Lessons learned!

It's journal day!  First journal of the brand new year!

Grade 8's:  Which moral from the Aesop's plays should you learn?  Tell a little story about yourself and why that lesson is important for you to learn.

Grade 9's and 10's:  Who are you playing in the movie scenes?  What does your character want?  What obstacles does she or he face?  (Make strong choices.)  How are you similar to the character?  (You're both human beings, so you must share some qualities -- as an actor, you need to seek out these similarities.)  How are you different?  What is the dominating emotion in the scene?  Make a connection between the emotion the character feels and an emotion you have felt.

Theatre Production:  What is the theme of your sound and light show?  What are you trying to say through your show?  What problems do you anticipate in creating your show?  How will you deal with them?

Make sure you put your NAME on your journal!  There were so many without names last week.

I am going car shopping on Saturday!  I have to get a new car, but I have never shopped for a car before!  My first car was given to me by my mom -- it was my dad's car and when he died, my mom gave it to me.  I drove it for a very long time, until it was totalled by a Port Moody snow plough.  My second car was found for me by Mr. Evans (who used to teach at Steveston-London).  It was an old car, but the people hadn't driven it very much, and it lasted quite a long time.  Then when it "gave up the ghost", my husband found a car for me that an old acquaintance was selling.  The last time I had it repaired the repairman said that it was reaching the end of its life, that he wasn't sure how many more times he would be able to fix it.  Now, the "service engine soon" light has come on, so I figure it is time to find something else.   I have only owned three cars in my life (a rather long life, so I guess this is unusual).  I don't know much about cars, so I don't really know how to approach the purchase of one.  I suppose there are questions one should ask -- does the car get good gas mileage?  is it sturdy (if something hits it, will I be crushed?)  What else would you ask?  A friend of mine is going to come along and she knows more about cars, so I'm hoping she will do some of the talking.  Mr. Price has recommended a Honda Fit, and so that is what I intend to look at.  I hope it won't take too long.  I hate shopping anyway, and this is going to be torment.

Back in the saddle

We have spent the morning at school and it feels like we've never been away.

They had predicted snow this morning and it arrived in the night, but it wasn't unpleasantly inconvenient.  It looked very pretty decking out all the trees.  I wish we'd had the snow over the actual holidays and not on the first day back.  Then we could have sat cosily in our homes and watched the big flakes drift down and then run outside and make snowballs and snowmen to our hearts' content.

I was reading some material about New Year's resolutions and how hard they are to keep.  One piece of advice that seemed quite helpful was that you need to be specific with your resolution.  If you want to "get in shape", resolve to go for a walk every day after dinner, or to use the stairs and not take the elevator.  If you want to do better in a class, resolve to study that subject for half an hour every day or to replace the time you spend playing "Call of Duty" with time spent practicing equations or writing in a journal or reading or whatever you think will help you improve.

One of my resolutions was to watch "The Rules of the Game" which I had PVR'd and it turned out that I had not programmed it correctly and I only had the first half of the movie!  Aargh!  Maybe this is a reason for me to get Netflix!  (Which many of you have suggested.)  Does Netflix offer old foreign films?  How does it work?

Hasta luego!

We are back from Cuba.  We had a wonderful, inspiring time and it was great medicine for the holidays and I am so glad we went.

Here's some advice when you travel.  Have patience and accept that things will not be the same in the place you're visiting.  Isn't that why you're travelling?  To see different things?   We arrived in Cuba with open minds and open hearts and we had a marvellous time.  We met other people who complained it "wasn't like Canada".  Well, if you want Canada, stay in Canada!  It was terrifically NOT like Canada.  Now, you all know that I love Canada, but not everyone does things the way we do here, and maybe we can learn from them.

Cuba has been declared (by the UN, I think) one of the most sustainable countries in the world.  They have one of the highest literacy rates in the Americas (their literacy rates are better than the United States) and they have universal health care and post secondary education is free.   Violent crime is virtually non-existent.  In the face of the embargo, they live very frugally indeed (but not if you judge by the waste by Canadians at their all-inclusive resorts) with only 380 cars per 1,000 people (this is obviously partially because of the American embargo, which is now apparently at an end) and are excellent at repairing things and making them last.  They have outstanding support for the arts and of course, they understand that the arts play a huge role in helping their tourist economy.

It is spectacularly beautiful and there is such energy, and warmth and passion there.  The people we met were very friendly and accommodating.  Havana is breathtaking.  Of course, the buildings are dilapidated as I'm sure you've seen, but there is such grace and energy in the city that it seems like a beautiful old lady with a lovely colourful scarf, who has lots of wrinkles (and no plastic surgery) but a willingness to dance and sing all the way to her grave.  And beyond.

The embargo seems to be at an end.  We met Americans there who had flown directly from Los Angeles to Varadero (which must have been one of the first flights in over fifty years) and I imagine American money will really help many Cubans, but I hope they don't allow it to attack the fabric of their country.  It would be a shame to see a McDonalds on every corner in Havana and a "food fair" on the Malecon.  But time waits for no man.

I have made a few New Year's resolutions.  I am going to bite the bullet and get myself a new car.  Yesterday when I was out doing errands, the electrical system on my dash board shut off and I had no gauges!  No speedometer, gas gauge, even the little indicator that says whether you're in drive or reverse!  I know I need a new car, have known for some time, but the idea of car shopping is anathema to me.

I am going to blog every Monday, at least.  It is good for me to order my thoughts and philosophize a bit.

Some time over the weekend, I am going to watch "The Rules of the Game".  I PVR'd it a long time ago and haven't had time to sit down and enjoy it and this is the weekend for that!

I'm not going to resolve to lose weight or exercise more or anything like that because those resolutions don't work.  I would like to eat more healthily, and I think I will resolve to try to prepare one meatless meal a week (like for dinner, because we already eat meatless lunches and breakfasts), because that is healthy for us and the planet.  I think I will say that our meatless meal will be Thursday, because that way it is specific, which is apparently a recipe for greater resolution success.

See you Monday!  Bright-eyed and bushy tailed!

Feats of Strength and the Airing of Grievances

Well, it is that time of year again.  The time to remember "Festivus", the holiday invented by George Constanza's father, Frank, after the debacle with the doll.  (Watch old episodes of "Seinfeld" if you don't get the reference.)  Erect your favourite aluminum pole (tinsel is distracting, according to Frank Constanza) and engage in the time honoured traditions of "Festivus", some of which I described in the title.

Whatever holiday you celebrate, let me take this chance to wish all of you a very merry time.  The question of the day has told me that most people treasure the time they spend with family and friends,  the music, the old movies, the food and the cheerful atmosphere in the air more than the presents.  If you know me, you know that I can't let a special time go by without thinking about how lucky we are to be here in Canada where we celebrate peace, order and good government, where we have access to a doctor when we need it, where we welcome frightened and desperate people from across the world, and don't turn them away.  Let us resolve to recommit ourselves to the idea of sharing our good fortune with those who are less fortunate than we are.  Let us realize that the water and air and land are more important than monetary gain.  Let us look at other animals and see there our brothers and sisters and not "the other".  Let us smile at our neighbour and wish him good cheer, even if he gets on our nerves a little.

Well, after that little sermon, I will wend my way off to Cuba with my sons for a week of rest and relaxation.  This has been a very difficult year for us and we hope a change of scenery and time away will help us heal our hearts and take on 2016 with a good will.

I wish you all the happiest of holidays!  Take a moment to sit quietly and be grateful.  Gratitude is good for your health!

Last week before the holidays!

It's spirit week!  Dress up to earn points for your improv team!  Monday -- White Out (dress in white!); Tuesday - Red And Green; Wednesday - Ugly Holiday Sweater Day -- wear your ugliest sweater!! ; Thursday -- Let's pretend it's New Year's Eve!  Dress up in your very best "bib and tucker"!   Friday -- Breakfast with Santa -- get up early, come to school and stay in your pjs all day!

Remember, in your journal, if you have a preference for one person to improv with, write this at the bottom of your journal.

I, (your name here), would like to work with _________.

Journal topics:

Grade 8's:  How do you think the world was created?  Could you make a play about your theory?  Explain how.
What have you and your group decided for your "creation" play so far?

Grade 9 and 10:  What current event would make a good play for our school?  Describe, in detail, what you would do to design a play about the current event you chose.

Theatre Production:

One thing theatre production people have to do is to create sets and props out of common household things.  Last year, we made a fire extinguisher out of a plant spray bottle.  We covered it with red duct tape, trimmed it up with silver duct tape, and attached labels and warning tags, just like an actual fire extinguisher.  This year, we simulated a car with a platform, a big wooden box, an old car seat and a blue cloth.  Even "Charlie's Funhouse" was quite a simple arrangement.

Here are a couple of problems we've dealt with in the last few years staging plays here at Steveston-London:

- how would you create the severed head of a character?  (He appears at the beginning of the play and then is attacked by rebels.  They drag him off and return shortly afterward with his head!)  What would you do?  /5

- a character is locked in a cage and made to think he's in hell, in "foul damp darkness".  A group of four other characters torment him and we need to hear the trapped character and see him.  This is a funny scene.  What would you do?   /5
 
- the opening scene of your play is an airplane crash.  The rest of the play takes place on the beach where the plane has gone down.  What will you do?   /5

- a character kills his best friend and then serves a banquet for a group of acquaintances.  The ghost of the best friend appears at the banquet.  What will you do about the food?  (Be specific.) What would you do to stage this?   /5

It's good if you can draw pictures to illustrate your ideas.

Journal for all!

Comment on the play, "Old Glory".  You can begin with general comments, but please try to focus on something specific - one performance, the music, costumes, the script.   Make sure you include both positive comments and suggestions for improvement.  You may use the program as a reference.  Your report should be about 1/2 page long.

Pay up!

A Block and D Block!  We will be seeing the play "Old Glory" on Thursday (D Block) and Friday (A Block) -- please bring $5 for admission to the play.  If you cannot pay, just tell me and it will be fine, but it is for a good cause.  Ticket receipts fund the Drama Club productions and go to scholarships for deserving Grade 12 graduates.

Please be in your seat in the theatre at 1:15 p.m.  It's going to be a great show!