It’s OCTOBER?????? When the heck did that happen? Was I asleep and missed it? 2020 has certainly been a roller coaster, to be sure.
Let’s recap, shall we?
In January, I was supposed to Stage Manage a Play at the Metro. I left that production just before it went on stage. Don’t ask. It was not a good situation that resulted in my withdrawing from that production and all subsequent productions at the Metro. Suffice to say that there were issues. More issues than Time Magazine.
In February, I started production on Next Fall. A wonderful play that renewed my passion for Stage Managing. It was a gloriously funny, touching, moving and inspiring story.
Then in March, the world just dry-heaved and we just stopped EVERYTHING! Next Fall was shuttered *temporarily* (which appears to be indefinite now).
April saw me working from home and I remained there until the first week in July.
This became my office for the next three months. While it was perfectly functional, it was also challenge to get stuff done with all the animals suddenly rejoicing that I was home ALL THE TIME!
June saw the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival cancel their event for the FIRST TIME EVER!
July saw the Canada Day Celebrations on Granville Island get cancelled
August saw the Steveston Dragon Boat Regatta get cancelled.
There went all my stage managing gigs for the year! On top of that, in March, I got laid off from the Pet Food gig and the Clothing store gig. *sigh – Bye Bye extra money.
September also saw our scheduled trip to Europe disappear, too. *sob – on the plus side, I was smart enough to get cancellation insurance when I originally booked this trip. I was able to get 98% of my money back. Hooray!
So, July allowed me to go back to work. – WHEW! I was getting ready to audition for “Divorce Court” – or at least Alex was. I think that I was starting to get on his nerves – A LOT!
I was so happy to get back to my office. I was able to set up all my plants and get my aquarium back in. Hooray.
However, the joy was short-lived! About three weeks ago, I came in to work and found my aquarium was damaged and water was leaking EVERYWHERE. So, off to the local pet store to buy a new home for Blue (for lack of a better name for him)
All this now leads me to October! Life is still slowly returning to a degree of normalcy. I haven’t found any new Stage Managing gigs and I don’t know if I am in any fired up hurry to get back to that. I love the theatre but, I also love my evenings to myself again. Same with the two part time jobs. I didn’t make a lot of money at either of the, but, not having to work 7 days a week is a bit of a bonus, too.
If I start to get bored this winter, I may look for another part time job but, until this pandemic is under control, I am prepared to play it safe. Alex and I don’t go out. We go do Grocery Shopping on Saturday mornings – always wearing masks. We have hand sanitizer in the car which we use all the time. We do erranding on Sundays. That pretty much sums up our outings.
I still walk ever day – now twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening.
So, happy readers. That is all for now. Hopefully, I will have more interesting stuff in the coming weeks but, don’t hold your breath.
Al Zylstra 