You know what, "Acting?"...

I release you.

...here is what I mean:

You know those movies or novels or tv shows or actual life-stories-happening-around-you-or-maybe-TO-you where the person is SO IN LOVE with the other person (who just likes 'em as a friend) that they only focus on them, and thereby miss the other person or thing or things that would give them what they actually want & need?

You know??

So...that's TOTALLY me and Acting now! He's thrown me some amazingly true, heart-melting smiles this year (in the form of a truly brilliant, anime-inspired kids' show, and a truly inspiring all-grrrl Shakespeare romp), but inbetween, I got no love.

...A dear friend likes to remind me that I had to turn down a few shows this year due to Hugely Pregnant-ness, which is true. BUT. I am taking this as an opportunity to do a big ole Look-Back, and what I have found is:

Acting does not love me as much as Theatre in general does.

I have so stubbornly held onto "Actress" as my profession, as how I identify myself and present myself to others. What this does is undercut the other aspects of theatre that make up my career...that give me creative energy and helpful paychecks. Things like playwrighting, directing (this past year!), and most of all, teaching, a thing I have truly grown to cherish in my life.

So I am an Actress no more. I will now be callin' myself a Theatre Artist. Or a Theatre Monkey. Or some variation thereof:). And I tell ya, I am awful grateful & proud to do so.

Me & Baby Professor at school. 
We were teaching the student actors about, uh, hunger!