Moon Tarot -- Part 3

I never would've thought I could sit in a make-up chair for 3 hours getting my hair banded for the wig, make-up from the chest and arms up, wig, and costume. With all of that, I was rarely given a decent amount of time to warm up properly, which at my age takes a bit more time than it used to. I found this project to be more frustrating in the end, and if ever given the opportunity to work with the same company, would respectfully decline without thinking twice. I think it's what happens when you work with people who are used to actors and not dancers. There will be a youtube clip posted at some point, but that will remain to be seen. Until then, here are a few pics of the final product.

Costume and Makeup fittings post 2

My latest Moon adventures involve a costume with calf pads, thigh pads, and a huge prosthetic bum that I am supposed to dance in. The upper half I am corseted and airbrushed with make up. My wig is still being assembled but with have a huge half-moon cage covering the top like a headband, and my "hair" will be made of fabriced-wire studded with pearls. I had a few fittings this week in addition to rehearsals beginning. It is all proving to be very time consuming, but makes for some great pictures.

Southern Ireland

Ireland was beautiful. On a route of Dublin to Blarney Castle (we both kissed the blarney stone), Killarney, Cliffs of Mohler, and Doolin with many little stops along the way to view places where paganism was beaten away by Christianity.

(All of these lovely little places we keep finding ourselves in seem to have been completely transformed due to belief structure...usually religion. The unfortunate part is that it appears the religions refuse to exist without destroying that of the past. So while many things are beautifully done in the name of religion (and most of it by force and not choice), the places lose their history prior to the birth of that religion in that place. It is actually really sad in a lot of ways how people did and continue to force their religion on others as the only way. At least that's my take on it.)

The adventure of this trip was not so much in Ireland itself, as it was a tour and we just had to be in the right spot at the right time. The adventure was learning never again to take the coach from London Victoria overnight into Dublin. The overnight pass involves getting off the bus to pass through security (where nothing happens except that you're trying to sleep), and then off the bus onto the 3.5 hour ferry ride to sleep in a cramped restaurant that seems to have the air conditioning on at all times. By the time we arrived in Dublin we were not rested as I thought we would have been.

The way home should've been smoother with the ferry ride up at the beginning, but when we fought Monday morning rush hour and pulled into London Victoria, the counter-terrorism unit was running a drill. Luckily Australian and American married couple don't fit the "we need to search through your luggage" group as all of the single passengers on our bus were searched. It was an extra hour and a half added to the end of our trip. Needless to say...we're glad to be back home in London.

Berlin--The Great Opportunity to Practice Patience

Berlin was incredible. I would have to say my favourite part was a 5 hour walking tour we took of Berlin. Our guide, Edo, had moved to Berlin originally for 2 years to study. It has been 6 years now and he has no intention of going home. He portrayed the history of Berlin, passionately telling stories of pre-20th Century, through WW2 and through the Soviet control of East Germany, and the US/France/British control of West Germany up until the fall of the wall. It is so amazing to think so much has happened in just one spot on the globe, and in such a short time.

The memorable stuff from this trip was more a matter of learning to travel with one another when positive attitudes go south due to hunger and exhaustion. JT worked until the morning we left, having had to go to Wales the day before our flight. So while amazing, things didn't go as smoothly as they have until now. I have taken it upon myself to learn the following 5 things before we travel:

5. Be realistic about your diet in opposition to your traveling partner - bring snacks for both just in case. (For me an energy bar...some kind of fruit and nut concoction, and for him....a snicker's bar as he won't eat anything disguised as healthy unless it is wrapped in chocolate.)

4. Know the following words in the language of where you are traveling to: please, thank you, may I have..., and cafe latte (the last being most important).

3. Stop and eat when hungry. Do not wait just until you "get to over there" as over there will inevitably turn out to be 3 miles from anything.

2. Be prepared to freeze your tushy off. It snowed most of our trip, which makes for beautiful pictures, but as we both originate from warm places...does not make for patience building weather.

1. Know if your hotel is where you want it to be. Just because it says it is in Berlin doesn't mean it isn't 3 trains and 1 20minute bus ride from town. (with a bus that comes only once an hour, which was oh-so-fun at night when it was freezing) We walked the 3-4 miles several times.