Jun 06 2013
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Fun at Work, Theatre Fun

Day 255: Curtain Speech

At the theater where I work, a member of staff gives a curtain speech before every performance. Instead of playing a recorded message, a live person reminds you to turn off your phone and then takes an opportunity to tell you about exciting things happening at the theater. On Day 255, I did my first ever curtain speech for this theater. Even though it is only about two minutes or less, I was still nervous about talking in front of people on a stage. I just have to remind myself to be casual and personal, myself. And I have to prepare my words in my head so that I at least have a place from which to start. It went totally fine and the audience was responsive and nice.

Since this first experience, I’ve gotten much more comfortable making them and have even seen donations bump on my nights–this is another part of the speech, to tell patrons about our ongoing fundraising campaign. Then they have the opportunity to donate after the show. So that feels pretty gratifying.

Jun 05 2013
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Around the House/DIY, Online Fun, Solitary Fun

Day 254: Funterest

You guys! I totally forgot that I had started a Year of Fun Pinterest board. I haven’t done any of these things and they all sound so fun! Apparently I thought I needed several pin boards.

Jun 04 2013
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Pamper/Beautify, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Solitary Fun

Day 253: Toes

Hmmmm….maybe this is fun? Or maybe this is gross?

I had a laser treatment on my toenails. For about five years, I’ve had an embarrassing toe fungus that causes yellowing and thickening of the nails. It stops me from wearing open-toed shoes and I don’t even think about getting a pedicure. Because of my RA and the medication I take that suppresses my immune system, I am both more suseptible to the fungus and unable to take the medication used to treat it.

A few months ago, I was deleting some of the many emails I get about “Sales” or “Specials” and paused to open a Living Social email. Had the subject line not mentioned toenail laser treatment, I never would have looked at it. For me this treatment had been prohibitively expensive, but the Living Social offer was something crazy like 80% off!

I thought the treatment might be a little scary but it was mostly just warm. Now most of my nails have cleared right up. I may need a second treatment for one toe, but at this point it will definitely be worth it to wear open-toed shoes with pride and get pedis with the girls.

Jun 03 2013
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Friends and Family, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Solitary Fun, Travel Fun

Day 252: Dulcimer

While in New Harmony, I wandered into a store that claimed to sell antiques. Once inside, I quickly realized that the store actually sold hand-made items like jewelry, art like paintings and instruments like dulcimers. The store owner started talking to me about the various items for sale. His daughter-in-law makes the jewelry. He paints the paintings. His friend across the street makes the dulcimers.

This friend gets the wood as scraps from a guy who has a lumberyard and sells floors to “rich people who pay bazillions for the stuff.” The owner told me the quality (and beauty) of the wood is the reason the dulcimers are so expensive, like $600 plus. He started playing his for me and I just fell in love with the sound. If you don’t know it, the dulcimer is a five stringed instrument that you play like a guitar (strum with a pick and make chords on frets) however the tuning is much simpler (of the five strings, four are tuned to D, three of them the same D and one an octave lower) and you play it on your lap.

I knew I couldn’t afford one but I let him tempt me anyway. He told me all about Appalachian people making dulcimers and playing a standard called “Boil Them Cabbage,” and then he told me the story that sold me completely. He teaches classes on the dulcimer in town. People come from Newburgh and Evansville to learn from him. One lady sat with her dulcimer on the first day of class. When they started to play, she started to cry. The shop owner/teacher was very concerned because he didn’t normally have criers in his classes. He was worried she was upset about the quality of her playing as a new student. When he went over to her, she said, “I used to be a violinist but I started having trouble with my hands. Eventually I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and I couldn’t play at all. I’m so happy because now I can make music again.”

If that wasn’t a sign, I don’t know what is. I met the hubs, brought him to the store, and we looked over all the dulcimers. A simple one caught my eye. “That one was made by my other friend. He dislikes all the fancy carvings the rest of these have. He says he makes ones that make music.” Sold. (For significantly less than all the other ones yet still very pretty in its own way).

So I’m learning the dulcimer. I’m inspired. I’m making music. (I’m one of those people who quit playing the piano, my mom said you’ll regret it, and I do). Day 252 was my first day of real practice and I am working on strumming and chords. I can also play “Boil Them Cabbage” and am working on “Kum Ba Yah” for an upcoming camping trip.

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Jun 02 2013
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Outdoor Fun, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Solitary Fun, Travel Fun

Day 251: Roofless Church, Peace

Day 251 was my real New Harmony day. I love the New Harmony Project (I mean have been professing my love for it over the last two days) but the town is just so inspiring. It has been the site of at least two attempted communal utopias. It features a roofless church, a mediation maze, preserved log homes from 1814, and so much more history. The town’s main income, I believe, comes from the New Harmony Inn where the New Harmony Project is held along with countless weddings each year. With a population of around 800, it is definitely the kind of place where locals know if you are a visitor. And they actually like you for it!

While the hubs had his board meeting, I set out on my own. My first stop, my old favorite, the Roofless Church. Designed by architect Philip Johnson, this non-denomination church was commissioned by Jane Owen, the town’s main benefactor. She was an oil money heiress who married a descendant of Robert Owen (Owenites were one of utopian groups to settle in New Harmony). She was also a great supporter of the New Harmony Project whom I remember for her quiet thoughtfulness, prim voice and lovely hats. The Roofless Church has long been a place I have sought out for peace and quiet. In college, friends and I would visit the church in the middle of night to stargaze. (Oh, the stars on a clear Indiana night). Every time I’ve gone to the New Harmony Project, I’ve made a special trip to the church. This time it was particularly important.

Many people who read this know I’ve struggled with my RA. Many also know that I’ve struggled with Anxiety, that I’ve struggled at work, that I’ve struggled with what I want to do with my life. I sat in the Roofless Church and let a lot of that go. I had, for about 20 minutes, the entire place to myself. First, I walked through the doors straight to the benches overlooking the field.

20130613-114659.jpgThen I walked the perimeter and examined the huge iron gates.

20130613-114729.jpgReal peace came when I sat under what I have always assumed is the altar and just relaxed. I let a lot of things go and, under blue sky, I truly felt calm, happy, peaceful, well.

20130613-114743.jpgI carried that with me as I walked the meditation maze, as I explored the gift shop at the visitors’ center and roamed the many little shops lining the main street. One particular shop owner inspired me to make music (more on this in Day 252). I even carried that with me back to Chicago and for a few days following.

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But now I’m finding it harder to remain there. Again the stresses of work and health creep in. Again I am frenzied, always working, running around. At New Harmony and back in Chicago, I’ve had multiple people ask me about the blog. Why haven’t I been posting? They miss it, they tell me how much it means to them and I am moved and yet, I still manage to let other things get in the way. This blog is my continued peace and again I have to force myself to remain focused on it. Year of Fun is what I want to do, yet I keep letting other stuff get in the way.

This pretty much sums up THE major conflict of my life: do what I love/what I want vs. do what I have to do. Maybe all of our lives? Maybe that is what living is? Finding the right balance between the two or going on a quest to fill your life with just the things you want to do? I sure don’t know but I would like to think that I am getting closer to figuring it out.

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