Well, things are progressing reasonably well here in the desert.
I'm at a good point in my training at Cirque, being able to run all four backstage tracks and do a lot of office work on my own. It's still a big work in progress but I'm certainly feeling more comfortable. I have a ways to go but I'm feeling good.
The house is coming along nicely. We are still missing a sofa bed and a bookshelf, but other than that it is looking pretty darn good. I'm hoping soon I'll be able to start thinking about growing herbs on our little balcony.
John has an agent and new headshots. These are very useful things as it makes it a lot easier for him to apply for work. He is diligently looking for jobs and we're using all the resources we can think of to get him in touch with the right people. He is certainly looking forward to being a Stunt Guy again. For now, he's working out about 2 hours a day 6 days a week. He can run 5 miles in 45 minutes. It's quite impressive.
A month ago we went to California to go to a Stone Sour concert which was a surprise for John as I refused to tell him where we were going and why. It was a really fun trip. Feeling humidity was a lovely lovely thing.
Coming up, John will be heading back to Atlanta for a little bit to do some teaching and fight directing. I'll be here in the desert keeping busy and learning.
Did you know vision insurance is awesome? John has been wearing two right contact lenses for about a year. He says that now "everything is pretty". I consider that a win.
-Redd
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Moving Part 2 : The Road Trip
A week or so ago, we drove from Atlanta, GA to Las Vegas, NV. We took a 14ft UHaul truck and filled it was all our crap... I mean stuff. We then attached John's 2005 Ford Focus to the back of it, complete with two crated irritated cats, and drove 2,000 miles. No pictures, because we were in a hurry.
We drove through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Here are the things we learned:
1. Cats do not appreciate Cherry flavored Benadryl. We gave up all attempts at sedation after the first escapade. My scratch marks still haven't healed all the way.
2. John thinks Applebee's steak is better than Ruby Tuesday's steak (apparently).
3. There is a nice little hispanic dude in Alabama who returns checkbooks found in parking lots.
4. I like 99 cent Margaritas.
5. When driving cross country it is possible to lose three pairs of sunglasses.
6. When driving a large truck with a car on the back, fishtailing and construction will both count as your cardio for the day.
7. Snowstorms in Oklahoma are nothing like snow storms in Atlanta. They are much much angrier.
8. There is a hotel in Oklahoma with an awning that a UHaul truck won't clear.
9. Uhaul trucks are very resilient when faced with low awnings.
10. Awnings, on the other hand, are not.
11. Even driving through just the top of Texas feels like it takes forever.
12. Tumbleweed exists.
13. Rocks can be pretty in small doeses.
14. Arizona is not a small dose.
15. Opening the back of a truck and having things spill out into a parking lot is not funny after 70 hours of driving. Unless you are John. Then it's hilarious.
16. John can carry everything we own by himself up a flight of stairs because he is that badass.
17. When packing, always label the box that contains the coffee grinder and the wine opener.
18. Before being sad for three days and searching relentlessly for the wine opener, do make sure that the wine you buy actually requires one and isn't a screw top.
19. Real beds are way better than air mattresses. They are even better when both people are in them together.
-Redd
We drove through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Here are the things we learned:
1. Cats do not appreciate Cherry flavored Benadryl. We gave up all attempts at sedation after the first escapade. My scratch marks still haven't healed all the way.
2. John thinks Applebee's steak is better than Ruby Tuesday's steak (apparently).
3. There is a nice little hispanic dude in Alabama who returns checkbooks found in parking lots.
4. I like 99 cent Margaritas.
5. When driving cross country it is possible to lose three pairs of sunglasses.
6. When driving a large truck with a car on the back, fishtailing and construction will both count as your cardio for the day.
7. Snowstorms in Oklahoma are nothing like snow storms in Atlanta. They are much much angrier.
8. There is a hotel in Oklahoma with an awning that a UHaul truck won't clear.
9. Uhaul trucks are very resilient when faced with low awnings.
10. Awnings, on the other hand, are not.
11. Even driving through just the top of Texas feels like it takes forever.
12. Tumbleweed exists.
13. Rocks can be pretty in small doeses.
14. Arizona is not a small dose.
15. Opening the back of a truck and having things spill out into a parking lot is not funny after 70 hours of driving. Unless you are John. Then it's hilarious.
16. John can carry everything we own by himself up a flight of stairs because he is that badass.
17. When packing, always label the box that contains the coffee grinder and the wine opener.
18. Before being sad for three days and searching relentlessly for the wine opener, do make sure that the wine you buy actually requires one and isn't a screw top.
19. Real beds are way better than air mattresses. They are even better when both people are in them together.
-Redd
Friday, January 28, 2011
First Day on the Job
Yesterday I began work behind the scenes at Cirque du Soleil on the show "Love". I have to say, this whole process has been amazing. Monday I bought a car, Tuesday I picked out our apartment, Wednesday I signed the lease, and Thursday I was sitting in the booth at Love watching the General Stage Manager call the show.
There are so many great and wonderful things about this production. Love is very stunning and a really brilliant tribute to The Beatles. Cirque really does have cool toys (and I'm not allowed to talk about them.... really... I had to sign something). Everyone is fun and welcoming and kind and talented. I'm so proud that I get to be a part of the Cirque family.
John is busy in Atlanta finishing packing the house up and completing job projects. We'll definitely need to fly him back semi-often to do some teaching and some fight work.
Things are clipping on at a good pace on both coasts!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Moving Day Part 1
Well, today is moving day. In about two hours I'll be at the airport getting ready to fly to Las Vegas. All this week the house looked like it had been robbed, what with the gaps of missing furniture and the random papers and boxes strewn about.
Now all the boxes filled with my stuff and some of Johns are tucked against the walls. Everything is neat and tidy, and I feel better about leaving it all in this state.
I get into Las Vegas at midnight and then it''s four days of watching the show, orientations, HR meetings, buying a car, looking for an apartment, staying in a hotel, taking taxis, and basically running around like a crazy person trying to learn a new job and a new city.
John is training his replacement at work and packing up the rest of the apartment. He'll be in Atlanta for a couple more weeks.
It still doesn't all seem real. I'm wondering when all of this will kick in.
Now all the boxes filled with my stuff and some of Johns are tucked against the walls. Everything is neat and tidy, and I feel better about leaving it all in this state.
I get into Las Vegas at midnight and then it''s four days of watching the show, orientations, HR meetings, buying a car, looking for an apartment, staying in a hotel, taking taxis, and basically running around like a crazy person trying to learn a new job and a new city.
John is training his replacement at work and packing up the rest of the apartment. He'll be in Atlanta for a couple more weeks.
It still doesn't all seem real. I'm wondering when all of this will kick in.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Countdown
It's Sunday night. In exactly one week, I'm getting on a plane and flying to Las Vegas, Nevada.
I've never been there before. Never thought I would live there, but now I get to. I'm leaving my car here and leaving my boyfriend, John, to finish packing up the house. Then on February 6th I'll be heading back out here to Atlanta to pick him up, the remainder of our staff (after a brutal decluttering), and our two cats, China and Leon. We'll drive across the country to Las Vegas and our new apartment, which I'll be picking out.
Nine days from now I'll be thrown head first into what really happens at Cirque du Soleil. Cirque is, in my mind, the best performance company in the world. Working for them is my dream job. This is what I've been working towards for years. It's a big deal.
John is going to be setting himself up with an agent and applying to work all over the country. As a Stunt Guy, being closer to Los Angeles will certainly widen his work prospects.
It's scary and big and wonderful and terrifying and exciting. I can't believe that we are doing this!
Let the frantic packing commence!
I've never been there before. Never thought I would live there, but now I get to. I'm leaving my car here and leaving my boyfriend, John, to finish packing up the house. Then on February 6th I'll be heading back out here to Atlanta to pick him up, the remainder of our staff (after a brutal decluttering), and our two cats, China and Leon. We'll drive across the country to Las Vegas and our new apartment, which I'll be picking out.
Nine days from now I'll be thrown head first into what really happens at Cirque du Soleil. Cirque is, in my mind, the best performance company in the world. Working for them is my dream job. This is what I've been working towards for years. It's a big deal.
John is going to be setting himself up with an agent and applying to work all over the country. As a Stunt Guy, being closer to Los Angeles will certainly widen his work prospects.
It's scary and big and wonderful and terrifying and exciting. I can't believe that we are doing this!
Let the frantic packing commence!
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