So, last night the boys woke up repeatedly. I was stuck alternating between singing at the, and shushing them. It was quite frustrating to say the least. Eventually everyone got to sleep.

Tonight was more of the same. I sat in the doorway and tried to lull them to sleep with words and songs. Joseph tried to slam the door in my face. (He thinks this is hilarious. I don't really agree.) I ended up putting them to sleep by reciting Goodnight Moon from memory and continuing by devolving into this: "Goodnight floor, goodnight walls, goodnight ceiling, goodnight paint, goodnight vents, goodnight cold air return, goodnight car alarm that is seriously pissing me off, goodnight dust bunny, goodnight toes, goodnight toenails. Thank goodness they're asleep." We shall see if it stays this way tonight. Please G-d let it stay this way tonight!

In other news, today I spent time carting tables and more props around for the upcoming epic production of I Love You Because. It looks like the show will rock!

In still further news, I have been asked what songs I use to put the babies to sleep. Here is my ridiculous top ten list (with links for some):

Brahm's Lullaby
Hush Little Baby
Oyfen Prepitchick
Yerushalayim Shel Zahav
Dona Dona
Stay Awake from Mary Poppins
Katy Perry's Firework but slowed down a lot (the incomparable Jeigh Madjus gave me this idea)
Far From the Home I Love from Fiddler on the Roof
Baby Mine from Dumbo
Christmas Lullaby from Songs For a New World

Wow a lot of them are downers. But they seem to soothe. Huh.

So they slept through last night! However, due to the time change today, we woke them up early in order to try to keep things on an even schedule and not throw them off too much. We shall see if that works for tonight.

Tonight is the last night where I sit in the middle of the room. They went to sleep quickly enough and hopefully it stays that way. It was fairly uneventful. Hailey is still throwing things at me while I try to get the boys to fall asleep. She thinks it's all one big party. I sat there and sang various songs to the boys to get them to fall asleep. Eventually they all drifted off.

Tomorrow I move from the middle of the room to the doorway for three nights. Hopefully my gradual leaving won't be too traumatic to them.

In other news, I delivered all the props I've been collecting to Angelwalk's rehearsal space for I Love You Because. Seriously, if you're in Toronto between March 28, and April 15 you have to check out this show. It's going to be totally awesome.

I am seriously going to do a recap for you all about my book launch as soon as I get some pictures to add to it. I have one all typed up and ready to go, so stay tuned!

Yes, that's a question mark in the title. I love and hate this holiday. For the record, Husband Brian says that it's a stupid made up day that Hallmark created to stress guys out. Brother Brian concurs. I love this holiday because who doesn't like to get cards and stuff from people saying they love/like/choo-choo-choose you? I don't like it because it's stressful to figure out what to do? Plans don't work out, cards are in poor selection. (I find them either too mushy, or too cheesy.) I never know what to get. Husband Brian is impossible to buy presents for. It really doesn't help that today is a mere three days after his birthday. Ugh.

Anyway, tonight we're going to see Vanier College Production's Improv Troupe do a Valentine's comedy show. Husband Brian's working there all day, so I'm picking up wraps so we can have a "romantic" dinner in VCP's office. I don't know, maybe I can talk him into watching a movie with me when we get home. I've been trying to get him to watch Music and Lyrics with me for a while. (Maybe two years- give or take.)

So, I hope you all have a happy day today. And one more thing: HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MARILYN! For those of you who don't know, my best friend was born the day after me in the same hospital as me. Rumour has it she kept me awake in the nursery there. February is a busy month.

So a few years ago, I got it into my head that I should try acting professionally. I loved to do it for fun, why not give it a try and see if I could succeed? I had a couple of crappy auditions, and finally... bang! I actually landed a paying gig. The thing was, it was for a music video, and I was supposed to be a dancer in it. I don't dance. Well, I should qualify that as I don't dance well. I can sort of count out beats and theoretically follow them, but if it gets more complicated than that, I better have a lot of space around me, or else I may hurt the more talented and qualified people around me. I am not being over dramatic. I have actually punched someone (accidentally) at a call back. So I went to the filming of this video with knots in my stomach and several outfit options for the people in wardrobe. I felt slightly less nervous when I found out I was cast as an office worker and had to wear a pant suit. How hard could the dance be if I had to do it in a suit? Right? Thank goodness it wasn't overly difficult and I didn't have to look to professional. The story of the video was this: The band was on a roof and tapped into the city's radio feed. Their song infects people with either funk, or music, or weirdness and we become possessed and dance like zombies. I shrugged and went with it. We didn't get to really meet the band, which was called McFly (they're huge in Europe I'm told.) but their front man Danny came to say "Hi" and was really sweet. The other fake office workers and I hung out for several hours and ate cheese cubes from the craft service truck and then we shot our scene. I learned that day that I much prefer theatre. You rehearse for days, but the audience is right there and giving you feedback each night. But I can say I tried, and I have a lovely video that's on YouTube and on television somewhere. Enjoy! I'm the redhead in the pink jacket at some kind of board meeting. (We're actually playing hangman.)

So, I learned today that someone put a video with me in it on YouTube. Here I am in a ridiculous blond wig singing in a made up chipmonky voice:

Good times. This show was a lot of fun to do.

In other news: Only one week left in my contest! Send me your entries!

This Wednesday night marked the opening of Angelwalk Theatre's original production of Off Broadway On Stage. I loved it. It was a night of music and fun. I laughed, I cried, I had a total blast.
There is so much that I love about smaller theatre companies and production. There is nothing that compares to a small intimate show, where you feel a part of what you are watching. Don't get me wrong, I love the big budget musical extravaganzas as much as the next person, but nothing compares to a house that fits just over or under 100 patrons, and a small cast acting and singing their hearts out. You don't need helicopters, pyrotechnics, or falling chandeliers to tell an amazing, emotional story. Wednesday night proved that once again. The singers used their considerable talents to suck us in with every note. Each song was heartfelt, funny, romantic, or sad as the tune and lyrics required.
Do yourselves a favour, seek out smaller companies, see what the independent producers are doing in your towns. If you happen to be in Toronto before this Sunday, try to stop on by the Toronto Centre for the Arts and check out the show.
Angelwalk Theatre

I have received the Cover and Interior proofs of my novel. I now face the daunting task of painstakingly going through each and every word, piece of punctuation, chapter name, character descriptor, phrase of dialogue, etc. This is gruelling stuff. Why? Well, this is the final thing I must do before I unleash my work on the public. Once that's done, I cannot take it back. Part of me, the crazed perfectionist part, is cringing. What if I miss something? What if I say someone has blue eyes on one page and then fifty pages later they're green?!? I'll be laughed at, mocked horribly. What if I put a comma in the wrong place. Lynn Truss will have a field day with her sharpie. (Aspiring writers, please read her riotous work Eats, Shoots, and Leaves.) At some point, however, I know I will just have to let it go. Ultimately my goal is to be read, and in order for that to happen, I need to stop picking at it.

What this all comes down to is this: I need to finish editing and just say that this is the best it will be. I am happy with my story. My characters are who I want them to be. My plot moves in the direction it should. I need to trust that the people who read my book will like it. Or not. It is out of my hands now.

In other news: I have been asked to perform again. There is a holiday cabaret going on with Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions on December 5th at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Check out their website for more details. Also, if you don't have tickets yet for Angelwalk Theatre's first show of the season Off Broadway On Stage, it is most certainly worth a look. It will be an awesome night of fun, laughs, and great music at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. (Don't sell it Rob Ford!) Go here for more details.

For all interested, I am performing tonight at a cabaret at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts at 7:30. I have decided to break the mold set by most at these things and NOT do musical theatre songs. I will probably be performing some Ben Folds selections. Yay gender bending performing! All interested can get tickets at the door for a donation to Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions. Should be a fun night!

I'll post more when it's over. This will be my first performance since Brian and I had our triplets Joseph, Phillip and Hailey were born eight months ago. Much nerves about this. I'll be signing off now. Joseph has decided the dog is his own personal jungle gym.