My life ...

Hey Thanks Zhao HENG!

...This looks just like me!

Readers,

this column is about my adventures where I work.

Sketch done "In THE P.Z." by ZHAO HENG, from China.

*She asked me to sign my name. I was honored to do it.

Later, Zhao also signed her work in Chinese. See it on the side? Cool!

Though she is a famous Chinese Artist from Beijing,

Zhao is down to earth. She is also a beautifully sweet, kind and generous person. She has this quiet strength and warmth about her.

I liked her! To tell you the truth, I liked her whole family! "Sue", "Lee", Lee's husband, brother, Dad, A friend from Canada, friends from Michigan and oh it was about 10 people in their group! We had a BLAST at one of my "shows"! They gave me such energy! As I recall, that was one of the best days I EVER HAD AT WORK! They made my job worth coming if for THAT DAY! My job is a present to me!

The people that I meet, like Zhao, "Sue", "Lee" are my adventure.

They are gifts to me!

To meet people like them is a HUGE reason why I like working

where I work!

To do what I do, the way that I get to do it, utilizing the talents that I have, is even more of a gift to me! Just as I believe this family is a blessing from God to me, (I had not been feeling well that day, but went to work anyway) I KNOW my talents are too!

I am a professional Public Speaker, Story Teller, Re-Enactor. I also am an actress and writer.

I come alive in one woman skits! Strong, passionate woman portrayals is what I do best!

Back to Zhao and her family. The funniest thing about our visit, was "Lee".

"Lee" is Sue's Daughter and Sue is the person I think I spoke the most to! "Hi Sue! thanks for sending me the sketch. WOW! What a beautiful thing! I've never had something like this done for me. Back to "Lee". "Lee" is an American living and studying in China and she works on a farm there.

When Lee and her family first came to see "my show" Lee went straight for the chair. I noticed that she had a hard time sitting down and was mouthing the words, OW!

I watched her briefly as she slowly eased her way into her seat...

Part 2 of this weeks "My life ..."to be continued"

MY life ...

I write about my experiences at my work place, a place I affectionately call "MY LIFE...". (I am working on a new name to call it, for legal reasons. So, maybe I'll call it "The PLACE" or "The People Zoo" Eh! I'm still working on it). Anyway, sometimes the things that happen at work in dealing with the public can be very funny, sad, life altering and some things are just BIZARRE!

Take this for example: First, if you are already a fan of "My life ... " column, then you know I work in a place where I often have to wear costumes. Remember that I am a story Teller and Re-enactor, so I often wear costumes to fit a particular story I am telling. NO! I don't dress up like cartoon characters! I depict real people in olden times. On this past Sunday, I was wearing an "Aunt Jemima" kind of dress form the 1800's, complete with head wrap and corset! So anyway, as I was sitting at my story telling site waiting for "the show" to begin, a lady came up as I was already speaking with a gentleman and so I included the lady in the story by directing my attention to her also.

She was quite taken by "the story" and even more so captivated by my garments. As I was sitting down at this point, re-enacting by sewing a potholder, the lady moved along side me, and said, " I just gotta know something, may I ask you a question?" I said, "sure, please feel free". She looked at me, leaned in close and asked "Are those your real boobs?" And the man, a total stranger FOCUSED IN on MY BOOBS!

BAD TASTE! VERY BAD TASTE!

You see Reader, as I was wearing a corset, my boobs sat quite high as they did back then when the women wore them for support. Still, Can you imagine the nerve of that woman AND the man too. Staring at my boobs like that. He even commented and said "Yeah! those are hers alright! WOW! People ask some amazingly personal questions.

They think they can lose their mind on you just because you are in costume or because you work where you work.

I've even had picture taking guests, TELL ME to "look bedraggled"

because the last photo (they took of me in one of my old fashioned costumes), didn't win in the photo contest they entered it in! They needed something much more "emotional and realistic!" They said I "looked too happy" to be re-enacting a colored farmer! They wanted me to pose AND "look more beaten down by life."

I refused and let them know that I no longer would allow them to take photos of me. Strange and cruel! the husband even tried to tell me because I work where I work, that I HAVE TO let them photograph me. I told him that I DID NOT! It's not part of my job to allow photos if I don't want them! Allowing guests photographs is purely up to the "performer" I told him! He was so rude, this man! Hoo Wee! Can you imagine that, Reader?

WHAT NERVE THESE PEOPLE!! I've seen this couple a few times since and when I know they see me, I quickly go a another way! They stopped me once since, and after we spoke they have never stopped me again! Oh! I was polite, ALWAYS AM! but I was Stern about what I said!

My life in the Village can be VERY EXCITING and pleasant, even heart warming moments, I have been privy to, but there are these BIZARRE moments, just like in every other part of life!

There are many, many guests that are very polite when wanting to take a picture. They usually ask and I am happy to oblige, but every once in a while I get someone like this guy and his wife.

"Talk" with you next week in MY life ...!

MY life ...

This is "MY life" experience on my job although I do also use stories of other people as they tell them to me.


"They don't know what we do down here", my friend and co-worker said to me. They (some of our bosses) hardly come down to see and when they do, they don't spend enough time to see in us like the audience sees. Sure, they give us kudos and tell us we are doing fine, but the stuff we really want them to see, they can't or don't see. In some ways, they are blind. To see like they really need to see, some of our bosses don't really give us that kind of time.


They don't' know what we do! Not really!
Some think that we just cook, story tell and give out recipes. They don't really know HOW we do our thing! Yes! We cook, story tell, play with the audience and kids. Yes! We even hand out recipes, but by doing so, we are making the guests moments with us, quite special!
We know because many guests have told us so, my friend, my co-worker and I.
We are able to reach into the lives of those people with the stories that we tell. And Oh! How we tell them SO well!


It is said that some bosses (some of them) tell us that we are great, but then we know that they don't know HOW GREAT! People leave sometimes, with joy and tears in their eyes. They come back to our "shows" again and again bringing their sons, daughters, mothers, husbands, neighbors and their wives.We, my friend and I, end up having a lot to live up to!
All the while, our guests take pictures and smile! They laugh with us! They hug us, pulling us in to themselves because we, well...we have taken them somewhere in their minds eyes that they've never been. Places that they are glad and sometimes sad to see, but glad they went right on in, into the scenes of our stories. Through them, our stories, the history that we share...with our voices, facial expressions mixed in with LOADS OF PASSION...in our "shows", my friend and I, take them, the guests there. There to the place that we have painted for them to see!


She, my friend and I, often hear and receive the blessings on our lives and the gifts we bring through our story telling ability. sometimes, people challenge us for the information they choose not to receive, but at least we challenge them and some times they leave changed and they believe. Open minded guest is what a story teller needs to impart their stories.


For all that we do,
My friend said that some of our bosses, don't really have a clue!

My life ...

At my job in "Mini-Hollywood land", (Still searching for a good name to call it), we are getting ready for the winter "shows". So, on last Thursday, I got called to schedule a fitting for the dresses I will wear during the HOlidays. I'll be in two different "shows" so I'll get to switch up.

Yes! with both dresses I will have to wear a corset, but it's really not bad. In fact, I PREFER to wear one! To think, I used to dodge wearing one every time in the past. But, I have found that corsets are good back support and if worn properly, (to fit the natural shape of your curves) it can be good for your posture and chest area (hiking "the girls" up can be a good thing). You end up looking like your were poured out a beautiful mold. Boy oh boy! I never looked so good!

Hey costume people,

after this is all done, Can I keep my corset?

One can dream. Well, guess I gotta buy my own.

Moving forward.

MY life ...

My Life ...

Is about the place where I work and my personal experiences there. It's not about "on the job" stuff, like gossiping etc.. This column is about sharing with you, the kind of job I have, how it has affected my life for the better and for the worse. Actually, in my life, no lessons are lost, bad or good! Here, I get to share some of those lessons and joys from the "AWESOME ADVENTURES!" I have been privy to experience while on my job.

The place where I work, I affectionately call "The ..."

I'm not giving you the real name on purpose, in case my bosses don't agree with my blog. NOTHING CAN BE USED AGAINST ME! HA! HA! LOL...

Truthfully though, I am a bit on the serious side about that.

Although, I write great things, Inspirational, informational (LIFE GIVING) things, some people may not agree with what I am saying and try to hold it against me. Besides, I really would not say anything mean about where I work (at least not in public) none the less, I wouldn't want anything I say to taint your views in any way.

So again, I'M NOT TELLING YOU WHERE I WORK!!!

(Oh! You should really hear me laughing at that).

I will tell you this though, for the most part I work in a really exciting atmosphere. To me, it's like a MINI- HOLLYWOOD. Celebrities do come there, (don't worry boss, I won't name drop). Sometimes, they come unannounced like regular people with friends or with their families. Some come on V.I.P Tours. Shoot, when they come to me for a "show" I treat them just like I would treat you, special! They're no more special than anyone else. EVERYONE of us, no matter our station in life is a V.I.P in my book. 'Cause, if that's not my view and I'm one of you, then what does that say about my specialness? Am I really? Yes! You can answer yes!

It's all right. Also, I LOVE WHAT I DO!!! IT'S A GIFT TO ME.

YOU are a gift to me! So, for you, the public that come to where I work,

I give you and your families a good "show".

Back to the mini-Hollywood stuff.

At work, the scenery is amazing, especially when the seasons change. I work partly outdoors as well as indoors and that's pretty cool. Employees even have access to stuff that the public wouldn't normally get to see, like all of the costume being made. By the way, I love to learn. As a creative person, I gravitate to creative people. So, The "Costume Room " used to be my most favorite area in the ENTIRE PLACE! The costumes they create, the research for them and the time the seamstresses put into their creations plus the after care and record keeping of all that stuff!

WOW!!! IT IS TRULY REMARKABLE!

In vain, I suggested to the manager of The "Costume Place" that it would be cool if the employees could dress up in them and have a 1800's Costume Ball, maybe for the employee Christmas party! HEY! I'D PAY THE COST OF THE CARE of cleaning my outfit if they'd let us do it!

The clothes that they create for the holidays are quite stunning! Several years ago, I was quite impressed upon learning that the Costume manager, once upon a a time, was very well known in New York for his/her clothes designing ability! He/She says they prefer it where they are now, doing what they do, designing for a purpose. I've had the privilege of wearing some of the clothes the costume people create. It reminds me of when I played dress up in my moms clothes back in the 70's. Although my moms disco dresses, head scarves and hot orange, tree tall disco platform boots were cool, they were a different kind of cool!

At work, I've been wearing dresses that would challenge Scarlet O'Hara' s fine duds. It's true! I am not kidding! I wore this type of dress for a special program or "show" and I was nervous to wear it because it took over 100 man hours to sew and I had a "handler" to get me in and out of it.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I thought. Wow!

(I was requested to wear it because I'm good at my job). Seriously, it was an honor to wear it because the dress was beautiful! They custom made it just for me to wear, although other women got to wear it since, but it was made for me first! Have you ever had clothes made just for you? Only one other time in my life and that was Prom so I got to keep that one! But for work though, they dressed me to emulate the lifestyle of a very wealthy woman in the 1700's. That dress had layers upon layers of material. It was dripping with lace. I had on a "period appropriate" corset, a fancy bonnet and I even got to wear custom made, fancy, elbow length gloves! WOO WEE! I felt and looked very dainty and TIRED! That thing was HEEEEAAAAVY! Still, for the privilege of getting to wear it and "step back into time", was worth it. That dress and everything that surrounded it was SIMPLY AMAZING! To think, I didn't even have to go to HOLLYWOOD paying all them dues, spending years trying to get into the movies to wear something like that. Move over Halle Berry, Meetta's in town AHA HA ! Geez! If you all could see and hear me laughing...!

For real though, Halle wore a dress like that years ago in a movie called "Queen". Queen was based upon an autobiographical book about the ancestors of Best Selling Author Alex Haley. Mr. Haley is also the very blessed author of "Roots". That was a major miniseries event that was televised heavily in the 1970's. To Mr. Haley, may he continue to rest in peace.

"Talk" to you next time in..."My life ..."