Muscle Memory

So the project of "Work a Full Time Job AND Build a Show" is beginning to take its toll. I am already more tired then I wish to be. But in the end, this will be worth it. It always is.

My main problem with designing Annie thus far is that I have a hard time filling in the in between areas. For example, I have a general idea about how I was the set to look and some rough sketches of my thoughts. The beginnings of the process. And then I have the ending. I have all these fantastic ideas about paint treatments and colors and textures and....can you tell I'm a painter? I'm trying to fill in all the details of the pieces, the way everything fits together, how everything will be constructed. I'll get there, I'm just a little slow on it.

But as of now, I have the main ground row of platforms up. I've noticed that this school has one of two design routes. Giant, massive box set or giant massive unit set. Notice a trend there? The back row of platforms is 3ft tall and 48ft long. It will serve as both the second tier to the grand stair case in the Warbucks Mansion as well as (after getting a quick surface change) the brick buildings outside the orphanage/city.

Pictures to come.

I continually find it fascinating how muscles work. I am a little sore from the past week and a half of work. It's been a little while since I've had to build things on my own. And while I am perfectly capable, lifting, moving, and building large heavy platforms and such does take its toll on me. But all the hurt is familiar. I know exactly where I will hurt and why. This probably has a bit to do with the fact that I know my body INCREDIBLY well (a cursory effect of health related issues).

But it also has to do with the fact that my body remembers this work. My muscles remember the hurt they had the last time I did this. They also remember how to do things. I have to constantly remind myself that the high schoolers I have recruited to help me out, while perhaps comfortable with and able to use power tools, haven't been doing this for the 6 years I have. So when I say, 'Sure using the drill is easy. Just get the angle right, apply a lot of pressure and don't stop.' it's easier said than done. I give those instructions because I can't fully describe what my muscles do to get the squeaky 3" drywall screw to go through two pieces of knotty 2x4 pine. They just do it. And that's absolutely fascinating to me.

 

Yeah...I have no clue.

-Meghan