Let's Blog Again!

I think I miss blogging. I hope I do, because I think it will be good for me. I often have weird downtime at work and I think blogging would be just the thing to do. For example I am currently in the John T. Vucurevich Event Center observing the rehearsal for tomorrow'sEmerging Artist Showcase presented by the Rapid City Arts Council at the Dahl Arts Center. Mostly I am here to lock up the building when they are done and possibly fetch an extension cord or two should they be needed. I have thoughtfully provided water for the performers and support people (sound guy, organizers, parents...) But really there is not a lot for me to do. So here it goes.

I got a dog on December 26th. Her name is Miss ZuZu's Petals, but you can call hr ZuZu. She is adorable and such a good girl already. Almost potty trained and very social. She gets to come to work with me every day and is in training to be my service dog. Yes, I need a service dog because...

I have MS. Multiple Sclerosis is a serious disease. I am, however,  a silly person and I mostly disregard it as a thing. I try to eat well (let's do better!) and I try to exercise (mostly at work) and I take my medication almost 100% of the time. I recently switched to 40 mg of Copaxone 3xs a week instead of nightly injections of 20 mg. I am pretty excited to only do 3 shots a week instead of 7, mostly because they get so itchy. I miss being on the clinical trial in Denver and going to Denver on the regular, but to every thing turn turn turn.

This Week At The Dahl:
I work at the Dahl as the Venue Coordinator for the Rapid City Arts Council. I manage all the events happening in the building, both rentals and internal RCAC events. I coordinate everything from Community Education Classes to Weddings, Corporate Parties to Memorials.
This week we had the January Buffalo Gals Round-Up in our historic Cyclorama Mural room.

Mark & Carolyn Mollers
Cyclorama Mural Room. 

It was well attended with 116 ladies enjoying the cheese, the wine, the music, and the art at the Dahl. This historic mural is 180 feet long and covers 200 years of economic history in America. Working entirely alone, Bernard P. Thomas finished the mural 1975. The mural highlights areas Thomas felt greatly impacted our nation including the Civil War, communication, transportation, agriculture, the Industrial Revolution, and war. It does present some issues for our modern age. For example, Buffalo Gals reported to us that several women declined attending this months event due to the "colonial oppressive depictions of women, African Americans, and First Nation peoples." This is a challenge that we acknowledge. Conversations like this are how we can acknowledge and accept our history while working for a better future for everyone.

Friday is a busy one for me. We have Evolution: A Retrospective my Sarah Rogers opening in the gallery from 5 to 7 and then the Emerging artist Showcase in the John T. Vucurevich Event Center immediately following. This means I will miss my weekly Improv performance, but I will make it up next week.