Day 1 - An Auspicious Beginning

In which we shall see: The first of 30 thoughtful, humorous, educational, punny, occasionally downright silly posts (as differentiated from previous posts only by their frequency), and lots of pictures of people doing Shakespearean things.

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Welcome! Today I begin my "30 Days of Posts", as inspired by a couple of good friends. To start from the VERY beginning, check out the first post. If you just started reading and are at least slightly curious as to what's up with the turtle stuff, go here. If you'd like to know a little more about me before we dive into the next thirty days, read up here. The point of this project is to see if I can do it - and to document the goals I'm working on and the resulting changes (and improvements!).

Today's Report: I did not, in fact, get up and workout this morning. I did, however, take a hike around the Conference Center after I arrived at work (on time!), and plan to take two more laps before I finish today.
I no longer feel quite like this: (The Tony Stark facial hair was never a problem, and) I did find ONE round-neck shirt (whew).

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Last night was the final rehearsal for the BHS Shakespeare Competition team that I've been helping to coach. I've had a marvelous time, and these kids work SO HARD (thanks, I might add, to the fine example of their teacher. She's got them whipped into shape)! We found some really wonderful things, and got to explore some exciting acting/storytelling... and I got to experiment with a few off-the-wall ideas that ended up working out beautifully. Instincts! Follow them! Here's the crew:

In a scene from Richard III, Mike attempts to convince a pair of oafish assasins (Cameron and Dylan) that if they have any hope of salvation they shouldn't kill him.

Chelsey plays the novice Isabella as she tells her brother that he will be spared execution the next day if she agrees to sleep with a corrupt priest in Measure for Measure.

Maida helps Queen Margaret get a little crazy as she rages against her family's murderer in a monologue from Richard III.

In another perspective of the same scene from Richard III, Madeline portrays the Duchess of York as she ponders killing Richard (her son).

Beatrice (Margot) convinces Benedick (Chance) to help her avenge her cousin and "Kill Claudio" in this scene from Much Ado About Nothing. (It's a very cute scene, I promise.)

The fabulous teacher, Phaidra, me, and our crack team of competitors! (Ho, boy.) Break lots of legs, everybody - I'm so sorry I can't be down in Cedar City with you! USE THOSE "O"S!!!

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Question of the Day: Who would you consider a modern-day Shakespeare?

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Watch out for falling turtles,

Cyd