Weird Day

My day began like a normal day. Woke up early, hopped the El to get my hair colored. I got off the Trolley at my stop to thick smoke at Baltimore. It just got worse and worse as I walked down 49th Street. I looked down the small street behind ours and saw the smoke billowing up into the sky. I ran to my block afraid that it could possibly be our building or one of the houses next door. The house was down the street from ours. Our block was completely stopped by police and fire trucks. There were sirens everywhere and smoke all around. When I heard the ambulances I decided to take a walk in the opposite direction and have lunch at Local 44 with Kati and Rory. By the time I came back things seemed to be cleared up more or less. According to the news, no one was hurt. Such a relief.

You never know what your day will bring.

Good Day to Blog

It's really snowing outside. I am ready for change. I love each season equally, but I really love the change. The first few snows, the first day to take a walk without a coat, the first day of beach weather, the first, the first, the first... I love the first day of rehearsal, the first day of school, the first day of summer vacation, a new apartment, a new dinner. I love change.

I got my script last night and I am in awe of the great piece of theater that "Spelling Bee" is. It isn't just fun (though it's really fun) it's also a great story about looking forward and not letting go of our hopes and dreams. It's about how winning isn't always anything, the importance of friendship, and community. What a cool show! I'm thrilled to get started.

Now to tackle my to-do list.

Cheers to Positivity!

I am thrilled! I will be playing Olive in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at the Montgomery Theater, as well as choreographing. I haven't choreographed in a while and I'm so excited to get started again. I will be heading up to NYC to see the original production sometime soon so that I can get a jist of where there is choreography and the style of the show.

Yesterday, I finished filling the gaps in my make up kit. I am very excited about starting free lance make up. I love everything that I bought and I will be so happy to put it into use. I got a few lip colors that I can't wait to try. Now, I have to get my photography session set up and my models set up. Then I'll get my website set up and get started on this artistry business.

And I have to set up all the auditions in my future. Life. Life. Life.

Elizabeth Gilbert

A lot of women I know have read "Eat. Pray. Love." I lent my copy of it out when I finished and I don't think I'll ever see it again. I hope it goes on to many other people who are looking for inspiration and fills them the way it filled me. Elizabeth Gilbert is a great woman. I watched her give a talk on genius and creativity on TED.com and I was once again incredibly inspired. I can't do this talk justice in my blog. Go to it. Watch her. Open your heart to the great possibilities of being a creative person and let yourself be filled.

Yoga with Mary Ellen this evening. I was dreading going to practice this evening for some reason. I can't really put my finger on why, but I assume it's because I am feeling generally bogged down recently and feeling lazy. I assume it's because of the snow, but I am tired of excuses. Now that I've watched this, I am reminded of my purpose. Though it's not always present and accounted for, I do have a purpose. I have many roles in life. (And I'm not talking about theater right now...) I am a wife. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a friend. I am a cousin. I am a niece. I am an actor. I am a singer. I am a dancer. I am a storyteller. I am many things and they all come together to create me. I am many things.

Bus to NY

Well, BLOG, I am on my way to NYC to try to get seen at the CLO EPA's. I should probably have just auditioned in Pittsburgh, but I would like to be seen in New York for more work. I think it's good for me to go outside my comfort zone every once in a while and check in in the big city. I was up at 4:25 and got showered and dried my hair. Now I am bussing it up. I hate early mornings to audition now that I am so out of the habit of doing it. I also can't really bring myself to stay over in the city because I like the fact that I get to see Derick if I am home. I hate sleeping in strange places and I'm sure it's even more difficult now that I'm used to sleeping with D.

So, 4:25 am it is. Bolt Bus makes it all a little easier to take. I can blog and prepare my material and make sure everything is in order. Woohoo! Then I'll take the trolley home and all will be wonderful.

Callback last night was a lot of fun. I read for all three girls and I had a lovely time. Now the forgetting begins. I originally typed "the waiting" but I think it's best to forget at this point and move on to the next thing. You can't get hung up on auditions because you never know what is going on with casting and you really will go crazy if you sit around and analyze every last moment.

So, on to the next thing. Here's hoping I get seen today. I hear it was a madhouse yesterday!

"Do your best and God will do the rest"

A teacher I greatly respected in grade school shared this mantra with us before every test we took in her class. (I also seem to remember it in print at the top of her tests, as well, but much of my childhood is blurry as I wasn't very good at separating fact and fiction). This saying comes to me every now and then and reminds me that many things are out of my control, but my work is mine to do and do well. My friend, Danielle, and I discussed this teacher yesterday and ever since I have been feeling at peace. These words were taught to me in my Catholic school religion class. Many of the people in my circles look back on their Catholic school experiences with disdain and say how they "barely survived." I look back and am greatly thankful. Maybe it was only my teachers, but those who taught me at Saint Bernard's and Seton provided me with an environment to learn about myself and my relationship with God while learning about math, science, and english. Because of this, I can easily integrate this relationship into my every day life. I'm truly thankful for this.

I have been attending a lot of yoga classes in my vast free time. These classes teach us to integrate meditation and stillness into our practice of physical growth. This, to me, is the same as what I learned in Catholic school. God is in everything we do. I go to Yoga and practice my faith while becoming a stronger fuller human being. I multi-task, but leave feeling relaxed, connected to my thoughts, and energized. I do my best and trust that God will do the rest. I can only accomplish that which is in my capacity, but I can still set the bar high. I just shouldn't beat myself up over every little detail.

I have an audition for a show that I really want tonight. I really truly want to be in this production. I never say that I want things. (Aside from telling Derick how much I want a certain food, clothing item, or piece of make up...) I'm putting this one out there for the universe. I want to do this play. Cross your fingers, say a prayer, send good vibes for me...

"Do your best and God will do the rest." Thank you, Mrs. Kaiser.

Butcher and Singer

Derick and I had the greatest dinner in the history of steak on Saturday. It was absolutely unbelievable! We started with the lump crabmeat appetizer. It came with cocktail sauce and mustard and we really loved it. Then I had the wedge and Derick had the onion soup. Most importantly, Derick then got the Delmonico and I had the filet. Our server was so knowledgeable. He told Derick the best way to have it prepared (medium, not medium rare) and how to eat his steak in order to capture the best flavoring. It was really an awesome steak. (In the spirit of the holiday, we were able to bring ourselves to share). The marbling in it was perfect and though it was cooked medium, the marbling left it a bit more red than your typical medium temperature would be. It was just fantastic. My filet was wonderfully cooked and the cut was lean and perfect. I love the taste of unobstructed filet, I'm not into fancy preparation and sauces. This was exactly what I was looking for.

Then, for dessert, we had Baked Alaska. Whoever created the dish should be considered for Sainthood. I had never had it before. The crust was like crushed Nilla wafers, covered with banana and ice cream. Then on top was meringue and it was heated in the oven. BUT THE ICE CREAM DIDN'T MELT! I can't wrap my brain around the fact that it didn't melt. How is that even possible? Sounds like a miracle to me.

After waiting in the cold for 40 minutes to catch a packed trolley where I got stepped on and pushed around, I was not in the greatest of moods. The minute we walked into Butcher and Singer, I was snapped into absolute joy. The decor is beautiful, the lighting romantic, and the music fun. Derick said he felt like we walked into an episode of Mad Men. This dinner was worth the price, and the price is really high. If you're looking for a meaningful dinner where price is not an issue... Go there.

Valentine's Day (Celebrated)

I never particularly loved Valentine's Day. (Though I always loved the cherry lollipops we sent out in grade school, and the gummi hearts my mom always gave us). But in high school February was never when I had a boyfriend (usually I got my boyfriend time in during the Spring Musical because that's when I was remotely cool) and I don't much value the sentiment of it. I was a firm believer that "isn't having someone who loves you enough?" Do you really need another day to celebrate such things?

I did love watching my parents celebrate Valentine's Day. They always got each other cute cards and my Dad sent my mom flowers. I even remember what he always wrote on the card. (Though I'm not going to send it out into the blog-isphere). It's nice to watch people you care about be in love.

As an adult, I think Valentine's Day is a bigger deal for girls who are single. Some get upset, watch movies, cry, drink, eat chocolate and ice cream. It's a day where they can be as depressing in their actions as they want. They get a free "Break Up Day" without having to do the actual breaking up. All of the cathartic actions that come with a break up are free reign on Valentine's Day but instead of cursing the one man who ruined her life, it's all men.

Some use Valentine's Day to celebrate their independence. Ladies' Night Out and Love Stinks parties make it fun to dance, drink, and enjoy being one of the "Single Ladies" (thanks Beyonce for the fun it provided me the year before my wedding, what a great song).

For the most optimistic of Valentine's Day celebrators, it's a time to be a Secret Admirer; it's a time to find a "Valentine"; it's a day where you can write poetry to and about the boy you love without consequence.

Last Valentine's Day we had a dinner at a small romantic restaurant in Pittsburgh after my show ended. It was a 9 pm reservation. We were crammed at tables where I basically bumped elbows with those on either side of me. To my left was a couple breaking up. She had apparently sensed it was coming and drank a bottle of wine to prepare herself. I had every desire to watch them but we were so close to them, I was afraid they'd ask me for my opinion on the matter. To my right was a young couple whose baby-sitter had apparently cancelled so they brought their screaming, crying newborn. SUCH ROMANCE!

This Valentine's Day we are celebrating the day before. So as to avoid the Valentine's Day rush and so Derick can enjoy a martini without having to worry about working the following morning. We are going to Butcher and Singer and couldn't be more excited. My sister, Beth, gave us the wonderful recommendation to hold off on a Starr giftcard until after the wedding. (We originally were going to use it to commemorate 100 days until the event). Because, as she put it, "no one throws parties for you after the wedding. You have to throw them yourself." So, tonight, we are throwing ourselves a party. Less to celebrate Saint Valentine and the romance of a snow-clobbered February, but more to celebrate steak. We are getting dressed up, heading out for a night on the town and eating beef until we are content. I am happily married to a man I love spending time with and it's as good a night as any to eat a good dinner. No expectations, no heart shaped candy boxes, just a great Saturday night.

Dumbest Thing I've Heard in a While

Derick and I took the trolley down to 40th Street tonight to grab dinner at Qdoba and to get me some fresh air. We had forgotten that the opening ceremonies for the Olympics were tonight, but luckily they were on at Qdoba. We were surrounded by UPenn students. Most of which were dressed in business attire which leaves me to assume that they had been at conferences or internships. Needless to say, I felt very much out of my element. Having gone to "art school" I oftentimes feel like I missed out not going to a Liberal Arts school; I didn't have a "traditional education." I had a moment in college where I was attending a UPenn fraternity party and was greatly offended when someone asked me if I had courses in waitressing to earn my degree. I'm not singling out University of Pennsylvania, though it may sound like I am. I simply live in the neighborhood where UPenn is and have more experience with it than I do any other school; you could easily change out this name with any other prestigious liberal arts university.

I feel much better about my "art school" education this evening. A girl in a Penn hoodie (which I know isn't telling whether she even goes there, as I have one as well) was standing next to us watching the opening ceremonies; She scoffed at the screen as one country walked by and said "Mac-edonia... What is that?" As though it was a sandwich at McDonalds. Yikes.

I'm Newly-Wed

I am a newly married woman! Looking for new ways to entertain myself as I begin this journey and thought maybe blogging was the answer. I find myself often checking Kati and Kim's blogs to see what they're up to. I want to be up to something as well and I think that the Lady Loaf is ready to get learning about life.

Today was lovely. I woke up and leisurely got ready for the day. The snow really has a way of holding one's energy back. Luckily, I could not be sucked into lethargy today. I sorted through drawers pulling out some pieces of clothing for charity. I vacuumed and cleaned my baseboards. I received my disposable make up wands for my new Make Up Artistry business. Married life is wonderful and blissful... It's just time for it to become less boring! Bring on 2010... I'm going to have a good one.