Wednesday was a craaazzzyy day! We found out that Kevin was ok after a visit to the oral surgeon yesterday to strengthen his teeth, but he wasn't going to be able to perform - at least for the fundraising preview performance of Skanks in a One Horse Town. It was decided that Billy Ray about play Keys for the night and Flannery would take over the Cocaine Jack lines. On top of that upheaval, I didn't know if I was going to find all of the last minute items I needed to buy and fix all the last minute stage issues I needed to.
After a sprint of a lunch hour which included a stop at Hobby Lobby for glow tape, Costco for whipped cream and water, and Wal-Mart for socks, a bar stool, fake blood supplies and lunch from the deli, I managed to get back to the office only a few minutes late. I was a bit crazed and waiting for the end of work to come so I could get to working on the show. I got a text from BR before I left the office asking if I could get shirts since the ones we'd ordered hadn't come in yet. So, I made a quick run by K-Mart on my way home to change.
I got to the theatre by 6:00 and started cleaning and filling the liquor bottles for the bar, putting glow tape where was needed, sweeping the stage and generally getting everything else ready. With BR getting ready to perform and running some scenes to make sure he had them down, I was by myself counting down time, rounding up the audience and cueing sound/lights to start the show and at intermission. The show went really well, though - thank God.
While sitting in the dark offstage, about 30 minutes into the show, I felt my jacket pocket and realized I had not gotten to eat the breakfast I had stuck in there for dinner. I decided it was too late since I was going to be running around doing set changes. After the show, Doug, me and some others were standing outside chatting, and I reached in my pocket to get my keys out. I felt my breakfast bar, pulled it out and said "oh yeah, there's the dinner I didn't eat." Doug looked at me and said, "That's dinner?" I said that it was supposed to be but obviously that didn't happen. He said we were going to go get food. We drove over to Al's. I was thinking on the way over that I was going to let him buy me dinner this time because, damnit, I deserved it, but I wasn't sure exactly how to say that. As we were walking in - without any prompting from me, he said, "And I'm buying your dinner tonight - I don't care how much you may protest." It couldn't have been more perfect if I'd written it! It was nice to have someone taking care of me finally!
Last night was official opening night. Sherri, Daniel and a bunch of their friends came because it was Daniel's birthday. We had a near-sold out house - only about 2 or 3 seats left! The crowd really seemed to love the show (except the 3 that left at intermission), and howled with laughter throughout the show. Everything went great - no major mishaps just a few misplaced props or minor collisions during set changes. At the end of the show, during "New York Groove," the entire cast is on stage except Doug (his character for the scene is dead) who makes the whipped cream pie. He handed it off to Chris at the side of the stage and walked over to me, bent down, kissed me on the lips and said "happy opening night." Damnit, he's awesome!
This morning, I noticed that ETC Bham's relationship status (which Doug's personal profile had been linked to "in a relationship") has been changed to single. His personal FB status was "in a relationship" with no one tagged. I admit that it made me incredibly happy and made me feel special to know that he is, in fact, that committed. However, I started thinking through all of the drama that could unfold with me suddenly changing my status and realized I couldn't handle it yet. He requested to tag me in his "relationship" status and I had to decline - which absolutely broke my heart!
I wrote him an email letting him know how much it meant to me for him to take that step, but I couldn't do that right now - not because I am not invested but because it would be a whole hell of a lot of drama that I can't deal with. There are a lot of friends that I really need to tell one-on-one first. Then, there's the whole family situation. I want to enjoy this, and as soon as I tell Mom and Dad, they are going to needle me constantly with questions, like they do about everything I tell them. If I don't tell them but announce it on FB where any number of family members (not to mention Marsi) see it and bring it up in conversation, that would be even worse. Thank God, he understood - as I thought he would.
Now, I'm looking forward to an extended weekend and multiple chances to enjoy this gift that has been given to me :)
