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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

This Not Complaining Thing Sucks

How can it be so hard to not complain? I didn't know...wasn't aware...that I complained so much.

It doesn't help when, on top of having to get all my hair chopped off, they go and give me a bad highlight job. Now, I look like an acne ridden boy with trailer trash blonde hair and bad roots. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I must say it is surprising to me how challenging I am finding this rehearsal period. Between feeling picked on, being seperated from Jax, the hair abuse, the break-in and the two car breakdowns in seven days things have not gotten off to a smooth start. Yet, I am so happy in other ways. Getting a pay check every week is splendid and living with Sylvie and Leon is like living at Second City - no end of laughter. Chemainus is sleepy and little and my cast members are all a delight to work with. Despite being away from Jax, I am well aware of how blessed I am to have him in my life and spring fills the air with the smell of apple blossoms and wood smoke. It is a mishmash of very good and very bad in every day. Suppose that is what They call Life.

We open the show a week tomorrow. I have very few feelings about that, save relief. Ooops, that sounded like complaining again.

Wellllllllll...if you're gonna do it, you might as well go big.

Things that I don't like: haivng to worry about birth control, the current price of gas, the news that Stephen Harper is actually gaining popularity in recent poles, knowledge that people like Henry Picton are out there in the world, not getting to see Jax for most of April, paying for cable when I don't even watch TV, my ugly too-blonde hair, not being able to lose the extra few pounds I gained in Europe, having a hard time finding someone to do the flash updates on my home page, asking Jordan to do me favours, getting dramatic emails from friends telling me all the negative things they feel about me, feeling guilty unless I email them back, not having a spiritual centre to attend while being here, not having enough hours in my day, getting up in the morning, being cold, people giving me unsolicited advice, finding I have too much month at the end of my money, slow internet, being told that my partner can not be put on my comp list because he isn't my spouse, the tradition of taking a man's last name when you marry them, Immigration red tape, cooking, feeling like I am failing, junk mail, that all my CDs were stolen, living out of suitcases, not being able to let go, the word cope, having a chiropractor in town that is so busy you can't get in to see him, people that don't email you back, that nobody seems to submit answers on my Konkin Questions page, feeling like crying but the tears being stuck, smoking, not being eligible for a mortgage, being seperated from #206, waiting for it to get better, it only getting worse.

There. Purged. I would say that the 21 days could start tomorrow, but since I have to go show my hair to the designers tomorrow, that would be a foolish plan. Or is there a way of saying 'this is crap' without it being a complaint?

No, I didn't think so.

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Friday, March 23, 2007

A Complaint Free World

Yesterday my day was far from a complaint free world.

On the heels of an already challenging week, there was yesterday. And to describe it without whining, I will just say there was a lot of saddness and a few tears and frustration and hurt and even a little hopelessness. All in regards to the show I am rehearsing.

Interestingly, yesterday I also read an article about this Unity Church in Kansas starting a movement called A Complaint Free World where they are all challenged to wear purple braclets and not complain AT ALL for 21 days. No matter what their lives are looking like right now. And if they do, on an honor system, they are to switch the braclet to the other wrist and start from Day 1. Once they have made it all 21 days, they are guaranteed to have noticed a very positive difference in their lives and in their current less-than-stellar situations.

I am wondering if I could possible do this - especially right now in a particularly challenging rehearsal process. As a show is mounted, actors are loathe to not complain. I mean, think of this for example --- I am getting my hair cut this afternoon by someone else without having any say at all in how they will cut it. That is complaint heaven! I even heard that they might not have the budget to blend my roots with new highlights...which, for those of you who know anything about highlights and roots and hair...know just how badly I might want to GRIPE about that! And with other things that are unfolding in the show (producing the tears of yesterday) ... well, this could be the most challenging time EVER to ask myself to not complain. But I am tempted. Tempted to see if I can do it. Tempted to see if it mightn't be the key to breaking the string of negative events that seem to be unfolding these days.

Hmmmmmm, should I? At the very least, it would show me just how many times a day I do complain! It will also make blogging very interesting...LOL.

Ok. Let's do it. No complaining starting now for 21 days. I will improvise some braclet. No whining. If challenges (my new favorite word obviously) present themselves I will follow the quote by Maya Angelou:

If you don't like something, Change It.
If you can't change it, Change Your Attitude.
Don't Complain.

I am allowed to feel sad, feel angry, frustrated and want something different than what is showing up. But then I shall state it simply, change it or accept it. I shall not whine or gripe or bitch or complain for the next 21 days.

Wish me luck.

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Monday, March 12, 2007

My Chemainus Contact Info

Moved into my new home today...and, whoa, could I tell you stories...

Let's just say these stories would have somthing to do with ruined car brakes and rooms with no closets.

But for right now, I just want to let you know where you can send me mail and call me, if you are one of those non-skyper-types...

Mailing Address:
KJ Konkin c/o Alex Currie
Chemainus Theatre Festival
9574 Bare Point Road
Chemainus, BC V0R 1K5

Land Line: 250-416-0316

Of course, I will mostly be accessible via my email and skype. My cell phone should, in theory, collect voice messages and relay text messages.

Oh, and if you haven't, check out the post just before this one...a vlog that is totally gigglicious and a reminder of what is best about this website - it's fun.

Okay. That's all. Now. Send me things in the mail. Go. Do it. Anything. Random things. Knitting projects half done. Old roach hotels covered in blue masking tape. Letters of your undying love for me. Whatever. I am not picky. You can do it. I believe in you.

Snail mail rocks.

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