Climbing Back On After Falling Off The SED Wagon

[teddy_radiator]

TheHubs™ and I decided to kick butt this week and work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday like mad so we could take today off and go to IKEA. I am very grateful that we were able to get the last three bookcases for the SteamLib, and therefore it will be finished this weekend and enough picspam to fill the Narrow Sea will follow.

A few weeks back, I was railroaded into being the House Manager for this month's production at our local Community Theatre, Milltown Players. I say railroaded because I do not like being 'volunteered' for these things, especially when I don't really feel I politcally have the right to say no. TheHubs™ is planning to audition for a play there next week, and I didn't want to queer the pitch for him by not being The Cooperative Theatre Widow. He was grateful to me for the sacrifice, then found out how they had also used him to get me to do it. He wasn't so happy about that. Long story, and doesn't really bear any meaning to my tale of woe.

I suppose it wouldn't have been too bad if 1)they actually needed a separate House Manager instead of a couple of ushers and a concessions person, 2) I am not being flattered and told 'how sweet and wonderful I am to do this' by people I have never met, much less been sweet and wonderful to and 3) the play was not such a peurile, silly hour of absolute steaming horseshit.

All the volunteers have all volunteered before, and don't know me, so my authority as their manager is questioned every night, and to be honest, I am sick of trying to give a damn. I'm really nothing but a glorified usher who has to hand out programs while the other ushers sit around and gossip before the show, and a glorified janitor who has to empty trash, pick up discarded candy wrappers and raise seats after the show. I have two more performances to endure - Friday and Sunday. TheHubs™ has been with me for all but one, and no longer gives a shit if he gets the part or not - he is very displeased at how we've both been used.

Last night, getting in the car, I tripped over a bag of rubbish, and went sailing. Everything I grabbed onto kept falling with me, until I wound up flat on my back staring up at the ceiling, with a goose egg of a bump on my forehead, unable to parse what the hell happened. I know I am extremely clumsy, but also a bit bouncy; after TheHubs™ helped me stagger back to my feet, I went onto the theatre, feeling very sorry for myself and nursing a terrible bruise.

At least I've been able to take my knitting with me. I'm so behind on Christmas knitting already. And the play is truly awful - I watched it the first night and have not been able to stomach it since.

I'm starting to get that crazy feeling of too much to do and not enough time to do it, accompanied by the guilt of sitting here typing when I should actually be doing something. Must be the holiday season.

On more optimistic notes - very happy about THIS.

Comments

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

Ouch, ouch, ouch. It sounds miserable, my dear. I hope you feel better soon.

(You are a wonderful person, though. Just sayin'.)

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

I know I am extremely clumsy, but also a bit bouncy

I'm sorry, Teddy, but that made me LOL. I just relate to it so well. XD

I feel for you, though. This whole ordeal sounds miserable.

Ugh, we have definitely officially hit the holiday season. Time to pull out an oldie but goodie...

[hbart.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that life isn't treating you quite like you deserve. I spent my childhood in the theatre, and I found those folks to be the most embracing, wild and fun, non-judgemental people I had ever met. Now, as an adult, I have never seen so many catty, egotistical, unjust, politically driven so and sos in one place in my life. Which sucks when you want to be involved in something, but can't stomach the company, or you get excluded because you don't want to play the game.

I have already chastised myself for smiling as I pictured you falling, but taking like ten minutes to actually hit the ground as you pulled every item around you to the floor in slow motion, cartoon style. Hope you weren't injured. But, I'm still smiling.

The holidays are an equal mixture of love and hate for me. I do love the time of year and already have the Christmas carols blaring. However, every time someone decides they should tell me how many more shopping days until Christmas, I want to punch them in the face. And then there is the part where the temps drop below 70. :(

Looking forward to seeing your pics!

[nocturnus33]

Wow, it is a good thing it will end soon.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

I hope you're feeling alright after that dreadful fall. Keep vigilant about your ears, neck, shoulders, etc. in the coming weeks, and don't ignore symptoms. /nag

If there's karma in the theatre, I hope you earn some good karma after the time you put in at this awful play! :-)

[arwitchywoman.livejournal.com]

Once you are past 19, falling down is a bitch. Everything happens in slow motion and you see it coming and can't stop it. I'm sorry you got hurt.
Now, tell me about ITV - can we watch it here in the States? On the innerweb? I hope we don't have to wait - that show looks awesome.

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

Ouchy sore knee!

Try getting through the performances by imagining that it's Severus and Hermione's daughter (in a very very minor two-words-spoken role) in the play, so they're having to sit through it. All. The. Way. Through.

And then imagine that the person she's taking her cue off forgets that she has a tiny line, and skips her part.

Actually, don't imagine that. I've just been surrounded by plot-bunnies. dammit.

I applaud your decision to stay until the end, rather than be "that person". But be strong in declining future offers. I once volunteer house-managed for a run of very large comedy festival shows. We're talking 800+ venue, recognisable names, etc. The last night, they had all the thank-yous and such at the end of the last show. I waited to hear my name (Hey, you do it for the kudos, yes?)

And waited

And waited.

I should have left straight after the show. I didn't - hung around for the after-show party, and after about 2 hours (and I may have grizzled to someone - I can't remember), when most people had left, they stopped the music and someone said a couple of words and handed me a bottle of wine.

I really should have left before that.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

I feel my Boxing Day "I'll start making Christmas presents in January" resolution coming on.

Sorry about the miserable ushering job.