Day 95: And so the journey begins...

After a long night's sound sleep, I spent the day immersed in production planning while listening to my favorite Broadway composer's music. You listen with a different ear when you're involved in a show and I found myself discovering and rediscovering the score.

It's so great to have resources at my fingertips. All these years of being a Sondheimphile are paying off well now as I can turn to my shelves for inspiration from the master himself. Such great fun...and most informative, I might add...to read what he has to say about the show, its origins and his collaboration with the playwright.

I expect I will sleep well tonight too...with a smile on my lips.

Day 94: Good things come in threes

Today, I 1) cuddled with a baby; 2) cooked and ate amazing Vietnamese food; and 3) was officially announced as the General Manager (produktionschef for the Swedes among you) for the upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins  in Stockholm in January. Happy does not even begin to describe it :-D

Day 93: It's back!

No more tiny keyboard. No more DrawSome frustration on the tiny iPhone screen. My iPad is finally up and running again, thanks to the expert help of the people at iPhone Reparation (http://www.iphonereparation.se/). They called this morning to say that the long awaited LCD screens were finally back in stock. Off I went to their location on Odengatan to drop my beloved moj off. They said it would take a couple of hours to repair and that I would get a call when it was ready.

YAY!

A mere 50 minutes later, the call came in. I was almost afraid to answer fearing that they were calling to tell me they'd found an irreparable problem with it. To my delight it was simply the repairman calling to say that my iPad was ready. Welcome back old friend...I've missed you.

 

Day 92: The Show Must Go On!

Despite the pouring rain, Vitabergsparken was packed for this evening's performance of Circus Cirkör. The performers, who also doubled as the band, did not disappoint and rather than canceling they made the best of it. Fortunately, half the stage was roofed so the instruments were protected against the downpour. As for the acrobatics, well, they cut most of them out as the rest of the stage was way too slippery. Instead, the director described what we would have been seeing :-)

One of the very impressive acts that they did go through with albeit in front of the stage, not on it, was sort of juggling with kettle bells! Yes, you heard me right. Amazing strength. Very impressive.

And I was happy to be there under an umbrella supporting these unstoppable performers, though I hasten to add that I'm hoping for much better weather for tomorrow's performance by Cullbergsballeten.

Day 91: Pride in one's work

Last year, the co-op building I live in decided to renovate the stairwell. It was a long process which included polling everyone in the building for input, selecting a contractor, deciding on details and withstanding months of noise, construction dust and cluttered hallways. When it was done, though, we were quite pleased with the result and every time I walk into our lobby, I felt happy to be home. Except for the mailbox.

A plain white mailbox that served its purpose for a number of years is now simply an eyesore in the otherwise fresh, new lobby. This is what it looks like:

And this is our beautiful lobby:

You get the picture. It was my task to find a replacement mailbox that would complement the oak accents in the lobby. Not so easy as it turns out. Enter our amazing neighbor Ingemar who volunteered to make a new mailbox. Which is exactly what he did in his carpentry shop over the summer. Today, he and his wife Christina installed it. What a lift to the entire lobby! Thank you Ingemar!

The new mailbox

Posing proudly after a job well done!

Day 90: Preview

The crowning glory of this wonderful time together with my two good friends from high school came just a few minutes ago with the reading of chapter 1 of a novel that Lori has been working on for a long time now. I've known about, heard about, this novel on and off for many years and have been waiting (am still waiting) for it with great anticipation.

Chapter 1 took me by surprise. It is, naturally, well written and its style and nature is quite in line with my expectations. What I did not anticipate was how incredibly moving it would be, how gently and kindly and generously it depicts a story that carries me back to a time long ago, yet still so close to my heart.

Chasing Fireflies by Lori Berhon. Wait for it. Look for it. It is coming. Then sit down, immerse yourself and enjoy. I know I will.

Day 89: Wine Women and Song

The day I've been planning for and looking forward to all summer finally arrived. And my cold finally left. Good timing :-)

Seven of my woman friends gathered at my place tonight. What made this gathering particularly special was that two of them are here visiting from afar, one from NYC and another from Israel. The three of us went to high school together and have stayed in each other's lives ever since. Having us all in the same city at the same time, no less in Stockholm, was certainly cause for celebration.

We ate, we sang, we talked. We were silly and serious. Two authors read aloud excerpts from their books. We shared memories and stories. We photographed. We toasted. It was magical.

This post on FB from one of them summed it up so well:

You know when your friend's old friends become your new friends? Love that.

Love that too. And all of you, each of whom holds a warm and special place in my heart.