Beware...

There is snow in the forecast for tomorrow in both Northampton and London.

England, I swear, by all that is holy...If you delay my Christmas holiday for a second year in a row, you will need something much more threatening than 3 inches of snow on the roads to deal with the wrath that is an angry little Canadian trying to get home for Christmas.

Sincerely yours,

Jessica.

Here We Are

So, the one-week mark has definitely come and gone, and I find myself just waiting out the days until Christmas holiday.

After 10 months, 200 hours of prep-time, countless moments where I couldn't stop laughing or couldn't hold myself back from shouting, the show is over. I shared so many great moments with the kids, had so much fun and it was definitely worth it. Directing was an entire new experience for me. I had acted all through school and, while I definitely wasn't the next big thing, I loved it. I enjoyed it, and I had fun with acting.

However. I never realized how frustrating all of the little jokes, all the times we talked on stage, ignored directions and thought "ohhh, we have months to go, it's fine, we don't need to worry" could be to the director. Like making the transition from student to teacher, making the transition from actor to director allowed me to see an entire new side of acting. It was, again I'll say, definitely worth it, and I love it. However, it's much more stress, so much more responsibility, and there are things that I'd never even considered when I was just simply doing the acting.

Either way. The show went up officially on the 1st of December, a Thursday evening. The day before, a union strike across the country saw the academy closing to students. I called in all the kids for a rehearsal during the day. That evening was our final dress rehearsal, and we had an audience of about...10. Regardless of the number, having an audience definitely helped. On Thursday, Friday & Saturday evening, we had anywhere from 175-250 people watching the show. I spent the show running around backstage and standing in the wings nervously watching for tricky scenes that had always caused the kids a bit of trouble. When it was all said and done, We Will Rock You definitely did just that. It just rocked.

Sarah & Kristian came to spend a very short weekend with me and to see the show. On Saturday, we went to Windsor Castle for a couple hours. I felt bad rushing them through the end, but I wanted to make sure we were back in town in time to get me to school for the show. I was really excited for them to come see the show and spend some time with them.

After the final song and curtain calls on Saturday night, Rob (the other director) and I went out on stage, to thank the crowd and to thank the people that made this show so amazing. The kids came out on stage to thank the directors and, after calling me "Moose" (their strange nickname for me) in front of a sold-out crowd, they presented me with a great card, a beautiful purple orchid and a chocolate chip cookie the size of a huge dinner plate. Not even kidding. On the cookie, it said "Are You Kidding Me" (which, apparently, was my favourite thing to shout at the ceiling when I was getting frustrated).

So worth it. The entire show, the entire experience. It was amazing. It was sad to take down the set and see it stripped apart. It was strange now, with all the free time I had on my hands.

Now I'm just waiting for the holidays. See you in a week, Canada :)

In...

...One weeks time, We Will Rock You will be completely over and finished. The past 10 months worth of work is being put to the test. Opening night is Thursday & I am so excited and nervous for it. Sarah & Kristian are coming to see the show, I'm really excited to see them...and get some more lefse to hold me over until my next trip to Norway.

...Two weeks time, I will be so excited for the end of the first term and counting down the days (hours, minutes and seconds) until I get to go home. The first term has gone by so fast. Compared to last year, I'm doing so much better and I'm enjoying my job so much more. Can't believe the first term is almost over!

...Three weeks time, I'll be home for Christmas. Nothing more to explain about that. Can't wait.

Always Counting

No matter what time of the year it is, I always seem to be counting down to something. Half-term, Christmas, half-term (again), summer holiday, going on a trip, going home...there is always something to count down to. It's less than a month now until I go home for Christmas, and in 2 weeks time, the musical that I have worked on for the better part of a year will be over. I'll have to find something new to count down to, another goal to keep in mind.

Today, however, I am not counting down toward something, but marking another year passing. It has been 19 years today since my mother passed away, and it's my least favourite day to mark during the year. I miss her and love her, very much. Even if I don't have many memories of her, I appreciate all the stories that I am told by friends and family about the amazing woman that was my mother. I think about her often and hope that I will be like her someday.

I'll love you forever.

I'll like you for always.

As long as I'm living, my mommy you'll be.

I miss you and I love you. Wherever you are, I hope that you are happy, at peace, and proud of your daughters.

The Inevitable

It finally happened. The day that I never thought would come. The inevitable finally happened.

I had to take a sick day off work.

I grew up and saw my parents go to work every single day. I can remember, only once, ever seeing my father take a sick day from work. I was taught that if you can move, you can go to work or go to school. Perhaps not in so many words, but that's the essential work ethic my father showed me. He is an amazing worker and puts so much effort into his job. No idea how in the hell it rubbed off on me.

Blech. That sums up this past week for me. About a week & 1/2 ago, I noticed that I was feeling a little tired, not quite myself. I figured I could sleep it off, but with 3 rehearsals a week (including an all-day Saturday rehearsal), working, and getting the final details in place for the show, time for sleep was limited. Last Sunday morning, wonderful Nikki made the decision for me and took me to the hospital.

Nice & medicated, I headed to work Monday morning, and lasted a full 50 minutes of teaching before I knew it wasn't going to be a good thing if I stayed. I headed home, slept and did nothing for the rest of the day. I worked Tuesday and regretted it. I stayed home Wednesday and accomplished very little, aside from going to see the doctor (again). It was a hard decision to stay home. When I finally called Nikki to say I wouldn't be coming into work, as I went to put down my phone, I heard her say to her husband, "well she's finally admitted that she's sick!"...Apparently everyone knew it but me.

More medicine, some painkillers, and that all makes concentrating at work very difficult. I repeatedly called trees 'carrots' in class the other day. I think the green tops confused me.

Not much else is happening except for prep for the show. In 3 weeks time, it will all be over. I can't believe the last 8 months of work has finally come down to the final few weeks. I'm excited, but it will be sad to see it done and over with. I'm telling you right now, I plan on celebrating by sleeping. It's gonna be so sexy.

And, as is my apparent routine, an updated countdown: 35 days until I go home for Christmas!

Recent 'Wins'

This story begins before the half-term break (which already seems like it was months, rather than a couple of weeks, ago). We had HMI representatives come in to inspect the school to make sure that the school was making an adequate amount of progress since changing from a public school to an academy. Every teacher had the possibility of being inspected, and because of this, tensions were a bit high around the school during the 2-day visit. Full, detailed, lesson plans and resources were required for every lesson (these plans took me at least 60-90 minutes each to complete), which could be 6 lessons/day if you were oh so lucky.

Anyway, I was inspected on the last day of the HMI visit and went with my colleagues to line up nervously for my feedback. I always get a little antsy when I am getting feedback from lesson observations, but this was much worse as I had to share my results with the admin team who would pass them onto the senior team (AKA the big bosses). It was finally my turn and, while I was pretending to choke myself with my lanyard, the inspector came out to greet me. I was starting the meeting off well. He gave me my feedback which turned out to be an "Outstanding," the best grade possible. Slightly stunned, I thanked him and went to tell the good news. The next day, the headmaster came to congratulate me and Nikki for our 'Outstanding' results. Can't complain about that.

Now, onto half-term! I got the first flight available to Norway and I was so happy to be there. I spent the first few days really keeping myself busy. Walks around the lake, naps, hanging out with Michelle & helping celebrate her son's first birthday...you know, the usual. One thing I did learn though, is always check to see where the path you are walking on leads to. Otherwise, you just might walk through a cemetery as they are freshly digging a grave. Slightly awkward. The rest of the week was spent hanging out with Sarah & Kristian, going out for dinner and drinks, movies and getting knocked around by Kristian's parents St Bernard 'puppy.' Giant horse in training is a more apt description of her.

The final weekend of my visit consisted of eating. Seriously. That's all it felt like. This consisted of a huge family dinner on Saturday night and going out to eat with his family before heading back to England on Sunday. Oh, and I carved an amazing Halloween pumpkin that looked like Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas. I love him. I was sad to leave him in Norway.

And now here we are. Back at school and back in the thick of it. We Will Rock You goes up in 25 days and I am working my ass off for it. We have so much left to do, and there doesn't seem enough time to do it. I will make this a great show or die trying. I swear.

The countdown still remains for my return to Canada for Christmas: 41 & counting!

It's Official!

The ticket is booked! I'm heading home for Christmas in 50 days! See you soon Canada :)