Friday, January 28, 2011
Hair Update
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Singing Again
I AM SO EXCITED TO BE SINGING AGAIN!
Look out world, because I'm coming back!
Peace out!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The Coke Story
Quoting instant message convo with Megan from a couple nights ago:
Ryan Howland says
so my brother gave me a six pack of classic glass coke bottles (there was coke in them to drink obvs but they were in glass so it was toes cool)
i brought them with me to school. last night i went to open one
...
Megan says
uh huh
Ryan Howland says
and i realized they weren't screw tops, but like the old fashioned ones where you need a bottle opener/use the thingy on the machine dispenser like the old time 80s ones
so i took a spoon...
and tried to pry the cap off
...yup
so I'm prying and prying and all of a sudden the cap explodes off the bottle, hits the ceiling and bounces off the deks
*desk
and soda spills into my lap
Megan says
lmfao oh damn
Ryan Howland says
yeah so that's the coke story
Peace out!
Ryan Howland says
so my brother gave me a six pack of classic glass coke bottles (there was coke in them to drink obvs but they were in glass so it was toes cool)
i brought them with me to school. last night i went to open one
...
Megan says
uh huh
Ryan Howland says
and i realized they weren't screw tops, but like the old fashioned ones where you need a bottle opener/use the thingy on the machine dispenser like the old time 80s ones
so i took a spoon...
and tried to pry the cap off
...yup
so I'm prying and prying and all of a sudden the cap explodes off the bottle, hits the ceiling and bounces off the deks
*desk
and soda spills into my lap
Megan says
lmfao oh damn
Ryan Howland says
yeah so that's the coke story
Peace out!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Service With A Smile
Back in Burlington! Yep, I returned to the big, not-so-bad Burly World on Friday where I was introduced to Megan's new dorm: The Q.
It's off the hook! She basically has her own apartment with a full kitchen, a HUGE living room, her own bedroom, and her own personal bathroom with a bathtub. The only issue is that it's quite far away considering it's an "off-campus dorm," but we have found ways to remedy that. There are secret roads and bike paths that totally take you there, and there's always the Champlain off-campus shuttle. It's not a big deal. It does mean that I can't really traverse to The Q during the week because of schedules and Megan can't really hike it to Converse either because of RA duties. But it's still cool. Her room is awesome. In case I haven't made myself perfectly clear...her room is awesome. The best part about the whole deal is that it's free because she's an RA. Well, it's not completely free I mean she does actually have to work as an RA but you get the point.
Anyway, before arriving at The Q, my mom and I stopped in for some lunch at Olive Garden, one of the best restaurants ever. We got a waitress that was pretty amazing. She kept saying "PERFECT!" all the time about everything we said.
"Soup, salad, and breadsticks??? PERFECT!"
It was in one of those rad, pothead, skateboard-type voices and it wasn't just "PERFECT," there were definitely a couple of "right ons!" thrown in there. Also, my mom asked for the dressing to be put on the side of our salad (she doesn't like a lot of dressing, crazy I know) so when this wonderfully ignorant, yet very entertaining waitress returned with our salad, she said:
"I like totally kept forgetting you didn't want dressing so a accidentally made like six salads with dressing on them. I kept looking down and was like, 'Crap!'"
I tried to get my mom to write "PERFECT!" on the receipt but she wouldn't do it.
I came back to Burlington at such an odd time because we started rehearsals for UVM's Twelfth Night this weekend. So far they're going very well. It's going to be a fantastic show, and I'm not saying that just because I'm in it. I'm kind of nervous because this is my first Shakespeare, but I think with this cast and the guidance we're receiving along with the hard work we're willing to put in, it will all work out. I'm definitely going to learn a lot. Plus, I'm already starting to gain an appreciation for Shakespeare. That's definitely an accomplishment. Shakespeare just really hasn't been something I've connected to or necessarily liked. I think it's because I just haven't understood it before. Now as I've grown in theatrical experience, I can actually understand what's happening and how these characters feel, especially what they want. Anyway, I've been living here at The Q all weekend getting to know Megan's co RA Nicole, watching Megan bust butt as an RA, making wicked awesome food in the wicked awesome kitchen, and watching the Miss America pageant.
Then, this morning (finally) UVM opened the dorms at noon and I was able to move in. I had rehearsal at 1:15. Problem. My parents and Megan's mom and gram arrived at 11 and we all went out to eat. This wouldn't have been an issue to our timetable if the waiter at Friendly's wasn't so slow. We legit waited three hours for our food. Okay, maybe not three hours but a long time. I managed to check in and get my card reactivated around 12:45. Let the Japanese game show that was moving me back into Converse begin. It was like a soul train line of my mom, me, Megan, her mom, and my dad parading up the stairs with my crap. Megan raced in to retrieve all the stuff she had in there and I threw it all in, then booked it to rehearsal.
Just in time.
Peace out!
It's off the hook! She basically has her own apartment with a full kitchen, a HUGE living room, her own bedroom, and her own personal bathroom with a bathtub. The only issue is that it's quite far away considering it's an "off-campus dorm," but we have found ways to remedy that. There are secret roads and bike paths that totally take you there, and there's always the Champlain off-campus shuttle. It's not a big deal. It does mean that I can't really traverse to The Q during the week because of schedules and Megan can't really hike it to Converse either because of RA duties. But it's still cool. Her room is awesome. In case I haven't made myself perfectly clear...her room is awesome. The best part about the whole deal is that it's free because she's an RA. Well, it's not completely free I mean she does actually have to work as an RA but you get the point.
Anyway, before arriving at The Q, my mom and I stopped in for some lunch at Olive Garden, one of the best restaurants ever. We got a waitress that was pretty amazing. She kept saying "PERFECT!" all the time about everything we said.
"Soup, salad, and breadsticks??? PERFECT!"
It was in one of those rad, pothead, skateboard-type voices and it wasn't just "PERFECT," there were definitely a couple of "right ons!" thrown in there. Also, my mom asked for the dressing to be put on the side of our salad (she doesn't like a lot of dressing, crazy I know) so when this wonderfully ignorant, yet very entertaining waitress returned with our salad, she said:
"I like totally kept forgetting you didn't want dressing so a accidentally made like six salads with dressing on them. I kept looking down and was like, 'Crap!'"
I tried to get my mom to write "PERFECT!" on the receipt but she wouldn't do it.
I came back to Burlington at such an odd time because we started rehearsals for UVM's Twelfth Night this weekend. So far they're going very well. It's going to be a fantastic show, and I'm not saying that just because I'm in it. I'm kind of nervous because this is my first Shakespeare, but I think with this cast and the guidance we're receiving along with the hard work we're willing to put in, it will all work out. I'm definitely going to learn a lot. Plus, I'm already starting to gain an appreciation for Shakespeare. That's definitely an accomplishment. Shakespeare just really hasn't been something I've connected to or necessarily liked. I think it's because I just haven't understood it before. Now as I've grown in theatrical experience, I can actually understand what's happening and how these characters feel, especially what they want. Anyway, I've been living here at The Q all weekend getting to know Megan's co RA Nicole, watching Megan bust butt as an RA, making wicked awesome food in the wicked awesome kitchen, and watching the Miss America pageant.
Then, this morning (finally) UVM opened the dorms at noon and I was able to move in. I had rehearsal at 1:15. Problem. My parents and Megan's mom and gram arrived at 11 and we all went out to eat. This wouldn't have been an issue to our timetable if the waiter at Friendly's wasn't so slow. We legit waited three hours for our food. Okay, maybe not three hours but a long time. I managed to check in and get my card reactivated around 12:45. Let the Japanese game show that was moving me back into Converse begin. It was like a soul train line of my mom, me, Megan, her mom, and my dad parading up the stairs with my crap. Megan raced in to retrieve all the stuff she had in there and I threw it all in, then booked it to rehearsal.
Just in time.
Peace out!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Fever Dream
About a month ago I learned about auditions for a new reality TV show on the Oxygen network called The Glee Project.
I found it online and freaked. Basically, the show is a competition like American Idol for young singers/dancers/actors 18 and up competing for a multi-episode guest spot in season 3 of Glee. Yeah, totally sweet and an awesome opportunity. Here's the thing: the casting calls are in Chicago and Dallas. And plane tickets are totally crap. When I first found out about it, I immediately called my parents (after just talking with them on the phone not five minutes before) and said:
"So, what's the chance of us going to Dallas, Texas over break?"
Needless to say, that tack didn't quite take. Then we had a talk. The filming of the show is right in the middle of this next semester. So even if I did get in, it would mean taking a semester off. I tried to explain how it would be SO worth it, and how auditioning never hurts, but it wasn't working.
The Chicago calls were in December and now the Dallas ones are this weekend. I'm sad because "Don't Rain on my Parade" and "And I Am Telling You" are both on the song list and I know I can belt out some crazy covers of both, but I do see the effect it would have on school and my financial woes. I guess this is just on fever dream that's going to have to stay with me.
Peace out!
I found it online and freaked. Basically, the show is a competition like American Idol for young singers/dancers/actors 18 and up competing for a multi-episode guest spot in season 3 of Glee. Yeah, totally sweet and an awesome opportunity. Here's the thing: the casting calls are in Chicago and Dallas. And plane tickets are totally crap. When I first found out about it, I immediately called my parents (after just talking with them on the phone not five minutes before) and said:
"So, what's the chance of us going to Dallas, Texas over break?"
Needless to say, that tack didn't quite take. Then we had a talk. The filming of the show is right in the middle of this next semester. So even if I did get in, it would mean taking a semester off. I tried to explain how it would be SO worth it, and how auditioning never hurts, but it wasn't working.
The Chicago calls were in December and now the Dallas ones are this weekend. I'm sad because "Don't Rain on my Parade" and "And I Am Telling You" are both on the song list and I know I can belt out some crazy covers of both, but I do see the effect it would have on school and my financial woes. I guess this is just on fever dream that's going to have to stay with me.
Peace out!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Cross Country Skiing
I've been a bad blogger. And I promise, I'm trying to reform. I'll work extra hard to make sure not another two weeks goes by without a blog post. It's very hard when you don't have Internet at your house and you have to hole yourself in the student lounge at Lyndon State College frantically trying to catch up on everything that would have been done had I been at school with regular Internet. Parents *cough cough*. Anywho, enough with that...I hope everyone had a joyous and merry Christmas and a very very happy New Year. We had a very small Christmas but it was nice. On Christmas Eve my parents, Megan, and I went to church at my old childhood church and sang carols. My parents and I had a very relaxing Christmas day and on New Years I got to see my brother, his wife, and Iris again. Then Megan and I went on a night drive to Rosie's house (another one of our friends who lives in Barre, we love her to pieces) and to the First Night in Montpelier which we had no idea existed. It was basically a giant block party and they lit giant crate paper Japanese lanterns which flew into the sky. There had to have been hundreds of them. It was beautiful. We tried looking for Erin while we were there, but to no avail. Oh yeah, then Megan and I went to the Cumby's (the same one we almost got robbed in) and made friends with these two po-po's (police officers for those of you who don't know street lingo homie) who were getting coffee. Then we got this hypershock coffee with 50% more caffeine in it. Intense.
Unfortunetely, this break has been somewhat stressful. I've been thinking about a ton of future and money and plays and such... Because I didn't get any hours at McDick's (I'm not going to spit out the whole corporate name for you again), which I know is because of this crappy economy but still...I've started thinking about finding a new job. Meanwhile, I also auditioned (and got called back for) Hairspray though Chase's company Act Three Theatricals being performed at the Haskell Opera House this summer. I want to be in the show so bad, but if I need a new job with wonky hours (I'm looking into working at LSC because it's so close by and there may be awesome job opportunities), then I can't do the show. It's all very dramatic and stressful (but hey, that's my life, right?).
Because of everything being so stressful, I've been thinking about those times during the winter when all I felt was calm and peace. It goes back to my freshman year of high school when I was on LI's cross country ski team. Yes, I know what you're going to say, "OMG, Ryan did sports!?" Yeah, it's crazy. I did it for a PE credit, okay? High school sucks. Anyway, sometimes we would go to Burke Mountain, or my personal favorite, to the Wildflower Inn on the Kingdom Trails to practice and ski. Of course I always fell behind everyone because I have zero strength and physical endurance so I was always alone on the course. I would be so slow that it would get start to get dark and I would still be making my way along the trail trying to reach the end. And when I would get lost, that would be even better. The thing is, it was magical. I would be so cold that after awhile I wouldn't even feel the pain in my legs and thighs or the sting of snow as it slapped my face. Dusk would settle and the sun would cast a massive glow over the entire mountain. The snow looked like cream as a glided over it. The trees were tall and imposing, and yet they glistened with the ice that trickled from their branches. It was a moment of peace. I didn't even care that I was always the last one to the bus and I came in last place for every race I competed in. I was enjoying the beauty of where I was.
Peace out!
Unfortunetely, this break has been somewhat stressful. I've been thinking about a ton of future and money and plays and such... Because I didn't get any hours at McDick's (I'm not going to spit out the whole corporate name for you again), which I know is because of this crappy economy but still...I've started thinking about finding a new job. Meanwhile, I also auditioned (and got called back for) Hairspray though Chase's company Act Three Theatricals being performed at the Haskell Opera House this summer. I want to be in the show so bad, but if I need a new job with wonky hours (I'm looking into working at LSC because it's so close by and there may be awesome job opportunities), then I can't do the show. It's all very dramatic and stressful (but hey, that's my life, right?).
Because of everything being so stressful, I've been thinking about those times during the winter when all I felt was calm and peace. It goes back to my freshman year of high school when I was on LI's cross country ski team. Yes, I know what you're going to say, "OMG, Ryan did sports!?" Yeah, it's crazy. I did it for a PE credit, okay? High school sucks. Anyway, sometimes we would go to Burke Mountain, or my personal favorite, to the Wildflower Inn on the Kingdom Trails to practice and ski. Of course I always fell behind everyone because I have zero strength and physical endurance so I was always alone on the course. I would be so slow that it would get start to get dark and I would still be making my way along the trail trying to reach the end. And when I would get lost, that would be even better. The thing is, it was magical. I would be so cold that after awhile I wouldn't even feel the pain in my legs and thighs or the sting of snow as it slapped my face. Dusk would settle and the sun would cast a massive glow over the entire mountain. The snow looked like cream as a glided over it. The trees were tall and imposing, and yet they glistened with the ice that trickled from their branches. It was a moment of peace. I didn't even care that I was always the last one to the bus and I came in last place for every race I competed in. I was enjoying the beauty of where I was.
Peace out!
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