What's Making Me Happy This Week

1. Streaming services - in a time like this, it is nice not to have to depend on a place like Blockbusters or regular TV only.  Maybe it's not ideal and probably keeping us in front of the TV more than if we didn't have it, but it is nice to be able to search for movies or full runs of shows to keep our minds off of the real world.



2. Smart movies and TV shows.  There are so many GOOD movies and shows out there.  Yes, it's great to have the fun and not so serious stuff, but a really good smart show keeps my mind occupied more than something not so deep.
3. Speaking of good movies, I'm SO grateful that our kids can appreciate amazing old movies.  We are starting to watch movies off the American Film Institute's Top 100.  https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies-10th-anniversary-edition/ On Sunday April 26th, we watched Rear Window (1954).  Damian chose it off the list.  They loved it!  What I found so interesting is that it is still a thriller - sometimes, scary movies don't hold up.  But because there are no special effects (well, except for one that was cheesy but didn't effect the enjoyment of the movie), the content of the movie was still so enjoyable and both kids were mesmerized to the end.  Hitchcock was definitely a master.


4. The ability to let go.  I was taking a psychology class at LAVC this spring.  After much debate, I dropped it because I just don't think I have it in me to continue it right now.  It was a tough class.  I am still taking sociology though.  
5. Incremental goals!  I set a goal of 20,000 steps last week and I did it!  Total of 21,235 steps for the week (plus another 215 on the one day I didn't go out last week).  Roughly 3,000 steps a day.

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The Arts

Two weekends ago, Nadia had her theater show performances.  She is in the Academy of Children's Theater and they do three shows a year - Spring, Summer, and Fall.  Well, this Spring they did Annie.  Nadia got the part of Grace Farrell, Oliver Warbucks' personal secretary.  It was another great show - she's been in 7 shows with them over the last 3 years.  I love the whole process but I have to say I'm always glad when it's over too.  She loves it but it takes up a lot of time, especially at the end.  The last week is always Tech Week - rehearsals every day, Monday-Thursday from 4-8pm at the theater.  Shows were Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday matinee.  I usually volunteer my time, doing things like box office sales, concession stand, etc.  Well, this time I did concession stand on Friday night, box office on Saturday, and I worked backstage on Sunday.  Sunday also happened to be Mother's Day.  While not exactly my ideal Mother's Day, it was still fun being backstage with my daughter and the other kids.  I got to see a side of her that I haven't seen in a while - the working actress, making sure costume changes were ready to go, other actors were ready in for their cues, and doing the little backstage rituals with a couple of other actors.  There was one, she did a little pinky swear type thing with one of the boys in the cast before every scene...it was cute.  But also, surprising in that it was something a "big kid" would do.  Well, not exactly...I don't know how to explain it.  It was just something like a good luck ritual?  Nothing elaborate - but when I think of my 11-year-old doing something like that...I find it surprising.  I guess it's just another sign of her growing up and maturing.

I don't know how to explain this!  She's the baby of the family.  Lately, she's been making me do a double take when I look at her.  The elegance with which she walks...she's a dancer and has a dancer's body.  Graceful, muscular.  She's growing up - she's taller, she's a bit more self conscious, not a little girl.  She had to wear elegant clothing for this part, and heels.  And boy how she wore them!  A couple of times during the week, she wore them to rehearsal with a skirt and geez...her long legs with definition from all the hours spent at the ballet studio.  Sheesh.

I keep wondering how I got to be a mother to a 15-year-old and an 11-year-old.  Where did the time go?