Radioathon 2009

We're in hour 10 of Radioathon.  This is Sparta is kicking butt and taking names.  But we're starting to get tired and are barely keeping our focus.  Zac is currently passed out on Emalem's bed while the rest of us are typing words into google and using our random knowledge.  Sports hour was obnoxious, but we won it.  Like we did with many other :).  

We did just create possibly the greatest story ever created about a single blind astronaut banana for a physical challenge.  Emily also wore more layers of Ripon paraphernalia than should be possible.

Basically I'm blogging to keep awake at this point so I apologize in advance for any typos or ramblings.  I'm also planning to be up in four hours for singing at church.  Tomorrow will be fun.  Or I'll be deathly tired.  Whatev.  

And now I'm talking to cady... distraction shifted <3

A Grapple is not a Flavoured Apple

Apparently Pick N Save thinks apples that they have injected grape flavouring into count as Grapples.  This is sad and untrue.  Unfortunately, we were tricked.  There actually is a hybrid fruit called a grapple and I want to try one.  The ones at Pick N Save lie.

Spring Break in London was amazing.  End of story.

Since coming back I feel like I'm already drowning in school work.  My sem paper was ripped to shreds while the rest of the class were praised.  Oi.  All the work I did on it over spring break essentially has to be thrown out the window.

Directing is going really well though.  My cast makes me happy and I can tell they're all working hard to make the show fun and good.  So yay.  Korine and I have also been making an excellent set for our shows.  The rest of the directors haven't told us what they want yet.  So essentially, it is our brainchild for the time being!   Maybe I should look into more scenic design stuff.  I'm really enjoying this yet again.

One Day More

Flight leaves for London at 10:30 on Sat. morning.

Yay.

No more words are needed. <3

P.s.  I got the cast I wanted for one acts and got two call backs from Twin Cities Unified Auditions.  Good week I'd say. :)  Makes up for the insane pissed-off-ness of Sat. night and the sadness in my last bow on the Ripon College Stage as a student.

So Many Curtains!

My demeanor is growing less and less happy as the days wear on now.  I'm doing everything I can not to get sick because of stress.

There was disgusting precipitation today that one of my friends called "Yuckow"  because it was slushy and yucky and quite honestly hurt when you walked in it.  I figure that's the best name i've heard for it so I'm good with that.

The stress is coming from trying to do both Sem. Classes and working on the show.  I'm pulling a minimum of 20 hours a week for the past three weeks or so.  That's on top of my other job, which I admit is only two to three hours a week, but still, there is work outside of work that happens there.

I will say that the set looks wonderful.  I'll update the picture of it in the coming week or so.  The curtains I made (with more than enough length in stitching to span the length of a football field in two of the six curtains alone.  Actually, after doing a bit of math, there are 66 yards of red curtain and i think 12 yards of green.  The green I'm not certain on though.

Rehearsals have made me depressed.  Mostly because I don't have enough separation from my character in one scene.  I don't know if you've read Imaginary Invalid or not, but there is a scene where Argan (the father, the invalid) pretends to be dead.  When Angelique (the daughter, my character) finds him way too much floods back to me and I literally have been losing my words for a couple seconds and have to remember to breathe.  It makes for some sad nights because all I can remember from that night is desperately wishing it had been a trick.  Can you believe its been 3 years and 11 months this coming Sunday? Wow.  I haven't told Ken any of this and I doubt that I will.  Mostly for fear that it would get back to Bob and then he'd be certain he made the right casting choice last show.  Pride is awful (saying this about me, not anyone else at the moment).

Twin Cities Unified Auditions have gotten completely messed up and now Monday's auditions are only a half-day.  This means Zac and I can't get in until 3:30 or so that afternoon and with hopeful callbacks, I'm not cure if we'll make it back for our Tuesday morning classes.  We have to be back by Tues. night as auditions for One Acts start then.  I just feel like I am so close to not keeping my head above water any more with all this.

But I have figured out what I want to do if I don't get a job at these auditions and whatnot.  I'll wait to elaborate on that though for fear of that info landing in the wrong hands.... muahahaha... or i'd really like to sleep.

Other than being a deathly slush mess, the campus looks really pretty right now with the ice clinging to the seemingly dead trees.  I'll keep doing my best to be happy and healthy.  After all, I have a trip to London to look forward to in two weeks.

G'Night, Love you, Can't wait to see you again.

Real Post-ery

Okay, a for reals post.

Into the Woods went up last weekend and went really well.  At least the night I saw it I liked it very muchly.  

Our show is starting to be visually beautiful.  We've got a costume call tomorrow, because it is desperately needed (according to Susan).  I will most likely be sewing my curtains again.  We put up the ones I made that go next to the window and it looks sweet.  I'm also making one to completely frame the stage.  Yesterday I pinned the equivalent of 109 yards.  Today I started sewing it.  It just takes so long! haha.

On the theatre topic, statewides went interestingly last weekend.  They were exhausting and overall, I thought I did fairly well.  Four of five tech people are interested (yay!).  The fifth, uninterested one wants professionals who have been in the field for ten years.  Which makes me wonder what he was doing at a college audition call. Oh well.  APT audition was fun.  She actually wanted to work one of my monologues, which was kinda cool.  Then she told me she really wanted to read the play it was from (Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama Hung You in the Closet and Now I'm Feelin' So Sad), which is a really trippy show but I like one of the characters, so it worked.  The singing audition was the worst audition I've given in my life and I got a callback for it.  Crazy how that works out.  It's with Prairie Fire Children's Theatre.  Not something I want to do for years and years, but it would be fun for a while.

In other news, Ripon is cold, but nice.  We're currently at 17 degrees, but the afternoons are fairly nice.  Sure we're all wearing coats still, but we've had far worse winters.

Colette came to visit yesterday.  I don't know why exactly, but it was wonderful to see her again.  After rehearsal and a paper writing, I met her at Tylor at Millers for a bit.  She seems to be doing well in Chicago and is her usual happy self.

Though she was disappointed.  I'm hosting a delightful Bible Study tonight.  Unfortunately her train ticket was for this afternoon, so she won't be getting spiritual with the rest of us.

Anywho, I should finish straightening up before people come over.

Love you!

A work in Progress

The Set from the audience:The Beautifully reupholstered chaise and my floor:
Photos of the current state of Imaginary Invalid

New Headshots for Solo Journeys

So I'm a bit pissed and I already told Cady about this.  But After originally planning to spend my Valentines Day with Ellen Ashley Ken and Bob at the Statewide Theatre Auditions and Tech Interviews, I am now going completely solo.  I almost think I shouldn't have signed up for them this year.  The Rep isn't even going to be there.  So I still can hope for APT, but even that is seasonal.  Maybe I'll get something awesome out of this, but there aren't many producers going and that confuses me after how big it was last year.

On the bright side, I have a pimp new headshot courtesy of Sarah Brown's mad skills.  And Ken actually seemed to like the opera in Imaginary Invalid last night.  And Josh gave me the oboe part so I can start learning that for the dance at the end.  And the costumes (especially the guys') are amazing.

Love you all!

P.S.  Pimp headshot:

(option 1)

(option 2)

  Which one do you think will get me more jobs?

Into the Woods it's time to go...

I know I promised pictures of our set for Imaginary Invalid, but I haven't taken those pictures yet.  So instead I give you a few pictures of Into The Woods as Zac and I have been working to build (Zac much more than me, but I'm still super proud of it).

Doesn't it look pretty? And the directors didn't believe that it would be done.  I do owe Zac mad props for the crazy amounts of work he put into it.  And I'm super thankful it meant so much to him.

Here's hoping you're all well!

School is going pretty well lately.  Directing class is proving to be fun pretty much every time we meet (but with 11 thespians would anyone expect anything different?) and my one act was approved.  Ken said he didn't think mine has enough depth to it, but approved it.  I'm pretty excited since it was my first choice show.

Speaking of Ken and theatre, he once again doesn't think I can sing.  Every rehearsal that we do the operetta in he tells me I need to hit the pitches stronger and louder but I really don't know that I can sing louder.  Its uber frustrating.  Josh said he'd run over it again with me so I'll feel more confident about it.  Hopefully that'll help.  Ken just keeps giving me crap (I know he doesn't mean to be mean though) and it makes it harder for me.

The weather has been warming up though!  I know it won't last but for now, every so often there is a spring-like breeze and it makes that whole day so much brighter.

I do miss you all something awful, but love reading about your adventures (at least as much as you disclose... haha).  Ripon isn't the same without you, but is trucking along pretending to be normal.

This weekend should be fun.  Anne and Lindzy are back up here for a Beef/Zac B-Day celebration.  Today also marks 100 days left of college for me.  Who knew it would all go so fast?

Much love! Cheers!

Courtesy of Zachary Mans...

Zac has decided he would like to update you on his perspective of Ripon life as well, so here goes, from Mr. Mans the Titanic with sails himself: "Today was a good day" he said to himself while his nose bathed in the glory of itself high above the rest of his facial features. "But it was not a great day." He then looked down to the floor as he thought to himeslf, why does this hurt so much? He then regained his composure and threw his hands uup in the air seeming to outline a girly figure. "I think I miss two of my favorite women in the world, of course not my only two favorite women, but still yet more of course one of them is my favorite and the other is very close but there are still some who have stayed behind to entertain me that I find utterly enjoyable." he said as he finished his outline of the figure and once again took notice to the corner of the room where the ceiling and wall met, or maybe he was just being snooty.... Anyways, He then sat on his bed waiting fevereshly for a call from  them, until he realzied they must be sleeping in a wonderful place surrounded by wonderful people and three turkish boys in which he would have to keep hi eye on, or maybe not.... He then said four final words to himself before putting his head on his bed of lonliness, "I love you both." 

White Floors and Tunes in Buckets

Currently Ripon is, well, cold.  My hair froze within the first thirty seconds or so of walking to class this morning.  I know you miss that.  The drama is pretty toned down on campus for the time being, but the semester is still early so there is time for that to change.

Imaginary Invalid is trucking along decently, though I should go run lines for a bit.  The set is mostly built and we've already started painting the floor.  It's insanely white though, which is just weird.  It will be pretty in the end, but for now it's kinda trippy.  What it will become, in theory, is a marble floor.  So for now it's a wet-blend of a white/blue, light pink and pretty light gray.  We're going to line it and turn some of the squares dark then gloss the whole thing so it reflects a bit like a real marble floor.  Should be pretty cool.

As for the rehearsals, Josh wrote a pretty sweet tune for the improv opera and Ken "yelled" at me for not singing loud enough.  I use the term yelled loosely because he didn't yell, but he gave me crap about how it won't get better if it's soft, it's just harder to hear.  I wanted to tell him it's his fault I can't sing loudly in a solo, but I refrained.  If only he hadn't so adamantly told me I can't carry a tune in a bucket before.  Oh well, I've got time to work on this.

Classes are pretty okay so far.  Mostly still on the basic "first classes" lessons when everyone, including the professor gets acclimated to the class.  That'll turn around I'm sure.

The food is getting significantly better though!  I'm so glad Sarge is back, he makes the commons food bearable.

For now I am off to study lines before I have to rush off to Religion Sem.  I hope you are well and I can't wait for Spring Break now!  LOVE!

P.S.  do you realize it's been a full week since Cady was in Ripon?  Crazy!

Must Do and Must See

To help all of your travels, on a night when not much noteworthy happened (rehearsal started today for me, but that's about it) I give you my guide to London and Florence:

London:

Camden Market.  It is an eclectic collection of goth and adorable clothes and accessories mostly.
Borough Market Food Market.  Go for the free samples.  You won’t need lunch.
Portobello Market
Brompton Cemetery is a great place to go for a run near the Earl’s Court flat.  Also where Beatrice Potter got many character names.
Hyde Park Also good for a run
Gym Nextdoor They occasionally have free day passes, worth using for free, not worth a membership (in my opinion)
Ben’s Cookies. Expensive, but amazing on drizzly days.  There is one at the South Kensington tube stop.  It is street level between the entrances.
Victoria and Albert Museum often has openings and events.  It is always free.
Museums in general take advantage of their free-ness!
Imperial War Museum Holocaust exhibit is very good but very sad
Newspapers  There are a number of free ones, watch them for fun happenings.
Changing of the Guards Sarah can and will tell you when to go
Picadilly Circus  One of my favorite places in the world, especially at night
Shopping High Street Kensington
Diana Memoral in the bottom of Herod’s

Florence:

Angie’s Pub. Delicious 2 euro a glass Strawberry Wine (Via dei Neri 35)

Moyo Café with free wifi.  Less important now that the school has wifi too, but nice nonetheless

Star Kebab Tasty tasty kebabs for lunch!
Pane  If you need a cheap lunch, grab some super cheap bread from here and food from the market (It’s really close to school)
Happy Hippo a ridiculous candy hippo you can buy at the grocery store near the traveling professor’s apartment.  Yum!
Bacci the Italian version of a Hershey’s Kiss (so tasty!)
Cinque Terra Five coastal cities north of Florence that you can walk between.  A nice weekend or a full day.  Gorgeous though!
Chianti Linguaviva will offer a trip to go wine tasting.  Go! That countryside is beautiful.
Capri Allison’s favorite side trip. Cute coastal town.
Bookstore in Piazza della Republica
Odeon Awesome movie theatre where you can drink wine during the show
Gelatteria just over the bridge from the Pensione, cheapest and best gelato in town (according to Allison)

Oil Shoppe It's great when you're craving a sub sandwich, very touristy though.  It's on Via S.Egidio, there is a triangle where three streets meet and it's pretty much right there.

Day One Starts

Okay, it's only been a few hours since you all officially left me.  But, as I promised to Cady, I will chronicle the difficulties of life without you all here in Ripon.  First of all, I hate goodbyes.  "Goodbye" is one of the few words I don't believe in (and I love words), so there wasn't one.  I plan to see all of you in London for Spring Break, one way or another I have to be there.  Mostly because I don't think I can graduate and leave and not have any idea when I'll see you next without at least one last hurrah!  and what better place than hip and happening London, right?

I'll update with pictures once a week and do words when I can.  This first picture is our shot (in mugs because I don't have shot glasses) to Europe and it taking our friends (and/or fiances) away from us.

So Cady, Brandi, Jess, Andy, and all the others we love that left for an amazing semester abroad, safe travels, buona fortuna and i love you.

<3

   Megan