Back from the wilds of Ice House, recovered from the 30 mile forced hike with full packs,  heald form the nightly attack of crazed beasts - yes, once again, we have returned from camping...I am just not a happy camper, that&#39;s all to be said.<br />
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We are in the crush of a building heatwave - 102 today and then it starts to get hot&#33;  It was nice at the cabin, lower 80&#39;s with a good breeze and that would feel nice - if only it didn&#39;t have to be out in the middle of nowhere.  Have all the windows open and the ceiling fans going to suck in as much cool air as possible.  It seems much hotter now that our canals and so many of the trees are gone.<br />
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True to form, both John and Irene are still playing the &#39;avoid thinking about the cruise&#39; tango - not really sure why.  They keeping having other things that they need to concentrate upon.  &quot;Oh, I&#39;ll think about the cruise after this or that it done.&quot;  Hell, I started thinking about this cruise while on board with the last one and am already planning the next one.   They aren&#39;t even really keen to talk about the upcoming cruise.<br />
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We had left the Ireland ports up to them for excursions, but I think that I will start making some discreet inquiries on my own as they haven&#39;t even begun to research either Dublin or Belfast...sigh.<br />
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Enough of that though.  We had a great rehearsal last night and two of the three actors are nearly off book enitrely.  This is good as tonight is their deadline for lines.  Director threatened them with an all-day Saturday rehearsal if they didn&#39;t get their butts in gear.  AND they listened.  I am truly amazed.  Also picked up a sound board op and got the CD for pre/post show music and scene change.  EVEN got the lighting cues...all ten of them. Most shows have more than ten lighting cues for the opening.   Just one more week, that&#39;s my mantra today.<br />
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Even better than a good rehearsal - I got home and Chris had moved all the camping stuff into storage already.  That means I have a whole day to clean before our July 4th party.<br />
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Kimmy Kat - glad to see another CA girl on the boards.  You sound like you&#39;ll fit right in around here&#33;   What sort of back surgery did you have?  I was forced into early retirment with a bad back.  surgery helped a lot. <br />
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Mary Lou -  Good luck with your yard sale.  Only had experience with one, but it was a good one.  Sold lots of stuff and used the &#036;&#036; to buy dishes for our first apartment.  Hard to believe that was 28 years ago - and we&#39;re still using the same dishes&#33;   And I still love them.<br />
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Probably need to get along here. I have to paint a landscape of Carcosonne, France today for the show and I&#39;m still not happy with my options.  So, it&#39;s off to the Internet&#33;<br />
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Take care all and here&#39;s wishing you a Grand Day&#33;<br />
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Charlie