God is Love. Love is Blind. Ray Charles is Blind. Ray Charles is God.

Whatif by Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow talle?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!

I read this poem in sixth grade. And I guess I remember it because I DO that a lot. I turn everyday things into daydreams of superheroes, villains, and situational comedies that only happen in movies.

A week or two ago, I was in Oakland. I decided to take a bus to Liberty Avenue and fill out an application at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Why wouldn’t I just call the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and ask them to fax or email me the application? Well, I did, actually. “Oh we don’t do that. We don’t allow applications to leave the premises.” Excuse me. La tee dah, I didn’t realize I was dealing with people so much more educated and cultured than myself. What was a disgusting cretin like me thinking? I decided not to be off-putted by their rather rude phone receptionist. After filling out the application, finding a bus home was more than daunting, considering I’m a suburbia dweller typically.

I decided to be bold and… call my mom. “Institution for Clinical Research Education, this is Lorraine.” Mom. “What?” I’m lost. “Okay, well where are you?” I just walked out of the Cultural Trust….erm, 820 Liberty Avenue. “Well, walk around and look for a bus stop that has the 500C on it.” There’s only the 300B at this one. “Okay, where are you again?” After talking in circles like this, for a while, I was thoroughly frustrated and pissed off at the public transportation system. I finally found the 74 C, about two blocks from where I began my search – even if I had been walking for half of an hour with my backpack filled with an overweight laptop. It felt worse than it was, considering I couldn’t find my way. Being lost and overheated with 20 lbs on your back causes my temper to flair.

As I approached the stop I noticed a beautiful woman was reading the blue and white BUS STOP sign. Her skin was the color of coffee mixed with cream (name that musical reference and I’ll give you a dollar!), and her head was safely enfolded in a tan cotton scarf. The flowers on her ankle length skirt matched the scarf surprising perfection. I hung up my phone with a sharp, irritated snap after curtly telling Lorri that I had found a bus stop that was of use to me….

The rest of this post was going to be about the woman talking to me (she really did) and getting on the same bus as I had. Then I was going to say things about a group of wiggers getting on and harassing her (they really didn’t) and my standing up for her. The what-if situation I daydreamed while riding the bus back to Oakland uneventfully. But I just finished writing a ‘letter’ to my best friend and it emotionally drained me of being able to write creatively.

I’m emotionally drained in general right now. I’m happy to say that I was offered and am taking an internship with the Pittsburgh International Children’s Theatre, for the summer. And that someone who I love is talking to me again… after I thought they never would. God is good. I also reconnected with two friends who were a major support system for me a few years ago, but I fell out of touch with after I started college. That is also a good thing. These are facts that make me feel hopeful, and like this world may be getting brighter.

I’m sad to announce the breaking off of my relationship with Danny. If you want to know the long story, contact me privately. Otherwise, you’ll get the short “The distance wasn’t working out” answer. I’m not one to advertise personal pain or exploit someone else’s. I don’t want to make him the enemy. And he’s not.

I’m up and down and running in circles. But that’s alright. Life is basically screaming at me “THIS IS WHAT IT’S ABOUT! SUCK IT UP FOR THE BAD PARTS AND BE HAPPY FOR THE GOOD PARTS!”

My friend recommended this book series to me: "The Griffin and Sabine Trilogy". If you like Post Secret, you might like this... It's the story of two people who live in totally different parts of the world. And they begin a very strange correspondence through postcards and letters. You actually see both sides of each post card, open envelopes, and pull out the letters... it's very awesome. The artwork is phenomenal as is the story. It's the first thing that has restored even come close to restoring my faith in true romance and love since the breakup.

Yooooooooooooooooooooooou should read it. :)

An excerpt from Smack by Melvin Burgess

LILY pages 171 - 175



You get under my skin but I

don't find it irr-i-tating

You always play to win but I

won't need reha-bil-i-tating

Oh no

I think I'm on a-nother world

with you... with you

I'm on another planet with

you... with you-oo

Another girl

Another planet

Another girl another planet

THE ONLY ONES



Everything is free. That's a secret.



The only thing that isn't free is you. You do as you're told: you sit in your seat until they say, "Stand." You stay put til they say, "Go."



Maybe that's the way you like it. It's easy. It's all there. You don't have to think about it. You don't even have to feel it.



I sometimes wonder how this planet keeps on sticking to my feet. They did everything they could to pin me down... my mum, my dad, school. They put me in homes with kind guys and they put me in homes with bastards. They did things to me you can't even talk about. I'm okay.



What about you?



It's mind control, see. You have to go to school, get those exams, get to university or college, get a job, get married, don't miss the boat, do it now or you'll shot your life down the drain. Yeah. They got you as soon as you were born. They never risked a second of your life. When you have kids they'll be telling them they have to wear a plastic mask and put a penny in the slot above their nose before they can breath in.



Listen: Auntie Lily knows the way it really is.



Air is free. What, you know that? Good for you. Okay. Food is free. Ah, you didn't know that one! Listen, this is how you do it.



First you gotta find the FreeFood shop. You go out of your front door and you walk down the road. Sooner or later you come to the FreeFood shop. You can't miss it. It might be called Sainsbury's or Tesco or Morrison's if it's a big FreeFod shop. It might be called Smith's or School's or Singh's if it's a little one. It doesn't matter what it's called. the food's piled up everywhere -- on shelves, in great heaps and stacks on the floor, in boxes and bags and bins. You want it, you name it -- it's yours.



You go inside. You have a look around and see what food you want. You put the food you want under your coat or in your shopping bag and then you take it home and eat it.

Yeah. I expect you thought that you had to go to school, get educated, learn a job, do the job, get paid, take the money down the shop, give people the money before you could take the food home, huh?



You listen to other people too much.



Once you know how to do it, you look about and you'll see FreeFood shops all over the place. The only thing you've got to worry about is that there's usually someone about who thinks the food belongs to them, so you have to make sure you're invisible.



That's easy, too. Because you can be anything you want to be. It's a big secret. You're magic! You're terrific. you're anything you wanna be. Believe it!



Liberate the food! Yeah!



If one of those people who thinks the food is theirs catches you, it's no use arguing; they're too far gone. You better leg it instead. And once in a while -- maybe your aura has got a few holes in it today -- you may get caught. Then you get the police and you go to court. If you have money, they'll fine you. If you have no money, you'll get Community Service. that's okay. It needn't happen often. I know people who've never been caught in years. All that stuff about going in and out of prison, that's just another form of mind control. But even if you do get caught, I'll tell you... Community Service is maybe forty or a hundred hours. what's the alternative? Going out to work every day for the rest of your life? I mean, what kind of sentence is that?



Sometimes I look out the window and I see all the straights crawling past, going to work, coming back from work, going to learn how to go to work, whatever. and I want to shout out, "Hey! Listen to me! It isn't like that, it really isn't like that..."



Only I never do. It's useless. They must weigh about sixty thousand tons. I'm so far away from people like that, they can't even see me.



Do you want to know more? Listen, I'll tell everything.



You can do anything you want.



You don't believe me. You think, she's out of her head. Yeah, I'm out of my head -- on being me. What are you on? On being them. You don't even know. I bet you were never even given a chance to know.



Remember when you were little and they used to say, "Naughty girl, naughty boy," because you broke something or said the wrong thing? They told you, "You are a bad person."



But it wasn't like that, it was just you were doing a bad thing. It wasn't you who was bad. You're beautiful. You're wonderful and everything that you do is wonderful because it's you doing it. You're that strong. You can do it bad and know it bad or you can do it good and know it good but it doesn't do anything to you. You're still you.



Listen. You can be anything you want to be. Be careful. It's a spell. It's magic. Listen to the words. You can be anything, you can do anything, you can be anything, you can do anything. Listen to the magic.



You are anything... everyone, anyone. Whatever you want. I'm showing you. So long as you stay yourself inside, you can eat dirt and it'll taste good because it's you that's eating it. You can even lick their arses if you have to. You listen to them, teachers, parents, politicians. They're always saying, if you steal you're a thief, if you sleep around you're a slut, if you take drugs you're a junkie. They want to get inside your head and control you with their fear.



Maybe you think your mum and dad love you but if you do the wrong things they'll try and turn you into dirt, just like mine tried to turn me into dirt. It's your punishment for being you. Don't play their game. Nothing can touch you; you stay beautiful.



I've done everything. all of it. You think, I've done it. All the things you never dared, all the things you dream about, all the things you were curious about and then forgot because you knew you never would. I did'em. I did'em yesterday while you were still in bed.



What about you? When's it gonna be your turn?



***************************************************************************************



I just finished re-reading Smack, it's a fantastic book. British punk 80's drug slum stories. I may or may not use some of that excerpt as a monologue sometime. I can't sleep right now, but maybe I won't go back to sleep.


That wasn't all a commentary on things going on with my life. Just a little bit of it.



I'm going home June 4th. Mom's happy, I think... I'm not, but things aren't about me, I guess.



Now until June 4th: Long island.

June 4th until June 23rd: Home.

June 23rd until August 11th: Working at CTY.

August 11th until August 24th-ish?: Home again.







Ready, steady, go. Go... go... go.

Action Jesus

A lot has happened around here. I can't even think of where to begin. Oh! Yes I can!

Golgonooza is finished! And let me just say, PRAISE the gods of theatre. Things came together, as I knew they would - but... yeesh it was a crazy mess getting to that point. My cast was phenomenal, though.

I was asked to perform for elementary school students by Sylvan Learning Center for the second time. Curtis and I will be going tomorrow afternoon to reenact Green Eggs and Ham for hundreds of little first graders. I love doing Children's Theatre, it'll be a great time. "I will NOT eat green eggs and ham! I will not eat them Sam I am!" The eggs are from Easter and they came with Silly Putty in them that's green, all of the kids like coming up to touch it.

I went to Walmart the other night with Mike, Kate, and Ken to find the most glorious toy on the planet. For three dollars, I got a fully pose-able, cross eyed, white, English speaking, scripture quoting Jesus action figure. I'm not kidding you. I saw online that the thing sells for $19.99, but this one is taped into it's box, so I think I got one that was returned. I'm okay with that, Jesus still works. It's one of those toys given to children by the cult-Christian parents (read: Yearn For Zion Polygamy Child Abuse Very Small Branched Off Sect of Mormon's Ranch in Texas). If I was ever handed something like this as a child I would probably have ripped it's head off while at day camp (like I did with most of my Barbie's. What? As long as I put them back on before Mom or Dad picked me up, it was alright. It's not like I rip off real girl's heads now. Well, not literally).

Here is the glorious action figure/doll/salvation giver:

Yup. That right there is my Lord and Savior at his... not so finest. I don't think Jesus ever intended to be turned into plastic, shoved in a box, and have a button in the back of him to be pushed so he could spout scripture off on demand.

But what do I know?

That being the highlight of my month, I haven't much more to say.

Finals. Finals. Finals. Finals week starts soon. Then home. Then to the Center for Talented Youth hosted by an array of colleges across the country, founded by John Hopkins. I get to be an A.C./R.D. combined for these crazy child prodigies. Good times. I think I'll leave Action Jesus at home for that adventure. He's too much for me to handle some times, let alone the children.

Happy Easter!

I'll Keep My Head Down And My Chin Up...

Spring break was a good time. 

Back to the grind of things today. Golgonooza is soon, and I'm excited but nervous about it coming together. It always does, though. Somehow. There is so much to do, but I guess there's a certain trust that comes with being a part of any production that everyone will just do their part and you'll do yours and vola! Theatre magic makes it possible.

I still haven't heard back from any of the summer internships or apprenticeships I've applied to. The first one I put my application into is the one I'm most hoping to be accepted to. The Williamstown Theatre Festival apprenticeship for actors. Check this out:

"An apprentice’s theatrical experience is not built on performance opportunities alone. Apprentices work on a number of crews and positions throughout the summer that make the season possible, including building sets, hanging lights, assisting the marketing department, greeting audiences, and providing vital support to the many and varied needs of the Festival on a daily basis. In short, and with no understatement, apprentices are the lifeblood of the Williamstown Theatre Festival; it would be impossible to do what we do without them. Apprentices also take part in a unique classroom-learning experience, consisting of approximately two to four classes a week. Resident artists teach a wide variety of classes across many disciplines, and master classes with world-renowned visiting artists are scheduled throughout the summer. Apprentices will interact with, observe, and ultimately learn from many of the established artists who visit the Festival each season. "

I worked the hardest on that application (and on even being 'allowed' by my mom to apply). Also, it costs money to participate in the program so I created a very lengthy personal statement of financial need.

I also have an application in to North Western's National High School Institute summer program. I've applied to be an assistant faculty member for the theatre arts area of the program. It's like a pre-college thing for high schoolers who are interested in all different fields.

"The faculty of the Theatre Arts Division is composed of award-winning educators, performers, designers, directors, and choreographers from theatres and universities throughout the country. (for undergraduates interested in theatre, teaching, internship). All Faculty Associates are required to life in the dormitory and serve as dorm counselors for which they recieve room and board and stipend."

All I have to say is: HECK YES! I'd love to.

Lastly, I have an application into the Center for Talented Youth with John Hopkin's.

"At CTY you will work with an exceptional group of students, make contacts and friendships with dynamic colleagues, and gain valuable experience in a rigorous academic community. CTY has consistently been named as one of the top internships in leading publications. We have a network of past employees now working in positions ranging from heads of school to deans of students to university professors."

Again, a great opportunity for the summer.

It's just hard to wait. If I don't hear back by April 1st, I'm calling at least the first two places to see what my application's standing is.... It'd be nice to know what I'm doing with my summer, though.

Okay! I have to go call a man about a bedroom set for the stage, write sound and lighting cues, figure out my schedule for next semester, wait to hear back from three different apprenticeship/internship opportunities, get ready for Easter, start packing my room up so I don't have as much crap to take home as I did last year, aaaaaaaaand scene.

What Doesn't Kill You Hurts Like Hell...But It Doesn't Kill You.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

February 7 - Light Ahead

Trust and be not afraid. Life is full of wonder. Open child-trusting eyes to all I am doing for you. Fear not.

Only a few steps more and then My Power shall be seen and known. You are, yourselves, now walking in the tunnel-darkness. Soon, you yourselves shall be lights to guide feet that are afraid.

The cries of your sufferings have pierced even to the ears of God himself – My Father in Heaven, your Father in Heaven. To hear, with God, is to answer. For only a cry from the heart, a cry to Divine Power to help human weakness, a trusting cry, ever reaches the Ear Divine.

Remember, trembling heart, that with God, to hear is to answer. Your prayers, and they have been many, are answered.

"Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These are good things to keep in mind. I need this Lent to get my religion back on track, you could say. I guess I'm not as 'grown' as I thought. In fact, I've reverted, but that can be good, in some ways. Maybe. It all depends on how you use what you're given. And I've been given a lot, and that's really a blessing. I am still quite blind, though. I need help seeing the obvious, finding the not so obvious and ... well, that's enough vagueness for one post.

Graduate school research is terrifying. I’m waiting to hear back on a REALLY big summer opportunity. Birthday in nineteen days and then I'll be a legal beagle. Yeah, I went there. >.>

Business all around my life! I was going to type out everything that I've been up to but I changed my mind because:

1. Everyone is busy.

2. As much as it drives me crazy, I enjoy it.

3. You're supposed to do things in secret, thus making the reward greater for the soul.

Illness has been abound, too - I'm afraid. It makes me sad. If I'm still feeling awful on Monday I'll need to call the doctor. For now, I'm seeing how well I can duke it out on my own. Bring it, disease!

In other news: new roommate, she's cool. We're pretty cool. We just let each other do our own thing, and such. I feel bad she has a hacking crazy girl with her. I hope I don't cause her to get sick, that would be rude of me, not to mention a lame time had by all. Bob Marley sheet + Postcards +Pretty (not real) Flowers) + Bible Quotes = Decoration Love. Not going to lie, our room is pretty sweet. It was really cool of her to move up here instead of making me go down there. I felt bad but.... well, it's done and there doesn't seem to be hard feelings. Yay!

Come and see South Pacific. Every inch is packed with dynamite. An, um, it's Main Stage. Which is fantastic. Probably the last one Doc E. directs, actually... Hmm. Disconcerting? Maybe a little but such is life.

So that's that and that'll be that, and that's the end of that.

I Don't Know What My Future Holds, But I Know Who Holds My Future.

Two weeks into the semester, and already I am looking for the summer to come peaking behind the snowy cold. Although, when that happens, it will mean saying goodbye to the people that have mattered most to me the past three years. Not forever, but there you have it. It's happened my freshman year. There went people who inspired me, who influenced my art and my mind. And my sophomore year. There went the people with the motivation and talent. And it'll happen this year. Those with kindness, enthusiasm, humor, and grace. The next year, it'll be us. The ones who learned from all the others, and at least attempted such greatness.

It's a new year. I guess you could say it has started off very slowly. I don't have any idea what will happen to me in the next week. Or the next month. Or the one after it. And so forth. No one ever does, do they? I would like to have change in my life. The one I have been living isn't exactly up to par. It's not "doing it" for me, so to speak.

I get these inexplicable ideas in my head that just cannot be shaken. That I could only be in love with so-and-so. Or the only way I'll be happy is if such a thing occurs. It can't be healthy, that's for sure. It scares me, a little. I'm still waiting for things to go back to 'normal' and for whatever reason, I can't understand that this day in and day out is what normal will be until something else shifts. Either via my changing it, or it changing me.

It would be so easy to blame others. But, I don't like to make it easy.

So I'll just keep on keepin' on. Get up. Go to work. Go to class. And back to work. Work out. Go to rehearsal. Learn the steps. Memorize the lyrics. Remember why it's a way of life, instead of a career. Go to bed. Get up. Go to work. Go to class... and on weekends? Do homework. Find some times when friends are around, and go visit. Keep occupied. Work out some more. Pretend it isn't lonely to walk back to an empty room. Wake up, and do it again the next day.

Wash, rinse, repeat as necessary. Wash, rinse, repeat.

And a happy new year!

Not much time to post, but I wanted to wish everyone a fantastic holiday!



Love peace and joy!

I Want This Gift

I love my family. You all know this. I just came back from Thanksgiving and even though there were some rough spots (when aren't there?!), it was fantastic. They are so full of love and life and character, it makes the word 'family' shine.

My little brother. My best friend and worst enemy. But mostly my best friend. He and I have been through more together than anyone else has been through with me. And I've been through a lot of crap with a ton of people. I would be lost without him. He's really grown up to be a hilarious, quick, smart, sensitive guy. He tells Michael (the older of the two cousins on mom's side) that he loves him (he tells everyone that, but anywho). Like, I watched him say that to Michael yesterday morning and was just so amazed at how he could make those three words 'cool'. Michael will never think it's not a 'guy thing' to say that you love someone. I think that's incredible, and I bet Mark doesn't even know he has done that for Michael. Not to mention Mark and I had 'girl talk' at two in the morning watching 'Along Came Polly' and 'Blue Crush', that was fun. We talked about computer games and I was able to watch his multimedia project video, which was so impressive! It was all stop motion, and it's just like 'what happened to that pudgy little Buddha child I used to beat the living daylights out of?' Mark hugs me when I cry, and he does damage control with mom. I try to do the same for him. When I wasn't feeling well Thanksgiving morning, he totally took both kids and let me sleep in. Michael came down at 6am to pull off Mark's sock. I hear:

"Hey! Not my sock...aw, now my feet are cold."
*giggles*
Then, twenty minutes later he sits up and goes
"I found my sock."

It's some of that stupid stuff that is SO funny to us. We taught Michael and Michele the game "Guess What?" "What?" "Five minutes to get rid of it." That was, maybe a bad choice, in retrospect. We also played the game "You remind me of a man!" What man?" "The man with the power. " "What power?" "The power of voo-doo!" "Who do?" "You do!" "I do what?" "Remind me of a man!"" "What man?" "The man with the power...." and so on. Michael's a smart kid, he came down one morning and said that to us while we ere half asleep, and I said "What man?" Thinking it was cute he remembered that we talked about it the night before. He goes "Five minutes to get rid of it!" And runs away laughing his fool head off. Oh that child. So, that's my shpeal on the boys.

This Italian family of mine loves the sounds of Frank Sinatra. My Pop-Pop *is* better than Frank. Seriously. I may be bias,m but I don't give a damn. He sings so beautifully. And Frank has been his MAN since before I can remember. When I was little, and would play in a baby pool, Pop-Pop and Mom-Mom would sit out in the sun with their old silver portable radio, the antenna way up, and Frank would be blasting. My grandparents are So in love. They fight and pick at each other, but they love each other. When Pop-Pop does something and Mom-Mom goes 'Oh, I don't want to talk to you." He'll bat his eyes and try to give her a hug and say "I love ya sweetheart! Don't you love me, honey?" And she'll swat him with a dishtowel while she goes to get more dishes off the dinner table. It's just, stuff like that. He does the sweetest things for her, she does the cutest things for him. They are so loving. And generous! More than anyone. No one has a bad thing to say about them.

Thanksgiving night while we were doing dishes, the whole house was singing to Frank Sinatra. And the song "New York, New York" came on. Mom-Mom was sitting next to Michele and I and Pop-Pop was singing his heart out while people started to do the dishes. My mom said to him "Go dance with Mom(-Mom), Dad." And he told her "No, she don't want to dance." But he locked at her and she held her hands out, and everyone laughed. So, he went over and they danced and my little brother caught this on tape. You can hear Lydia (Mom-Mom) dancing a little, and see me in the background and Michele on the floor with this HUGE smile. Even at six years old she can tell what they have is special. Now, they're on You Tube. Everyone in the family thinks this is genius, that we put my grandparents on the internet. When they finished dancing (You can hear Poop-Pop starting to say "That's all, I gotta do the dishes" as he walks away), Michele looked up and said to me "That's just hysterical!" I looked at her and told her "Nah, it's just incredible." She didn't get it, but that's okay.

I guess the point is, when I'm eighty (do those two look eighty to you?), I want to be so in love, have such a wonderful family surrounding me, and still singing and dancing my heart out. That's a gift, you know? What those two have. And it's just amazing to me.

I can't figure out how to upload the video on here, so here's the link instead.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eDhoTorigck

Gobble Gobble!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYBODY!

Peace, Love, and Turkey!

Well If All You Want Is Honesty, That's All You Have To Say.

Let's talk about some things that are, how you say: bugging me. Just a couple things, out of the many many choices, that are going through my mind.


And we can start with the theatre majors who are here and act as though they are above the program. You don't like the program, then just leave! You want a big part in the show, but you don't know anything about it, have never heard the music, never read the script, don't know who the characters are, and won't research? Do you think it'll just be handed to you on a silver platter? You have to work HARD if you even want to be CONSIDERED for a part that's bigger than ensemble. And hell, even if you do do all your research and audition with the perfect song, and/or monologue, you STILL may not get casted in a lead role because you're:too short, you're hair is too thick, too fat, too tall, too brunette, too broad-shouldered, too unique, too commercial, not what the director wants....whatever. Oh wait, what? You want to do film! You're such a conceded jerk. You have yet to prove you possess have any talent in front of a camera, or in front of an audience on stage. And you're almost done with school... so you're thinking about changing your major NOW?! I mean, don't get me wrong, I hope you do switch to something else, because you're an awful representation of the theatre department and you would be much better suited to be in with the other Poly Sci majors that you so revere, because they have some argumentative tendencies to rival yours. However, with the rate you're going, even they will throw up their hands in frustration, roll their eyes, and exasperate a pinched voice: "Whatever you say, you obviously know so much more about it than I do." Because you are the spoiled, childish, stuck-up person who has to have his way every $*%&@*! time. Why is it that you're never wrong? I wish I could always be right, like you! Maybe it's something aspire to, i'll work really hard towards that: when i grow up, I'll be just. Like. You. Yeah, right. I'd rather slide down a giant razor blade into a pool of alcohol. Oh! And lastly, let me tell you that being a homophobic does NOT work well if you are interested in theatre, film, or any other form of art - and being a part of it. You want to be in theatre? GET OVER IT! Being a racist won't help you much in those areas, either. Actually, it wouldn't help you much anyplace.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ONE WEEK LATER: Nov. 14th - an addition to this theatre thing:

"death by theatre major" is my favorite ice cream flavor!

I loathe these junior high drama addicts, these friend-stealing, back-stabbing, heart-breaking people.

I loathe this department and its pre-casting, babying, favoring professors.

I loathe those disrespecting, unfeeling, gut-wrenching, unprofessional cretins walking around this God-forsaken scum of the earth campus.

And I loathe my addiction to this painful, anxiety ridden, wonderful, life-giving drug that I have been so willfully pushed, pulled, sucked down, slammed into taking inside of me - shooting, snorting, popping, and smoking every hour of my life from the time I was ten years old until this very moment...

I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

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Let's move on, shall we? Lovely! (Nota Bene: This is about more than one person. Let's see if you smart readers can catch the double entrende! Iti's like "Where's Waldo", only more people are wearing the red and white stripped shirts than you first thought when you looked at the picture.) I am SO SICK of seeing people in relationships where they get treated like the lowest little piece of scum on the planet. YOU ARE WONDERFUL! You are. Find someone who treats you like that, find anyone. You don't deserve that crap you take, that you've been taking for years. You. Don't. Deserve. It. I wish you could see how it breaks hearts of people who hardly even know you because you ARE such a fantastic, beautiful person who anyone with a bit of sense would praise God for every second, and would WORSHIP you and treat you like royalty. Dear person A: Drop person B, they're screwing you over. Go for person C. They've been standing here all along. They're the one to sweep you away...if you'd let them. I know it's hard. I really and truely ldo. But....you need to let go, just let go. No one should go through life being treated the way you are.

Wanna know what else is going through this head? Well! I'll tell ya! You said I could be there and it would all be okay. Then, things changed because of one person, and I could be there only after a certain time. HEY! You lied. You broke your promise. Let's not even go into the agreement we had not to do that thing we said we weren't going to do anymore because of that weekend I had not so long ago. You'll be throwing that out the window pretty soon. I'm guessing you don't even remember that was our deal.

Dear life:

Please, sucker punch me some more! It feels so lovely! I enjoy ever minute of it!

Your friend, Michelina

Life is Chasing Around Inside of Me Like a Squirl!

I won an IPhone a few weeks ago. For Homecoming, the Alumni Association was offering it as a drawing prize. Bizare, hu? Sold it to Lauren's little brother, so good times!

We open the show in two days and I'm sick. Ah well, it could be worse. Just a sinus icky time. After work today, I'm going to go on a hunt for Cayenne Powder. From what I've heard, it works miracles.

Here's some things you should know about the show:

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Theatre Department will open its new season with an affectionate rendition of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s vintage comedy, You Can’t Take it With You.
The production will be presented at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 18 through Saturday, October 20 and Thursday, October 25 through Saturday, October 27, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, October 21 and 28, in the Studio Theatre of the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the UPJ campus.
Winner of the 1938 Pulitzer Prize, this visit with the lovable Sycamore family sounded an upbeat message to a nation frazzled by the Great Depression, an underscoring of the need to move past the loss of material possessions to the importance of love and human connection.
Audiences will enjoy the spectacle of the “normal” daughter, Alice Sycamore’s attempt to marry into a conventional family against the backdrop of her eccentric home, where xylophone music, ballet lessons, playwriting, fireworks, a printing press, and pet snakes are the norm, with occasional visits from tax collectors and the FBI.
UPJ welcomes guest director Scott Baron. Scenic design is by James Moore, costumes by Linda Capp, lighting and sound by Michael Feight, with properties, make-up and hairstyles by Pat Fenchak.
For additional information, contact Rodney Eatman, UPJ Theatre Department director, at 814-269-7232.
Tickets may be purchased by calling the Artsline at 1-800-846-ARTS from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Tickets are $10. Discount tickets of $7 are being offered to senior citizens (over 65 years of age), students under 18 and members of the Pitt Johnstown community (faculty, staff, students and members of the Pitt Johnstown Alumni Association who carry the “gold card”). The box office is open for in-person sales from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The box office opens one hour before performances.

See you there! :-)

See the sunbeams? Everyone beams just because of you.

Things are looking up!

Story time! Part One: The theatre department is doing a traveling production (the first act of The Apple Tree, which is based on Mark Twain's The Diary of Adam and Eve). And I was casted as Eve. YAY! I get to be witty and saucy but young and naive...kind of like Little Red Riding Hood in Into The Woods, except Eve is a lot smarter and a bit more whimsical.

Part Two: You Can't Take It With You had a cast member drop out, and now I'm a part of the show! I'm definitely the third most seen woman onstage. Essie is that character's name. That's pretty neat, methinks!

But me oh my, do I have a lot of lines, songs, and blocking to learn in a small amount of time! My game plan is to get the Apple Tree down first, since we're performing THAT in a week and a half, and then focus on You Can't Take It With You after that's all said and done.

Since I wasn't casted in the first round, I really need to work hard to prove myself in this role. I CANNOT slack or give a half-ass effort. I don't know where I'm going to find extra time in my day to work on this outside of rehearsal, but by golly I will!

When I was in middle school, and I was involved with an advanced class in Saltworks, I was told to see the production of You Can't Take It With You. I believe it was at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. The show starts with Penny and Essie, and I remember the girl playing Essie vividly, just in that very first scene. She had short, dark, curly hair and a white ballet outfit on. She had to be about 25 years old, but I told my mom I thought I could have played her. I remember admiring her part and her personage. Isn't it ironic after all this time, years and years later, that I'm going to be playing that very role?

It's kinda neat how life comes full circle.

Here's the show details, if you're interested: Tickets are only $10, and the performances are October 18-28!Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm (doors open at 7:30pm), and Sundays at 2pm(doors open at 1:30pm). Send me an email or leave comments if you would like more information.

And for once it might be grand...

Wow the past month has sucked, hard core.

When I grow up, I want to be closer to perfection than I am right now.

I don't know if I thought that I was a shoe-in, so I stopped trying or if I just have decreased in my skill and ambition. Either way, it isn't good. Not at all. I'm failing at what I love, what I claim is my passion, what drives me. And that ends up killing me. I need to really push myself the rest of the semester. Whether it's weight, acting projects, vocally, choreographically...I need to push myself. I will succeed, because I won't let myself do any less. That's just the mentality I have to adopt or else I am not going anywhere. And I so want to go somewhere.

I will be better. If I don't get better, I'll be in a huge pile of trouble. And I simply refuse to settle for just passing. Because I have been slammed, again and a gain, with life telling me:

"It's not working."

Okay. I get it. Now, stop giving me the fuzzy side of the lollipop.

Pray for me! I need it...please.

So Let Go, Oh Let Go...

Here I am! Back at UPJ for year three. I can't believe I'm a junior. Wasn't I Freshman just a minutes ago? I guess not. Your little girl is growing up fast, you could say. I'm happy to be back, and at the same time, a lot of weird memories have come flooding back that I thought....heh, *thought* I was past. Maybe there are some things I'll never get over, some memories I'll never bury deeply enough. I need to get the hell out of here just to...

I have to be crazy. I have to be. That's what I've figured out. Something is seriously wrong with me, sometimes. Gah!

I'm really doing well, it's just this stupid little bump I can't quite make myself climb over.

Someday I'll look back on this and laugh.

Maybe I'll get the hang of this sometime...but I hate all these vague references to 'some day' or 'sometime'...is it bad to want things 'right' and 'right now? And if it isn't bad, how do I get them? Because I'm a little bit stuck.

I Saw You Today

I saw you today, I was talking to my friends and you were passing through the building. I was talking and I caught a glance of your sweater, the blue one I gave you last Christmas that brings out your eyes. I wanted to sound witty or laugh or do anything to get you to look at me for a minute, but the moment elapsed and you were down the stairs and off to someplace new.

I saw you today, in the change of the leaves, as I drove down the main street, singing the blues. The sound of someone soulful filtered through the FM stereo, the one speaker still doesn’t work. You were locking your front door, walking out of the house that you share with your best friends. You know the ones that couldn’t stand the way I hung around you and held your hand? You had your haircut since that last time our paths crossed. It looked good. The reds and yellows blurred together above your head, and my car passed slowly, hoping you’d turn. You didn’t, of course, and I didn’t honk my horn, or roll down the window, I just turned up the music, and was swept away by the crescendo.

I saw you today, on the mall’s moving staircase. Yours was moving downward and mine moving up. You saw me and waved, I smiled hello. I tripped over my many bags and clumsy feet at the top of the escalator. I heard your strong, teasing laugh, and I turned around. You watched me travel past you; you took the extra second to see my back float away. You didn’t realize how much I’ve missed you. I laughed and shrugged, I’ve always been clumsy. I didn’t realize how long ago we were in love.

And neither of us knew how to say we still cared.




Found that on my computer, I wrote it a long long time ago. It was strange to find it. I'm online at the library, as my internet is still not functioning at home. I wrote a play. A short one. I still need to do a lot of work on it, but who knows, maybe it'll be something good? I finished working with the kids this week, I miss them already! I also closed Once on this Island, the last show of the summer. Man, it'll be time to go back to school before I blink! This week I'm packing my things, next week I'll be in Philly, and then it's off to UPJ for another year of excitment. But I'm really just thinking about going to Oakland tomorrow to see a dear friend. It'll be fun, I'm so excited! :-)

I've learned a lot about doing the whole 'long distance' thing - even though it's not that far. We're "making it work" (thanks Tim Gunn for the encouragement)! And I'm happy. Really really happy. He's everything I ever wanted and more.

All in all, things are good. I'm really blessed.

Oh. And my brother smells. Thought I'd share.

Love, hugs, and bedtime thugs,
Mic

Inspired

Well. Two shows down, one to go. This summer is flying by me and taking forever at the same time it seems. Hard as it is to believe, three weeks from now I'll be done preforming, and two weeks after that I'll be back at UPJ.

At the closing night of Into The Woods, a bunch of fun stuff happened. First, at 7:07 and 7 seconds PM on 7-7-07, Rapunzel, Lucinda (one of Cinderella's stepsisters), the Wolf/Rapunzel's Prince, and I all made a wish. It was a great feeling. I love sharing those moments with friends.

The second great cool thing that happened was, well, the night before last, really. The Baker and I shared some strawberry deliciousness, Cinderella's Prince and I had a heart to heart about boys, and Jack and I made sarcastic comments about EVERYONE. Oh me, being surrounded by three gay guys was the perfect cure for a terrible week. At one point they said to me "Oh honey child! Do not worry about men, they're always going to be a problem, you might as well stop crying off good expensive make-up over them!" That's all I needed. A little sass and a lot of jokes about me turning them all straight with my good looks and charm (yeah right). :-p

The last awesome good thing that happened was: a family with a guy named Alex along with a professional sign language interpreter picked our show out of all the shows they could have gone to see in Pittsburgh to attend. After listening to the music once, they were sold on the show. Comtra is so small, the audience is right in your face and you're surrounded by them on all four sides of the stage...and this interpreter - was incredible. I watched him a lot of the time I was on stage, and the way the lyrics are, the whole show is - it's so overlapped and the interpreter caught EVERYTHING. His energy and enthusiasm was breathtaking. I felt badly because sometimes he had to stand up and sign over hus...he sat in the section directly across from Alex, so Alex could watch the action on stage and see what everyone was saying, too. I went up to him after words and shook his hand, and he and Alex kept thanking us for putting on the show. I thanked him for HIS performance, because this interpreter told me that he tries to match the energy of the actors, but he went above and beyond. It was so cool, I would love to do that. They also told me that this was the most welcoming theatre. Apparently traveling shows, like Broadway tours and such, are really rude and complain, saying things such as: "Fine! We HAVE to have these people here." That broke my heart. I hope that the people who feel that way remember what being an actor is all about...it's not about feeling inconvenienced because someone who has a special need or disability wants to enjoy the wonderful world of theatre, it's about welcoming everyone into a totally new world with witches and giants, a family, a future...etc.

Anywho, I'm inspired to say the least.

Moments in the Woods.

What was that?

Was that me?
Was that him?
Did a Prince really kiss me?
And kiss me?
And kiss me?
And did I kiss him back?

Was it wrong?
Am I mad?
Is that all?
Does he miss me?
Was he suddenly
Getting bored with me?

Wake up! Stop dreaming.
Stop prancing about the woods.
It's not beseeming.
What is it about the woods?

Back to life, back to sense,
Back to child, back to husband,
You can't live in the woods.
There are vows, there are ties,
There are needs, there are standards,
There are "shouldn'ts" and "shoulds"

Why not both instead?
There's the answer, if you're clever:
have a child for warmth,
And a Baker for bread,
And a Prince for whatever-
Never!
It's these woods.

Face the facts, find the boy,
Join the group, stop the Giant-
Just get out of these woods.
Was that him? yes it was.
Was that me? No it wasn't,
Just a trick of the woods.

Just a moment,
One peculiar passing moment...
Must it all be either less or more,
Either plain or grand?
Is it always "or"?
Is it never "and"?
That's what woods are for:
For those moments in the woods...

Oh. If life were made of moments,
Even now and then a bad one-!
But if life were only moments,
Then you'd never know you had one.

First a Witch, then a child,
Then a Prince, then a moment-
Who can live in the woods?
And to get what you wish,
Only just for a moment-
These are dangerous woods...

Let the moment go...
Don't forget it for a moment, though.
Just remembering you've had and "and",
When you're back to "or",
Makes the "or" mean more
Than it did before.
Now I understand-

And it's time to leave the woods.

Where fairy tales collide, and musical numbers are performed...

Time and Place

Start Time:	Friday, June 22, 2007 at 7:00pm
End Time:	Saturday, July 7, 2007 at 9:00pm
Location:	Comtra Theatre
Street:	Route 19 North
City/Town:	Cranberry, PA

Into the Woods is an award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine.

The musical intertwines a collection of uncensored versions of 18th century Brothers Grimm fairy tales. An original story involving a Baker and his Wife's quest to begin a family ties together the stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella.

The musical makes heavy use of syncopated speech. In many instances, the characters' lines are delivered with a fixed beat that follows natural speech rhythms, but is also purposely composed in eighth, sixteenth, and quarter note rhythms as part of a spoken song. Like many Sondheim/Lapine productions, the songs contain thought-process narrative, where characters converse or think aloud.

The score is also notable in Sondheim's output because of its intricate reworking and development of small musical motifs. In particular, the opening words, "I wish", are set to the interval of a rising major second and this small unit is both repeated and developed throughout the show, just as Lapine's book explores the consequences of self-interest and "wishing."

To order tickets, please call 724-773-9896

Comtra Theatre is located on Route 19 North in Cranberry Township, PA, about a mile north of Cranberry Mall and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

It isnext door to Domenico's Restaurant and across the highway from West View Savings Bank.

If you're coming from the North, we're on the left side of the road. From the south, we're on the right side.

Performances are scheduled each Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm

Musical Tickets are $12.

Not so late breaking news...

I have a cell phone. Thanks to help from the lovely Paigetta, of course!

Want the number? Leave me a comment.

Don't care? Ignore this update.

Simply marvelous!