Everything's fine. The fires should be 100% contained by tomorrow. The view coming up the hill to Paradise is amazing - everything blackened & crispy.

... Let the motherfucker burn
Burn motherfucker, burn

I've you've heard the recent news of the "Butte County Firestorm" as they're calling it now, you've probably heard the town of Paradise mentioned. That's where I live.

My house is one of the many under evacuation. I've been stuck down in Chico since Wednesday night, without a working phone because my charger is up the hill. I'm fine, but I don't know about the house. I'll update when I hear more. I'm hoping for the best and planning for the worst.

I've been writing, but not uploading. Most of my shit is up on Google Docs, but I don't consider any of it finished, so I didn't want to post it... but then I realized I'd never finish them if I never got feedback!

So please go rip apart one of the songs I just posted. I'm way too rusty.

... Superstar! Chico Cabaret is doing Jesus Christ Superstar, and we're doing the costumes. And, because my boss has a metric fuckload of random shit in her shop, some of the props, too. Most are simple - fake fruit, bread, goblets, etc. But the death squad needed two cat-o-nine-tails to whip Jesus with. We've got one flogger, but Christy doesn't lend it out to the theatres because it's hers, and it would never come back. So guess who got to dig around in the S&M box (yes, we have an S&M box), find two whip handles, and make some stage floggers.

Me! Now, I say "stage" floggers, because obviously they're not actually going to whip poor Andy and let him bleed all over the stage. Too messy! So I took black felt, cut strips into a large piece but left them all connected with about 4" on the bottom. Wrapped it around the handle, tacked it on, took a tapered felt scrap & wound that around the felt/handle transition so it smoothed it out & looked more authentic. Gave 'em a test run, whipping the wall & couches, and it looks like they'll hold for the whole show. The coolest thing about 'em? Since the "whip" part is made of felt, which is super-absorbent, they'll be soaking them in fake blood before the scene, to leave stripes on Jesus' back.

I'm really quite proud of them, and I'll post photos sometime - maybe - if we ever take any. Or I'll get some action shots from the show!

I can make Red Lobster's cheddar biscuits better than they can.


SCORE!