"All The World's a Stage"

Today, I would like to discuss a topic that excites me to my core: theater. I'm not talking about a movie theater, but the aspect of live-acting theater. The stage, the set, the cast and the audience. That is the theater that I love.

I've been in acting for quite a while. Now, keep in mind, I am not anywhere near as good as I could be. But I like to think I am at least a halfway decent actress. I remember my first play in second grade; I was the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio at a public theater in my town. I wanted to be the fairy so bad, so that I could wear the blue dress and tiara, and when I realized I got the part, I was thrilled! Until opening day, that is.

The seats were filled with eager, proud parents and cameras. The stage was empty and the curtains drawn, but it wasn't long until the lights came up and I was on that stage, in front of all of those people. Stage-fright to the extreme, let me tell you.

And then the lights came up, and I was standing on the stage, and I wasn't afraid anymore. The lines came to me with the snap of a finger, and my confidence boosted each time someone in the audience laughed. I didn't have to be myself anymore, I could be someone, anyone else that I wanted to be. And it was always encouraging when people from the audience came up after the show to tell me I did a good job.

Ever since then, I've been involved in plays throughout my elementary, junior high, and high school career. I've been a stage manager, assistant director, worked backstage. But my favorite part always was and always will be being on the stage, in front of everyone, playing the part and having a good time. Acting was always my niche; it was what I did in the family. My sister did sports, my mom and dad worked, and I acted. I'd like to say I wasn't a pain in the butt sometimes with how dramatic I was at home, but that would be a lie.

Being in college now, I really miss it. I tried out for a play at the beginning of the year, but I didn't get the part. And quite honestly, I just don't have the time. I plan on being in at least one more play before I graduate, so wish me luck! If it's something I love enough, I will find a way. I encourage anyone who is even thinking about being involved in a theater production to do it; you won't regret it, and the friends you make there will last you a lifetime.

Lights. Camera. ACTION.

Explore, Dream, Discover!

Ok, ok, I know: it's been a while. I apologize for not writing, there is no excuse for my shameful behavior. And a big thank you to my friend, John, for reminding me that I still even have a blog! And thank you also for pointing out that I have been neglecting it for the past month. Well, almost a month.

So, for anyone else who reads my blog or cares (which probably isn's very many) I am sorry. Life got in the way of my writing. I kept making excuses not to post, like "finals are next week" or "it's christmas break!" or "I don't have any ideas". But that's just me being lazy and being the way I've been ever since I was born. I've always had trouble sticking with things, especially when the going gets rough.

I realize that there are no excuses, though, because I am working towards a larger goal. There is one thing I want to do in my life, one thing I have always wanted to do: write. I want to be an author, and write a book that will be loved by thousands. I am working on one right now, but that is a topic for another post.

Anyway, the only way that I can reach that ultimate goal of being an author is if I practice writing. Practice, practice, practice! And I can't make excuses. The only way anyone ever got good at anything is by working hard and never giving up; something many people seem to have forgotten these days. Oh geez, now I sound like an old person...

Basically, what I'm trying to say through these ramblings of mine, is that I am sorry I haven't written in so long, and I will try my hardest to post more often. I will try to stick to my goal, and work hard until I get there. And I will leave you all with the following message:

Never give up. Never stop trying. If you want it, go get it. Sure, it's a hell of a lot easier said than done, but imagine how great you will feel when you do accomplish your goals! I feel better just writing this post, because I know I am on my way. I know I can make it; I can be an author. All I have to do is try.

As one of my favorite authors, Mark Twain, once said "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

You don't ever have to listen to me: I'm just a twerpy American teen. But I'd listen to my good pal Mark if I were you; he knows what he's talking about ;)

Now get along, it's Christmas! Spend time with your families, enjoy your loved ones, and God Bless Us, Every One!

Rough Day

You can't always control the future.

This is something I told myself just a little while ago that made me feel 100% better about how my last few days have been.

 To give you a short background, my grandfather just passed away a few days ago, right before finals week at school. I came home and am going through the process of the funeral and everything while at the same time trying not to fail my first ever college final exam. Then on top of that I have been having boy problems, which we aren't going to go into detail about. But basically, it has been a rough past week and I am getting stressed and overwhelmed more and more easily.

Bu then I stopped while sitting next to this fire at my home, looking at the lights on our perfectly-shaped Christmas tree, and a thought popped up into my head out of nowhere; "you can't always control the future. You can't control everything." And I pondered this and realized that it is absolutely true. I can't control everything that happens in my life. I couldn't control my grandpa passing. I can't control my feelings for someone. I can't control the timing of the situation.

There is something I can control, though.

I can always control my reactions. I can control how I respond to the situations I am given. I can either be grumpy and complain about it or I can take a deep breath and relax and take things as they are. Because things like this happen to everyone. I'm not the only person in the world that is having a bad week, I'm sure. And many people in the world have problems that dwarf mine.

So if you are like me and having a bad week or just feeling down and out of luck, know that I have been there before; we've all been there before. And remember:

You can't always control the future. But you can always control how you react to it.

College Problems...

ATTENTION: People of the cafeteria,

You do not have to steal my table as I am walking towards it. You also do not have to circle my table when I'm almost done eating, like a pair of angry vultures, so you can swoop in and sit down when I stand up. THERE IS ROOM FOR EVERYONE. Well, okay, maybe there actually isn't room for everyone...But I live here, for goodness sake! Go eat at your own cafeteria instead of crowding mine!

I really hope Shaw dining hall is open soon, because I don't know how much more of this I can take. One more incident and I may end up just eating in my room for the rest of my life.

Thank you for your patronage,
-Frustrated Eater

What Is Your Song?

Sometimes, I listen to soundtracks. No lyrics, no voices. Just pure music.

And here is the question I get asked so often: why?

Why? Because: It is the music, the notes that impact me. It is the melody, the harmony, working in perfect syncopation to create something so full and beauteous that I can't even describe it properly. Have you ever noticed that music is the one thing in the world that everyone can at least stand? I've never heard one person say "I hate music." Sure, we all have different tastes in music, but we all know music. We all get pleasure from at least one song in our lives.

What is your song?

I have many songs. Usually, my specific taste is on the alternative side, with violins and a unique melody. However, I do occasionally dapple in the world of pop and hip-hop. And soundtracks. I'm the only person I know who loves listening to soundtracks.

But what is it about music that raises such feelings within me? What is it that touches my heart and makes me imagine world after world, none the same as the last? Maybe it's the bells ringing, banging against each other to echo across the fields and pastures. Maybe it's the violin strings plucking gently one after another, lifting me up and carrying me towards a clear, running stream hidden between the trees. Or maybe it's the drums beating like a pulse, driving me, pushing me, onwards. Onwards and Upwards.

Some of my favorite music is music that I listen to over and over again. It never gets old. I know all the lyrics (if there are any), and I can hum the entire song to myself without a second thought. As dumb and cliche as it may sound, the songs have become a part of me. I spend so much of my time listening to them, admiring their simplistic beauty, that I know them just as well as I know my own hand. And I am positive it is the same for many others. Think for a second: is there any particular song that reminds you of a time in your life? What is that tune that carries you back, or drives you forward?

My song is the collection of soundtracks that remind me of the shows I used to watch as a child; an assembly of the music I've heard in movies that deeply impacted me. It is a mishmash of beats I've collected on my iPod, or of pieces that remind me of family members, living and deceased. I do not have one song; I have many.

What is your song?  

Happy Thanksgiving! (Belated)

I'm back! Did you all have a good Thanksgiving?

I ate so much food in the past two or three days that I think I may actually be suffering from a food coma. All that turkey, stuffing, potatoes and pie. So. Much. PIE. And of course, I got to see my family and friends. I mean, isn't that kind of what that holiday is all about?

Well, I had a splendid weekend with my mom, dad, and sister. We got our Christmas tree earlier today and we had our two separate Thanksgivings (as we do every year) for both sides of the family. At the one, I enjoyed the company of my three uncles who live in-state and my Aunt and cousin. At the other, I got to see my cousins that are grown now with families of their own, but are still my favorite cousins ever, and my uncle and grandpa (not to mention spouses, children, etc).

This Thanksgiving I wanted to take the time to reflect on what I am most thankful for, and I realized that that is a lot! I mean, I have friends that are kind, generous, caring people who love me and have some of the best personalities of anyone I've ever met. I have excellent health and have never had any serious health-related issues (knock on wood). I can afford to go to college and prepare myself for a better future. I have a roof over my head and food and drink everyday, sometimes too much! I am an intelligent person, who is not afraid to be herself and who is capable of great, great things.

And I am most thankful for my family.

My family is not perfect. Far from it actually. We argue, and yell, and often get on each others nerves. But I know they love me, and at the end of the day, family is everything. Not everyone is as blessed as I am to have a family. Not everyone has parents that can help them afford college, or support them in their endeavors (no matter how stupid), or buy them presents for their birthday and Christmas. Not everyone has that. And I think sometimes I forget how important it is to account for these blessings I've been given. My family may not be perfect, but I love them just the same.

It's easy to get along with your friends; you chose them after all. It's not so easy to get along with your family. But they're all you've got, so you best realize how blessed you are, before what you've got is gone.

The Little Things

Christmas lights, giant ornaments, deer, and sledding hills.

What do all of these things have in common?

Last night, on my way home from the movies with some friends, I had one of the most fantastic cab rides of my life. Now I know I say this a lot. I refer to everything as "the best", so does that word really have any meaning in my dictionary? YES. This cab ride was splendid in every meaning of the word. The cab smelt wonderful, our driver was very friendly, the only thing that could have made it better is if it was free (which no, it was not).

The first things that really caught my attention were the Christmas lights. We were driving around downtown, and I began to notice the small twinkles bobbing in and out of my vision as we passed them by: blue, green, red, yellow-and of course the clear, traditional white lining the trees on the sidewalk. In the center of the town were three very large, very beautiful ornaments, each painted red. Draped over the windows of shops and little stores were more lights, more garland and wreaths and holly. This most certainly is the most wonderful time of the year.

And something I suppose you should know about me is that I am a Christmas junkie. Everything Christmas. Tree, stockings-I have even experienced the distaste that is a fruit cake. And every little bit of Christmas that I can soak into my system is worth it. It's what I look most forward to every year.

Now to the part of the story that gets random. As we drove down our little pathway, the cab driver decided to show us the downtown zoo. And there, at the entrance, were two stoic, grazing deer. We pulled up to them and they lifted their heads to us, but other than that, they were completely still. Only a few feet away too! We took pictures of them, and I, being my philosophical self, realized what beautiful creatures they were. So gentle and graceful. I felt privileged to be in their presence, to have them allow me to gaze at them with such admiration.

I'm sure this makes me sound odd. You have to know me to understand. It's the little things.

On our last stop before heading back to the dorms, we went to a golf course and learned of the best hills to sled on in the winter. This took me back to so many memories of when I was younger. It was a much simpler time. I didn't have to worry about my future, or my past. Everything was about the present. All that mattered was that I hop on that little piece of plastic and get down that hill as fast as possible, so I could experience the euphoria of sledding. All I want is to go back to that.

It's the little things that excite me. Partying, staying up late all night doing stupid things; that's all fine and dandy. If that's your thing, kudos to you. That's just not me.

I love Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. I love singing in the car so loud I can't actually hear the radio. I love driving in a taxi and seeing Christmas lights, giant ornaments, deer, and sledding hills.

I love the little things.

Laptop Destruction

Today, I dumped a cup of coffee on my laptop. Today, that laptop stopped working correctly. Today, I took that laptop to the computer center to get it fixed, and they said it would cost upwards of $200.

Today, I went without a computer. And tomorrow, I will do the same.

It's an odd feeling, not having the internet at your fingertips anymore. I don't have a smartphone, so sometimes I wonder; what would it be like if someone with a smartphone and a laptop lost both in the same setting? What if they couldn't use either for a week? What would they do with themselves?

And then I laugh, because twenty years or so ago, this was how it was all of the time. I like to think I am doing pretty well (borrowing my roomate's laptop as we speak) without my baby, but I do miss it terribly. I keep thinking "maybe this happened for a reason." Maybe somebody somewhere wants me to learn to be less dependant on the internet and computers. And maybe that's a good thing.

I think when the snow fell today, that was the moment that I realized what should really be important. So, I do not have my laptop. I am suffering. But I will get over it. Things could be much, much worse.

Pointless Poem Post

I haven't written anything here in some time, so here is a little poem to describe my week. Have a gander:

To live as a student: here's what you need to know
There are papers and math; my dreaded old foe
Plenty of drunk peeps, this much is true
But when you're the one sober, it's no fun for you

So sitting at my laptop, I try to reflect
On what I've been doing since last I project
-ed my opinion on life and all of it's jokes
From goofy male waiters to Batman and folks.

I realized that this week was uneventful, this much is true
But that does not sound appealing to you!
So if you want a deeper look inside my head
Delve into my dreams, filled with white, green, and red.

I dream of these colors, and shapes and sounds
All mixing together, all out of bounds
Without lines that are drawn between fiction and real
Without anyone telling me how I can feel

And inside my dreams I see people I know
Flying and running through the thick snow
My friends are these people; the ones close to me
Dancing and laughing oh so merrily

That there is Christmas, what I await for
But first I must finish this semester, for sure
And when I get my 4. and go home once more
I'll be thinking "what the hell did I write this post for?"

Free

So yesterday was a rough day. I'm pretty sure most of you know why...

Yup. The election. That wonderful time of year when everyone moans and groans about everything possible and gets mad at everyone else. I hate it. 

I was angry because of the social media spam about the election. Facebook and Twitter folks: that stuff kills you. And to counter the sour mood these wonderful sites induced me into, I decided to do something that most people would only dream of.

I went outside. AND, I also ran. Outside. I know, it's scary. Me, exercising? Of my own free will? What is this madness???

But it was one of the best decisions I've made all day. Being in the fresh air, feeling the cool, clean breeze on my cheeks, watching the ducks waddle by the river that crosses campus. And to top it all off, I had a friend with me. We talked, and it was so nice to talk about something that wasn't related to taxes or civil rights for once in the last week. I think people need more of that time; the time when you are just free. Not talking about freedom. Not discussing freedom as it relates to politics. Just being free. It's one of the best feelings in the world.

What made me feel even better after this wonderful jog through nature was the fact that, just by coincidence, most of my best friends were at the same dinner as I this evening. We all ran into each other, and decided to eat together. And as I sat there, looking at each of my friends around the table, I realized how fortunate I am to have them. Maybe there are people out there who hate each other. Scratch that, I know there are people out there that hate each other. But I don't have to hate anybody. My friends have proven to me that, no matter how different we are, we can always be friends. 

We are Fortunate.
We are Friends.
We are Free

Olive Garden Oddities

I decided that after two full days of very little exposure to sunlight and extensive indoor study time, it was time to go outside. I packed up my money and bus pass and prepared for a good time with some friends from my freshman seminar class. Thing is, only two of them showed up. No matter, we decided, because those breadsticks weren't going to eat themselves! Getting on the bus, we prepared ourselves for the glory that is Olive Garden.

Olive Garden; the home of all things heavenly. And also the home of one of the most fantastic human beings I've met in a while.

Okay, that may be a bit of a stretch, but the guy was very, very nice. Super friendly, for sure. I'd say that his one fault was being too friendly. His laugh boomed throughout the restaurant, indicating his presence and forcing us to stop our mealtime conversations to find the source of this explosive sound. It reminded me of a mix between a jolly old man and a grumpy cow: unmistakable. Besides his laugh, was his choice in conversation.

My friend Brittany and I had been talking about a trip to Spain our junior year, to study abroad, when apparently he overheard us. Stepping in, he told us, extensively, about his trip abroad with his sister. He backpacked through 19 countries, apparently, and he missed running with the bulls by three hours. He told us every city to see in Spain (Madrid gets boring after 3 or so days). He gave us tips about never leaving your wallet or camera unattended...the list goes on and on.

And then comes the titanium purse.

"And you should invest in this titanium purse, it's only like $250 and it's really great because then pickpockets can't cut the strap and take your things."

Well that's wonderful, random waiter guy, but I am not going to be investing $250 on a titanium purse. My apologies.

Anyway, this guy was just an utterly fantastic human being and I enjoyed my evening all the more because of him. He may be wacky, he may be strange, but he was my Olive Garden waiter and for that, I respect the man. Good choice in eateries, good choice in company. What more could a girl ask for?

First Blog = The Batman!

Hello World!

I have finally decided to take this step in my life: I got a blog. Yay? I'm excited to be able to update everyone on the fascinating adventures of my life. I'm excited to be able to blab on and on about things that amuse me that I otherwise wouldn't be able to tell people about. And I'm excited to write, just for the sake of writing. (FYI, I may or may not, at points, go off on tangents. If I do, you can ignore or enjoy, just know that I apologize in advance for my ADD.) Now then, where shall I begin? 

I guess I'll start this blog by talking about one thing: Batman. Yes, Batman. Why? Because I just saw the third movie for the second time, which, if you have yet to do so, I recommend you go and see it. Right. Now. 

Batman is one of my all time favorite movies, right up there with Harry Potter and Pocahontas. Batman is one of the only movies that has ever made me laugh, cry, and want to jump out of my seat all at the same time. It's that good. And I think there are a few reasons why.

1.) Anybody ever stop to think that this movie is totally plausible? Because it is. Batman didn't fall into a toxic pit of waste and gain super speed or anything. He can't fly (without the help of his machines). He's just smart, and rich, and has the resources to make this happen. And the situation he gets into is also completely possible. It's just mind-blowing to think about.

2.) Bain, the Joker, and everyone Batman has faced are, in a way, completely real people. If you listen to their lines, actually listen to them talk, they have legit points and, in their hearts, think they are doing something necessary. (I promise I'm not a crazy person, and I in no way agree with what they are doing. I'm just saying.)

3.) The stunts, the lines, the timing of everything is PERFECT. Beautifully done. And the actors? Couldn't get any better than this, folks. Alfred makes me cry every time. Bruce Wayne makes me want to be a better person. I love all of them. Well, almost all.

So you get it, I love Batman. It is a movie I can respect and enjoy, and there aren't many of those movies around. I'm proud of this movie, and of the message it sends of hope, peace, and perseverance. And if you're looking for something to see this weekend, I recommend it. 

Thanks for reading! Many more, shorter blogs to come. Maybe next time, I'll talk about something that isn't completely irrelevant!

Nah.