It was a bright and brisk Monday morning, and I awoke to the slight din overhead of several airplanes taking off (Costa Mesa has sound ordinances, and overnight no planes may fly…they line up first thing and once 7 am hits, it’s one after another after another). I was pressed and dressed in no time, and sipping coffee on the front stoop.
It was peaceful, but it was after all Monday, so parents were prepping their kids for school, and there was more activity than over the weekend. I tried to sit still and calm my mind…
And then…the lawn sprinklers came on…ALL of them. Scared the shit out of me.
Jen and I awaited her work colleague, Chris, who was going to chauffeur us up the Pacific Coast Highway, through LA, and to San Beunaventure. They would then drop me off and go to Los Olivos, a bit North, for a wine tasting while I toured the town.
I was grateful for the timing, and Chris had a free car rental…and after a few moments of waiting for him (which tested Jen’s patience with him), we were soon flying in the HOV lane, along with their intern, Laura.
The LA freeways are truly not for the faint of heart, nor the timid (of which, I am both, when it comes to driving…I’m a grandma in the right hand lane kind of driver), so I just tried to keep my head down as cars weaved in and out, and motorcyclists showed disregard for any lanes whatsoever, traveling within a hair’s breadth of my door just to gun their engines past us. Chris, however, is a master multitasker who has taken this trip umpteen times, and while he was a bit of a tailgater, he kept up with the Joneses and kept us on schedule. Jen texted me a message (from within the car, mind you): “i hate when he tailgates” to which I responded: “i didn’t know i would need blood pressure meds today” …she smiled and we pressed on.
The City of LA gave way to valleys, and then mountains, and as 11 am approached, we were taking the downtown Ventura exit.
One Right Turn later, we were facing City Hall, which has white, palatial, Parliament Lights advertisement feel to it. Another right turn on Main, and a few blocks later, there it was: Rubicon Theatre Company, my new employer. It was not difficult to find, considering the slew of tech crew outside building the next set for A Rubicon Family Christmas.
It is a charming, converted Church, now 200 seat theatre with VIP balcony and intimate spaces all around. My new boss, Cindy, met us on the side of the building, next to birds of paradise trees (that’s right – TREES) and an 8 foot jade plant archway. She gave me and my cohorts (as fellow theatre workers) the layout of the building, from offices to rehearsal spaces and the theatre itself, and then, I was left in her care. It was not long before we got right to business and I was on a conference call with my new team members in box office, marketing and development. I barely batted an eyelash as I pulled out my notepad and pen.
Nothing like diving right in, huh?
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