About opening 2 shows and finally seeing the splendor of the Rockies...

Brigadoon: Opened. Glorious. Wonderful. A total blast. I teared up backstage during the overture because of the shocking reality that this is my job. I've actually turned my childhood dress-up, sing-a-longs into a career that pays. It's weird. And thrilling. I feel blessed and so, so lucky. Of course, I cried numerous times throughout the evening: the champagne toast in the dressing rooms, the after-party while thanking my directors, the after-after-party by the campfire completely toasted with the cast, crew, and new found worldly friends from the local hostel. It was beyond fabulous. The next morning's splitting headache was cured by a greasy breakfast from the Fat Cat cafe, which is owned by a feisty British woman who gives herself electro-shock therapy and bakes the most mouthwatering English scones I've ever tasted. All-in-all, a wonderful weekend.

Pirates: Opened. Hilarity abounding. It was insanely fun. It's just one of the funniest shows ever written anyway. Another rollicking night of toasts, drinking, and campfire fun ensued. However, instead of following with a headache-ridden brunch the next morning, I got up with some friends, threw the top down on the ol' convertible and headed through Rocky Mountain National Park to Estes Park.

God's Country? I live in it. I saw so much...EVERYTHING. I can't even describe how moving it was, because no pictures, words, songs, no nothing could even do justice to the places I experienced. And the beauty is, I have 9 weeks to experience it again. Well, 7 weeks considering I'll have no time from now till when All Shook Up opens on the 3rd, but still. It was breathtaking. That's all I can say. Being amid nature at its most glorious revitalized my spirit and renewed my positivity and gave me the energy and hope to keep moving forward. 

Estes Park? Lovely. Bigger than Grand Lake and complete with a fantastic sushi place. It was the best day to date. 

Now, we're working on All Shook Up, which will no doubt be oodles of fun. I realize I talk about how "fun" everything is, but shouldn't it always be just that? Fun? If I'm not genuinely enjoying myself, why on earth am I doing it? It is fun. Even the shitty parts. Even the exhausting parts. I come home fatigued and famished at the end of a day that started with a music rehearsal, continued with a dance rehearsal, revved up for a show, cooled down with a complete set-changeover, and would I change a thing? Nope. Well, I'd take away the tireds, but then it would be real. If it weren't hard, it would be a fairytale, and that would just be creepy. 

Still, it's magical, and I love it. 

Thanks, Colorado. 

About getting ready to open a show...

It's overwhelming. I won't lie, yesterday was my first rough day here. Don't worry. I still love everyone and everything about this place, it just finally hit me that I haven't really had the time to recharge my batteries in 10 days. If you know me, you know that I need some "alone-time" here and there to just sit, write, read, THINK, whatever. Up here, I hadn't even had time to do laundry, grocery shop, or make a decent meal, let alone chill out. Last night before our 2nd run of Brigadoon, I felt like crying. Certainly not an unusual feeling for me, but one I hadn't experienced since first arriving in Mountain Utopia. Luckily, the people here are amazing, and two lovely individuals, Christina and one of my roommates Aly drove the 20 miles to Granby with me so I could get groceries. It was nice to drive and relax and have someone remind me that it was perfectly ok to be upset every once in awhile. 

I woke up at 6:45 this morning to go to my mom's friend's condo to have breakfast and do my laundry. I found it completely refreshing and revitalizing to have that time for myself, so now I think I'll start doing it every morning. Not the laundry and mooching off of mother's friend, of course, but the extra hour in the morning for me. 

I'm happy and grateful for good friends and refreshing mornings for myself. I think these two important components of my life will make this summer even more spectacular. 

Back to the opening of a show on, oh, FRIDAY. I think it will be good! I'm not going to lie, I'm not entirely used to this whole Repertory schedule yet, but I like the whole throwing it up on to its feet thing. It hasn't had the chance to get stale yet, which, considering we have 20 actual performances to go is a very good thing. Pirates is up and running, and going to be beyond adorable. I forgot how utterly charming Gilbert and Sullivan are. 

Today was good. Tomorrow will be, also.

About 9 to 9 rehearsals...

Quite fun, actually. I really love being constantly busy and working. I'm having so much fun, it almost seems like a crime to get paid for it. Almost. Of course, I'm still a bit of a loner and have a tendency to miss my alone time here and there, but, for the most part, I haven't got a complaint. 

Goodness gracious, though. I swear every kind, genuine, wonderful, loving, giving person lives in Grand Lake, CO for the summer. And they all sure do love their Repertory theatre. Dinners, discounts, free drinks and apps at the bars after rehearsals, what could be better? I just feel so blessed to be in this fantastic, magical place for the summer. Yes, I realize it's the honeymoon and it will get harder and more tiring as the weeks go on until all of these shows are up, opened, and running, but for now, it's Heaven in the mountains. 

I'm a lucky girl.