Looking Back, Moving Forward

The snow is slowly falling outside the large windows, the sky a milky grey. The flakes drift through a new air brought on by a new year. A fresh start. The air is chilly, but familiar like an old friend. It's reminiscent of winters long gone: of sledding down hills, skiing across open countryside in the colorful dusk, snowball fights, and warm afternoons with hot chocolate. It's also the snowfall of new adventures and memories yet to come. 2011 was quite a year, definitely busy, and it was full of amazing memories and good adventures.

It was a very stormy winter in haunted Converse and Megan as an R.A. at Quarry (aka The Q). There were lots of treks across frozen tundra and cold walks.

I received one of the most epic birthday cakes of my life shaped like the Doctor's TARDIS. Thank you Kendra!

Twelfth Night was an awesome and fun show to be a part of!

I was a part of the Catamount Singers and took an amazing improvisational movement class which changed a lot of my views of performance and opened myself up to new possibilities.

Megan and I started a brand new adventure as a couple.

UPlayers had a very successful semester this spring with an awesome bake sale , cabaret, and scavenger hunt!

I got a new job at UVM this summer and got to live and explore in Burlington during a beautiful summer. And I saw things like waterless toilets. Weird.

Megan and I took a trip to Cape Cod to see Ashley after her epic semester in Ireland.

The Doctor, his Roman Goddess, and the Gypsy had an epic and classy Halloween weekend.

I had ovaries.

HAIRSPRAY! happened after all that hard work and a debilitating bout  of bronchitis...

I also flexed a technical muscle in designing the lights for Toys this year. AND I was a teacher's assistant this semester, something that I loved doing and it confirmed my drive to be a theatre teacher. This summer I also started a "Ryan Performs in Places" segment on my blog which has been a lot of fun and a great outlet. I'm hoping to expand on it this year and possibly make a new blog for performances and writing. Hope to see you there!

I got my Dad a hoodie-footie for Christmas. Winning.

Iris had a good Christmas.

Finally, this Christmas and New Years was a lot of fun and full of Christmas cookies, family, and friends. The New Year concluded for Megan and I in Barre/Montpelier Vermont with one of our good friends Rosie. We went to the First Night dance party and then saw them release these beautiful paper, fire-lit lanterns into the night sky.

Happy New Year and a toast to new adventures.

Peace out!

Summer Days Driftin' Away

Summer in Burlington is like one of those cheesy street scenes in a romantic comedy where the protagonist skips down the street and everyone in town is smiling and waving and going about their business. Of course, sometimes it can be a little sketchy, but so can all places. It's kind of like the beginning of Beauty and the Beast when Belle strolls down the street and everyone's just yelling "BONJOUR!" out of their windows. And there I am, skipping and dancing down the street listening to some random showtune on my iPod. (Literally, I probably am dancing. Look for me.) This summer seems to be going by so fast, I can't even believe we're almost at the end of June.

But there's also another place that's been on my mind. A place that's haunted my dreams and thoughts for the past week (probably longer). That place is New York. I can't stop thinking about it. Ever since the New York episode of Glee and between the Tony Awards and all the showtunes I listen to, I just can't stop thinking about that magical place where everything just seems right. Where I'm surrounded by people and theatres and lights. I need to find a stage to sing on. I need to find a place to perform again.

The past few nights I've had continuing dreams about New York. At first I dreamed that my parents, Megan, and I all went to New York for Christmas (something that I really want to happen in real life, mind you) and we saw the Rockettes and went skating in Central Park and saw so many shows on Broadway that my mind was spinning with the euphoria and adrenaline brought on by the theatre. The next night I dreamed that I was actually starring in a show (Book of Mormon to be exact, I think it was around the Tony Awards time.), and my whole family and Megan came to see the show. I belted so many notes and looked out at the audience, and they were all the first to stand for my ovation.

They were the most beautiful dreams I've ever experienced in my life. I need a stage.

Peace out!

There's A Squirrel In The Car!

This story begins with my last post and the gigantic snow storm that terrorized Vermont last week. That morning when my dad woke me up at five in the morning to dig his car out but just ended up taking my mom's car was the beginning of another horror. My dad brought a little friend with him to work, a squirrel to be exact. I can't really disclose why the squirrel came with him to work (I'm sworn to secrecy), but it did.

And somehow the squirrel got loose in the car.

My dad said the squirrel was going to jump out of the car, saw the epic blizzard of nasty poop outside, and ran back into the car. My dad searched the car, but couldn't find the pesky critter. He opened all the doors, and hopefully let the squirrel out, right?

Fast-forward a day. I'm up at Lyndon State College where my mom works to use my computer because we're in the sticks of Lyndonville, and at my house there is no internet. You know my woes. Anyway, my mom gets off work, and I decide to stay and use the computer for another hour. One second later, my mom is standing in the doorway:

"RYAN, YOU NEED TO SKIP STAYING..."


"What?"


"YOU NEED TO SKIP STAYING AND HELP ME. GUESS WHO'S IN THE CAR?"


"Who?"


"THE SQUIRREL!!!!!!!"


"WHAT!?!?!?!"

"I GO OUT TO THE CAR AND IT'S SITTING ON THE DAMN CONSOLE SUNNING ITSELF!!!!!!!!!!!"


We rush out to the parking lot where my mom had opened all the doors and the trunk hatch in an attempt to let the squirrel out. We try to look around the car and inside to find the beast, but all we find is squirrel poop. My mom is SCREAMING this entire time as I start laughing my ASS off. I laugh so hard that tears start pouring from my eyes and I almost puke on the pavement. My favorite moment of the search was when we thought the squirrel had gotten inside the glove box, so I quickly threw it open, and my mom shrieked a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream.

There was nothing there.

In a last resort, we drive the car home (panicky mind you, that the squirrel is going to jump out at us at any minute, my mom is still screaming), leave it in the driveway, open everything up again, and let our cats outside to roam around and hopefully chase the varmint out of the car. About fifteen minutes later, I look outside and see both cats inside the car and a squirrel running away. It was gone.

All I could think to myself was, oh my God, we rode in the car with the squirrel...

Peace out!

Eden, Kate, and Jill Went Up A Hill

The tumultuous snowstorm that we had yesterday here in Burlington was a symbol---no, it was a metaphor---of the crazy, most intense day from Hell I had yesterday. It started with English class which went well despite almost falling asleep because it's at 8:30 in the morning and totally boring. Then at breakfast, my mom called me from Florida where my parents have been living the life going to Disney World, seeing my aunt and uncle, going to shows, and now going to see my grandparents. Completely jealous. Although I shouldn't really talk seeing how Megan and I already had our epic Florida adventure. Then I went to turn in this application for a job opportunity I'm pursuing here in Burlington for the summer. I'm not talking about it too much because I don't want to build too much hype just in case it doesn't work out. But if I do a fantastic interview, then there might be a beautiful chance. So anyway, this snowstorm was crazy. It was like a hurricane with snow, so much snow that you almost couldn't even open your eyes when you walked outside. I'm braving the crazy elements getting blown around and looking like a crazed snow beast when I finally find the building where I have to turn in the application. I'm trying to shake the snow off, but it's not really amounting to much so I just take the application out and walk into the office. A guy comes out of the office that totally looks like a college student. I thought maybe he was work study but then he introduced himself as the guy who I've been talking to this whole time about the job. It threw me way off. Not what I was expecting.

Then I went to work for more crazy times because these patrons can be CRAZY. Plus, I was trying to coordinate Chase, Lissy, and Avery to come to the show tonight and Lissy had to exchange her tickets, adding to the mass. And the snow made a ton of people come in late, but overall it worked out fine. After work I was rushing to fix my time card and put my hours in because I had to go to Redstone Campus for Catamount Singers, about twenty minutes away. I book it over there and walk into the classroom which was dark and noone was there, which was odd. I took my coat off, turned the lights on, and stood there. Then I remembered: Cat Singers was rehearsing in Ira Allen Chapel on Central Campus today because we're singing at an event. RUN! I sprinted through crazy snow, slush, and people to make it to Ira Allen Chapel on time. I actually made it seconds before we started rehearsing.......Thank you God.....

This was the event we sang for that same afternoon. Megan came to hear us sing, and the place was PACKED. The man, Cornel West, was really cool. He's my new homeboy. I liked what he had to say, but the whole time I was freaking out because he went WAY over time and my call for Twelfth Night was at 6. Another RUN moment happened after this show. It was amazing that I made it on time to everything yesterday.

This whole week has been sort of crazy, but totally fun. Eden came and stayed at The Q with Megan and I this past weekend. I missed her so much! She came to the show and we watched horror movies until late into the night and had an epic slumber party. Just like high school times. Very fun. That girl just brings sunshine wherever she goes. After she left, Megan and I just felt so sad because she wasn't with us anymore. But I am so proud of her because she is doing so well and creating a beautiful life for herself. Love you darling!

Jill and Kate, my beautiful friends from Lyndon, came to Btown Tuesday afternoon to stay with me until Friday. Kate is probably going to be coming to UVM next year (a fact I am very excited about) so they came to check out Burlington and UVM. Unfortunately, UVM parking hated Jill's car and the size of my closet room made sleeping arrangements a little difficult but somehow we figured it out. They came to show along with Joe and Kat, which made for an excellent night. I was so happy they were there staying with me. We all cried when they had to leave, and I miss them.

Now it's closing weekend for Twelfth Night, and things on that front are winding down. It has been an awesome run, and I'm sad for it to be over but I'm also ready to experience this semester without Twelfth Night as well. The added time to my schedule is going to be amazing. Maybe I can actually take my time with homework.

Closing weekend.

Peace out!

Things Are Getting Hairy!

Taken on Sunday, one week and four days from opening night:

So, yeah. My hair's getting pretty long.

I hope everyone survived the crazy thundersnow we had last night. It was crazy! Whooda thunk that there could actually be thunder and lightning during the winter? It was like end of the world weather...and it's only 2011! Jeez, at least wait until the scheduled time world! Anyway, I had a pretty fantastic weekend. After a very LONG rehearsal, my parents came over to go out for my birthday (which really isn't until next Sunday, but that's tech day for Twelfth Night, and why not celebrate all month? I'm worth it!) They brought me the iTouch my grandparents got for me for my birthday. I love that thing! I can do everything with it. I'm starting to wonder how I survived without the iTouch. The only left to do to christen it is to give it a name...

After the thundersnow, UVM campus turned into an artic wonderland with snowbanks in the paths that you have to climb over, giant icicles, and ice everywhere.

It was absolutely beautiful, and Megan and I decided to enjoy it. Basically this entailed randomly jumping into snowbanks, and "Bracing for Impact." Inside joke...sorry...

Of course, Sunday was Superbowl day, but it was also the day of the re-premiere of Glee! So, Megan and I decided to throw a not-so-Superbowl party that was basically us waiting for the Superbowl to be over so we could watch Glee. We decided to go all out and make a fantastic dinner: Tacos!

We even made our own salsa with tomatoes which we chopped and pureed with peppers and garlic. It was really good even though it was missing something. That's okay, we'll work on it.

The meat smelled SO GOOD!

Look at that! How could you not pass that up?

That was my weekend. How was yours? What did you do for the Superbowl? Hope you all have some fun in the snow!

A giant sat down here...

Peace out!

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!

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!

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!

From the Library to Home

I returned home from the hardest and most stressful semester yet last week. Remember when I said I loved the library? The smell of the books, the thrill of the hunt trying to find the right book with the right information...well that's still all true. I still love the excitement that comes from finding that book on the shelf, it's just...when last Wednesday rolled around...I was ready to get the hell out of there. While finding reference books to take pictures of drawings and old magazine photos of 30s fashion was fun, I was done with the whole intellectual part of school. Then I spent a total of 13 hours finishing my costuming project, which was again was fun especially while belting out showtunes in the costume shop, I was still ready to go home. I was ready for Christmas. Unfortunetely (but also fortunetely), we had to leave 308 behind and close it's doors for the last time because we all moved out. Ashley is on her way to Ireland to study abroad, and Megan got accepted to be an RA next semester. She's going to be moving into Champlain's Quarry Hill ("The Q" as it will lovingly be called) January 3rd. So this is goodbye to our precious 308 where we have had amazing memories and fantastic times...

The first thing that had to happen when I got home was to decorate. My mom and I spent all last Friday decorating the house. We got the tree inside (a week before Christmas, yikes!) and while it's kind of a Charlie Brown tree, it's still pretty with the white lights and old ornaments. On Saturday I went outside and put lights all over the front of the house. If you ask me, I think we won for best house decoration, if a little late. Then came the baking. We baked peanut butter blossoms with chocolate on top and sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles with M&Ms and gumdrops! If you can't tell I got a little excited about the cookies.

One of my family's biggest Christmas traditions is that we always watch the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase. I think it's my mom's favorite movie. Anyway, every year we try to rent it somewhere because we don't actually own it. So, we tried at the Lyndon State College library (my mom works up there), but alas there was no movie. My mom was pretty dissappointed. So my parents went to one of the antique stores in Lville and found it on VHS. It's pretty weird that VHS tapes are antiques now...just saying. We got to watch the movie. It's a hilarious movie and I think it'll always be a family tradition.

Something else that' happened so far over this break is that, while my boss forgot to schedule me for hours this week (don't get me started), I have free time (at least for this week). So, Eden made a special trip up from Plymouth to see her family and Megan and I. It was so awesome to see her. I miss that girl!

Anyway, it's shaping up to be a beautiful Christmas season. Break out the eggnog, Santa hats, music, and mistletoe and let's rock this Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Palm Tree Thanksgiving Part 2

After an evening at Red Lobster eating cheesy biscuits, we made it to Venice Monday night and crashed at my grandparent's condo where we stayed for the week. It was such a fantastic week. Just the fact that we had no responsibilities and no worries while we were there blew my mind. We saw the new Harry Potter movie (of course), we saw Burlesque (a fantastic movie which we both highly suggest), we went to three different beaches, we ate out, we slept, we finished our epic Heroes marathon which has spanned a year, we went swimming in the pool, we danced in the pool, we made cookies, we watched Glee, we chilled with my grandparents, we riced potatoes for Thanksgiving, we ate Thanksgiving, we decorated my grandparents' Christmas tree, we got waited on by a terrible waitress, we ate AMAZING homemade gellato, my grandmother got me a new electric toothbrush, and we saw an amazing performance of Ragtime at the Venice Little Theater.

It was strange to see Christmas decorations everywhere when it was over 80 degrees and sunny...

It was an awesome vacation that was incredibly well deserved. I'm so glad we took it and that we got to spend it with my grandparents. Thank you for a fabulous week! Now we've been back for another full week and I've been on a dead run since our return. Between Toys and school work, I'm pooped! On top of that, it's been snowing all day and now it really looks like Christmas out there.

Peace out!

P.S. The squirrels in Florida are tiny, like rats. Nothing compared to the ones in Btown!