Murder, you say?

Kim, Anna and I "clowning" around.

So, I'm preparing for my last performance with Village Players, and I'm very sad. I've been performing with VP since 2005, starting with Cinderella. My final performance will be our Mystery Dinner Theater ("MDT") presentation of Bubbles the Clown's Last Giggle by  the Village Players' own Mike Mondl. Mike was also my director in Cinderella.

I've attached pics of us girl clowns playing around with our makeup. I never realized how hard clown makeup is to put on. It's such a pain. And it itches, but it is so worth it. My role as Pinkie the clown is one unlike any of my others. And we have a wonderful cast. I am so grateful my last play will be with some of my favorite people.  I'd like to thank a few.

Pam, el capitán, is our director. The MDT was originally scheduled for last fall, but our venue closed down, so we had to cancel. Then I had to go and find another job out of state. As soon as I told Pam, she went to work and made arrangements for us to do the show. She even worked around my surgery. Thanks to Pam for being so accommodating to me.



Kim, Anna and I mugging for the camera.

 Tom was one of my first VP friends. He was the King in Cinderella. He befriended me all tose years ago, and remains the director who gave me the chance to get out of my comfort zone and sing in 1940s Radio Hour.  My stint as Geneva Lee Brown (the Ella Fitzgerald - like club singer) was the scariest role I've ever played. Who would have thought of me singing on stage in a musical? Not me. I still get the shakes when I do karaoke. My only regret about the show is no one in my family saw me perform. Thanks to Tom form giving the chance and confidence to sing in public. Heck, you boosted my confidence period.

Anna with the chicken.

Finally, I would like to talk about Anna. I miss Emily, Dylan and Cole. So much. I regret that because I took the job here in Arkansas, I have missed the older two growing up. Cole is quite there yet, but Emily and Dylan are 18, graduating from HS and preparing for college. They are adults now, and I didn't get to be there for the fun times. In walks Anna, at the Fiddler on the Roof auditions in 2008. She was so adorable. I adopted Anna for my "replacement" Emily. Anna could never replace Emily, but she did help fill a void that was left inside me by leaving Ennis. I've watched her grow up. She is now a very mature 16 year-old. I am so glad I have the chance to do one last show with her. Thank you, Anna, for brightening my life. Your vivacity, good attitude and humor have been a welcome addition to my time in NWA. I will miss you.

I will miss performing with my friends, but for now we are having a blast. The MDT will be held Friday, April 1st, and Friday, April 8th, at the Bella Vista Country Club. Please see the VP website at http://www.bvvillageplayers.org/ for tickets ot more information.

I know I'm not really a pretty clown, but I will be a funny one.

First Day Back

So I finally went back to work today after three long weeks out of the office. My return was really anticlimatic. My boss was sure glad to see me, though.

I planned on reviewing resumes as soon as I got into the office this morning. That did not happen as planned. It seems that while I was out of the office on LOA, they deactivated my account so I couldn't access the GRS (global recruiting system). Our HR group had to reactivate me before I review resumes. It takes an overnight update to put me back into the system. What a pain the bobo. Oh well, tomorrow IS another day. I guess I will start searching for my replacement tomorrow. The sad thing is that my boss, and my boss' boss both asked me about reviewing. It is will be my project. I hope to set up interviews early next week if we have some good people. I really want someone lined up before I leave.

Instead I had to spend my morning getting reactivated and attempting to correct the mess that has been my pay for the past three weeks. Really, it is really so difficult to get time right? I said sick time, personal time, vacation time - in that order. How did they end up using vacation time, leaving personal time and sick time? And the time wasn't even right. Too much time one week and not enough time the next. As a wise friend of mine said today, "Do they not realize they are messing with peoples lives?" I think no. Another co-worker was shorted 15 hours this week too.

Alas, I must go to sleep. I have rehearsal tonight and I'm beat. Mystery Dinner Theater Friday April 1st and April 8th at the Bella Vista Country Club. Ask me about it if you are interested. It is a really funny show, and I get to play a clown.

Until next time -- Laura