Life is complicated

I was feeling the blog tonight.

I'm sitting in the Dana Center at the CC's. We've been here for about an hour and a half, and I have done only my reading for Philosophy class. It took me awhile with the noise and the distraction of my computer, Facebook, and iChat. I could have done more. Tomorrow I have to get lots of work done, and after classes, I'm going to do it. No excuses.

So, I have this assignment for my Music Literature class where I have to chose 3-5 CDs (or compilations) that I would take with me to a desert island. I should hope this island has a CD player. Do you know how hard it is to chose 3-5 CDs out of the MANY in your (in my opinion, large) music library? It's really hard! I listen to something different everyday. It all depends on my mood. How do I pick a couple favorites out of the many of favorites I have? Crazy teacher making a music student pick a couple of his/her favorite musical works... Whatever. I guess that means I shouldn't have a problem writing 750-1000 words on whatever works I chose.

I think I have this quality in me that lets other people spill their problems to me, and I try to give them helpful advice. I somehow become their personal psychiatrist. The advice is usually helpful, well thought-out, and unbiased (at least, I try to make it that in the best way I can). Why do I try to act like I know so much? Or do I actually know a little something? Does my advice actually help? How do I get myself in this position? Don't get me wrong. I like help a friend in need. I won't turn them away. I don't like seeing others in pain or complete confusion. But I just need to know whether or not my "advice" actually helps others, even if it's just a little bit. I need to know I'm not turning people in the wrong directions. I need to know that I am doing good.

My birthday is on Monday. In about 5 days, I turn 19. Turning 19 is not like when you turn 16 and you can drive, when you turn 18 and you are "legal," or when you turn 21 and you are officially legal. Anything special about 19? Not really, not compared to the others. Every year since I was little, I would get excited when my birthday got close. [Who doesn't get excited for their birthday?] It seems to me that other people feel fulfilled on their birthday. They feel something special, but somehow, when my birthday rolls around, there isn't really anything special about it. It's like another day, except it has a special title and connotation, but technically, I guess that is what a birthday is. For the most part, the day is made up of my initial excitement, my parents excitement (and the fact that they feel old), go to school or do whatever I have to do that day, I have dinner and cake with the family, and maybe another dinner with my friends, and then life goes on. [I'm not trying to be depressing. I promise I will try to be more positive.]Last year was an exception because my birthday actually landed on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, so I spent my day on the Endymion parade route with my friends. It was great. This year is going to be about the same as the other years. What can you do on a Monday? So to break the tradition of a mediocre birthday and to make up for a lame Monday, I am going to hang out with Courtney this Friday: swinging, candy shopping, dinner, and whatever other random stuff we will think up at the time. That is going to be the best part of my birthday, even if it's not on the actual day. I think I'm just going to try and make Monday the best Monday ever. [Did I successfully break the depressing dreariness? Told you I would try. Optimism is key.]

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This is a comedian, Anjelah Johnson doing her the Nail Salon part of her stand up act. It's not the funniest ever, but it is pretty damn funny (and pretty true). Haha.

This next video wouldn't let me embed video to my blog (probably because it's a bootleg video), so you will just have to click the link and go to its youtube page. This is Laura Benanti (Gypsy, Into the Woods, The Wedding Singer) singing "Unusual Way" from Nine the Musical. There is a scene before the song. The song is so beautiful. I couldn't help but post it. Click the link and enjoy!

Laura Benanti - "Unusual Way" from Nine the Musical

This is Matt Doyle singing one of my favorite, "A Change is Gonna Come," by Sam Cooke. Love his voice and his belt. He beasts this. No one can deny it. Don't even try because you will be shot down once you see the video.

BAM!!

Time to catch up

Hello all! Again, it's been a while since my last post; I think it's been a little over a week.  I just thought I'd catch you all  up on what's been up.

I went home Saturday night and stayed for most of the day Sunday. This short amount of time spent at home really makes me understand that "absence makes the heart grow fonder." Now, technically, this doesn't just go for my family. I miss my high school friends, my friends from this summer, and my friends who are still in high school.  But this blog isn't about all the things I miss. I went home for some familiar comfort, aka my warm, comfy couch.

This week was shortened because of MLK Day holiday, so no Monday classes. What did I do to celebrate? Tucks! Yep, my friends and I went drinking just because we could.  There are pictures and videos from that night, which I think are really funny. You can check them out on facebook if you are my friend.

This week was surprisingly stressful. I thought that because 1 class (that meets 3 times a week) got canceled and because of Monday's holiday, the week would be easy. Well, I was wrong. Somehow, everything was jammed into this week: class work, home work, makeup work, MTO rehearsals. At least, I don't have night classes anymore. Van Helsing is on FX!! My week just got a little better!

Speaking of MTO, we are rehearsing for a Masquerade Ball at which we were asked to perform.  We are performing "Masquerade" from Phantom of the Opera (how appropriate, right?) and  "All That Jazz" from Chicago. Blythe and I are "making up" the choreography for the dance. Well, it's more like copying Fosse and tweaking some other small parts. Who does that sound like to you? Lindsey Price? Just Kidding, Peeps!! No, but seriously, it's gonna be pretty awesome. Oh! MTO's next performance for the public is going to be Friday, February 20. It's right around the time of Valentine's Day, so we are doing traditional love songs, other funny love songs, and some "I've been hurt by love" type love songs. Should be amazing. I'm really excited about it!

Ok. Enough blogging. I think I'll blog more tomorrow. Here's the video(s) for this blog post.

Here is Shoshana Bean singing "If I Own Today" at Scott Alan's 1st Birdland concert. This song is featured on his 1st CD, Dreaming Wide Awake, The Music of Scott Alan. If you go to the actual site where this video is featured, the info will tell you everything you ever would want to know (and more) about the history of this song and how it relates to Scott Alan.

This is Episode 5 Part 2 of The Battery's Down, "Deaf, Dumb, and Blonde." The song I want you to watch is the called "Deaf Boys" featuring Leslie Kristzer. She is beastly. That is all I have to say about that. Out of context, I think you should only watch the first 4 and a half minutes (until the end of the song), but I do recommend you start from episode 1 part 1 and watch all of The Battery's Down episodes and Outtakes/Behind the Scenes. I'm a huge fan.

BAM!!

I'm alive

Hello all. 

Sorry I haven't written in a while, but I thought I would tell y'all I am not dead and haven't forgetten about my blog. I've moved back to school, and I have a new roommate. Life has been a little busy.

I don't have much to write or talk about, but here's a couple videos that I've found and love. This should make up for it.

Here's Sutton Foster as Janet Van deGraff, Bob Martin as the Man in Chair, and the cast of The Drowsy Chaperone performing "Show Off." Sutton recieved a Tony nomination for this role. They also performed a shortened version of this scene on the Tony's that year. 

This is the cast of [Title of Show] performing "Die Vampire, Die!" during their showing on Broadway. <3!

This is my favorite song off of Scott Alan's new CD, Keys: The Music of Scott Alan, called "Again" performed by Hadley Fraser. So amazing! I have to perform this song somewhere someday (soon).

BAM!!

Time

The dictionary defines time as "the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past,present, and future regarded as a whole." In my opinion, time is something more. It's tricky. In general, I think time is all about its relation to another time. For example, we talk about the past or future in relation to the present or vice versa. The only certain thing about time is the present time, the second that is here right now, passes us up, and is replaced by another second. 

Time moves fast, and time moves slow. Have you ever noticed that time moves really slow when you are approaching something that you know is going to be bad or will hurt you or is something you hate, but time moves fast when you are having fun? Time ticks so slow when exams get close or when you think about the upcoming school break. Time moves so fast when you finally reach that school break or when you are spending time with someone you really like.

Ok. This goes off topic just slightly, but go with me on this one. Something happens (big/small, good/bad), and the person (or people) it effects needs time to understand it, emote over it in whatever way each specific person chooses to, accept it, and move past it. Then, guess what? The cycle happens all over again!!! That is all life is: a cycle of events or some happenings, except the events change each time, some good some bad. That is all that fills the time we have to live.

Now, what I gave you (in the paragraph just above) is just the basis of what the cycle is. Everything is different. Everything has variables (yes, like in geometry). That happening could be big/small or good/bad. You never really know who all is effected by that event. Is it just one person or is it a bunch of people? The effect could be good/bad or big/small depending on the  happening. It may take the effected person(s) a short time or a long time to emote over it. When I say emote, what I mean is how they interpret what has happened and how they react to it. Acceptance. Now, acceptance takes a lot. We've all had to accept something good and something bad, and we all accept everything differently. Soon after we've accepted it, we move past it. Time is again the variable here.

My opinion on time when it comes to situations like this is time is important. I tell people that "you can't rush things," "give them time," and "time is what they need."  Now, I am kind of a hypocrite when it comes to this. When I am in their place, I somehow expect things to move faster. Why should things be different for me? Why should I be so special? Yet at the same time, time is of the essence. You never know when it's all going to be over. But really. How is one supposed to know when it's been "enough time"? My guess is that you just have to feel it.

Time is complicated. Time complicates life. But in actual reality, what would we do without time? We wouldn't be able to procrastinate. We wouldn't be able to take our time now and rush

later. We wouldn't have opportunities. We wouldn't have have (sometimes perfect) moments. We wouldn't have life.

Oh, the balance of life...

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This is the ball room scene from Enchanted. I've been on a chick flick kick for the past couple days. I never really caught how good this scene really is.

I just thought this was cute. Oh, Annaleigh, you are cute even when you aren't trying to be. Also shows you anything can happen during a performance of a show, even on Broadway.

This is John Tartaglia as "Pinnochio"  and the ensemble of Shrek the Musical singing "Freak Flag." I love that Gingy belts and riffs like a gospel singer.

BAM!!!

Growth

It's 2009!!!! Oddly enough, I don't feel like anything is different.

New Years Eve was not the best it could have been. The day started off hungover. Food, sleep, and Advil fixed that. Try it. It works. On my way to pick up Casi to go to a New Years Eve party, I got stopped by a cop literally less than 2 minutes away from my house. I was going 66mph in a 50mph. Thankfully the cop new my dad (never thought I'd say thanks for my government affiliated family), and said she wouldn't tell him. Thanks again, female cop whose name I don't remember! Got to the party without any other problems. Then began the drinking. Oh, let me just say I like vodka and jello shots. Things started getting fuzzy around 11:30ish. I don't remember the countdown to midnight, but I do remember making out with Kaleb at midnight. The rest of the night was like that - I remember most of the night (the 2-3 more hours I was awake) with a few holes in my memory. Cut to the next morning with a bad hangover. It's not how I would have planned my New Years, but I had fun.

New Years Resolutions:

1. Learn and grow - in progress, but working.

2. Figure out what I want and go after it

3. Take chances

4. Stop being such a whore

5. Blog some more, but a lot less depressing

I know I posted this already, but it got deleted from youtube and reposted. This is Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona singing "More to the Story" from Shrek the Musical.

This is a funny clip of Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad (he's actually around 6' 2'') in Shrek the Musical.

Ok. Last video. This is "I Think I Got You Beat" from Shrek the Musical with Sutton Foster and Brian d'Arcy James.

BAM!!