A Perfect Storm

A science test, a drawing, and the first rehearsal on Monday. A major drawing and a rehearsal on Tuesday. A complete portfolio on Wednesday.

The read-thrus went swimmingly. The first (Monday) was a buzz of organized chaos as we met all together for the first time to take a look at what we are about to create. The second (Tuesday) was a more intimate, more detailed disscusion of the play involving the principle roles instead of all 28 cast members. What a relief to finally have the groundwork! I now know who my assistants are, who my cast is, and we are entering the point of execution as opposed to a year's worth of speculation.

After Monday's rehearsal, I spent seven hours bent over a light table creating an intricate drawing for my scene design class. I left the theatre at 9:15am to run errands for my next project, my portfolio. The portfolio elicited another all-night work call for Tuesday, allowing me only 5 nonconsecutive hours of sleep in the last 63, but I am extremely proud of both projects. They turned out to be high quality and very presentable which was of course the goal. The fortunate part of this situation is rapid approach of Spring Break and the fact that it is all truly behind me now. Here is what happened to me on Monday night:

(photo taken around 5:00am)

A Scare

Yesterday morning I was awoken at 8:15 am (alarm set for 8:30) by a pounding on my bedroom door. My roommate came in saying, "I need your help. Jasper's table fell over, the cage fell open, and he's not in it." Well. There's one way to get me out of bed. We spent the next several minutes crawling on our knees, shining flashlights between the wall and major appliances, and opening every type of door in our house. No luck.

Our next door neighbor is in theatre with me, so I found her in the hallway and warned her not to panic if they found a black and white mouse in their apartment. She told me about the cat she just got and his tendency to beat things to death (although he didn't eat them). The whole day I worried about that little mouse.

I came home around midnight and instinctively looked at the cage that we had left open with food and water in case he returned. What happiness to find that the cage was closed! Jasper had been apparently been found. Christina shuffled out of bed and told me that she had found him in her bed. He was quite eager to return to a safe environment and all is well. I think it was a rather traumatic day for all three of us, so I am thankful that it only lasted a day. Jasper's cage is currently residing on solid ground.

Don't You Be My Neighbor!

Hello friends and family. I write to you from the warmth of my own bed in my own apartment in the city I call home. After a more than full nights sleep (8pm to 6am -- how does that even work?) I am feeling rather vivacious, yet it was not too long ago I was participating in a horrible ordeal: the 24 hour flight home.

I have heard first-hand the horror stories of spending long flights cramped between large men who spread their body mass over the armrest. However, I would like to present for consideration a seatmate who may even be worse than the Large Man and that is the Busybody. Yes, friends, the Busybody is a neighbor who is well skilled in traveling, who knows all the tricks, and is aware that it is their duty to educate all the ignorant masses how to travel. She showed me where to plug in my headphones, how to use a touchscreen, how to put my seat back, to put my tray table down when they were serving food. She graciously shoved me awake for a breakfast I was trying to sleep through, but my favorite interaction came as we were waiting to take-off (we were delayed by an hour). I was a little hungry so I started snacking on some candy corn and I heard a voice, "Don't eat too much. Don't eat too much." I was terrified (I thought she was asleep) as she continued to explain that they were going to serve food as soon as we took off and I didn't need to eat too much (especially not that stuff) because lunch would be soon.

The rebellious side of me grabbed a couple of more pieces of candy corn before shoving it back in my bag and leaving my seat back and tray table up until I wanted to use them. The independent side of me wanted to snap that I had obviously made it to Hong Kong, I could make it back again just fine. However, I knew that God calls us to love our neighbor so I spent a large part of the flight talking myself out of my irritation. I'm not sure I was lovely, but God helped me to not be rude. From outside the middle seat, the situation is now funny although still a bit unbelievable. I am no worse for the experience but there are still some neighbors I would rather observe rather than encounter!

Breaking The Silence

After several weeks of neglect, I am now ready to revisit this blog and give an update on my life that is not given in a picture based on a theme.

Major Event 1:
Cyrano de Bergerac finished up two weeks ago and the performances were impressively smooth. The techs and dresses had been a long and painful process, then the storm suddenly abated. There were a few minor problems throughout, but overall it was quite graceful until our last performance. During the first act, the pit was lowered partway with a step unit leading in and out. At the very end of the act, I was supposed to raise it from backstage so that Cyrano rose while delivering highly inspirational lines and epic music swelled in the background. There is always a moment of hesitation between me pushing the button and the pit raising in which I would never breathe. That last day, my breath was stopped for too long and I realized that the pit was stuck. I ran quickly to the basement and checked the settings - everything was correct. We had an emergency setting for Act 2, so the play proceeded as if nothing was wrong. I flipped the breaker off and back on and we tested the pit during the action. It was working again. For the next scene change, I took a run crew member onstage and we took off the step unit. Awkward! Afterward, we took apart the set and walked away--Cyrano is finished.

Major Event 2:
Finals. A few synonyms: nightmare, delirium, ordeal, tribulation, thorn in my flesh, and, because Merriam Webster gave it to me, bummer. My list at the beginning of the week read 21 projects in 4 1/2 days. The main point is, I survived.

Major Event 3:
I told several of my friends that it would not be enough for me to leave town for Christmas, instead I needed to leave the country. The fortunate happenstance and the basis for this almost-joke is that I am indeed out of the country. Last Tuesday my sister dropped me at the airport for a 24 hour trek to the far east. Emphasis here should be placed on "far." After another delusional day, the semester's woes have finally worn off in exchange for days with the madre, seeing the sights, shopping, and sitting at the apartment. Of course, there are office lunches and a girls (should that be girl'z?) night also in the mix. Now, I am cozy and snug and enjoying the big city life that is decidedly NOT America.

It is likely that I will write again soon, now that vacation has come, but I might be visiting pandas or having tea at a fancy hotel. Regardless, stories and pictures are sure to follow.

Bleagh

I am as













as a














but recovering.

I took the day off to rest up so that I can be strong and alert (or at least awake and functioning) to do my HODGE. And my lighting presentation. And my unit estimate project. Who knows? Maybe being sick is a blessing in disguise, a chance to get work done while there's daylight. We'll see.

Photo Hunter: Sad

I love taking pictures and having pictures and sharing pictures with anyone who'll pay attention. So when my sister (Rachel) began playing a photo hunting game - a game where you post a picture a week based on a theme - I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was also drawn in. Interestingly enough, my other sister's (Julie's) blog is dedicated to her photography, particularly in capturing everyday life (and quite beautifully, I might add). I guess it's just in the family!


This week's theme is sad. It was much more difficult than I imagined, but this made me more determined to join this week. I dug through almost all the files on my computer finding smile after smile and several beautiful landscapes, but no frowns. I was interested to discover that some pictures have a beautiful face, but have come to symbolize loss. This one however, has a wholly depressing appearance yet fell in the middle of a rather ironic adventure.


Points of interest:
-the keys sprawled casually upon the seat
-the lock jammed firmly closed
-the flash from the last picture my camera took before the battery died in such a way I thought my camera had completely cratered

Sad day!