Sept. 14th-19th

     I survived my first week of school!  Despite the fact I've going to sleep on old-people-time, this past week has been a great one.  Since my last post, I have started six more classes: Alexander Technique, Movement, Speech, Voice, Games and Repetition; and we're already starting scene work in Performance Technique and Script Analysis (my scene partner and I are doing something from Two Rooms for S.A.)  It's weird - it feels like we haven't really started yet, but we're already doing so much work.  I'm confused as to how I should be feeling about all of this.  Right now I'm excited for all that we're doing so far, but I guess I'm just afraid that I will be the one who doesn't succeed in understanding everything that we're doing, that it will take longer for me and, as a result, be kicked out of the school.  My group has already lost a member (though he left for a family emergency), I don't want to be next.  I don't want to be left out.  My determination is what has been getting me through, but that can only go so far.  Luckily, I have the best group ever and I know that, with the way we've already become an ensemble, we are going to help each other.  I'm hoping that will be true and continue one for the next two years ... I'm trying not to think so much.  Kinda failing at that.

     Besides school, I have finally bought the rest of the items I need for my room, gone grocery shopping, and became a weakling and bought way too much at H&M (I really shouldn't be allowed in there).  We had a tornado hit Brooklyn and Queens on Thursday, and I walked through the storm on my way home from school.  It was horrible - 5pm and dark already.  I made it halfway home by the time the storm started, but that didn't help me from being pushed by the wind and having my umbrella collapse in reverse.  That never happening to me, I had no idea how to get my umbrella to work so I had a police officer help me out.  I then waited about 15 more minutes for the storm to stop ... but that wasn't going to happen.   So I walked in the rain (I couldn't see anything, btw), and eventually made it home.  After realizing that the storm was actually tornado the next day, I called my mother to let her know that I was okay. ... She didn't know what I was talking about.  Go figure.

     I spent Friday at the Drama Book Shop with my scene partner - this place is amazing and made me completely geek out over their costume designing books.  Three hours later, I went to H&M where I spent another three hours trying on almost everything they had there.  Going in to buy a sweater, I walked out with four sweaters, leggings and two dresses.  I'm lucky I can still close my closet door.

     Yesterday was spent doing some homework and getting ready to go out with Brent to see of Montreal and Janelle Monae at Terminal 5.  This was my first time seeing Janelle (who was beautiful and amazing, and everyone should see her perform if they have the chance), my third time seeing of Montreal in concert and it was still amazing - it was almost a "greatest hits" night with them playing "Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider," "Suffer for Fashion," "St. Exquisite's Confessions," etc.  They came out and played Michael Jackson hits (yes, including "Thriller") for their encore and proceeded to have their usual dance party, along with Janelle Monae, onstage at the end of the concert.  There were some weird people at the concert: young kids practically dry humping each other, wearing wings that spread the glitter epidemic to anyone in their general vicinity, who were probably born when of Montreal started making music, and on their Twitter every chance they got.  On the one hand, I wish these children weren't there (all the pushing gets very tiring after, oh, the first time), but I appreciate their taste in music so I guess I shouldn't complain too much.  :)  The weirdest person there, by far, was Susan Sarandon.  Yes, Susan Sarandon, the actress, from great films ... like Rocky Horror.  She was there with her family, sitting in a V.I.P. area, waving to all of us down on the floor.  Brent and I guessed that her children were big fans of Janelle and of Montreal, and, while that may be true, it turns out that she did an interview with of Montreal earlier yesterday for the Times.  I seriously cannot wait to read that article.  ... But, to reiterate: kids = weird, concert = crazysexycool.  I recommend everyone see of Montreal and Janelle Monae at least once in their life.  The word "disappointment" won't exist as you enter their world of music-making.

     

     Today has been spent working on more homework, but tonight I will be cheering for one my my group members as he goes into an Improv competition.  Then I go back to class tomorrow.  Followed by a dress rehearsal viewing of A Life in the Theatre, starring Patrick Stewart and T.R. Knight.  Now is the time for me to be a complete bitch and say, "Sometimes, I get jealous of myself."