Saturday, February 28, 2009

I'm really beginning to cherish my Saturdays spent walking the streets of St. Augustine. Today I began by going to the Thrift Store Sale where I got eleven items for $5.50. Including a beautiful grey suede coat and a trench of my very own. Some men's shirts, some soft sweaters, one shirt from The Lion King Broadway Musical (SCORE!), a gorgeous bright blue with brilliant graphics, and a camel-coloured leather jacket.
Also, might have found some part time work at the House of Ireland (if they need it over the holidays and for St. Patty's Day) and a consignment shop to possibly sell some old clothes.

But that was not the highlight of the day:

I must have spent nearly two full hours talking to this man. He’s an artist and his work was on display at the gallery I went to last weekend. Turns out, he is the artist of my favourite of all the paintings. So I talked to him about the painting and my interpretation (Robert Johnson’s last moments). He asked if I was an artist, I said no. We discussed music (subject of much of his work), I replied I had no gift there either.
I told him I was an actress, so we discussed theatre and acting.
Acting and Painting have so much more in common than I thought. It’s about taking what is inside ourselves and putting it forward for others, not so they can see what we see, but so they can have an experience of their own.
We discussed films, our favourites, and what genres we liked. But we were always going back to the absolute peace that comes for him when he’s painting and for me when I am on a stage.
How perseverance and a leg-up are necessary, and how transformative good acting is. That the best art is probably that which just comes from the moment. That true satisfaction with one’s work is very difficult to attain and that perhaps future work is the better for it.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Son of a Preacher Man

It’s been an odd sort of a day. But the perfect cure for the lousy week I’ve been having, that’s for sure. It began with the arrival of Wil Wheaton’s new book. I can’t wait to read it! Interesting things that happened while I wandered around, putting up posters:

1. The girl at the Bunnery recognised the girl in the poster, which I found interesting considering how stark the design of the poster.
2. I actually managed to find places for all the posters I took with me. I will probably ask for more and try to get them in more places.
3. I went to the nearby Episcopal church and met Father Brian. Quite handsome, I thought (dishy vicar) and kind. I…I do believe I’ll go to church tomorrow. I’ve never gone of my own accord and not willingly in many many years. I don’t know if this is a resurgence of faith…I mean, if any church you’d think I’d go with UU, but…maybe it’s because of Bishop Robinson and how he got to speak at the Inauguration and how the Episcopal church (parts of at least) are supportive of people like me. Maybe I just need something in the community, something I can be a part of so I don’t feel quite so alone here.
4. I went to an art gallery. And the work was beautiful. This one piece reminded me of Robert Johnson, and I’ve never heard a single one of his songs the whole way through. But it was beautiful and layered and still disjointed and…terrified. I got a sense of terror and frantic work, ‘get that last note down before the hell hounds come for me’. A woman working there was so kind to me (I think she wanted to make a sale), she must have thought I was older than I was and had money to spend on these works. I wish I did. Some were breathtaking. Some I loved, some I wanted to buy for people I knew. There was an artist there with her artist husband. They both had work up and both were also painting or retouching work at the same time right in the gallery. In his work, there was a sense of timelessness that drew me. He’d copy Renaissance works and in the foreground have young women that somehow were and were not a part of the reproduction painting. A modern retelling next to the original. And the woman had two paintings that struck me: someone walking in an autumn park at twilight, another walking past tall city buildings. The little figure, the Wanderer I named them in my head, was the draw. I don’t know why. But of all the paintings, the bluesy, jazzy one that I have nowhere to put and no way to afford was my favourite.
5. As I passed the nearby theatre on the way home, I noticed it was opening earlier to show movies at 5. I went in and looked around. My favourite of the many collections was the buttons. Hundreds of them, including The Man Without A Face. I knelt to look at it and just…felt safe with the image of the boy there, grown up now. I got my five dollar bill I had left and four quarters and I went to see Doubt.
6. Doubt was phenomenal. Absolutely brilliant. I would have preferred the Broadway cast (as I had seen them on tour), but Meryl Strep and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams were all amazing. It didn’t feel as much like a movie as I thought, more like I was sitting on a stage with them, so close. Of course much was added to make the right running time for a movie and I do believe the play was better (when it is not?), but it was still a mesmerising film.Now I am determined to do a scene from it in Acting II and I’ll ask Josh, because he’d gushed over it as well.

Carry on my Wayward Son, There'll Be Peace When You Are Done...

So, this week. Sucked.

I won't go into details, as I did promise to not. Suffice to say I can sum things up with song lyrics (as did with title and can do with everything in life...seriously)

My friends: "I thought together we'd amaze the world/how can I live my dreams or even start/when everything has come apart"
My finances: "I got plenty o' nuthin'"
Classwork piling up: "You have many spinning plates in the air and your feet are tangled in a mob of lemurs" (Okay, so that's a quote from Wil Wheaton, but whatever)
Missing Curtain Call, and Riviera and my mom and going to the bookstore and Deja Vu the stupid little birds that chirped me awake way too early every weekend morning: "They're not my home/not anymore/not like they so were before"

So, onto happier things:
1. I like my co-star (also like that word: co-star) =8->
2. Box Office shouldn't be too hard (unless I get held up and apparently, that's a possibly...)
3. I'm about to type up and post the next chapter of Perks of the Job, which may get me shot as I am going to mess with the boys *blames Teach*, then angst the hell of out everyone *again, blames Teach*
4. Mary's 20th birthday is Wednesday, so I'm gonna call her as it has been far too long since I've seen/spoke her! Already got her birthday sent out.
5. Got most of my errands done yesterday: only have to put up posters on St. George Street today!
6. Watched a gut-wrenching, heart-breaking film called What Makes a Family. Why is this on the happy list? Because it made me want to fight a whole lot harder for GLBT rights, especially in Florida. This is my home state and fuck all, if I let it continue to be the one dragging its feet on realising everyone deserves rights!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day to:

Myself!

I decided to spend the day having a great day. I'm watching all my favourite blooper reels (Supernatural, Torchwood, Sports Night, etc.) and behind the scenes featurettes and any other geeky thing that makes me smile and gives me a warm glow (Blood Drips Heavily on Newsies Square, I am looking at you!). Then I'm making my favourite meals (hazelnut coffee this morning, some of the Best Tacos Ever (TM) for lunch and reheated homemade mac'n'cheese for dinner.

Along with that, I'm sending little Valentines to all my friends to let them know how much I love them, but Collins knows I couldn't live without them and I don't tell any of them nearly often enough!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Since I Found Serenity...

So, I had a particularly long stretch between my Acting and Stage Combat class today. Instead of coming home or taking a nap (like Alicia and Erica did), I explored the Flagler theatre.

Oh, it was beautiful. I found the ghost corners (areas where so few people have ever walked that they are marginally colder than other places in the theatre) and discovered an old secretary desk in a room at the very top. The drawer was deep and empty (no secret compartments, I checked) and I have this overwhelming urge to leave a note for the next explorer after me.

I did, however, find a Serenity Spot. Other than my closet floor (and I'm blaming/thanking Private Practice for that idea), the stairs hidden from view leading to the very top of the theatre are my new Serenity Spot. What I mean by that term is somewhere I can go, be alone and just breathe. I may take a book or a notebook next time, but I find Serenity Spots best for thinking. No moving, no props, just thinking.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Best Taco Ever (TM)

Okay, I have invented the Best Taco Ever (TM).

Take one tortilla (I use wheat, but that's down to preference).
Cut one lime in half and squeeze a couple drops of juice. Use halved lime to spread it all over the tortilla.
Rip up some pieces of lettuce and put on top.
Next some thin BBQ-seasoned chicken from the little packages in the lunch meat section. about one and a half slices works best. Place on top of lettuce.
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Can use whatever kind of cheese floats your boat, but again, I prefer sharp cheddar.
Lastly, spoon over some diced tomatoes (I use the ones from a can, but that's because I'm lazy).

Fold however you like to fold your tacos and viola! Best Taco Ever (TM). I may share this recipe around, but no one can take it without credit. Hence the (TM). Also, may call up the brother and brag. Hahaha, maybe I'm not in culinary school, but I made some yummies, so there! *calms the hell down, I swear*

Friday, February 6, 2009

Care Package!

So, my mum sent me a care package from home. This included:

1. The actual disc of Animal Crossing, which was not in the case I took.
2. Mocha and Triple chocolate M&Ms because my diet is screwed!
3. Hot chocolate insta-style.
4. A frickin' tub of Folger's coffee, which make Ianto's eyebrows rise so high, they hit his hairline.
5. Gift cards to Walmart (so I can buy properly-fitted jeans) and Publix (so I can buy food and stop surviving on PB&J on crackers, which I had eaten for the past couple meals)
6. Supernatural Seasons 1, 2, and 3! I didn't expect 3, but the others I knew were coming if I just planted the hints right... Which means I am geeking out and watching the bloopers and behind the scenes things. Always love those! Jared and Jensen are such dorks, such gorgeous dorks!
7. Assorted toiletries she found in my room.