yesterday (also an epiphany!)

Yesterday was a craaaaazy day.

went to work early in order to get to a 9 o'clock performance of Jack on the west side. It was a good show and the kids went crazy. Jack is a really fun show to do even though it leaves me dripping and exhausting. one of the classes only spoke Spanish and I'm the only actor on the tour who speaks it even a little so I had them all crowding around me and telling me their favorite parts.

went back to the theater, watched the 11;30 show, corralled the children a bit

hung out at my lunch break down at the Tower of the Americas. It's beautiful with all the fountains and what not. had a territory dispute with a squirrel.
now, I just happen to have two orange wristbands for the Tower that someone else paid for and used and sometimes I spy on the tourists to see if it's an orange wristband day. and today was the day. I gathered my courage, walked right into the tower, slapped on my wristband and marched into the elevator as confidently as possible. it totally worked. it was very windy. I could see for miles. awesome.

had rehearsal for the Texas history show, which is going to be crazy dense, especially the timeline of the entire history of Texas in 10 minutes. and...I don't get to be in the swordfight part (sad face) even though I have the most stagefighting experience and choreographed the fight. oh well.
I like it here, but I'm starting to feel nervous about all that is coming: the Texas show, teaching the summer camps, (hopefully) actually being in a show (they might do Into the Woods this summer...IhopeIhopeIhope)...it's a little overwhelming. and as nice as everyone is being, this is still an extremely competitive field...even in humble San Antonio...even in children's theater.
had a meeting for the upcoming Shakespeare Speaks workshops (hurray?)

after work I went to the chiropractor. they are the nicest people, mostly I say this because they gave me a huge discount on my appointments since I'm a volunteer (huzzah!)

had dinner with my housemates, watched LOST (I'm an addict, and this episode was really good. I tell ya, I have not been into season 5 so far with the time-travelling and whatnot...but John Locke? that's gold)

the real crazy part of the day was when I agreed to go clubbing. it was...interesting. let me say that first of all clubbing is really not my scene. and this club was huge and chaotic and...interesting. now I like dancing as much as the next person and I had fun with that. but I was really only expecting to be out a couple of hours. so at about 1 am I was ready to go home, but we didn't. we stayed until closing and then went out to IHOP and it was nearly 5 in the morning when I finally got home and went to bed. now, I only knew two of the people I was going with; the others, though generally well-intentioned, happy-go-lucky people, were nevertheless not the sort of people I really mesh with. I was pretty grumpy by the end of the night and feel like I already burned any bridges I would want to maintain, so, the following is an imaginary (though based on true happenings and overheard snippets) monologue about me, from one of my fellow party-goers:

Party-goer: What's wrong with her? She come to party or what? First she didn't want to compete in the lingerie contest at the club. Then she tried to make us feel guilty about tellin some ethnic jokes and not tipping the waitress at the IHOP. Now it's 4 in da morning and she tired and she want to go home and I'm just saying, you come to party? Cuz we party all night and she don't even dress like she come to party. Look she wearing pants insteada dress and she ain't even fat or nothing.

This has been to illustrate a few of the inherent differences between us in terms of...worldview...and self-respect...and cultural sensitivity...and employment status. so, that was my night and today I am tired as hell. had to deal with an enormous temper tantrum this morning when I wouldn't sell a kid some popcorn. good times.

epiphany: Maxims are generally true, stereotypes frequently have more than a grain of truth, and though some people are overwhelming kind and generous, some are....not.

a little bit about me

Hello.
My favorite color is green.
I know how to juggle.
I love little awkward moments when someone trips on the sidewalk or turns around in the middle of a walk because they forgot something or when two people try to talk to each other at the same time and then both stop to let the other person speak first and then both try to talk at the same time again.
I love sushi.
If I could go anywhere on vacation it would be to Nicaragua.
I hate mornings.
I talk to myself.
I day, while walking down the street, I noticed a hole in the sidewalk and when I knelt down to look inside it I was transported to a magical world in which up was down and blue was black and multi-colored streamers rained from blueberry clouds high up in the mushroom mountain village. I sat on a chair that became a lion roaring an ancient melody. The phone rang and I answered to a voice which spoke in perfect Italian: What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is green.

Blog! (The First)

Despite the dramatic title, I am warning anyone who reads this now: this blog will quickly devolve into a boring repetition of my daily life and goings on. You are warned!

I have recently moved to San Antonio, TX, where I am involved with Mennonite Voluntary Service. I am volunteering for a year-long period with The Magik Theatre.

This is what it's like (a reader's theatre):
a: welcome to the theater, would you be willing to audition for us tomorrow so that we can (possibly) place you into a touring troupe with our children's theatre?
b: Yes.
a: Okay! Your audition was successful now you canstarttolearnnotonlyonebuttwo (don'tworrythey're short) littleplays (you can sing, yes?) oneis Jack and the Beanstalk andtheother (and dance too, right?) is SchoolhouseRock!
b: um...okay!
a: Congratulations! You will love it here! bytheway, weneedyoutostarttrainingonphonessothatyoucanwork president'sdaywheneveryoneelsewillbegone.
b: o...kay.
a: huzzah!

Actually I really like it at the theater so far, except answering the phones and taking reservations is still scary. But I did learn two shows in the space of a week and tomorrow I start rehearsing a new show about Texas history.
The people there are really nice and I think I'm settling in pretty well.

The other sphere of my life revolves around the VS house and San Antonio Mennonite Church which has been my source for a social life. There are a lot of young people who really like to do some and/or all of the following things: getting up at 4 am for a Cowboy Breakfast, watching sumo wrestling at an Asian Festival, hosting Superbowl parties, watching The Bachelor, going to see Bollywood movies, going to the rodeo, going to see the Goo Goo Dolls (at the rodeo), cooking, eating, playing volleyball, playing Dutch Blitz, going to art galleries, having bonfires, etc, etc. With all of this activity, and tons of new people that I've met (okay, maybe 30ish?), it is little surprise that I feel established here, though I've only been here for a couple of weeks.

So, life is good. The weather is so nice compared to dreary Goshenland, but I miss my friends there very much. It breaks my heart to think that they are having pajama-jimmi-jams and karaoke Wednesdays (sometimes Monday) without me, but alas, what is adventure in real life without leaving college behind? My only real complaint is cockroaches. So far the score is Tara 3, cockroaches 0. But let's leave on a happy thought: my parents and brother are moving to Lithuania for 9 months starting in August and I am just pleased as punch. Hopefully this will mean a Christmastime trip to Europe, fingers crossed.

well, that's all for now, folks.