Well, not really but I just spent the last half hour watching two does and their fawns (no spots - they were from spring) eat grass in the back yard of my boss's place. They were really cute and less than a hundred feet away so I got some neat pictures. Good thing I always carry my digicam with me. No snow though - a fact which has me rather miffed.
It is a strange fact but true but I LOVE winter and snow - the more snow the better in my opinion. People always used to say that I wouldn't feel that way if I had to drive in it but driving in it doesn't change my mind. I hate winters like right now when it is cold and grey and just so... blah and muddy out. The only colors are grey, mud brown, bark, and green from grass and pines. Really... UGH. Looking outside is a good way to get depressed though I imagine the animals are using this as a last minute chance to get some good meals in. I much prefer at LEAST 6in-1 foot of snow on the ground from Thanksgiving til the beginning of March. That way everything looks fresh, clean, and gorgeous and I don't feel the cold quite as much. I get colder easier than anyone alive which is what makes it all a paradox. I think my favorite time in winter besides Christmas is right after a BIG snowstorm when the wind isn't blowing and the snow is all over every branch and leaf so the trees and bushes look like lace and the snow is a thick untouched blanket on the ground. And, it's so quiet. Nothing is as quiet as a forest after a snowstorm. I keep getting miffed at the weatherman cause he's predicted big storms and we have yet to have a REALLY good storm that puts down more than 4 inches. So, even though we've had snow I MISS snow and I want it bad, darn it! I want a white Christmas instead of a grey one.
My love of snow does not mean that I will not thouroughly enjoy going to LA in Jan 6-14th for my bday where it is warm - if you call 60s warm and I will considering what Ohio is like in January. I shall be running around Disneyland and think of everyone back home freezing their butts off and let out an evil laugh. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. It will be especially sweet if Cleveland really gets dumped on then because I shall be able to call Mom and gloat. Of course, if that happens I won't be in Cleveland to take snowy picture but, c'est la vie.
I also really want snow the weekend of Jan 16th. That weekend my family and my two best friends are going camping in the Allegany Mts in cabins and it would REALLY stink not to be able to go sledding and such. Plus Christina, Ken, and I have a cabin which we shall be sharing with Samantha my Golden Girl (no she's not a geriatric case she's just blonde with a feathery tail). In our old Star Trek show Ken made me the Dead Uniform - you know the Redshirt that gets killed 5 min in. Well, I'm taking my lappie and mic with me even though I won't have a net connection and I shall be making him and Chris be Dead Uniforms and record various death screams! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Yes! Evil laugh! MUAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA! Those of you in Gaia's cast know exactly which episodes I'm talking about.
Speaking of Gaia. Gaia 4 is 95% done. I'll be finishing it off and then recording a commentary in the next few days with one of the new big actors joining the cast. I am much looking forward to that. Then I have to start work on Gaia 5 and slay any actors who haven't finished getting me in the second halves of their lines.
I have also gotten back into World of Warcraft. I mixed 12 hours straight on Saturday and 6 straight on Sunday and so spent about 6 HOURS installing and updating WoW on my computer and spent a delightful day yesterday just defrying my brain playing. I'm the Blood Elf Huntress Ombria on the Moonguard server if anyone cares to say hi. After how hard and draining last week was and burning through mixing most of last weekend I just couldn't face mixing another scene so I went and started shooting arrows into things and slaying monsters. I actually found some really good RP in the city of Silvermoon which surprised me since WoW isn't known for its RP but as I walked through the city there were people RPing in character all over. Dance of joy!
I think I'm going to let myself have at least an hour or two a day no matter how busy my mixing schedule is to play just to keep myself sane these next few months. I am going to be a complete mad woman by the time Gaia 6 is done.
Heh. If anyone is good with mixing and is interested in being an assisstant mixer please get ahold of me, eh? I could use the help, I'm thinking. Gaia's just so bloody huge. My own fault, I know. Though I usually blame the muse and say it ran away with me. LOL. Kristy and Rene are no help in that department cause when we get together ideas tend to expand and multiple like plagues of locusts! Those of you who are writers will understand.
Next week is also going to be nuts because it will be the week before Christmas and I shall be having to pester my Gaia cast for Ep 6 lines so I have as many as possible and am not going insane with worry while trying to pack for LA. Yorkieman lines are due the end of the month too but I'm not too worried about that. Most of the cast has already gotten me their lines and of the other two co-stars one is INSANELY good about getting his lines in *cough cough David - I am still half expecting an elephant to trumpet while you do your lines, BTW* and I hear good things about the other and he knows I will shoot him and find devious ways to cut off his ponytail if he is late *cough cough Stevie*. And, of course there's my lines but that's all good.
Anyway, it's about time to get home and finish Gaia 4 so I can dive back into WoW! Heee! BTW if you read this blog become a watcher eh so I know who ya are!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
And I'm Up!
Well, one of the problems with crashing right around dinnertime is that you wake up at 4AM like I just did. Well, some might call it a problem but it isn't really. It just means that my sleep schedule is out of whack a bit and I'll be knackered as the Brits say about dinnertime tomorrow - or tonight I should say. But that's okay. I can stay up a bit or take a short nap after work no problem.
I am a night owl, really. My normal sleep schedule is to stay up all night and go to sleep with the dawn. That's mainly so because there really is nothing much to do around here - especially because I don't have my own car and can't easily drive places so I usually end up spending lots of time on my laptop. I actually do not have any friends in my home town where I can just go and hang out. I was teased a lot as a kid here and that made me more isolated and I turned to books and animals. It also made me not a big chatterbox IRL. I know some who might read this would be shocked at that considering online I chat with anyone and everyone but it's true. Normally I'm the quiet one with the book or laptop who minds her own business. I think it's because I'm much older than most of the students, it's the way of most people to mind their own business, and I just don't relate too well to most of them - interests so different and all.
It was only when I went away to school in Edinboro PA about 6 years ago now that I made my first group of true friends. IRL I don't make friends easily but when I make them they tend to stick. Some of you have met one of them - Christina. She's part of my cast in Gaia. She plays Clematis AKA Gimpy. Gimpy is actually her nickname IRL cause she keeps having to use crutches and getting into trouble. I dragged her into the VA world and she's actually doing pretty good when she does Gimpy's voice without passing out! There's also Ken Arnold who I tried to drag into our world but it didn't quite work out. He's the neurotic but very creative actor/Broadway encyclopedia. Oh and the Star Trek encyclopedia too. And there's Traci - the more than slightly loopy music major who wants to marry the Steelers quarterback. And there's me. There used to be two other big additions to the group but life happened and they sort of went on their own ways.
We all had our own Star Trek show once. I don't mean an audiodrama but our own show. Ken and Herman (one who went his own way but who knew EVERYONE in the Star Trek universe from doing convention security) dreamt up a Star Trek show and Herman actually told Kate and Roxann about it and for awhile things seemed REALLY cool. We would all get together at lunch and plan all sorts of things and talk about episodes and such - you all who have their own shows know how it is. And we'd never know what Herman would come up with next. It was a fantastic time that really changed my life simply because I had never had those sort of friends before - you know, the type that will stand by you no matter what. Our show fell through, of course, but it was an incredible ride.
And now, I'm the one with the show - well three of them though I only write Little Moccasin Foot - and I'm going off to LA. It's kind of funny really. We always thought it would be Ken who would do it but I stumbled over Defiant at Pendant and one thing led to another and now, here I am with my own shows and cast of fantastic actors - Gaia and Yorkieman are a dream team and THANK YOU ALL! In my spare time I get to play in outer space and now the Moors of Yorkshire and Fairyland. Pretty damn cool! I never get over the thrill of hearing people bring my characters and stories to life. Gaia's the prime example since Yorkieman lines are JUST starting to come in. I'm mixing Gaia 4 right now and my cast literally DOUBLES in this episode with some fantastic people. I tend to say fantastic a lot but it's true. You'll hear me go on at length about the newcomers eventually but I'm not now cause it'll be spoilers but you'll want to listen at the end of the month. Gaia 4 is where the story REALLY begins.
But orginally this blog was going to be about 4AM. I kind of got off topic didn't I? I actually really like the early morning hours. I have some good friends who are often on this time (at the moment who are asleep for a change), a feisty puppy and a sweet kitty (who is curled up at my feet), and... it's quiet. My family is asleep and it's just me in the house and I can relax. Most of the world sleeps and if you go outside and look up you can hear the stars sing. It's just a more peaceful time. I'll probably start missing it when I get out of Cleveland and out to LA. I don't mean LA just for my quick visit but LA to live. I hope to graduate (FINALLY) from college this spring and California is a good place for Grad anthropology programs. UCLA actually has a really good Archaeology Masters and PhD program. And if I get residency then it costs a lot less. So, going to apply at Disney (sell my soul to the Mouse as Rene puts it) and perhaps see if I can substitute teach or what kind of jobs I can get with my Bachelors and if I get a job where I can affoard an apartment with or without a roomie then I'm heading out there ASAP this summer. If I can save up the money I MIGHT even get there in time for the Pendant picnic. So, watch out LA Pendulums! I'm on my way! If I get out there there will probably be much to do and see during the day and I shall have to give up my night owl ways. But, for now, I'll enjoy 4AM.
Time for mixing! Goal for this weekend is to finish Gaia 4 and then torture my two actors who STILL have not gotten me in their Gaia 5 lines!
I am a night owl, really. My normal sleep schedule is to stay up all night and go to sleep with the dawn. That's mainly so because there really is nothing much to do around here - especially because I don't have my own car and can't easily drive places so I usually end up spending lots of time on my laptop. I actually do not have any friends in my home town where I can just go and hang out. I was teased a lot as a kid here and that made me more isolated and I turned to books and animals. It also made me not a big chatterbox IRL. I know some who might read this would be shocked at that considering online I chat with anyone and everyone but it's true. Normally I'm the quiet one with the book or laptop who minds her own business. I think it's because I'm much older than most of the students, it's the way of most people to mind their own business, and I just don't relate too well to most of them - interests so different and all.
It was only when I went away to school in Edinboro PA about 6 years ago now that I made my first group of true friends. IRL I don't make friends easily but when I make them they tend to stick. Some of you have met one of them - Christina. She's part of my cast in Gaia. She plays Clematis AKA Gimpy. Gimpy is actually her nickname IRL cause she keeps having to use crutches and getting into trouble. I dragged her into the VA world and she's actually doing pretty good when she does Gimpy's voice without passing out! There's also Ken Arnold who I tried to drag into our world but it didn't quite work out. He's the neurotic but very creative actor/Broadway encyclopedia. Oh and the Star Trek encyclopedia too. And there's Traci - the more than slightly loopy music major who wants to marry the Steelers quarterback. And there's me. There used to be two other big additions to the group but life happened and they sort of went on their own ways.
We all had our own Star Trek show once. I don't mean an audiodrama but our own show. Ken and Herman (one who went his own way but who knew EVERYONE in the Star Trek universe from doing convention security) dreamt up a Star Trek show and Herman actually told Kate and Roxann about it and for awhile things seemed REALLY cool. We would all get together at lunch and plan all sorts of things and talk about episodes and such - you all who have their own shows know how it is. And we'd never know what Herman would come up with next. It was a fantastic time that really changed my life simply because I had never had those sort of friends before - you know, the type that will stand by you no matter what. Our show fell through, of course, but it was an incredible ride.
And now, I'm the one with the show - well three of them though I only write Little Moccasin Foot - and I'm going off to LA. It's kind of funny really. We always thought it would be Ken who would do it but I stumbled over Defiant at Pendant and one thing led to another and now, here I am with my own shows and cast of fantastic actors - Gaia and Yorkieman are a dream team and THANK YOU ALL! In my spare time I get to play in outer space and now the Moors of Yorkshire and Fairyland. Pretty damn cool! I never get over the thrill of hearing people bring my characters and stories to life. Gaia's the prime example since Yorkieman lines are JUST starting to come in. I'm mixing Gaia 4 right now and my cast literally DOUBLES in this episode with some fantastic people. I tend to say fantastic a lot but it's true. You'll hear me go on at length about the newcomers eventually but I'm not now cause it'll be spoilers but you'll want to listen at the end of the month. Gaia 4 is where the story REALLY begins.
But orginally this blog was going to be about 4AM. I kind of got off topic didn't I? I actually really like the early morning hours. I have some good friends who are often on this time (at the moment who are asleep for a change), a feisty puppy and a sweet kitty (who is curled up at my feet), and... it's quiet. My family is asleep and it's just me in the house and I can relax. Most of the world sleeps and if you go outside and look up you can hear the stars sing. It's just a more peaceful time. I'll probably start missing it when I get out of Cleveland and out to LA. I don't mean LA just for my quick visit but LA to live. I hope to graduate (FINALLY) from college this spring and California is a good place for Grad anthropology programs. UCLA actually has a really good Archaeology Masters and PhD program. And if I get residency then it costs a lot less. So, going to apply at Disney (sell my soul to the Mouse as Rene puts it) and perhaps see if I can substitute teach or what kind of jobs I can get with my Bachelors and if I get a job where I can affoard an apartment with or without a roomie then I'm heading out there ASAP this summer. If I can save up the money I MIGHT even get there in time for the Pendant picnic. So, watch out LA Pendulums! I'm on my way! If I get out there there will probably be much to do and see during the day and I shall have to give up my night owl ways. But, for now, I'll enjoy 4AM.
Time for mixing! Goal for this weekend is to finish Gaia 4 and then torture my two actors who STILL have not gotten me in their Gaia 5 lines!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Home, Done, and Half Dead
Well, I got that blasted Forensics paper and take home final done and turned in JUST under the wire. I never want to hear about the Cleveland Torso Murders again. Oye! It's been one of those weeks that seemed like they never would end. But I got a post card from and voice chatted with David last night so that was VERY nice and left me quite hyper afterwards. I am so dead and drained right now I can barely see straight sincce I have been up close to 30 hours straight and most of that was buried in serial killing reports. But, the semester is done and over with and there's nothing more I can do. I'm just staying up long enough to eat some yucky french fries and drink a diet coke before crawling off to bed to die for at least a few hours. Knowing me I'll probably be up again at midnight or something. I'll probably work on mixing Gaia 4 and inventing innovative ways of killing whoever doesn't get me their Gaia 5 and 6 lines. My goal for this weekend is to get Gaia 4 completely mixed... But NOT until I get some sleep! I would write more but I'm exhausted. If I was a Timelord I think I'd be regenerating right now. Oof!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Goodbye, beautiful
Mary died this morning about two hours or so ago - right before I got to work. I came in and the nurse was there as well as Mr. Starkey's neighbor friend. I kissed her forehead and told her goodbye. And we sat and chatted about things while I held his hand and gave him plenty of hugs. He was holding on real real tight. They were married over sixty years. There was nothing left of her on her little bed.
I'm alright, I think, though of course I'm sad. It's always hardest when the death is sudden and the person isn't ready to go. Mary was, though. I could see it in her eyes on Saturday when I was last here. It's been sad and depressing but I'm happy for her because she's finally free. Her mind died long ago and now her body finally followed her. I would hate to have lived the past ten years as she did. I'm now more worried about Mr. Starkey. Taking care of her is what held him together. I'm not sure what he's going to do now but it's up to me to take care of him. He's sitting in her old chair all quiet and holding it in. I know he must be hurting but all I can do is give him a hug and let him know I'm here.
I'm just sort of numb. Leading up to the death is the hard depressing part for me. Afterwards... well... It's just planning what to do next and moving on. I'm very unlike my mother in some ways. One big way is stress. She stresses out about EVERYTHING. I only stress about what I can change. If there's a problem then I make a plan of action and I deal with it. If I can't do anything I don't worry and just deal with happens and move on til the next problem. Right now, that means getting finals done, being there for him when he needs me, and figuring out when the funeral is - not sure yet. And mixing Gaia. I'm sad... But I'm a release. I don't worry about those who have passed on - they're alright. It's the one left behind who I worry about and can help. Might sound callous but when death is a release then it's not a bad thing. I like to think she's somewhere with her daughter whole and happy again.
In any case, I gotta run to the store and then make him lunch and run a few errands. I have a Christmas present to mail out that I want to make sure gets on time. I'm not at all sure what the rest of today shall bring.
I'm alright, I think, though of course I'm sad. It's always hardest when the death is sudden and the person isn't ready to go. Mary was, though. I could see it in her eyes on Saturday when I was last here. It's been sad and depressing but I'm happy for her because she's finally free. Her mind died long ago and now her body finally followed her. I would hate to have lived the past ten years as she did. I'm now more worried about Mr. Starkey. Taking care of her is what held him together. I'm not sure what he's going to do now but it's up to me to take care of him. He's sitting in her old chair all quiet and holding it in. I know he must be hurting but all I can do is give him a hug and let him know I'm here.
I'm just sort of numb. Leading up to the death is the hard depressing part for me. Afterwards... well... It's just planning what to do next and moving on. I'm very unlike my mother in some ways. One big way is stress. She stresses out about EVERYTHING. I only stress about what I can change. If there's a problem then I make a plan of action and I deal with it. If I can't do anything I don't worry and just deal with happens and move on til the next problem. Right now, that means getting finals done, being there for him when he needs me, and figuring out when the funeral is - not sure yet. And mixing Gaia. I'm sad... But I'm a release. I don't worry about those who have passed on - they're alright. It's the one left behind who I worry about and can help. Might sound callous but when death is a release then it's not a bad thing. I like to think she's somewhere with her daughter whole and happy again.
In any case, I gotta run to the store and then make him lunch and run a few errands. I have a Christmas present to mail out that I want to make sure gets on time. I'm not at all sure what the rest of today shall bring.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Less than a week to live
It's official. Mary only has perhaps 5-6 days to live. I just got to work and she's in a hospital bed in the living room. She told me hello when I kissed her forehead but there's nothing left to her. She stopped eating days ago. I look into her eyes and... well.. you know it's time for her to go. It's the look a beloved old pet gives you when it's time to take them to the vet for the last time. My grandmother said it four years ago. We are kinder to our pets than to our elderly. I know I would not want to continue to live if my mind was completely gone. Her body might be dieing but the real Mary died many years ago.
I wish I'd known her back then. I wish I'd known her when she was still aware and had her memories. She was a wonderful artist. She went to art school and there are pictures she made all over the place. She always was a great cook and made fresh bread. And she doted on her granddaughter - that same granddaughter who does not seem to give a damn to visit her grandmother even on her deathbed. I suppose I can somewhat understand considering it is probably painful to see her this way - it's painful for me and I didn't know her when she was her full self - but... still... I would visit even if it was only to say goodbye and for my grandfather. I know it would mean so much to Mr. Starkey.
It looks like the funeral will most likely be next weekend. I have finals next week and have to be at school Monday and Friday for sure. Luckily, I have no finals scheduled Wednesday in case he needs me. Both tests are Monday and I just have a paper and a take-home final due Friday. Still, most likely any day now she's just going to go to sleep and not wake up.
It does bring back echoes of my grandparents. I wrote about them last time. It was harder last year cause Grandpa wasn't ready to go like Nana was and Mary is. It's harder then. When they are ready to go and death is a release you miss them but you're happy for them too cause they're no longer in any pain. I hope in Heaven she'll be with her daughter and get her memories back. She probably won't remember me cause she never once seemed to recognize me or said my name but, that's alright. She's a very sweet lady and even on her deathbed she's still as beautiful as ever.
I'm more worried about Mr. Starkey. He's taking it hard, I can tell, though he obviously keeps his feelings inside. I hope she doesn't move on until I'm there cause he's really going to need me these next weeks. I can be here any day cept Monday and next Friday. I'll even work on papers here if I need to. I can do it - most of the materials are online anyway. It's going to be different around here without her. He'll still need me for company and shopping but I'm going to miss seeing her rocking away in her little chair.
My family right now is out picking out our Christmas tree. When I get off work I'll be going home to help put it up and revive the Christmas spirit. I think this is the first Christmas I can remember when I haven't been jumping about eager to decorate to the max. I just want to go home, get my finals done, get Gaia mixed, and then curl up and sleep forever. But I suppose that's the time to really go out and do the decorations. I suppose I could really use the twinkly lights, ornaments, and Christmas carols now. The next weeks are going to be really hard and really depressing. It's always hardest for those left behind.
I wish I'd known her back then. I wish I'd known her when she was still aware and had her memories. She was a wonderful artist. She went to art school and there are pictures she made all over the place. She always was a great cook and made fresh bread. And she doted on her granddaughter - that same granddaughter who does not seem to give a damn to visit her grandmother even on her deathbed. I suppose I can somewhat understand considering it is probably painful to see her this way - it's painful for me and I didn't know her when she was her full self - but... still... I would visit even if it was only to say goodbye and for my grandfather. I know it would mean so much to Mr. Starkey.
It looks like the funeral will most likely be next weekend. I have finals next week and have to be at school Monday and Friday for sure. Luckily, I have no finals scheduled Wednesday in case he needs me. Both tests are Monday and I just have a paper and a take-home final due Friday. Still, most likely any day now she's just going to go to sleep and not wake up.
It does bring back echoes of my grandparents. I wrote about them last time. It was harder last year cause Grandpa wasn't ready to go like Nana was and Mary is. It's harder then. When they are ready to go and death is a release you miss them but you're happy for them too cause they're no longer in any pain. I hope in Heaven she'll be with her daughter and get her memories back. She probably won't remember me cause she never once seemed to recognize me or said my name but, that's alright. She's a very sweet lady and even on her deathbed she's still as beautiful as ever.
I'm more worried about Mr. Starkey. He's taking it hard, I can tell, though he obviously keeps his feelings inside. I hope she doesn't move on until I'm there cause he's really going to need me these next weeks. I can be here any day cept Monday and next Friday. I'll even work on papers here if I need to. I can do it - most of the materials are online anyway. It's going to be different around here without her. He'll still need me for company and shopping but I'm going to miss seeing her rocking away in her little chair.
My family right now is out picking out our Christmas tree. When I get off work I'll be going home to help put it up and revive the Christmas spirit. I think this is the first Christmas I can remember when I haven't been jumping about eager to decorate to the max. I just want to go home, get my finals done, get Gaia mixed, and then curl up and sleep forever. But I suppose that's the time to really go out and do the decorations. I suppose I could really use the twinkly lights, ornaments, and Christmas carols now. The next weeks are going to be really hard and really depressing. It's always hardest for those left behind.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Another Christmas shadowed by death
There's no getting around it anymore. Mrs. Starkey is dieing. At this point... I will be very surprised if she makes it to Christmas. I got here about an hour ago to find the nurse here and Mr. Starkey in bed cause he was all dizzy and had been up all night. She was passed out in bed and it was very hard for even me to wake her up. Usually she'll do things for me she wouldn't do for anyone else. She's faded so fast... Just a month and a half ago she was chattering away and I was giving her bubble baths and we would dance across the living room on our way to lunch - she'd even sing a waltz song and we'd twirl about making Mr. Starkey laugh. Now... She just sits in her chair or lies in her bed sleeping or staring into space. She's lost a lot of her balance as well and is not eating well like she used to - that's just in the last two weeks. There's barely anyone at home now. She never talks but she talked enough today to tell the nurse that she was hurting and rubbed at her heart. We gave her tylenol mixed in Ben and Jerry's ice cream. The nurses want to put her in hospice but Mr. Starkey wants her at home. He thinks that with my help he can take care of her. I come by three days a week and clean, make lunch, give her baths, and shop. But every day just gets harder and harder cause they're both just fading away - her the fastest but him too. He's lost a lot of weight and I don't expect him to outlast her long.
The spiritual advisor came by too and talked with him. They're Catholic and I sat on the bed while the lady held Mary's hand and said the Lord's prayer with her and told her that God loved her and felt pain along with her and that it would be over soon. I'm not really a religious person but I think it helped. I looked into her eyes and there was so much pain there - not physical so much but just overall weariness. It was the look you see when you know it's time to let your beloved pet go. She was pretty much saying in her own way that it was time and that she didn't want to stay anymore. I couldn't stay in the room anymore after that. I just had to get out and so I kissed her on the forehead and left along with the spiritual advisor and nurse. They left a few minutes ago and right now I'm halfway to crying myself.
I've only known them six months - since June - but they're like my adoptive grandparents and I'm really all they had. Just Tuesday he told me I was his second best buddy - right behind his wife. I do what I can but this fall and new winter have been harder and harder. Another Christmas overshadowed by death. Last Christmas it was my grandfather. He had health and heart problems all summer but he was in the hospital all Christmas season in REALLY bad shape. Then, a few days before my birthday he died. I was there that day and said my goodbyes but it was clear that he didn't know me. He was so wasted away and just... not there. It was sad cause he was always to hale and hearty and happy. Four years before that it was my grandmother. She smoked all her life and had horrible emphazema so that she had to be on oxygen. She was in the hospital the entire Christmas season and for my birthday. She pulled through that Christmas... but not the next. She went back in the hospital the following year. I had really hoped that she would pull through and stay out of that hospital that year because I wanted one last Christmas with her like we had always had. No luck. And she died a few days before my birthday, ironically, on the same day my Grandpa would die three years later. Now, it's Mrs. Starkey and I'm losing another one.
We're supposed to put our tree up Saturday and decorations. Next week is finals week but... right now... I'm just too tired for Christmas. Never thought I'd say that cause I'm usually the one always in the Christmas spirit and wanting snow. It was me those hard years who really kept those Christmases going. My Mom four years ago was losing her mother and last year my Dad lost his father. Now I'm watching the Starkeys fade away and they haven't had a Christmas in a decade. I'll be putting up the tree and finding a little one for them that we have stored away. But, she's too gone to appreciate it or the presents I want to put under the tree. I think he will but he's so sad cause he knows she's dieing. What's Christmas when you know your wife is dieing and you'll soon be left all alone. Alone except for me, that is.
These Christmases the last five years seem cursed. Someone always seems to die and it just makes me heartsick to watch. I can't remember the last Christmas we had when everyone was really happy. They're all shadowed by the ghosts of who should be there but never will be again and the knowledge that another is fading out - right in the middle of Christmas. I guess it's worse cause they keep going over Christmas. People are supposed to be happy over Christmas. It's just hard to be happy right now. But I'll do my best for him and try to make whatever Christmas they have together as happy as I can. A Christmas tree is called for and cookies and carols and perhaps a bit of misteltoe. Anything to perhaps ease the burden on him and bring him a smile for a short while. But she's fading and it's happening over Christmas all over again and I just... well. I'm just running out of Christmas cheer at the moment. I'll be okay. I'm the strong one and can be strong enough for both of them. But, I'm tired of losing grandparents over Christmas. You're supposed to be happy at Christmas. How can you be happy watching someone you care about fade away... for the third time? I don't know. I'm just rambling on and sending thoughts out into the void, I suppose.
In any case, they're both asleep now and I need to go out in an hour or so and go shopping. I think I'll find her a Christmas present early this year. I'm going to find that Christmas tree and bring it over and set it up with her present. I don't know if she'll be able to unwrap it or understand what it is. But at least she'll have a tree and twinkly lights, presents, ornaments, and carols for a little while. One last Christmas together is all I have to give them. It IS their last and if you can only have one more after being married so long... It should be a really special one. He can't do it. He's not strong enough. But I can. Perhaps it'll be enough.
The spiritual advisor came by too and talked with him. They're Catholic and I sat on the bed while the lady held Mary's hand and said the Lord's prayer with her and told her that God loved her and felt pain along with her and that it would be over soon. I'm not really a religious person but I think it helped. I looked into her eyes and there was so much pain there - not physical so much but just overall weariness. It was the look you see when you know it's time to let your beloved pet go. She was pretty much saying in her own way that it was time and that she didn't want to stay anymore. I couldn't stay in the room anymore after that. I just had to get out and so I kissed her on the forehead and left along with the spiritual advisor and nurse. They left a few minutes ago and right now I'm halfway to crying myself.
I've only known them six months - since June - but they're like my adoptive grandparents and I'm really all they had. Just Tuesday he told me I was his second best buddy - right behind his wife. I do what I can but this fall and new winter have been harder and harder. Another Christmas overshadowed by death. Last Christmas it was my grandfather. He had health and heart problems all summer but he was in the hospital all Christmas season in REALLY bad shape. Then, a few days before my birthday he died. I was there that day and said my goodbyes but it was clear that he didn't know me. He was so wasted away and just... not there. It was sad cause he was always to hale and hearty and happy. Four years before that it was my grandmother. She smoked all her life and had horrible emphazema so that she had to be on oxygen. She was in the hospital the entire Christmas season and for my birthday. She pulled through that Christmas... but not the next. She went back in the hospital the following year. I had really hoped that she would pull through and stay out of that hospital that year because I wanted one last Christmas with her like we had always had. No luck. And she died a few days before my birthday, ironically, on the same day my Grandpa would die three years later. Now, it's Mrs. Starkey and I'm losing another one.
We're supposed to put our tree up Saturday and decorations. Next week is finals week but... right now... I'm just too tired for Christmas. Never thought I'd say that cause I'm usually the one always in the Christmas spirit and wanting snow. It was me those hard years who really kept those Christmases going. My Mom four years ago was losing her mother and last year my Dad lost his father. Now I'm watching the Starkeys fade away and they haven't had a Christmas in a decade. I'll be putting up the tree and finding a little one for them that we have stored away. But, she's too gone to appreciate it or the presents I want to put under the tree. I think he will but he's so sad cause he knows she's dieing. What's Christmas when you know your wife is dieing and you'll soon be left all alone. Alone except for me, that is.
These Christmases the last five years seem cursed. Someone always seems to die and it just makes me heartsick to watch. I can't remember the last Christmas we had when everyone was really happy. They're all shadowed by the ghosts of who should be there but never will be again and the knowledge that another is fading out - right in the middle of Christmas. I guess it's worse cause they keep going over Christmas. People are supposed to be happy over Christmas. It's just hard to be happy right now. But I'll do my best for him and try to make whatever Christmas they have together as happy as I can. A Christmas tree is called for and cookies and carols and perhaps a bit of misteltoe. Anything to perhaps ease the burden on him and bring him a smile for a short while. But she's fading and it's happening over Christmas all over again and I just... well. I'm just running out of Christmas cheer at the moment. I'll be okay. I'm the strong one and can be strong enough for both of them. But, I'm tired of losing grandparents over Christmas. You're supposed to be happy at Christmas. How can you be happy watching someone you care about fade away... for the third time? I don't know. I'm just rambling on and sending thoughts out into the void, I suppose.
In any case, they're both asleep now and I need to go out in an hour or so and go shopping. I think I'll find her a Christmas present early this year. I'm going to find that Christmas tree and bring it over and set it up with her present. I don't know if she'll be able to unwrap it or understand what it is. But at least she'll have a tree and twinkly lights, presents, ornaments, and carols for a little while. One last Christmas together is all I have to give them. It IS their last and if you can only have one more after being married so long... It should be a really special one. He can't do it. He's not strong enough. But I can. Perhaps it'll be enough.
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Yorkieman Diaries
Just an add-on for any who might actually read this. I only have one follower so I really have no idea how often people look here. If you read please follow? Thanks! But, anyway, I'm starting a new show via Darker Projects called The Yorkieman Diaries. It's set in 1860s Yorkshire England and there are three people - the scientist Dr. Lucas Ramsey (played by Stevie Farnaby), Miss Francesca Dalton (me) the unconventional American heiress, and Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould who was a VERY interesting and eccentric historical person in the area at that time. He's actually up for audition. The three of them go around Yorkshire and eventually the rest of the world trying to find the scientific truth behind myths and legends. Oh, and it's a musical audiodrama. Yup. Singing is required. I actually CAN sing, surprise surprise, eh? And so can Stevie Farnaby and whoever plays Gould will need to as well. So, if you can sing and read this please audition? Heee. Anyway, I'm writing this one too and mixing and producing it but Eric's cool with me mixing it around Gaia so it's a bit more long term. I won't be releasing any episodes until I get a bunch mixed and in the can. No mixing Yorkieman month to month like I am Gaia. That's just nuts and will NOT be happening for Season 2. Anyway, here's the casting call info.
The Yorkieman Diaries
Premise: It is the year 1865 during the Victorian Age. Charles Darwin has published his Theory of Evolution and is causing uproar and interest in both scientific and religious communities. The British Empire is expanding and scientific interest in general is more acceptable than ever before. In the United States the Civil War tearing the country apart. Yet, in Yorkshire England things all seem rather peaceful. Yet that can be deceiving since the Moors are vast and are a breeding ground for myths, legends, and ghost stories. There lives the man, Doctor Lucas Ramsey, a Doctor of Geology who has embraced the Theory of Evolution. He is counted quite an eccentric and he believes that all legends have a basis in fact. He wishes to seek out the truth behind the legends of the moors and explain them through science. But, what he does not understand is that science cannot explain everything and he shall encounter things which he would never believe possible that will rock his world on its axis. Traveling with him is the unconventional American woman Miss Francesca Dalton. She is the last member of the exceedingly wealthy Dalton family, and, with no male relatives to order her about she spends her fortune as she would. She is Ramsey’s patron and calls him the Yorkieman. Also traveling with him is the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould – a true eccentric of the age with an opinion about everything and a song upon his lips. The Yorkieman Diaries is their story… but every story must have a beginning.
Singing is required. I will ask any who audition for any role to please also submit an MP3 of them singing Greensleeves as best as they can. The major roles certainly need it but there is certainly a chance that everyone is going to be needing to sing at some point or another.
Audition deadline - Saturday Nov 29th.
Recording and Contact information –
-Record in [example format: 44100hz 32-bit Stereo MP3]
-Save the lines as " Charactername-line#-yourname.mp3"
-Send your auditions to ElainevBarrett@gmail.com Contact me at AIM Varalis, Yahoo xneyanax, or Skype ElainevBarrett with questions.
Characters
MALES – Main Star
Name: Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould
Age: early 30s
Bio: Sabine Baring-Gould was a real-life historic personage of the Victorian times up to the early 1900s. He was one of the most notable eccentrics of the time, having an opinion on pretty much any matter from Roman Emperors, to Saints, to Werewolves. He wrote over a hundred books and even more stories and such that were published all over the place. He was very intelligent and if he had stuck to one subject he might have been one of the great scientific minds. He was a Reverend in Yorkshire for about a decade but eventually settled and spent most of his life in Dartmoor where he is well known for having collected local folk songs and publishing them in volumes. For the purpose of The Yorkieman Diaries he is in his early thirties and has not yet met his wife. He’s within the very first years of his time in Yorkshire. I seriously suggest you check out his Wikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabine_Baring-Gould . You can also do a google search and come up with information on him.
Voice type: Educated British. Later in life he would probably have had a more Devonshire accent but as he moved around so much in his early life and there are certainly no recordings of his voice I am unsure of his exact accent. He was an educated man so go from there. Note SINGING is required ESPECIALLY for this role so I shall need a vocal sample of your singing. This character is going to be part of the trio that is the main focus of this series and will be singing quite a bit considering Gould was especially interested in folk songs throughout his life. This character is also going to have a lot of lines so if you audition and get the part don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Audition line 1: I told you, she’s an eccentric and seems to have a fondness for unusual ventures. She is also very well educated. Unlike most wealthy people she actually seems to read the books in her library.
Audition line 2: (laughs sofly) Just don’t blow yourself up, my dear. I would hate to be deprived of the pleasure of your company and all the young bucks would mourn your loss.
Audition line 3: I’m a Reverend, Lucas… Not a monk. And I can certainly appreciate the virtues of a female behind when it is such displayed – especially out on the moor with only you and perhaps a fairy to hear.
Audition line 4: The Bible says that our God created the world and Jesus performed miracles. Why should I be surprised that such a miracle as the existence of fairies should be true as well?
MALE –Reccuring
Name: William Absertwythe
Age: 50s
Bio: Butler at Briarsgate and husband of Molly, father of Eloise and Alistair, formal.
Vocal type: Butler from Yorkshire, male in his middle years.
Audition line 1: Yes, of course. He is expected. Welcome to Briarsgate, Dr.
Audition line 2: Miss Dalton is awaiting you with drinks in the library.
Name: Prince Calanvor
Age: Immortal
Bio: Prince of the Fairy kingdom called WildHeart – only 6 inches tall with wings and all. Tinkerbell type fairy. Romantic. Well-spoken and gallant. Fairy Prince Charming.
Vocal type: Needs a sexy voice with a more British accent. They live in Yorkshire so a Yorkshire accent would work but I’ll certainly listen to others. A good singing voice is required since this character WILL BE SINGING.
Audition line 1: Hair as dark as the midnight sky with glints of starlight captured therein and such eyes! The exquisite richness of fresh spring violets covered by dew in the first light of morning. You might be wingless, my flower, but eyes such as those no fairy can claim.
Audition line 2: It’s alright. We are used to the reactions of mortals by this time. Most run in fear. You are the first to actually speak civilly instead of screaming for several centuries.
Audition line 3: (laughs) Then don’t tell them. You ladies make sure these gentlemen have a pleasant day. I shall be giving the lady here my close… personal… attention.
FEMALE - Recurring
Name: Molly Aberstwythe
Age: 40s
Bio: Housekeeper of Briarsgate and wife of William as well as mother of Eloise and Alistair.
Vocal type: Yorkshire housekeeper in her middle years, motherly and no-nonsense.
Audition line 1: Drinks, Miss?
Audition line 2: Ahhh, Reverend Baring-Gould, welcome to Briarsgate.
Name: Queen Desmerelle
Age: Immortal
Bio: Beautiful Queen of the Fairy kingdom of WildHeart. Think the quintessential Fairy Queen out of myth and legend/
Vocal type: Regal with a more Yorkshire accent though I’ll certainly listen to others. Musical voice and SINGING IS REQUIRED.
Audition line 1: My son, who are these mortals that you bring before us? You know that mortals are not allowed. And enchanted by your magic, none the less.
Audition line 2: A scientist? I have been watching this world through my glimmering pool. Scientists are convinced we do not exist. We are ‘stuff and nonsense’. Why, even your reactions have shown that you thought we were not real.
Name: Liseth
Age: Immortal
Bio: Fairy handmaiden to the Queen
Vocal type: More Yorkshire accent like all the Fairies – very flirty.
Audition line 1: (laughs) The Prince is showing off. It has been several centuries since he last found interest in a female.
Audition line 2: (purrs) And now it is just you and me.
Name: Celeste
Age: Immortal
Bio: Fairy handmaiden to the Queen
Vocal type: More Yorkshire accent like all the Fairies – very flirty.
Audition line 1: He thinks us beautiful, Liseth. I think I might keep him.
Audition line 2: OH yes…. This shall be quite… invigorating. It’s been so long since I’ve had a mortal.
MALE – Non-recurring
Name: Dragon
Age: N/A
Bio: Typical dragon going after virgins, loves singing, eats cattle, etc
Vocal type: Probably a deep bass but a baritone or tenor would work too. A specific accent isn’t really needed but whoever gets this role MUST be able to sing and put a lot of character into this voice. This is a singing dragon (yes, it happens) so I will need a few takes of you singing Greensleeves.
MALE OR FEMALE – Bit parts
This is for anyone who’s ever wanted to play a Fairy. I have some group lines that need a decent group of Fairies so I’m going to list them here. If I like what you do I’ll stick it in and put you in the credits. Most of them involve improv so just send them to me and if I like them I’ll just up and stick them into the episodes. If you wish to sing please do go ahead. If I like your singing voice you might end up cast again as something else later on.
FAIRIES: (partying – yes Fairies partying with wine, folk music, dancing, good food, etc)
fairies: (reactions to a well-spoken human, comments on her eyes and beauty, comments on the appearance of Gould and Lucas)
fairies: (curiousity about the scientist part and that a mortal would seek them out)
fairies: (laughter)
fairies: (reactions to the mention of the dreaded bargest)
fairies: (laughter and comments about Gould and Lucas’ shock)
fairies: (Different comments about the evils and horrors of the Unseelie Court)
fairies: (reactions to Fran’s acceptance – some think her brave, others foolish)
fairies: (murmurs of appreciation at Gould’s words “I am a Reverend, Your Majesty. The Bible says that our God created the world and Jesus performed miracles. Why should I be surprised that such a miracle as the existence of fairies should be true as well?)
NOTE TO ALL INTERESTED
This is a new series just starting out so I am going to need a lot of different character types from Fairies to Dragons, Trolls, Yorkshire townspeople, ghosts, werewolves, vampires… etc
So, if you think you can do a voice for any type of creature out of myth or legend or just have an interesting voice in general send it to me! And send me your singing if you’ve got vocal talent! If I like what I hear I could very well end up designing a character around that voice and you might end of cast later on. So, send them my way!
Remember:
Audition deadline - Saturday November 29th.
Recording and Contact information –
-Record in [example format: 44100hz 32-bit Stereo MP3]
-Save the lines as " Charactername-line#-yourname.mp3"
-Send your auditions to ElainevBarrett@gmail.com Contact me at AIM Varalis, Yahoo xneyanax, or Skype ElainevBarrett with questions.
The Yorkieman Diaries
Premise: It is the year 1865 during the Victorian Age. Charles Darwin has published his Theory of Evolution and is causing uproar and interest in both scientific and religious communities. The British Empire is expanding and scientific interest in general is more acceptable than ever before. In the United States the Civil War tearing the country apart. Yet, in Yorkshire England things all seem rather peaceful. Yet that can be deceiving since the Moors are vast and are a breeding ground for myths, legends, and ghost stories. There lives the man, Doctor Lucas Ramsey, a Doctor of Geology who has embraced the Theory of Evolution. He is counted quite an eccentric and he believes that all legends have a basis in fact. He wishes to seek out the truth behind the legends of the moors and explain them through science. But, what he does not understand is that science cannot explain everything and he shall encounter things which he would never believe possible that will rock his world on its axis. Traveling with him is the unconventional American woman Miss Francesca Dalton. She is the last member of the exceedingly wealthy Dalton family, and, with no male relatives to order her about she spends her fortune as she would. She is Ramsey’s patron and calls him the Yorkieman. Also traveling with him is the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould – a true eccentric of the age with an opinion about everything and a song upon his lips. The Yorkieman Diaries is their story… but every story must have a beginning.
Singing is required. I will ask any who audition for any role to please also submit an MP3 of them singing Greensleeves as best as they can. The major roles certainly need it but there is certainly a chance that everyone is going to be needing to sing at some point or another.
Audition deadline - Saturday Nov 29th.
Recording and Contact information –
-Record in [example format: 44100hz 32-bit Stereo MP3]
-Save the lines as " Charactername-line#-yourna
-Send your auditions to ElainevBarrett@gmail.com Contact me at AIM Varalis, Yahoo xneyanax, or Skype ElainevBarrett with questions.
Characters
MALES – Main Star
Name: Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould
Age: early 30s
Bio: Sabine Baring-Gould was a real-life historic personage of the Victorian times up to the early 1900s. He was one of the most notable eccentrics of the time, having an opinion on pretty much any matter from Roman Emperors, to Saints, to Werewolves. He wrote over a hundred books and even more stories and such that were published all over the place. He was very intelligent and if he had stuck to one subject he might have been one of the great scientific minds. He was a Reverend in Yorkshire for about a decade but eventually settled and spent most of his life in Dartmoor where he is well known for having collected local folk songs and publishing them in volumes. For the purpose of The Yorkieman Diaries he is in his early thirties and has not yet met his wife. He’s within the very first years of his time in Yorkshire. I seriously suggest you check out his Wikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wi
Voice type: Educated British. Later in life he would probably have had a more Devonshire accent but as he moved around so much in his early life and there are certainly no recordings of his voice I am unsure of his exact accent. He was an educated man so go from there. Note SINGING is required ESPECIALLY for this role so I shall need a vocal sample of your singing. This character is going to be part of the trio that is the main focus of this series and will be singing quite a bit considering Gould was especially interested in folk songs throughout his life. This character is also going to have a lot of lines so if you audition and get the part don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Audition line 1: I told you, she’s an eccentric and seems to have a fondness for unusual ventures. She is also very well educated. Unlike most wealthy people she actually seems to read the books in her library.
Audition line 2: (laughs sofly) Just don’t blow yourself up, my dear. I would hate to be deprived of the pleasure of your company and all the young bucks would mourn your loss.
Audition line 3: I’m a Reverend, Lucas… Not a monk. And I can certainly appreciate the virtues of a female behind when it is such displayed – especially out on the moor with only you and perhaps a fairy to hear.
Audition line 4: The Bible says that our God created the world and Jesus performed miracles. Why should I be surprised that such a miracle as the existence of fairies should be true as well?
MALE –Reccuring
Name: William Absertwythe
Age: 50s
Bio: Butler at Briarsgate and husband of Molly, father of Eloise and Alistair, formal.
Vocal type: Butler from Yorkshire, male in his middle years.
Audition line 1: Yes, of course. He is expected. Welcome to Briarsgate, Dr.
Audition line 2: Miss Dalton is awaiting you with drinks in the library.
Name: Prince Calanvor
Age: Immortal
Bio: Prince of the Fairy kingdom called WildHeart – only 6 inches tall with wings and all. Tinkerbell type fairy. Romantic. Well-spoken and gallant. Fairy Prince Charming.
Vocal type: Needs a sexy voice with a more British accent. They live in Yorkshire so a Yorkshire accent would work but I’ll certainly listen to others. A good singing voice is required since this character WILL BE SINGING.
Audition line 1: Hair as dark as the midnight sky with glints of starlight captured therein and such eyes! The exquisite richness of fresh spring violets covered by dew in the first light of morning. You might be wingless, my flower, but eyes such as those no fairy can claim.
Audition line 2: It’s alright. We are used to the reactions of mortals by this time. Most run in fear. You are the first to actually speak civilly instead of screaming for several centuries.
Audition line 3: (laughs) Then don’t tell them. You ladies make sure these gentlemen have a pleasant day. I shall be giving the lady here my close… personal… attention.
FEMALE - Recurring
Name: Molly Aberstwythe
Age: 40s
Bio: Housekeeper of Briarsgate and wife of William as well as mother of Eloise and Alistair.
Vocal type: Yorkshire housekeeper in her middle years, motherly and no-nonsense.
Audition line 1: Drinks, Miss?
Audition line 2: Ahhh, Reverend Baring-Gould, welcome to Briarsgate.
Name: Queen Desmerelle
Age: Immortal
Bio: Beautiful Queen of the Fairy kingdom of WildHeart. Think the quintessential Fairy Queen out of myth and legend/
Vocal type: Regal with a more Yorkshire accent though I’ll certainly listen to others. Musical voice and SINGING IS REQUIRED.
Audition line 1: My son, who are these mortals that you bring before us? You know that mortals are not allowed. And enchanted by your magic, none the less.
Audition line 2: A scientist? I have been watching this world through my glimmering pool. Scientists are convinced we do not exist. We are ‘stuff and nonsense’. Why, even your reactions have shown that you thought we were not real.
Name: Liseth
Age: Immortal
Bio: Fairy handmaiden to the Queen
Vocal type: More Yorkshire accent like all the Fairies – very flirty.
Audition line 1: (laughs) The Prince is showing off. It has been several centuries since he last found interest in a female.
Audition line 2: (purrs) And now it is just you and me.
Name: Celeste
Age: Immortal
Bio: Fairy handmaiden to the Queen
Vocal type: More Yorkshire accent like all the Fairies – very flirty.
Audition line 1: He thinks us beautiful, Liseth. I think I might keep him.
Audition line 2: OH yes…. This shall be quite… invigorating. It’s been so long since I’ve had a mortal.
MALE – Non-recurring
Name: Dragon
Age: N/A
Bio: Typical dragon going after virgins, loves singing, eats cattle, etc
Vocal type: Probably a deep bass but a baritone or tenor would work too. A specific accent isn’t really needed but whoever gets this role MUST be able to sing and put a lot of character into this voice. This is a singing dragon (yes, it happens) so I will need a few takes of you singing Greensleeves.
MALE OR FEMALE – Bit parts
This is for anyone who’s ever wanted to play a Fairy. I have some group lines that need a decent group of Fairies so I’m going to list them here. If I like what you do I’ll stick it in and put you in the credits. Most of them involve improv so just send them to me and if I like them I’ll just up and stick them into the episodes. If you wish to sing please do go ahead. If I like your singing voice you might end up cast again as something else later on.
FAIRIES: (partying – yes Fairies partying with wine, folk music, dancing, good food, etc)
fairies: (reactions to a well-spoken human, comments on her eyes and beauty, comments on the appearance of Gould and Lucas)
fairies: (curiousity about the scientist part and that a mortal would seek them out)
fairies: (laughter)
fairies: (reactions to the mention of the dreaded bargest)
fairies: (laughter and comments about Gould and Lucas’ shock)
fairies: (Different comments about the evils and horrors of the Unseelie Court)
fairies: (reactions to Fran’s acceptance – some think her brave, others foolish)
fairies: (murmurs of appreciation at Gould’s words “I am a Reverend, Your Majesty. The Bible says that our God created the world and Jesus performed miracles. Why should I be surprised that such a miracle as the existence of fairies should be true as well?)
NOTE TO ALL INTERESTED
This is a new series just starting out so I am going to need a lot of different character types from Fairies to Dragons, Trolls, Yorkshire townspeople, ghosts, werewolves, vampires… etc
So, if you think you can do a voice for any type of creature out of myth or legend or just have an interesting voice in general send it to me! And send me your singing if you’ve got vocal talent! If I like what I hear I could very well end up designing a character around that voice and you might end of cast later on. So, send them my way!
Remember:
Audition deadline - Saturday November 29th.
Recording and Contact information –
-Record in [example format: 44100hz 32-bit Stereo MP3]
-Save the lines as " Charactername-line#-yourna
-Send your auditions to ElainevBarrett@gmail.com Contact me at AIM Varalis, Yahoo xneyanax, or Skype ElainevBarrett with questions.
A Case of the Blahs
I'm sitting again in class listening to lectures. This one normally would be interesting but I already know the material the teacher is covering. He's talking about the Native American groups in Ohio pre-Columbus and last spring I had an entire class with him devoted to just that so now that I'm in his Native American class that covers all of the Americas that segment of the class (for the past 3 weeks) has been stuff I already learned. That means I don't have to pay much attention and does allow me to get script writing done. We have a test Monday and then we should start the American Southwest which should be interesting.
Math is math and Cultural Anthro is blah too considering we are just going over various issues and listening to powerpoint presentations from students. I got mine done Wednesday. Forensics is actually rather interesting and Dr. Bob is quite insane. He's the one who had us watch a complete autopsy on TV on Halloween. That was sadistic! UGH! I'm not squeamish normally. I have no problems cleaning dead animals and fish. But I draw the line at cutting open dead people. That's why i'll be going into archaeology. By the time we come across dead people they are just bones and bones don't bother me. My Forensics class is in a room completely filled with Human and primate bones on every available surface. I call it the Boneyard. One creepy fact about Cleveland I bet you never knew - Our Natural History Museum has one of the only two huge collections of human bones (THOUSANDS) in the world that all the forensic and medical standards and studies on bones use for their reference subjects. The only other such collection is in the Smithsonian in Washington DC. What it is doing in Cleveland of all places I wouldn't know. Just one of those quirks of fate. We found Lucy too - the first Australeopithicus Afarensis. But considering Cleveland is a dead zone having a ton of bones in the museum vault is rather fitting.
I'm actually thinking of seeing if I can write a murder mystery script for my big final paper in Forensics. I spoke to one girl and he's letting her write a story as long as she cites scientific evidence. I might make it into an episode of Gaia. Murder on the Zooship! LOL. I'm actually serious. Don't worry, cast, I won't be popping an extra episode on you last minute before the semester ends. There's only a month left. Though I might work it in with a smaller cast. I actually debated having the pilots be off on a mission somewhere. Or maybe put it on Gaia and have Creeper start pestering Borask (Detective Creeper on the case)! Only the cast would know who Creeper is but you'll run into him in the December episode along with a lot of other cool characters and one that is positively creepy. I wrote the lines and he still creeps the HELL out of me every time I listen.
I plan on finishing for certain Gaia 3 for Monday. I have a few tweaks to do and a Secret Scene to put in -- if Rene gets me her lines. So if you've listened already then be ready to listen again. I know I sent it out to a few people. Next week I will be starting the mixing on Gaia 4 - probably starting with Scene 2 and moving to the end simply because I have been wanting to mix all that for MONTHS now. Things on Gaia REALLY get interesting from Episode 4 on. Eps 1-3 were just setting the stage. Episode 4 is where things REALLY begin. I can't wait to hear those scenes come to life. It's one of the nice things about doing what I am doing - writing, mixing, and producing. Everything is mine from start to finish and I get to hear the lines people send to me and my characters and stories literally come to life. It never ceases to give me a thrill.
In any case, we are now listening to stuff on the American Southwest so I better start paying attention. Class ends in 20 min and then I think I shall take a nap.
Math is math and Cultural Anthro is blah too considering we are just going over various issues and listening to powerpoint presentations from students. I got mine done Wednesday. Forensics is actually rather interesting and Dr. Bob is quite insane. He's the one who had us watch a complete autopsy on TV on Halloween. That was sadistic! UGH! I'm not squeamish normally. I have no problems cleaning dead animals and fish. But I draw the line at cutting open dead people. That's why i'll be going into archaeology. By the time we come across dead people they are just bones and bones don't bother me. My Forensics class is in a room completely filled with Human and primate bones on every available surface. I call it the Boneyard. One creepy fact about Cleveland I bet you never knew - Our Natural History Museum has one of the only two huge collections of human bones (THOUSANDS) in the world that all the forensic and medical standards and studies on bones use for their reference subjects. The only other such collection is in the Smithsonian in Washington DC. What it is doing in Cleveland of all places I wouldn't know. Just one of those quirks of fate. We found Lucy too - the first Australeopithicus Afarensis. But considering Cleveland is a dead zone having a ton of bones in the museum vault is rather fitting.
I'm actually thinking of seeing if I can write a murder mystery script for my big final paper in Forensics. I spoke to one girl and he's letting her write a story as long as she cites scientific evidence. I might make it into an episode of Gaia. Murder on the Zooship! LOL. I'm actually serious. Don't worry, cast, I won't be popping an extra episode on you last minute before the semester ends. There's only a month left. Though I might work it in with a smaller cast. I actually debated having the pilots be off on a mission somewhere. Or maybe put it on Gaia and have Creeper start pestering Borask (Detective Creeper on the case)! Only the cast would know who Creeper is but you'll run into him in the December episode along with a lot of other cool characters and one that is positively creepy. I wrote the lines and he still creeps the HELL out of me every time I listen.
I plan on finishing for certain Gaia 3 for Monday. I have a few tweaks to do and a Secret Scene to put in -- if Rene gets me her lines. So if you've listened already then be ready to listen again. I know I sent it out to a few people. Next week I will be starting the mixing on Gaia 4 - probably starting with Scene 2 and moving to the end simply because I have been wanting to mix all that for MONTHS now. Things on Gaia REALLY get interesting from Episode 4 on. Eps 1-3 were just setting the stage. Episode 4 is where things REALLY begin. I can't wait to hear those scenes come to life. It's one of the nice things about doing what I am doing - writing, mixing, and producing. Everything is mine from start to finish and I get to hear the lines people send to me and my characters and stories literally come to life. It never ceases to give me a thrill.
In any case, we are now listening to stuff on the American Southwest so I better start paying attention. Class ends in 20 min and then I think I shall take a nap.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Hello, beautiful
No, this is not going to be a blog about David Ault. Though I suppose he figures into it a bit considering it is his catchphrase. They're going to put it on his tombstone, I swear. Anyway, this is more a blog about me and the two people I work for.
I work for this elderly couple, the Starkeys. He's 85 and she just turned 82 a few weeks after i started working there. She has had altzheimer's for 10 years now and is pretty much gone mentally. There's nobody home. She can feed herself but she has problems following the simplest instructions. She's skinny as can be - even skinnier than me and I didn't think that was possible. She doesn't do much but sit in her little chair and rock back and forth talking to herself. She can't even dress herself or decide she should go potty. You have to put the clothes on her and sit her on the pot. She forgot how to use silverware and now eats with her hands. She's very much a child again. I talk nice to her though and am always telling her how wonderful she is.
That's where "Hello, beautiful" comes in. I say that whenever I walk in the door and she's in her chair or when I get her up from naps to have lunch or take a bath. It's always "Hello, beautiful." And she is. It never was a conscious thing on my part. I mean I listen to Vegas and David's in Gaia and Rene's my sidekick so it's probably stewing in the back of my mind along with all the other bazillion things spinning around but it works.
Yet, she's still beautiful. She's so sweet and uncomplaining and when you look at her you can't help seeing what a beautiful woman she once was. And I watch her husband with her. They're so sweet and have been married so long. He's taken care of her - mainly by himself until very recently when I was hired to come in and help. We haven't talked about it but I can imagine how hard it's been on him to just watch her fade away til there's pretty much nothing left of her. It's really sad.
But what is even sadder is that we found out about a month ago that her breast cancer's back. Yup, she's dieing. I noticed the lump when I first started working there and I just thought it was scar tissue from the masectomy she'd had. But then a month or two after I started working there it started bleeding cause she would always rub at it (she's too far gone to know not to) and we took her to the Doctor. The Doc took one look at it and said it was breast cancer. We've been to various specialists but there's nothing to be done. Radiation isn't an option cause she just couldn't be trusted to cooperate and stay still long enough for it to work. She'd move and get zapped in the wrong place. Pills won't work cause she doesn't know enough not to spit them out. And the lump is too huge and deep rooted for an operation. And, she's 82... It's too much for her system and at this point since she's not in pain it's almost kinder to let her fade away.
Another sad thing is these folks haven't had a holiday season in a decade. No XMas or Thanksgiving with their family. They HAVE no family cept a Son in law and granddaughter who pretty much want nothing to do with them and haven't even bothered coming by since the cancer came back. Not even a phone call. They certainly don't bother sending XMas cards. That just made me so damn mad. This old guy takes such good care of her and she's so sweet and beautiful and no Xmas in 10 YEARS?! Heh. No way in hell that's happening this year. I'm sort of the adopted granddaughter and pretty much the closest thing to family. So, by God they will be having a holiday season this year - especially since it looks to be their last together. My Mom and I are going to make them a Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings to take over. I'm going to get out my army of twinklie lights and XMas dcorations as well as a little tree we have and I'm going to make their house beautiful and get them each an XMas present. And they'll have an XMas dinner and I'll go over Xmas morning. I'll be playing XMas music too. Xmas is a big thing for me and I want to make this holiday season really special. It's almost like in The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe when Lucy says "No Christmas in a hundred years?" How horrified she was. Well, now I know how she feels and they are NOT sitting at home alone in that house with nothing special this holiday season. No way in the world.
I go there three days a week and tell her "Hello, beautiful." She giggles and says thank you and we waltz over to the kitchen table for lunch. She is beautiful even now. Beautiful where it matters the most - inside - and she always will be.
I work for this elderly couple, the Starkeys. He's 85 and she just turned 82 a few weeks after i started working there. She has had altzheimer's for 10 years now and is pretty much gone mentally. There's nobody home. She can feed herself but she has problems following the simplest instructions. She's skinny as can be - even skinnier than me and I didn't think that was possible. She doesn't do much but sit in her little chair and rock back and forth talking to herself. She can't even dress herself or decide she should go potty. You have to put the clothes on her and sit her on the pot. She forgot how to use silverware and now eats with her hands. She's very much a child again. I talk nice to her though and am always telling her how wonderful she is.
That's where "Hello, beautiful" comes in. I say that whenever I walk in the door and she's in her chair or when I get her up from naps to have lunch or take a bath. It's always "Hello, beautiful." And she is. It never was a conscious thing on my part. I mean I listen to Vegas and David's in Gaia and Rene's my sidekick so it's probably stewing in the back of my mind along with all the other bazillion things spinning around but it works.
Yet, she's still beautiful. She's so sweet and uncomplaining and when you look at her you can't help seeing what a beautiful woman she once was. And I watch her husband with her. They're so sweet and have been married so long. He's taken care of her - mainly by himself until very recently when I was hired to come in and help. We haven't talked about it but I can imagine how hard it's been on him to just watch her fade away til there's pretty much nothing left of her. It's really sad.
But what is even sadder is that we found out about a month ago that her breast cancer's back. Yup, she's dieing. I noticed the lump when I first started working there and I just thought it was scar tissue from the masectomy she'd had. But then a month or two after I started working there it started bleeding cause she would always rub at it (she's too far gone to know not to) and we took her to the Doctor. The Doc took one look at it and said it was breast cancer. We've been to various specialists but there's nothing to be done. Radiation isn't an option cause she just couldn't be trusted to cooperate and stay still long enough for it to work. She'd move and get zapped in the wrong place. Pills won't work cause she doesn't know enough not to spit them out. And the lump is too huge and deep rooted for an operation. And, she's 82... It's too much for her system and at this point since she's not in pain it's almost kinder to let her fade away.
Another sad thing is these folks haven't had a holiday season in a decade. No XMas or Thanksgiving with their family. They HAVE no family cept a Son in law and granddaughter who pretty much want nothing to do with them and haven't even bothered coming by since the cancer came back. Not even a phone call. They certainly don't bother sending XMas cards. That just made me so damn mad. This old guy takes such good care of her and she's so sweet and beautiful and no Xmas in 10 YEARS?! Heh. No way in hell that's happening this year. I'm sort of the adopted granddaughter and pretty much the closest thing to family. So, by God they will be having a holiday season this year - especially since it looks to be their last together. My Mom and I are going to make them a Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings to take over. I'm going to get out my army of twinklie lights and XMas dcorations as well as a little tree we have and I'm going to make their house beautiful and get them each an XMas present. And they'll have an XMas dinner and I'll go over Xmas morning. I'll be playing XMas music too. Xmas is a big thing for me and I want to make this holiday season really special. It's almost like in The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe when Lucy says "No Christmas in a hundred years?" How horrified she was. Well, now I know how she feels and they are NOT sitting at home alone in that house with nothing special this holiday season. No way in the world.
I go there three days a week and tell her "Hello, beautiful." She giggles and says thank you and we waltz over to the kitchen table for lunch. She is beautiful even now. Beautiful where it matters the most - inside - and she always will be.
Friday, November 7, 2008
The Muse at Lightspeed
Well, it's been an an amazing few days since the election. We're still all in shock and wondering at the changes in store for this country. I just hope that Obama doesn't fail. But that's not what I want to write about today.
I've been writing Gaia Episode 8 like mad today. I'm twenty pages in and I just finished a really big important action/character building scene between Elizabeth, Mycroft, and two characters I can't talk about yet or the spoiler gerbils will get me. I suppose the code name Badass will continue to suffice. He'll be introduced in Ep 4 (all listeners will REALLY not want to miss that episode cause that's when things get really interesting). And Ep 7-8 shows us the big intro of not 1 or 2 but 3 rather important recurring characters. All ninjacast, already but there will be another casting call eventually - just not for a few months. This scene though has been stewing forever cause I've been wanting to have Elizabeth really fight and kick butt - Mycroft too. I can't get into details cause the episodes won't air til April and May and that's REALLY far away. Way too much spoilerage. Just suffice it to say that after Ep 3 things start to get really interesting and convoluted. I have also snagged a REALLY great actor to play a fun character starting Episode 10. Can't give any spoilers but Happy happy joy joy!
I write a ton. It's kind of surprising really how EASY the scripts for Gaia and Yorkieman come. The muse just flies off with me at lightspeed. I always have all these ideas stewing around in my brain that just keep coming out and I am constantly talking things through with Rene, Kristy, Paul Lavelle and sometimes a few other people I can't talk about yet=). I find that talking it through either voice or via text really helps solidify the ideas in my mind. And then when I start writing whenever I am at school or get a chance at work the ideas just fly onto the page and really need very little revision. Writer's block is something I have not had any real problems with since I first thought up the idea for Gaia and the show is evolving in ways I never could have expected.
Everything has moved so fast. I literally got the show at 4AM out of the blue and then from that it's been a constant sprint to get character sketches made, scripts written, casting calls out, lines in, and then mixing. I'm doing it all for Gaia pretty much. It's my baby and it's a lot more work that I expected. I warn you all ahead of time that there WILL be a break of several months between this season and next so that I can get a bunch of episodes in the can and no longer am mixing month to month. To anyone looking to start a show... NEVER mix month to month. Baaad idea. That's why I'm working my ass off right now finishing Gaia 3 by the deadline monday. It's half done and I'll get it done in time but if I had waited I wouldn't have to rush. I'd have an episode at least done to fall back on.
Another thing I never get over is my cast. They are so damn fantastic it constantly blows me away. Gaia is my first foray into writing and mixing and really serious acting and to get such a cast my first time... just wow. Thank you all SO much if you ever read this! It means a lot! They do such a great job and yet most people don't even know about Gaia. I'm hoping to change that and have more listeners as time goes on but even if I don't it's so much fun to just let my ideas take flight and hear them come to life. I never stop just going SQUEEEEEEEEEEE! when I listen to lines or just shiver with the chills when I get totally creeped out by others or laugh my arse off at the improvs and bloopers yet others give me. I know what's going to be said cause I write it all but just hearing it come alive is just amazing and I'll never tire of it. So, if anyone reads this please go to www.misfitsaudio.com and check out Gaia's Voyages? I'll give you a cookie!
I've been writing Gaia Episode 8 like mad today. I'm twenty pages in and I just finished a really big important action/character building scene between Elizabeth, Mycroft, and two characters I can't talk about yet or the spoiler gerbils will get me. I suppose the code name Badass will continue to suffice. He'll be introduced in Ep 4 (all listeners will REALLY not want to miss that episode cause that's when things get really interesting). And Ep 7-8 shows us the big intro of not 1 or 2 but 3 rather important recurring characters. All ninjacast, already but there will be another casting call eventually - just not for a few months. This scene though has been stewing forever cause I've been wanting to have Elizabeth really fight and kick butt - Mycroft too. I can't get into details cause the episodes won't air til April and May and that's REALLY far away. Way too much spoilerage. Just suffice it to say that after Ep 3 things start to get really interesting and convoluted. I have also snagged a REALLY great actor to play a fun character starting Episode 10. Can't give any spoilers but Happy happy joy joy!
I write a ton. It's kind of surprising really how EASY the scripts for Gaia and Yorkieman come. The muse just flies off with me at lightspeed. I always have all these ideas stewing around in my brain that just keep coming out and I am constantly talking things through with Rene, Kristy, Paul Lavelle and sometimes a few other people I can't talk about yet=). I find that talking it through either voice or via text really helps solidify the ideas in my mind. And then when I start writing whenever I am at school or get a chance at work the ideas just fly onto the page and really need very little revision. Writer's block is something I have not had any real problems with since I first thought up the idea for Gaia and the show is evolving in ways I never could have expected.
Everything has moved so fast. I literally got the show at 4AM out of the blue and then from that it's been a constant sprint to get character sketches made, scripts written, casting calls out, lines in, and then mixing. I'm doing it all for Gaia pretty much. It's my baby and it's a lot more work that I expected. I warn you all ahead of time that there WILL be a break of several months between this season and next so that I can get a bunch of episodes in the can and no longer am mixing month to month. To anyone looking to start a show... NEVER mix month to month. Baaad idea. That's why I'm working my ass off right now finishing Gaia 3 by the deadline monday. It's half done and I'll get it done in time but if I had waited I wouldn't have to rush. I'd have an episode at least done to fall back on.
Another thing I never get over is my cast. They are so damn fantastic it constantly blows me away. Gaia is my first foray into writing and mixing and really serious acting and to get such a cast my first time... just wow. Thank you all SO much if you ever read this! It means a lot! They do such a great job and yet most people don't even know about Gaia. I'm hoping to change that and have more listeners as time goes on but even if I don't it's so much fun to just let my ideas take flight and hear them come to life. I never stop just going SQUEEEEEEEEEEE! when I listen to lines or just shiver with the chills when I get totally creeped out by others or laugh my arse off at the improvs and bloopers yet others give me. I know what's going to be said cause I write it all but just hearing it come alive is just amazing and I'll never tire of it. So, if anyone reads this please go to www.misfitsaudio.com and check out Gaia's Voyages? I'll give you a cookie!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A Ray of Hope
Well, Obama just won the Presidential election. I don't know if anyone's going to bother reading this but me but I thought to put down some of my thoughts. Personally, I've never been so relieved over the results of an election in my entire life. It's sort of like this country ever since Bush got elected has been steadily sinking into a deep black pit of despair and FINALLY, after so long, there's a ray of hope. Someone's finally extended a rope and perhaps - just perhaps - this country might have a future that's going to be something happy instead of full of fear and hardship and war. It's just... undescribable. I just finished listening to Obama's speech and I am literally giddy with relief. I'm not a religious sort at all but maybe here is a God afterall.
I've been busy mixing Gaia 3 so I didn't really even know the results of the election until I checked Yahoo news about midnight EST. My reaction was HOLY SHIT! OBAMA WON! THANK GOD! I have been so damn afraid that McCain would win and we'd have another 4-8 years like the last 8. These last few months since the economy crashed have been especially hard. I mean, McCain's policies... he has blinders on and not a clue or one good plan that I think would have a chance of helping us. And there was Obama who actually talked and planned SENSE and I've been so afraid that we Americans wouldn't wake up in time. Yet, we did... and there's hope for the future afterall.
I was listening to Obama speak and I was marveling how good he was. He wasn't overly wordy but every word he said hit home and made such an impact. Such a triumph for Democrats but also for the American people and especially for people who are different. Tonight, I think, might be the deathknell on racism against African Americans and perhaps eventually towards all people who are different. I don't think that we don't have a HELL of a long way to go but still... we elected an African American to the White House for the first time. It wasn't based on his race but because he was the right man for the job and represented what most of American was yearning for so greatly. But still, when you think of all that African Americans have gone through over the centuries in this country... you can't help but feel the power of the moment. I can also relate cause I am a woman and women have also been persecuted throughout the centuries. Obama won and perhaps, someday, we'll see a woman in the White House and we'll get our turn too. We didn't get Hillary but I am damn glad we got Obama. Baby steps but still steps all the same. He's the next MLK, Lincoln, and JFK and our country is finally in line for some changes - for the better. It's the beginning of a whole new day and I really can't wait to see what it brings. Finally.... FINALLY... some hope again at last.
I've been busy mixing Gaia 3 so I didn't really even know the results of the election until I checked Yahoo news about midnight EST. My reaction was HOLY SHIT! OBAMA WON! THANK GOD! I have been so damn afraid that McCain would win and we'd have another 4-8 years like the last 8. These last few months since the economy crashed have been especially hard. I mean, McCain's policies... he has blinders on and not a clue or one good plan that I think would have a chance of helping us. And there was Obama who actually talked and planned SENSE and I've been so afraid that we Americans wouldn't wake up in time. Yet, we did... and there's hope for the future afterall.
I was listening to Obama speak and I was marveling how good he was. He wasn't overly wordy but every word he said hit home and made such an impact. Such a triumph for Democrats but also for the American people and especially for people who are different. Tonight, I think, might be the deathknell on racism against African Americans and perhaps eventually towards all people who are different. I don't think that we don't have a HELL of a long way to go but still... we elected an African American to the White House for the first time. It wasn't based on his race but because he was the right man for the job and represented what most of American was yearning for so greatly. But still, when you think of all that African Americans have gone through over the centuries in this country... you can't help but feel the power of the moment. I can also relate cause I am a woman and women have also been persecuted throughout the centuries. Obama won and perhaps, someday, we'll see a woman in the White House and we'll get our turn too. We didn't get Hillary but I am damn glad we got Obama. Baby steps but still steps all the same. He's the next MLK, Lincoln, and JFK and our country is finally in line for some changes - for the better. It's the beginning of a whole new day and I really can't wait to see what it brings. Finally.... FINALLY... some hope again at last.
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