Okay, I promise I want this blog to be more than just a "diary" of sorts...I want it to encompass lots of my interests, and I want to share lots of cool info, ideas, recipes, craft ideas, etc. But for now, with the craziness of Hell Week (I'll explain in a sec) about to begin...I've gotta just keep writing about mememe. This blog is a really nice escape for me since no one I know reads it...at least, I hope not.
Anyhow, I'm all moved into my new apartment! I sit here writing this entry from my new kitchen table, where I have one of my lovely new glasses from the sale at Anthropologie filled with nummy milk, and a hot bowl of Double Cheeseburger Macaroni Hamburger Helper ready to be devoured. ...okay, so it's not the fanciest/nicest/healthiest/anythingest meal in the world, BUT! I made it all by myself, my first home-cooked meal in the apartment. There is something so nice about listening to your 90s pop music Pandora and cooking your own little meals in your own little grown-up apartment...however tiny it may be. I like being an almost-complete adult.
I would post pictures, but the apartment is too messy for that right now. I did say we were moved in...not completely organized. ;) But my apartment, room, and roommates are SO WONDERFUL!!!! Oh, the past couple of days have been nice. Move in on Thursday went pretty painlessly, it was just long and tiring, especially since I had been unable to sleep the night before. But Nate came and helped me do A LOT of stuff, plus my Dad ran and got things for the apartment from the storage unit, and we got the job done pretty smoothly. My Dad was very emotional before he left...I think he was trying not to cry a little bit. He told me to "kick ass" in Hell Week (it's coming) and have a great year. I love Dad a lot...
After lots of apartment-organizing, Nate and I went to eat at Smashburger, and we got to have our first *real* conversation in a long time...it was so nice. We talked mostly about theatre and the plays he's reading for the class he's going to TA this semester...I think he'll make a cute (and helpful!) TA. I've already promised to pack his lunch for him some days. ;) But anyway, after Smashburger, I had a brief meeting to attend...it was for all the volunteers for Freshman move-in day on Friday (today). We just got briefed on where we were helping, how to do so, etc. After said short meeting, Nate and I went to see "Jobs". I'm not much of a movie critic, but my opinions can get pretty specific sometimes. Nate and I both agreed that Ashton Kutcher did a commendable job, and that the film was worth seeing and enjoyable...but we would have enjoyed a tighter script and a clearer through-line. Something felt missing. However, Josh Gad's speech as Steve Wozniak when he's leaving Apple was incredibly noticeable and very touching...Nate really hopes Gad gets at least a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
For my first night in the apartment, I was determined to make Nate go home so I could spend my first night alone...but my resolve was weak. :P We had an enjoyable evening and bonded in coupley ways, but I don't think either of us slept well...those silly beds are so small. We'll figure it out for the future. Regardless, my favorite moment of the evening was when Nate and I talked about "us" and his feelings for me/my feelings for him, and it was just comforting. When you've been away from someone for a month, and your relationship began with that month, you wonder. Not that we chose to be away from one another, but still...texting/phone calls/Skype can only help so much. LDRs are literally the worst thing ever...that was my previous relationship. Waaaah, but another time, another time. Not tonight.
ANYWAY, after my sexy, sweet, practically-sleepless night with Nate, I got up at 8:30 this morning to go to my volunteer post at 9. Oops. But thankfully I was volunteering to help freshmen move into my own apartment building, so I literally just had to step outside and walk upstairs to the courtyard. (Just to clarify...I live in an on-campus apartment, which is done through university housing...they promised students that wanted to volunteer to help move freshmen students in today that we could move in on Thursday, which is two full days earlier than the rest of returning students...hell yes, please and thank you.) I threw my greasy hair up in a bun, threw on my too-bright yellow "CREW" shirt, made Nate and I a cup of minty green tea, and headed outside. From 9 to 1 I helped move freshies into their new apartments...it actually wasn't too bad. I hung out with one of my close friends, Hattie, and her new boyfriend, Rowan, and it was a lot of fun. Rowan taught me how to play a C chord, an A minor chord, and an F chord on the ukulele in between helping, which was awesome. Now I really want a uke of my own.
The rest of today has been just a lot more organizing and shopping for needed stuff. Nate brought me Chipotle for lunch after my volunteer shift ended, which was super sweet, since I won't have my car til tomorrow and he had to go to work right after dropping off my food. I finally decorated my walls and then ran to Walmart to pick up some things we needed. I actually didn't "run" to Walmart, I rode the bus, which was super fun. I haven't done that since I was a freshman, and it still had the same independent charm. Our local public transport system is a *very* nice, very clean one, so I love taking the bus. Yaaaaay for public transportation! :)
Now to memorize my last monologue for auditions...I mean Hell Week. Finally, we've come to the definition of Hell Week. First, you must know this: I am a Bachelor of Fine Arts student at my university in the theatre department. My Concentration is Classical Acting. This is a performance degree, and it requires 70+ credits to graduate on its own, and it's basically like having a full-time job. Lots of late nights with rehearsals/performances, on top of early mornings for classes. It is a different degree than just a regular BA in Theatre. A BA is very general and unconcentrated...perfect if you just take a general interest in theatre or are double-majoring. But a BFA is a commitment to this whole thing of "I want to be a performer when I graduate. I want to do this for a living." If you've never known someone that does theatre/show business, you do now, and I can tell you, you're ALWAYS in a job interview. Not just in this school setting I'm going to talk about, but in the real world too, trust me. I walk into the Fine Arts building on campus, and the walls have eyes and ears, let me tell you. I must be on my most perfect, professional behavior, for the all-seeing, all hearing professors and mentors are watching to see if I'm dedicated enough to be considered castable. This intense daily "interview" is intensified by 1000% during Hell Week...
At the beginning of each semester, the theatre students go through what is known informally to us as Hell Week. Monday is a rest day...no auditions, but in the Fall Semester, we have a meeting with the entire department and a welcome-back party with pizza. Tis fun, but also intimidating, especially for the poor freshmen. Tuesday is the true beginning of Hell Week. Beginning at 8pm sharp, all theatre students are expected (and all BFA students are required) to audition for the three mainstage shows for that semester. These shows are the big deals, the ones that get budgets and big audiences. They also give you more legit credits/roles to put on your resume...very important to build a good resume. At 8pm, you start auditioning for three shows. That means presenting three monologues, perfected and practiced, and usually one song if there is a musical (eeeek!). These auditions usually run until midnight...if you start camping out to get an early place in line at like, 4 o'clock, you can sometimes leave by 9. But if you've got class/don't have the time to wait in line at 4ish, you're there to wait your turn to audition for several hours, because the directors/professors have over 300 students to see in one night. So that's Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday are callbacks, which also tend to run late. Everyone wakes up early on Wed. to see if their hard work at auditions paid off on the callboard, where callbacks are posted. Then comes Friday...cast list day. The two days each year, one per semester, that everyone waits for all year. This is a day of celebration and glory for some, and a day of deep sadness and defeat for others. I make it sound so dramatic (haha) but it's true. Hell Week is nothing but sleepless nights, preparing for callbacks and the auditions that precede them, and lots of nerves running high...all while beginning classes, and for me, an on-campus job at the Writing Center.
But it's theatre...it's worth it.
That's all for today! I'll probably post again before Hell Week unleashes itself, but if not, I'll at least update you on how my auditions go. Send your leg breakers my way! I send my best wishes yours! :)
Sanguinely,
Vic :)
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