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taz_39This post covers Thursday night + the weekend.
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THURSDAY NIGHT
Around 5:30 Jameson came home and fetched me to go see ENCORE's preview rehearsal of Hunchback of Notre Dame.
ENCORE is a local nonprofit performing arts organization known for recruiting from the very substantial local talent pool. The organization used to be affiliated with Disney pretty directly, and as a result anyone wanting to see or be seen for hiring purposes shows up to participate. ENCORE is also known for putting on massive, gorgeous stage productions with 200-voice choirs and 150-person orchestras and incredible set pieces, which is another excellent reason to participate; it's not often that artists get to perform in ensembles of that size!
This photo is from Hunchback rehearsals. There are so many people involved that they couldn't even get everyone in frame.
(photo courtesy ENCORE facebook)
Jameson and I got downtown, parked, had an "ok" dinner at a pizza place. We walked to the theater and spent some time in the lobby so Jameson could connect with misc friends who were either seeing the show or involved in its production. I still don't know a lot of people in his circle, so just smiled politely and listened most of the time.
I DO know many people in the orchestra, and made a point to post to socials to let people know I was there in case they wanted to interact. As a result Adam, who is one of the trumpeters at Epic Universe with me, came over to say hi and catch up during intermission! He seems to be doing well and I'm glad we got to meet up!
The show was impressive and beautifully done. The orchestra was on stage, with the choir lofted THREE levels above! WOW!!
(photo courtesy ENCORE facebook)
The actors performed on set pieces at every level of the stage and balconies. And the lighting was phenomenal. Don't even get me started on how emotionally moving a 200-voice choir sounds with a full orchestra. It was honestly a privilege to hear them. A lot of the women around me were crying. I'm not a weeper myself, but definitely had goosebumps.
It's a 3-hour show but there were no stops or holds, and it ended right on time. We hung out in the lobby a bit to congratulate performers and so Jameson could say hi to a few more people, then left because we both have an early morning tomorrow. Got home around midnight.
This cicada was guarding our garage door. Isn't she beautiful!
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FRIDAY
I was up at 7 for breakfast before a dentist appointment.
The dentist's was boring, they tried to spring x-rays on me but sadly I can't afford them right now (nor do I really need them. My teeth are crooked but well-behaved otherwise.) After that I put air in my tires and gas in the car and went to the grocery for taco salad ingredients. Back home Jameson was gone to Disney corporate to do some work, but came back by lunchtime and we ate together. Then I practiced bass for a long time and enjoyed a little chillax before throwing together our taco stuff for dinner. I love taco salad because all it involves is cooking some ground turkey in spices and chopping some veg. Minimal actual cooking and super easy cleanup.
Before bed we noticed that there was more traffic on our residential street than usual. A LOT more.
Turns out the city had blocked off the main road for construction, and had put up a sign to detour traffic through our neighborhood...but then also blocked off the exit to our neighborhood. Sigh. We went outside to check out the fiasco and found some community HOA members already on top of it, calling the cops to come help. As of right now there are still people trying to cut through but at least everyone seems to be able to get out. This doesn't really bode well for traffic this week.
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SATURDAY
Up at 8am for no reason. Coffee and quiet while Jameson slept in.
I typed up a Huge Long Rant...but deleted it...but here's the short version because I've still got residual annoyance:
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Several times during this LAYOFF, people have asked how my "vacation" is going or if I'm having fun on my "vacation."
It has always been my understanding that when someone is "laid off," it means that person has involuntarily lost their job.
Being laid off doesn't mean you're on a fun planned holiday, right? Or am I wrong about that?
When I say, "I'm laid off right now" and people respond as though I'm on a pleasure cruise, I find that really weird and insensitive.
But perhaps it's the same old kicker once again: people do not see the entertainment industry as a legitimate job, or its workers as real people. We're all just prancing about having fun for the amusement of others, and when we're not doing that we're locked up in some mysterious toy box somewhere until someone needs to be entertained again.
I first encountered this perception--a REAL perception that people ACTUALLY have of entertainers--while working in the circus. I was asked, many times, if living on the circus train was a lot of fun because there are clowns and animals everywhere. Because apparently clowns aren't real people, right, they just go around in costume and makeup 24/7. And tigers and horses and elephants roam about freely on an enclosed passenger train.
I was also asked, more than once and with complete seriousness, how I maintain my weight and health on a diet of cotton candy and popcorn. Because that's what "circus people" all eat, right? Imaginary creatures, not people.
Turning attention back to the present day:
I've been LAID OFF for a full month. No income AT ALL for 30 days.
Does that sound like a vacation to you?
Granted, visits with family/my Aunt as well as the stay in Chicago were planned, and of course those were fun and well worth doing.
But "fun" doesn't equal "free of charge" or "on vacation." I still needed (and didn't get) work this month to pay bills and recoup costs.
This month-long LAYOFF is a significant financial setback for me. Thankfully I'm good at saving money, and was aware of the possibility that I might not get any work this month. But I was shocked and disturbed to find out that people in my life seem to think that for me, unemployment is a relaxing vacation. It's upsetting because it's dehumanizing.
I'm still a PERSON, regardless of what type of work I do.
I need food, shelter, and clothing just like everyone else.
I have bills to pay just like everyone else.
If being laid off wouldn't be a fun vacation for YOU, it's also not a fun vacation for ME.
So why...?
[Rant over]
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Ironically, Saturday and Sunday were indeed a sort of forced "vacation" because I had absolutely nothing planned and no one giving me any work. Jameson has worked very hard at his two(!) jobs all week, so he took this opportunity to relax with some Outside Xbox and gaming while I did some dinner prep for us, practiced bass trombone, booked some flights for upcoming layoffs, and packed things for returning to tour. We went for our neighborhood walk in the afternoon and came back hot and sweaty but at least we got some exercise. Jameson watched a horror movie while I dozed or read my book.
Dinner was a homemade bolognese that I'd made and frozen before tour started. I reheated it on the stove, made a salad, boiled some wheat spaghetti, and made garlic bread. Basic but good. Ice cream for dessert.
As we were winding down my bosses at Epic Universe reached out to see if I could do a rehearsal day, and I said yes (they've HALVED the rehearsal pay since I left but money is money and I should keep my hand in.) Now at least I've got a crumb of work to look forward to next week.
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SUNDAY
When I was younger I could sleep until noon and spend all day in bed.
As an adult I find it really hard to do nothing for an entire day! How did I do it back then??
After breakfast I made iced tea, shuffled a few more things around in my suitcase, helped Jameson take our pool string lights down (they are 6 years old and have started literally crumbling.) While we were doing that Jameson noticed what appeared to be a tiny baby snake floating in the pool. I love baby snakes and ran to scoop him out.
All the time that I was admiring him and before letting him go in the backyard, I was thinking that he looked kinda "off." His head and body had an odd angular shape, and his body near his neck was thicker than usual for a snake. I dropped his photo into iNaturalist and found out that this was not a snake at all, but an Eastern Glass Lizard! It is a "legless lizard," which sounds pedantic until you learn that he has non-snake features like eyelids and external ear holes. Neato! How cool to meet a new creature today :)
After that I sauteed some button mushrooms left over from making our salad last night. I cooked them in a little avocado oil, seasoning salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, leftover minced onions from the taco salad, parsley, and a bit of cooking wine. Didn't use a recipe, just looked up what to season them with and tried to eyeball it. They ended up a bit saltier than my preference but still very delicious, and will probably be eaten quickly :)
We watched Happy Gilmore 2 (slapstick is up Jameson's alley, not mine) and I very briefly practiced my Epic Universe music to make sure it was still floating around in my brain (it most definitely is.) Lunch, Jameson watched the Cubs game while I watched anime or read my book or felt restless.
Seriously, how did I do so much nothing when I was younger??
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday: practice, some form of exercise, possibly cooking dinner for us.
Tuesday: Jameson's at Disney corporate so I'll have the house to myself, but not sure that'll change my apparent layoff routine.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
THURSDAY NIGHT
Around 5:30 Jameson came home and fetched me to go see ENCORE's preview rehearsal of Hunchback of Notre Dame.
ENCORE is a local nonprofit performing arts organization known for recruiting from the very substantial local talent pool. The organization used to be affiliated with Disney pretty directly, and as a result anyone wanting to see or be seen for hiring purposes shows up to participate. ENCORE is also known for putting on massive, gorgeous stage productions with 200-voice choirs and 150-person orchestras and incredible set pieces, which is another excellent reason to participate; it's not often that artists get to perform in ensembles of that size!
This photo is from Hunchback rehearsals. There are so many people involved that they couldn't even get everyone in frame.
(photo courtesy ENCORE facebook)
Jameson and I got downtown, parked, had an "ok" dinner at a pizza place. We walked to the theater and spent some time in the lobby so Jameson could connect with misc friends who were either seeing the show or involved in its production. I still don't know a lot of people in his circle, so just smiled politely and listened most of the time.
I DO know many people in the orchestra, and made a point to post to socials to let people know I was there in case they wanted to interact. As a result Adam, who is one of the trumpeters at Epic Universe with me, came over to say hi and catch up during intermission! He seems to be doing well and I'm glad we got to meet up!
The show was impressive and beautifully done. The orchestra was on stage, with the choir lofted THREE levels above! WOW!!
(photo courtesy ENCORE facebook)
The actors performed on set pieces at every level of the stage and balconies. And the lighting was phenomenal. Don't even get me started on how emotionally moving a 200-voice choir sounds with a full orchestra. It was honestly a privilege to hear them. A lot of the women around me were crying. I'm not a weeper myself, but definitely had goosebumps.
It's a 3-hour show but there were no stops or holds, and it ended right on time. We hung out in the lobby a bit to congratulate performers and so Jameson could say hi to a few more people, then left because we both have an early morning tomorrow. Got home around midnight.
This cicada was guarding our garage door. Isn't she beautiful!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRIDAY
I was up at 7 for breakfast before a dentist appointment.
The dentist's was boring, they tried to spring x-rays on me but sadly I can't afford them right now (nor do I really need them. My teeth are crooked but well-behaved otherwise.) After that I put air in my tires and gas in the car and went to the grocery for taco salad ingredients. Back home Jameson was gone to Disney corporate to do some work, but came back by lunchtime and we ate together. Then I practiced bass for a long time and enjoyed a little chillax before throwing together our taco stuff for dinner. I love taco salad because all it involves is cooking some ground turkey in spices and chopping some veg. Minimal actual cooking and super easy cleanup.
Before bed we noticed that there was more traffic on our residential street than usual. A LOT more.
Turns out the city had blocked off the main road for construction, and had put up a sign to detour traffic through our neighborhood...but then also blocked off the exit to our neighborhood. Sigh. We went outside to check out the fiasco and found some community HOA members already on top of it, calling the cops to come help. As of right now there are still people trying to cut through but at least everyone seems to be able to get out. This doesn't really bode well for traffic this week.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SATURDAY
Up at 8am for no reason. Coffee and quiet while Jameson slept in.
I typed up a Huge Long Rant...but deleted it...but here's the short version because I've still got residual annoyance:
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Several times during this LAYOFF, people have asked how my "vacation" is going or if I'm having fun on my "vacation."
It has always been my understanding that when someone is "laid off," it means that person has involuntarily lost their job.
Being laid off doesn't mean you're on a fun planned holiday, right? Or am I wrong about that?
When I say, "I'm laid off right now" and people respond as though I'm on a pleasure cruise, I find that really weird and insensitive.
But perhaps it's the same old kicker once again: people do not see the entertainment industry as a legitimate job, or its workers as real people. We're all just prancing about having fun for the amusement of others, and when we're not doing that we're locked up in some mysterious toy box somewhere until someone needs to be entertained again.
I first encountered this perception--a REAL perception that people ACTUALLY have of entertainers--while working in the circus. I was asked, many times, if living on the circus train was a lot of fun because there are clowns and animals everywhere. Because apparently clowns aren't real people, right, they just go around in costume and makeup 24/7. And tigers and horses and elephants roam about freely on an enclosed passenger train.
I was also asked, more than once and with complete seriousness, how I maintain my weight and health on a diet of cotton candy and popcorn. Because that's what "circus people" all eat, right? Imaginary creatures, not people.
Turning attention back to the present day:
I've been LAID OFF for a full month. No income AT ALL for 30 days.
Does that sound like a vacation to you?
Granted, visits with family/my Aunt as well as the stay in Chicago were planned, and of course those were fun and well worth doing.
But "fun" doesn't equal "free of charge" or "on vacation." I still needed (and didn't get) work this month to pay bills and recoup costs.
This month-long LAYOFF is a significant financial setback for me. Thankfully I'm good at saving money, and was aware of the possibility that I might not get any work this month. But I was shocked and disturbed to find out that people in my life seem to think that for me, unemployment is a relaxing vacation. It's upsetting because it's dehumanizing.
I'm still a PERSON, regardless of what type of work I do.
I need food, shelter, and clothing just like everyone else.
I have bills to pay just like everyone else.
If being laid off wouldn't be a fun vacation for YOU, it's also not a fun vacation for ME.
So why...?
[Rant over]
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Ironically, Saturday and Sunday were indeed a sort of forced "vacation" because I had absolutely nothing planned and no one giving me any work. Jameson has worked very hard at his two(!) jobs all week, so he took this opportunity to relax with some Outside Xbox and gaming while I did some dinner prep for us, practiced bass trombone, booked some flights for upcoming layoffs, and packed things for returning to tour. We went for our neighborhood walk in the afternoon and came back hot and sweaty but at least we got some exercise. Jameson watched a horror movie while I dozed or read my book.
Dinner was a homemade bolognese that I'd made and frozen before tour started. I reheated it on the stove, made a salad, boiled some wheat spaghetti, and made garlic bread. Basic but good. Ice cream for dessert.
As we were winding down my bosses at Epic Universe reached out to see if I could do a rehearsal day, and I said yes (they've HALVED the rehearsal pay since I left but money is money and I should keep my hand in.) Now at least I've got a crumb of work to look forward to next week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY
When I was younger I could sleep until noon and spend all day in bed.
As an adult I find it really hard to do nothing for an entire day! How did I do it back then??
After breakfast I made iced tea, shuffled a few more things around in my suitcase, helped Jameson take our pool string lights down (they are 6 years old and have started literally crumbling.) While we were doing that Jameson noticed what appeared to be a tiny baby snake floating in the pool. I love baby snakes and ran to scoop him out.
All the time that I was admiring him and before letting him go in the backyard, I was thinking that he looked kinda "off." His head and body had an odd angular shape, and his body near his neck was thicker than usual for a snake. I dropped his photo into iNaturalist and found out that this was not a snake at all, but an Eastern Glass Lizard! It is a "legless lizard," which sounds pedantic until you learn that he has non-snake features like eyelids and external ear holes. Neato! How cool to meet a new creature today :)
After that I sauteed some button mushrooms left over from making our salad last night. I cooked them in a little avocado oil, seasoning salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, leftover minced onions from the taco salad, parsley, and a bit of cooking wine. Didn't use a recipe, just looked up what to season them with and tried to eyeball it. They ended up a bit saltier than my preference but still very delicious, and will probably be eaten quickly :)
We watched Happy Gilmore 2 (slapstick is up Jameson's alley, not mine) and I very briefly practiced my Epic Universe music to make sure it was still floating around in my brain (it most definitely is.) Lunch, Jameson watched the Cubs game while I watched anime or read my book or felt restless.
Seriously, how did I do so much nothing when I was younger??
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday: practice, some form of exercise, possibly cooking dinner for us.
Tuesday: Jameson's at Disney corporate so I'll have the house to myself, but not sure that'll change my apparent layoff routine.
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Date: 2025-07-28 10:11 am (UTC)