On a good show I love tech, it's where I get to do really creative work and in the right situation it is a wonderfully collaborative time.

Tech doesn't have to be that way. Difficulties happen, but it really should be the most collaborative part of the process. When that happens it is deeply satisfying for all involved. But if a show is *extremely* technical, or the schedule it too tight, or people come into it expecting torture, then it does end up being painful. It infuriates me when a director tells a cast (esp HS or college) that tech will be boring but they have to bear with it. I've blatantly contradicted multiple directors for doing that. That is just bad training.

Yes, some shows are torture, but designers wouldn't do this if that's all there was. We are almost always in tech. We're there to help tell the story because we enjoy it.

The directors I've worked with have pretty much all treated the cast like furniture during tech, there to stand and sit and walk on command and remain mostly silent and very remote from any of the collaborative work that happened. I honestly had no idea before you posted that that there was any alternative and that these were opportunities lost (as crew, it's always been totally fascinating and magical, but severely not so as onstage personnel).

In the best situations I've had give and take with the actors in addition to the director and other designers. I help them, they help me, they have a sense of what I'm working on in the moment. It's lovely. I'm sorry your experience has been otherwise.

Happy birthday, Sparky!

Buffista pharmacists. A bunch of medications were delivered by mail, left by UPS in place where I did not think to look for them and thus ended up exposed to freezing temperatures for at least four hours. I'll call my pharmacist in the morning, but to your knowledge, which of the following are made less effective or less stable and long lasting by freezing? (Spelling may not be perfect:

Metaformin for diabetes, Lozarthz (blood pressure meds), Simvastin, Flonase (naasal spray), mupricin (antibiotic oinment), Finasteride (for prostate)

UPS normally leave on the porch, but in this case left in the thingie used to hold delivered newspaper - which is not where I would normally think to look for a UPS package.

Remember that Very Onerous Task that I alluded to earlier this week? My appointment to start resolving it is at 9 AM. Really, I know it's the sort of problem that can be resolved with money (possibly, if things don't go my way) but I'm rather apprehensive all the same.

You can do it, Theo! Here's to the quickest resolution for the smallest amount of money.

which of the following are made less effective or less stable and long lasting by freezing?

Pills/tablets/capsules should be fine. The ointment should be fine. Not sure about the flonase. Definitely ask your pharmacist.