Last night, I went to see my friends Buddy and Gary in Ojai Art Center‘s production of The Crucible.

Perfect time for a heartwarming Thanksgiving tale. I have never been prouder to share ancestral blood with these fellow Americans. Oh, quite a play. Quite an intense, histrionic, freakout of a play. I enjoyed this production, though the scenery had multiple chew-marks. And: speak up, female members of the cast! My hearing-impaired friend left in the middle because she couldn’t understand you. Always fun to see my friends all dressed up in period costume. Secretly, I wish the pilgrim look would come back.

And guess, guess who directed it? Joanie, from TV’s Eight is Enough!

When I met her, I totally asked her if she remembered that Christmas episode? Where the first mom had already died, and all the presents got stolen, but then they found the present for Nicholas from the dead mom?

[OK: I totally did not do that, as I did not wish to see her genuinely-friendly smile turn into a grimace of endurance.]

Coming up: after this minor detour, some more graphic design wankery.