Wow, it’s been an intense few days. The spectacular show I’ve been involved with had performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, and Saturday afternoon. It was just spectacular — easily the most ambitious show I’ve ever been involved with. And it was huge amounts of fun.

Except for a day’s work on Friday — during which I passed out during a coughing fit and fell off my chair —, all my other time was spent with my poor sick plumtreeblossom. She says she was sicker than she’d ever been before in her adult life, and I can believe it. She’d have periods of not really being lucid, although she’d also have periods of being completely conscious of all the misery she was in. And she felt utterly terrible about having to miss the performances. (Actually, I was ill enough that if she’d been completely well, I’d have at least considered backing out of the performances because my cough was so bad. But I managed, and since all the coughing was away from the mikes I don’t think it distracted the audience too much.) On top of all this, she heard of an unexpected and tragic death in the family (her niece’s mother, who was still very much a part of her niece’s and her brother’s lives, died at 37 due to an undiagnosed congenital heart defect), so she had that to deal with too. Poor my honeywuzzle.

This was the first time I’d ever done Foley (sound effects), and it was a huge amount of fun. In fact, it was the first time for all four of us out on stage, but plumtreeblossom (Foley captain) had done such a fabulous job of training us and forging us into a team, and Sarah (Foley coordinator) did such a good job of figuring out how to adapt to plumtreeblossom’s absence on-stage, that it all flowed really smoothly.

I wish I’d been able to stay for strike and the cast party, but I wasn’t really feeling well enough for the labour (wouldn’t have wanted a repeat of my fainting experience earlier that day while I was carrying a heavy expensive speaker!) or for a late night of debauchery, and I needed to go see plumtreeblossom, who’d been a little concerned about being alone through the day’s two performances.

I can’t say enough about how wonderful the experience of being in that show was, and how proud I am of the entire group and how lucky I am to be able to do community theater and live radio drama with such a wonderful, talented bunch of people.

As far as our health, plumtreeblossom and I both seem to have turned a corner. Friday evening all my free thoughts were devoted to figuring out how I could get medical attention quickly after the show was over, and whether plumtreeblossom needed to go back to the ER. But Friday night something seemed to shift, and Saturday morning I was feeling not well, but much, much better. And plumtreeblossom was having a rough time on Saturday when she woke up, but after she got some calories in her she was doing a lot better than she’d been in a while. We were actually hopeful for a while that she might make it to the theater to watch the last performance, but she didn’t get better enough for that. But she was definitely better, and today she’s better still. So we’re both still coughing, aching, and exhausted, but I’m pretty sure we’re both over the worst of it and on the road to recovery.

It’s October 18th. It’s snowing. Granted, it wasn’t snowing all afternoon; there was some freezing rain mixed in there, but now it’s just snowing. Whee! I’m very glad I decided to rent a Zipcar to do my huge grocery shop rather than just taking my little wire cart.

If all of you here weren’t so wonderful, I would seriously consider Hawai‘i.

plumtreeblossom and I have been having a wonderful weekend so far, with a fun PMRP work day painting some big pieces of Foley equipment, good food, a bad movie but with wonderful company, discovering a new neighbourhood near plumtreeblossom’s place, and a fabulous birthday party with an utterly spectacular birthday cake¹, a lovely and charming birthday boy and girl with very good taste in friends, lots of people we knew, lots of new people to meet, and excellent conversation. And now we’re about to run out for a pleasant breakfast. It’s a good weekend, and even the rain is kind of cozy-seeming.

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¹ Flourless death-by-chocolate, topped with a layer of strawberries, a layer of tiramisù, and a layer of hard chocolate. I want to learn to make that. And then I want to become independently wealthy so I can hire people to make it for me and to cart me around in my wheelbarrow. It might have to be a double-wide.

Had a particularly lovely evening with my honeywuzzle tonight. We heard Brahms’ German Requiem at the Hatch Shell, during which we saw the space shuttle and space station pass overhead (thanks to golux_org for confirming that that’s what it was), checked out the very interesting Liberty Hotel (a converted Victorian jail), and had a lovely time on the porch talking about politics, education, science, culture, and childhood (as one does). Life is good. And we get to snuggle with Chickenfinger tonight! Yay for neurotic kitties!

Sorry for my extreme radio-silence lately. I’ve been mostly sort of keeping up with other people’s LiveJournal posts (albeit with more skimming than usual), but I haven’t had time or brainpower to post or do much commenting. Anyway, since I’m sure you all are wondering whether I’m still alive, here’s some of what I’ve been up to lately:

Home repairs: Just after cathijosephine moved out, the bath surround (the panels on the wall around the bathtub) fell off. Well, large bits of it did, anyway. It had never been all that convinced it wanted to be attached to the wall, and it gave up. I had been thinking for a very long time (since before I moved in, come to think of it) of pulling it off and repairing whatever damage it had been put up to cover, but had never gotten around to it, in part because it involves not being able to use the shower for extended periods of time due to wating for various bits to dry. Anyway, since I didn’t have a housemate for a bit (anybody want to move in? Quincy’s got lots of history and lots of yummy restaurants! Won’t be available for a bit yet, though.) I decided I’d go ahead and try that. As is the way with these things, it quickly became a much larger project than I expected it to. It was just three days ago (after starting the project about a month ago, although of course I’ve been working on it in spurts) that I finally had a day where I left the bathroom looking better than when I started.

This has all taken a lot longer because of not having a working car any more, so when I discover I don’t have the right tool or I didn’t get enough tile adhesive, I need to either carry stuff on the T (and on the walk home from the T) or rent a Zipcar. (I have to say, I’m really enjoying using Zipcar. But still, it means having to plan stuff in advance.)

Theater: As I did last year, I’m rehearsal-assisting for plumtreeblossom’s show in the summer one-act festival at Theatre@First. Unlike last year, I’m also going to be on the run crew, which I don’t think I’ve ever done. Means I can’t sit in the audience for the actual performances, but it means I get to be on stage, albeit with the lights dimmed. Also unlike last year, the show plumtreeblossom is directing is one she wrote herself! My darling is having her début as a playwright! I’ve read a bunch of short stories she got published before I met her and really enjoyed them, but this is the first substantial writing she’s done since I’ve known her, and I’m thrilled to see her getting back into it. It is a really funny show being put on by very talented actors and it’s going to be a blast! Many of the other one-acts are also really funny too, including the one being directed by surrealestate (who is directing for the first time, if I’m not misremembering). I am really really looking forward to this and you should all come see it.

plumtreeblossom: Things continue to be delightful in my relationship with plumtreeblossom! We have lots of wonderful dates and delightful times. Tomorrow we are going to see Up for the third time. :-) Her cat Rowley who had been frighteningly skinny for a while has been putting on weight, which is really encouraging. We’d already been mentally preparing to lose him. Not sure if the subcutaneous fluids the vet has her giving him are what made the difference or not, but he’s doing a lot better.

Work: Work is busy, but rewarding, and I feel like I’m accomplishing stuff (although projects in IT, as in homeownership, tend to take several times as long as you think they should).

cathijosephine: I’m delighted that I’m still seeing lots of cathijosephine despire her having moved out. We’ve been trying to have dinner together once a week (often with darxus and m_c_t if he’s in town, and sometimes with xmelancholia). Chickenfinger (her cat) has adapted really well to moving back to her condo; we were both worried she’d be upset about moving back to a much smaller space, but she had no trouble adjusting at all.

(Other than seeing a lot of plumtreeblossom her housemate and cathijosephine and her partners, and the Firsties, I’m feeling a bit undersocialized and missing my friends. Have been popping my head in at some lovely parties though, at one of which I got to catch a glimpse of the delightful weegoddess during a visit this side of the pond.)

I feel like there’s been other important stuff over the past few weeks, but I’ve run out of brain so I’m going to stop for now.

Lots of fun lately!

Friday after work, I met plumtreeblossom after work for fried chicken. The Popeye’s in Kenmore Square where we’d been planning on eating was insanely crowded due to a ball game, so plumtreeblossom suggested we turn it into an impromptu picnic. We walked a few blocks with our food to the Esplanade and had a lovely dinner by the Charles.

From there we walked to the Charles/MGH T stop, and on the way we saw a family of Canada geese with three cute little goslings! Pictures on Flickr (scroll down a bit).

After stopping at plumtreeblossom’s house to dump off our stuff and get cleaned up, we went to a combination birthday (yay!) and going-away (boo!) party for Theatre@First stalwart and all-round sweetheart big_jewfro. We were unfortunately too tired to stay very long but we had just a wonderful time. plumtreeblossom managed to drag me into the karaoke room, which I thought I wouldn’t enjoy, but I had a fabulous time. It was a truly delightful party. I hope the Boston area ends up getting big_jewfro and his sweetie back eventually, but wherever he settles will be a big bright spot visible from orbit.

When we got to plumtreeblossom’s house (fortunately only a few blocks from the party) we collapsed right away.

Saturday morning we had breakfast at local favourite The Burren and then went to Earthfest, an annual eco-themed music and marketing event on the Charles River Esplanade. I’d never been before, but plumtreeblossom’s been several times and said this year’s was the most crowded she’s seen. This is a free concert with an associated vast stretch of marketing tents, all with some connection ranging from direct to very tenuous with ecology. Oh, and food vendors, of course. We had a lovely time, but the crowd was very dense and it was a lot of walking and waiting. Lots and lots of cute dogs to look at! And the weather was spectacular. I’ve put a few photos on Flickr.

Saturday evening I helped eisa unload at her new apartment. Due to the large number of people and the relatively small amount of stuff it was very quick, and the traditional pizza was yummy. I’m delighted to have her (and her dogs) back in the area.

Now, I think, it’s time for bed.

PS — During the course of the weekend, plumtreeblossom and I discovered that the longest of the three escalator flights at the Porter Square T stop is exactly one hundred kisses long.

Last night plumtreeblossom and I joined quem98 and a bunch of her friends for a really delightful dinner that involved meeting a bunch of interesting people for the first time. I wish I knew all their LJ names. It was a wonderful group of people. (Dinner was at Namaskar, and I had the Lamb Kashmir which I highly recommend.)

Then today, plumtreeblossom and I went to the circus. The nonprofit Big Apple Circus, in particular, which was set up outside Boston City Hall, with all their tents in a big concrete courtyard. (It’s weird to feel completely like you’re indoors in the concession “building” and to notice a street light poking up through a hole in the floor.) There were a couple of impressive aerial acts, a pair of impressive jugglers, a guy who did implausible things balancing urns on his head (ending with one that must have been about sixty pounds if it was actually ceramic, and it probably needed to be ceramic and that heavy in order to have the kind of momentum it did), lots of silly and entertaining clown acts, acrobats on horseback, trained dogs (all shelter rescues), and lots and lots of fun. I got lots of photos. Let’s see if I get organized enough to post them.

After that, I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to my sweetie, so I asked if she wanted to sit somewhere for some coffee. We ended up at Faneuil Hall having an early (and tasty) dinner, instead. (And on the train on the way home, I realized we’d forgotten the coffee we were originally searching for, despite passing some yummy coffee-roasting smells.)

So, a wonderful weekend.

Howdy! cathijosephine, who is currently living with me, is looking for somebody to rent her Quincy Center studio. Her Craigslist ad (with photos) is at http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/abo/1058139649.html, and here’s the text, since it’s short:

$1000 Furnished Studio on Red Line Available Immediately (Quincy Center)
No Fees! Across the street from Quincy Center T Station. ~450 square feet, hardwood floors, 2 big walk-in closets, small dishwasher, full size loft bed and comfy pull-out couch. Heat and hot water included. Coin-op laundry in building. 2 blocks to supermarket and drugstore.
Short-term lease available for $1,100/month.

(I.e., it's $1,100/mo. if you want it month-to-month, or $1,000/mo. if you'll sign a longer lease so it comes back on the market at a convenient time.)

Quincy Center is pretty far out on the Red Line (25min riding time to Park St.), but I can’t emphasize enough how convenient this location is in Quincy; you’d be comfortable walking distance from a supermarket and a pharmacy, less than five minutes’ walk from the T station, and within ten minutes’ walk from lots of great restaurants and shops. And I find Quincy a fun and charming place to live.

EDIT: Bigger versions of the pictures in the Craigslist ad: Bathroom, main living area with couch and loft bed, very large closet, and kitchen.

So last night I got together with plumtreeblossom and surrealestate at House of Tibet in Teele Square and had a yummy meal. We started with veggie momos, which were very good and mostly potatoey, and a mixed appetizer platter. As my entrée I had a yak dish, which I think was the first time I had ever had yak. It was very good! The gravy it was in was also yummy, but I’d like to try it without sauce sometime so I get a clearer sense of the flavour of the meat. plumtreeblossom got a noodle dish with pea pods, which I sampled a fair amount of; the noodles were especially good. And the conversation was lots of fun.

This morning, plumtreeblossom and I had a yummy breakfast at The Burren, one of our favourite places for breakfast in Davis. It was crowded this morning — for a long time when we’d go we’d usually be the only people there, or one of two occupied tables. Today we got seats right away, but the place was almost full. They certainly deserve the business; their food is great. The pancakes (which plumtreeblossom usually has) are especially good.

Had a wonderful, if fairly quiet, New Year’s Eve. In the afternoon I took cathijosephine and m_c_t to a nearby mall so m_c_t could get boots. It was snowing heavily out, and the plows hadn’t had a chance to clear the streets, so getting there was kind of an adventure, and a slow one.

We had a great time at the mall, including a yummy meal from a Johnny Rockets in the food court. However, I had hurt my foot pretty badly overnight (scratching a really bad itch), and towards the end of our time at the mall I was feeling feverish and looking flushed. (Zeph and I had thought at the time that it had turned into a systemic infection, but considering how immediately I got better when she had me put some antiseptic/anaesthetic on it, I think it must just have been the pain.)

Anyway, because of the snow, it took us a lot longer than anticipated to get to and from the mall. When we got home cathijosephine took great care of me, plying me with all sorts of useful OTC drugs. (Wow, that anaesthetic/antiseptic spray was incredibly effective.)

plumtreeblossom and I had plans to go to what was by all accounts a stunningly awesome New Year’s Eve party, but unfortunately we would have had to walk there from the T through unplowed streets, and with my injured foot and the snowstorm, that was a non-starter. plumtreeblossom was incredibly understanding about the change in plans. As it happened, she got so cold walking the couple blocks to Sound Bites for dinner (where we both had very yummy food and wine) that she was just as glad we hadn’t tried to make it to the party. Instead, after dinner, we put a rather odd Gary Cooper movie in the DVD player and snuggled on the couch with the cats for a while before toasting the New Year as cued by her Blackberry.

This morning, I started 2008 2009 with pancakes, bacon, and Jell-O made by my beloved plumtreeblossom; that has to be a very good omen. (The Jell-O is because I’d had a sudden craving the previous night, due to her singing the Jell-O jingle from the radio show we did.) She also sewed some buttons on my coat.

When I got home today, I had a rather disturbing surprise. First of all, the cat was out of food; she had tried to get into the bag of food in the closet, but only succeeded in knocking it over with the opening folded under it so she couldn't get in. Second of all, it was 35° Fahrenheit in the house. Our boiler occasionally randomly shuts itself off for no reason, requiring a button press to turn it back on. I did that right away, but I am still wearing a coat and hat; it takes a while for the house to warm up from that temperature. Poor kitty! I hope it wasn't that cold all night.

Anyway, I was delighted to spend the last afternoon of 2008 with cathijosephine and m_c_t, and to spend the last night of 2008 and the first morning of 2009 with my beloved plumtreeblossom. That left me with a warmth inside that mere temperature can’t touch.

Oh, and I just a few minutes ago got a nice New Year’s phone call from sionnagh. (She says everybody in Hawai‘i is complaining and wearing sweaters because it’s gotten down to 68°F. Remind me again; why do I live in New England?)

I am blessed with many wonderful friends (many of whom I wish I could see more often [*casts a glance towards northern England*]), a spectacular family (of origin and of choice), and a life full of love.