No Politics, I Promise

As my first blog after one of the biggest, craziest elections of all time, what ELSE would I talk about except...

THE CHRISTMAS CAROL!!

Haha! I (and the majority of America) am absolutely sick of politics, and I have no inclinations whatsoever to discuss them in this blog. Instead... happier things!

In this year's upcoming Christmas Carol, my sister and I have been cast as the Charwomen, two ladies of questionable morality, robbing Scrooge's home and dead body of whatever they can get their hands on. It is one of the few comedic scenes in the play, and there aren't many lines, so it is ideal for me. Also, since it is my sister and I, we work well together and have come up with some silly things to do and say in our little part.

Tonight was the Charwomen's first real rehearsal, and we showed up at the Shuler about 6:00. We were the first ones to rehearse and it didn't take long, but we were in the theater long enough for me to get nostalgic. I know I make fun of Raton a lot, and usually for good reason, but I have to say, one of the best thing about this little town is the Shuler Theater. It's old and beautiful, and I am so glad that I've been able to see and experience it from top to bottom, inside and out. I've been in several productions, and band performances, so I've been onstage a decent amount. But I've also been up in the lighting booth, all over backstage and downstairs, up in the costumes department, and once, even in the men's bathroom!

I remember the year we put on Miracle on 34th Street especially, because I was so involved in helping backstage and up in the lighting booth, where I ran the spotlight. Since I did so much that year, I also had some unusual opportunities, like being in the theater when almost no one else was. I went in one wintry afternoon to touch up some scratches on the stage with black paint, alone except for one or two people in the far-off front office. I stood on the stage, listening to the bitter cold wind howling against the tall building. The lights were up and bright and I stood center stage, looking out into the empty audience. I felt... powerful. There's no better way to put it.

After I finished touch-ups and cleaned the paint brush, I lowered myself into the pit where there is one lone piano. I pushed up the keyboard lid and let my fingers brush against the keys. Down on the bass end of the piano, I began to play the bottom part of "Heart and Soul", the chords ringing out all through the empty theater, over the vacated seats, up to splash against the ornate painted ceiling.

I love the feeling of getting the show's set up and together, and hearing the dull roar of a full audience chatting before a performance. It's a cool sensation to be downstairs below the stage, actors laughing and talking and applying their obligatory stage makeup.

We are lucky to have some REALLY talented people here in Raton! Great actors and beautiful voices, and I think this year's production of A Christmas Carol, directed by Clint Henson, is going to be great!

There's something about Christmastime shows that really get me in the spirit. Please come out to support us! :)

Happy Thursday!

Sarah

Sarah on Sports

Last night, my sister and I went up to our Dad's house to watch the CMAs on TV. None of us are huuuuuuge country fans, but it was fun to watch all the performances, and all three of us knew more country stars than we thought! But every couple of ads, our Dad had us switch the channel over to the World Series... Indians vs. the Cubs! And as soon as the CMAs ended, we switched right back to baseball. It was the top of the 10th inning and things were close! My sister and I had been planning on heading straight home, but we got caught up in the game and stayed to watch. I'm glad we did!

I am not.. sporty. Not athletic. The only sport I feel comfortable discussing is Quidditch. I was once on a kids basketball team, and I was terrible. Every time I was passed the ball I ended up stepping out of bounds. And even worse, I was once in a small-kid soccer league, and I had NO IDEA what was going on. My game plan was to follow the group of kids running and hope to God the ball wouldn't come anywhere near me. On the unfortunate occasions that I couldn't avoid the ball, I kicked it as hard as I could. In any direction. And the kids on my team hated me.

Lately, my sister has been diligently and patiently teaching me the rules of football... I am a bad student! But I'm making progress. It's funny, all the 20-odd years I've been going to football games, I somehow managed to never learn the rules! I either brought a book or busied myself with people watching and trips to the concessions stand.

But even though I'm no sports fanatic, it doesn't mean I don't like them! I'm enjoying football more now that I understand it better, and I like watching the ads during the Super Bowl. I don't mind watching a little golf because I like to do the golf clap, and I make fun of the golfers. I call Phil Mickelson, Mick Phillison, and I like when Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy wear bright outfits and silly golf-pants. I like watching basketball because even though I was terrible, somehow I always somehow pictured myself as the next Michael Jordan. Ahh, to be young and delusional! Watching baseball reminds me of my dad and going to Sky Sox games in Colorado Springs as a family. My sister and I always like to laugh at the players "at bat" songs they pick. Once one guy picked a Miley Cyrus song and we suspected he got a lot of shit for that. Some of my earliest memories are being afraid of Sox the Fox, and being coached to yell "HIT ME THE DAMN BALL!!"

So last night after the CMAs, we watched the last inning of the final World Series game, and I'm so glad we did! Our Dad showed us the tricky board that shows what inning it is, and how many outs, etc. And he pointed out the Indian's coach chewing gum like a madman. And we watched history being made! The Chicago Cubs won the World series for the first time in 108 years! The interviews with the players were really cool and sweet, because it was obvious how much it meant to them. And Dad pointed out all the players heading to the locker room, wearing goggles, ready to pop some champagne!

That was it for baseball this year, but with all this football coming up, coupled with my sister's tenacity, I'm sure to be an expert in no time!

Sarah

P.S. There were so many political ads on that night, it was sickening. WE ARE SO CLOSE

Also, click here to see another sports blog I wrote, in much more detail