Time to get Grateful!

Yesterday was a big "complain" post. If you know me, you know that's not my style.
The perspective I need can always be rediscovered in Gratitude, so I'm goin there...I'm going to the Gratitude Journal Posting to start each entry here at She's Really Doing This.
If I am going to be known for anything consistently, it will be Gratitude.
I am grateful for: this beautiful life that I lead, warts and all
the people I share this life with
my children's health
my committed, healthy marraige
the lovely home I have been fortunate enough to create at 420 Rochester Road

There...I feel better already. General lists of things I'm thankful for always help me find my center. At my very core, I am a happy person.

Keep your eye on the blog to hear these and many other things expounded upon as I move to a new phase in my life.
I'm not sure where all this is going, but I have a notion that these little changes will lead to big changes.

Today is Thursday and that means that I have rehearsal for Annie Get Your Gun. Regan and I will share the stage and that is one more blessing to count.

Lot's of lessons for Rosey today, including a Math Test. She did well.
Lucas has been diligently working to bring his grades to where they should be for an independent student. This is a learning curve, so he was off to a Rocky Start.
Flute Lessons for Regan and Drum Lessons for Lucas are Thursdays too. Busy day for the Pelicanos.

September

So we've been in "Virtual School" for a couple of weeks and I give it a big thumbs down. It isn't my cup of tea.
I don't agree with the notion of "Home School"...never have. Now I can speak to it from the stand point of one who has attempted the practice and I hate to say it, but as usual....I was right.
Conceptually, there are too many problems to mention, so suffice it to say...I'm not happy with the lack of choices for my children's education in South Carolina and that will require some major decisions.
For now...Regan, Lucas and Rosemary Pelicano will remain enrolled at Connections Academy, much to my chagrin!

Preparing

So tomorrow School starts. What will it be like trying to create a learning environment for the kids in this house where comfort prevails and our habits are bad?
I hope that we can transition into a schedule that allows work to be done efficiently so our days don't drag.
Rosey is used to the dynamic class of Maryann Tully. A legendary Kindergarten teacher who truly taught the kids everything they needed to know! There is no hype in that statement. She is awesome.
I won't hold a candle to Mrs. Tully, or any of the real teachers my children have had over the years, but the challenge is to get them through so they learn what they need to succeed in school and help to set them on a path that doesn't include the nonsense that we were encountering at their last school.
I would have never believed I'd be doing this!

Now she's doing this!

Still the same old me, but there have been some changes. The kids have run out of Education options in this state, so we have decided to resort to Virtual School.
YIKES! I can do anything, and that is even more true of my kids, so I'm not afraid, really, but I'm not a fan, of "Homeschooling".
This will be different, because I'll make sure it's different, but it is not my first choice. We must come up with a viable alternative before Regan reaches High School and that's next year...
There's a lot more to tell, but I'm going to post small bits for the next few weeks to get caught up.
I have a lot to say and I've decided to begin, AGAIN.
New Beginning...that sounds full of possibilty, doesn't it?

What?

It's February...okay, February is almost over and I've not been here for a while.
The theatre takes over during the months of a production. It becomes all consuming and that is either good or bad, I can't decide.
I did get to spend some time in NYC at the end of January and Anita and I got to visit with Mr. Albert Maysles, the film maker/documentarian who is responsible for the Masterpiece Film Grey Gardens.
F.I.R.E. will be producing that show next season and Anita and I will be the Bouvier Beale women in the show. We gained an insight that few other actresses will have as long as anyone is playing the roles in the musical. Set the tone for another amazing season, our third.
West Side Story will close on Sunday and we are in rehearsal for The Wedding Singer.
It is my great joy that Zachary is here and working with us and it is always my great source of pride when the audience in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, where we do our shows loves them.
We are changing the world, one audience member, actor, volunteer at a time.

Monday

Back to the office where we do all the work that goes into getting a show on the stage in Fountain Inn. We call it the "Fireplace." Good name, it feels like home to both of us.
Spending time "focused" on what's coming up in the crazy world that we've created is invigorating. What a surreal dream to sit at those silly desks and act like business women when all we really want to do is "put on a show".
Working with one of your best friends is nothing but a gas! We laugh as much as we work, but it all gets done, eventually.

Time spent catching up with my chosen brother on the phone today, too. There is great distance between us, geographically, but it is undetectable when we connect to share our daily lives, which is what we do regularly. It had been a week since we spoke so there were many things to share and laugh about.

Zachary got a new car today. A Saturn Ion. Very safe and reliable. That does this mother's heart quite well.

Galvaston Giant Jack Johnson was registered with the AKC today. He's official. Big name for a little guy.
He spent the day at work with David. They even ran some errands.

Back to school for the kids and they are tired.
A very good first Monday of 2010.

FOCUS

The word of 2010 is "Focus".

When I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer in November 2004, my world became clearly focused. I was in survival mode. That was all there was. I had a son in his senior year of High School and I had a 6 week old baby and two beautiful children in between not to mention a husband whom I adore. That was my motivation to survive and everyone on my "medical team" knew the goal and was in it for the win.

I remember the laser like clarity and I want to apply that to the life that I live each day. Oddly enough, I miss it.

I have had a recent health scare, and the answer to the question about my condition is still "up in the air"...(like George Clooney) so I have had to re"Focus" as I prepare for the coming year and how I will live the full, focused life that will allow me to accomplish the goal of raising this family and fulfilling the dream that I'm following at the Theatre.

As I relaxed over the break at our cabin in the woods, I kept coming back to that feeling of being 100% focused. I remember how my children looked when we told them Mommy was sick and it was a really bad kind of sick. I remember the trauma for Lucas when I lost my hair. I remember the first dose of chemotherapy and what I felt like, exactly. I was "fuzzy" but I was savoring the thought that those drugs were making me well, not making me sick. I never battled nausea or any of the side effects that go along with chemo and I believe that I have my "focus" to thank for that.

So...for this year, I will focus again. I might not have any battle ahead, but if I do, I will win it. I definately have a life to live in 2010 and all the fullness that entails. We are in production of West Side Story. One of the most ambitious shows to tackle in a "whitebread" community.
Next is The Wedding Singer, where I will watch Zachary shine and I will share the stage with him. My idea of heaven.
I will focus on the moment. The moment that the Overture starts, like I focused as the Overture started for Funny Girl.
I will focus on turning 45 the same week that I celebrate being married to my precious husband for 25 years.
I will focus on having two twelve year olds for 6 weeks before my precious first born daughter becomes a teenager.
I will focus on Rosey graduating from Mrs. Tully's class.
I will focus on getting to NY to see my friends.
I will focus on preparing a great season at F.I.R.E.
I will focus on nurturing my friendships that require more than I have been able to give lately.
I will focus on being the person that makes the world a better place.
I will focus on my vocation to be the mother of artists whether I've given birth to them, or not.
I will focus on living the life that I've been given to the fullest!

I have the ability to Focus, and when I do it, I feel completely alive.
So that is the word, everyone.
FOCUS.
I hope that if you're reading this, you consider one little word that might change your life.

Day 2

I'm not going to name the days of the year every day, I just have to remind myself that it's day 2 of the New Year. Being away for the week between Christmas and New Years messed with my mind.
Today I cleaned out cabinets in the kitchen....EMBARASSING! Everything was expired.
Luckily, I don't use "cream of tarter" so the fact that it hasn't been good since 1997 didn't matter in the grand scheme.
I decided on my "one little word" for 2010 today, and I'll post about it tomorrow. I want to give some thought to my explanation before I pontificate.

We've added a pup to our family and he is a BABY. He's not even 7 weeks old and David is caring for him much the way he cared for our new born children. Low Stress for me, but we really want a dog that is well adjusted and part of the home life. No outside dogs for us. He is an American Boxer and his nanme is Jackson, Jack for short. He's ADORABLE!

So You Think You Can Blog?!

January 1, 2010...

This is the year of the story.
I am going to BLOG. I mean it.
There are so many things to share, and it's time to share them here and see who is paying attention.
Stay tuned to see what I'll be doing and comment when you feel like you want to.
Dialogue. Communication. Sharing...
That's what our lives should be about.
I want to talk about ideas and things that matter and this will be the place that I start.
I did a lot last year and didn't blog it, that was a mistake. Join me to see what I come up with for the coming year and help me keep my promise. Let me know what you think.
I'll try to keep it interesting, if you know me, you know that won't be too hard!

Happy New Year!