Q-tip up the nose

Welp, the news on the street is that a cast member from my recent costume work, tested positive for COVID-19, thus spreading it around to other cast and crew members. Four others were confirmed, with 2 more positives the following day. The news inspired me to go get tested. I went to an Urgent Care and had the nurse stick q-tips up my nose. I waited for a few days to get a negative result. I'm not out of the 14 days yet, but the initial test was negative.  I never went without a mask while in the theatre and made a big stink about people wearing masks when I worked with them. It was kinda an eye roll moment for the cast members, but they obliged...a big announcement was made about wearing a mask in front of me. It was kinda embarrassing at the moment, but I'm glad now that I raised a big stink about it. I'll go back to be retested next week. Sheesh people, put on the damn mask!

theatre actors

I've been in the costuming business for many years now. At first, actors we numbers on a slip of paper. It was a jigsaw puzzle of numbers that we had to put together to make a costume work. I can tell when numbers don't line up and are wrong. We designed, measured, and shipped. The costumes won prizes in award shows and shows were a huge success. The costumes were returned, we washed them and put them away to use for another day.

With the purchase of the costume shop to a theatre group, actors no longer were numbers on a slip of paper. They were right before me, spewing their complaints. I can honestly say, that I dislike working with community theatre actors with costumes. Each director I have worked with has a vision for the show they are directing. It's their job to share their vision for the show with the production staff. We then that vision and go with it, asking questions along the way. When a director has no opinion, it's to me the costumer, to get a vision for the show, design it, run it by the director, & then costume it to fit those folks on the slip of paper, or in person. Directors can be a pain, but for the most part, they are easy to work with on a production, when communication has happened. They become difficult when the change their minds a lot, or can't articulate their vision for the show. After weeks of work, comes fittings, publicity photos and dress rehearsals. I'm human. I make mistakes. Actors lose weight during the run of a show...pants need to be altered again. It's a normal process to the show. What seriously angers me are actors who complain no matter what you put them in. I love it when actors simply put on their costume(s) and go with it. I like to see them on stage and then assess what works and doesn't work. Some folks are great and others are miserable and love to complain about everything. Usually it's because they have frustration about not getting a bigger role and want to yell at someone. They will then direct that frustration at the costumer. What some of the miserable actors don't realize is, that when they are nasty and continuously complain about costumes, their costume "needs" go down further on my list. I am in no hurry to make them comfortable. Why don't they realize that I have complete power to make them look gross on stage. The one production staffer you do not want to piss off, is the costumer. I get complaints that used to take up to much rental space in my head. Some of my favorite complaints is, "I don't like this costume color." Lady, I don't give two craps if you like the color of your costume, because your character loves that color. BTW- YOU. ARE. NOT. YOU! You are playing a character. Get over yourself. Unless there is a fit issue and you can not do the freaking high kicks, that most of the time I am unaware of because the stinking choreographer hasn't discussed choreography with me, the costumer, I don't care. Put your effing costume on and get on stage. The end. You like the other actor's dress better than yours huh? You want to be the center of attention on stage, even though you are an ensemble actor...nope...get out of my face and put on your costume that has been thought out, altered and prepared for your character. I'm trying to paint a picture...do not come in and attempt to change the painting. Sometimes, the painting gets tweaked up until a few days before the show opens, but by me or the director but absolutely not by the actor.

I have also come to the realization that some actors lose their capabilities of critical thinking when getting dressed for a stage production. Out of curiosity, how do you normally put pants on? Chances are it'll be the same way you put your costume pants on for a stage performance.  I know you have a quick change in between songs, but I'm sure in the 5 minutes you have until you go back on stage, you can change your pants...especially if the pants are preset and telescoped, the way I showed you during tech week. They also lose their hearing while I tell them step by step how to work a costume that has been rigged. Most of the time it's a series of snaps, or velcro, or even a zipper. Pay attention! Your time is not more valuable than mine, in particularly because you are being stupid. I hate repeating myself when I've already explained the process. In community theatre, sometimes I need them to bring something that they have from home. Acting requires equipment, like character shoes, nude under clothing, socks, makeup, and sometimes a specific something for you character. Please bring what I've asked you to bring. Don't be passive aggressive or selective in your memory, just bring it.

Oh, actors...please, for the love of heaven, wear your mask while I am measuring you and while I'm going there...wear deodorant and brush your teeth, because you smell.

COVID-19

We started hearing about this new virus late in 2019 and more and more in early 2020. Little information was known about it, other than it was a respiratory virus from China. We were amidst one of the biggest show season at work. We were working on one of the biggest shows (Little Mermaid) that I have ever created when the world shut down. Yes, literally the world shut down. We were beginning to see the panic shopping and hoarding of citizens. Toilet paper, cleaning supplies, paper towels were all in short supply. Never would I have imagined that we'd see empty shelves of toilet paper. Even now, months later, cleaning supply shelves are still empty. The toilet paper shelves are beginning to refill. There were limits on meat products and eggs in the super market as well. Libby and Josh were sent home from UNCA and WCU during spring break, then it was extended two weeks, and then for the remaining of the semester. We then were put under Stay at home orders by early March. Clyde and the younger Wardlings were now either teaching online or learning online. The amount of anxiety running not only through our home, but all over our nation has been overwhelming. I spent the time at home making, donating, or selling facemark to help out and to continue bringing in revenue for the costume shop. To date, I've made well over 3,000 facemasks. The costume shop at one time had dozens of groups calling and requesting facemasks for their staff. PPE was in very short supply. Medical personnel were using page protectors as face shields and bandanas as facemasks. There was a fear that due to the rise of COVID-19 cases that the supply for facemasks was dwindling dramatically. Thankfully, months later the disposable facemasks are back on shelves but nearly quadruple the price...right along with hand sanitizer, which has dozens of recalls! We have an insane President who has led this county into a battle zone of misinformation, distrust, and complete chaos. Families have divided over facemasks and the thought that our President is a man of God. I cannot make this stuff up. We are still uncertain of what the future holds with jobs, schools, community, and our health. We haven't gone into a store without a mask on since March. This isn't going away anytime soon either. Best guess, is that we are deep in this for at least another year. Vaccines are in the works and the conspiracy theories are floating through social media blazing a path of destruction. True colors of family and friends are as vibrant as a stain glass windowpane.

2020

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that our family of 7 has grown to be nearly all adults.

Clyde is still teaching 8th grade Social Studies. He stays busy with Leadership, Mustache Fraternity, PBIS, and all the other things he does for the students...and our Wardlings...like orthodontist appointments, and Tennis after school. He is a Master teacher, loved by all of his students.

I continue to work at Eastern Costume Company, in Salisbury. That hour drive, each way, is exhausting. The local theater groups keep me crazy busy, as well as the other groups throughout the East Coast. My favorite project this past year was making costumes for the Land of Oz. We have more headed to them this year as well!

Erin is a full time Nanny for her cousin Ethan. She enjoys what she does and we think she's awesome at it. We love seeing her, when she has time to spare.

Libby graduates UNCA this year, with a degree in Mass Communications. She stays busy with her many internships on campus and has already been offered a job post college!

Josh is a Freshman at Western Carolina University. He has adjusted well to college life. I'm not quite sure of his career path thus far, but we are excited for his bright future.

Jake is a Sophomore in High School. He's a bright and clever, sharp tongued Wardling. Unsure of where that gene came from...right Clyde?

Penny is an 8th grader at the same Middle School, where Clyde teaches. She even has a Mr. Ward for Social Studies. Epilepsy kicked our asses in the beginning to mid 2019. We have found a good cocktail of meds to help control it as best as we can. She's had a rough year with changing her diet as a part of the game plan. However, we've been successful with lowering the number of seizures she does have.

Here's to 2020 being an adventure!