| Twilight...best movie ever...for MST3K |
[Apr. 2nd, 2009|10:15 pm] |
Ok, I finally saw the runaway hit Twilight (still couldn't bring myself to read any of the books...two hours lost is enough of an investment for me). To reiterate the subject heading, I would so love to turn this movie into an episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Now that would be good.
Bless their hearts...wow, now I know that watching this movie while I am currently reading Jane Eyre (not while I was watching the movie but that is the current book that I am reading...again) sets it up for failure and so I won't even come close to comparing the writing. But I will say, wow, I think this screenplay could have been memorized in one day. Their was no depth, no substance, and the scenes were choppy and at times irrelevant and I was left with the feeling of "so what?" And everything was just so melodramatic.
Now I will say I was quite impressed in the visual element. I do not know if this was filmed on location in Washington but there were some fantastic aerial views of the mountains. Just beautiful!!! And I did truly enjoy the vampire baseball game. The family was actually the only element that I did enjoy or feel anything for. I was more concerned that someone in the Cullen family would get hurt by the "bad" vampires than I was about the main characters.
Oh well. I just had to see what all the talk was about and now my curiosity is satisfied and now I can return to Ms Eyre and Mr. Rochester...for we are just about to the part where the mad woman in the attic disrupts all of Jane's beautiful dreams...for a time. Man do I love this book :)
I've heard about someone adding zombies to Pride and Prejudice, I wonder what would happen if you added vampires or werewolves to Jane Eyre? Maybe that's what was wrong with that woman in the attic...she did bit people after all :) |
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| Natasha Richardson will be missed |
[Mar. 18th, 2009|08:26 pm] |
How is it that a 40 year old woman can perform a Caesarean Section on her self or someone like Aron Ralston can cut his own arm off with a dull pocket knife and survive but a 45 year old woman has what appeared to be a minor accident while learning to ski on the bunny slopes and she dies a few days later? There are simple things that we do every day that you never think of as life threatening. The theatre has lost a beautiful and talented actress and she will be missed. My heart goes out to her family.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-me-natasha-richardson19-2009mar19,0,7226403.story |
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| an odd place in life |
[Mar. 17th, 2009|05:00 am] |
I am not exactly sure how to deal with this but I have reached a place in my life that if I was a gambling man I would pick up my chips and leave the table. I feel like I stand to loose more than gain. I have so much in my life that I am thankful for, so many people that I love, and I have already lost more than I care to. But unfortunately in the game of life (not to sound too cliche) you can not stop, you don't ever get to walk away from the table. I don't know why I see things the way I do. All I know is that as I get older, I will lose those who mean so much to me, and I can't see that I will gain all that much. Sure I don't have everything that I want...someday I hope to become more successful in my career and I still want children eventually but... I know I can not look at it as a trade off, but I can not deny that the older I get, those around me get older as well. My 15 year high school reunion is in a couple of weeks and I as I was going through some old papers today I happened across the memorial information for someone I was friends with in high school. She died way too young. But it's not just age...I always thought that missing someone would dissipate over time but I seem to miss my Grandparents more and more, not less.
I am just at a point that I don't quite know what to tell myself because thinking that it will get easier eventually just doesn't seem logical to me, I only see it getting harder.
I guess that's something they don't tell you as a kid...but I wouldn't have listened anyways...I wanted to grow up. |
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| Why me :) |
[Mar. 14th, 2009|12:51 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  content | ] |
There are times I wonder, why me? Not in a bad way, actually in a very good way. Now, I am completely aware that we can only know what we've been exposed to but I really feel blessed to have certain people in my life. One of them I did have a say in, I had to accept having an extraordinary man as a boyfriend (which wasn't very hard) but the other two existed before I was ever born and I had no say in my growing up with them. I really do wonder why God allowed me to be born into the family I was born into. I truly can not imagine what my life would be like without the influence of my mother and brother. I do not ever want to imagine my life without these three people...they are truly the best people I know. |
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| Ah the joys of Monday |
[Feb. 9th, 2009|09:47 pm] |
I am not really complaining but I am documenting and showing myself just why I am so tired right now. I know there are many people who put in longer and harder days than I just did (in fact I have myself) but what is starting to concern me is that this is not all that unusual for my Mondays and/or Wednesdays. I start my day off at 5:50am, teaching in Arlington by 7am, then up to Plano for a children's show, then rehearsal for another children's show (a shortened rehearsal due to the actual children's show at 10), then a meeting at PCT. Now this takes us to 1pm and here is where my time could potentially open up (originally before I remembered that we were having a meeting I was going to head back to my house and go to the gym but that didn't happen) so I have a few choices to make. Considering I was hungry going to get something to eat made sense and could be viewed as down time...unfortunately no. I ended up scarfing my food and then quizzing McEntire about the props for Hello Human Female. Following lunch I then proceeded, since I was still up in North Dallas/Plano, I went shopping for some props (my main goal being to find some little stuffed animal kitties...oh and by the way, why on earth are there no KITTENS!!! Apparently Valentine's Day can be represented by every other animal, even a giraffe but not a kitten!).
Now I am going to make a side note here: I admit I was tired today so a bit more frustrated than if I was not so exhausted but I am sorely disappointed in the toys of this generation. Gone are the days of bins of stuffed animals, now they all have to be sold separately and in their own boxes and they purr or move or some other activity that requires batteries. Gone are the days of just plain ole metal jacks, now they have to be "giant Jacks" and they are plastic with just a few jack to a group. Gone is the innocence and make believe only to be replaced with electronic games and High School the Musical junk. I just really makes me sad to shop for toys these days!!!
But back to my day: My prop hunting kept me in North Dallas until around 3ish, leaving me just enough time to make it to TCCD (with all the traffic at that time) on time. But unfortunately I did have to swing by my apt for about 2 sec. and then when I finally made it to Arlington (after traffic was especially bad due to two accidents or maybe one...I don't know) I stopped once again at a Walgreen's in a last ditch effort to find cats. Finally I made it to school just in time to drop off some papers that I had to and then head off to class. Class was over at 6:50pm. From there I drove back to downtown Dallas to work at the Undermain, only leaving there at 9pm, arriving home around 9:30pm, drawing to a close the external part of my day and now only left with making octopus legs and a program (not to mention grading papers)
Oh Mondays! |
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| A New Year |
[Jan. 6th, 2009|12:00 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | calm | ] |
The start of a new year with directing a brand new one-act in Austin. Oh boy am I tired but it is good. I am really enjoying rehearsals, even though they still scare me. Had a slight hiccup in the casting, but got it all ironed out and things are falling into place.
I love a good challenge but they are quite draining and unfortunately I have not learned to take care of my health (ie I have not been going to the Gym) when certain areas in my life pick up. That is not a New Year's Resolution, just something that I am going to continue to work on.
I can look back and see some of my development...I am growing up (despite some of my attempts not to) and every once in a while I see it and am pleased. I like to know that I am not just spinning my wheels. I am still no where close to where I would like to be (theatrically speaking, health speaking, financially speaking) but I am not as far as I was last year (or even when I first arrived back from the HK).
I accomplished a lot last year:
Brad and I did ANGEL IN THE BARN at PCT, ROSELITA’S DEAD MAN in Phoenix, I directed GRADING ON A CURVE at Frontera Fest at the beginning of '08, I was able to be more involved (only slightly however) and performed in Cowtown Puppetry Festival, took a two day bike trip in Austin - riding 30+ miles the first day and 20 something the second, I had a hand in helping Audacity as much as I could, I made a rabbit from scratch for THE VELVETEEN RABBIT (who just tonight acquired a good home and I will have visitation privileges :) Thanks Oscar), learning quite a bit from the Undermain, started acting again with children's theatre, removed myself from a teaching position that I morally disagreed with and didn't go back on my principles for money, and I have continued to struggle to maintain my Friday afternoon suppers with my mom and brother at On The Border (we miss Stacy).
Not that I accomplished this but my cousin got married and I was able to head down to Georgia with the family and see more family, it was awesome! I so miss my family!
And not that I have that much to do with this but I am still with the man I love and I am surrounded by good people.
There are many people that I miss who are not near me but I am learning how to engineer my life so that I will be better with correspondence, and in today's world, you can reach out and touch almost anyone at a moments notice.
All - in - all, not a bad year. Cheers to 2009 :) |
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| Inspriation |
[Nov. 4th, 2008|12:09 am] |
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Saw some theatre over the last few days and I am truly inspired. Sunday, due to the generosity of a friend, McEntire and I were able to go to the Symphony where Basil Twist and some really talented puppeteers that we had worked with at Hip Pocket were performing. It was amazing and beautiful! Then this evening, we returned back to Bass Hall (I have been to Ft. Worth more in the last few weeks than I have been over the last few years) to see COMEDY OF ERRORS by the Aquila Theatre. WOW!!! That was some theatre. Very inspired and looking forward to the next few months with Audacity! :) |
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| Standoff |
[Oct. 16th, 2008|02:04 am] |
I have never been in a building while there was a police standoff going on a few floors above me. It made for quite an interesting evening.
I showed up for work a bit before 5:30 (as is my schedule on Wednesdays, for now). Some of Main street was blocked off by flares and police cars so I maneuvered my way around to the parking lot on Main. Parked my car and as I was walking across the street I saw an ambulance down towards the post office. I was slightly concerned by didn't want to stair and get in the way so I just continued on my way to work.
Shortly after that things began to escalate and the road barriers were expanding in size and reached the point that no one could get in the building - (there was to be a rehearsal). Still unsure as to what was going on I just continued to go on about my day until from an inner office I saw a SWAT team come through the main office.
That was something I had never seen before. In movies sure but not in the flesh. And shortly after they had made there way up the stairs another group of SWAT came through and followed likewise. And boy was my curiosity peaked.
Sometime later (close to seven) we received both a phone call and saw a very short news story informing us of a few facts about what was going on - there was a man (rumored to be naked) with a high-powered rifle, willing to shoot.
This news did not worry me, there were numerous police, and the guy was above us so line of site was not an issue like it was for the cafe and art gallery next door that the police evacuated. In fact, after a while, I was amazed at how antsy I got to go home. We had no clue as to when this situation would end and at times I was slightly worried they might forget we were down there. But about 8pm an officer came and told us to gather whatever we would need for the next few hours because we were leaving.
It was interesting to be escorted out of the building with so many police present. They were all really nice about it and watched and waited for us to get our belongings and turn everything off. Once outside I saw some of the tenants from the building waiting to return to their homes. Unfortunately I was not one of the lucky ones to be able to go home due to the fact that I had parked my car on Main street, right in the gun-man's line of site...opps. So I called McEntire, who was a doll and came and picked me up.
In the news it said that the standoff ended just before 10pm. Odd experience :)
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa081015_wz_rifleman.1178d5e1e.html |
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| Grading on a Curve |
[Oct. 14th, 2008|12:32 pm] |
From last year's Frontera Fest. I am very happy that this beautiful and talented actress has agreed to be one of the actors in Audacity's show at Frontera this year.
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| Busy time |
[Oct. 13th, 2008|11:38 pm] |
The last few months have been busy but not quite like what seems to be coming up. It is exciting but slightly daunting and now I am in a slightly reflective zone. I have been listening to he soundtrack for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (I am going to be directing a youth version for PCT) and the songs at the beginning of the play are so youthful and hopeful, but by the end that hope has changed. It is not completely gone but it has grown up and had to face the harsh realities of life. I love this play, in high school I played Golde, but there are more reasons why I love it than that.
There are so many other projects currently in the works as well, Audacity is growing up. That is so good but at times I get worried about what life will bring. I no longer think I am unbeatable or that I can do anything (I lost that quite a while ago) but I still have hope...it is just growing up.
Even though this seems all moody, I actually received some rather good news tonight. The short one act that I am directing for Frontera Fest this Jan looks like it is mostly cast. I can not wait to work with these guys...they are so great!
And the other shows that I am working on are coming along. Ah, staying on task...something that I am still trying to learn. |
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| Theater |
[Sep. 12th, 2008|01:36 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  frustrated | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Harp music | ] |
Theater is my passion but I will have to say, it may also be my death. Being in a position of having too much seems like a very nice problem to have (and don't get me wrong, I will also prefer having too much to do than too little) but it does have it drawbacks. I have always described my desire when it comes to things that I like as greedy. Therefore, when projects in theater arrise that I want to participate arise I want to do them all. There is just never enough hours in the day to fill that order (especially when I still have to hold down some semblance of a mainstream job to pay rent). There are times that it just eats me up inside. Each theatrical job that I have I wish I could do full time, but not exclusively. I don't want to give up one for the other. Like I said, greedy.
Well if I ever come up with a time bending or pausing or expanding formula, I will share with those of you in the same boat. |
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| July 4th |
[Jul. 4th, 2007|08:15 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | happy | ] |
Last 4th of July I was getting ready to move to Hong Kong, grilling (veggie style) with the family, eating potato salad (oh how I miss you homemade potato salad), visiting with the McEntires, and seeing some friends for the last time before I headed off. This 4th was quite different, yet in someways the same. I am yet once again getting ready to move, only this time home. McEntire and I went to go see Die Hard this afternoon. I have to say, movies like that are typically American and I love it!!! You have the hero, a smart-alec, wise cracking, blue collar cop pitted against the smartest crooks...and he gets to destroy (ie blow up) A LOT of things. How can you not love that!!! And it Bruce Willis, come on!!! The man is just sexy! :) I won't say much more about the movie (I don't want to give it away) except that for someone who is missing home, it's so very American!!! Thumbs up in my book!
After that McEntire and I went to Dan Ryan's grill. Not as good as if I'd been home but they did have some pretty ok apple pie (yes we actually ate apple pie on the 4th...had to!)
Then we hurried back to the apt...McEntire had a workshop that he had to get to and I had a little running around to do. Tried to drop off the wash but the laundry lady was closed (don't know why) so got to bring all the laundry back to the apt., back up the 6 flight of stairs, drop it off and then head back to the MTR station to head to TST. I'm having Mr. Harry make me another pair of pants and two more shirts before I got home since I can't get cheap custom fitted clothing in the States (and he made me a great deal!). Then I hurried back so I could go jogging before the field closes at 10. Ugh! I hate that it closes so early but I love jogging there! :)
Most likely going to cap off the evening with Die Hard II (if I can rent it) and some pizza (to negate any good I might have done jogging).
All in all, not a bad 4th...but all things being the same I'd rather be in...(you know the rest) |
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| old posting that didn't want to stick! |
[Jul. 4th, 2007|08:14 pm] |
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTED ON MAY 24...(don't know what happened)
Yesterday was the last of the Qualied performances! You've heard of the GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH? Well I think I can safely say that on Monday, my student's performance was right up there...at the "WORST" SHOW ON EARTH. Oh Qualied... :) It was a show that should have lasted no more than 35min. and it ran 1hr. and 15min! Now I'm not saying this as "poor me", I didn't expect any better. In all fairness, some of the groups were better than the others (I divided WIZARD OF OZ into 10 scenes and each level, A-E took took scenes. The classes were divided into half), but that really isn't saying much! But when you have no choice in the play (the school choose the story as part of their curriculum and the kids didn't even read the real book...they read like a 20pg dumbed-down 'reader' version to learn English from) and when you have no choice in the actors (all the kids from the entire form had to have a line ON stage!) Between the fact that most of them had basically no english skills to speak of and all of them had no discipline to speak of...I'll let you fill in the rest), can you expect it to go well? NO!
I'm being very negative right now but that shouldn't be taken as all of it directed at the kids. I do really like SOME of my Form 1 kids. But the system is soooooooo messed up! I'm cemented in my views that NO ONE should be forced to learn! That puts the instructor in such a horrible situations. Learning is a privilege, but we don't view it that way. I'm not say that education should be withheld from anyone who wants it...but the key point is 'who wants it'. I'm not so forgetful as to say that every subject I've studied I was jumping up and down to learn but I was at least taught respect as a child and tried (not always successfully) to listen to the teacher even if I hated the subject.
Now I will also concede that it's very difficult for me to feign interest at an assembly entirely in Cantonese...but I DO NOT just talk over the speakers! And I will mention, that I have not been studying Cantonese since I was in elementary school!
But lets say I'm wrong and certain subjects HAVE to be taught (in order to save these children from themselves...a belief that totally grates on my nerves!), like English. Ok, for argument sake lets go there...but DRAMA is not one of those subjects. I have to acknowledge that some people (crazy people :) ) don't like theatre and they shouldn't HAVE to study it. I think it would be good for everyone to see at least one theatrical performance in their life but that doesn't mean that they should have to be in one.
How did things get so turned around that teachers are looking for anything that will 'entice' a child to learn? What happened to earning special privileges?
But enough! I'm done and I am so very happy about that!!! There are now three weeks until exams start and I can't wait. McEntire and I are already solidly into making our departing plans and that is nice! A bit of a long trip home (through a few various countries) will be just what's needed! Looking at taking a few side trips through England and Paris (and now Dublin since the flights to the US were much cheaper from Dublin).
Also, my two shows are now just looming over the horizon. From buying 'unusual' props via the internet to 'studying' Peanut cartoons to studying Shakespeare...Ah theatre!!! Gotta love ya :)
And lastly, on another bright note, went to see PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN the other night. I LOVE BRUCKHEIMER!!! And I'll leave it at that. I really don't want to spoil it for anyone but if you want to talk to me about it...just message me :) |
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| new rehearsals musings |
[May. 10th, 2007|07:39 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | excited | ] |
There are some days when I question why I want to be a director (and why would any one ever let me) and then there are days that remind me. Well today is a reminder and boy do I love directing! I'm still just struggling to get a handle on what to say, how to say, when to say, all the things that a good director just knows. I'm currently reading "The Open Door" by Peter Brook and loving it! I'm trying to embrace my fears (not at a point to run head long into something that scares me...yet) and not be so afraid of conflict. Individuals who have made their mark like Dorothy Parker, Edna Ferber and Alexander Woolcott weren't afraid of conflict. In fact, they most likely went looking for it. No I don't want to part of a group known as "The Poison Squad" (I've had to do research on the Algonquin Round Table recently) but I do want to help create good theatre.
Anyways, sorry that was just a bit waxing, or trying to assert myself :). But what I wanted to notate was that over the last two days I've had two very good rehearsals. The actors were committed, they listened attentively and tried to give me whatever I asked for, instead of fighting with me. Also, I'm different. I don't know why but I don't have quite so much self-doubt. I almost think I need to question that and get it back, it's kinda scary without it, I'm so used to it (and it's by no means gone completely, not even close, but it has lessened). It's amazing (and I know this is something I should have internalized and not just learned a LONG time ago) how much easier it is to do something with someone when your focus is on them and not on what you think they think of what you are saying! I have really been focusing on listening. Not just listening to what they say because I've always tried to listen intently when someone was talking to me, but listening to what their body, their rhythm, their gestures are saying. This all sounds mystical but I'm trying to connect with them, not just listen to them. I don't know if I'm saying what I'm thinking so I'll just sum it up...
GOOD REHEARSALS!!! |
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| Update |
[Apr. 27th, 2007|10:31 pm] |
I don't know why but sometimes I'm on myspace every few minutes and other times I go for days (dare I even say, weeks) without even logging on, let alone talking to anyone. And blogging, even worse. I have been busy, so much has been going on but that's not always the total reason. Who knows?
So, as for my Update: well as of last weekend the show that I directed and was also in closed...it was a very odd structure. It was an evening of one-acts all loosely strung together because we performed them in a diner (don't get me started on the space!!! well since I got started I will admit (and most of you probably already know this) that I learned that some shows just shouldn't be done in certain spaces!!! I hope to never make that mistake again!). I directed two of them and acted in one (again, something I won't do for a very long time, if ever). I was very frustrated, I couldn't devote my full attention to either my acting or directing and so I didn't feel that either were as strong as they could have been. I did focus more on the directing but towards the end (when we moved into the space two days before we opened a number, and I mean number of obstacles arose...not that I hadn't been in the space but it was a 24 hour diner that wouldn't close even for the show, so everything kept changing and the sound was horrible!) when I needed to focus on last minute technical directing, I had to worry about where I was going to be on stage and technical things about me. Oh well, I did learn sooooooo much! Trials will do that to you :)
Now I'm AD for a show a friend of mine is directing, which is giving me the opportunity to focus just on the directing and none of the producing issues like I had to for the previous show. Also, this next week I am starting rehearsal for two monologues that I'm directing in an evening of individual pieces at a really nice theatre cafe (where Brad and Jeff performed FUN DIP and who got them on TV here in HK!) called LATE NIGHT SHOTS.
Oh yeah, and right before CHEW ON THIS (the diner show) went up, Brad and DE put Rupunzel on again in a mall this time. A number of nice things came from it (actually really being paid to do theatre was not one of the least) but it was still a challenge. And this was the time when Jeff was here for a short visit. It was awesome having him here! Even went to Disneyland while he was here!
So I guess I have been busy, it's been great...if I just didn't have to teach! The more theatre I do the more the contrast I see in how I feel when I'm doing something that I feel is worthwhile compared to babysitting kids that don't even want to be there.
I'm going to go off on teaching just for a second...today was a very easy day, I only taught one class and it was form 4 (which is about 15-16). They are good kids so it even made it worse. I actually got sleep last night (well I got to sleep in this morning!) so my mind was functioning more and I went to teach this class...there is so much that I could teach these kids to actually help them in life but no, I have been repeatedly told to not deviate from the syllabus (one that I didn't not compose...see they have this book that is training them how to hold a group discussion about stupid issues that they really don't care about for a standardized language test in form 5...in other words, the kids are bored but if I don't go over this stuff they get scared and tell their teacher that I didn't cover what their teacher covered with the rest of the class...yeah did I mention that I only have some of the class). So part of me want's to say forget that and just do what I know they need but then another part is actually still worried that I might be able to give them what they need (not that I don't know but I just might not be good enough)...and then there's, do I want to fight for someone who doesn't even know that they should want me to fight for them? OH! I am so tried on conformity!!! Can no one here think for themselves! Why must everyone do everything the same? Why can't they be individuals? and why are they so scared or just plan negative to individuals? It just hurts when you know you can make a difference if it would just be accepted!
And enough whining!!! :) It is the weekend and I have a four day weekend full of theatre. McEntire and I went to Ruby Tuesday's for there lunch sets (it has been a while) and we were just sitting there taking about theatre ideas for when we go home and just future theatre projects...that just feels so good and right. That's where it’s at!
On that front, I've been reading plays a lot these last few days, just finished THE PILLOWMAN...dude is that tough! I love McDonagh's writing style and the way he tells story is just so engaging but his content is really hard hitting and just plain disturbing. Read NOISES OFF and LOST IN YONKERS before that...interesting mix isn't it :)
And thus ends my update...for now! |
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| Short blurp |
[Feb. 12th, 2007|10:16 pm] |
I started filling out my application form for TCC tonight. Why I chose today of all days to start when I'm leaving for Nepal in less than 36 hours I'll never know, but I did. I guess I was just feeling good and thought I'd start to tackle that (not looking forward to updating and compiling all my information). My mind just doesn't seem to work in a linear or logical fashion and I don't know how to get it to. McEntire compiled this nice itenerary to send to his folk for our trip to Nepal and basically it was exactly what my brother needed from me but I couldn't seem to get it to him in that fashion...I really don't know why. Even when I write things down I can't seem to lump them together in nice little piles. Nothing fits just quite right for me! Grrr Argg. Oh well, tomorrow is my last day of work for more than a week, I am heading off to Nepal the next morning, and I just bought a pink (yes I said PINK) baseball cap for the trip. It had a patch from "Camp Chippawa, D-Squared". Yeah, have no idea where that came from :) but the patch has been removed and I am happy with my Nepal hat :)
Ok, well I must keep this short since it is growing late and I still need to clean the apartment and other various tasks before I go to be.
I wonder, am I going to like having litterally nothing to do in the evenings for four days due to lack of most modern conviences? I can't wait to find out! :) |
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| early morning thoughts |
[Feb. 3rd, 2007|02:30 pm] |
There are times in my life that I'm good about chronicling my life and then there is the rest of the time! Things have happened (both good and bad and unfortunately I seem to write about the bad more than the good). Two weeks ago I went to the first John Legend Concert in Hong Kong. I had not been to one of his concerts before but had been duly informed that was very good on stage. And they were right.
It stuck me though how theatrical concerts and sporting events (have been watching the Rocky movies, including the new release, and the spectacle that is in the movies reminded me of how sporting events are done in real life) have become. Last night McEntire and I watched Cinderella Man. I had not seen it before but if it was accurate (which I think it was) of how boxing was in the 20s and 30s, there is so much more spectacle now.
At the John Legend concert the lights, the staging, the theatrics of it all, that's what we expect now. I don't know when a concert or a boxing match changed to reflect this. When I was at TWU I knew people who worked load in for sporting events, concerts, and other such events and heard about the extensive equipment that was used (even for car shows and the like!) Why as a society do we need a show to sell us anything? I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just curious what it means.
This is odd coming from someone who wants to make her living in the theatre. In fact when I was at the concert I thought it would be fun to stage a concert. I don't know, it's just some morning musings. No answers, just questions?
But on a different front, another event in my life that was actually rather enjoyable, the beginning of this week we had auditions for the evening of one-acts and solo pieces that DEER Theatre is doing in April. I will be directing one of McEntire's one-acts and a solo piece by A.V. Phibes. I am excited to be doing this! It's been a while since I directed and I still view myself as a newbie.
It caught me a little off guard but I not only really enjoyed the auditions but I felt right at home. I remember the first time I had auditions, I was so scared and felt like such a fraud. As I've done more auditions my confidence has grown as has my enjoyment but this last one was enjoyable but more than that, it was just right. There are times in my life that I get a feeling that I am right where I'm suppose to be and that was it. I knew I didn't want to be on the other side of the desk auditioning myself but I needed to be watching. And not because I was scared since auditions are scary (because they are and I applaud everyone who auditioned for me and Pizzuto) but because right now (and this may change someday) I want to direct.
I guess those last four words sum it up, "I want to direct". It's had for me to declare what 'I want'. Not because I don't want to say or because I'm scared, it's truly because most of the time I want to do so much I don't know what I want to do more! But as much as I enjoy being on stage, I love to direct!
Now lets just see if I can keep the insecurities at bay during the times that I'm alone. That seems to be when I doubt myself the most, questioning what actually makes me think I can be a director. So far I'm doing ok. It keeps trying to sneak it's way in but I'm fighting it and just working on the plays. It also helps me to know that no matter how insecure I may feel, when it comes down to it, I know I will do my best not to fail my actors! I can't. They've put their trust in me and I can't fail them! |
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| My Christmas Break, again posted earlier on MySpace |
[Jan. 21st, 2007|01:53 pm] |
It's so odd, sometimes I feel like that student again and sometimes I (regrettably) hear myself being that kind of teacher. Just plain scary!
The Holidays were extremely nice for one reason and one reason only, I got to go HOME! Now there were other good things about Christmas but they were all tied in to that one simple fact of being home. I got to see friends who I really miss (and didn't get to see some that I miss just as much...You know who you are!)! I got to see my family, sleep in my bed, play with my dog, go out to eat at Tex-mex restaurants (interestingly enough, that was actually one of the first things that McEntire and I did when we arrived in LAX while waiting for our connecting flight), use a hot water faucet (if I haven't told you about that...ask!), a nice LONG hot shower, driving my car, and more. But all that I had to be in the US to experience. Unfortunately it was just too short! I wanted to do far more than I actually had time for.
Christmas Day was really nice. I got to help my family first make dinner and then eat all the food that I love and missed on Thanksgiving. Then we opened presents, after which I snuck out and went up to see the McEntires; concluding the evening with Swearingen and Cassidy. I'll have to have to say it really was an awesome Christmas!!!
Now, I will never say that I don't like to travel and I'm rather confident that once this experience is over and about six months have passed I will remember mostly the good stuff, like the friends I have made here, being able to read on my way to work, the Pizza Box, being greeted by (and what I mean by that is that she waves to me across the food court as soon as she sees me) the waitress at the noodle place in Harbor City's food court and her knowing exactly what I want (well not exactly, I ordered ice tea early on because I had a sore throat at the time and she always equates my Spaghetti Genovese with ice tea. I could correct her but it's a nice change), saying hi to the convenience store guy on my way to work, and a bit more. But with all that said, I will also be very happy to be back in the USA.
Back to my Christmas trek; man was it ever difficult to traverse!!! The flight over was challenging enough but the way home ended up with its own trials. Going, McEntire and I left early Thursday morning from Hong Kong and arrived in Texas late Thursday night. All in all, we traveled upwards of 26 hours to get to DFW where we learned that US Airways (a bad bad company right now) did not have our luggage; it was still in Las Vegas (our previous lay over). But that isn't why they are a bad bad airline, it because when I called the next day to check on the luggage, we weren't even in the system. But a redeeming factor, we did get our luggage that day (Friday) or for me I should say that evening.
Jet lag was a bear!
After loosing the luggage on the way home I was hoping things would go smoother on the way back. That was not to happen. McEntire and I left early on the morning of the 30th and arrived back in Hong Kong on the morning of the 1st after traveling about 40 hours. These 40 hours were fraught with layovers, longer flights due to head wind, and cancelled flights (our America West/US Airways flight from Phoenix to LAX was cancelled...luckily our layover in LA was long enough to accommodate this set back and we didn't miss our international flight) but at last, it was over and we arrived home.
Jet lag was a bear again!
Now it's been over a week, I'm finally being able to stay awake past 9:30 in the evenings (I don't think I've ever gone to bed so early so many nights in a row!) and alas, most of the gaudy Christmas decorations in the malls and on the streets here have come down. I've never seen so much time and money put on so many elaborate displays. The mall entrances almost feel vacant without out these mammoth Disney floats.
So what are they going to put up for Chinese New Year (it's said to be bigger than Christmas was!)? |
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| some musings |
[Jan. 20th, 2007|03:52 pm] |
(Posted previously on MySpace since Qualied's computers don't like Live Journal!)
The drought is over, not that anyone was waiting with baited breath for me to blog but none the less, it has been quite a while.
Well, back at Qualied Ed. I read a very interesting article in the NY Times (on line) on education and it was talking about the percentage of Asian students at Berkley. It is something like 70 percent of the student body. It was also talking about Affirmative Action and that since it has been removed the percentages of African-Americans and Hispanics has dropped while the Asian enrollment has skyrocketed. Ok, why is that interesting to me...well I'm in China and the stereotype of most Asians to Americans (as the article states) is that they don't talk in class, respect their teacher and other authority figures, and they study continuously. This image is the exact opposite at Qualied Ed. I can't quite figure out how or why there is such a discrepancy. I could just say that Qualied Ed is an enigma and a special case, but many of my co-worker and friends also work at schools that are like QED or even worse. Ok, so these are the worst schools in the system (all countries have bad schools) but even during the summer camps I only had like one or two out of six respectful classes (and again, I wasn't the only one).
It has been suggested that one reason for this is because the better schools don't want to farm out their English lessons; they want to use their in-house teachers. However, even is that is true, the lower schools represent a good number of students in China (or at least Hong Kong...I don't know, maybe China is better?). Ok, so that is a quandary that I am still trying to find an answer to. |
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| Thanksgiving and mashed potatoes |
[Nov. 28th, 2006|12:47 am] |
I haven't always been home for Thanksgiving (most but not quite all) but I have never been so far from home on Thanksgiving. It was an interesting day, actually a really good day but at the same time it made me homesick for home. I talked to my family on the phone (a few times) and McEntire talked to his family and friends; everyone was either fixing, eating, or celebrating Thanksgiving in some way. I never realized how much I like helping to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Living for an entire year without an oven, a microwave, and certain kitchen appliances that I'm used to is taking some getting used to. I was able to conquer the challenge of making popcorn on a gas stove in a frying pan (actually not that hard), made my style of french toast (ah la cashew style...to me better then using eggs!), and still in the process of trying to make mashed potatoes (trying to find the gravy to go on it), but I was unable to make a pumpkin pie this year (however thanks to McEntire's mom, we did have Pecan Pie, which was eaten a few days before Thanksgiving. Pecan Pie just can't stay in a fridge too long!).
So all in all, as for participating in the creation of the day, I was unable to contribute there, but I was able to relax and just enjoy the day! Of course since Thanksgiving is a US holiday Hong Kong was still at full throttle. The Schools were a blaze with activity. Qualied was no different, but thanks to the activities being related to exams, McEntire and I were able to get some time off.
Starting the day off late morning with a phone call my mom and brother, we then headed off to the Marriott in Admiralty for the lunch buffet (which included both Asian food and turkey, potatoes, pumpkin pie, and to die for cheesecake!!! (among other things). After eating more food than I should (but then that's just Thanksgiving, isn't it? :) ) McEntire and I walked around Pacific Place (finding a book store that was really cool) and some interesting clothing stores. Deciding to skip Aikido that night since I had eaten so much, headed back to the apartment to watch some videos and talk to the family once more, thus drawing a close to a relaxing and thankful (even though somewhat homesick) day.
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Well it has been a long process but last night I finally got the last of the ingredients to make homemade mashed potatoes and that's exactly what I'm currently working on (the 2nd and last batch of potatoes are boiling as I type). It has been a long struggle but I'm happy that there are a few things I can do here that remind me of home. While I was pealing the potatoes I put in Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer...for a second I really felt like I was at home. It was nice :) |
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