For any of you that have doubted the depth and breadth of my procrastination, the sheer power of its hold over me, know this:

I just took down my Christmas tree.

Of course, I'd been meaning to take it down for a long time (this weekend, no this weekend, I swear on all that is sacred, this weekend) but never got around to it. That would have meant that I would have to go out to the garage, find the boxes that my decorations have to be packed in (which wouldn't have been a big deal, since they'd be near the front) bring in the boxes, take off all the ornaments, etc., etc.

It's not like I had a big tree (only about 4 feet) or a ton of ornaments. It took less than 20 minutes to dismantle it (though the lights were a bitch). I just didn't feel like it.

So what was it that finally got me off my ass? My landlord and some guys he hired were doing some serious pruning of the trees outside my front door, so there were a bunch of huge branches in the driveway that he was going to get rid of. Hey, why not just throw the tree in with them? So I rushed through that process, putting the decorations in a paper bag for the time being.

Of course, now there's a big empty space in the corner of my living room. I think I'll have to buy a nice big plant. (Empty spaces along the walls are strictly verboten in my home.)

I'll miss that fresh pine scent, though.

For the rest of February, I'll won't be sleeping.

I'm working on a production of SWEENEY TODD. I'm helping with wardrobe and I'll be a dresser once it opens later this week.

I haven't worked on a play in six years (ohmig-d, has it really been that long?) and I have missed it. The thing is, one of the reasons I stopped working at Conejo Players Theatre was because I was always doing techie work and rarely being cast. There were times when I would audition, pretty well I thought, and not get cast, then be asked to help on the tech end. Usually I said no.

To be fair, most of the time the ladies that were cast in the roles I wanted were pretty good, but there were a number of times when the actress would be downright bad, and I would wonder what the director was thinking.

Most of the shows that I teched were musicals, because they're just so fun to do and I know I would never be cast in a musical (my singing voice isn't strong enough and I'm usually too nervous to sound my best) . But I got tired of always being seen as a techie, so I just stopped. Then I moved from Simi Valley to the east San Fernando Valley, and I didn't feel like driving an hour to Thousand Oaks.

A co-worker mentioned that she was working on a production of SWEENEY TODD, which is not only one of my favorite musicals but the one that made me fall in love with Stephen Sondheim's work. (I think the man is a musical god.) I worked as stage crew on an excellent production of SWEENEY about ten years ago and had a blast. (Oh, the stories I could tell... Let's just say that when an actor is being choked by a set piece and he has to appear onstage in twenty seconds, you find out how fast you can move and how efficient normally fumbling fingers can really be.)

This new production is professional and stars George Ball as Sweeney (incredible voice) and his wife, Amanda McBroom as Mrs. Lovett. (She's done a lot of work, including guest-starring on both M*A*S*H and Star Trek: The Next Generation. I'm excited.) It is really going to be a great production.

Of course, this means that I may not have time to update much over the next few weeks. Maybe a few weekend entries, but that'll be it until March. I'll be thinking of you, though! If you want to find out when I update you could always join the notify list.

It's time for...

TODAY'S ROB RUMMEL-HUDSON STALKPIC

I'm not Rob's first stalker. *pout* But that's okay, since I'm (arguably) saner and less volatile than this chick.

(Though she knew enough not to ask before stalking.)