Ill

"...a man...can find comfort in words coming out of his own mouth."

-- Orual, in C. S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces

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Been ill now three days. Long days. Slamming Halls Naturals, cups of double-bagged tea, and loads of Vitamin C, daily supplements. I hate being sick, that unhealthy pit of mutiny. You're stuck in the sickness, wavering through fevers and tripping on coughs, grindingly clearing your throat.

What a funny defense mechanism is mucus; like a gooey pillow for what ails you, soon to be packaged, accumulated, and expelled. Yuck.

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Also for three days, we've had two shows, one in the morning and one in the evening. Last night we played for a local PTA, amidst the rumble of popcorn machines and with little mines of spilled juice spattered randomly around the stage. I steal sips of tea when I can, and I've been backing off the screams. Stress on the vocal chords + quitting smoking + random sickness = quiet down.

We have fired one of our actors. It was a rainy day. The new guy is awesome. In less than a week he's learned two shows and has made intriguing, fluid character choices. He knows how to rock and roll.

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Saw The Turn of the Screw a few nights ago at Cincy Shakes; was floored. And terrified. Wonderful show, an engaging adaptation of the James novella. A fresh ghost story, a duo of talented actors, a splendid Halloween show.

One show tomorrow, our morning Halloween show, and then an entire PM segment off. I'm seeing Dracula at the Cincy Ballet, wearing red, and decidedly not trick-or-treating. Saving molars, and whatnot.

Also watched Michael Clayton today and was disappointed. Not much of a Clooney fan in general, really.

However, watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory over peppermint tea, under a Hebrew blanket, and followed by awesome talkage...that was great. It's good to chill. Takes the edge off of life, a pocket of cheery order in a swirling 'verse of shows and sweat and checks and balances, a smiling reminder that not all in life has price, some things are nice, and everything is worth looking at twice.

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Finally, a shout-out to McDonald's, for adding the double-cheeseburger to the Value Menu. You can get a combo for under $4. With Big Mac sauce and shredded lettuce, that's a Big Mac combo for two bucks less. Check it.