Race Day Saturday

It's been, well, only about 20 months since I started running again - and not from someone - just running. It's nothing like when I had to run back in high school for cross country. Running in Wisconsin during the late winter, early spring when the high temperature is about 24 degrees, doesn't really instill the urge to "just do it." In fact, I can't remember if I ever ran one training run in it's entirety - in fact, I know I cheated every single one of them - sorry coach, but if you put a corn field between me and the finish line, and by cutting through said corn field it will cut off over 3 miles of a 6 mile run, consider that bad planning on your part.
Back to 2009. I started running, seriously, again just after my Father-in-law passed away unexpectedly - we were all taken by surprise by his passing and we, and by we I especially mean my wife, struggle with it each and every day. He was, and still is, an incredible man with a spirit that lives on in almost everything we do - from grilling steaks to putting air in my daughter's truck tires (which was her Papa's) to flipping through television shows that feature unidentified flying objects - he was a well rounded wonderful guy and will forever be missed.
Now with this running thing, I guess since I was in St. Louis, MO, and I was away from my wife, I also just needed something to occupy my time - working at the MUNY is great fun, and Forest Park is absolutely beautiful, but there are 24 hours in a day! Besides, I was now old enough to appreciate "a walk (or run) in the park." I also would ride my bicycle around the 12 mile park loop - that was easier, but for some reason, running just really worked for me on a completely different level. The strange thing is, I've had my right knee rebuilt (ACL) and have had back surgery (years of stupidity and heredity) - I really wasn't the optimal candidate to be running what started off as about 10 miles a week. But, I couldn't really stop. Then, upon returning to Fayetteville at the end of the MUNY season, I just, to quote Forrest Gump, "just kept runnin'."
Well, like I said, almost 20 some months later I have completed 3 half marathons, a full marathon, an 11K, a 10K, and a number of 5K races. It's not a record by any stretch of the imagination, but it is something that is not only great for me physically but emotionally as well. I actually stop (or I guess I should say, GO!) long enough to gather MY thoughts.
While running may not be for everyone, it's really working for me - and on some strange level, I think it is making me a better teacher, designer, and husband - now if I can just get started on editing this damned book.

Cheers!

I'm not sure I am at all too pleased with how and when I am struck to write. Why does it seem like the only time I am feeling as if the exact words I am looking for come between 3:00 am and 5:00 am? Why do I then wake, not even an hour later some mornings, only to draw a blank as to the truly inspired words that, not even an hour earlier, filled my head? I may have to keep my digital recorder by the bed-although my wife may not appreciate being serenaded by a stream of gibberish about designers. Oh well. There are worse things, I guess.

Great Start

Justin John and I worked this morning and got about 80% of the plot hung. We did some routine clean up to the catwalks and are getting ready to finish tomorrow morning. It is so much easier to work on a show when you have good help!
More to come. . .

Pre-hang for T-2 Production

Tomorrow my assistant Justin John and I will begin the pre-hang for Reasons to be Pretty. More to come soon.

Day One - Sabbatical Progress

I just wanted to share a bit about how my progress on a new book that will feature top Broadway designers is going. I have gathered most of the interviews over the course of 2 trips to New York. I was able to meet with Scott Pask, David Lander, David Gallo, Christine Jones, Anna Louizos, David Budries, Peter Nigrini, and Ken Posner. I will be making one, hopefully, final trip sometime in mid May or early June to interview Derek McLane and hopefully add to that list Natasha Katz and David Rockwell.  I've transcribed over 100,000 words already and it is shaping up to be a wonderful book! Stay tuned for more updates.