Happy Birthday Joan!

My mother has always been my best friend. And I don't mean best friend in the way that so many other women talk about their mothers, although she is a best friend in that way, too. I mean, a real, true best friend. The night I had my very first one night stand, I came home, crawled onto my mother's bed, woke her up at 2am and told her every gory detail. There has never been catagories in my life labelled 'stuff I can talk to my mom about' and 'stuff I can't talk to my mom about'. Don't get me wrong, she has always tsk-tsk-ed me for swearing and was not pleased when I announced at sixteen that I was in love and ready to lose my virginity. But she never punished me or withdrew her love when I made decisions she didn't agree with. She never chose to be superior and thus alienating. We disagree vehemently about several things and have been known to fight like cats and dogs, but we also spend plenty of nights cuddled under the covers laughing until we almost pee our pants. THAT is the kind of best friend that my mother is to me.

And today she turns a red-hot 64 years of age.

May she know that one of the wishes on her wish list has come true. Her youngest is doing a job she loves and making great money and is surrounded by good friends and has an amazing partner to share it with. My life is filled with the happiness that every parent wants for their children. Job, money, health and a man that could become my husband and the father of my children. But more importantly, I have back my spirit and so even if the job ends (which it will) and there is struggle with money or health, even if I don't end up spending forever with my current partner, I am going to be okay. More than okay. I am going to bloom. She has given me the gift of being my stem...and from there is no limit to what I can achieve.

Happy Birthday Mom. I dedicate your birthday to Cory and his family as they walk through the fire of loss. Cory is realizing now, more than ever, just how much he loved his father, now that his father is gone. I don't want to wait until it is too late to say I love you I love you I love you and that you are my hero. However long I will be given with you on this planet will be appreciated and I take the love I feel for you and I wrap it around Cory. He is a man I have always loved on some level and I long to heal him now. Perhaps he will be a little more healed today when he feels by osmosis that the kind of love we have for our parents can never be lost.

I love you, Helen Cecelia Joan.

And thank you Universe for giving me yet another year to tell this to her.

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.

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.