Goof Up

Too funny not to share...

I received an email today, boldly proclaiming that my pictures from graduation were ready and I could order a professional shot of me with my diploma in front of various fake backgrounds.  The thumbnails in the email looked odd, so I went to the site and quickly realized what the problem was: it's not me.  The girl in the photos is actually the girl who graduated directly before me.

So.  If anyone wants pictures of the music major that went before me, I can hook you up ;) 

California Dreamin'

Late in April, I interviewed with South Coast Repertory in California. I was told that they would get back to me within the next week. Well, three weeks later I hadn't heard a thing and just assumed the worst -- I didn't get the job.

This Tuesday, I received a phone call offering me a position.

So. About two weeks after I finish up in New Jersey, I start rehearsals in California. Between September and mid-June I will be assistant stage managing three shows, but they are giving me my own show as well. I am extremely excited and extremely blessed to be a part of this company. I'm afraid that California may take quite a bit of getting used to, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. And hey, my first year out of school and I have some job in theatre. That's better than a lot can say.

Currently, I am making my way to New Jersey -- only a day and a half away from moving in. I'll spend the summer with Shakespeare then make my way to the other side of the country for some more good theatre work. This is the start of Chanis: Coast-to-Coast!

Yep.

Yep.  Those are shingles.

Yep.  That is a second-story window.

Yep.  That is a duck on the top of my friend's apartment building.

Happy Cinco de Mayo.

Kaylee.2

She's back!!  After about three weeks of not seeing Kaylee again, Christina and I assumed that she had moved on and wouldn't be coming back even though we fed her.  Last week I heard a few isolated meows that sounded like her, but never saw the cat that made them.  This Tuesday Christina ran into Kaylee in the parking, gave her a bit of loving, then instead of following, Kaylee actually led Christina to the door of our apartment and invited herself into our apartment.  She is adorable and as precious as ever, and has made the conscious decision to stay with us.  She never bolts for the door like she used to, but lazily watches us come in and spends hardly any time in the windows even though they were her favorite haunts last time.  Unfortunately, Christina and I are met with the same predicament that we cannot keep her past this year.  Know anyone who's looking for an extremely loving and easy to care for cat? 

Unexpected Events

I know that I never get the chance to write until Saturday, but my first story happened last Monday. We were in rehearsal and between working scenes, music, and dance, there were actors rehearsing in four different areas of the theatre. The music rehearsal was in the front lobby right outside the main theatre where we were running a scene and I could hear them dimly singing. I was glad to hear that they were working, but after a little bit, I heard loud screams. I rushed out of the theatre, ready to reprimand them for not paying attention and as soon as I opened the door someone (or several someones) shrieked, "Close the door, there's a bat!" Sure enough, there was a leathery winged creature swooping around above our heads. We tried encouraging the bat to leave the building, but it flew away from the theatre toward the art side and rehearsal continued as, well, normal.


The second event was perhaps less rare, but substantially more embarrassing. I was walking out of our dance studio and was on a mission to go upstairs. In my concentration, I turned too early and walked directly into the row of lockers that are outside. I didn't even know what I hit, until I had bounced off. Not a single soul was in the hallway to witness my humiliation, but a friend wanted a reenactment and we did a quick photo shoot:

One Chilly Morning

I left for class to find these icicles. I really like that they were sitting on the ground.

This one feels very ironic to me...

Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint

I am currently working as the assistant stage manager for the opera. The opera is a somewhat legendary event that takes place awkwardly in our theatre. The music department provides the director, conductor, orchestra, and singers while the theatre provides the crew heads and some designers. The other designers are hired from outside Baylor. It's a hectic time that is very useful for seeing what not to do with a show.

Last night, we had a transition rehearsal so that the actors could practice the scene changes a couple of times and learn traffic patterns and such. However, the backstage was kind of messy because the set crew still had some building materials and such around. We were shoving it behind the back curtain, so that the backstage area would be clear. Zach and Kirstin and I had to carry a stack of plywood through a narrow area past the cart that was loaded down with tools and we knocked something off. I just walked right on it thinking it was a crowbar or something similar and knowing that I could not do anything about it at the time. We dropped the wood and I turned around to see what had fallen and it was a bucket of paint.

Most of the paint had poured out, but I picked up the can and put on the lid. Zach started commenting on the trail of paint left from someone's shoe and I realized that I had paint on my shoe. I then touched my shoulder for some reason not realizing that I had paint on my fingers and transferred some paint to my shirt. Kirstin immediately licked her finger and started rubbing on my shirt. Joey was there by that time and decided to take off my shoe so he started untying my shoe while Zach wanted to check my other shoe and picked up my ankle and started pulling me back. My sense of balance is not optimal, therefore Mike turned up and thought it would be fun to pull me the other way. Finally, I warded them all off and simply scraped my shoe clean on the stage floor since there was already a giant glob of paint and it was behind the stage anyway. About this time, the director came to us and asked if we were ready to start rehearsal. I yelled, "No!" and ran out of the theatre to wash my hands. Later, I had to explain that I had paint on my fingers not that I was upset.

So, Zach, Kirstin, Joey, Mike, and I, with our powers combined we are the theatre people saving the opera, one misadventure at a time.

Jasper

Remember that mouse that randomly became a part of my household? Turns out our precious Bella was mistakenly identified. Jasper is now the man of the house...and ruggedly handsome at that.

Errands

I was just thinking that my life was pretty boring because I didn't have anything to blog about lately. Then today happened.

This morning I was able to spend a half hour with my roommate. We had a pretty monotous conversation about weekend plans and she said she was going to run some errands and go to a sorority retreat. Nothing out of the ordinary, but when I came home this afternoon, this is what I saw:

Let me walk you through what you see. 1) There was no sign of a package when I checked the mail today. 2) The box in the back is for a hamster cage, the yellowish bag is for wood shavings like those you put at the bottom of a hamster cage, and the green bag is rodent food.

Naturally, I searched deeper and when I went into Christina's room this is what I found:

I don't think this is what other people's roommates typically classify as "errands." Then again, maybe it's just me.

Merry Christmas to All

I am writing from the end of a wonderful day, celebrating the beginning of the biggest adventure of all -- the life of Jesus Christ leading to the sacrifice to redeem us all. May the surprises this day brings be full of joy, love, and laughter and pave the way for your own adventure!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

ANT-ics

This apartment has taught me about the habits of ants -- although I cannot claim to fully understand them. First, I learned that they have the ability to get drunk, something that was somehow unexpected. Now, I have found that they prefer to live in my computer than my sugar. While it's true that this choice is preferable to me as well, it is disconcerting and strange to be typing along at a pleasant rate and have an ant crawl out from between the keys.

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!

Textbooks...and More!

I went to the bookstore to pick up a textbook for one of my classes and as I was leaving the store I reached in the bag to pull out the reciept for examination and my hand fell upon an object with an odd shape and texture. As it turns out, I am now the proud owner of 5 Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner samples. Who says buying textbooks is always a loss?