Monday Musings
Digestion And The Strike ~ Monday July 17, 2023
And that is exactly the role of a production studio – although some might not see it that way. Some would say as actors and writers you are hired to do a job. Period. But on the other end of that handshake is the production company who you have hired to take care of you, to protect your rights as the owner of your art, to guarantee your benefits and assist you in securing your future. That will hopefully include more work for you making money for them.
Molting as Medicine ~ Monday Musing July 10, 2023
Welcome to whatever the heck it is that has taken over my container, or as some of you might call it – my body. I think “container” is more apt. Because this collection of astonishing parts has little to do with me personally.
Monday Musing Postponed ~ July 3, 2023
Welcome to the Norovirus which has knocked me down three times in the past two weeks. The good news is that I have lost about 6 pounds – maybe 8 if I could depend on my scale.
Clutter ~ Monday, June 26, 2023
Every week as the deadline for Monday Musings approaches I go into a panic about that week’s topic. What is on my mind? What is relevant? What will listeners find engaging? Well, all of that went out the window this week because the topic of the next six weeks will be CLUTTER.
Feline Guidance ~ Monday June 19, 2023
The deed is done. My day job has ended – although they still have me on the hook as a consultant for six months. I have one toe tethered and one foot in the free zone.
Going forward I will be aware of this new relationship with time, give my cats their treats when they want it, and indulge in watching them take naps when satiated. It feels like a good start.
Smoke vs. Smoke Screen ~ Monday June 12
I don’t know if we were all in semi-denial when the sky went orange. After all we knew what it was and that it would pass. Quickly. Is that grounds for ignoring what was happening?
Dusk and Thunderstorms
Dusk and Thunderstorms. I suppose every season has parental memories – these summer ones make me pause. Literally. Pay attention, they say. Slow down and look, and listen.
Memorial Day 1976 Move to NYC ~ May 29, 2023
As Thomas Wolfe said, “One belongs to New York instantly. One belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.” In this case that would be nearly 50 years.
The Skinny On Writing ~ Monday May 22, 2023
You commit and sit. And wait.
After awhile, all the thoughts that you have been storing up as if you were a squirrel on uppers, leap up like skinny sophomores who are only on the team so that the bench is full.
Mother’s Day ~ May 2023
… there are two kinds of mothers – the one you are born to and the ones who choose you, or visa versa.
Actors Are Magicians – January 23, 2023
Actors know that a world with no stories would go wobbling off into the Universe and burn to a crisp or freeze over until it was colder than the heart of a certain Supreme Court Justice.
Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr. – January 16, 2023
In addition to being King’s birthday, this year January 15th marked the closing date for SEVEN Broadway shows. Four of those shows feature black casts: “Death of a Salesman,” “A Strange Loop,” “Topdog/Underdog,” and “Ohio State Murders.” A fifth, “The Piano Lesson,” will close in two weeks.
How Stupid AM I? – January 9, 2023
When you are deep into experiencing your own stupid – stupid is not funny. Like the 15 minutes I spent the other day looking for my keys. I could feel the spirits hanging around laughing as my anxiety started to spike. Seriously. They thought it was a laugh riot.
I Like The Dark – January 2, 2023
I like when the dark comes on and says, “Slow down. You just put in a full day and worked your butt off, so put up your feet and have a cocktail or three. Press the Pause Button for God’s sake. Light a candle and contemplate another day’s adventure. Hush.”
Grammy Gracie’s Birthday – she is third from the right – December 26, 2023
My Great Grandfather’s letter to a neighbor the day after my grandmother was born. 1896. “Last night about 10:45 P.M. or it may have been 10:46, I am not quite certain, being a little agitated at the time, a young lady, quite a stranger to all of us, – no one seemed ever to have seen her before – came to pay us a visit; which from the perfectly contented way she has taken to her novel surroundings, threatens to degenerate into a permanent residency…. “
Santa vs. Jesus – December 19, 2022
If you are raised Catholic, at some point you have to choose. Jesus or Santa. At a certain age you are expected to put away childish things and throw Santa under the bus.
Visit to the MET – December 12, 2022
I went to the MET yesterday for the first time in three years. I was in search of mummies. My niece’s sons are studying them and want to see actual specimens. I overheard a grandmother strolling with her granddaughter mention mummies. “Are there any here?” I said. She snapped at me. “Of COURSE there are! Follow me, we are headed in that direction. I’ll get you to the American wing and you can take it from there.” Which I did. FYI the MET has FOUR.
Life Is A Quiz Show – December 5, 2022
The “4 minute” message – My life is like a quiz show. Is it an age thing? After all, my brain is stuffed. I have so many names, places, things, summer vacations, Christmas Carols, works of art, recipes, cousins, family dinners, dinner parties, grammar school teachers, high school concerts and cats’ names in here that it is difficult to sort through them all on a moment’s notice. More and more I depend on the kindness of strangers.
TOTO Too – November 28, 2022
Watching i”The Wizard of Oz” this year, I concluded that OZ belongs to Toto not Dorothy – like “Cinderella” belongs to Gus-Gus. But that’s a story for another time.
TURKEYS – November 21, 2022
Something people may not know about turkeys of the wild sort is that they are tricky – disposition wise. Live near a wild turkey and you take your chances. They consider themselves noble and above your pay grade.
Tulis McCall
Actor, Writer
Tulis McCall is a woman with a passion for performance and presentation. She brings her extensive knowledge of acting, writing, and producing to everything she does.