What a night...

[maisfeeka]

So, tonight is the big New Hampshire Theatre Awards - kind of our version of the Tonys. A great number of my friends and a few plays I've been in are up for major awards, I've had my ticket for months, and yet... perhaps someone has noticed I'm here posting on my lj? And no, I don't have the type of phone that would let me post from the show.

So why am I here?

Well, I have a really nasty allergy to theatre fog and haze. Like, it sends a nice message to my autonomic nervous system that says breathing is not necessary. At all. I can make myself breathe if I want and work at it - but I don't, and get rather grumpily unpleasant about refusing if people prompt me to (as I'm waiting for transport to clinic or hospital for assistance).

Now, mind you, fog has been banned in equity theatres due to health risks, but community theatres don't have to follow those restrictions. It's always used on occasion and usually I can avoid it. However, lately it's become a problem.

I've been unable to go to a number of shows because they were using huge amounts of the stuff. I've had to flee from other shows because they've denied they were going to use any when I bought my ticket and as I'm sitting there suddenly the fog comes on. I've had to explain to multiple people that no, I'm not going to just go try and see if I'm still allergic to it and/or if this newer/different version will still affect me. Not unless they're willing to have an ambulance standing by and be willing to pick up all my medical bills, sorry. This isn't a nasty rash and a little wheezing that my inhaler and a benadryl will take care of. I. Stop. Breathing.

My friends have been very good about calling and emailing to warn me of fog in shows and today when I arrived at the pre-show dinner one of them pulled me aside and said they'd been at the theatre earlier and it had been filled with fog. So, I called and sure enough they told me yes, they'd be using haze throughout the show.

Which means, no show for me. I'm out $30, which is a lot for a poor teacher, I don't get to see the friends I generally only see at the awards, and if *fingers crossed* my friends or one of my shows wins an award I won't be there. I am an Unhappy Mai.

And, just to add insult to injury, when I got out to my parked car to head the 30 minutes back home instead of walking over to the theatre, I found that someone had hit my parked car and knocked the driver's side mirror all but off. So I had to drive around in the dark to find the police station, file a report (which necessitated a trip back across a busy and slippery street to find my car's VIN number), and then drive home on a busy highway while craning around to try and see something out of my crazily hanging off driver's side mirror.

Thank heaven there was Supernatural and Merlin tonight!

Comments

[shadowcat]

*hugs so much*

I'm sorry, love.

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon.

*hugs back*

[shadowcat]

Fog and my lungs don't get along well, either, but I'm sad that it ruined your night because you didn't know. :(

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, tonight was just one too many.

I'm now going to be seriously looking at ways to restrict/better regulate use of fog in our community theatre shows. And I have several people willing to help out.

[inapostbag.livejournal.com]

That's horrible, hon, I'm so sorry. :( *hugs*

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I was so disappointed. To the point where I didn't know if I wanted to yell and swear or just burst into tears.

Home waiting to hear some of the results. Did get texted that one of my dear friends won Best Supporting Actress in a Professional Drama, so yay for that!

[inapostbag.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to her! But yeah, I can bet it was so upsetting and frustrating. And then to have to deal with someone hitting your car on top of that. :(

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It was Not a Good Night. Bleah.

[suzmc.livejournal.com]

Sometimes you're the bat, sometimes you're the ball, sugar. So sorry.

But your profile pic of sweet, tortured, sexy Michael from LFN is soooooo tasty. :-)

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

It is, isn't it!

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

D: D:

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[peregrine-ek.livejournal.com]

Wow, that really stinks. SO sorry about everything you are going through.

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Just added leaking windows, etc, from ice damming to my woes list. At least the condo company says someone will be out today to clear off the ice and snow from the back of my house, so hopefully that will help fix things.

[outgeekyou.livejournal.com]

Oh Mai, that really sucks!

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

Brad? Yes, yes it does. And just added leaking windows, etc, from ice damming to my woes list. At least the condo company says someone will be out today to clear off the ice and snow from the back of my house, so hopefully that will help fix things.

[b-radwick.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, did not realize I commented with that account, sorry! But yes, it's me.

Oh no, that's just bad to worse. I'm sorry!

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

Yes, isn't is just! And we're expecting a night of freezing rain. Still... they're supposed to come clear my roof off today and hopefully that will make things much better.

And it's lucky I caught it early!

[b-radwick.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad you caught it early and I hope it turns out not to be too bad.

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

The roofer is here and on my roof which he says will stop or at least slow the leaking till he can get back in the morning to take care of it.

*crosses fingers*

[b-radwick.livejournal.com]

*crosses fingers too*

[rhopalocera.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry you had such a bad night.

Hope today is better.

Sending you some Michael love

(http://photobucket.com/images/roy%20dupuis)

[maisfeeka.livejournal.com]

Today I have water leaking into my house from ice damming. I really need some Michael!