How does a performer get through allergy season?  With a lot of careful planning. The sneezing, coughing, runny nose season is not for the faint of heart when you are a performer.  You can put those symptoms on hold while you are performing by popping a Benadryl – or three. On the upside – no sneezing,…

I was zooming with my sister Linda and her daughter Jo when the topic of pre-death planning came up (because we’re cheery like that).  We’re kind of cremation (smoke ’em if you got ’em) kind of family; but the question of a funeral/viewing came up. I had never wanted a viewing or funeral per se.…

Okay.  When I first spoke with the surgeon about the surgery for breast cancer, I told her multiple times that I had run into a problem with Kaiser when my ablation was scheduled at the Surgery (outpatient) Center because that facility has BMI restrictions.  Today, I had my first face-to-face with my “team”, the surgeon…

I only really went on spring break once in my life.  And I wasn’t even in college. I had just finished performing in what turned out to be my last season with the Fischer Troupe with an ignominious performance with almost total laryngitis due to having to change a tire in the middle of a…

I’m sitting there with my hubby watching an episode of my favorite TV show – Ridiculous – when a commercial comes on for California, and how great and safe vacationing in California can be.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KORu7H8AsSo Okay. This ad features two little kids and their parents by the ocean. Okay. Except the parents are both buried…

That is the essence of theater – showing off. Auditions are showing off; rehearsal is showing off; and performance is showing off. Theater folks are people who relish doing what most of us are told to never do – show off. The difference is that theater folks appreciate everybody else’s showing off too. We enjoy…

I had a mammogram the end of March and there was a spot. Last week, I had a follow-up mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy. And today I got the initial diagnosis of breast cancer. Stage 1A. So early, early, early days; and caught early, early, early.  Will meet with the “team” on Friday and…

I have been a fan of Stephen Hansen’s art for many years.  I find his work humorous but with a message.  Also, what makes him stand out in the world of fat art is that most of his figures are male – something I would like to see more of in fat art.  I am…

I got my first Barbie when I was 5 or 6.  I adored her.  This was the beginning of my love for clothes. I loved her beautifully made clothing with teensy zippers and snaps.  I loved her tiny little open-toed pumps.  I loved her little purses.  I loved her long ponytail.  I know some people…

In general, I would say our cats Leo (our brown tabby) and Murphy (our orange tabby) love my husband the most.  They love me.  Just not as much as they love my husband. However, in general, they have sufficient “respect” (if a cat can ever be deemed to respect anyone or anything) for me.  I…