Just call me Peggy Sue

You know that poem that starts "Dance like no one is watching"? Forget the rest of it, and just do that part, a lot.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

The 3 comment limit

Why are there never more than 3 comments on one post? Is there some un-written rule about the number of comments? I know more than 3 people at a time read each post. Wierd.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

The New York Adventure

My trip started at 2am on Thursday morning, when I went to the bus station in Madison. After a few busses, planes, and shuttles, I arrived at my hostel. I ended up in a room with 2 British girls and a Japanese girl. I just crashed Thursday night, as I had gotten very little sleep the night before.
On Friday, I had my audition. They taught us a combination before we went in, and then we were thrown to the dogs. The company director, a few teachers from the school, and a couple company members were all present. With all those people there, it seemed like it would be a pretty big deal. But turns out, it totally wasn't. First, we stood in a line. Then, we walked. Yes, walked. On the beat. Then, we did leaps, just one pass across the floor. Then they made a cut, and sent everyone above about 5'3'' home. Awesome. So my first big audition, and I lasted a grand total of 10 minutes. But it wasn't cause I was a bad dancer, or because I'm super fat, or anything else. It was just because I was too tall for the spot they were looking to fill. So I didn't make it, but it was a good experience, I guess.
I spent the rest of the day hanging out in NYC, one of my favorite things. I just wandered around, drank hot chocolate in a million different Starbucks, looked in a million stores without buying anything. It was great. I also went to the modern art museum, which was cool. I like to call myself an artist, and it was interesting to see how much a baby artist I am compared to the amazing artists on display at the museum. I had no idea what almost any of the pieces meant or represented. It was good to see some real mastery of art, sometimes in all the work that as a goal gets lost.
The next day, I spent some time at an international food festival, 20 blocks of food, cheap clothes, advertising booths, and random other stuff. There were 10 minute massages, face painting, crappy jewelry. It was awesome. Thai food for $1, and roasted corn on the cob: yum.
I also saw a dance show, the company Momix. You can see them in Hanes commercial now-adays. It was a sweet show, lit all in blacklight, with some super cool eye tricks from the costumes and the lighting. Amazing stuff you can do when only half the body is visible. Plus, it was a family matinee, and the 400 kids in the audience with me were so amazed the whole time. Every trick that would be cool to normal people was just the coolest thing ever to these kids.
On Saturday night I went to the show Avenue Q. It's a musical, but half the characters are puppets. It was pretty good, really really funny. There was tons of "stuff" in it, like they grappled with practically every social issue at some point in the show. A little overwhelming after a while. It wasn't my favorite show I've ever seen, but I enjoyed it none-the-less.
My trip back was long and arduous, consisting of sitting in countless public transportation hubs. I ended being awake for about 36 hours straight, as I don't sleep well on busses or airplanes. That wasn't all that bad, until I woke up on Monday morning with the plague. I've had a fever for a day now, and can't stop coughing. Wierd, as I had pretty much no close human contact the entire weekend.
I really had fun, though. I didn't get a job, but I got to hang out in one of my very favorite places all by myself with nothing to do but just enjoy myself. I got to walk and walk, sit and stare at all the people going by, see some great art and fun shows. I got some alone time (which I'm always in need of). And I made it through my first big audition without being super upset about not getting it. A wonderful adventure overall.

Monday, May 15, 2006

Home at last

I've actually been home from school for about a week now. Home presents an interesting mix of boredom and business, like I have nothing to do really but I still manage to be running around all day.
I spent a few days applying for jobs. I applied at a few places over Easter, and got an interview with Family Video. Not my first choice, but a job with a possible transfer to NY. I also applied at 6 of the 9 area Starbucks(es), and the Barnes and Noble Starbucks cafe. I'd really like to work for them, the job is fine and the benefits are great, and there are a billion of them in NYC for me to work at when I move. So far I've gotten 2 calls back, which is great cause I was beginning to be discouraged. Going in and out of place after place (and denying myself hot chocolate at every one) can get a little tiring. But I've got one interview today, and hopefully that goes well :)
Mom and I went to see the babies near the end of the week. They are so cute! The pictures truly do not do them justice. Plus, the whole job of an aunt is just to hold the kids, which is the best part of a newborn. They are getting a little bigger, adn are starting to look around and lift their heads, so they are a little more interesting than just warm lumps. But they are still great to hold and watch them sleep and kiss them tons. I'll have pictures up soon, no worries.
This weekend, I'm off to New York City for an audition. I'm trying to take this audition in stride, not expecting too much, but it's the company I really really want to dance for, so it's hard to be okay with rejection. Mostly this trip is just a fun time to run around the city by myself. Maybe I'll try and hunt down an apartment (how the heck do you do that?) or find a nice neighborhood at least. Or maybe I'll just amble the streets, my favorite city past-time. I'm a little nervous about the independant adventure (like staying in a hostel, getting myself to the airport at 4am, etc), but it should be a great time. And don't worry, I'll call if I get anything (but remember, I'm trying to not get my hopes up).
Mom left to go back to Kiev today, and she left me a 3 page list of things to do before she gets home in July. I'll have to work non-stop until she arrives! I suppose I should go start ticking things off.
PS: Hey, all you college friends, call or write, I miss you already!!!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Done

My papers are handed in, my projects are finished, my presentations have been given. I am now done with my senior year of college.
On to the next task: packing up my life.