Final Curtain

We rode the Orphan Train - the Orphan Train. Thousands of unwanted children were sent from New York to the Mid-West to solve a social problem we didn't create. It was a train of hopes, of dreams, of "please take me!" Desperate, unwanted children, seeking...searching to find a home. Some did. Some did not. We rode the Orphan Train...

(Train whistle.)

The Orphan Train...

(Train whistle softer.)

The Orphan Train.

(Train whistle very faint.)

Final Curtain.

Yes, I've bowed my way out of the hallowed halls of institutionalized education. Goodbye. So long.

I am not yet ready for normal social interactions, and as such, have decided on isolation for at least three more days. And I don't care what you think about that. (Thus, as you can see, I am not ready for social interaction.)

I will tell you a short story about the Theatre II Class - I had wonderful, fabulous kids who cared and worked hard and wanted to learn. We had two productions this semester. The first and largest was the musical, Beauty and The Beast. It was fabulous - way beyond "high school."

The second and smaller, was The Orphan Train, a One-Act Play we produced in the last three weeks. I directed two scenes in this production, and was the assistant director in the other scenes. The opening of this post is some the closing lines for the play.

On my last day, I walked into the auditorium to find it decorated with streamers and banners and balloons and even a pinata in the shape of a train - a Good-Bye Party for me! The theme of the party was:

"Ms. Johnson rode the Theatre II Train - the Theatre II Train."

Which happens to be very funny - in case you didn't laugh.

Here is a picture of my gifts, the pinata and the banner.

Yes, they were wonderful and the class was wonderful. And I am honored that kids who've played Civic Theatre and are being recruited by topnotch theatre schools think I'm a good director.

As for the other aspects of school - they are very sad and disheartening. With all the grace that my unsocialable self can muster, I must ask you not to be nice and want to hear all about it. I don't want talk about it. And I don't care what you think about that either.

Enjoy the picture.

Final Curtain.

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 5/25/2006 05:33:00 PM | (2) comments

Headless Will Not Speak

This is the oddest Kentucky Derby I can remember... Not that I encourage betting, but if you bet on the Derby, the best way to choose who to place your hard-earned money on would be to throw the money in the air and just see where it comes down.

The two "best" horses (in my opinion - Brother Derek and Lawyer Ron) are front runners starting from postions 17 and 18- which means they'd have to out run 16 horses far enough to cross over in front of them and get down near the rail OR take the turns rather wide OR run a completely different race than they're use to running.

The two "best" come-from-behind horses (Jazil and Steppenwolfer) are leaving from gates 1 & 2 - which means they'll have 18 horses squishing in on them when they'd perfer to stay out of early traffic and run at the back of the pack.

What this means is that my top four horses potentially will be trying new tactics on Derby Day in a field of 20 horses...

As for other horses - watch Point Determined. He's younger than the others, but his Daddy was a great one.

Watch Sharp Humor - if he'd anywhere near the lead when they head home, he will not back down from a fight.

Barbaro? No clue.

All the rest? It's just a mad dash for the wire - who knows?

So. No predictions this year from the Headless Horsewoman.

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 5/05/2006 12:00:00 AM | (0) comments