Sunday, September 19, found me on the way to auditions for White Christmas, my first audition since Hubby’s little problem. Now, let me make this statement - I love to audition, really-really, so I always totally look forward to getting dressed, showing up, filling out the cards, getting your pic taken (well, okay, I don’t really like that part - I always look like a dork in the pics!) talking with everyone, dancing, singing, reading ... well you get what I’m saying AND I love the show White Christmas.
Sooooooo, my weird? It was almost like I was sent someone else to auditions - getting dressed, I got nervous - not excited; driving to the theatre I didn’t break out in song, I thought to myself “why are you doing this”; filling out the cards and standing in line, I know I chattered probably waaaayyyy too much (well, okay - I always do that!) but I actually found the palms of my hands sweating a bit.
Settling into the auditions I danced fine - or I think I did, I could be very wrong in this perception! Then came along singing auditions and I decided to sing in the alto section for a change (usually sing 1st or 2nd soprano) -- first mistake, out of the ordinary for an audition, we wound up singing in pairs ... the soprano and alto parts together ... which I blew, because in a few minutes of going over the song, I found it difficult to change a “lifetime” of singing the song’s soprano part :-) and the alto part wasn’t really that difficult “arrrrrgggg” and “oh well” STRIKE ONE? (I now even wonder if I sang out with any kind of confidence, I really just don’t remember.) Then came the read -- well, that too was interesting and I tanked it big time STRIKE TWO?
My question is/was where the HECTOR did the nerves come from? That is just ridiculous, nervous is not my style - all I can think of while sitting here writing this is I’m still not all that secure about leaving the house in the evenings for rehearsals and leaving Hubby there - alone, even though he is now coming along nicely from his little problem, or is it that I now simply feel like I’m a million years old -- probably where the “why are you doing this” question came from.
So did my subconscious try to sabotage my very own self? Did I do as crappy a job as I thought I did? Will I get back my “joy,” “happy” and “more youthful than I really am” feelings - that just seemed to be missing in this audition (or so I think it was, maybe I “acted” my way through the audition?) Will I be “back to normal” for the next auditions - I surely hope so ... this one was simply just too weird for words -- well, obviously not since I’m blogging about it!
****** Was holding off on posting this until cast list was posted ****** it has been AND I MADE IT (wooohooo) in spite of all my weirdness!
I can say that I really cannot wait for the first rehearsal -- let the joy begin and may we all have a WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
A "Wow" Moment
Gila Wilderness Area
Several years back I had requested (and received) my Dad's CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) records. He had signed up for the CCC to send money back home, as was the case in just about everyone at that point in time. So, Dad was in three different camps and at the time I received the papers - I'd researched where the camps were and made the notes on the papers, promptly filed them for later inclusion in the family genealogy.
Sooooo, this last week I decided one of the things that I would do was to start to organize some of the family files that have been "rifled" through looking for information, some I'd dropped on the floor (yeps me "durh" go figure!) and some information I had pulled out and never got back in the correct file ... so in layman's terms :-) they were messed up! I started with Dad's family files and in going through them - found the CCC records in a file that they should not have even been in -- yuppers!
Anyway, in looking at my notes I saw the camps that he was in (as a truck driver - all camps) - two were around Prescott, Arizona AND "WOW" one was in the Gila Wilderness Area around Silver City, New Mexico .... now how's that for ya?!'
I, of course, immediately called to Hubby and informed him of this fact that I'd forgotten over the last couple of years .... so I'm wondering is the reason I love the Silver City area so much, simply in my genetic makeup, something my Dad passed along to me from a time before he was even married to Mom, or was their love of the Southwest simply passed on to me?!
Hope you, my Buddies, have a "Wow" moment soon - they're great!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
9/11/2001 - Never Forget
Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward, and freedom will be defended. - George W. Bush
Buddies say a prayer for our Nation today, as we remember and pay our respects.
Buddies say a prayer for our Nation today, as we remember and pay our respects.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Epitaphs - Gila Style
Yes, as you know, I like cemeteries -- for so many reasons! Here's a few epitaphs we have stumbled upon (sometimes literally!)
The Marston Brothers (Pinos Altos):
Captain Arizona Scouts
Thomas J. Marston
September 13, 1839
October 27, 1861
Died of fatal wounds received in action as he led the settlers in defense and repulsed 400 Apaches led by Chief Cochise
Miner Virgil Marston
Brother of Thomas J.
Killed by the Indians near Silver Cell Mine on Whiskey Creek about 1870
Then in the same cemetery - quoting the Apaches:
Fort Bayard National Cemetery:
The Marston Brothers (Pinos Altos):
Captain Arizona Scouts
Thomas J. Marston
September 13, 1839
October 27, 1861
Died of fatal wounds received in action as he led the settlers in defense and repulsed 400 Apaches led by Chief Cochise
Miner Virgil Marston
Brother of Thomas J.
Killed by the Indians near Silver Cell Mine on Whiskey Creek about 1870
Then in the same cemetery - quoting the Apaches:
Everything Dies But the Rocks Said Geronimo, Apache Chief
Fort Bayard National Cemetery:
Three Small Words :-)
Committed to Freedom
Lordsburg Cemetery:
One way to preserve your area's history - thanks goes out to "people" like the Muir Ranch!
Las Cruces Masonic Cemetery:
Yet another approach to passing down genealogy to descendants.
Guess that's all for now Buddies - carry on!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Billy the Kid - To Pardon or Not to Pardon
* Material taken from Scenic Tours, Gateway to 3.3 Million Acres of Solitude (and it is by-the-way).
I'd heard this on the news when in Texas and thought "are they just nuts - pardon that young punk criminal?" Now that I'm in Silver City, New Mexico and hearing and reading more - this is a big deal to "them" and my view is now ... well, at best - clouded.
I've never really thought about Billy the Kid (William Bonney Henry McCarty and Henry Antrim) and Pat Garrett that much, outside of reading a passing historical maker and visiting Lincoln, Las Cruces ... now Silver City and points all between (it seems they were all over this part of New Mexico) ... anyway, as typical I drift -- mostly my first thoughts of Billy is the Lincoln County wars, but have discovered a bit of the history of his early life here in Silver City.
*1902 Interview with Sheriff Whitehill, he summed up his memories of Billy (then Henry McCarty): "There was one peculiar characteristic that to an experienced man-hunter would have marked him immediately as a bad man, and that was his dancing eyes. They never were at rest, but continually shifted and roved much like his rebellious nature."
As it goes Billy's mother(? - another story I won't go into here) remarried William Antrim, who reportedly was a neglectful father, being away for long periods of time in his pursuit of gold and silver. That is how "they" wound up in Silver City to begin with, within months of being married Antrim moved them lock, stock and barrel to Silver City in this quest for riches.
Billy's First Crime:* Billy's mother died on September 16, 1874 of tuberculosis (consumption) and Billy got a job waiting tables at the Star Hotel and Sheriff Whitehill* reminisced that "the boy's first offense was the theft of several pounds of butter from a ranchman ... which he disposed of to one of the local merchants."
Billy's First Arrest:* A classmate, Anthony Conner, who remembers Billy as an avid reader said: "Finally he took to reading the Police Gazzette and dime novels. On night he robbed a Chinese laundry. I think it was regarded by him as more of a prank than anything else. But Sheriff Harvey Whitehall locked him up for it ... Mr. Whitehall only wished to scare him."
Billy's First Escape from Jail:* Sheriff Whitehall's account also agrees that putting Billy in jail at age 15 - was meant only to convince the young man of the "perils of crime." One day Billy complained of the lack of exercise and was allowed to be in the jail's corridor - left alone for 30 minutes the slender Billy climbed out of the jail's chimney and escaped.
Billy's First Killing:* In Arizona he killed a blacksmith who was bullying him in a bar. The jury found the murder "unjustifiable" and Billy fled back to New Mexico - this is where he befriended Tunstall in Lincoln. I believe we are all, at least, a little familiar with this story -- if not, I suggest you Google the same.
By the age of 21, it is said Billy can be linked to the deaths of at least 12 men (even though some say 21-22) and finally on July 14, 1881, it is said the young outlaw was killed in a gun battle with Pat Garrett. Garrett's book "The Authentic Life of Bill the Kid" includes an account that Billy knifed his first man in Silver City, the folks around here say that is just a "tall tale" ... including Sheriff Whitehall. As for the death of Billy the Kid - I suggest you Google it also and read the different accounts, including one by Pat Garret himself: Pat Garrett's Account of Billy the Kid's Shooting
Sooooooo, all that said back to Governor Richardson's reasoning behind posthumous pardoning Billy ... 130 years later: He says it is because of lingering questions as to why New Mexico Territorial Governor Lew Wallace didn't follow through on a promised pardon after Billy testified about killings that occurred during the 1878 range war.
Now I suppose that might be a valid train of thought ... but does it at this point really matter - Billy didn't leave any descendants that are "shamed" by his actions. HOWEVER, Garrett's descendants are all "up in arms" saying: such an act would represent an "inexcusable defamation" of Garrett. "If Billy the Kid was living amongst us now, would you issue a pardon for someone who made his living as a thief and, more egregiously, who killed four law enforcement officers and numerous others?" Now I suspect that's a valid train of thought too!
Then there is the whole rumor that Garrett shot the wrong person, that Billy escaped and lived to be an old man ... in Missouri, Arizona and Texas - I've even visiting the "purported" grave of Billy in East Texas!
Just foder for thought from my random brain this morning, while awaiting the awakening of my dear hubby - enjoy, think about it .. research it - draw your own conclusions -- my main question is: does it really matter now --- should we stop screwing around with history ... like removing the Civil War because it isn't politically correct any more ... among other things that get my "cockles" all bristled! :-)
Good day to ya Buddies!
I'd heard this on the news when in Texas and thought "are they just nuts - pardon that young punk criminal?" Now that I'm in Silver City, New Mexico and hearing and reading more - this is a big deal to "them" and my view is now ... well, at best - clouded.
I've never really thought about Billy the Kid (William Bonney Henry McCarty and Henry Antrim) and Pat Garrett that much, outside of reading a passing historical maker and visiting Lincoln, Las Cruces ... now Silver City and points all between (it seems they were all over this part of New Mexico) ... anyway, as typical I drift -- mostly my first thoughts of Billy is the Lincoln County wars, but have discovered a bit of the history of his early life here in Silver City.
*1902 Interview with Sheriff Whitehill, he summed up his memories of Billy (then Henry McCarty): "There was one peculiar characteristic that to an experienced man-hunter would have marked him immediately as a bad man, and that was his dancing eyes. They never were at rest, but continually shifted and roved much like his rebellious nature."
As it goes Billy's mother(? - another story I won't go into here) remarried William Antrim, who reportedly was a neglectful father, being away for long periods of time in his pursuit of gold and silver. That is how "they" wound up in Silver City to begin with, within months of being married Antrim moved them lock, stock and barrel to Silver City in this quest for riches.
Billy's First Crime:* Billy's mother died on September 16, 1874 of tuberculosis (consumption) and Billy got a job waiting tables at the Star Hotel and Sheriff Whitehill* reminisced that "the boy's first offense was the theft of several pounds of butter from a ranchman ... which he disposed of to one of the local merchants."
Billy's First Arrest:* A classmate, Anthony Conner, who remembers Billy as an avid reader said: "Finally he took to reading the Police Gazzette and dime novels. On night he robbed a Chinese laundry. I think it was regarded by him as more of a prank than anything else. But Sheriff Harvey Whitehall locked him up for it ... Mr. Whitehall only wished to scare him."
Billy's First Escape from Jail:* Sheriff Whitehall's account also agrees that putting Billy in jail at age 15 - was meant only to convince the young man of the "perils of crime." One day Billy complained of the lack of exercise and was allowed to be in the jail's corridor - left alone for 30 minutes the slender Billy climbed out of the jail's chimney and escaped.
Billy's First Killing:* In Arizona he killed a blacksmith who was bullying him in a bar. The jury found the murder "unjustifiable" and Billy fled back to New Mexico - this is where he befriended Tunstall in Lincoln. I believe we are all, at least, a little familiar with this story -- if not, I suggest you Google the same.
By the age of 21, it is said Billy can be linked to the deaths of at least 12 men (even though some say 21-22) and finally on July 14, 1881, it is said the young outlaw was killed in a gun battle with Pat Garrett. Garrett's book "The Authentic Life of Bill the Kid" includes an account that Billy knifed his first man in Silver City, the folks around here say that is just a "tall tale" ... including Sheriff Whitehall. As for the death of Billy the Kid - I suggest you Google it also and read the different accounts, including one by Pat Garret himself: Pat Garrett's Account of Billy the Kid's Shooting
Sooooooo, all that said back to Governor Richardson's reasoning behind posthumous pardoning Billy ... 130 years later: He says it is because of lingering questions as to why New Mexico Territorial Governor Lew Wallace didn't follow through on a promised pardon after Billy testified about killings that occurred during the 1878 range war.
Now I suppose that might be a valid train of thought ... but does it at this point really matter - Billy didn't leave any descendants that are "shamed" by his actions. HOWEVER, Garrett's descendants are all "up in arms" saying: such an act would represent an "inexcusable defamation" of Garrett. "If Billy the Kid was living amongst us now, would you issue a pardon for someone who made his living as a thief and, more egregiously, who killed four law enforcement officers and numerous others?" Now I suspect that's a valid train of thought too!
Then there is the whole rumor that Garrett shot the wrong person, that Billy escaped and lived to be an old man ... in Missouri, Arizona and Texas - I've even visiting the "purported" grave of Billy in East Texas!
Just foder for thought from my random brain this morning, while awaiting the awakening of my dear hubby - enjoy, think about it .. research it - draw your own conclusions -- my main question is: does it really matter now --- should we stop screwing around with history ... like removing the Civil War because it isn't politically correct any more ... among other things that get my "cockles" all bristled! :-)
Good day to ya Buddies!
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