A Midautumn Weekend's Dream

This weekend was pretty rockin' despite the mega amounts of homework that needs to be done this week before the most epic Thanksgiving break in Florida can begin (oh yeah, it's happening). I guess the weekend started Thursday night when Megan, Ashley, and I went to Higher Ground to The Mix college dance party. I was the first one there because Megan was pimpin' out her hair and Ashley wanted to take pictures. Some random girl asked me to dance with her which was pretty sweet until she ditched me, then danced with me again, then ditched me again once Megan and Ashley got there. Why am I so good at this? Needless to say, the party was okay. Definitely had better but it was till a late night. Unfortunately, I had to get up for work at 7 in the morning because A Doll's House had a morning high school student matinee and the box office had to open at 8:30. I don't remember what time I went to bed, but it definitely wasn't conducive to that ungodly hour. What was awesome was that they were serving everyone involved in the production that morning free food and coffee. The coffee was mine. I had four cups...it was pretty strong too...I was like a super box office employee!

"HELLO UVM THEATRE BOX OFFICE HOW MAY I HELP YOU!?!?!"

It was a fantastic morning. The day got even more fantastic when Jake arrived to hang out for the weekend. This is the first time Jake has come to visit this semester, so I was excited to show him Converse, especially the sketchy, ghost-infested upstairs and my new cave in my room, which Megan and I had a blast creating. We somehow were able to maneuver my closet of a room to bunk my bed and put the mattress underneath. It's epic.

That night, we traveled to Montpelier, VT to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at U-32 high school where Erin now teaches. The performance was awesome. It was so good to see Erin in a place that totally accepts her and actually gives her the funding and everything she needs to put on fantastic shows. I mean, not that we didn't have fantastic shows...I mean...come on. It's just...by watching that performance I could just see what good funding can do. Underfunding for the arts will always exist because most people just don't understand the value of amazing art, but there are moments when we as artists can rise above it and create something beautiful.

After having a great time at the show and visiting with Erin and Jason, we stopped at Cumby's on our way back to B-town. After stocking up on junk food and a Yoo-Hoo, we went up to the counter...then...some redneck Vermonter who does what he wanna comes in:

"HEY I BEEN WAITIN' 20 MINUTES FOR A FRIGGIN' GAS CYLINDER WHAT'S GOIN' ON!?!"

"I'm sorry I've had a lot of customers...I'm just trying to help everyone..."

"NOW!"

Oh you're so cool you can boss around a store clerk. Anyway, she went out to help him leaving us standing at the counter. There's no one else in the store. We realize we probably could have stolen everything in the store and left because they had gone around to the back. Just as we said that, some guys came into the store. I pooped myself. We seriously thought these tough-looking guys were going to rob the store with us in it. Then another guy came in wearing a black jacket.

"Just give me a second and I can help you out."

Where did he come from??? Needless to say, we got checked out and we ran out of that store. The woman came back in, even though we totally thought the redneck had murdered her in the back. It was scary. Anyway, we made it out of that situation and onto a new day when my parents came over because they were going to a concert at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds. Megan went to Montreal with the Social Work club and me, my parents, and Jake went to IHOP for breakfast. Later I had dance rehearsal, but the building was locked so we couldn't get in. So we did what theater kids do best and made a spectacle of ourselves. Warm up outside! The weather was beautiful so it was perfect to dance in.

It was a  good weekend. I felt bad that I had to leave Jake in the room while I went to rehearsal and work but I think we had a good time overall. Now it's time for the final week before Thanksgiving break and Florida time for me and Megan. It cannot come any sooner.

Peace out!

Oversized Comfy Sweatshirt

I feel like such a bum. Well, not exactly a bum but a homebody. No, not really a homebody but...okay, let me give you a picture of me at this precise moment: I'm sitting in my room at Converse alone in front of my computer. Papers, books, binders, clothes, and art supplies are strewn about, waiting to be taken care of and waiting for me to do homework (I have done some this weekend!). I just got back from working in the box office/running concessions for A Doll's House, which I might add is a spectacularr show...where was I?

Right. Sitting in front of my computer. I'm drinking a cup of chai tea and eating one of those microwavable soups. Sirloin burger. Yum. A box of Triscuits sits on my desk as well, an open invitation. I'm working on this blog entry while patrolling facebook and twitter. Social networking at its finest. Oh, and I'm also watching those Autotune videos because I love them so much. I'm wearing my pajamas, my hair is a mess, my glasses need to be cleaned, and I'm wearing my oversized comfy sweatshirt.

My oversized comfy sweatshirt is one of my best friends. It's always there for me. When I'm sick, it wraps me up in its warmth. When I'm tired, it serves as a transportable bed. When I just plain wanna be comfy, it's ready to cuddle. I love my oversized comfy sweatshirt, in case you can't tell.

What's this all about? Well, Megan left Friday afternoon to go home for the weekend to see her family, recharge, and basically take a break for a little while. She deserved it. She hasn't gone home once this entire semester. Granted, I only went home for one night and that was to see a show but I digress. Bottom line is, I miss her. Like, a lot. She is one of my best friends in the whole world, and I don't think I had realized just how dependant I had become of her. I love her so much and just like my oversized comfy sweatshirt, she has always been there for me. It's not like I can't take care of myself, but things are much better when she's around. I want to live the rest of my life with her by my side.

Peace out!

Sketchy Squirrels

They're everywhere...on our sidewalks, on our streets...why this morning I found one straddling the back tire of a bicycle...yes ladies and gentlemen I'm talking about squirrels.



My purpose was to do an expose on the critters and show how unruly (and large) they have become. Not only have they grown (seriously, since last year) to be the size of small cats, but they have increased their IQ and sketchiness level. A person can't walk through the University Park at UVM without a strange feeling as though they are being watched. What are those bumps in the night? SQUIRRELS!!!

I was working to show the public the terror that awaited us around every turn, but so far the squirrels have outnumbered and alluded me.

See? They're frisky.

I have been able to capture some in their acts of sketchiness.

But in the meantime I guess we will have to live in harmony with them.

Peace out!

Ingredients For a Lady Gaga Costume

PREP: 6 Months.     YIELDS: 1 Kick-Ass Costume

1 Pink Bob Wig
1 White Vinyl Bow Headband
1 Pair of Aviator Glasses shaped like the theater masks with Lace tied to it taken from the UVM costume shop scrap box
A Shit Ton of sparkly eye, face, and lip makeup - made for hookers
1 Piece of sliver, shimmery fabric used as a necklace; also taken from the scrap box
1 Women's Leopard Print Bathing Suit Top with gold chains
1 Navy Blue Suit Jacket
1 Pair of Pink Tiger-Striped Booty Shorts
1 Pair of Rubber Winter Boots
2 Strips of Crim Scene Tape
Bobby Pins
Rainbow Nail Polish (done by Ashley)
1 Pink Dishwashing Glove

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

These random raven/crow/bird things were swarming Champlain campus on Halloween day. Creepy.

Peace out!

Political Action

I've been reflecting and acting on a lot of political things lately. It started with the whole "ground zero mosque" thing as you could tell from this blog post and with the talks about repealing "Don't Ask Don't Tell" - fueled by Lady Gaga. (Click here for some info.) Megan and I even ended up calling our Vermont state senators about that one. This week, on Wednesday, I continued my streak of political action by wearing purple. It was LGBTQ Spirit Day - so called to memorialize, remember, and reflect on all the teen suicides that have occurred recently and which have been sparked by bullying and harassment because the individuals were gay. For more information, click here. To see what Megan wrote about the subject, click here.

These tragedies cannot go unnoticed. Someone needs to take a stand. Wearing purple on Wednesday was a sign of what a few people can do to spark change and hope. Almost everyone in the theater at UVM was adorned in purple. It was amazing, and we were all incredibly excited to be a part of the movement and support. Our generation must be the voice that stands up for what is right. Discrimination and harassment just because someone is different from who you are is one of the cruelest evils in this world, a wrong going back to the slave trade in America and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Some people can say, "get over it," or "it's a part of life." But, I've been there. You can't get over it. Sometimes suicide can seem like the only way out, and the only form of escape for these people, but that is only because they feel so alone and so isolated. But they need to know that they are not alone, that there are people out there who care about other people, and who are willing to make a difference.

So I wore purple.

On another note, today Megan and I watched the new documentary film Waiting for Superman for one of her classes.

The film is about our nation's educational system and basically how America is failing our children. Did you know that America ranks last in math and science scores among developed nations? Did you know that the reason most jobs in America go to foreign countries is because no one is qualified for them...because they haven't been educated? I think the chancellor of the District of Columbia school system Michelle Rhee put it very well. She said that the education system has become this thing that keeps the adults involved happy when it really should be about the kids. With my new career goal as a theater teacher, I realize I will soon be thrown into the system, but that is why I want to be a teacher. I want to help kids and inspire them like I have been inspired. I wept when I saw how these children are being cheated out of life. Their entire futures depend on a lottery that will tell them if they get into school of not. They have teachers who don't even teach them. They just sit there reading a damn newspaper, completely protected by tenure while the kids slip right through the system. It made me incredibly upset to see how messed up our system is.

I don't know why I've been so fired up about political things lately. Maybe it's just because a lot of stuff has happened recently all at once. Maybe it's just because as I get older I notice more about our world and all of its wrongs. Maybe I'll follow Bertolt Brecht and do political presentational theater. I don't know. It's really sad when you think about it, but then there's always hope. There's always a protagonist willing to stand up for what is right. I think the voice of our generation is just that. Thanks for listening. I hope I've brought some things to light maybe you haven't thought of before, and maybe I've inspired you. Just know that you are never alone.

Peace out!

Autotune

These "Auto tune the News" songs from Youtube honestly get me through anything. I just play them and I can't help but laugh and sing along. The bad thing about them is, they are a really hardcore procrastination tool. Writing a paper: sit down, turn on computer, gather notes, check Facebook, check email, check Twitter, open Microsoft Word, sit there thinking, type my name, type the title, type the date and the class, sit there some more, open Youtube, decide on which one to play next, and play. That's how it goes every time, and then eventually I can make my way back to the paper, but this time I will be more refreshed and vibrant. Who knows? Maybe a little bright and a little more vivid. Then I run and tell that homeboy and back it up and then I start my paper. It works. Try it some time.







Oh jeez, I just found another one in my Youtube wanderings:



Hooray for more options when I procrastinate! I think auto tuning (for those of you who don't necessarily know what auto tuning is, click here) in some cases can be a really cool way to change a song or make a different kind of pitch/noise. Being a singer, I'm really against auto tuning whole tracks or songs, just to make the singer sound better. It totally makes benign all vocal training. It's cheating. If you have training and you have worked your voice so you can produce pitches and sing melodically, then you shouldn't need it. That's why I love Lady Gaga so much. And by the way, there are all these rumors out there that all the singers on Glee are auto tuned. I refuse to believe that. They are all trained singers. And yes, sometimes when the sound mixers are mixing songs they add some auto tune to add a different sound or style. That's the point: when used to create a different sound, auto tuning is cool. It is still considered an art form because sound mixing itself is an art form. Why should auto tuning be cast out? It's when it undermines the integrity of a song that auto tuning goes too far. There's food for thought today. I'm off to class, work (Toys tickets go on sale today), and then more class (Dramatic Analysis midterm today, wish me luck!).

Peace out!

Check It Out!

More UPlayers publicity for Monologue Jukebox!



And another article! http://www.examiner.com/arts-in-burlington/another-successful-monologue-jukebox-for-the-university-players