mr. Amurica!" - Sam, "Miss Italy" - Joey, "Mr Germany" (working The Producers theme) - Emily, "Miss Ireland" and Juanita plus roommate, Jamaica & Japan. Many, many jokes ensued about colonialism, expansion, invasion, economic prowess of 1942, collapse of the Empire & Queen. Jamaica was also very crafty & tried to steal all Ireland's money.
   I was saved from Ultimate Death by the arrival of Jessi & fiancé Ben who increased my collective powers by becoming Scotland & Wales. Hanging out with Emily, we had a nice UK-couch thing going on although I was quick to clarify technicalities in that we three together comprised just Great Britain & not in fact, the UK. 

Scotland did good. See that stack of dimes increase!

Then we sat back, chatting & let Wales take charge.
Hmmm...

But the Lord of the Dragons surprised us with his tactics.

Go Team GB! (Well, Go Ben! anyhow.)

Last swoop for an "All in!" put Herr Joey at the lead
but the Empire's reign still prevailed to second place.

Not sure there'll ever be another Poker Party quite like it.
Especially as it was followed by an impromptu haircut. I am now shorn.

TMM & Ginny #8

These, I just had to share as soon as...

When in Green Bay, do as the Packers do....

Vinny & Ginny = New friends. Shirt swap.

For Pops. 
Oh yes! He delivered...!

"Cheesehead"

 

 




















With Messrs Lambeau & Lombardi.

TMM & Ginny #7

have relocated to their holiday home where there is canine company!

With Tobias.  (PUPPY!)

Quote: "I have to chase him around when he decides just looking isn't enough,
but no harm done!"

With Boon.

NB:  No Penguins were harmed in the taking of this picture.

 

  & 

 other 

assorted 

antics...

Boxing Day, NC/VA

'Boxing Day' breakfast
with birthday fuss
for Pete on his 60th!

I should watch what I say however:
Telling Beth that YPs can be eaten with custard or even jam meant that she believed this to be a British tradition. I obliged her whim anyhow. With Jam & coffee.
Job done.

I had intended on being back in RVA for 4pm in readiness for our 7pm performance. 

American Public Transport, hey? ... Whilst Ginny played out in the snow, on the trails,

The bus arrived late. We waited in line. The bus filled up. The bus departed.
We were still waiting in line. "The next bus will be here within an hour."

Two & half hours later, I finally departed Raleigh at 3pm. Thanks Slothhound. 

I made it to the theatre by 6.40pm. Whilst I was away, Rosie (Follow Spot) came down from above to dress in my place. I'd spent two days prior to my leave, having her shadow me & then watching her run it.

    A quick change should be considered as a well-choreographed piece of art in its own right. Everything has to happen smoothly, perfectly enacted in the exact same order to i) keep the actor calm as possible & ii) to ensure they make their re-entrance on time. We'd got these QCs honed to perfection over the run. A little nerve-wracking then for both me & my cast to see them up-ended & have someone learn them from scratch.

    Rosie was meant to substitute both myself & Lauren respectively during our consecutive time off. Then the powers-that-be realised that learning two different tracks, one SL & one SR, would probably make explode her head. 

   Consequently with little to no preparation, on my return I became "Lauren". Interesting times for me to be now learning an entirely new track & a whole new set of Quick Changes mid-run. Thankfully the ensemble pitched in to direct me & the principals also tolerated the disruption whilst I tried to keep their choreography as good as the same.

It was very good to be back up to full crew & re-set to Normal for our last show of 2012.
My SL cast were delighted to have me partnered with them again. I was delighted to be there!

"Boxing Day", WI

The first trouble-free trip sans incident!

A Very Crow Family Christmas, NC

It came together over several staggered last-minute phone conversations that week. But in the end, it was the wisest, best decision I could have taken. 

I got to spend my five days of Christmas with Beth & Pete in NC.

The Maggie-dog-hugs were fantastic. 

I kept busy.   

We played Fetch with Maggie at the park.

           We Christmas-shopped.

 (Pops should probably like Santa Cow from Chick-fil-A, given
that I never found for him a Richmond Santa at the Rep.)



     We "visited with" family friends.

   A surprise 17th birthday; an open house.

Straight pretzel sticks. Straight!

I had the pleasure of meeting Kate. There's a decade between us but together we span the years of Beth's youth leadership in VA & NC. 




We cleaned...      we baked...       we crafted...

 

(Whilst Ginny was on
the Old Fashioned,

             we started on the Moonshine.)

Coffee cups & stockings apiece on Christmas morning.

we cooked...

Olord, did we cook!... Emergency "Mum, how do I make a roast & trimmings?!"
Skype session home worked wonders.  [James Martin to you, I doff my cap.]

Yorkshire Puddings: Pt.1 -  Times twelve.

Actually, let's go with 24!

we made tamales...
(for better or worse)

 

Go Team Tamale Tie-rs!

 Yorkshire Puddings: Pt.2 -

Do NOT open the oven. Do NOT open the oven.

Success!
First time ever success!

Christmas Day, WI

Christmas Morning, WI

Mom L. showing Ginny her new slippers.
Matt: "This is where my crazy comes from."

Niece Logic:

Matthew has a baby, yes, Lord;
Matthew has a baby, yes, my Lord;
Matthew has a baby, yes, Lord!

Penguin philosophy which began at Bogart's
~ the glass is always at least half full.

Tired-out bird.

All are welcome at the Crib.