The Hummingbird Tree and new rules for "Hide and Seek"

So I got around to taking a photo or two of the enormous Hummingbird tree I mentioned before. It is crazy how many of these birds swarm this tree. I never got a good picture of the actual birds themselves as they are a bit too far away for the lens I have with me but the tree is still nice to look at.

Humming Bird Tree in the morning

Humming Bird Tree in the evening after rehearsal

Today while sitting on my tiny little porch a storm of boys on bicycles parked themselves beneath me and began arguing about the rules of hide and seek. The intensity of the argument seemed to be fueled by the fact that the boy on the orange bike, who was the apparent outcast of the group, insisted on tagging along. By group decision the boy on the orange bike was prounounced "it." Did you know that if you are "it", also known  the one who is doing the seeking, you are not allowed to speak - ever, you must walk your bike while seeking - no riding allowed and to successfully "find" a person you must successfully throw them into the pool.

I'm not sure about these new rules but after about 20 minutes of arguing the terms were deemed acceptable and the pack rode off to hide leaving the boy on the orange bike in the shade of a tree to count to 300.

This is my house for the next five days. I've spent a week here already. It's not so bad. A little warm for my taste but as I said before it is within walking distance of everything I need for the first two weeks of my employment. The whole place is small enough that it fits in my 8-16mm lens quite easily. The door on the other side of the television leads to the bathroom/dressing room/closet area. The bed is in the dark cave on the left side of the picture, and the kitchen and front door are behind the bar. 

This is the view from my patio with out hide-and-seekers. I can always tell when it has reached the hottest part of the day because the tennis players abandon the courts.

Happy Sunday! 6 days until a plane takes me to Ashland!

Back down south in C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A!

Last Sunday I flew out of Montana and into Orange County. In May I was offered a position post-internship with the South Coast Repertory Youth Conservatory. For the first two weeks I will be the Assistant Stage Manager and the last two weeks I will be the Production Assistant.
We are producing Seussical: The Musical with 31 students ages 10 thru 22. It is a HUGE cast and lots to keep track of. My first few days have mostly be comprised of making massive amounts of paperwork that track props and people as they move throughout the show. It is a fun little musical filled with all of Seuss's subtle social and moral issues. The music is whimsical, brimming with joy and innocence and in a few moments quite beautiful.
While I'm not overly thrilled about spending 5 weeks away from Montana in the summer it seemed like a good opportunity and I do get to work with some of my favorite people from SCR. For the first two weeks I am living in a studio apartment that the theatre owns. It is almost exactly a mile from work which is handy because I no longer have a car in california. While the apartment warms up quite a bit while I'm gone during the day I can usually get it cooled off by the time I go to bed. I have a nice view of the tennis courts and a particularly tall tree that has these big yellow flowers on it. The hummingbirds seem to frequent it in the evenings. Maybe I'll take a picture of it this weekend - though I might be too busy as I have plans to spend most of the day laying at the pool. I am currently listening to the Harry Potter series on audio book - I read them all myself a few years ago but it sounded like an easy thing to do in my spare time and I am reading, reading (out of an actual book no batteries required) The Red Tent. So far I am enjoying both and having a hard time trying to decide which one to dedicate time to before bed. Hard choices I know.
I am counting the days until I get to visit the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR. I am taking a mini vaction in the middle of Suessical. The way they hired me was weird so I ended up with 9 days of unemployment right in the middle of the rehearsal process so I decided to take advantage of that time to go watch plays. It is my "continuing education" and I'd rather spend money at the Shakespeare festival than in Orange County.
Maybe now I'll be a little bit better about posting. Not that I have a huge fan base - but I do know there are a few of you out there. Happy FIRDAY! (or it likely will be by the time you read this) :)

ONE WEEK!

One week until the road trip home begins! By this time next Thursday my dad and I will be well on our way back towards Montana. I am picking him up in Vegas and then he gets to take the wheel. Sounds like quite the adventure!
I disassembled my book shelf this morning and started packing some boxes into the trunk of my car. Half of my closet is empty (the other half is still pretty full) but it is starting to look like, just maybe, everything will fit. I sold my bed a week ago and am in negotiations with a single mom over my desk. I am just happy to have found someone who will appreciate how nice it is and actually use it.
There are four more shows of "Snow Angel" left to be seen, one Friday, one Saturday and two on Sunday. As excited as I am to head home for a bit I am just as excited to officially mention that I have been asked back to SCR for a summer show. I will be working with many of the kids I worked with on Snow Angel and A Christmas Carol. It will last about 5 weeks from the middle of July to the middle of August and even though I won't be a millionaire (or even a thousand-aire) when it's over I think it will be a good addition to my resume.
I will be spending Memorial Day up in Ventura, CA with Maggie and her family, we are crossing our fingers for nice weather - the weather man seems to think it might not be the best day for boating - reminds me of the weather man in Montana.
I am in the mean time getting really excited to spend some time with this furry face:

She is SOOOOO CUTE! 

Hopefully I'll have some more recent pictures to post after my excursion to Ventura. Until then HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY and Happy Anniversary to my brother and sister-in-law!

Tech Week Begins

I find myself embarking on my final week of tech as an intern at SCR. I find myself in the same space I started my internship in - The Nicholas Theatre - but in a more prominent chair. I began my internship working on "How the World Began" at a music stand on the end of the first row in the Nicholas as the #3 on our three person stage management team and I now finish my internship as the #1 on a two person team at the stage management table in chair #1. It is vey exciting. My production assistant starts today, she was a freshman at Harvard this year and an alum of the SCR acting conservatory and I am very excited to have an extra pair of hands, eyes and feet. The director was laughing at me on Saturday as I was multitasking during a run through of our show. I was running sound from two separate boom boxes off of two CD's and an Ipod; reading lines for a student that had to leave early, writing down blocking and trying to update the run list all at the same time. I'm sure it was quite hilarious. I have thus far enjoyed the process of working on "Snow Angel" - it takes me back to the Wolfpack. The actors are 8th - 12th graders and all of them WANT to be there. I am comforted that it is more a process about process vs. a process about the end result. I find it interesting that the high school aged kids here are afflicted with the same "elephant foot syndrome" as those from the Wolfpack and Flathead Theatre companies. This condition is defined as the inability to move ones feet in a quite manner so as not to sound like elephants tromping across a wood floor.
Speaking of elephants I read an interesting article this morning about the giant creatures. You can read it here: Wild Elephants Gather to inexplicably Mourn the "Elephant Whisperer"

and then I read this commencement speech Paths are Made by Walking and promptly emailed it to the speech team. An interesting idea. To WALK - witness - accept - love - know thyself.
This last article came from a website called Daily Good. It looks interesting enough that I might continue to check it out. Lets be honest we all probably need a little more good in our day.

17 days until I meet my dad in VEGAS! to journey back to MONTANA!

Baseball & Boating

I have been to TWO baseball games in the past week and also managed to hitch a ride on a boat out on the Pacific Ocean. The first baseball game I went to was by far the more exciting of the two. Minnesota Twins vs. Anaheim Angels. The Angels ended up winning but it was still pretty fun to watch. There was an avid Minnesota fan sitting not to far from where we were seated who eventually got one of his signs taken away AND a security enforcer posted next to his row. I can't say I blame the guy for his enthusiasm to get Torii Hunter back in MN. That was Monday's adventure. Thursday I found myself out on a boat. It was pretty fun to see the Long Beach Harbor from a new perspective. We ran into some Sea Lions who were sunning themselves on a big barrel - you'll see it in the photos - and various other birds. After we had raced around on the ocean for a bit (quite literally raced, our driver seemed to have a need for speed and I swear I haven't held onto a water craft so tightly since I've been inner-tubbing with my Uncle Dave on Lake Waconia) we headed back to the marina but made a quick stop to get some tacos before heading back to the ballpark to watch the Angels play the Toronto Blue Jays. Nothing like being out on a boat, docking and walking less than a block to get some tasty dinner. I think if I ever find myself living this close to the ocean for an extended period of time again I need to invest in more friends with boats; but back to baseball. This game wasn't nearly as exciting unless you count all the bonehead plays the Angels seemed to be making - missed catches, underestimated throws - it was a little ridiculous and I sort of wished the Angels were playing the Twins in that game but it was still fun to get out of the house and hang out with people. Here are a few photos from the adventures:

some Twins warming up before the game

Twins on the field

Our seats weren't to bad either - the second game I went to were were in almost the same spot on the opposite side of the field - which worked out well in turning my head the other direction for a solid 3 and a half hours.

Out to sea! It was fun making our way through the marina and looking at all the fun names people have for their boats.

This is the Naval Weapons Station at Seal Beach, if you get to close they come out on boats with guns to chase you away - at least thats what they told me would happen

Sea Lions with downtown Long Beach in the distance

As we got closer these guys seemed to be pretty good at posing for cameras and weren't to bothered by our intrusion on their evening relaxation.

I really wanted to watch one of these guys get up on the floating buoy thing they were on - it looked like it would be quite a task.

Downtown LB 

The Belmont Pier and the beach I walk to is on the left. 

I am counting down the days (25) until I head back to Montana!

And then possibly back to California . . . but more on that when I have more details!

Adventures with MOM!

My mamma came to visit me last week. We spent 3 days hanging out and going on mini adventures in Long Beach and Orange County. The weather was BEAUTIFUL! and it was fun to have good company.  She arrived Sunday morning and rode to work with me. While I did a matinee she wondered around South Coast Plaza, I could hardly believe that when we met up for my birthday dinner she hadn't found a single thing to buy. After our dinner of freshly made guacamole, chips and chicken quesadillas we walked back over to the theatre. I gave her a quick tour before I was officially back on the time clock and then after the evening showing of Prince of Atlantis we headed back to Long Beach. Monday we drove to a few thrift stores and stopped at the Long Beach beach where we started a collection of sea shells. We then headed back to #201, made lunch/supper and drove down to Crystal Cove State Beach - dad said she had to see it and I totally agree it is quite a nice spot - much nicer than the beach in Long Beach for many reasons. We hiked down the beach and settled on a spot to eat our supper and watch the waves. The tide was coming in and at one point we decided we should probably move a bit more inland, just to be safe. We clambered around the rocks looking at the various sea life and then just relaxed on the beach. It seemed very appropriate watching the majesty of the waves rolling in that we should remember Walker and Greg out loud in that moment for they are always in our hearts. We joined many others around the globe that night as we toasted our coca-colas to them and later that night lit a candle for each of them.
The sun was shinning again on Tuesday so we ventured over to fourth street which is where a bunch of fun vintage shops and thrift shops are located. We had first tried to go to the Nordstrom Rack but it apparently no longer exists in Long Beach so we headed over to 4th street where we each left with a few more things to our names. We had lunch at the In'N'Out and then headed back to my place to put on sun screen. Our next adventure was a walk to the beach. We collected more sea shells, found two pennies and a plastic shovel. We brought our treasures home and rinsed them out before I had to head back to the theatre for Tuesday night's show. It was a quick trip but a good vacation. I am almost starting my official countdown of days until I am back in good old Montana. We close Prince of Atlantis next Sunday and then I start my last show at SCR with their Teen Players. I am going to be a little sad when this show closes as I have really enjoyed this cast and the people I've been working with but not so sad that I'm not super excited to be headed home for a Montana Summer. Here are some pictures from when Mom was here - she took lots on her camera too but I forgot to down load them before she left - she has apparently already put them in an album so if you are in Kalispell and want to see more pictures of Long Beach in April just ask.

Cactus Flower

Probably some kind of Gecko - we saw lots of these guys

Hiking down to the beach

More pretty Southern California vegetation

Mom carried the cooler, I carried the camera

Sea shells!

Sea gull

If you look close you'll see the anemone 

Clams? or some kind of mussel? I'm not sure but they were everywhere

Not sure where the rest of this guy was but I'm pretty sure he's sad he's missing his pincher

Pelicans - these guys are fun to watch

Not sure if this caterpillar survived much after we left him, the tide was rising and he was cruising about about as fast as caterpillar cruises which I'm not sure was fast enough to escape the water 

Me and Mom

Perhaps a road runner? He had found his dinner and didn't really feel like sharing

This guy appeared to be looking for dinner but didn't catch it while we were around.

Thanks for visiting mom! Can't wait to see you back in MONTANA!!!

Adventures with Dad! part two

After exploring Crystal Cove we got back in the car and continued south. We had talked about either going to the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Safari Park. We had both been to zoos so we figured we'd head to the Safari Park - who knows the next time either of us will be able to go on a Safari. We were both surprised at how busy it appeared to be for a Monday after noon. We arrived at about 12:15 and didn't leave until after 5. We rode the tram safari, went on a cart safari and walked around through the Asian Animal section. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

A Giant Pelican - these guys were huge

Who doesn't love a flock of flamingos - I thought it was pretty funny that this guy was sitting on his knees.

Baby Monroe was having a pretty good time hanging out in the shade

Lazy Cheetah

A mama vulture watching over her newly hatched babies

Hungry Giraffes

Chuck the Rhinoceros

Lazy Giraffes

Some kind of African Mountain Goat

This next one is an oddity - a laying down, sleeping Giraffe who was all by himself - in the wild you would not likely see this, especially the alone part

Skinny Striped Zebras

Tiny baby 6 week old Giraffe on the left - one of the tour guides liked to point out how the Giraffes walk with a specific "left, left, right, right, left, left, right, right" kind of pattern - the slower they move the harder this is.

Yay! ELEPHANTS - this one reminded me of my brother - he was swingin' that branch around like it was a "stick-on-a-rope"

Looks just like we're somewhere on the Serengeti

Don't miss the tiny baby Elephant

We learned some interesting things on our Safari adventure, got a few laughs from observing some of the crazier kids running around and finally made it back to the car. Where we headed north in search of a hamburger and fries. We decided to retrace our steps and go back up the PCH so we could stop at Crystal Cove again and investigate the state of the tide. We got there about an hour before the sun would set so we headed back down to the beach where we wandered the beach for another half hour before we decided we were getting hungry and the sun wasn't actually going to set for another 45 minutes.

These birds were pretty good at running out as the water receded and then turning around just in time to run back up to the shore before getting caught in the water.

Thinking that we should probably head back to the car and find some dinner

The only picture we took of the two of us together

THANKS FOR VISITING DAD! It was super nice to have company and spend time with you! I always love going on adventures with you! Maybe we'll get to go Huckleberry picking this summer!