My Blog

Dickens Faire 2004

candlelight1228 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:40:48 GMT

Found some old photos of Dickens Faire (from 2004). Thought you might be interested in seeing them: http://www.flickr.com/photos/candlelight1228/sets/72157616475951703/

Le Can Can Bijou

candlelight1228 — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 23:27:54 GMT

More animated fun. I got enough of the Can Can I could almost do the full dance in an animated gif. ------------------ We are watching "Me or the Dog" while my Dad cleans up from a late Christmas lunch. We're doing a movie later and all of us helped cook so my dad does the washing up. It's been a fairly laid back day. We opted for no presents this year. I still say we need to replace the no presents with something else though... Even if it's giving a nice word to each other... there should be something...

Dickens First Weekend: Pirates

candlelight1228 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:56:04 GMT

By far one of my favorite photos from the collection (totaling over 800 right now). This is Fredrick and the oldest sister as she attempts to make her move on him. He just looks confused! It'll be a while before I get them all up and am able to share the collection but I will share the favorites as I go.

Ride to Fair from Marin??

candlelight1228 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:54:25 GMT

I tried all the normal channels (Dickens and Ride to Dickens tribes) but I don't really know anyone coming from Marin whom can stop off and get me on their way in. My ride is away for the weekend so I am without a way of getting in. Can any of you help or know of anyone whom can help?

Change of Schedule

candlelight1228 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:17:29 GMT

My schedule for whom I break ("send off to lunch") and when has been changed. The good part about this is I get to see some new shows. The bad part is I will miss some of the shows I really like. It also starts my day earlier.

Silliness

candlelight1228 — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:05:25 GMT

For the last month or so since Dickens related things have kicked off, I have had various British comedy acts randomly running through my head. My favourite at faire at the moment is... "Don't touch the precious things of the shop... This is a local shop for local people." And if you haven't seen "League of Gentlemen" that will go right over your head! (ie you should check it out if you like dark humour.)

NY Attitude

candlelight1228 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:42:02 GMT

Sometimes I miss NYC. I admit I have been thinking about this for far longer than I should have but I was honestly curious what impression I was giving. The gal who weeks ago within the Dickens community who accused me of having attitude, I haven't as of yet wandered over to talk to her about it. I am sure all is well but I keep thinking what was I doing in body language that may have given her the impression of "attitude" when mentally I was really really trying to make sure I remembered everything she was telling me. Then I was walking over the Powell to get my MUNI pass for the month. Some homeless guy on the street called out to me and said, "Girl you are so tough." and it hit me. When living in NYC, I picked up a walk... a way of being... that basically said, "Don't f#@$ with me." Sometimes I am consciously putting it on and other times, I am not aware I am even in it. It's usually (consciously) up when I am feeling uncomfortable and out of my element as I have been feeling until Sunday-ish. By Sunday I had dropped my guard and was relaxed. It goes back to environment though... In NYC, I had to have this tough exterior and be ready for literally anything. I was always consciously aware of my environment. Here I don't need to be as aware of my environment so once again I am reminded of the saying, "Live in NYC once but leave before it makes you hard." Granted the flip side is "live in California once, but leave before it makes you soft!" Hence why being bi-coastal is the best of both worlds... though expensive!

Isabella Bird

candlelight1228 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:17:57 GMT

I think I found my character: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Bird She definitely fits the description of the kind of girl I would like to play. I must admit I feel a kinship with her. Perhaps I have found a second historical female to look up to. (The first being Queen Elizabeth I. The more I learn about her, the more I just love what she stands for.)

Dickens First Day

candlelight1228 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:22:20 GMT

Definitely finding myself at home again within Dickens. I realised today that the main reason I do fair is because it's the closest thing I have to actually living in Europe while being in the US. While concerned about how things would go at the beginning of the day by the end I was running around and having fun, chatting with people, and generally having a REALLY good time. It helped to some degree that my folks showed up too. I made sure they had fun by introducing them to a couple of "characters", took them to see French Postcards & Mad Sals Blowout, and then headed out with them to show them the new place. They had a lot of fun but said they probably wouldn't be back... just not their thing... Overall much fun was had and a great start to the Dickens season! Good night all! Edited to add: I now have "head underneath her arms" from Mad Sals stuck in me head!

Thoughts on Adjusting & Faire

candlelight1228 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:40:01 GMT

Really looking forward to Dickens starting. It feels good to be "home". Already got in trouble with someone at fair... She thought I was coping attitude... Haven't got a clue where she got that idea! I basically played it cool, told her I was clueless and I needed her help. That seemed to reassure her. When in doubt, play dumb. Anxious about the job situation. Current contract may be wrapping up sooner than expected. However, another firm is waiting in the wings to pick me up. The only thing is there's some uncertainly about the details for both and whether or not this will pan out. Some projects I have been waiting FOREVER for to get online are finally up. I need to add them to the portfolio. During rehearsal we sang "God Save the Queen" and "Rule Britannia". I swelled with pride. If anyone was paying attention they would have seen a Cheshire Grin across my face. Although admittedly, I realised I don't know the words to "God Save the Queen" as well as I should. Some subject of the Queen I make! Costume is all together. When I wear it I feel incredibly girly... like I should giggle and such... My roommate and I were having a lot of laughs about it last night. I have rented a Volvo S40, Mini Cooper, and a Toyota Matrix from Zipcar. The Mini I have rented several times. I discovered that the Volvo is actually a nice ride. I was pleasantly surprised. The Toyota was ok... but the Mini! Oh how I love the Mini! I am trying to work out what I need to do in order to buy one of those. They drink premium gas and are more than I wanted to allow for in my budget but perhaps if I can wait for a while and save up then I can own one. However, considering I am already spending a good chunk of change on Zipcar perhaps I can already afford one! I still feel incredibly out of place culturally but I am missing London less and NYC a little more. I laugh at myself when I catch myself falling into NYC ways... crossing the street in the middle of the street because I cannot wait to get to the light... getting impatient at the tourists walking slowly down the street when I have somewhere I need to be... and so on and so forth. They say you should live in NYC once but leave before it makes you hard. I definitely toughened up but I am still not hard. It is more challenging to adjust back to the culture you grew up in because you have expectations that nothing has changed. However a lot did change while I was gone. Many of my closest friends moved away, another passed away, and the Bay now feels more empty without all of them. It was a wake up call to come home and find that home was no longer "home". Dickens is perhaps the only thing that has stayed constant and there's even been change there. Sooner or later I will find myself "home" again in California, with or without the faire.

QOTD: Greatness

candlelight1228 — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:44:37 GMT

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others" - by Marianne Williamson (from Akeelah and the Bee) Damn straight!

Beer and Dickens

candlelight1228 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:26:47 GMT

I seriously think I need to find myself some drinking buddies. People whose company I can enjoy on a semi regular basis whom also enjoy GOOD beer. I really miss just hanging out in a pub drinking beer and having a good conversation. I have one person in mind so far but am not certain whom else would be up for something like this. In other news, I have bloomers! I guess that's a lot like saying I have underwear! I'll stop there before this downgrades any further... But mainly what I am saying or trying to is that I almost have a full FEMALE costume! I am so excited to be a girl this year. (in the past I have gone as a male character.) Now if I can just find a character who fits my idea(s) of what I want to do with a character, then I will be good. I am hoping this year to break out of my shell a bit at Dickens. People whom have known me a while don't believe me when I say I am shy but really... I am! Or can be. It depends on how well I know you and how comfortable with you I am. If I am fairly comfortable I may spill my guts but if I am not comfortable I may clam up entirely. Glad I made it out to workshops today. Was good to see faces and get some costume stuff taken care of. I also found a Target! I had been looking for Target for ages! Consequently I spent way more than I should have but I won't have to do a Target run for some time yet to come. Drove down the 1, wandered through open houses (always a favorite pastime - grew up with a mom who worked in RE...), and then wandered over to the east bay. Was a full and excellent day! And now to bed... Edited: You know it's not so much the drinking as it is the availability of good conversation about the world and what's going on in it. I feel so out of place culturally right now.

QOTD: Life

candlelight1228 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:50:54 GMT

I normally do a QOTD post at least once a week on my LJ. This particular one I thought you lot would really like so I am posting it here as well: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming - WOO HOO! What a Ride!" -- Bill McKenna

Quotes

candlelight1228 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:38:09 GMT

Lately, for reasons I won't get into now, quotes have been a favorite thing of mine. I often find ones that seem fitting and post them on my other blog as QOTD (Quotes of the Day). The two below are quotes I have more or less lived by for the last 4 or so years. The first of the two has been echoing in my head for about a good month now... no, longer... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live for ever but the cautious do not live at all. From now on you will be traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be. The key is to allow yourself to make the journey." - From the movie "The Princess Diaries" "When you stand still, you reject the struggle, and refuse to change and grow. Ultimately, you reject fulfillment, happiness, the dance for joy and everything else that is eternally good." - Matthew Kelly

Irony...

candlelight1228 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:24:35 GMT

Having to take a language class to learn how to speak Victorian, when portraying a Victorian Character... understandable Having to take a language class to learn to speak in a British accent when you are in fact British... irony For everything else? There's Mastercard. However, I cannot wait to sing "Rule Britannia" The song has a whole new meaning for me since I became British. And for that matter fish & chips (though sadly not delivered to me in newspaper with mayo) & tea! I never did do a proper tea in England.

Happy Bonfire Night

candlelight1228 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:03:14 GMT

... to the 1/2 Brits actually on my f-list here. “Remember, remember the fifth of November, The gunpowder, treason and plot, I know of no reason Why the gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.” I was talking to someone (an American) last night about why the British celebrate the failed terrorist plot. They asked if it was like the US's 9/11. I explained it's a bit more like 4th of July and 9/11. We don't mourn on Bonfire Night and in fact, we burn things (like Sarah Palin) in effigy. That's much more fun! I will definitely be out celebrating tonight. -------------------------- In a completely other thought, when I first became British, saying such things felt... weird... Now that I have been back in the country since receiving my citizenship, it feels far less weird. I am just as much one of them as I am an American. That makes me happy so the rest of you, expect to hear a lot more about what it means to be British! :P

The World Waits on Baited Breath

candlelight1228 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:06:47 GMT

I have been lucky enough this year to spend the election season both in and out of America. I have been able to see from the world's perspective just how much this election means to them. I have listened as people have said to me, "If you don't want Barack Obama, we'll take him!" Never before have I realised just how much everything we do in America affects everyone else. I knew it from the last time I lived abroad in England in 2001 but the world was different then. America wasn't at war in Iraq. There were terrorists but they were mainly on other shores. America certainly wasn't the biggest debtor nation either. In fact we had a surplus. I was often teased for being an American too. This time was different though. America was in debt and the rest of the world was suffering along with it. We as the world faced a recession if not a depression. Terrorists had changed our way of life and taken our freedoms... because we sat back and allowed it for our own safety... And this time, I too was British. I too could be one of them and look back at America as the other country... It was the brother or sister we cheered on and hoped for the best as we had to sit back and watch it make tough decisions. We watched it fight, splinter, and battle out key issues. We hoped alongside it for change because the world as well as America needs a new shift in direction. We saw that shift in Obama. He came out to visit us, our Prime Minister. He spoke to our European Allies in Germany. He reached out. He made friends (and perhaps enemies) and we caught fire with excitement. If the world were to vote today, it would ask for Obama because it too desperately desires for change. It reaches out to America and hopes alongside us. I came back to the states painfully aware of the hope I saw in the eyes of the world and the desire for a new America. An America that sat down and talked with the world and partnered with us. We were a new world looking for a new way of doing things. Never before in my life did I see just how much we as Americans affect everything else the world does or thinks of us. Never before did I see just how much power and influence this country has. It's time to wake up to a new America and to change. We need to learn to listen both to our enemies and to our friends. Tonight, the world waits on baited breathe to see if America will be that voice of change. **cross posted... everywhere!**

Character for Dickens

candlelight1228 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:58:32 GMT

Since I am a roving SM this year and getting out of the darkness of the V&A lighting and sound booth to actually see London, I am actually thinking of a character/persona to play. So far I am thinking middle class governess or merchant perhaps. Merchant is probably a lot closer to my heart... a woman of independent means striking out on her own doing her own thing... I was thinking also in contrast to my role the last three months I would be an American coming to visit London for some reason... set up business or something of the like... I am working as a stage manager for now to support myself since I grew up in NYC working alongside my Dad in theatre (not entirely different than my actual persona actually). As I think about it more, I am sure I will have more to add to that...

On the flip side...

candlelight1228 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:13:32 GMT

One advantage about returning home is seeing the areas I have grown. It's all good stuff and really helping me to appreciate areas/things about myself that I didn't at one time feel were good things. And example? My inner strength.

A short comment really...

candlelight1228 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:19:43 GMT

Can't wait for the reverse culture shock to be over... That is all!

[Dicken's Faire] Looking for a costume...

candlelight1228 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:17:22 GMT

So I have lined up a gig working stage management...but I have a problem... no costume! I was wondering if any one of you lovely people could help me out? I have to admit I am not even sure what to get but if someone can create something for me (in exchange for money of course) that may be my best bet at this point! Thanks in advance!!

Folsom Renn Fiare Photos are live

candlelight1228 — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:29:22 GMT

http://flickr.com/photos/candlelight1228/sets/72157608364031856/ Enjoy!

Lovely Ladies @ Mad Sals

candlelight1228 — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 01:29:29 GMT

While in London, I saw Les Miserables for the second time. The first time was also in London 14 years ago! I figured it was time for a second viewing. In any case, I kept thinking Mad Sals should do "Lovely Ladies" from Les Miz. They could never get away with it considering it's not REALLY a period piece but it would amuse the hell out of me!

Coming Home

candlelight1228 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:40:47 GMT

After 3 years in NYC and 3 months in London, I am returning to the Bay Area to settle for a while. I am excited I will actually be home for Dicken's this year and soon enough that I may be able to catch Northern. Though without a car I don't know how I'd get to it but I am sure I will sort it out. Just happy to be back in California for a while.

Returning home

candlelight1228 — Tue, 20 May 2008 03:40:56 GMT

My lease is up here and I haven't landed a full time permanent position. I am worried about getting into a lease without a full time permanent position, though I have been gainfully employed for a while now. However, I also just kind of want to come home. I am giving a move back some serious thought.