Theatre or Theater

On Monday everything fell into place to allow me to go to the Dallas Theater Center's reading of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later. I had really wanted to see this but failed to make a reservation or ask for the evening off from work. However, since school was out that day, I only had students until 5 and I found out that the production hadn't sold out.

I wanted to see the reading because it was being done in over 150 theaters across the world including one in Oxford Ohio where my son was taking part. I couldn't see him, but I could still see the same play at the same time. I didn't get to see Kevin, but the Dallas production had Tony award winning actress, Betty Buckley in it -- and that was a cool thing.

The Laramie Project was done 10 years ago about how Laramie Wyoming had reacted to the death of Matthew Shepherd who was killed because he was gay. This production 10 years later, the same people went back to Laramie to see how Laramie had changed in 10 years.

It was very well done. This time they were even able to interview the two perpetrators -- one is remorseful, one not so much.

After the play, the audience took part in a discussion as to how Dallas and the US have changed. It was interesting.

But, the reason I'm writing this isn't just about how moving the play is -- it's how I feel when I go to the theatre in Dallas. For some reason I feel like everyone else is a cool Dallas urbanite and I'm the country suburbanite. I feel like wearing a t-shirt that says "I'm not really a theatre person, but I raised one -- and he's cool!" It's like I want to say "I know I'm not cool, but my son's cool - so I'm ok". It's hard to explain.

Another thing, this was the last performance of the DTC in this theatre because they just opened their new one in the Dallas Arts District and I may not be cool -- but I definitely want to go see that building.

Oh, about 60% of the audience was gay and of course the discussion was about acceptance of gays. I really wished that the pastor of my church could have been there. I don't think he could actually sit in a room where there were that many gay people -- but he needs to hear that hate is not the answer!

I was impressed that the performance was complementary of the DTC, and donations were accepted for the Matthew Shepherd Foundation.

Before the play, there was a live webcast from New York which had the the main guy from the Tectonic group who wrote the play introduced people involved in it -- and he introduced one and said that he was the dramaturg -- and I knew what that was! Maybe I'm more cool than I think.

So why is theater spelled two ways? Is it theatre or theater?

Who me? - Worry?

My son just told me to quit worrying about him. He is right! I need to do this and having him say it out loud helps. I was worrying because he is many many miles away, he borrowed a large sum of money for grad school, he has a huge paper due before Thanksgiving, etc., etc.

But you know what, I pray for him, and I know God watches out for him. As much as I love Kevin, God loves him even more.

The other reasons for me to stop worrying are the things that Kevin has already accomplished in his 2 decades plus 2 years: Eagle Scout, member of Phi Beta Kappa, graduated Magna Cum Laude in Honors Studies, accepted into the college of his choice for grad college.

Thank you God for loving Kevin.
Thank you Kevin for putting it bluntly to me -- "stop worrying so much".

What a week!

We left last Tuesday, Aug 11 with three cars and four people driving to Tulsa OK. We stayed at my parents lovely home that evening. The next morning, we took 2 cars and 4 people to Stillwater. We came back with 1 car and 3 people. Kat moved into her dorm at OSU to begin her college life! I didn't cry until we were leaving -- but a Sonic diet cherry limeade helped. We drove back to Tulsa to spend the night.

On Thursday, 2 cars and 3 people left Tulsa very early to drive to Oxford OH. We made it in about 12 - 13 hours and I drove one of the cars the entire way. It was somewhat fun and I had never driven through that part of the country. We saw the St. Louis arch and a HUGE cross near Effingham IL. After driving through Indianapolis Indiana and a little further, we left the interstate to drive through what appeared to be a cornfield maze of about 30 -50 miles. We went through 2 small towns and then saw a small sign welcoming us to Ohio. A few miles down the road, we came to Oxford. It is quite pretty but very small. I left Kevin my GPS (named Parker) because he will definitely need it to get around the maze of corn. He will eventually need to leave Oxford for something as it doesn't have much. It does have Walmart, Starbucks, Quizno's and Miami Univ.

Friday was spent at Walmart getting some stuff for him. A card table with 4 chairs, bookcase, media case, tv stand, kitchen stuff and moving into his apartment near campus. We left him there late in the afternoon so we could get a head start on the trip back. I got teary again when I got to the car, but Oxford doesn't have a Sonic for diet cherry limeade emergencies!!!

We drove back to the interstate slightly differently because one of the roads was under construction -- but it was still through cornfields. We stopped for the night in Effingham IL and drove back to Tulsa on Saturday.

Sunday, we drove to Stillwater to see Kathryn again and then back to Grapevine.

Monday, I left for work and Mark left to drive to Louisiana. Somewhere in East Texas, a semi hit him and sent him into a tailspin doing two 360's before hitting the concrete embankment. The car is probably totalled -- but my husband is ok! He even rented a car and went on to Louisiana!

Now I'm settling into being an empty nester -- it's ok most of the time and not ok a little of the time.

I'll post pics of the whole shebang (minus Mark's crash) on my facebook page.

College shopping

I think my daughter is about done shopping for her dorm. Now we just have to cart all of it to Oklahoma -- at the same time that we are carting all of her brother's stuff to Ohio in 1 minivan, 1 Maxima, and 1 Crown Victoria!


I can't take a pic of her brother's stuff because it is too spread out!

Some Answers

Kevin did talk to his advisor at Miami U. He and Mark drove to Ohio this week where he met the head of the department and rented an apartment. He will register for classes the week of Aug 17 during graduate school orientation. He rented a one-bedroom apartment across the street from campus. Looks like this will be a good program for him -- it is definitely a program that prepares one for studying at the Ph.D level. They only admitted 4 students into the program this year! I guess the next step is to contact the other school and tell them that he will be attending elsewhere and cancel his loans there (and complete his loans for Miami).

I am glad that I have a job in the mornings (although I have to take a few weeks off due to College for Kids). If I didn't have to get up and get dressed, I would probably still be in my pj's at noon reading facebook and goofing off.

Perhaps more answers will be coming later!

Questions and Random Pictures

This week it really hit me how soon Kat leaves for college! Less than 2 months, less than 7 weeks! I am excited for her and scared too. These thoughts keep coming at me. Will she make friends, will she do ok in class, will there be enough freshmen in her dorm, will the Episcopal Canterbury Center be a good place for her to find Christian friends. Then I start worrying about things like, she has friends but she doesn't have a best friend -- is that ok. She hasn't dated -- is that ok. Will she keep her room at college as messy as she does here? I have no answers but I may in the future.

And then the questions about Kevin keep coming! Is he going to fill out his certification papers (apparently yes -- he did that today). Is the advisor from Miami U going to contact him ever. Where is he going to live in Oxford. When does he need to register for classes. Will he be able to find a job in Oxford. Will he find new friends in Oxford. Will he find a D and D group there (and hopefully a group of Christian friends)?

Yesterday, I accidentally stumbled across a thing on the internet where people take a picture each day for a year. I decided that was cool and while I doubt that I will take a picture everyday for a year, I do keep my camera in my purse, and I decided to start taking random pictures and writing why I took it. Most won't appear on this blog -- they will be explained in my Creative Memories Memory Manager. Occassionally I'll put one on the blog -- like today. (actually two pics of the same thing).

(My license plate isn't messed up -- just didn't want everyone to know my plate number).

These are two random shots of my car in the parking lot at TCC. I am so glad that I have the OSU magnet to help me find my car!

Another question I ask myself, "how long do I leave the Texas Tech mom" sticker on my window. He isn't at Tech anymore but it is his school. It is overpowering the O-State mom sticker in the window. Do I need to add a Miami U sticker on the other side or do moms of graduate students not do this?

Today is a day for questions. Maybe another day will be for answers.

More Friday morning ramblings

1. I hope my son decides soon where he will be attending graduate school.

2. I hope my cold sore which I'm sure was caused by stress goes away soon.

3. It was nice not to get up too early this morning.

4. A couple months ago, I bought a book about walking -- with faith -- includes DVD for walk routines. I haven't started it yet -- but I am going to start it one of these days.

5. I can't seem to keep my kitchen neat!

6. I need some more comfortable shoes to wear to TCC and Kat needs some for college -- perhaps shoe shopping is in our near future.

7. I finally called the doctor about getting an appt for 6 month mammogram -- haven't heard back yet.

8. Will be heading back to weight watchers tomorrow -- it will not be good news.

9. Kat found a purple and black comforter!!! She may still look for others in case she finds a better one.

10. I alternate between feeling like crying and being happy -- hormonal? almost empty nester? who knows!