I have been very busy. Hence the silence on my blog. So what has been happening? I had finals - I got an A in both classes! And Sister Act opened - we have only four performances left! I've already started on another production - Comedy Of Errors - though this one is not with WCT.
And I had homeschool prom yesterday - which was delightful.
Oh, and I somehow my Sacroiliac joint out of whack - which was very painful.
For those of you who don't know - I didn't - it is a joint in the lowback/hip area. In the words of Wikipedia:one of the SI joints' function is shock absorption (depending on the amount of available motion at the sacroiliac joint) for the spine, along with the job of torque conversion allowing the transverse rotations that take place in the lower extremity to be transmitted up the spine.
And because of that injury I was forced to "take it easy" during last weekend's performances. Which, for me, is really hard. I don't like holding still, or not pulling my own weight, so having other people do what I was originally told to do was mentally painful for me. However my cast-mates were all being caring and lovely, and making me take care not to make my injury worse. And I'm really grateful for them doing so, but still, there were many moments that I wished that they cared less, because I was going crazy. So I wrote the following piece in response to the situation.
__
A curse upon this injury!
I in future shall take better care of myself
If only to avoid this tender care from my companions
In truth, at the first, I basked in the affections that were shown me
And reveled in the laziness I was allowed
But as the days went on, the resting was no longer a joy
And indeed itself became like unto working.
__
So yeah. That's what has been happening with me.
The title quote is a random line from Shakespeare's The Comedy Of Errors.
Hi everyone,
What have I been doing lately that would be keeping me so busy that I forget to write a post? Well, the answer is: I am in a show - Sister Act - and we open on the 6th, and I'm working on finals for my first semester of college. As well as trying to make sure I eat and sleep and keep my off-brand semi-sanity.
For school I have a dance final, where I have to choreograph a minute of a song then perform it, as well as learn, then put to music and perform, a piece that our professor choreographed.
I also have the Stagecraft final: where I'll have to name various tools, and lumber and such and prove that I know how to use them.
Then there is the musical. We have a lot of choreography, music, lines, and blocking to learn, and we had two weeks less than musicals usually have for rehearsals.
I'm trying not to complain - after all, it was my decision to do all of this - but sometimes I just really need to get things said, otherwise the pressure and stress will cause me to explode further down the road.
My social-anxiety came back from his short vacation a few days ago, and worry-for-the-future came with him, so that's another fun thing to deal with...
I am so worn out... I can barely keep my eyes open for most of the day. I can no longer pretend that I'm fine... I can't hide the weariness any more...
My birthday just passed and it was a very interesting day... not so much in what happened (it was mostly just like any other day), but what it did for me. I woke up, went to class - I had Stagecraft that day - I honestly didn't expect anyone to remember, but my classmates said happy birthday. Which lightened my spirits. Then I went home, rested, then got ready for rehearsal. When I got there, a few people were already there, they said happy birthday, but other than that everything was business as usual. Then more people got there, and they all said happy birthday, and gave me hugs. People brought cake and brownies. Then, when everyone was there, we started warm-ups, and they all sang happy birthday. So it was all very normal, and routine, but still... it made me so happy, to see everyone's smiles, to hear their cheers, and feel their hugs. I felt loved. And I was overwhelmed by that. I was genuinely happy, which actually doesn't happen all that much (especially not since I was taken by exhaustion). I was with people that I loved, and I could feel their love for me, and that was all that mattered.
And I'm going to leave you there, because I need to write a paper on the concept and design elements of my choreography for tomorrow...
I used a Tangled quote for the title, because, Tangled is awesome, and happy, and always a good choice!
Make it bigger. Make it smaller. Make it your ideal size.
Now place it in the middle of a forest.
A small stream flows nearby.
The forest is on a mountain side.
It's been snowing.
It's nearly dusk.
Through one of the windows you can see the glow of light.
<><><><><><><><><><><>
Now look at that! I made you see something right? Naturally you didn't see the same thing I did - everyone has their own unique vision - but my words still were your guide.
Being a writer is like being a guide. We lead our readers on journeys, adventures, quests.
Something else we do...
is Camp NaNo!!!
While we may not be in idyllic cabins - not me anyway - writers from around the world are "gathering" to participate in the event.
I have chosen to do so. And to continue a previous work instead of starting from scratch. I am working on The Animalia Project! A story about a young teen girl named Dallas that loves to win; and how her life changes when she begins to develop unnatural abilities. Go visit my Pinterest board for it! https://www.pinterest.com/rosecottagekitt/the-animalia-project/
And here is a newly written snippet! I feel like it shows off Dallas pretty well.
<><><>
The
first time that Dallas won a fight, she was seven years old. It was while walking
down a side street in town that she heard the sounds of an altercation. Curious
as she is, she went towards them. What she discovered, was a group of six
bullies beating up a young boy that was around her same age. She calmly walked
up to the one that she guessed was the leader and tapped his arm. This dark
haired boy – probably eleven – turned around angrily and told her to shove off.
She - still calmly - asked to know why he was beating up a little boy.
<><><>
My word goal is 10,000. Which might not be a lot, but with how busy I'll be this month, I think it's still going to be a challenge.
Are any of you Camp NaNo-ing? What is your project?
Last night was the closing night of my first college show, and I'm sad now, so you are going to get a post about the beauty and heartbreak of theatre.
Once Upon A Mattress. A comedic, musical, retelling of "the princess and the pea." My first college musical. I went through a lot - emotionally - during the rehearsals and the run of the show, and my heart is kinda full. This show was the start of something new for me, and now that it's over I don't really know what to do...
Being in theatre means that, for a few weeks, you pour everything into the show: your heart, your soul, your time, your energy, your life. When it's all said and done, you will literally have put blood, sweat, and tears into the production. And then, after the performances - however many you have - you tear it all down, and it's gone forever, except for the place that it will always hold in your heart. The moment you are cast, you become a part of a family. A crazy, annoying, loving, hard-core, wonderful, amazing, family. And saying goodbye isn't easy. There is nothing else like theatre. The fleeting nature, but lasting impact, holds beauty like none other.
I got stressed and aggravated many times, but I also was encouraged, inspired, and entertained, and those many little happy moments are what I will choose to remember in the coming years.
I feel like I have grown as an actress and a human, and I am grateful.
I am also very very very grateful for the people that I had the pleasure and honor to work with. I gave and received friendships, and I feel like I'm now a part of the group.
I could probably talk for hours about how wonderful and painful it all is, but I don't want to start crying.
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO WAS IN THIS WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL AND I LOVE & APPRECIATE YOU ALL SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL LOVED AND INCLUDED!!!!!!!!
"There is magic in the theatre, the theatre is magic, and blessed are those that make that magic."
A while back I finished the final episode of the show and I am very sad that it is over, so to feel better, I am going to talk about it!
Don't worry, it'll be spoiler free.
But very picture heavy.
HERE WE GO!!!!!
Leverage:
Former insurance claims investigator Nathan Ford heads a team of former top-criminals. They handle 'unorthodox' cases of people unlikely to get their dues through regular channels and legal procedures. That often involves stinging or otherwise scamming criminals. Nate's team is altered at times, and his professional as well as personal past repeatedly seems to catch up. Written by KGF Vissers
A crew of high-tech crooks attempt to steal from wealthy criminals and corrupt businessmen.
The Hitter: Eliot Spencer
I absolutely love him. He is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE characters. A very distinctive man. He is tough, but has an adorably sweet side. He can take down a bunch of gun tottin' guys with only his fists, or, he can make you a gourmet dinner, or, both at the same time. And his smiles make me melt. he has a reputation for saying that something has a "very distinctive ____" whether it be sound, fighting style, smell, haircut... ect.
The Grifter: Sophie Devereaux
She is very mysterious - even at the end of the show - and little things about her past keep popping up bringing with them even more questions about who she really is. Sophie is a very interesting character and the team would be incomplete without her.
The Hacker: Alec Hardison
I love geek characters and Hardison is no exception. He is very very smart and he has some of the best lines. The brotherly relationship between him and Eliot is very amusing to watch.
The Thief: Parker
Parker (she has only the one name). Is SO FUN AND COOL. She is far from normal and is hilarious because of it. She is also clever and extremely observant. I wish I were like her. She is tied in first with Eliot for favorite character in the show - I can't choose between them!
The Mastermind: Nate Ford
Nate probably has the most character development in the show, and not all of it is good. It's a roller coaster, that adds a lot of tension (which is actually a good thing, story wise). Since he is the Mastermind he is obviously very smart. He is the planner, and even when things go wrong, somehow everything works out.
Other Important Characters Include:
Jim Stirling:
Insurance Investigator. Former co-worker of Nate's. I suppose he could be called an anti-hero. I personally love him, however, the team does not.
Tara Cole:
Another Grifter that comes in for a few episodes.
Maggie Collins:
Nate's ex-wife.
This show became my favorite very quickly. And I really don't think anything will beat it, even though there are several shows that I love very much: Warehouse 13, Sherlock, Fringe, Supernatural, Flash, Arrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and of course, Doctor Who; and probably more that aren't coming to mind.
These people are just amazing! I love them to pieces! Their characters are so well formed and the story is so well written. It's definitely some the BEST writing I've ever seen in a TV show.
All in all, it is an absolutely fabulous show, that I love. With super awesome people that I love.
NOW GO WATCH IT!!!!!
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(I got all the pictures off of google images and I do not own any of them)
One of my goals for this year is to read more than I did last year. That includes reading some for the first time, reading some that I started but never finished, and re-reading books that I loved or can't remember or didn't really understand.
So here is my list of 20 books I want to read in 2016.
Read for the first time:
1-4 The Giver quartet: The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, Son.
5 - Dracula
6 - The Scarlet Pimpernel
7 - The Comedy of Errors
8 - The Great Gatsby
9 - Alice in Wonderland
10 - Through the Looking Glass
11 - Allegiant
12 - The Kane Chronicles: The Serpent's Shadow (book 3)
Continue where I left off:
13 - Les Miserables 14 - The Kane Chronicles: The Throne of Fire (book 2), 15 - The Book Thief
Re-read:
16 - Hans Christian Anderson collection
17 - The Brothers Grimm collection
18 - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and other stories
19 - Cyrano de Bergerac
20 - Animal Farm
Which of these have you read? Which are your favorites? Are some of them on your 2016 list?
Let me know in the comments!
January 1st. The time of year when we suddenly decide that we are going to try harder and get more done, thus setting for ourselves tasks and goals that we will mostly likely not accomplish.
We fail time and time again, and yet we still do it. This persistence is quite endearing, but rather perplexing... Why do we continue to do something when we hardly ever seem to succeed?
But enough with these questions!
I will now join the masses in setting and announcing my goals/resolutions for this year of 2016!
1. Broaden my vocal range, both in notes and style
2. Finish the first draft of a novel that I have already begun
3. Participate in and win Camp NaNo
4. Participate in and win NaNoWriMo
5. Learn more dance - of various styles
6. Make a music video
7. Spend more time with my BEST FRIEND
8. Read more.
9. Take school more seriously
10. Audition for as much as possible
11. Do some form of exercise apart from dancing (I don't really expect that one to happen)
12. Have a healthier perception of myself and my abilities
13. Actually fulfill at least three of these... *Edit: 14. Blog more regularly*
I think that looks pretty good - and unattainable - but I guess it will be nice to have a challenge.
Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!!! Warning: this is a long post... sorry.
I really wanted to be profound this Christmas, but the truth is, I'm not profound, so it's not likely you'll ever hear any great beads of wisdom come from my brain. Even so, I'm going to talk and hope that something good comes out.
This Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas where I live - It was 75 and sunny yesterday - so I'm finding it hard to get into the spirit of it all. Lately I've seen everyday the same, I've lost track of holidays, and special occasions, and I wish that I wouldn't.
I'm growing older in a way that I don't want to. I used to be blithe and youthful in my soul, but now I'm slowed and wrinkly.
Christmas is the time of giving and receiving, but I want to instead (at the risk of saying the same thing I've said before) say how thankful I am for what I already have. I have a roof over my head, I have a comfy bed, I have food to eat, I have clothes to keep warm, I have belongings, but most of all, I am grateful for the good people in my life. A mother that strives to take care of us, siblings that have made me smile (though they've also made me groan), and friends that have helped me more than they realize. Without you all, my life wouldn't be right.
Don't waste your life. Tell someone what they mean to you. Make every year a great year. Have a Christmas Pajama Party! Make sure not to give your kids the spiked eggnog. Kiss someone under the mistletoe. Slow dance in the snow. Tell ghost stories by the light of the Christmas tree. Spend the morning tucked under your favorite blanket. Make hot chocolate. Bake cookies. Be goofy. BE HAPPY. Life is too short to waste time, so make the most of EVERY moment.
To me the perfect Christmas day would be one where I spend the day with my closest friends, singing and laughing, where you can feel the love and be genuinely happy. Outside the snow would be falling and friends would be calling "yoo-hoo!" This song pretty much sums everything up perfectly.
In other news: I was tagged by Deborah O'Carroll at Road Of A Writer, to do this Christmas tag! Which I kinda forgot about...
The Rules:
Post the picture on your blog. (Nobody knows what picture this was.)
Answer the questions.
Tag up to 12 bloggers.
Make up 10 questions for the other bloggers. (This one seems to be pretty optional.)
The Questions:
1. What is your favourite Christmas treat?
Peppermint Bark? Maybe... I don't know... I love all kinds of treats.
2. Are there any special traditions that your family has to celebrate Christmas?
No... not really... Sometimes we'll have German food.
3. How do you normally celebrate Christmas?
Get up whenever, open presents together, eat, use (or whatever) the gifts we got, maybe go somewhere to celebrate with others.
4. Do you enjoy getting presents for your friends and family? Do you buy your gifts or go the homemade route?
I'm not good at giving gifts... but it is enjoyable. I usually would buy the gifts, because I'm not talented enough to make them.
5. Is it cold where you live? Have you ever had a white Christmas?
No it is not. I think we had one once... ten years ago...? When we moved here, and maybe one or two since then.
6. What’s on your Christmas list this year?
Not much of anything. I love books and music, so, books and music.
7. What’s your favourite Christmas song?
I can't pick a favorite because I love so many, but right now I am listening - on repeat - to Relient K's Merry Christmas, Here's To Many More. Which I put above.
8. What is your favourite Christmas memory?
I don't really have one.
9. W hat does your Christmas Tree look like?
Blue lights, strings of silver beads, pink "icicles" (which is simply stringy shiny stuff), with baubles of white, sliver, and red, snowmen and angel ornaments, blue bells, and a golden angel topper.
10. What are you reading in December? (Anything festive?)
Mostly just some Manga, but also the second book in Rick Riordan's "The Kane Chronicles". Nothing festive.
11. Are you an organised little elf or are you still shopping/preparing on Christmas Eve?
I am not organized, but I'm also not much involved with the shopping.
12. How early do you start to get into the Christmas spirit?
Usually it would be sometime in July, but this year I still haven't gotten into the spirit of it.
13. Do you make any Christmas crafts? Decorations? Send physical Christmas cards?
Sometimes... Sometimes... Sometimes...
14. What’s the menu for Christmas Day?!
I don't know!
15. What makes it FEEL like Christmas for you? (Weather, specific tradition, food, smell, person, etc.?)
It's a combination of things but the weather is a big factor.
16. Do you have relatives coming? Excited? Nervous?
No.
17. What famous Christmas character do you most identify with? (Scrooge, Elf, Tiny Tim, the Grinch, Santa, etc.)
I don't know, there aren't many characters period that I can really identify with.
18. If you were to start a new Christmas tradition, what would it be?
I can't think of anything new... dancing! I would make Christmas Dances a tradition.
19. What Christmas movies do you like to watch this time of year or what’s your favorite?
"Home Alone" and "Home Alone: Lost In New York" are the ones we usually watch.
20. What’s your favorite Christmasy book or book with a favorite Christmasy part?
I haven't read many Christmasy stories, so I guess I have to say A Christmas Carol.
Tag Time:
I don't know 12 bloggers so I'm just gonna say, that anyone who wants to, can consider themselves tagged. And It's almost 3:00 AM so I'm too tired to write new questions.
Yesterday was a hard day for me. I was disappointed and I spent most of the day feeling like I had failed. My mom and I went to get coffee, and while sitting at the tiny outdoor table I wrote this:
You know when you hit the very bottom of the pit of despair, and you see a way out, but you choose to stay? Why? Why do we opt to remain in a place of misery, when we could just climb out the exit? What is it about pain/grief/sadness that we can get so addicted to? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I? Why do I?
I was absolutely miserable. I needed to prove myself, and I felt that I failed, flopped. "Prove yourself to whom?" You ask. Well... TO ME! I need to show myself that I am not a failure.
Through out the day, I would occasionally try to calm myself and see things from a better point of view, but I always stopped myself... I wanted to be miserable... I wanted to feel horribly, it was like I had become addicted to the pain... it scares me to think about how I felt.
Something I have always thought, is that no matter how painful emotions became, I would never want to give them up. But yesterday, I wanted to stop feeling. I tried to. And I somewhat succeeded. After a time I managed to shut down part of me. I suddenly was able to understand the way that so many story villains feel - or how they came to not feel.
I saw a possible future me, and she is not something that I want to happen, but in that moment, it looked tempting. I learned a lot about myself yesterday. Looking back on it is interesting and frightening.
Thankfully today - due to sleep and some words from my brother - I am in a better frame of mind, and I realize that the thing I was so upset over, actually went well. True, I may not have accomplished the goal I wanted, but I got farther than I might have.
A big part of my mind is insecurity about my talents and abilities - in my eyes, my One talent is singing - and I still feel that way mostly, but now I realize that what little I have acomplished may be more than just a little. Maybe I actually did something that is worth recognizing, something that not just anyone can do.
I don't know why exactly I'm sharing this... I guess I just needed to say how I feel. I have a hard time telling people things face to face, but adding the wall of internet somehow helps.
So whatever problems you have, try to stay positive, because you don't want to get stuck in the pit of despair.
