Driving

I went home Friday night because I promised Chase (you remember Chase right, from QNEK this summer? Here's his website to refresh your memory...) that I would come to see his first show this season, Snoopy! The Musical. It had been such a long time since the summer, and since we had all seen each other. Kat and Lissy were planning on going as well, and I knew that everyone from Curtains would be at the show.

I took the LINK Express from Burlington to Montpelier so my grandmother could pick me up there. It was actually a very nice ride, even though I hadn't been looking forward to it. The foliage was amazing, and it provided a sure sign that we are definitely into fall.

The bus driver was very nice. He gave out free York Peppermint Patties at the card kiosk. Yeah, a little sketchy I know, and I'm not supposed to take candy from strangers, but...He also had his bus decorated with animals from Africa like elephants, giraffes, and lions so it basically felt like you were on an African safari when really you were just going to Montpelier. I did feel really bad for this one older gentleman on the bus. I'm not entirely sure what his nationality was, but he had a very thick accent. He was saying that we was lost, and then he started talking with the guy sitting in front of me. The guys asked him where he was going, and the man replied,

"To my wife's funeral. She died of liver cancer."

Then he started weeping on the bus. It was horrible and so sad. My heart poured out to this poor man. I only hope that there were people in Montpelier to take care of him, it looked like he needed someone.

After a fantastic lunch with my grandmother, and the drive through US Rt. 2, I made it home to find my mom frosting a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. It was good to be home.

Patches was very happy to see me.

It was also really fun to be able to drive again. I hadn't noticed how much I actually missed driving at college. I'm never even riding in a car at college. I mean, I closest I get to it is riding in a CCTA bus, and that's just not it. So driving to the Haskell like I had been doing all summer was a pretty amazing and relaxing experience. It was awesome to see everyone that I had had so much fun with over the summer again. I really did miss them.
Today I had to return to Btown which meant actually getting up this morning after being out until an ungodly hour (we stayed and chatted it up in Chase's mansion). After a home-cooked meal, my mom and I trekked back with a lot of stuff to bring back to my dorm. Including the cake... All in all, it was a good break for the moment, and it was exactly what I needed. Now for another stressful (but rewarding!) week. Hope you're all having a fantastic weekend!

Peace out!

P.S. If you're looking for a movie to see, I would definitely suggest Life As We Know It starring Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, and a wicked cute baby. It is an adorable movie and it will make you feel good. Speaking of cute babies, here are some new pictures of Iris!

QNEK

Wow, so much has happened since I last blogged. One of the biggest is that I helped Erin move. Yes, with her new marriage Erin is leaving LI to teach at U-32 high school in Montpelier, VT. I couldn't be happier for her. U-32 has an amazing program and a supportive staff. Basically, she's going to rock that house. I can only hope that when I get to be a theater teacher I find just as an amazing place as Erin. Also this past weekend I got to see many of my friends perform. My hats off to Jill Bearce and Lizzy Vinton in Vermont Children Theater's Cosmic Nightingale; and Kim Stacy and Jasper Craven in the performance by comedy group Aardvark Malarky. All of their performances inspired me and got me motivated to be excited once again for the show I'm doing this summer: Curtains!

We're kind of in a hard spot in the rehearsal process right now. The show is in less than a month and we know all of the choreography and blocking, we just need the extra umph that will bring it all together. It'll happen, I have complete faith in that for a play always comes together at the last minute. I'm so excited for this show!

I just want to give you, the blogosphere, a quick history of the Haskell and QNEK:

The Haskell Opera House was built in 1904 by Martha Stewart Haskell and Carlos Haskell. It is the only opera house in the United States to exist in two different countries for half of the Haskell is in the US and half is in Canada. It is also the only theater in the US with no stage (which is in the Canada section), and the only library with no books (also in Canada). It is an absolute Northeast Kingdom treasure. However, when the stock market took its decline not too long ago, the Haskell lost its endowment. The Board thought of shutting the beautiful Haskell Opera House down, but one woman wouldn't have it.

Enter Lynn Leimer, stage left.

Lynn saw the beauty and artistic creativity that was wonderfully alive in the Haskell, and she was not going to see it shut down. Her fantastically bossy diva attitude convinced the Board to let her take over as the House Manager. She started the QNEK Productions theater company ("Queen of the Northeast Kingdom" a.k.a. Lynn) in 1993 which became the resident theater group at the Haskell and she scheduled tons of amazing performances to make the Haskell the creative center of the NEK.

Enter Curtains, stage right.

This is not my first time working with Lynn. My senior year of high school we took our award winning performance of The Laramie Project to the Haskell to perform internationally for the community. My friend Kat Woodard has been stage managing and performing with her mother Carol Woodard for years, practically her whole life. We have gone and helped Lynn cleaned the costume barn which is fittingly stored at her house. I am so delighted to be a part of this creative group and show. Thank you QNEK for opening your doors to me. Please come to the show!

Peace out!