Working in Paradise

I really, REALLY wish I could post pictures of the place where I am working. Unfortunately, the bandwidth here for internet limits me to pretty much just email, facebook, and updating my blog. Until I can upload, here are some web pics from the past for you: https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=681&q=castleton+music+festival+2012&gbv=2&oq=castleton+musi&aq=3S&aqi=g-S4g-mS1&aql=&gs_l=img.1.3.0i24l4j0i5i24.987.3437.0.6854.14.13.0.1.1.0.146.1161.9j4.13.0...0.0.bAP1K98d-Bg So - I arrived the end of May, and several times thought I had gotten lost, because it really does feel like the middle of nowhere. Not much for signs, many of the roads do not have painted lines, and even fewer streetlights. I was so focused on getting here, that it really wasn't until the next day that I had a chance to take in my surroundings - rolling hills, meadows, trees, and animals. Oh, the animals! I live in the "Barn Apartment", and the other end of the building really is a barn! We have the barn cats and the rooster who live here (complete with kittens), along with two pigs, goats (the babies are beyond adorable!), a zebra, and a zonkey. Yes, a zebra and a zonkey (apparently the donkey is a randy boy and got out!). Down the road a bit are horses, cows, llamas, and emus. Yes, emus. I love being able to say - follow the path down past the donkey (oh - there's a ponkey, too!) and llamas, turn right at the emus, and the trail will take you to the pavilion. About a week after I arrived, I caught a cold (still convinced it is my coworker's fault!), and it has been a struggle getting up every day to work. But working with the group that I do, I look forward to it every day. They are delightful, talented people, who are supportive and patient when I ask a question to make sure I understand clearly, or if it is something I am not completely familiar with. This is a HUGE change from the experiences over the past 2 years, and I am eating it up! It would be a dream come true if I could find a permanent position working with people like I have here. And even on the rare times when it is not as pleasant, we go outside and look around and say, "yeah, too bad it is so ugly here", smile, and walk back in to work. What I've been doing - we've been literally building this theatre from the ground up. The "permanent tent" was erected last year, and this year they installed a permanent grid system with 3 front of house electrics, and 7 over the stage (my tech geek friends will appreciate this info). We have 192 circuits, and have had to run the cable for all of it. I helped solder the connection boxes for the dimmer room, and converted the dimmer boxes from 3-phase to 2-phase power. When we fired everything up for the first time, it was beyond exciting and I literally started dancing. The last 3 days have seen us hanging and circuiting the lights. The challenge is that most of the lifts can't ride on the pit cover, so it is slow going with the front of house 1 and 2 pipes, but we should finish up tomorrow. The designer arrives next week, the second set loads in tomorrow, and all is exciting in our world. Oh - and the master carpenter has dubbed his crew the "yay" team, because everything he asks them to do they say "yay!" - and are a delightful group to work with. Yeah, I'm thinking this is going to be an awesome summer... :)