So my mom has always wanted a log cabin. The big kind with deer in the backyard and brooks near a lake. I always found it funny how country her style is cause you cannot pay her to go camping and she mostly hates all bugs and any kind of outdoor thing. However, yesterday my parents went up to a lake in the PA and bought 11 acres of land. THis is step one in the right direction. When we pay it off (according to my dad by next year, but we shall see) we're gonna get one of the cabins we look at at the dutchess county fair every year and then we WILL have the lake house my mom always wanted. This is simply further proof that if you work hard you can have your dreams.
"Character is what emerges from all the little things you were too busy to do yesterday, but did anyway." ~Mignon McLaughlin
<3=D
Kodessa
June 28, 2009
June 26, 2009
Slums... Temples... Ahh, Antithesis!
Today had potential... potential to suck...
Though this may not make much sense to people living outside of my bubble, last night I heard some shitty, shitty news about how I'm going to be spending some of my summer. I don't mind doing laundry when it is needed. Really, I don't. I may put it off until the last second because I feel like there are better things I could be doing with my time but it isn't the worst part of my day.
However, doing other people's laundry at ungodly hours of the night/morning after they have been sweating profusely seems like a pretty awful task. This is what is being required of me.
Of course I bitched and complained. Spoke about how it was unfair and unjust... then stopped, and shifted....
I came back to my dorm after delivering the freshly done and folded laundry back to my stage manager, and watched The Philanthropist. That changed my perspective...
Don't get me wrong, the show was kind of crappy and cliched, however it's depiction of Nigeria was a jolt of reality. It reminded me of the different cultures and standings of foreign nations. It showed the slums that some people live in without running water or food for that matter. After seeing this, I realized what a spoiled brat I was for being upset about being forced to do laundry. LAUNDRY IS A GIFT! Truly! It is a miracle and blessing. I started thinking then about the people I was doing the laundry for and how they are going to have fresh shirts and pants to perform in tomorrow. Though they themselves will not think twice about the person who fluffed and folded their blouse, their bodies will subconsciously be thankful. And that is enough thanks for me!
~Alex
P.S. Fabric Softener should be illegal. It is one of the worst things you can do to your body... and smells like shit.
June 25, 2009
MJ, FF, AWG
I was driving in my newly healthy Gimp-truck to meet up with Jess rocking out to the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" on my mo-town mix not knowing what was about to happen three hours later.
Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson were both legends in their own right and I'm touched by the light they've shed in their lifetimes and upset by their passing. My prayers go out to their families. Actually, the show we're putting up at the camp I work at is entitled Black and White. Why? It concludes with Michael Jackson's "Black and White," dance number included.
My grandfather also died 20 years ago today. He'll be welcoming them in up in heaven, most likely sitting on porch chairs with the other men from my family in front of a garage.
Also, I finally got to see Away We Go before it got released everywhere and I'm overflowing with inspiration, but there'll be more on that tomorrow.
aliee
Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson were both legends in their own right and I'm touched by the light they've shed in their lifetimes and upset by their passing. My prayers go out to their families. Actually, the show we're putting up at the camp I work at is entitled Black and White. Why? It concludes with Michael Jackson's "Black and White," dance number included.
My grandfather also died 20 years ago today. He'll be welcoming them in up in heaven, most likely sitting on porch chairs with the other men from my family in front of a garage.
Also, I finally got to see Away We Go before it got released everywhere and I'm overflowing with inspiration, but there'll be more on that tomorrow.
aliee
short but sweet
I have two things, wonderful things to throw out into the world today...
1) My friends are awesome. I had a crappy night and based on twitter they actually bothered to check up on me even though it was almost midnight. Love them!!
2)Today is my parents' 21st wedding anniversary. They are the only succesful relationship amongst their siblings and parents. I'm totally proud of them for making it work through two kids and changing companies, etc. They give me hope that marriage can work and can be amazing =D
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman
<3=D
Kodessa
1) My friends are awesome. I had a crappy night and based on twitter they actually bothered to check up on me even though it was almost midnight. Love them!!
2)Today is my parents' 21st wedding anniversary. They are the only succesful relationship amongst their siblings and parents. I'm totally proud of them for making it work through two kids and changing companies, etc. They give me hope that marriage can work and can be amazing =D
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman
<3=D
Kodessa
June 23, 2009
gimpy la rue
Disclaimer: what happened in reality and what happened in my head may very well be two different realities.
I have a strange attachment to my 16 year old pickup truck. It's turquoise with flowers on the mats and steering wheel, 1/4 of a deck of cards strung across the back and when you hit a bump in the road you feel it. real bad. wearing a sports bra in my car might be a wise decision for all occasions. In the summer, I have Rita's picnics in the bed of my truck with my compadres.
Did I mention that I love my truck?
But recently it's been wonky. Like, wouldn't drive it long distances because I was afraid it was going to die. I was 1,000 miles overdue for an oil change, my tires were waring down unevenly and to top it off during monsoon season, my windshield wipers broke.
I go to PepBoys for the windshield and tires
1) Tires are A-OK and the guy says not to worry about it too much
2) All I needed was to go inside and purchase 18'' wipers, bring them outside and they'd put them on for me.
The latter was free of charge. Just cost me the wipers. No service fee.
Today, I went for the oil change.
Turns out there was more wrong than I thought. Gimp needed the 4x4 fluid to be changed in the back and was 11,000 overdue to get that fixed. The mechanic said it was all black and sludgy and the fluid needed to replace or my axles would be effed up for a measly $60. No problem. I also asked if they could rotate my tires and confessed that I was one of those chicks who didn't know shit about cars. I also asked for him to check the transmission. He seemed empathetic.
Results:
1) Transmission fluid is still red and kicking. He suggested that if I needed new transmission fluid to go to somewhere that offers a warantee because he couldn't over 100,000 miles. Honest. Didn't lie to me to extort money because I was some chick who didn't know shit about cars. I didn't even know transmission was supposed to be red.
2) I check out when my car is finished being repaired and they only charged me for the oil change, leaving off the $80+ that it would've cost me for the 4x4 repair and my tires.
[How did I know that they really did this if it didn't show up on the receipt? He was animate about changing the 4x4 fluid as it was hazardous to my safety not to. The wonky tire used to be on the passenger rear side, now is on passenger front. They did rotate!]
3) Jiffy Lube has free coffee. Yay!
4) There were two friendly individuals also waiting to get their cars done. Instead of sitting around in the awkward waiting room in silence, we all conversed and bitched together and it was grand. When I left, one of the men even said "See you later, Alison!" and waved.
People are great. Mmhm.
So is my truck!
Guess what comes out to theatres that aren't miles and miles away from where I live on FRIDAY? Away We Go! I really dig Sam Mendes. And Maya and John and Allison freakin Janney.
Good things, they are a'brewin.
aliee
I have a strange attachment to my 16 year old pickup truck. It's turquoise with flowers on the mats and steering wheel, 1/4 of a deck of cards strung across the back and when you hit a bump in the road you feel it. real bad. wearing a sports bra in my car might be a wise decision for all occasions. In the summer, I have Rita's picnics in the bed of my truck with my compadres.
Did I mention that I love my truck?
But recently it's been wonky. Like, wouldn't drive it long distances because I was afraid it was going to die. I was 1,000 miles overdue for an oil change, my tires were waring down unevenly and to top it off during monsoon season, my windshield wipers broke.
I go to PepBoys for the windshield and tires
1) Tires are A-OK and the guy says not to worry about it too much
2) All I needed was to go inside and purchase 18'' wipers, bring them outside and they'd put them on for me.
The latter was free of charge. Just cost me the wipers. No service fee.
Today, I went for the oil change.
Turns out there was more wrong than I thought. Gimp needed the 4x4 fluid to be changed in the back and was 11,000 overdue to get that fixed. The mechanic said it was all black and sludgy and the fluid needed to replace or my axles would be effed up for a measly $60. No problem. I also asked if they could rotate my tires and confessed that I was one of those chicks who didn't know shit about cars. I also asked for him to check the transmission. He seemed empathetic.
Results:
1) Transmission fluid is still red and kicking. He suggested that if I needed new transmission fluid to go to somewhere that offers a warantee because he couldn't over 100,000 miles. Honest. Didn't lie to me to extort money because I was some chick who didn't know shit about cars. I didn't even know transmission was supposed to be red.
2) I check out when my car is finished being repaired and they only charged me for the oil change, leaving off the $80+ that it would've cost me for the 4x4 repair and my tires.
[How did I know that they really did this if it didn't show up on the receipt? He was animate about changing the 4x4 fluid as it was hazardous to my safety not to. The wonky tire used to be on the passenger rear side, now is on passenger front. They did rotate!]
3) Jiffy Lube has free coffee. Yay!
4) There were two friendly individuals also waiting to get their cars done. Instead of sitting around in the awkward waiting room in silence, we all conversed and bitched together and it was grand. When I left, one of the men even said "See you later, Alison!" and waved.
People are great. Mmhm.
So is my truck!
Guess what comes out to theatres that aren't miles and miles away from where I live on FRIDAY? Away We Go! I really dig Sam Mendes. And Maya and John and Allison freakin Janney.
Good things, they are a'brewin.
aliee
would you like fries with that?
ok so to have this entry make any sense, you must know 2 things; that my little brother is notorious for not eating anything but pizza, fries, and Mcdonalds...and that he has Downs syndrome.
today when I took him out to lunch he actualy ate a cheeseburger. i know this sounds small, but for chris this is a really big deal. Even my mom was impressed. Its the tiny "normal" moments like that which make me smile. I love my brother the way he is and would never change a thing but sometimes I get a little freaked out by the idea of him one day being my responsiblity. The small moments, the good times, they make me feel less like the girl from "Love, Actually" and more like he's just my little brother and the truest friend i will ever have.
"Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet." ~Vietnamese Proverb
<3 =D
Kodessa
today when I took him out to lunch he actualy ate a cheeseburger. i know this sounds small, but for chris this is a really big deal. Even my mom was impressed. Its the tiny "normal" moments like that which make me smile. I love my brother the way he is and would never change a thing but sometimes I get a little freaked out by the idea of him one day being my responsiblity. The small moments, the good times, they make me feel less like the girl from "Love, Actually" and more like he's just my little brother and the truest friend i will ever have.
"Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet." ~Vietnamese Proverb
<3 =D
Kodessa
in my past life i was a big, shaggy dog.
the next chance you get, stick you head out the window when you're driving in the passenger seat down the highway. ok, doing this at 60+ mph may not be exactly the safest thing to do in the universe, but i might have learned more about living in the moment from doing this.
really, put you neck up outside and let the wind pillow your face and hair (and, if you can, surrender any vanity you have about your hair for the time being. tangles can get untangled). it's really the most unique feeling to have the most valuable part of yourself surrendered to the elements while the rest of you is safely cocooned in carefully engineered flying metal and wheels and airbags and shit.
let it go and let it be.
and maybe it's 2:30am and maybe this was induced by seeing old friends from high school and taking a joyous ride home from my best friend, but seriously -- feel the wind. feel less in control then you did from the previous moment.
it could just be me but i think it's grand to feel small. to feel like a part of something larger and more powerful than yourself. so stick you head out the window and let me know how it feels on your skin.
thanks.
aliee
really, put you neck up outside and let the wind pillow your face and hair (and, if you can, surrender any vanity you have about your hair for the time being. tangles can get untangled). it's really the most unique feeling to have the most valuable part of yourself surrendered to the elements while the rest of you is safely cocooned in carefully engineered flying metal and wheels and airbags and shit.
let it go and let it be.
and maybe it's 2:30am and maybe this was induced by seeing old friends from high school and taking a joyous ride home from my best friend, but seriously -- feel the wind. feel less in control then you did from the previous moment.
it could just be me but i think it's grand to feel small. to feel like a part of something larger and more powerful than yourself. so stick you head out the window and let me know how it feels on your skin.
thanks.
aliee
June 22, 2009
dads and daisy of love
happy father's day! i'm thankful for mine -- he's great. and i'm thankful that he still calls me munchkin even though i'm 20 and definitely not munchkin cute&tiny anymore. we rock out to motown and indian chants for prosperity. my weird side is from him and i dig that side of me.
kudos! yay dad!
in other news? daisy of love is on tv right now. if you haven't watched, please do. i try to jet out of the room before the "boyfriend" question gets aimed at me during family gatherings, but if this girl can have sixteen tools jump through hoops to win her affections -- well, all is not lost in this world. this show is too too funny.
aliee
kudos! yay dad!
in other news? daisy of love is on tv right now. if you haven't watched, please do. i try to jet out of the room before the "boyfriend" question gets aimed at me during family gatherings, but if this girl can have sixteen tools jump through hoops to win her affections -- well, all is not lost in this world. this show is too too funny.
aliee
June 21, 2009
hellooooo
i was driving behind a van with my mother when we saw two hands stick come out from under one of those push-windows featured on most minivans (only these were on the back hatch doors). and they started waving at a truck that was passing.
so, we opened the sun roof and drove real close to them and started waving.
and they gave a thumbs up when they saw us.
the windows were tinted and we only caught a glimpse of the man driving.
didn't know if they were guys or girls or how old or young they were, just that they stuck their hands out and wanted to say hi.
now, i live in new jersey. which only means that i know exactly how much pennsylvania drivers suck. and that it's imperative i know how to do 70 on the super narrow lanes of the gsp or uh... die. which, of course means, lost of d-bag drivers almost killing me and people around me on the daily. of course warranting honking and using my better finger and being a generally upstanding citizen and positive person. always.
lies and slander! haha
so how many times do you flip off people instead of wave?
i'm not saying throw a pep rally for the jerk who cut you off without using his blinker or the sugarplum fairy who's tailing you doing 80 with their brights on.
but when do you smile? or at least just nod and acknowledge another person?
i'm 100% guilty of staring off into space and almost always catching someone else in my daze-path... who assumes i'm a creeper. so when they catch you (uhm.. me?) -- smile. wave. something. recognize the situation and these things happen.
even if they're strangers. even if you can only see htem from the elbow down.
aliee
so, we opened the sun roof and drove real close to them and started waving.
and they gave a thumbs up when they saw us.
the windows were tinted and we only caught a glimpse of the man driving.
didn't know if they were guys or girls or how old or young they were, just that they stuck their hands out and wanted to say hi.
now, i live in new jersey. which only means that i know exactly how much pennsylvania drivers suck. and that it's imperative i know how to do 70 on the super narrow lanes of the gsp or uh... die. which, of course means, lost of d-bag drivers almost killing me and people around me on the daily. of course warranting honking and using my better finger and being a generally upstanding citizen and positive person. always.
lies and slander! haha
so how many times do you flip off people instead of wave?
i'm not saying throw a pep rally for the jerk who cut you off without using his blinker or the sugarplum fairy who's tailing you doing 80 with their brights on.
but when do you smile? or at least just nod and acknowledge another person?
i'm 100% guilty of staring off into space and almost always catching someone else in my daze-path... who assumes i'm a creeper. so when they catch you (uhm.. me?) -- smile. wave. something. recognize the situation and these things happen.
even if they're strangers. even if you can only see htem from the elbow down.
aliee
June 20, 2009
Yummy!!!
So I tend to think the "specials" you see when you go out for dinner are simply made from something they had a lot of in the kitchen. Thats how it works at Rita's, if we have a lot of fruit i make the fruit-y ices for example. However today when i went out for dinner there was "s'mores" on the special board. Of course I HAD to have it!! =) so today i am thankful that houllihans had extra marshmallow, chocolate, Graham crackers and strawberries!!! i am also so very happy that someone had the brilliant idea to put strawberries on the same plate as my s'mores...
The point being? I will be recreating this dessert in my apartment this year, probably multiple times and you are all invited to come have some =D
"Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces. " ~Judith Viorst
peace love and happiness for all
Kodessa
The point being? I will be recreating this dessert in my apartment this year, probably multiple times and you are all invited to come have some =D
"Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces. " ~Judith Viorst
peace love and happiness for all
Kodessa
June 19, 2009
new music kick and milestones
this is the soundtrack to my happy dance.
i found this off of my friend gillian's facebook.
please check it out!
you haven't heard single ladies like this.
and if you have time, check out playing for change.
it's an affirmation that the world is naturally harmonious.
here's their version of stand by me
and one love.
in other happy news? my "baby" brother is graduating middle school today and going on to high school. where did time go? he's a good 5.75 inches taller than me and 5.75 years younger. ohboy.
aliee
i found this off of my friend gillian's facebook.
please check it out!
you haven't heard single ladies like this.
and if you have time, check out playing for change.
it's an affirmation that the world is naturally harmonious.
here's their version of stand by me
and one love.
in other happy news? my "baby" brother is graduating middle school today and going on to high school. where did time go? he's a good 5.75 inches taller than me and 5.75 years younger. ohboy.
aliee
So I've been kinda sick for the past two days but, being sick has made me ponder and rest for a bit ( and boy do I need some rest!) Also not going to lie sometimes its nice to be taken care of by your mom lol. So I started taking a look at a Birthday Book we keep in the house. It lists birthdays by day and it explains your advantages, disadvantages, tarot card sign, number you are ruled by, qualities you may have, people born on your birthday, and advice to live by.
For the most part the January 30th page(my bday) was very true about me. It explained that trust is essential to have any kind of relationship with me and that my biggest strength and my biggest weakness is my determination to succeed at my goals. Although I look at it as mostly a strength it has been a definite weakness in my life because if I am not trying to accomplish something I am not happy. What struck me which is why I am writing about this is the advice that was given to January 30th people. "Keeping one's eye on the goal does not preclude enjoying the surroundings." For me this advice really hit home . I realized that I do not enjoy my life fully if I am not focusing on achieving a goal.
And it got me thinking, that this is the prime time in my life where I absolutely can enjoy my surroundings. As college students we sometimes feel pressured to have an idea of what we want to do after college. Especially for any theatre majors or actors what goes through our mind is the question of "How the hell am I going to make a living after college?!" I am sure it has crossed everyone's mind! So my advice to theatre majors, everyone, and myself is to focus on the PRESENT, lets focus on what we want to do now and what we want to experience now. We can have a plan for the future, we can have a goal that we absolutely want to accomplish, but it is time to be more present about the NOW! And to enjoy yourself and the world around you! And it is the perfect time to do that it is summer, we don't have to think about studying for finals or any of that. July and August are the time where we can absolutely enjoy yourself and reflect.
So what I want to say is to enjoy your surroundings while focusing on your goal this summer and in your life in general! Take a moment and do something for yourself! This is the time where we have an excuse to fuck up sooo FUCK UP! FAIL SPECTACULARLY! OWN IT! Because these are the years where we are supposed to learn from our mistakes so go for it!
<3 Jessica
For the most part the January 30th page(my bday) was very true about me. It explained that trust is essential to have any kind of relationship with me and that my biggest strength and my biggest weakness is my determination to succeed at my goals. Although I look at it as mostly a strength it has been a definite weakness in my life because if I am not trying to accomplish something I am not happy. What struck me which is why I am writing about this is the advice that was given to January 30th people. "Keeping one's eye on the goal does not preclude enjoying the surroundings." For me this advice really hit home . I realized that I do not enjoy my life fully if I am not focusing on achieving a goal.
And it got me thinking, that this is the prime time in my life where I absolutely can enjoy my surroundings. As college students we sometimes feel pressured to have an idea of what we want to do after college. Especially for any theatre majors or actors what goes through our mind is the question of "How the hell am I going to make a living after college?!" I am sure it has crossed everyone's mind! So my advice to theatre majors, everyone, and myself is to focus on the PRESENT, lets focus on what we want to do now and what we want to experience now. We can have a plan for the future, we can have a goal that we absolutely want to accomplish, but it is time to be more present about the NOW! And to enjoy yourself and the world around you! And it is the perfect time to do that it is summer, we don't have to think about studying for finals or any of that. July and August are the time where we can absolutely enjoy yourself and reflect.
So what I want to say is to enjoy your surroundings while focusing on your goal this summer and in your life in general! Take a moment and do something for yourself! This is the time where we have an excuse to fuck up sooo FUCK UP! FAIL SPECTACULARLY! OWN IT! Because these are the years where we are supposed to learn from our mistakes so go for it!
<3 Jessica
June 18, 2009
Maybe it's not my weekend, but it's gonna be my year...
So i spent most of today running errands and bumming around watching NCIS/Bones marathons. But somewhere in my lazyenss haze I realized that now that i have chosen a certain path, i need to start walking down it. I have rediscovered my willpower to stop being a bum and stop doing things that only end up with me in a cranky mood. So tomorrow, Im going to the gym and i'm gonna start eating healthy-ish (my roommates will never believe this). I am determined to better myself because when i tell my kids about my college years one day i wanna be able to tell them almost everything and know that i did everything i could/wanted to. No regrets!!!
Another thing happens tomorrow, some of my oldest friends are graduating from high school. I have know sarah and shelby since i was in middle school. and my girls are growing up. they get to go off to school and have such an exciting time ahead of them and i am so proud of them!!!
"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states." ~Carol Welch
peace, love and happiness for all
kodessa
Another thing happens tomorrow, some of my oldest friends are graduating from high school. I have know sarah and shelby since i was in middle school. and my girls are growing up. they get to go off to school and have such an exciting time ahead of them and i am so proud of them!!!
"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states." ~Carol Welch
peace, love and happiness for all
kodessa
up, up, and away we go!
Up! has found a rival for my favorite summer movie: Away We Go.
Yes, I know the movie doesn't come out until June 26, but first I just need to say a little bit about Maya Rudolph and why I'm taking a slight personal victory in the buzz this movie is getting.
OK - it starts with a brief seminar from Lisa Gold of Actors Access at the end of the semester this year about how to market yourself, get an agent, and keep an agent. All in all, very helpful. But, at the end I looked at my notes and there was a little checklist of things I should know about myself and whatnot including what roles I can currently play on broadway/regional stage, careers I emulate, and other female actors who are currently working and whose "products" closely resemble mine, people I get compared to. (I feel like a tool speaking like this and dread selling myself to anyone. Ah, the business... Pardon while I make faces in the mirror like Norma Desmond. Oy.)
See where I'm going?
I went back to my apartment and landed myself somewhere between Joan Cusak and Emma Thompson, which relatively equates to something sort of like Cynthia Nixon. Only there was one slight problem. I'm not a middle aged white lady.
When I went through my epic I-wanna-be-on-SNL phase (later abandoned when I realized I'm not quite funny enough), Maya Rudolph was in the cast and so far she's been my only point of comparison, actor-wise. But when I was 14 and 16, when I started trying to define exactly who I was in the grand scheme of everything, it was so rockingly awesome to see another un-pinnable ethnically ambiguous actress with a similar quality on TV doing rockingly awesome work. (I believe she's half black, half jewish. Something slightly more specific than lebanese-indian-chinese-guanese-american. Just slightly).
Even on the smaller scale, it's still a little awkward trying to find where I fit in even within my own theatre department. So far at school I've played a Muslim fundamentalist and a monkey. Really.
Then she left to have a baby and disappeared for a little bit.
Then I see that trailer and start doing a mini happy victory dance.
I graduate in 2 years. So in 2011, I can finish my my sell-yourself-speech with something along the lines of "I get compared to Maya Rudolph sometimes" and feel confident about that. Of course, minus about 10-15 years. Still, definitely closer to the mark than Emma Thompson or Joan Cusak.
I'm a little too excited about this movie.... just a little, but homegirl just scored big points for the funny-contemporary-quirky-lightskinnedbrowngirl-leadinglady-sidekick team. Yay!
The 20-something-out-of-college phase of my life just got a little less scary. My type is current, kicking ass, and taking names. Anyone else who's having a mild crisis, take a look at this article. Just a few helpful reminders of the things we forget sometimes when we get so caught up in the jumble.
I appologize to anyone who isn't an actor and got a little annoyed by my rambling (or actors who got annoyed by my rambling), but it's pretty significant for me. And I'm seeing this movie opening weekend, guaranteed.
Nope, nothing profound, just one movie I'm really happy about.
Oh, and about being thankful for my body - I'm getting a jump rope tomorrow and setting up a little work out regemin for myself. Woo!!
happy days ahead, kids!
aliee
PS. My nerdiness has reached a new high. Two staples I currently carry in my purse include a 20-sided di (singular of dice?) and a foam red clown nose. I test my friends with the latter and put it on in public and measure their freak-out meter and urgency at which they beg me to take it off.
Yes, I know the movie doesn't come out until June 26, but first I just need to say a little bit about Maya Rudolph and why I'm taking a slight personal victory in the buzz this movie is getting.
OK - it starts with a brief seminar from Lisa Gold of Actors Access at the end of the semester this year about how to market yourself, get an agent, and keep an agent. All in all, very helpful. But, at the end I looked at my notes and there was a little checklist of things I should know about myself and whatnot including what roles I can currently play on broadway/regional stage, careers I emulate, and other female actors who are currently working and whose "products" closely resemble mine, people I get compared to. (I feel like a tool speaking like this and dread selling myself to anyone. Ah, the business... Pardon while I make faces in the mirror like Norma Desmond. Oy.)
See where I'm going?
I went back to my apartment and landed myself somewhere between Joan Cusak and Emma Thompson, which relatively equates to something sort of like Cynthia Nixon. Only there was one slight problem. I'm not a middle aged white lady.
When I went through my epic I-wanna-be-on-SNL phase (later abandoned when I realized I'm not quite funny enough), Maya Rudolph was in the cast and so far she's been my only point of comparison, actor-wise. But when I was 14 and 16, when I started trying to define exactly who I was in the grand scheme of everything, it was so rockingly awesome to see another un-pinnable ethnically ambiguous actress with a similar quality on TV doing rockingly awesome work. (I believe she's half black, half jewish. Something slightly more specific than lebanese-indian-chinese-guanese-american. Just slightly).
Even on the smaller scale, it's still a little awkward trying to find where I fit in even within my own theatre department. So far at school I've played a Muslim fundamentalist and a monkey. Really.
Then she left to have a baby and disappeared for a little bit.
Then I see that trailer and start doing a mini happy victory dance.
I graduate in 2 years. So in 2011, I can finish my my sell-yourself-speech with something along the lines of "I get compared to Maya Rudolph sometimes" and feel confident about that. Of course, minus about 10-15 years. Still, definitely closer to the mark than Emma Thompson or Joan Cusak.
I'm a little too excited about this movie.... just a little, but homegirl just scored big points for the funny-contemporary-quirky-lightskinnedbrowngirl-leadinglady-sidekick team. Yay!
The 20-something-out-of-college phase of my life just got a little less scary. My type is current, kicking ass, and taking names. Anyone else who's having a mild crisis, take a look at this article. Just a few helpful reminders of the things we forget sometimes when we get so caught up in the jumble.
I appologize to anyone who isn't an actor and got a little annoyed by my rambling (or actors who got annoyed by my rambling), but it's pretty significant for me. And I'm seeing this movie opening weekend, guaranteed.
Nope, nothing profound, just one movie I'm really happy about.
Oh, and about being thankful for my body - I'm getting a jump rope tomorrow and setting up a little work out regemin for myself. Woo!!
happy days ahead, kids!
aliee
PS. My nerdiness has reached a new high. Two staples I currently carry in my purse include a 20-sided di (singular of dice?) and a foam red clown nose. I test my friends with the latter and put it on in public and measure their freak-out meter and urgency at which they beg me to take it off.
"eet"
my body knows it's raining before i wake up because every time it is, i wake up with "rains in asia" by jump (little children) already stuck in my head mid-way through the song. i haven't listened to that song in maybe a year and i really like it. it's a pleasant thing to wake up to.
other than that, regina spektor has a new album coming out and i'm really digging this song and video.
enjoy!
aliee
other than that, regina spektor has a new album coming out and i'm really digging this song and video.
enjoy!
aliee
Discover Life
It's not often that we take a moment to appreciate what is surrounding us. There is so much beauty in this world that goes unnoticed. Its completely understandable that people get caught up in their lives and fail to see. But perhaps, after some careful consideration, we can collectively change the way we think...
This planet is beautiful. Take a walk outside. Get lost so you can truly find yourself.
Find the beauty in things unconventional; mailboxes, trash cans, fences.
Sing to yourself and others as they walk down the road (be warned: this advice may cause you to receive worried glances).
Pretend you're in August Rush and that the sounds of the massive truck outside your dorm room that wont leave is a melodious symphony.
Follow a bird's conversation, make up for yourself what they are talking about... probably worms.
Nurture the love you receive from your mother by calling her and saying "i love you Mom". She probably doesn't hear that sentiment enough.
Today I am especially thankful for my amazing roommate who has no idea I am writing this blog about her. When I came back to my room after taking Finals, she left me a beautiful sign that she drew herself, and a self affirmation note. I truly am blessed to have her in my life, and to feel so comfortable with the person who sleeps 5 feet from me.
There is so much good in this world, so much to be thankful for, and so much to love every single day.
Look up, Keep smiling, and (in the meaningful words of the beautiful Jason Mraz) Go your own way.
Alexandra
P.S. I will now vacate my soap box.
running, waxing, frohawks
Leave it to Oprah.
It took watching a (rerun) show about health and aging to sit back and take in the bones and skin and organs I've been given. And that I'm 20! Although I'm not in the best of shape, but at 20 I figure my body's is as close to bionic as it's ever going to get.
(Or maybe I'm just afraid of feeling old. Which means owning a home, kids, paying bills, just a general responsibility for my own welfare. My baby wallpaper only came down as of three weeks ago. Discuss.)
So, instead of waking up at my usual 2pm, or thereabouts, I set my alarm to 10AM so I can make myself some eggs and oatmeal and get my ass on the rickety treadmill downstairs.
Rickety. So old. It kind of smells up the house whenever you use it. Not a bad smell just an "Oh, what is th... Aliee ran today. Gotcha" kind of smell
And I do feel better!
I'm not one to obsess over my body image. Maybe that's a lie. But earlier this year, I got half naked a few feet away from the front row in ill fitting bra &panties, lit from above. All of my friends now know exactly where I'm dimply and to what extent and I've embraced it. My curves are sexy and kind of come with my spiffy double X twenty third chromosome. It was a birthday present from my Dad.
HOWEVER. I was inspired to get out and start running, for whatever reason, because some day I won't be able to run. True statement. I used to race my Sittoo from the car to the front doors of Shop Rite or Caldor when I was little and now - well, she's 86. I'm fearing that one day I'll look back to when I thought I wasn't in shape and realize that I'm younger than I thought possible and regret days when I didn't celebrate my body or appreciate it and use it (haha) to its fullest.
Sidenote: I put on my pandora radio for my half hour run and got a surprising amount of Yelle, a French artist a friend of mine introduced me to last year. It's kitchy and happy and made trudging away on my hamster wheel convayer belt all the more bearable.
My day was topped off with my waxist reminding me that she's so thankful for when she disobeyed her mother all the time to go out with friends or on dates or whatever. Then said something to the effect of "You're hot, why do you hide yourself?" in reaction to my lack of boyfriend gossip for the past two years I've been going to her. Wah-waaaaah. But the corwning moment of advice was "You got to get out with the girls and start playing those boys NOW while you still can," and that I have to start living now.
Always a helpful reminder :)
I ended my day assisting in the ceremonious shaving of my brother's head and watching KB's Love's Labours Lost. He's got a fro-hawk and it's amazing. And so, so so so so funny.
My brother, not Kenneth.
So, all in all? Not much happened today. Nothing too eventful, but my life is still sweet and I think that's something of significance
aliee
EDIT
What's also excellent? GNOTD's two new (registered) beautiful bloggers and two of my best friends, Alex and Kodi!
It took watching a (rerun) show about health and aging to sit back and take in the bones and skin and organs I've been given. And that I'm 20! Although I'm not in the best of shape, but at 20 I figure my body's is as close to bionic as it's ever going to get.
(Or maybe I'm just afraid of feeling old. Which means owning a home, kids, paying bills, just a general responsibility for my own welfare. My baby wallpaper only came down as of three weeks ago. Discuss.)
So, instead of waking up at my usual 2pm, or thereabouts, I set my alarm to 10AM so I can make myself some eggs and oatmeal and get my ass on the rickety treadmill downstairs.
Rickety. So old. It kind of smells up the house whenever you use it. Not a bad smell just an "Oh, what is th... Aliee ran today. Gotcha" kind of smell
And I do feel better!
I'm not one to obsess over my body image. Maybe that's a lie. But earlier this year, I got half naked a few feet away from the front row in ill fitting bra &panties, lit from above. All of my friends now know exactly where I'm dimply and to what extent and I've embraced it. My curves are sexy and kind of come with my spiffy double X twenty third chromosome. It was a birthday present from my Dad.
HOWEVER. I was inspired to get out and start running, for whatever reason, because some day I won't be able to run. True statement. I used to race my Sittoo from the car to the front doors of Shop Rite or Caldor when I was little and now - well, she's 86. I'm fearing that one day I'll look back to when I thought I wasn't in shape and realize that I'm younger than I thought possible and regret days when I didn't celebrate my body or appreciate it and use it (haha) to its fullest.
Sidenote: I put on my pandora radio for my half hour run and got a surprising amount of Yelle, a French artist a friend of mine introduced me to last year. It's kitchy and happy and made trudging away on my hamster wheel convayer belt all the more bearable.
My day was topped off with my waxist reminding me that she's so thankful for when she disobeyed her mother all the time to go out with friends or on dates or whatever. Then said something to the effect of "You're hot, why do you hide yourself?" in reaction to my lack of boyfriend gossip for the past two years I've been going to her. Wah-waaaaah. But the corwning moment of advice was "You got to get out with the girls and start playing those boys NOW while you still can," and that I have to start living now.
Always a helpful reminder :)
I ended my day assisting in the ceremonious shaving of my brother's head and watching KB's Love's Labours Lost. He's got a fro-hawk and it's amazing. And so, so so so so funny.
My brother, not Kenneth.
So, all in all? Not much happened today. Nothing too eventful, but my life is still sweet and I think that's something of significance
aliee
EDIT
What's also excellent? GNOTD's two new (registered) beautiful bloggers and two of my best friends, Alex and Kodi!
June 16, 2009
It's the little things in life...
So life has been completely insane lately. When the semester calmed down I finally got a chance to look around at what had happened and what my life had become. It, I admit, really overwhelming at first. But you have to remember it is the little things in life that can keep you sane and happy.
a few examples:
1)Today I got super lost on my way to get lunch with Lena so I pull into the library to ask for directions and the librarion, after helping me, reminded me that the library was open until 9pm in case I got lost on the way home. It was really sweet and definitly calmed me down.
2)Saw Waiting for Godot with my daddy, which while amazing because of the show, was even cooler because I very rarely get time with just my dad. We got to talk which never really happens and a little bonding is always good!
3)My friends are just always there for me and because of past events I've really gotten to figure out who my true friends are. I look around and see how amazing my BFA family is and I know how lucky I am to have these people in my life
4)The rain. I know it's been ages since the sun was out, but just think how amazing it will be when we get nice weather!!!
5)Dinner with Jim Ligon, who I not only adore as a teacher but he really helped me get my act together and my plans in order. I have a path to follow for now and will make the bigger decisions later, but at least I have some calm again
When you get super stressed out just look around at the small things. Remember something fun, look at the flowers, get an ice cream and just stop spinning for a few minutes.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller
peace, love and happiness for all
Kodi =D
a few examples:
1)Today I got super lost on my way to get lunch with Lena so I pull into the library to ask for directions and the librarion, after helping me, reminded me that the library was open until 9pm in case I got lost on the way home. It was really sweet and definitly calmed me down.
2)Saw Waiting for Godot with my daddy, which while amazing because of the show, was even cooler because I very rarely get time with just my dad. We got to talk which never really happens and a little bonding is always good!
3)My friends are just always there for me and because of past events I've really gotten to figure out who my true friends are. I look around and see how amazing my BFA family is and I know how lucky I am to have these people in my life
4)The rain. I know it's been ages since the sun was out, but just think how amazing it will be when we get nice weather!!!
5)Dinner with Jim Ligon, who I not only adore as a teacher but he really helped me get my act together and my plans in order. I have a path to follow for now and will make the bigger decisions later, but at least I have some calm again
When you get super stressed out just look around at the small things. Remember something fun, look at the flowers, get an ice cream and just stop spinning for a few minutes.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller
peace, love and happiness for all
Kodi =D
the smaller things
I've been on this new diet and I've lost 5 pounds so far!
...
it's called sleeping through breakfast and lunch. wah-waaaanh. :(
why yes, sir, i did get 11 hours of sleep, waking at 3pm today. thank you for asking!
i realize sleeping away my day and keeping odd hours is probably not the healthiest thing to do in the world, but it's 8pm right now and i'm feeling refreshed and sort of afternoon-y.
oy. i'm slowly turning nocturnal.
it's been a nice little gap of time since i created this blog and its first post, but i guess everything comes around in its own time.
so, in short, here's some things i'm thankful for from the past week:
aliee
...
it's called sleeping through breakfast and lunch. wah-waaaanh. :(
why yes, sir, i did get 11 hours of sleep, waking at 3pm today. thank you for asking!
i realize sleeping away my day and keeping odd hours is probably not the healthiest thing to do in the world, but it's 8pm right now and i'm feeling refreshed and sort of afternoon-y.
oy. i'm slowly turning nocturnal.
it's been a nice little gap of time since i created this blog and its first post, but i guess everything comes around in its own time.
so, in short, here's some things i'm thankful for from the past week:
- peanut butter banana sandwiches - elvis was right, they are indeed spectacular. what took me so long, i'll never know.
- i get roasted every night by my brother and mom.
- fill in the blank productions! being a part of a new and exciting production company from inception to infancy is really thrilling. art can't happen in a vacuum and i'm thankful i have friends who i trust to collaborate with and learn from. awww, hallmark.
- my friends are great. no particular instance or circumstance, but those people i surround myself with from day to day are pretty excellent people and i'm glad we're all connected.
- mr. cupcakes. they're godly mini cakes. there are no words. curious? www.mrcupcakes.com. i'm recommending the raspberry cheesecake
- my slippers. no really, they're awesome. i'll put up a picture when i can find one.
- my complete works of shakespeare. lovely red (fake) leather covers and the pages are gold and it's HUGE. should intruders invade my house, i can throw the bard at the perps and VOILA! magical concussions in iambic pentameter. and it makes me feel fancy, haha.
- i can feel something coming. (something's comiiiiiiiiiiiing. so west side story, excuse the expression) people have been preaching The Secret to me since last year, but for once i can feel the universe conspiring in my favor and i like it.
aliee
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