as good as it gets

For my birthday, I got:

- a brief cloudburst and glorious rainbow

- fireworks! (thanks, mysterious Bellevue celebrants!)

- a tap dance performed by this dog
- smooches from (or on) 3 babies & 4 kids

- seven birthday cakes and pies
- bourbon, bourbon, and more bourbon

- an all-day party hosted by two darlings:  grilled food, tasty baked goods, limey drinks, and so very very many lovely and charming and amazing and talented people

May such good fortune continue for all of us in the upcoming year!

(pics from CCS and CComte. Thanks, buddies!)

my other new favorite thing

The inimitable RKatz offhandedly asked if I listened to the American Theatre Wing's "Downstage Center" podcasts. I do now, and you should, too. I'm very proud of what I do as a fringe theater actor in the Northwest, but the opportunity to listen to real, live career artists ("What are those, Mommy?") discuss the craft is not to be missed. 

Of particular note: James Earl Jones on the value of education, the "delusion" of race, not being an activist, and how annoying it is that film actors play entire roles off-voice for effect. (Of a talented actor playing an American president on TV, "He whispers. Too. Fucking. Much.")