Slightly Amused, Slightly Confused

During our Sleeping Beauty Pas rehearsal tonight, Suzi told me that although Aurora is a princess, and it's her wedding day, she is also 16 years old. She said I needed to increase the giddiness of a 16 year old...but still act like a regal princess....

Hmmmm

Struggs

Just so I can be honest with the world and not only project my "ideal self" to my blogging peeps, I am having some struggs:

• So overloaded with homework that I don't know where to start, so I don't actually start.
• Have a cold that teases me by almost going away...almost. Then BAM. Sick again.
• Haven't downloaded Brandon Flowers CD that Pete gave me ages ago.
• Rescheduling various appointments at least three times over.
• Slacking on being a good friend, fiancé, daughter, sister, etc...

You get the picture. Believe me, the list goes on.

Hence the lack of blogging. I have some good stuff I want to share, I promise.

Stay patient and stay tuned...

Crazy for Pizza

I used to drive through an intersection on my way to work. On one side of the road? A guy holding a Pizza Pizza sign. The other side? The Dominoes sign guy. Both were supposed to wave the signs to get people's attention.

Dominoes guy.... well let's just say he wasn't thrilled about his job. --->

The Pizza Pizza guy, on the other hand, was rockin out hard core. He was dancing like there's no tomorrow in his own little headphoned world:

http://vimeo.com/4394229 (Warning: Not the actual pizza guy I saw. But he was just like this one.)

I learned a valuable lesson driving by the pizza sign guys....

May we all strive to love what we do (or pretend really well) just like the Pizza Pizza guy. He's an inspiration to us all.

Switching Gears

Opening Night: success!

Children's Matinee: even better success!

As for tonight? I must set aside my wand and wings for awhile...

It's time to switch gears:

Bippity-Boppity-Boo

Cinderella is officially SOLD OUT!

First time in Theatre Ballet history that we have filled the entire deJong Concert Hall for five shows straight!

There are few greater thrills than that of performing what you love for a sold out, eager audience in a large venue. I really felt like I was doing magic last night during tech rehearsal. Maybe it was because I got to throw sparkles under the strobe light and fog while transforming the pumpkin...

I'm giddy.

Nasty Disease

In light of Cinderella rehearsals lasting 14 hours this weekend, these thoughts have been on my mind...

I think all of us are guilty of getting caught in the downward spiral that is negativity. We get down on ourselves or our situations or others. Usually, the negativity that festers inside you seeps through your body language and your mouth and pretty soon other people are affected--or infected by this nasty disease.

Sometimes (at least for me) it takes all the will power you can muster to stop being so hard on yourself. Sometimes it's the hardest thing just to keep your mouth shut when that complaint comes crawling up your throat and burns your tongue (guilty as charged).

But tonight at rehearsal (at approx 9:15pm, with 45 min to go) I saw the importance of being strong enough to overcome pessimism in its varying degrees. It must be overcome for the happiness of the individual, or at least for the well-being of the group.

It's a selfishness issue really. Be selfish, worry about yourself, only be concerned with your needs, and you will breed negativity when things don't go your way (and usually they don't). Build others up, forget yourself, understand that there is more to this life than you, and you will overcome.

(one of the blessings coming from Cinderella: hanging out with kids who like to play and dance to forget about their illnesses. they were a blast.)

A Face Lift For My Week

I'm giving my weekly routine a much-needed face lift. Due to many reasons I shan't bore you with (yes I just said "shan't"), I put in my notice at THAT JOB (you know, the un-fulfilling, time-consuming, soul-shriveling one).

and I FEEL GOOD.

I celebrated by going to dinner by myself. I've never done that before, and it sounds kind of strange, but it was exactly what I needed. I was nervous to break the news to my boss because I've never actually "put in my notice" before. The idea of quitting has floated around in my head for awhile now, but I didn't know if it was the right decision. I felt so light after I had done it though. So I headed over to a little family-run Chinese restaurant during my break, sat in a booth, and enjoyed my meal in the peace and quiet. I was the only customer and they were playing that calming Asian music that makes you think of blossoms and umbrellas and Tai Chi....

(in case you needed a visual of Asian cherry blossoms--from DC trip '08)

The weekly face lift includes more hours spent working at the other happy job, less gas money spent, less stress for Hilary, and a break from teaching for awhile. We'll see how that last part affects me...