February 19, 2004

Wow. Once again I do not know how long this will be or if it will make any sense. It was suggested that I write about my travels in Africa and, on the one hand, I can remember very little and, on the other hand, what I do remember will forever stick out in my mind. The withering tortured bodies of AIDS orphans. The immediate change in energy from one African country to the next as one crosses the border. The terrifying and exhilarating rafting trip down the white waters of the Zambezi River. The friends along the way. The cards played anywhere and everywhere. And that landscape that fills a hole somewhere deep down in one's history.

Since back, I have been working hard on "Speed Of Light" and working hard on getting other projects off the ground and working hard at ignoring the fact that I am doing a play again when I wasn't going to for a long long time. Yikes.

I imagine that the situation will be the same with signing after the show but I have yet to ask the theatre management about this.

I received some criticism last year that I was not as friendly to everyone as I was to the familiar gang and I want to apologize for that. I will try to be more broadly congenial. Sometimes, after a show when all you really want to do is have a bite to eat and go to bed, standing in the rain and smiling as if you mean it for up to a hundred people takes a lot of patience and tolerance and sometimes I am lacking on both fronts. I think the deal this time will be that I will sign two items (per person) only if the second one is from the Cafe Press Shop on this website, in order that money is raised for charity at the same time ... and no pictures please.

I am now in Vancouver and the sun is shining for the first time since I have been here so a walk with my girl is in order.

Happy New Year to everybody and please buy some Doodles at the Doodle Day Auction!!! Thank you!

Gillian.