Five Really Great Things About Being Sick

23 01 2012

Whew, that sick-haze around my noggin’ is startin’ to finally dissipate.  Hence, my optimism is thankfully returning.  But I digress.  I promised a list, and here ’tis:

1)  breakfast in bed (and lunch…….and dinner)

2)  the welcome realization that you cannot smell when you haven’t taken the garbage out in days

3)  unabashed usage of comfy pants

4)  sleeping between naps

5)  watching old James Stewart movies (old movies, young James Stewart….swoon…)

I guess the irony here is that now that I’m starting to feel better, I can really appreciate being sick.  But nothing beats feeling well.  ‘Cause let’s face it.  I’m an unabashed comfy pants wearer on my healthiest of days.  And that’s a big ol’ scoop of truth right there.





This post is gonna sound whiney, even if I try not to sound whiney….

23 01 2012

Ugh.  Being sick sucks.  I am typically an optimist.  But when I get sick, that half-full crap goes right out the window.  It’s like I feel like I’ll feel this way forever.  I’m hopeless.  It’s awfully sad.  It’s also short-sighted, stupid, ignorant, and (not to mention) shamelessly selfish. 

I’d like to think that maybe the reason I lose sight of the fact that I’ll be healthy again when I’m sick is because I’m so good at living in the moment.  Ah, that’s not it, though.  If I was truly living in the moment, I’d be simply thinking, “I’m sick.”  Instead, I’m thinking, “Oh, god!  What if I feel this way forever?!”  Haha….it’s pretty ridiculous, really.  But there you have it.  I am (although I hate to admit it) an absolute drama queen, when I am sick.  Fortunately for the rest of the world, I live alone and am usually so exhausted when I’m sick, that I don’t feel like talking to anyone.  So (excepting this post of course), everyone is saved from my drama.

But not me.  I’m not saved by it.  I’m tortured by it.  I get helplessly wrapped up in it.  Blah.  Also, two other unpleasant things happen.

1)  If I’m sick for more than a couple of days, I usually have to cancel, postpone, or find subs for any classes, rehearsals, and shows I have scheduled.  If I had a “day-job” there might be a tiny part of me that thought, “Woo-hoo!  At least I get a day off, I guess!”  But I love what I do.  And I hate when I miss out.  It’s important to note that since this isn’t a “day-job” we’re talking about here, I don’t have paid sick days.  So, in addition to staying home and feeling sorry for myself, I’m out the money I was planning on making.  (Oh, man.  This sounds super whiney)!

2)  I’m a single gal who lives alone.  Now, there are lots of reasons to be in a loving, healthy relationship.  And I’ve got a list if ya ever wanna see it.  But let’s face it, one of those reasons is that you get to take care of someone when they need it and you’ve got someone who will take care of you when you need it.  There are, I suppose, some very good reasons to enjoy being single as well.  But when I’m sick, there’s an awfully big part of me that would love for someone to make me some soup, do my dishes, and cover me up with a blanket.

So, here I sit, in bed, posting a woe-is-me piece for all three of my subscribers to read (Don’t worry, Mom!  I’m sure I’ll be good and healthy in no time)!  I just have a cold/sore-throat/typical winter-y thing.  I mean, it’s not like I went to war and had my legs shot off.  I’m so insensitive and selfish.

But, I have a comfy bed and a cozy home, food to eat and vitamins to take.  And I even had a friend who checked in with me to see if I needed anything.  So, I’m sick for a few days.  Yeah, it sucks.  But, if this is what I have to complain about right now, then life is still pretty damn good.





My Past and I

16 01 2012

So I had a dream where I could fly

But the only one who knew was My Past

My Past was gentle and kind and we had lots of secrets together

 

We tried to get away from the others.  He protected me.

I climbed up the fence-building and jump-sailed down

He distracted them from my powers by going through the gate

 

Before anyone caught up with me, I saved a girl who seemed already gone

An Ophelia submerged in the creek

It was another world, that creek

Familiar and Unfamiliar

 

The creek people lived there and the legend was

They eat people

My Past had almost been eaten a long time ago

But survived and was stronger for it.

My Past had a tattoo of the charm that wards off any evil from the Creek People

My Past was safe

 

We saw horses and went wading-skating down the creek

My Past and I

We could walk on water

 

When we returned

My Past’s Present saw us together

It made me self-conscious





drinking up today’s moments

16 01 2012

sleeping in

downton abbey

dancing to loud music

mango smoothie

writing

waves on lake michigan

teaching

spontaneous meal with a delightful friend

nerding out about improv

peaceful solitude





Process

15 01 2012

So now that the holidays have tapered off a bit (the cards have stopped coming, my stocking dark chocolates have been eaten, and I’ve watched all of the corny Christmas movies available online), I’ve begun to finally buckle down and write my next show.  It’s something that’s been floating around in my head for a few months now, but I really started typing stuff out this past week.

This also means that when sitting down to get some serious work done on my next show, I have gained heightened awareness of my surroundings.  For example, there’s some dust in the corner behind that painting.  And why have I gone so long in this world without taking the time to make a good, old-fashioned pot of homemade lentil soup?  My books should be better organized.  The blinds are crooked.  There are some old emails I need to respond to.  My afghans on my quilt rack aren’t folded the right way.  I should clean the bathroom.   I need to research and find that obscure quote from that one movie and post it to my friend’s wall.  How long does it take spit to freeze when it’s this cold?  My walls are too blank.  I should hang more art.  I should make more art, so that I can hang it.  I love this song.  You know what would be fun?  I should come up with a little dance routine for this song.  I need to learn Spanish.

Alright, so my floor has been swept and mopped.  My stove is clean.  My music selection has been organized.  I even responded to those facebook inbox messages that I never look at.  All I have to do now is write my show.

After I post a little update on my blog….

 

 





Cooking Tips From Amanda #17

4 01 2012

Mmm!  Homemade black bean soup!  Delicious, yes?  Definitely, but make sure you’ve got your wits about you while you’re cooking.  Even if you always turn off your blender before unplugging it, make sure you put the lid on those tomatoes before you plug that blender back in.  Yes, it makes for a funny moment from a movie, but someone’s going to have to clean the lipocine off the top of the spice rack.

Update:  Two hours later and I just found a sad looking, partially punctured tomato next to the coffee table.





An Open Letter to 2011

31 12 2011

Dear 2011,

Suck it.

Love,

Amanda

 

PS:  2012 is gonna be incredibly beautiful.





bad with names

21 11 2011

Oh!  I know her.

what’s-her-name

What’s her name?

starts with an ‘S’

no….

…has an “s” sound in it

Somewhere.

What is her name?

If she smiled more, she could be a Bridget.

Oh, is she one-of-those ends-in-a-”y” people?

I can’t stand those people.  (except for the people I love whose names happen to end in why)

Because I know Amy’s and Emily’s and other-y’s that are great–but it’s because they always had ease.  They didn’t add the “eeeeeee’s” on later to cuten themselves up.

Dangit.  What IS her name?

Oh!  Aaaaaaah…

Lots of vowels.  I think it’s a vowel-ish name.

Alanah or Layla or Laila or….

no…..

too many l’s

Man, what is her NAME?!  It’s right on the tip of my tongue.  I know it.  I know I’d know it if I heard it.  It’s driving me crazy!  If I could just think of…..

Oh!  I know him….

what’s-his-name

 





Over and Out

19 11 2011

Whew!

The short run of The Good, the Bad, and the Monkey has come to a close.  I am very grateful that it was a success!  I’ve said (typed) it before, and I’ll say (type) it again….  A solo show can’t be done alone.  It truly takes so many people supporting the performer to make it a success…..   And I’m not just talking about the director, stage manager, house manager, etc….  In addition to these fantastic folks, a solo show could still not be done without an audience.  I am so very grateful to all of the friends, colleagues, students, and also the folks I don’t know that came out to see this show.  I’d like to also mention how thankful I am to all of the people who urged their friends and colleagues to see it.

I’m split right now between thoughts of touring Monkey again next year and writing a new solo show.  Well, actually, it’s a three-way split.  I also just want to go to sleep.  The monkeys, it seems, have already made up their minds with what they’ll be doing in the near future…..

…perhaps I’ll join them.





One More Chance, Chicago!

11 11 2011

We are nearing the end of my short, three-performance run of my show, The Good, the Bad, and the Monkey at Stage 773.  I hope you’ll be able to make it out to this funny, unique show!

The Good, the Bad, and the Monkey (with Evan Jacover opening) 
Written and performed by Amanda Rountree, directed by Jen Ellison
Stage 773′s Cabaret Theatre                                  
1225 W. Belmont
Chicago
$12
Thursday, November 17 at 8:00 pm

Please click here to get your tickets online!








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