When it rains...

Hello, Blogger. It probably feels as though I have abandoned you but I haven't. Truly. I almost nearly fell off the planet and that is why I have lost contact with you. Since the obis hasn't claimed me yet, I decided to inform you of my health and my instability on Earth.

I took a step back today and noticed that my life is great. It has poured. In my hurried state I am constantly under the impression that I am in a drought. The world is spitting on me and this spit has the ability to cause one to see the world through smog-colored glasses. No rain, just spit. It's a terrible way to live. This state of mind alters every situation and never for the best.

In my reverse walk my mind, for the first time in a long time, realized what I've been missing. I could finally see what that smog has been hiding. I got to see all the things that I miss from being in the midst of them. All of the great things that have been happening around me and here I am, drenched in planetary saliva and polluted glasses, too busy to notice.

My brother is engaged. My brain is still trying to wrap around this situation since last week he was saying that he was never going to get married. Or, was that twelve years ago? Anyway, I'm proud of him. He's found a girl that is willing to hang out with him for the next sixty years and there aren't many people who are fortunate enough to find someone who'll do that. I like him. I like her. And that's all that matters. Right?

I love the situations that my school is putting me in. All of my time is being spent in the place that I love most. I rarely have time to think and barely time to study, but I survived the first semester, and I intend to suffering the last three. Really, when one is immersed in homework and theatre as much as this, it's not surprising that one can't see the good, and pay too much attention to the bad. However, today is the day for looking from an outside angle and I have come to the conclusion that Catawba was a good choice. I have no other words on this topic other than going to Catawba has confirmed my suspicions: I love theatre.

To follow up on the last bit, I was cast in The Dining Room at school. It's going to be a great experience. I'm excited to work with the other actors and I can't wait until January 11 when we start getting our hands dirty. And in case there was any question: I love acting. If I could do it all the time, I would. Golly, I can't wait.

I was in Kentucky this past weekend to photograph a wedding. This is a pretty spectacular experience. There was some good, some bad, a mustache, but mostly an experience that I've never had the chance to face before. I also got to see some gorgeous land that the Carolinas do not possess. Without a doubt, I will be going back to Kentucky to further inquire about a barn.

It's strange how this all happened (basically) at once. So much good. Too bad that I could only see the bad. I should walk backwards more often. I am blessed.

I think I can. I think I can.

Coming to Catawba has thrown me into the theatre with full force; it's just a little more force than I expected. Lately, I've been spending more time in the theatre than in class or sleeping. So, for the past five nights I've been teching for Women of Lockerbie and I'll continue to tech every night until Saturday. It doesn't require me to do much; a lot of laundry. 

On top of my 10 hours working in the shop I've been here, the theatre, from 5:15-10:30, to make sure costumes are in order. But it's not just wardrobe, I'm also working on the upcoming show, The Last Journey of 6330. What is that? It doesn't sound familiar... you instinctively say. To answer your first question: It's about trains. A train. 6330. Now, for the second: that's because it's an original piece. The director, actors and other creative thinkers have come together to piece together railway stories, myths and music. We finally have a semi-script and it's still in progress. 

Along with wardrobe for Lockerbie I'm also trying to piece together multimedia for 6330. I've been in production meetings for the past 4 Wednesdays and they will continue until the show is up on it's feet and on the stage. Multimedia sounds kind of unclear, I know. I thought the same thing when I was told that, too. Here's a definition: during the show there are to be photographs and video clips of trains and all things related being shown as projections. I am to gather the photos, videos, and whatever else that is needed along with working the projector which is done through computer(?) To be honest, I'm still not fully clear on my job, that's why I'm meeting with the director tomorrow. But in the meantime, I've found some great photographs...

False! Black bears.

I'm going to overdose on The Office and I'm okay with this. The Office is brilliant. June, someone on my hall, has all of the seasons on dvd. It's amazing! When there's downtime, it's Officetime. This leads me to my next topic of conversation: Jim aka John Krasinski is waxy. Mmm. He's just... just so pretty.

So, I'm far enough into the semester to let you in on how I feel about my classes. So, lets begin, shall we?

Spanish: The bane of my existence. I have it every other morning for fifty minutes at 9 o'clock. The main reason why I don't like it is el profesor asks questions. I'm not good at answering. I can memorize, I can take quizzes, I cannot answer your spanish questions because I have no idea what you are saying. It's frustrating because I have to think about it. I can't just spit words out of my face in a language that I don't understand. I have never had any sort of spanish class before this one, so I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I've already had a quiz and test.

Movement: Yes, I'm taking a movement class. It's okay. I usually like it. There's a ton of homework; papers, worksheets... loads and loads of worksheets. However, I have to walk all the way from the dance studio to Ketner in under 10 minutes. It sounds easy, I know. Even though the campus is small, it's the two furthest points and that is the distance from the dance studio to Ketner. So, I'm usually gross from running around for an hour, then I have to truck it to Ketner for math.

Math: Oh, yes. Statistics. Math. I. Hate. It. So far it's not bad. But. I. Still. Hate. It. I have a test on Wednesday. (i hate it.)

Analysis of Dramatic Literature: My favorite class. I'm not being sarcastic. It's great. I love talking about the plays, even though some of them are crap. Gosh, I love literature. And I love that everyone else talks about them. It's just a good class. PS my teacher is awesome. He's a cool guy.

Lighting: This class is overload sometimes. It's hard but I'm trying. I think it will eventually click and it'll make sense, but right now my brain is rejecting the information.

Cafeteria food is gross. Catawba ranks 2nd for worst cafeteria food in the country. Gross. The only thing you can count on to be semi-edible are the potatoes and pizza.

I hang out a lot. It's the only thing to do. I play a lot of cards, massacre, play sardines in Ketner at unreasonable hours, play in the rain, have timed the sprinklers to know when they go off so I can go frolicking, invented pingponwallaball, watching The Office and doing a lot of stuff on campus. I'm also saving a lot of money. I walk everywhere so I don't have to spend money on gas. I haven't been eating out; I've been maybe twice, whereas in Charlotte I ate out a lot. 

I never have time to do laundry.

So, life is really busy. I work in the theatre almost everyday and I like it. I have tech coming up this weekend for Women of Lockerbie. It's a great show-- I'm very impressed by it. Now, I need to leave so I can play Uno.

Carmen.

I'm trying.

Pop Tarts are amazing. It doesn't matter how old someone gets, how could they turn them down? They can't. My dad bought me some and then he bought himself some. Pop Tarts are perfectly bad for the body but that doesn't seem to matter. Yum.

Life is terrific at this second. I found out that my Spanish professor's daughter had a baby so he was swept away to Minnesota. So that quiz that I was freaking out about is postponed. No class/quiz tomorrow, no class/quiz on Friday. It's a Labor Day miracle!

I had to read The Goat or Who Is Sylvia and it is the worst play I have ever read. Not only is the subject disgusting but the writing was just terrible and hard to follow. If anyone considers reading this, don't. Terrible.

I'm very sorry about this post. It's kind of boring but I'm going to try to get back into it. I've kind of ignored it. Even though I am quite busy, I'll see what I can do. 

Carmen.

Stress: the symptom of school

Tomorrow I have to clean the theatre. At 9 o'clock. Doesn't sound bad? Well, it wouldn't be bad if I hadn't been waking up at 8 every morning and going to bed past 12 every night. It's wearing me out. Then I might have a few moments to myself to shower and then I have to make an appearance at a party so I don't seem like a recluse. It's Saturday and there's no sleeping in.

This is a terrible way to introduce you into my life on a college campus. To begin: I've moved in. Made some fun friends (June, Kacey, Lindsey, Jaspen, Adam, Rob). Made some annoying enemies (Dr. Proctor, for example). I'm already stressed out. I've been thrown into the theatre world with full force and my school work was thrown with just as much speed. I started classes yesterday and I already have a book to read, spanish homework, work study in the theatre, a member of Blue Masque, doing wardrobe for Lockerbie, doing multi-media for 6330, and building for Urinetown. My life, as I know it, is over. And on top of it all I have to eat and try to be social. There have already been a few event and party invites. I don't know how I'm going to survive.

Since it's late, I'm going to stop there and, in the mean time, come up with a few constructive sentences and keep all you crazy kids updated. 

Carmen.

Nothing.

I'm so freaking cold. In my house, the normal temperature is a few differing from the outside. So, lately, its been 90 outside, and 85 inside. Maybe I'm exaggerating the innards temperature but that's how it goes; it's a little too warm for it to be comfortable. But tonight it's cold. Outside, it's lovely. It's the perfect summer night weather. What I'm trying to say, is that it's way to cold in this house. Geez, I just wasted so many words. I apologize.

Maybe I should be sleeping. I haven't been getting to bed 'til the A.M.'s lately and, in the long run, my body and mind won't appreciate it. Last night I didn't get home until two and didn't get to bed until three. It isn't healthy. But I was up late for a good reason. I went on a picnic. I feasted on crackers, cheese, and cherry limeade with my lovely friend, Heather. It was terrific. Picnic'ing during the summer at an unreasonable hour is something that everyone should experience at least once. We were even blessed with a summer rain that chased us to an awning and under a blanket.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. 

Can you speak 6 languages?

Carmen.