Epiphanies

This evening, I have committed to re-reading Mother Courage. Hard to just get into, given the Episodic structure. But I have had a fresh revelation. Last year, my concept was very Orwellian - War is Peace. I found these awesome Russian Revolution posters that screamed propaganda and the hellish lines I liked. This year, I have realised that Mother Courage is actually W. She thrives on war. She sells out her own children. And stupidly follows it, never learning from what happens to her. Ha! Now I just have to decide how much visual research I can realistically get done before my interviews this weekend.

I have also fleshed out my Midsummer concept. Men not getting what they feel they deserve. This frustration is the source of so much conflict within the play. Oberon feels like he should have the changeling, not Titania. Egeus feels he should have final say over his daughter. Theseus is a lechy old man. Demetrius feels he should have Hermia, because of his status. Lysander feels he should get the prettiest girl, or at least to sleep with Hermia. This is not an innocent little fairy play. Heh. But again, do I want to entirely change my visual research? I don't have the same access or time I did last year. *sigh*

And other bits of brilliance - my mom sent me pumpkin muffins (baked by my sister) in a pringles tin to prevent them from getting banged up!

on iTunes: "Four to the Floor" - Starsailor
temp: a balmy 20F

Shock and Ow

Sparky is back.

I had been enjoying a relatively pain-free winter, with minimal electrical damage to my fingertips. But today the static electricity is coming in full force. I don't know if it just drier than usual (it's damn cold, but that's not new). Maybe it's the Prague pants and Old Navy fleece combo that makes me "pop". (It's audible!)

I have learned in years past to "discharge" using different parts of my body, like my arm or butt. Now I am just discharging randomly when I brush by things. Fortunately, no people have been injured. And I haven't managed to short out any electrical devices just yet. (Ask Cheese Fiend about our first phone...)

All I need is a fire

Right now, I would give my metaphorical left nut for a fire. A roaring, crackling fire that smells amazing against which I can roast my ass. I mean, it's bitterly cold out. The snow is lightly falling, I am full of baked pancake, and I have work I don't want to do. And a fire would be inspiration to sip a warm beverage and pound through some reading, or even better, just loaf, wrapped in a blanket watching TV.

But since I don't have access to fire (the not pyromaniac kind), I will do some ironing in my sauna-like bathroom and read more plays.

Random thoughts

• I want to win a SAG award not because it is voted for by people working in the field, but because the statue has a great butt.
  
• I have shredded my old dance tights as a second layer. Grim realisation = I weighed about 12 lbs less the last time I had to wear these. (Apparently, I gained all of that weight in my thighs, since my clothes still fit.)
• As I read A Midsummer's Night's Dream, I keep hearing my high school production. And the play is about men not get what they think they deserve. Maybe I'm just jaded.
• Wearing my suit makes me feel like an X-files reject. Both creepy and cool.
• Welcome to the world Wilhelmina Shank!
  

on iTunes: "Australia" - The Shins

HATE

I don't know who did this or how. But if you do, can you go an punch that buttwipe in the mouth for me? I'm going to bed.

4ish

After reading a great review of 4ish in the Trib, I wanted to see this. I love the idea of allied arts and something new. The last show I saw at Harris Center was invigorating and innovative. And I wasn't disappointed.

4ish is a group from Amsterdam that Chicago Children's Theatre brought to the Harris Center, which usually does more dance stuff. It was live DJed break-dance/roller-skating performance art. It was frenetic, exciting, and fun.

(photo courtesy of http://www.harristheaterchicago.org/)

The stage was initially set with fabric hanging down, which allowed for a playful introduction to the characters, pantomiming 2 halves of people. An interesting observation of how humans move. The general story line is a kid learning to skate, which was slapstick. And narrated non-verbally by a beat-boxer! As the kid learns how to stand up, the Beat-boxer narrates him into something that you gradually recognize as "Billie Jean". And the kid does the whole Michael Jackson dance on skates!

After they leave the stage, the place goes dark. Except for blue and red lights strapped to skates! Woo! On a modified half-pipe, two extreme skaters did all sorts of crazy flips over different central body axes.

In addition to a show down between extreme skaters, there was a bit of a competition between the DJ and beat boxer. Astounding. I need to listen to more hip-hop!

And in an homage to derby, there were guys in huge afros dancing to disco on skates. Not to be outdone by disco, the troupe tapped in skates. Not roller blades, but the 4 wheels!

Unlike most children's theatre, this performance was not cloying storybook stuff. I liked the innovative approach to children's theatre. By using more familiar elements and youthful vernacular with fast pacing, it could tell a story and be an entertaining theatre experience for young people. It made me want to dance and yell and cheer.

My only criticism would be the use of projections. As a transition = awesome. Providing a different vantage point of the live action = cool. But it is sometimes hard to focus on the action, especially as we have all be trained to focus on the boob toob.

But the whole experience is helping me understand Artaud's theory. A focus on gesture and music. Non-verbal expression connecting you to something else. Brink of chaos. Etc.

And now I am watching some ballroom competition!!

Turn it down

Recently, I have discovered whole new styles of music. Against my will. What is it about people BLARING their damn music? Can I not enjoy my OWN music? Or, perish the thought, some peace and quiet? If I am sitting on one end of a 12' bench in Union Station, and you are sitting at the other, I really shouldn't be able to tell that you are listening to Bjork on your iPod. And I if I am in my office, with the doors closed, quietly listening to trance, I shouldn't hear your hip hop garbage pouring out of your car from across the street. I mean, I heard this car coming before I even figured out which was the offending party!

That said, iCovet iPod.

on Pandora (quietly): "Ocean Drive" - Madison Park

*yawn*

What I want is Coffee Heath Bar Crunch. Because I am hankering for some ice cream, but I'm a little droopy. Which is hugely embarrassing, considering it is just 8PM on a Friday night. Maybe it's the end of the week catching up with me. Maybe I am out of practice working 40+ hours a week. Maybe I'm an old fart. Maybe it's food coma (I cooked again!) Maybe it's my semi-recumbent posture on the bed and a general lack of agenda.

But the glimmer of exciting in my world: the development of a caffeinated donut to enjoy with my fine DnD coffee!

Well, I think I will pop in Red Violin (or maybe Titus if I feel my attention span waning) and pad down for some Cherry Garcia Fro Yo.

Tones of home

After work, I was very proud of myself. Instead of succumbing to dinner at the Dunkin Donuts, I bused home and made dinner.

This week, there were some pretty luscious looking pork chops on sale. So I fried one up, with black beans and rice. And a little soy sauce. Complete with a glass of milk. And as I sat, eating undistracted, it was pretty homey. This was a popular meal with my family. And something about the taste of soy running off the chop into the rice and beans sent me right back to my assigned seat in the dining room with the plastic tablecloth. Probably like the little smile I get when I see other Virginia license plates on my street.

I'm not homesick. It's just nice when something is accidentally familiar.

Debating the merits of bundling back up to watch the film shoot down the street. I think it's mostly location shots, but it's still fun to gawk. (new Vince Vaughn flick - Fred Claus. Damn, now I'm going to have to see that when it comes out.)

Trailer for Fred Claus

on iTunes: "Pastures of Plenty" - Kat Eggleston

Why I do what I do

It's moments like these that affirm for me that I am heading in the right direction:

My intern friend and I have been commiserating about the difficulties of applying to schools as directors. I am applying to grad programs, she is applying to competitive undergrad programs. And she was floundering with her play selection to present to UCLA.

She and I met for Clarke's and concept. I just fired off standard questions to get her to think more specifically about her choices. To prepare for an interview. And I pulled a break-through out of her. She felt her Dancing at Lughansa concept was nonexistent. By the end of dinner, she had decided to play with time and use masks to emphasize the concept of facade. I can't say it was my idea, but I would like to think I helped her get there.

Which validated me as both a director and a teacher. I can work with artists to get to something cool. And I can coach someone based on my experience, working with their own abilities and instincts, while supporting them.

Just in case there was any doubt.

Little Miss Sunshine

If you haven't seen it, go out and rent it. Or better yet, see it in the theatres. It's painfully funny, well-written and beautifully executed. It will make you laugh out loud.


And imagine my delight when I woke up this morning to discover that it had been nominated for Best Picture. OK, comedies never win. But I was pleased to see that other people seem to understand that this is more than some indie flick. Besides, Dreamgirls WASN'T nominated!

the Great Donut Debate

I have snagged a longer-than-usual temp gig, which has allowed me to explore my environment. And much to my delight, the food court downstairs has a Krispy Kreme! I have never seen a food court Krispy Kreme, and I can't vouch for the conveyer belt freshness, but it makes me very excited.

Of course, I would have a pocket full of coupons for Dunkin Donuts.

Which begs the question:

Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme?

DnD are ubiquitous downtown, and just out of walking distance where I live. (This is a good thing. The DnD nearest to my house is also paired with a Baskin Robbins. And the idea of piling a hot fudge sundae on top of a double chocolate donut is drooly, diabetic-coma-inducing, and very tempting. Not tempting enough to walk over a mile or sacrifice my parking space.) Up in Boston, you could stand on the corner and see the next two stores. But Krispy Kreme is a slightly scarcer species. Especially up north. Cville used to have its own store, but sadly was closed abruptly due to the Atkins fad. (Damn you, fat bloated corpse!) But the smell is to die for.

And what about the coffee?

DnD offers more variations on the theme of chocolate, but can it compete with deep fried dough with drippy glaze? Or is my dilemma just a reflection of my personal ambiguity of growing up in Virginia? Am I Northern or Southern? Or is it a mood thing?

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15334972/

on iTunes: "Ooh La La" - Goldfrapp

It's all about the Bears

The short version = After over 20 years, the Chicago Bears are going to the Superbowl. Thank God. Because I was dreading the fall-out tomorrow if they lost.

As I learned in Charlottesville, you have to arrange your schedule around the game. However, instead of staying in during the game, to avoid drunk people and traffic, I went out during the game. This way there was no one in the grocery stores, because everyone was in the bars watching the game. And everyone in the stores had the game on. "Go Bears" is like a greeting up there with "See ya!"

(courtesy of chicagoist.com)

Before the game, I had a hedonistic morning, lounging with my coffee, reading Artaud, which made more sense after seeing Perfume last night (so cool. Very sensory.) Slithered around in my sheets before taking a shower just because I could (and because they are texturally amazing).

Ran errands (including dropping off my camera at UPS en route to repair) and went grocery shopping, felt very productive. And then I even prepared a menu, to try to keep me from spending money and getting fat. We'll see how this goes.

But when I got home, I did watch the game. It was definitely a Chicago moment, as the Bears dominate in the snow. And now I get to look forward to some very happy people and bitchin' parties. Perhaps the interns will manage to get together this time.

on iTunes: "Who Needs Forever (Thievery Corporation Remix)" - Astrud Gilberto

PJs Incognito

To celebrate the bloody-coldness and laid-back Saturday job, I busted out my new toaster pants. Business on the outside, pjs on the inside. (Not quite as awesome as pulling my green pants over the monkey-pants to go into a bar, but hey...) So as I walked to work, I heard the swishing of the waterproofing, but generally enjoyed the Ramona-like feeling that I was going to work in my pjs. It doesn't hurt that I am wearing a soft cami as layer 1 of 4, and the Big Red Dork Coat creates an experience not unlike padding around the house bundled in your down comforter. (and about as fashionable)

And that general warm-fuzzy feeling makes me resist the urge to kick pigeons, and generally laugh at humanity (and the need to put lunch bags over parking meters, or carry your toothpaste in a baggie around town). But as the office chill starts to take over, I begin to think thoughts of hot cocoa, or brandy, or sexy $12 shampoo.

on Pandora: "Hard Road" - Sam Roberts
Current temp: 29F (my ass. Besides it was 11F when I got here.)

Go Bears

I just caught a glimpse of the Hancock Tower out of my window. Usually, the top is lit in white. For Christmas it was green. And tonight, in anticipation of the playoff game at Soldier Field, the Hancock Tower is sporting blue and orange.

#11 must die

The #11 bus route has become an integral part of my day. Unfortunately, it has also become the bane of my existence.

Last year, there was the #11 Lincoln and the #37 Sedgwick. The #37 was awesome. It stopped outside my door, it ran on time mostly, and it got me where I wanted to go. This year, they merged the two. So now it sucks because fewer buses not more show up. They are nowhere near on time (I have waited more than 20 minutes on multiple occasions for a bus that should arrive every 9 minutes). And apparently the bus drivers don't know the new route.

Which I discovered the hard way. On the bus, I can get a bit claustrophobic, or at least bored with staring at butt (if I get a seat on a crowded bus), so I will just close my eyes, and make up my daily to-do list, or catch another 15 minutes of snooze. But I can hear the stop announcements, and feel the turns. I can tell you when we pass Merchandise Mart every time. And today when I opened my eyes, I panicked. The bus driver missed a turn! I was heading South of the Loop! I bailed at the first available stop to hike my way BACK to the PROPER place to get to work. Erg.

Muffin morning

For the past few days, I have been fighting with the buses. Ever since they changed the #11, it has all gone to hell. They don't run on schedule, there are buses missing, and I end up waiting 30 minutes for a bus to materialize that is supposed to arrive every 9 minutes, especially during morning rush. And waiting in the bitter dark cold does not help my already non-existent patience.

However, this morning, I thought I heard the bus, so instead of waiting in the cold, I ate a more proper breakfast before heading out. To find the bus arriving just as I walked up to the stop! Resembling a schedule! And not packed! And it is not ridiculously cold today! Like it might go over freezing!

And one of the ladies in the office made a food court run and rescued me a muffin!

Right now I work on my "Statement of Intent" for my grad apps. So unnerving I am largely able to forget that I may or may not be offered a job tomorrow, based on an interview today. Much to the chagrin of my current temp gig, which really likes me. And of course, as soon as I have this interview, I find an even better sounding positions. I guess all I can do is send out my resume, interview and work when I can, and trust that the right thing will happen. I hate trying to be zen.

on iTunes: "Gin & Juice" - the Gourds

The art of the temp

After weeks of a temp-ing drought, I finally landed a 1-week position.

This position is a bit more challenging than some of my past assignments. In the past, I have mostly sat around, surfing the internet, answering and transferring the occasional call. At this job, I am responding to three media - phone, buzzer, and radio. The radio kind of unnerves me, because it is always going off, for other people, and so I am afraid I might miss. And I can rarely understand them the first time. I also reconcile work orders (including a work order to turn on the Bears' game) and purchase orders. There is alot more going on. I rather prefer it.

Also, the office environment is alot of fun. Frequently tossed around = "This is why I drink." And bitching about Rex Grossman and a generally flexible environment. And I fit in really well, with the general sense of sass.

I even have an admirer. Who has made a point of learning my name, saying hi outside the office, and such. It's pretty funny.

On the plus side, they have already asked me to come back next week. On the down side - I have a job interview (which is not all bad in an of itself) that would want me to start on Monday. So yay employment. Boo all at once.

It also forces me to very quickly consider the merits of staying in Chicago versus moving to Portland. So any thoughts are eagerly accepted.

Dinner with the Cousins

Tonight I met up with my Chicago cousins for dinner. We try to get together like once a month. The extra bonus was one of my cousins from San Francisco was also in town. I haven't seen him since we were like 12. And it is oddly comforting to know not much has changed. The four of us braced the less-than-stellar weather to go to Laschets, which is rather favored by the Ponies.

In the past, I have been almost as dubious of German food as I have been of English "cuisine". But this food was really good. Chicken paprikasch with spraetzel (super-yummy boiled/fried noodles) and red cabbage. And possibly the best beer I have ever had. Super smooth and tasty.

Totally worth the hassle of a new bus! (In case the CTA wasn't difficult enough, add the element of Chicago weather and it all goes to hell.)

Birthday

When I woke up yesterday morning, the first thought I had was "Woo! I'm not 27 anymore." Followed shortly after by "Oh dear, I'm becoming an old fart."

My day started slowly, but picked up nicely. I guess it's just as well I didn't have any big plans, since I spent most of my day talking to people, including some people I haven't heard from in an age! Generally avoided the bears fans, except for my foray into Lion's Head for a cheeseburger (take away!).

I didn't get a chance to blog last night, because I was out with a cute intern for a beer. Imagine my surprise when I padded up to my room and saw it was almost 1!

on iTunes: "Shifter" - Timo Maas

Good stuff

Lots of little details have made today pretty nice.

When I woke up, I got to put on my new pants and fleecy shirt. The walk to work was brisk, but not painfully cold. Work was not its usual mindnumbingly dull. Ran into Jessi who wanted a ride to Borders to binge on DVDs. (And I helped!) She then took me out to dinner for my birthday. Yummy apple chips. And even though the movie was sold out, we came back and watched The Illusionist, which was super cool, and mesmerizing. And filmed in Prague!! Now I am catching an episode of House before reading Artaud and showering (which is always a good thing).

And this morning before I even got out of bed, I got to watch a hawk heckle a squirrel. Not actually kill him, just hassle him. Hee.

Pants!

If I can blog about socks, I can blog about pants.

This morning, I had a spate of good bus karma. Caught my bus at a redlight, and since the machine was down, it was a free ride! Got to my temp gig, where my own efficiency killed me. What for your average trained monkey should have taken 2 full days basically took me one long one. Then again alphabetizing and filing taps into a special OCD part of me. (I once alphabetized 2 shelves in the video store, ostensibly because it was raining, mostly because once you start, you can't stop. Ask the Cheese Fiend.)

So I was done with everything by 11. Which afforded me some time to spend in the Loop. I decided to take the advantage to shop for new work pants. And now is the time! Killer sales as every store is desperate to think spring thoughts. (Funny the day before it promises to go from unseasonably chilly to appropriately damn cold.) I was like a kid in a candy store as I squeezed down the aisles packed with people and pants. Made a couple trips to the dressing room. Owned up to my size, which is both odder and bigger than I expected. But as I got into queue I discovered that I had every gift card EXCEPT my Old Navy one. Damn. Bussed home to collect it, ended up at a different Old Navy. Where they not only had pants but my favorite fleece shirt! I did my best attempt at self-restraint, leaving the store with only 5 pairs of pants, the fleece, and a hat to go with Dork Coat. Paying, on average, $6/pair!!! In case new clothes weren't exciting enough, make it alot, and then make it 80% off!

on the tube: "Screwed" - a Lewis Black special. Get that man some valium - he's twitching.

Buses make me look bad

For the first time in a long time, I have actually gotten a temp gig. 'Bout damn time. However, I am out of practice (and out of cash on my card).

So I got up early, patiently waited for the bathroom, and made sure to finish my breakfast in time to get to the bus stop early. But the bus schedule has conspired to make me late, which makes me look unprofessional, makes me grumpy. I guess I should be glad it was above freezing as I waited for 25 minutes for the bus that should have been there 20 minutes earlier. Erg.

I called my gig to apologize for my tardiness, but fortunately, they were really laid back. *sigh* I guess it's back to the #22.

on the tube: "My Way Home" - Scrubs (the Wizard of Oz one)

Cookie monster socks

In lieu of actual interesting things to report, I share a random anecdote of my otherwise gray day.

Every Christmas, I gleefully add to my collection of interesting socks. Patterns, fabrics, whatnot. The pair I pulled out of the drawer this morning is royal blue and silky-fuzzy. They are heaven to pull on. So with great delight, I have been padding around in them. (I should add these are the same socks that came with a third, for that spare foot I keep around. It was a rather funny moment as all 3 socks fell out of the wrapping that Christmas morning.)

But when I pulled on shoes to dispose of my pizza box (shut up, I put the half-a-pizza in a baggie) and other large trash, I discovered a less pleasant side of the Cookie monster socks. As I scurried back from the row of trash cans, I noticed my calves, then my ankles gettting chilly. My shoes were eating my socks! And these being Cookie monster socks, shouldn't it be the other way around?

on iTunes: "I Wish I Could Shimmy" - Madeleine Peyroux

Little luxuries

Today, I indulged in something mostly people do not have the leisure to enjoy. I sat around all day, sipping coffee, lounging on the bed, reading a book. To catch up on my theatre reading, I pulled Uta Hagen's Respect for Acting off my shelf. I know squat about Method, but this book is brilliant and clear. And it doesn't hurt that I finally have a name for what my mentor has tried teaching me all along. To the point I can practically hear her reading the book to me.

Just before I left for Virginia, I managed to get my hair cut. The ends were super scraggly, after an ancient dye job and lots of split ends. I secured a free appointment with a stylist at a swanky salon downtown. And came out with much shorter, sexier hair. It has inspired me to add the words "product" and "diffuser" to my vocabulary. It also gives me something to do while I wait to hear back from jobs.

And just about the silliest luxury was a dip in a jacuzzi. At my parents' timeshare at the ski resort (which sounds pretty luxurious all by itself), there is a bathroom bigger than some bedrooms I have had, complete with a ginormous jacuzzi. I mean, this thing is family sized. Not that I wanted to share it with the fam. So I fired up the jets, and slid in wearing my one-piece Speedo. And while it was nice, I am not generally a bath-kinda-girl. To say nothing of the fact that I couldn't quite quell the voice in the back of my head that kept saying "What a waste of water!". Leisurely, if terribly silly.

And today, in more of an act of gluttony than luxury, I bought myself a whole pizza. (OK, y'all can shut up - more than half of it is still in the fridge). But hey, it was just $5!

(no pictures today. I think I need to stop photographing my meals.)

on iTunes: "Come Comet or Dove" - Devon Sproule

Muffin moment

Over the past week or so, I have been spoiled by an excellent quality muffin supply. While in Charlottesville, Mom #2 made fresh bran muffins one morning, blueberry another. And the leftovers not well-hidden in a ziplock for later snacking. Toasted with butter, with a cup of coffee and a curious puppy = good morning.

On my drive back to Chicago, I enjoyed a choco-choco chip muffin courtesy of my mom's trip to Costco, and my brother's sacrifice. Went well with raspberries, especially in the pre-dawn hours. Made them alot less ugly.

Much to my delight, I discovered that muffins were on sale at Dominick's. I had originally gone in for sushi, which seemed like a refreshingly light option after 2 weeks of good home-cooking. Along with my full-moon combo, I enjoyed a cran-orange muffin with milk.

And today, on my grocery trip (I felt very productive and fairly healthy), I splurged on the pumpkin muffins, which are covered in nuts and streudly-bits. In general, if a day involves a muffin, it is good. Unless it is the nefarious cosmic muffin.

on iTunes: "Kill Bill Theme Song" - Wu Tang Clan

Back to the Blog

After two cheery and lazy weeks in Virginia, I am back at my desk in Chicago, with regular internet access, and lots to blog about.

It was really nice to lounge around, joking (and burping) with familiar faces, eating lots of good, home-cooked food (some of which got frozen and schlepped back here, so I look forward to lumpies and chicken casserole on a cold, lonely day.) And some of my favorite local goodies, like a College Inn cheesesteak (since Chicago doesn't seem to understand the concept and Italian Beef just won't cut it), and dumplings! I got 2 extra!!

Ran around in a t-shirt, enjoying the freakishly warm, or at least non-Chicago weather. Slept with animals, teased siblings (oh Spanky), got some edu-ma-cation by way of the Conan movies.

Christmas was pretty low-key, at least for my family. I was able to drink some coffee, which made the early morning part of the festivities much more pleasant. Dim Sum = yum. Sat at the kids' table, which made burping much more socially acceptable, as I gobbled cookies.

But my favorite was my trip down to Charlottesville, where I found a new happy place (mutually hogging the couch with the Cheese Fiend, napping beside a fire, tummy full of muffin, in the glow of Christmas lights...ah...)

Perhaps I will catch up on some backblogging, which sounds a lot better than grad apps or resume drops.

on iTunes: "Hero Takes a Fall" - the Bangles