Excitement, and a little trepidation

Tonight will be the first step in what I hope will be big changes for me in the upcoming year! I am going to a workshop at a professional theatre in downtown Seattle. The workshop will help prepare me for the audition process that is happening in about a month for their upcoming musical season, and here's how that all started . . .
After a performance of "Company" in February, a gentleman and his wife had come down to greet the cast and I noticed them waiting to speak to me. He took my hand and said "you don't know me, but I wanted to tell you how wonderful you were. Really, a cut above." I thanked him and felt like floating across the floor. It's always nice to receive a heartfelt compliment, especially when you've just poured yourself into a performance. Our paths crossed again as he was leaving the theatre, and he recommended strongly that I go and audition in Seattle for some professional work. I told Matt about it when I got home, and said that I wouldn't have any idea how to begin such a thing. Then he said "well, you should look into it." I love that man.
Several phone calls, evenings of internet research, and a little networking and brainpicking later, I decided to go all out and audition for THE major producer of professional musicals in Seattle. Why not? What do I have to lose?
So, tonight I'm going to go and be a little sponge, soaking up all of the wisdom I can! Updates tomorrow.

Up with the chickens?

Nope! At my house it was a woodpecker that jerked us out of our sweet dreams this morning. I've never laughed so hard in my life. I heard a very high pitched rapid-fire chirp, then a rat-a-tat-tat that sounded very metallic. I walked out the back door to take the puppies for a potty break, looked up, and spotted him on my neighbor's roof. Well, he was on my neighbor's metal chimney, to be exact! I thought all the chirping must have been because he was MAD that he couldn't poke a hole in that shiny hard wood and find some breakfast, but I should have known to just ask my brilliant child who never forgets anything. She said "mom, he's trying to find a girlfriend. Grandma told me that's why they make all that noise."
Well, good luck, Mr. Woodpecker. I hope you find a girlfriend soon before you break your little beak and I lose any more sleep! :-)

Amarillo by mornin' . . . .

Matt and his mom left Oklahoma City this morning, and are westward bound. I'm not going to blog much about their trip because Ms. Robbin is keeping us updated over at Cedar Chest of Dreams. You really need to check out the picture on today's blog! I'm surprised he didn't lie prostrate on the floor before him, LOL. I'm sure this will further fuel the notion that "we need one of those in our house - life size!"
So, what have I been up to in all this alone time? I've been slowly but steadily plucking away at the things that need to be done around here to prepare for my mom-in-law's arrival. It can't be all work and no play, though, when we are only a house full of ladies. Last night my good friend and neighbor found herself man-less as well, so we met up at her house with another girlfriend to eat frozen pizza, chocolate pie, and watch "Anne of Green Gables". Tonight we just might move on to "Anne of Avonlea".
Happy Sunday to you all!

On their way!

I shamelessly stole this photo from my MIL over at Cedar Chest of Dreams. This is what Matt was doing this yesterday and this morning, getting everything packed up into the U-haul for the big move! They left Georgia this morning and were in Birmingham, AL when I spoke to them a few minutes ago. I'm not sure exactly when they will get here, but I know they are going to have a wonderful experience together. I highly recommend driving across the country with someone you care about at least once. I have now done it three times, myself, and am always looking for an excuse for a road trip.

Haleigh is about to bust a gut for her grandmother to get here. This happens to be the beginning of her spring break, so I'm going to have to get very creative to keep her entertained until the big day arrives. Hurry up, y'all!

WARNING!

I'm going to start blogging again. I can't promise that it's going to be thrilling and life-changing, but it ought to be a little interesting . . . maybe. :-)
It seems like a very long time ago that I started this blog, shortly after arriving home from a cross-country driving trip with my (then) 6 year old daughter. I named it "Embracing Change" because that's what I was trying to do. I had just left full-time employment, I was preparing to go back to school, and things were just . . . changing. Today, my husband is in Georgia preparing for his own cross-country drive with his mom. You guys know her, LOL, Robbin over at Cedar Chest of Dreams. If you don't know her, go check out her blog (on my blogroll). You'll laugh, cry, and be moved and inspired. Our family has had a roller-coaster year, and we are all looking forward to what this next year will bring.
So, an update is in order. I didn't last long in school. Seeing as how I can't figure out what I want to be when I grow up (well, except a famous Broadway star, but I digress), I couldn't justify spending all that money on tuition with no real direction. We decided it was much wiser for Matt to finish school, and I am proud to say that he just completed his degree in criminal justice! He has worked so hard, and I am so proud of him!
I got involved in community theatre, and remembered what it is that fills my sould with joy and happiness . . . the stage! Pure magic happens in a spotlight. I have decided to try my luck with professional theatre in my area. There are some fabulous opportunities, but it's going to take a lot of work! In fact, I have auditions in a little over a month at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, and I can't wait!
There is much more to tell, but I don't want to make this post into a novel. Here's to new beginnings.