Random!

I know it's early, but that last blog made me begin to think. Somehow that brought me to make some New Years Resolutions. Here are some:

1. Start doing what I want and not what others want. 

2. Stop bitching about everything on my blog (well, maybe stop bitching *so much*), and make the world a happier place.

3. Meet more people. Make more friends. [They kind of correlate.]

4. Have more fun.

5. Be honest with myself.

6. Allow myself to be genuinely happy, however that can come about.

Moving on..

So I was googling my name today [Yes, I do that sometimes when I'm really bored. You should try it one day.] and the results turned out a lot of "Jodie"s and "Hinckley"s, but not a lot of "Jody Hinkley"s. In the results, there were a lot of combinations of "Jody", "Jodi", "Jodie" and "Hinkley", "Hinckley". Most of the results were about Jodie Foster (the Academy-Award winning actress) and John Hinckley (the guy who tried to kill President Ronald Reagan to impress her[crazy, much?]). [No, I was not named from a combination of their names.] So after seeing this, I decided that I want to become famous enough so that my name (that I thought was fairly unique that I wouldn't have this problem) will not be overshadowed by an attempted killer and an actress who I don't really like. Yes, this is kind of self-centered, but I don't care. I'm not adding this to my list of New Years Resolutions because I think this is going to take more than just a year. It took Jodie Foster a life-time to become a famous actress, and it took John Hinckley a lifetime of craziness to decide he wanted to assassinate the president before he became infamous. Plus, I don't consider this to be like the "I'm going to lose weight," "I'm going to be a better person," and "I'm giving up my vices and going back to school" (RENT, anyone?).

This is "As We Stumble Along" from The Drowsy Chaperone. It stars Bob Martin as the "Man in Chair," Sutton Foster as "Janet van de Graff," and Beth Leavel as the "Drowsy Chaperone." Hilarious. The whole show is like this. Too bad it closed... Well, enjoy! 

BAM!

What you want

I feel like I have to write about this morning's events. I am woken up early this morning by the sounds of Christmas decorations being taken out of the attic, which is right next to my room. [We have an awkward attic.] I go back to sleep. I wake up around non, and I smell an awkward smelling food. I go downstairs to check it out, and it turns out to be steak and baked potatoes. Ok cool. I'm kind of baffled at how the smell was awkward, but whatever. So I begin fixing my plate up with food, and my dad begins to talk about college. How wonderful. 

Let me lay out part of the conversation:

Dad - "So I hear that you are going to change your major to Music Education?"

Me - "Yeah. I was thinking about it."

Dad - "Ok. So here's what I want you to do. If you do this, I want you to forget about teaching high school. I want you teach college."

I continue fixing my baked potato, and I say "You know you need a Masters for that, maybe even a PhD?"

Dad - "Yes. I want you to get your masters."

Me - Thinking in my head: "No. Nope. Nuh uh. No thanks. No." What comes out of my mouth: "I'll talk to my advisor."

I am kind of tired of talking about this whole subject, but I need to get my thoughts out. So, here goes, I guess:

I do not like being a Music Industry major. I am failing the class that is the base of music industry. If I cannot pass this class, how am I supposed to graduate? To tell you the truth, I had no idea what it was until I started classes. [Obviously, I did my homework on my colleges like a responsible person. Ha!] Honestly, I had no interest in it from the beginning. My parents wanted me to sign up for it. I did it with the intention of changing it before anything could happen. I even told the people at the audition (somebody in the music office and the table full of people/judges/music teachers who listened to me sing) that I what major I was down for was not the major I wanted to take. I wanted to be a Vocal Performance major. Guess what, nobody did anything to fix it, and I ended up doing what I don't want to do. So, now I am trying to fix the mess that I am in. I came up with changing my major to Music Ed. I kind of always figured that I would end up being a choir director, no matter how much I didn't want to be. Why am I doing this to myself when I know what I want? I know every time I talk about changing my major, I try to figure out a way to get to what I want. I know it would be really bad if I changed to Music Ed then change it again and transfer to a different college. I think it would be easier if I just cut out the middle man (Music Ed.).

Since I've said something like "honestly" 2 times already, lets get real honest. I kind of settled on Loyola. I didn't apply to any schools with the major that I wanted (Music Theater, of course), except for Tulane, but in all seriousness, there was no way I was going to go to Tulane. 

I just have to say that I love Loyola. I have finally gotten comfortable with it. I love that it has a home-like atmosphere, it is close to home (which is probably not the best thing for me), I have friends near by, MTO is amazing, and I have made wonderful new friends that I will love forever. O yeah! Plus, it is a great music school from which I have learned a lot. But now is the time that I have to decide whether or not Loyola is right for me and for what I want.

Now that reality has slapped me in the face, which I definitely needed, I now realize if "what I want" is truly what I want. Then I have to figure out what is preventing me from achieving it. So I have to break through those barriers that are preventing me from this, even if it means being on bad terms with my parents, having to leave my amazing friends, and starting all over and being alone in a new city and state.

Now is the perfect time to think. The Christmas break will give me plenty of enough time to think. No pressure of school or work. Just thinking, and maybe some reading on the side. This time I am taking things more seriously. Once I figure things out, My plan is: If I decide Loyola is not right for me, I will apply and audition for next year (2009-2010). I'm going to cram it all into 1 semester. I'm gonna try to be smart about this so everything will work out. If I decide it is, I am probably going to keep with the idea of Music Ed. But who knows what I will decide? i will keep you updated.

Here is Kerry Butler singing "Gee Wiz" on Seth Rudetsky's Broadway Chatterbox. I think this was from around the time she was in Hairspray. Listen to this girl's belt. Fucking blows my mind every time.

I promise my next post will be more enjoyable, probably of this weekend's events.

BAM!

Christmas too soon?

I know everyone has noticed that everything Christmas has been showing up in life like weeks too early. Most of the time, Christmas commercials, sales, etc. all start showing up at Thanksgiving or just before it.  So why does this year have to be different? I remember Casi saying, "because of the economy, they are pushing Christmas early." I think she is right, but I think it's a little odd getting into the Christmas spirit before you can think about enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner. I think Thanksgiving would be a little jealous that Christmas is encroaching in on it's allotted holiday time.

I think this Christmas is gonna be a little crazier than others I have experienced. Not just because of the economy, but for these reasons: 

1. Little family spats. One "fight" between my dad and his cousin made our Thanksgiving plans a little awkward this year. We didn't know what the hell we were doing until yesterday, and then again today, plans changed. Hope it goes better at Christmas.

2. Whit (my brother) & his girlfriend are going out of town for Christmas. They are going Melissa's (my brother's girlfriend) house in Texas for Christmas. Because of this, we are going to celebrate our household Christmas early. Now, I have to plan ahead and make sure to get their gifts early on, so no last minute shopping for me. Also, our Christmas day is going to be a little less exciting because of their absence.

3. Deciding if I should just get gifts for my family or get gifts for everyone I care about in addition to my family. I'm not usually a gift giving person, even for birthdays. I just like being there for the person's birthday, making it a happy one. Personally, I think that makes a birthday.

4. Figuring what gifts to get. This is the hard part. What should I get for everyone? What does dad like? What does mom need? What does Whit want? What would Melissa like? Then, I have to think about my extended family. My 4 grandparents, my 2 cousins, cousin's fiancee, and their 11-month-old daughter. Now, I can't pull the "Oh, their extended family. They won't mind. They probably won't even notice." Well, I can't. We celebrate Christmas Eve and open gifts with them. [No, we don't wait til Christmas morning to open gifts.]

5. Figuring out what I want for Christmas. Now, this is the big one. I don't really know what I want. I can think of a few things I would like, but I don't need them. For, example, I would like an Touch iPod or an iPhone, but I don't really need them. I have a working iPod video, and my phone is kind of new. [Would July be considered new?]. So you see my predicament? Very soon, my family will start asking me what I want for Christmas. Actually, I was home maybe 5 minutes yesterday before my mom asked me what I wanted. So there you go. Then, sometime next week, my family is going to be asking my mom (and maybe my dad) what I want so they can figure out what to get.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love getting presents at Christmas just as much as the next person, and  I would feel extremely left out if I didn't get any gifts. Also I'm not trying to be a Scroog, but how did we get to the "4AM store openings on the morning after Thanksgiving" when it is just the FIRST DAY of Christmas shopping? Why do we worry ourselves over the material aspects of Christmas? How did we ever get that worked up over gifts at Christmas? What ever happened to "the meaning of Christmas"? [Yes, I'm a bad Catholic and an agnostic, but that is besides the point.]

So as not to leave everyone down on an awkwardly, kind of depressing blog about Christmas, here is "The Llama Song." It makes me laugh so much. I promise you will love it.

BAM!

Break time!

I'm blogging because Katie said I can do anything during my scheduled breaks, which she is setting up right now, so this is what I decided to do with my free time. She said I have to work on my paper and nothing else except during my scheduled breaks. Talk about a paper nazi! But I need a paper nazi, so snaps for Katie! 

Haha!! I'm listening to "Can't Keep it Down" in the library, and I just literally lol-ed. Yeah, random...

So I got to see a lot of my high school friends this weekend. It was amazing!! I got to see most of the DHS girls at Instant Theater. I saw, Alexis, Rachel, Victoria, Peryn, Monique and the Amanda half of Salamanda. God Damn do I miss all of them!! I feel like I've been in my college bubble. Back to my story. Some girls really surprised me in the show. They were better than I expected. Oh yeah! They are doing FAME for the spring musical this year. That's so exciting. I wish I could do the show again this year... *tear* Miracles can happen, right [This is not going to be a depressing blog. I promise.] After the show, we got drunk. Those stories I don't think I will write about because I don't have enough time in my scheduled break, but they are pretty funny. [I know! I'm such a tease.] Then, last night I saw the NOCCA show, and as expected, it was amazing. I got to see them after the show! I've never been more excited to be at NOCCA than at that moment, to see Janie, Sarah, Ashley Rose, Salamanda, Josh, Tyler, and so many more. God Damn I miss my younger friends. This is one of those times I wish I was born just 1 year later than I was.

Wow. I'm kinda ADD today.

Here's a video of Leslie Kritzer & Shoshana Bean singing "I Got the Money" back when they were at the University if Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music in 1999. I think this song was just an excuse to show off Leslie & Shoshana's AMAZING belting abilities.

Oh yeah! I decided that I'm going end each blog (after my traditional youtube video) with a "BAM!" because I have been saying it kind of a lot. So....

BAM!

I Hate Music Industry

So I have a 10-page paper due Monday, and I have about 2 pages done. I'm just not in the mood to write it right now. So, I'm gonna blog:

Reasons why i don't want to do this paper:

1. I don't know what I'm writing about, but at least this paper is teaching me how to bull shit, a.k.a. "fluff."

2. I fucking hate the class.

3. I hate Music Industry as my major. I never chose it. I thought I changed it before I even started school, but NOPE.

4. I have never had to write any type of paper longer than 4 pages. 10 PAGES?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! Nobody should think in their heads "well, it's college" because that is bullshit. Plus, nobody wants to read 10 pages on boring music industry subjects, not even the teacher!

5. I don't have time for this bullshit. I have OTHER homework I could be working on/avoiding. I actually have a life.

Ways I have avoided doing this paper:

1. Facebook.

2. Twitter.

3. Conversations about sex.

4. Ridiculously long video comment threads.

5. Shopping for winter jackets at Buffalo Exchange and Funky Monkey.

6. Setting up "play dates" to make new friends. [I laughed my ass off as I wrote that last line.]

Things I could be dong other than this paper:

1. Having sex with Blythe. [Just kidding. *Shakes head when she looks away*]

2. Sleeping.

3. Watch TV, specifically Charmed, Family Guy, & Grey's Anatomy

4. Playing Ultimate UNO

5. Taking a shit [Shout-out to Amy! Holla!]

6. Making friends.

7. Getting drunk.

8. Living my life.

How much this paper is a waste of my time (See the lists above).

So I felt like I needed to end this blog with a big ending; BAM!

I tried to find a video of "An Original Musical" from Title of Show because it seems so appropriate to my present situation, but I couldn't find the video with the original cast. So, this will just have to do. This is an amazing video of Brian d'Arcy James, Julia Murney, and Taye Diggs singing "Make Me Happy" from the Wild Party (Lippa). Random show fact: Idina Menzel (Taye Digg's wife) is also in the show, but she is not in the song.  Brian's role of Burrs is my dream role (as of right now). Enjoy!

Here we go again

So, I started some drama. I don't usually do this. 

Let's start from the beginning. I had a long week of classes, homework, and rehearsals. Thursday, I had class, a tiring performance (where I gave my all [you can watch the videos on Facebook]), a (long, hot, sweaty) choir concert, and more homework. That night I said made a comment that wasn't necessarily mean, but the way I said it, it came off mean. I later apologized for it with no response. I attempt to reconcile 2 days later, and they are not mad. No. Apparently, I am just aggravating this person. I have not really seen or talked with this person in a couple weeks. How could something I do, aggravate them? They say "it's complicated," and after much fighting, all i get is a comparison to another relationship with this person that is not always good but is at the moment (which was not explained at all), the fact that I don't think before I speak, and the fact that I am living in "Jody world." First, let me say I do think before I speak. Sometimes, I don't (like Thursday), but MOST of the time I do. Now on to "Jody World." Everything I smell, hear, say, or do  is a part of "Jody World." It's like that for everybody. Think about it. Everything that happens is a part of the world that (literally, from your eyes) is surrounded around you. You are not a part of the world around you. You are the center of things around you. This is not supposed to be sounding egotistical or self-centered (in a bad way [no pun intended]). It is just a theory of how a person views the world. After more pointless fighting, this person gives up and signs off (yes, this was on AIM).

Understand that this conversation blew up in a short amount of time, and part of that is my fault for pushing it. Is it wrong to make something a bigger deal than it should be because something good will come of it? [Yes, I am positive something good will come of it.] Personally, I think it is ok. I did this for growth and understanding, so I think I am in the right this time. 

Let's move on to something a bit lighter: Shrek was just on TBS right now. It is such a good movie. The musical is gonna be awesome too. I can't wait to see it! Well, I hope I get to see it.

Keeping up with the Shrek theme. Here's another video from the previews of Shrek the Musical. It has an awesome tap section in it, probably written in for Sutton Foster. I love this stuff!

Just a hold-over

This is just to hold you guys over.

The MTO Recital Hour is tomorrow. Rehearsal was great, but very tiring. I'll tell you about it later.

I don't care about the cockroach, Dani. Grow some balls, and kill it! It shouldn't be hard, since you are technically are a gay man. O btw, I do too kill cockroaches!!

I'm really tired right now, and I'm looking forward to my shower. I don't know why, but I've been looking forward to showering everyday. The showers aren't especially good or anything. I just crave showering throughout the day.

I could have sworn I had posted this on my blog before, but I guess I haven't. Here's "I Know Its Today" from Shrek the Musical. It kinda gives Princess Fiona a backstory. So fucking awesome. Go Sutton Foster!!

Hello again

Hi blog! Sorry it has been so long since I have blogged. life has just been busy. I will try to recount what has happened since I have last written. This might be a long one, so bear with me.

Last time I blogged, I was on my way home from Natchitoches. The day after (Sunday), I saw High School Musical 3. I have to admit, it was pretty good. The choreography was amazing, and the singing was pretty good too. Then I had to prepare for MTO's Halloween-themed Underground performance. I have to say, we were DAMN GOOD. I think all of the songs are on YouTube HERE. Check them out. One of the many highlights from that night was Time Warp (I don't think it's on YouTube for some reason, but it is on Facebook!). In the middle of the song, I stripped off my big leather jacket to reveal my tight jazz pants and mesh shirt. That is huge for me. People who were there were crazy surprised to see me do that. I can confidently say that that was definitely the top highlight of the night (besides the amazing singing).

Skip to Halloween! I got to see Monique for like an hour because she needed my help and she wanted to see me because she missed me (and I miss her). So, our original plans for that night were to go to House of Shock, meet up at Loyola after, and go downtown to Bourbon and Frenchman. Somehow, our plans were destroyed. But we made it work (Tim Gunn, anyone?). Blythe, Kaleb, Katie, and I ended up going to House of Shock. Katie was dressed up as a she-devil on the DL, Blythe was a bunny, Kaleb was Aladdin, and I was a dead raver (my way of wearing the mesh shirt and glow sticks without looking stupid). We were pretty cool. After HoS, Katie, Blythe, and I tried going downtown. We tried parking for like 20-30 minutes with no luck, so we gave up and went back to Loyola. We chilled in my dorm for like 10 minutes, then crashed. The next day, I worked on my paper for 4 hours and only got 2 of the pages 10 done. Then, Casi & Katie cooked in the tiny dorm floor kitchen. It was SOO GOOD. Later that night, we went to an Improv show, which was hilarious. They used like 3 or 4 of the quotes we gave, like "Let me see that thong" and "Gimme your hand, bitch!" What a good day. Oh yea! After, we went to Tucks. It was alright. Sketchy and full of people. I have to say, I love it when Casi is drunk. She's funny to watch. Hahaha. The next day (Monday), I found out the 10 page paper I was supposed to finish by that Wednesday was not actually due til the end of the month! What a fucking relief!! 

Then this past Wednesday, some of the Loyola vocal students (including me) went to NATS, which is a vocal competition. Blythe and I made it through to semi-finals with most of the Loyola group, and 3 of the Loyola people placed in the finals. Props to them. Good times were had, even if we were in Natchitoches, LA where everything closes at 10PM, except for the 24/7 Walmart. Thursday (the 1st night) we went to Walmart for dinner because everything else was closed. It was a good choice. We got some good food. Friday after we found out who made it to the final round and after some delicious Pizza Hut, one of the Loyola hotel rooms had a small party. That was the highlight of the trip. Fun stories came from that night that you wouldn't really understand unless you were there or if I took the time to explain it, which I am not.

Now we are on to the present day. After todays classes and a rehearsal for the MTO Recital Hour performance (which is this Thursday during the Loyola "window"), I finally have the chance to rest. I don't really have anything to do. No real homework, no papers that I HAVE to work on. I finally have a chance to chill. I love it. And this is what I spend my free time doing, blogging. Feel good about yourself.

Something to look forward to: Loyola University Chorus Concert Thursday night @ 7:30PM in Loyola's Rousell Hall. I thought there was more, but there isn't. Sorry.

Umm... earlier, I thought I had something I wanted to write about, but I'm too tired from remembering what has happened these past 2 weeks. Maybe the next blog will be about that. Tomorrow afternoon shouldn't be busy either. Well, except for MTO Recital Hour rehearsal. Whatever. Maybe you'll get lucky, and I'll write another blog. Only time will tell...

Like my cliff hanger?

"All Girl Band" Girls of UMich (class of '07?)