Catch Up Blog #2

After not that much sleep, it was the morning of June 10th! My Wedding day! I could hardly believe it was finally here.  Matt and I spent months working around the clock on the decorations, the music, the theatricality of the ceremony, etc. All of the decorations were loaded in the night before by a wonderful group of friends that helped us get everything up. All that we had to do on the day of the wedding was to have breakfast with my family, then go to the theatre for final decoration preparation, then a final rehearsal before the cocktail hour started.
The breakfast was a good idea, since I really didn't get to eat much that whole day. It was also so wonderful to get to actually spend time with and see my family.  The breakfast was at Luna Grill and Diner, Matt's former restaurant that he used to manage.
When we arrived there, the restaurant had put up balloons and flowers for our wedding breakfast with the family.  This was really incredible of them, and until Mom sent me these photos, I had forgotten that detail. So everyone go eat at Luna Grill and Diner in Shirlington.  They are great people. Here are some photos from the Wedding Breakfast...

 Here are some shots of me and Matt with various family members, including my brother and his wife and their children, Tessa and Ian,  my Aunt Gloria, and her friend, Larry, and my Aunt Val and Uncle Tom. I think that I ate half of my breakfast, as my stomach was starting to get upset. While I was enjoying having breakfast, I was starting to feel like I was running out of time to get things done in time. I took the remains of my breakfast with me, in case I had time to eat it for lunch (which I believe I did, if memory serves at all), and headed over to the theatre, with my family in tow.

 After sizing up what needed to be done, I got to work, with help from my family, as they wandered through our half finished "carnival" in awe.  They couldn't believe what we had done so far. It really was a sight to behold, when I think back on the many months of midnight crafting in our living room, and to see all of this and know that WE did it ourselves.  It was a satisfying feeling. Amy McWilliams had designed and sewed together these fabric panels of different black and white materials.  I went from thrift shop to thrift shop looking for any sheets or curtains that I could buy for this purpose. She took all of these pieces and made these sweeping fabric panels that we hung to give a "big top" feel.  Amy's work was impeccable, and I can't thank her enough! My brother and I helped secure these, as they started falling a bit due to the air conditioning blowing on them. As we worked on these banners, Tessa and Ian had fun pretending to be rock stars on the

mini stage in the lobby, that we dubbed "The Sideshow".  They rocked the afternoon away as we continued our decorations prep.

 The Oceana Group provided the most elegant and exquisite flowers. Here are two of the arrangements...

 Ian and Tessa made their way over to the House of Horros, but decided that it wasn't that scary in the daylight.

 I made sure that all of the Ballyhoo flags were secured in place, as they were the first things that guests would see as they entered...these were made with felt, dowel rods, a wooden ball on top, gold spray paint, wire hangers, ribbon, and much patience.

 At the top of the stairs, there was a gift table, and a ticket booth. The take home gifts were these little brown mystery grab bags that were everywhere as you came into the theatre.

 As we finished our decoration prep, it was time to go and rehearse, and for other members of the family to go and take a nap before the festivities were to begin...

  Coming Soon - The 7PM Cocktails and Sideshow!
xoxoSGS

Catch Up Blog post #1

Well, it would have been easy to blog during the Tropical storm if the internet signal stayed consistent for more than a few minutes.  So I didn't.  Also, a few things fell through with people performing in the wedding, and I was too busy trying to fix that, while hundreds of miles away, on an island, with poor signal, in the middle of a Tropical Storm.
So that happened.
Before I knew it, it was time to come home and set up for the wedding.
We came home on June 9th and got to work loading up the truck and taking things down to the theatre. My friends Julie and Mike from Pennsylvania came and helped, as well as about 12 other friends. We must have set up until 2am.
Then it was home to bed (where I don't think either of us slept much) before the big day...
TO BE CONTINUED...

Stormy Weather...

So yesterday at 3ish started a downpour of rain that only really let up about 10 minutes ago. It let up for a little bit this morning at about 9am, and we took advantage in the break in rain and took Buddha to the beach. The sea water has amazing effects on his skin.  He has terrible grass pollen allergies that give him itchies through the spring and summer, and every year that he comes to the beach, they all magically clear up. So his beach time is more than fun and games, but also a beauty spa. :)

 The clouds were looking angry, and I knew, thanks to the trusty radar on my phone, that we didn't have too long before the rains were back. The storms from the night before were apparently more violent north of us.  But still too close for comfort. I woke up and read this article about several funnels, waterspouts, and tornadoes in the area last night...read more HERE.

 After Buddha had his ocean dip, we headed back to The Sleepy Dog. (Fittingly, the name of the place we are staying at.) He has had such a fun trip, and whether in the ocean, or the pool, he has been so happy. All of the undivided attention that he is receiving is fantastic. It is spoiling him for all of the time coming up that he will be at home alone in his baby bed as Matt and I are at Whorehouse rehearsals.

As we left, we took note of our footsteps together that our little family left behind. Images like this are things that I will treasure always.

 These are the little pictures of our family of three that will remain our legacy for years to come. We will always look back on these and smile. And as I close out this blog, I see that the radar has cleared up and the sun is trying to come out. That is my cue to go outside and make the most out of the rest of our time here. Hopefully there will be sunnier and sillier photos to share with you later.
                                                        Till then, xoxoSGS/MJC/BSC

COMING UP!

FROM SIGNATURE THEATRE'S NEWSLETTER...

Page To Stage Monday: December 6

Conversation with STEPHEN GREGORY SMITH

Monday, December 6
7:00 – 8:00 PM

Arlington Public Library, Shirlington Branch
4200 Campbell Avenue

Arlington, VA 22206

Stephen Gregory Smith has performed on the Signature stage for over ten years! In 2004, he received the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his performance in 110 in the Shade. He was also a member of the Helen Hayes Award-winning cast for Best Ensemble in Les Misérables and in 2009, Stephen played the lead role in Signature's eagerly anticipated new musical The Boy Detective Fails, based on the book by Joe Meno.
Other work at Signature over the last decade has included Kiss of the Spider Woman, Into the Woods, Assassins, One Red Flower, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and numerous cabaret performances.
Recently, Stephen has branched out in areas other than acting. He is the book writer for a new musical NightoftheLivingDead which had a reading at Kensington Arts Theatre in October. Stephen has been instrumental not only in the creation of the musical, but also in bringing it to life financially. He launched a Kickstarter online fundraising campaign that resulted in raising close to $10,000 to support the show. In addition, Stephen teaches art, creative drama, and improvisation to Fairfax County students through Creative Cauldron in Falls Church.
Now, Stephen Gregory Smith can be seen again on the Signature stage in Sunset Boulevard. Take this opportunity to talk with Stephen about any aspect of his varied career endeavors.
Page to Stage Mondays are free to the public. No tickets or reservations are required.





For tickets to see Stephen in Sunset Boulevard, click here or call 703 573 SEAT.





AND ALSO...



Matt Conner's Debut CD

Matt Conner, a Signature Theatre composer, actor and our lobby pianist, has recorded his first album, entitled WINTER. This Signature-produced CD of holiday favorites with two original songs by Conner is a perfect holiday gift for family and friends. If you've enjoyed Matt's music in the Signature lobby or saw his musical Nevermore, you'll love this mix of holiday songs played by Matt in his Signature style. The CD features 14 melodies including "Jingle Bells" and "O Holy Night" and is available in the Signature Shop beginning November 15.
Be one of the first to purchase this album by attending Matt's WINTER CD signing and release party on Monday, November 15 from 6:30 - 8:30pm in the Signature Lobby. Matt will be on-site to autograph CDs. Join us for a glass of wine and a special concert of the songs from 7:15 to 7:35pm.
WINTER is available for $20. If you purchase 4 CDs, you get one for free.
It's the perfect holiday gift for friends and family!

4431 South 36th St. 2003-2009. RIP.

Today we handed in our keys to the old place. I walked around the old place one last time taking in the memories that these walls held. All of the things that have happened here in the past six years. It was a little overwhelming.
In case you didn't know, Matt, Ryan and I moved to this place in late December 2003, after our house on 16th Street burned down. We paid the deposit/first month's rent with money that the cast of Signature's "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" gathered together. It was furnished with furniture that our friends fave us. Furniture that Signature Theatre gave us. Furniture that my clients with Happy Hounds gave us. We were truly rescued, and this home was our safety net that we landed in.








Random memories that just floated back with that:
...Sitting on my then inflatable bed with Tracy Olivera as it slowly deflated (it never held air that good) as she had a meltdown over holiday shopping yet to be done. After much discussion I took her to the Target and between the two of us we got it all done. The popular song of the time was No Doubt's "It's My Life". I recall that blaring in my car as we drove down the road...

...Realizing that I had kind of missed decorating for Christmas that year, since the fire was December 5th, and putting up my boughs of lighted garland on the railway of the steps to downstairs, reasoning that it was kind of wintry and January-esque and could stay up for awhile. Thus beginning a tradition of putting the lighted garland up first ( like on Thanksgiving) and taking it down last (like on February 1st)...





...Moving all our gifted furniture in and what an incredibly hard job that was...and then sitting there and looking at all of the furniture and seeing not furniture, but friends and loved ones who gave these pieces out of the kindness of their hearts. It was another truly overwhelming moment....

















This house was home to Matt Conner, Ryan Dean Halbrook, Stephen Gregory Smith and Buddha the pug. It had its ups and downs along the way...
RANDOM MEMORY
The flood of Summer 2006, later dubbed the "300 Year Flood". Our entire downstairs (where Matt and I lived) was underwater. We were relegated to our living room, sleeping on the floor for weeks after, until we took matters into our own hands, ripped the carpet up and took it out ourselves, as we feared that we would get sick from the growing black mold festering in the ruined carpet one floor below us. The flood hit on Pride Night during a performance of Assassins. It's sudden onslaught and aftermath will never be forgotten to me...



...But it was our home. Period. It's backyard lent me millions of hours of delight. Watching tv out there, planning the water garden. I loved every second of this back yard.








...All of the holiday decorations that this place harbored. The pumpkin carving parties, the Easter egg coloring parties, the Christmas get togethers...















I refinished many a piece of furniture in this backyard, did many a craft project here, read many a book here. ...reading The Ruins jumps out to me...then The Stand. And growing lily pads in our aquatic garden...and laying in my big boy chair...
How many discussions of new shows or cabarets took place there? Hundreds.












We always lived at the mercy of our friends' fellowship. They were always there. We loved each and every one of you, and our door loved your shadows.







...Eleasha and I singing in the basement rehearsing for Ebony and Ivory 1 and 2, her voice ringing through the rafters...


It is hard to let go of such a place. Even if it was not always the best, It offered so much fun and great times. We had/have the best of friends who always came out and had a great time with us.
So here we are on tidy endings. And it is very emotional for me. All over again. I have not lived there since April, and it was very hard to let go of all of this. But that is always it, isn't it? The letting go. In the final analysis, I thank 4431. All of the love it gave. All of the hope it gave. It was fun while it lasted. But now it is done. And I have to be ok with that. Which I am. Thank you 4431. For everything. Goodbye, Fairlington.

10 years today.

Matt and I have been together 10 years today. The road has not always been easy, but it has been a wonderful adventure.
Luv, you Mister.
XOXOXO
SGS

1000

Well here we are folks. Post 1000. Not to shabby of a little ride it's been. Ups and downs and a lot of bad spelling and punctuation. Thanks for reading this for the past 3 years. It has been very fun for me to journal out the journeys I have taken with my loved ones and friends.
I thank you for all of the encouraging support, emotional and otherwise.
Thank you for your continued comments on my posts. Your fun and witty replies that make my day and keep me smiling.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy days to check to see what I am up to, and what I have to say about whatever it is I am running my mouth off about.
Thank you for being here and let's keep on keeping on.

Love,
SGS

Memorial Day 2008 - Photos

We had an impromptu barbecue last night, inviting a few folks over sort of last minute to grill out and celebrate with us. I had the best time! It was great to reconnect with Andrew and Katie, always great to see Eleasha and Kara Tameika Watkins, and I believe that most of the Stephen Schwartz Project cast was in my backyard, too!








Matt spent a lot of time working on the yard, and I thought that it looked great!
He even had the idea to bring the downstairs couch outside for more seating options! This proved to be a fantastic idea, as we barely had enough places to sit!









Buddha enjoyed a game of monkey in the middle between Kurt and Laura.












These are some cute shots of Andrew,Katie, Annabell and Eleasha...

















Other Random Party Shots...


We had a great time and I can think of no better of a way to have kicked off Summer 2008!
Thanks for coming!
Luv,
SGS

9 years...

Today is me and Matt Conner's 9 year anniversary. It is hard to believe that it has been 9 years and that I am still in love with this man the way I was from day one.
I love you, Matty.
Happy Anniversary.
Luv,
SGS