1. Starting the day with a nice walk, a hot cup of coffee and a fresh bagel
2. TONS of books at my disposal in the library
3. My snuggling kitties
4. My super cool red helmet from the Bike Barn
5. Said helmet only costing me $10.75
6. Keeping up with all of the experienced people in my first Core Fitness class
7. The songs on my ipod Shuffle
8. My clean apartment
9. A good WIFI connection today
10. The weather -- a sunny 65
Friday, September 21, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Things that make you go, hmmm...
Today was the first day in my academic career that I was addressed as a "scholar."
Be very afraid, folks.
It was to a large group of us during the orientation seminar about how to work efficiently with your mentor or major professor -- but still.
Today was also the first day we saw a stitch of rain. And I'm talking about the cold and yucky kind, not the warm and refreshing.
Coincidence or is it a sign from a higher power? Don't forget that we are in the middle of the Days of Awe.
Oooh, is that the marching band??!! Gotta go!
Be very afraid, folks.
It was to a large group of us during the orientation seminar about how to work efficiently with your mentor or major professor -- but still.
Today was also the first day we saw a stitch of rain. And I'm talking about the cold and yucky kind, not the warm and refreshing.
Coincidence or is it a sign from a higher power? Don't forget that we are in the middle of the Days of Awe.
Oooh, is that the marching band??!! Gotta go!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Isn't technology interesting?
I am still "borrowing" free wifi from a neighbor. I love that I get a little pissy when this does not work -- as if I am entitled to be able to get on the internet whenever I damn well please.
The joys of using a shared server also allow me to view any itunes libraries that are on the same server. Isn't that wild?
So today I am listening to the eclectic library of "musaq" who has a bit of reggae, hip hop, The Beatles and Thelonius Monk.
I scanned the list quickly and believe the only song we both share is Johnny Cash's Desperado.
Which is a horrible verion, by the by.
The joys of using a shared server also allow me to view any itunes libraries that are on the same server. Isn't that wild?
So today I am listening to the eclectic library of "musaq" who has a bit of reggae, hip hop, The Beatles and Thelonius Monk.
I scanned the list quickly and believe the only song we both share is Johnny Cash's Desperado.
Which is a horrible verion, by the by.
Is that dirt under my fresh manicure?
My fellow first year MFA actress buddy, Christine recently celebrated a birthday. I missed her birthday during the week, so I planned to take her out to dinner this weekend.
Think bigger, you say? Well okay.
Classes haven't started yet and she had a weekend without the kids, therefore we decided to make more of the weekend and drove to Lake Tahoe to hike and camp. Really, it just came out of suggestion of drinking hot chocolate and brandy in front of the fire.
Jen and Lachlan would be proud.
My last camping experience was around Cherokee, NC and ended in a rainstorm with me in a tent surrounded by water. Lachlan tried to awaken me, but since the rain was so loud (and I was a tad intoxicated), I almost slept through he and Jen trying to escape to dry ground. Thanks to Bill Murphey who opened his Unto These Hills cabin and allowed us to take over his living room.
The drive is about 2 1/2 hours from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe. As usual I got a tad carsick and was very happy to back into a nice spot at the campground and get out of the car.
We set up camp and decided to head back into the more touristy part of town. And just because we could, we crossed the border into Nevada and drove past the casinos. All this while munching on a splurge of KFC popcorn chicken and cole slaw.
Christine is an experienced camper and I spend the last day or so trying to pull my own weight. The views on the hikes were just breathtaking. Thank god I had the good excuse to stop and oohh and ahh, just so I could catch my breath.
My clothes all smell like campfire and yes, my mani doesn't look so good -- but aren't you all jealous?
Think bigger, you say? Well okay.
Classes haven't started yet and she had a weekend without the kids, therefore we decided to make more of the weekend and drove to Lake Tahoe to hike and camp. Really, it just came out of suggestion of drinking hot chocolate and brandy in front of the fire.
Jen and Lachlan would be proud.
My last camping experience was around Cherokee, NC and ended in a rainstorm with me in a tent surrounded by water. Lachlan tried to awaken me, but since the rain was so loud (and I was a tad intoxicated), I almost slept through he and Jen trying to escape to dry ground. Thanks to Bill Murphey who opened his Unto These Hills cabin and allowed us to take over his living room.
The drive is about 2 1/2 hours from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe. As usual I got a tad carsick and was very happy to back into a nice spot at the campground and get out of the car.
We set up camp and decided to head back into the more touristy part of town. And just because we could, we crossed the border into Nevada and drove past the casinos. All this while munching on a splurge of KFC popcorn chicken and cole slaw.
Christine is an experienced camper and I spend the last day or so trying to pull my own weight. The views on the hikes were just breathtaking. Thank god I had the good excuse to stop and oohh and ahh, just so I could catch my breath.
My clothes all smell like campfire and yes, my mani doesn't look so good -- but aren't you all jealous?
Friday, September 14, 2007
Turn that frown...
So last night while eating chips and salsa and drinking a gin and tonic, before Christine came over to join me in eating more chips and salsa and more cocktails! -- I got a voice mail from Jade, my advisor. She mentioned something about a TA position for fall. Um, I am already a TA for Drama 10 this fall, what could she possibly mean?
So today she informed me that since Jesse, a fellow MFA actor (and blog reader!) is taking the quarter off to teach, there is a slot open to work on The Third Eye Festival -- an undergraduate play festival where they handle all things, but need a little guidance.
So I am now the official Assistant Artistic Director of the festival and get an additional 25% TA ship for Fall and Winter quarters. The position is technically a 50% TA ship, but since I can only take on 75% (with a petition from the department) I have more responsibility and get DOUBLE the amount of money split over 2 quarters.
I will read the three plays over the next few days and then get ready for meetings, auditions and a bevy of rehearsals in the weeks to come. The plays are not performed until January, so I'm sure you will hear the frustrations and excitments until then.
I am very excited about this project. Hopefully the additional time commitment will not kill me.
So today she informed me that since Jesse, a fellow MFA actor (and blog reader!) is taking the quarter off to teach, there is a slot open to work on The Third Eye Festival -- an undergraduate play festival where they handle all things, but need a little guidance.
So I am now the official Assistant Artistic Director of the festival and get an additional 25% TA ship for Fall and Winter quarters. The position is technically a 50% TA ship, but since I can only take on 75% (with a petition from the department) I have more responsibility and get DOUBLE the amount of money split over 2 quarters.
I will read the three plays over the next few days and then get ready for meetings, auditions and a bevy of rehearsals in the weeks to come. The plays are not performed until January, so I'm sure you will hear the frustrations and excitments until then.
I am very excited about this project. Hopefully the additional time commitment will not kill me.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Not so charming
I got an email today from Della that said that she and Ed really thought I brought some interesting things to the table, but they really need a man. You know, Claude Levi-Strauss and all.
I totally agree and think that the process would have driven me crazy, but it's still a rejection. And rejection sucks.
That on top of this Rosh Hashana time of reflection and being lonely. I'm sad.
I'm having a sad day.
Not being familiar with different tunes to known prayers at synagogue this morning, walking to and from with sandals that hurt my feet kinda started the day off badly.
I don't think watching The Royal Tenenbaums has lifted my spirits nor has observing tashlich by throwing a small piece of sourdough into the stagnant, algae green water at the Arboretum.
So, on my way home I stopped at the department to pick up The Shape of Things from my mailbox. It's the one of the plays I am using in my DRA 10 class and I sat by the Egghead sculpture called "Stargazer" on campus to read a scene or two.
Things are looking up.
I totally agree and think that the process would have driven me crazy, but it's still a rejection. And rejection sucks.
That on top of this Rosh Hashana time of reflection and being lonely. I'm sad.
I'm having a sad day.
Not being familiar with different tunes to known prayers at synagogue this morning, walking to and from with sandals that hurt my feet kinda started the day off badly.
I don't think watching The Royal Tenenbaums has lifted my spirits nor has observing tashlich by throwing a small piece of sourdough into the stagnant, algae green water at the Arboretum.
So, on my way home I stopped at the department to pick up The Shape of Things from my mailbox. It's the one of the plays I am using in my DRA 10 class and I sat by the Egghead sculpture called "Stargazer" on campus to read a scene or two.
Things are looking up.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The joys of fighting
When I found this cute cottage apartment listed on craigslist right in downtown Davis, I fought to get it. I kept emailing the woman who manages the property, called her numerous times and heard her say over and over again that I don't want to live in her property.
Needless to say, that made me fight more and eventually I signed a year lease. Upon arrival from the airport I found a hot, tiny, dirty apartment -- which with a little TLC has become quite charming.
But Hope, um, we know all this already. We read your blogs. Heck, we are newly subscribed.
Yes, dear ones, I know. This just a precursor to say I may have done it again. Ready yourselves for a bunch of links.
One of the main reasons I chose UC Davis is the collaborative nature of the program and the fact that there is a physical theatre IN RESIDENCE on campus. The first show of the season, Collapse, is a co-production between that physical theatre, Sideshow, and the new hoity, toity arts center, The Mondavi Center. (Yes, the wine dude donated a chunk of change to build it and in fact, a new wine institute is under construction right next door.)
Anyway, I contacted the choreographer a few weeks back and asked to meet with her to express my interest in working with her and Collapse especially. At our meeting at Cafe Bernardo, she said that she really would like to work with me, but does not think there is a role for me in this project. Well, poops.
However, yesterday, out of the blue, I got an email from her saying that there MAY be a role and asking me to come to a rehearsal/audition at 6:30pm on Tuesday. Yippeee! My "fight" on this one was more internal. I had a secret hope and in fact my parents already have their tickets to come opening weekend.
I asked Della if I need to do any prep and she reminded me that the project is based on a book of the same title by Jared Diamond. Well, the full title is Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. I know, how are these crazies going to make a dance piece about this?
So, I reserved the book at the public library and did whatever research I could online. Easter Island, Rwanda, Montana, yada, yada, yada. I also watched part of a lecture the author gave earlier this year at Columbia. I did fall asleep during the middle section, but I do intend to go back and watch that tomorrow. *grin*
This evening, I walked to the dance studio and upon arrival Della introduced me to the stage manager and ASM. She showed me the set model and we waited for the other performers to arrive -- Sara, a second year MFA actor and Dave, a grad student in sociology who is doing his dissertation on theatre and performance. They are playing the roles of "A" and "B" respectively. We warmed up on our own and prepared to do a read-through. I asked Kristin, the SM for a script and looked at the role of "C" who apparently "enters later."
The script is certainly not linear and I have to be honest and say that I am not quite sure what the arguments are. My character is referred to as "he" and the end of the script as it stands right now is a long, glib monologue C gives about the hutus and the tutsis.
After the reading, we ask lots of questions and start a discussion when in blows Ed, the writer with his DOG! Unfortunately, he spends much of the time explaining how the characters are feeling and what we should be doing. Um, how 'bout WRITING that??!! In the SCRIPT?!
We work on the big monologue and as I find out in the only other scene I have right now, my character is based on Claude Levi-Strauss. And please remember, that I just received the script not an hour earlier and I am still not sure if I am cast in this crazy thing. Incorporating the direction, "you just had 3 Pernod and are smoking galoise, speaking indifferently to your ever adoring grad students" is basically impossible because I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING!
We end around 9:45pm and there is a brief discussion of scheduling, but Della still does not mention my continued involvement. She just says that things "went well" and that she will email me the specifics. Um, am I cast? Do you prefer a man to play this role? When the heck are rehearsals?
Well, folks all these questions have yet to be answered, but let's hope that something charming is the result.
Needless to say, that made me fight more and eventually I signed a year lease. Upon arrival from the airport I found a hot, tiny, dirty apartment -- which with a little TLC has become quite charming.
But Hope, um, we know all this already. We read your blogs. Heck, we are newly subscribed.
Yes, dear ones, I know. This just a precursor to say I may have done it again. Ready yourselves for a bunch of links.
One of the main reasons I chose UC Davis is the collaborative nature of the program and the fact that there is a physical theatre IN RESIDENCE on campus. The first show of the season, Collapse, is a co-production between that physical theatre, Sideshow, and the new hoity, toity arts center, The Mondavi Center. (Yes, the wine dude donated a chunk of change to build it and in fact, a new wine institute is under construction right next door.)
Anyway, I contacted the choreographer a few weeks back and asked to meet with her to express my interest in working with her and Collapse especially. At our meeting at Cafe Bernardo, she said that she really would like to work with me, but does not think there is a role for me in this project. Well, poops.
However, yesterday, out of the blue, I got an email from her saying that there MAY be a role and asking me to come to a rehearsal/audition at 6:30pm on Tuesday. Yippeee! My "fight" on this one was more internal. I had a secret hope and in fact my parents already have their tickets to come opening weekend.
I asked Della if I need to do any prep and she reminded me that the project is based on a book of the same title by Jared Diamond. Well, the full title is Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. I know, how are these crazies going to make a dance piece about this?
So, I reserved the book at the public library and did whatever research I could online. Easter Island, Rwanda, Montana, yada, yada, yada. I also watched part of a lecture the author gave earlier this year at Columbia. I did fall asleep during the middle section, but I do intend to go back and watch that tomorrow. *grin*
This evening, I walked to the dance studio and upon arrival Della introduced me to the stage manager and ASM. She showed me the set model and we waited for the other performers to arrive -- Sara, a second year MFA actor and Dave, a grad student in sociology who is doing his dissertation on theatre and performance. They are playing the roles of "A" and "B" respectively. We warmed up on our own and prepared to do a read-through. I asked Kristin, the SM for a script and looked at the role of "C" who apparently "enters later."
The script is certainly not linear and I have to be honest and say that I am not quite sure what the arguments are. My character is referred to as "he" and the end of the script as it stands right now is a long, glib monologue C gives about the hutus and the tutsis.
After the reading, we ask lots of questions and start a discussion when in blows Ed, the writer with his DOG! Unfortunately, he spends much of the time explaining how the characters are feeling and what we should be doing. Um, how 'bout WRITING that??!! In the SCRIPT?!
We work on the big monologue and as I find out in the only other scene I have right now, my character is based on Claude Levi-Strauss. And please remember, that I just received the script not an hour earlier and I am still not sure if I am cast in this crazy thing. Incorporating the direction, "you just had 3 Pernod and are smoking galoise, speaking indifferently to your ever adoring grad students" is basically impossible because I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING!
We end around 9:45pm and there is a brief discussion of scheduling, but Della still does not mention my continued involvement. She just says that things "went well" and that she will email me the specifics. Um, am I cast? Do you prefer a man to play this role? When the heck are rehearsals?
Well, folks all these questions have yet to be answered, but let's hope that something charming is the result.
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