I was in this super-peppy, bouncing around mood yesterday, and I really couldn't tell you why.

Was it the fact that I had a Pepsi for the first time since Monday? Was it the fact that I was wearing my new sneakers, which really make me feel different, since I have no worn sneakers for at least a decade? Was it the fact that it was a really easy, relaxed day at work with no emergencies and for once I was not trying to cut 100 checks before The Lord God King of Accounting left? Was it the fact that my show is finally almost cast with the most serendipitous actor sliding into that last role as though we were waiting for him all along? Was it because I was having a fun email conversation with Dawn about going to Iceland next year (apparently, we have discussed this in the past on more than one occasion, but I have less than no memory of these alleged conversations)? Was it all these things added together, plus the fact that it was Friday?

The world may never know, but I'm not looking a gift super-peppy mood in the mouth, let me tell you.

Here, by the way, are the new bright white sneakers, soon to be dull grey sneakers, I know myself. I just couldn't do a second day with the freezing toes. I had to locate socks, I had to put on shoes, it was dreadful. The sneakers were comfortable, don't get me wrong, it was just the whole wearing shoes thing. I felt like a barefoot tribesman being shoved into shoes, my balance was all off at first.

They really felt great, and are so pretty, but by the end of the day I was just ripping them off of my feet. It's warmer again today and I'm back to the sandals, but we have turned the corner into winter, I think.

I checked flights to San Francisco, just to see if the price had gone even lower than the magical $149, but they were back to $291. For once I timed a purchase exactly right!

So here's the story of the last cast member cast for Orpheus Descending.

In the original reading, Lyle was cast and he was really not right for the role, way too young, but fine for a reading. Not for the production, though. Jabe is an incredibly tricky role, he doesn't have a ton of stage time, but he both look as though he is on the edge of death and also have a strong, malignant power. It's the most important role in the play besides the two leads. And I could not cast it.

Jeff Paul would have been great, but he is making a documentary and is unavailable. A couple other guys couldn't do it. One new company member with Broadway credits turned it down because the role just didn't speak to him (Cynthia and I privately thought he was being a size queen). We ended up offering it to Lyle after all, but he's in the middle of wedding plans. We offered it to Bob, who could have done it but not without a lot of hand holding and rein-pulling, but he didn't think he was right for it. I was sorry, but relieved that I wouldn't have to drag up the energy.

Then Cynthia was doing a reading, and in a conversation with the director, she mentioned the show and that what she'd really like would be to get an actor like him for the role. And he was interested! Cynthia said that he was physically perfect, the right age, and had a great presence, but he had to think it over. On another day, when they were discussing it again, he asked about me, or rather about the director. She told him about me, and then, because he had been an actor in L.A. for many years, mentioned my father to him.

"Her father was an actor that you may have heard of, Bill Zuckert."
(pause) "I was friends with an actor named Bill Zuckert! We used to hang out together at a donut shop in Burbank. Do you think that it's the same man?"
"I would guess so, I can't imagine that there was more than one."
"Had he been on every show in the world and have like a four page resume?"
"Yes."
"And did he have a wife named Gladys?"
"Yes, it's definitely the same person!"
"I loved Bill! He was absolutely the salt of the earth. I even wrote a play for him once called Werewolves of Westport!"

He still hasn't accepted the role for sure, but I know that he will. I said that he had to, because clearly this was my father's hand from heaven giving me the right actor for the role. Thanks, Daddy!

I was tired of only having the one body lotion at work, the Body Time Sea Aloe Moisturizer custom scented with lemon verbena, so I brought from home the Body Shop African Spa Hands and Feet Honey Butter which is part of the stuff that I keep in the bathroom, so it doesn't get the use of the stuff that I keep at my computer.

Can someone please tell me when I became so obsessed with hand cream? I remember my mother using the stuff when I was a kid, a big bottle of Jergins that she kept in the kitchen, and never understanding why anyone would bother smearing that stuff all over themselves.

It's not even as though I'm obsessed with having soft hands--I'm a white-collar worker for Chrissakes, my hands don't get much roughening, or I am worried about them aging, I just love being able to put my hands up to my face and have them smell amazing. I really do, though, at this point, have the most moistened hands in America. Not to mention lovely soft elbows.

Aha! I remember now how it started! It started with the Great Rough Elbows Debacle when I was doing Dracula and the discovery of the Hawthorne Hand Cream from The Body Shop! From such small seeds do such great dynasties begin. Or does such a huge amount of money get spent.

I'm going to Tipton Charles today! It's so good of them to have the lovely 2oz sizes for $4, since 2oz lasts for fucking ever and this way I can get out of there and still be able to pay my hotel bill at JournalCon.

A conversation at the office:

"Why did Biopharm buy 72 boxes of markers?"
"Because they need to mark a great many things!"
"72 boxes of markers will last them to the end of next century."
"Do not doubt Biopharm's marking needs!"

Last night I rushed home for John Doe, and I got there on time. I really do love that show, but not enough to forgo David Morse beating people up in Hack. Are you kidding? I dream about David Morse beating people up, it's one of my most lasting mental pictures. I really must find that VCR clicker.

Today's horoscope:
Leisure with people is suggested. Mind games may appeal as could group activities (such as bowling leagues, softball games, etc.).

One year ago today:
All of us Callahans and Semi-Callahans are very pro-Omar getting undressed onstage.

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Last Updated Wed 2 October 14:24:09 2002