BenSpark Family Adventures

Photo-A-Day #02623 Today was supposed to be the final performance of The Winter Wolf. Sadly, that did not happen. Our star, Emma, is in the hospital and the performance was cancelled. I'm trying to process what that means. My first thought is that I am a curse for performances. Every performance that I have been in for ACT has had an illness that would have cancelled the show. In the past two shows I stepped in to take on the role and the show went on. This time there is no way I could pass for a 13 year old girl. That was my dark humor trying to process this.  It is a loss. While being part of this show has been a major win for me. Finally getting a role in a performance that was not a one line walk on, walk off. Finally I had a very good role that I loved doing (even the dancing). My partner, Stephanie, was amazing. We had some great chemistry in our roles as Father and Mother. I had finally gotten a chance to shine on stage and it was fun. After 33 years away from the theater I ...

Photo-A-Day #02622 This is a photo of Eva and her friend Aviva. The two of them have decided a while back that they'd be attending prom together, however, Eva learned that Avivia was going to hit her with a promposal and so Eva had to do it first. Eva had me take her to Michael's to get a posterboard on Wednesday in anticipation of today. Today Avivia was coming over to go with Allison, Andy and Eva to Case high school to see the play the Woodsman. Eva got to hit Avivia with her promposal as she walked intot he backyard. It was very cute and Avivia promised retribution even though she said yes, of course, she would go with Eva.  The two are such good friends. Avivia has such great energy about her. I got to visit with them before I headed to The Winter Wolf's 8th performance. I also visited with my Mom and Dad briefly as they have just returned from their trip to Florida. Allison picked them up at the airport while I ran and got pizza for dinner for everyone. Tonight's ...

Photo-A-Day #02621 On Wednesday I went and checked out the Philly Pretzel Factory that just opened. While I was there they gave me a free pretzel as well as a coupon for a free ice cream with purchase of 5 pretzels. I had Eva with me today because she had no school. so we went out to find some nice dress pants for her for the Theater Fest next weekend and also for the Prom. Eva is making much of her outfit for the Prom but not the pants.  When I went to the Pretzel Factory on Wednesday I asked the owner if they were hiring. He seemed excited when he took my info. I do hope he calls soon. I'm not sure if I can trust myself to stick back to my eating plan if I do get hired, though. I do love pretzels and even enjoyed them as part of a sundae. The thing I went there for, though, was a pretzel cone for ice cream. They don't make them in house so that was disappointing. They are premade. I would have liked having a fresh one like a waffle cone. But I still have not tried one, so the...

Photo-A-Day #02620 Tonight Andy made a batch of Ninja Bread Men Sugar Cookies. We discovered that this would be a fun cookie for Cora to eat in the play. It is funny because she takes the cookie and rips off the head immediately which causes me to search for a perfect animal to describe her eating. This weekend will be the final weekend of the play. It has been a lot of fun to be a part of this production.  Andy is going to come and volunteer tomorrow night at the concession stand for the play. Andy has to do 10 service hours as part of National Junior Honor Society. I keep waiting to hear about an induction ceremony for this but I don't think they are doing one.

Photo-A-Day #02619 Tonight Eva was inducted into the National Theater Honor Society. She is now part of English, Science, Art and the all encompassing National Honor Societies. We are very proud of all the hard work that she has done in her High School career.

Photo-A-Day #02618 Today was Saint Patrick's Day and I put 3 corn beef briskets in the crock pot and Instant pot. They were made using a Killian's Red as the liquid in the crock pots. The one in the Instant Pot also had a Dragon Fire Oatmeal Cookie Stout that Allison noticed had a sort of Caramel taste to us. We did Points and a flat and once again weren't sure which type it is that we like more. I used the package of spices with crock pot and not the one in the Instant Pot. However, when I was taking it all out after 8 hours I found the little plastic package did in fact make it into the Instant Pot. It did not open, though, so that is good. We basically ate everything so quickly that I never got a photo of the meal before we devoured it. We had plenty left over for a few more days of Corned Beef Hash.

Photo-A-Day #02617 Tonight Allison and I prepared the gifts that the cast is giving to the people who worked on the Winter Wolf. the four adults on the cast are pitching in about $30 each for some gift cards but that didn't seem like enough. I remembered that I had collected some specialty Wolf themed ornaments well over 25 years ago. They haven't see the light of day in about that time. So I figured, why not make these gifts for the people who helped with the show. A fingle Wolf themed ornament on the tree isn't overkill. It is nice and a great remembrance of this show since the show takes place at Christmas. I even put a few of these ornaments on the tree that is on the set. I also put a few more of my wolf touches around the set and the theater. I had also ordered some little stone wolf figurines to give to everyone involved int eh production and decided to add them to the gift bags as well. Andy made special wax seals for the gift bags and they are of a wolf. I did go a...