Well, it’s back to work after a very nice weekend! I worked a little, and even got to hang out with some awesome people. On Friday, my friend from my former school made a the trip from Virgina to see some of us. We hung out at the mall for a little while and pretty much goofed off. We tested out (jumped on) all of the beds in Boscovs, watched a little of Apollo 13 in the Entertainment section (all of the Boscovs fun ended when the employees continued to follow us within a few feet radius), and made fun of all the flamboyant jackets and suits in one of the mall’s menswear stores. He even went into Victoria’s Secret with us girls as we tested out the perfumes and looked at the make up.
After that, I went home and watched movies with my family and my boyfriend. We finally got to see the final installment of the glorious Shrek saga, and watched the romantic comedy, “Hitch.” I enjoyed both of them, but didn’t think that Shrek was as good as some of the earlier ones. As for “Hitch,” I always enjoy Will Smith…even if the movie was made several years ago. So, I was really glad to see the boyfriend, and all in all, it was a very good day…and night.
On Saturday, I touched base with my favorite Canadian, Tess. Even though we didn’t get to talk much, it was just very nice to hear her voice. It’s hard to believe that one of my dearest friends is so far away that I can’t just hop in the car and go visit her whenever I want to, like I used to do. But it’s alright. We keep in very good communication.
Other than those bright moments in my weekend, and work, I attempted to work on a short story. It’s a sequel to one I’ve already written. I’m struggling with a mild case of writers block and don’t really have much of an idea where to go to next. Perhaps I will start putting up parts of my stories sometime…what do you think? Yea? Nay?
Monday, July 11, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
A Run-In with Mr.God-of-the-IT-Department-Who-Has-Nothing-to-Do-With-My-Job
Well, today has been…interesting, so far. I had a rush of students this morning, but after they left, I haven’t had any papers to check. Every day I go to the dean of the library and ask her for the key to my former boss’ office so that I can use her computer to check for emailed essays that I will need to review. I was told by my boss before she left that I could only use her computer, and the front desk computer for the emailed papers, because they were the only ones set up for that purpose. I haven’t had any problems with this, until today. When I went to ask for the key, one of the librarians informed me that the dean was out with bronchitis. She told me that I could talk to the man who is the head of the IT department, because he carries the master keys to everything in the library. Since I have never met him before, she took me over to introduce me. This was where it got…strange. Ginny introduced me as a tutor, who needed to get into the office. This man, Mr. God-of-the-IT-Department, a tall, slender, balding man, who appeared to be nearing his sixties, looked down his nose at me. He didn’t believe a word that the librarian was saying. He just thought that I was some punk student, who wanted to get into the office for some reason. The librarian and I repeated over and over who I was, what I was doing there, and that I had been doing this job for three years now.
When he finally seemed somewhat convinced that I had some sort of business in the Support Center, he came downstairs with the librarian and me. As we were walking, he turned to the librarian and said, “Isn’t that office all cleaned out now?” When she assured him that it was, he said, “Okay, good, so she can’t walk out with anything.” I was appalled. Did this man, this God-of-the-IT-Department-Who-Has-Nothing-to-Do-With-My-Job-or-the-Support-Center just accuse me of an intention to steal? I couldn’t believe it. Even so, I tried to brush it off and laugh at the whole situation, but I was incredibly disturbed. I tried to personally and officially introduce myself to him and tell him again what I was doing there, but he only just looked at me and turned away.
When he finally opened up the office for me, he instructed me on how to turn on the computer. I calmly put my things down on the desk and told him that I have used this office everyday now this summer and I knew how everything worked and how to use the computer. I saw a light bulb come on in his eyes as he seemed to finally realize that I actually do know what I’m doing. Before he left, one of my coworkers over heard some of the problem and came to back me up. She told him, “Eileen is in charge here.” But that still didn’t seem to matter to him. He told her to, “keep an eye on her.” I have never been so insulted.
When he finally seemed somewhat convinced that I had some sort of business in the Support Center, he came downstairs with the librarian and me. As we were walking, he turned to the librarian and said, “Isn’t that office all cleaned out now?” When she assured him that it was, he said, “Okay, good, so she can’t walk out with anything.” I was appalled. Did this man, this God-of-the-IT-Department-Who-Has-Nothing-to-Do-With-My-Job-or-the-Support-Center just accuse me of an intention to steal? I couldn’t believe it. Even so, I tried to brush it off and laugh at the whole situation, but I was incredibly disturbed. I tried to personally and officially introduce myself to him and tell him again what I was doing there, but he only just looked at me and turned away.
When he finally opened up the office for me, he instructed me on how to turn on the computer. I calmly put my things down on the desk and told him that I have used this office everyday now this summer and I knew how everything worked and how to use the computer. I saw a light bulb come on in his eyes as he seemed to finally realize that I actually do know what I’m doing. Before he left, one of my coworkers over heard some of the problem and came to back me up. She told him, “Eileen is in charge here.” But that still didn’t seem to matter to him. He told her to, “keep an eye on her.” I have never been so insulted.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Dorian Gray, Canada Day, and a Psychic Connection
Well, whatever that huge rush of students was two days ago, it’s over now. I haven’t had a student all day. However, I have not been alone. One of my good friends came in to see me today, for which I am very grateful, and I had wonderful Facebook conversations with my two best friends. Even though it is a day early, I would like to wish my dear friend Tess, a very happy Canada Day! I was informed that it is pretty much the same thing as America’s Independence Day, only 3 days earlier. I plan on giving Tess a call tonight, because well…it’s been a long time since we’ve had a good chat, and I thank God that my long distance coverage is kind to my international calls!
I’ve been missing some of my friends from Brigadoon. Thankfully, we’ve kept in pretty good touch over the past few days. Two nights ago, I had a dream about one of the guys in the play. The dream was fuzzy, but I remember that he was living in New Jersey, and I had gone to visit him. All throughout the dream, I had the vague impression that something was wrong, but I didn’t know what it was. Yesterday, I wrote to him to tell him about it. He was very upset, and gave me a call. He told me that he was in New Jersey at the time. After we talked, I started to think about my dream again. It’s a little uncanny. I feel as if my dream predicted what happened to my friend, almost as if to tell me that he needed me. Who knows.
On another note, I have started a new book! Well, it’s not new by any means, but it’s new to me! It is Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. It’s a little slow in the beginning, like many Victorian novels. However, I have been told that it is completely worth finishing (also like most Victorian novels). I loved Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and was even lucky enough to play the role of Gwendolen in a local production of the play a year ago, so I’m hoping to like Wilde’s novel just as much. I’ll let you know how it goes.
So, today’s been a good day. I don’t really have anything terribly interesting or well-written to add, so I suppose I’ll sign off for now. Have a good night!
I’ve been missing some of my friends from Brigadoon. Thankfully, we’ve kept in pretty good touch over the past few days. Two nights ago, I had a dream about one of the guys in the play. The dream was fuzzy, but I remember that he was living in New Jersey, and I had gone to visit him. All throughout the dream, I had the vague impression that something was wrong, but I didn’t know what it was. Yesterday, I wrote to him to tell him about it. He was very upset, and gave me a call. He told me that he was in New Jersey at the time. After we talked, I started to think about my dream again. It’s a little uncanny. I feel as if my dream predicted what happened to my friend, almost as if to tell me that he needed me. Who knows.
On another note, I have started a new book! Well, it’s not new by any means, but it’s new to me! It is Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. It’s a little slow in the beginning, like many Victorian novels. However, I have been told that it is completely worth finishing (also like most Victorian novels). I loved Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and was even lucky enough to play the role of Gwendolen in a local production of the play a year ago, so I’m hoping to like Wilde’s novel just as much. I’ll let you know how it goes.
So, today’s been a good day. I don’t really have anything terribly interesting or well-written to add, so I suppose I’ll sign off for now. Have a good night!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The Great Paper-Zillah and A Good Guy Flick!
So…yesterday was the first day that I’ve really had to actually work, while I’m at work. I had a student waiting for me when I arrived. As soon as I was finished helping him, another student came in. It was good to be busy. I felt sorry (and frustrated) for this one student who arrived a little bit later. She had never used a computer ever, so I spent most of the time showing her how to just turn on the computer, put in her thumb drive, and use the word processor. It’s hard to believe that there are people who don’t know how to use certain technology, while I feel it is as natural as breathing. Even though I felt bad for her and wanted to help, I must admit, my fuse was getting short.
Later in the afternoon I received a couple of papers by email. These are a little harder to work with, because I really can’t fix anything on them. I’m only allowed to point out big, reoccurring errors, like run-on’s and fragments. The first paper took me just under an hour to review. It wasn’t a bad paper, but I found the job to be somewhat strenuous. That was nothing. The second paper was like Paper-Zillah! I wanted so badly to just go through and rewrite the entire thing, but alas! That goes completely against my job, and my morals. I did the best I could with it, but it took me over an hour, and I was getting really discouraged by the end. I felt so bad sending that paper back with a million and one comments written all over it, but it was the best I could do. I have a new respect for English teachers who actually have to grade that stuff. I also have a renewed disappointment in school systems that send their graduates to college with less than a basic knowledge of the English language.
Alright, that’s my rant for today. I’m at work again, and there isn’t a student in sight, not for English, and not even for math. I took advantage of the time to do a little writing. Even though this is completely off topic, I’ve got this strange desire to do a “guy date” and just grab a friend and go see as many loud, blow-up-everything, superhero movies as I possibly can before they’re out of theatres. I sort of miss doing that with the guys I used to date, or hang out with. It’s a lot of fun, and I’ve discovered that I like those movies just as much as I do my favorite chick flicks. So…popcorn anyone?
Later in the afternoon I received a couple of papers by email. These are a little harder to work with, because I really can’t fix anything on them. I’m only allowed to point out big, reoccurring errors, like run-on’s and fragments. The first paper took me just under an hour to review. It wasn’t a bad paper, but I found the job to be somewhat strenuous. That was nothing. The second paper was like Paper-Zillah! I wanted so badly to just go through and rewrite the entire thing, but alas! That goes completely against my job, and my morals. I did the best I could with it, but it took me over an hour, and I was getting really discouraged by the end. I felt so bad sending that paper back with a million and one comments written all over it, but it was the best I could do. I have a new respect for English teachers who actually have to grade that stuff. I also have a renewed disappointment in school systems that send their graduates to college with less than a basic knowledge of the English language.
Alright, that’s my rant for today. I’m at work again, and there isn’t a student in sight, not for English, and not even for math. I took advantage of the time to do a little writing. Even though this is completely off topic, I’ve got this strange desire to do a “guy date” and just grab a friend and go see as many loud, blow-up-everything, superhero movies as I possibly can before they’re out of theatres. I sort of miss doing that with the guys I used to date, or hang out with. It’s a lot of fun, and I’ve discovered that I like those movies just as much as I do my favorite chick flicks. So…popcorn anyone?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Vanished into the Mists....Like Brigadoon....
My show, Brigadoon, is over. It has vanished into the annoying mists that caused the entire cast to choke and sputter backstage. It was a wonderful final performance. I got to play the part of Maggie and dance the final ballets. Ballet has become a part of my life again, and I’m reluctant to let it go. I finally feel like a real dancer, unlike I have ever felt before in my life. I owe that sense of accomplishment to the choreographer, director, and fellow dancers who all supported my endeavors to get back on my toes. I am proud of what I have done, and I will treasure that experience always.
I have met many wonderful people through this show, and have been reunited with others that I haven’t worked with in a year, or years. One of the best parts about theatre is that it is a family. I’ve discovered that theatre is a place for misfits. Ah yes, sad, but true. We are all very quirky people who have found that even though we have our own lives outside of the stage, we work best together, and that we relate to one another. We just fit. Even people who I felt were so different from me at the begging of the show, and I thought would never be close to me, have become just that. Theatre teaches one to look past a person’s looks and all outward personas, and to just focus on the individual at his or her very core. That’s what I love about it. I am so different from so many of them, just as they are so different from me and each other, yet, we accept that, we accept the quirks, and realize that those differences are what make us FIT.
I love my theatre family, and last night, I was reunited with some friends who I haven’t seen or worked with since I first started theatre many years ago. I looked around me at one point in the evening, and saw that I was surrounded by several members of the very first cast that I ever worked with. All at once, I was back in “Ah, Wilderness” and was 17 again, experiencing love and theatre for the first time. They say that your first time for anything is something that you can never recapture. That might be true, but sometimes, you can get awfully darn close.
Together, we relived memories, shared stories, encouraged each other, caught up on current events in our lives, gave gifts, hugged, sang show tunes, and took dozens of pictures. It’s always hard to leave these people, but I’ve got an autograph book full of messages, a camera full of photos, a mind full of memories, and a heart full of love for the actors.
I have met many wonderful people through this show, and have been reunited with others that I haven’t worked with in a year, or years. One of the best parts about theatre is that it is a family. I’ve discovered that theatre is a place for misfits. Ah yes, sad, but true. We are all very quirky people who have found that even though we have our own lives outside of the stage, we work best together, and that we relate to one another. We just fit. Even people who I felt were so different from me at the begging of the show, and I thought would never be close to me, have become just that. Theatre teaches one to look past a person’s looks and all outward personas, and to just focus on the individual at his or her very core. That’s what I love about it. I am so different from so many of them, just as they are so different from me and each other, yet, we accept that, we accept the quirks, and realize that those differences are what make us FIT.
I love my theatre family, and last night, I was reunited with some friends who I haven’t seen or worked with since I first started theatre many years ago. I looked around me at one point in the evening, and saw that I was surrounded by several members of the very first cast that I ever worked with. All at once, I was back in “Ah, Wilderness” and was 17 again, experiencing love and theatre for the first time. They say that your first time for anything is something that you can never recapture. That might be true, but sometimes, you can get awfully darn close.
Together, we relived memories, shared stories, encouraged each other, caught up on current events in our lives, gave gifts, hugged, sang show tunes, and took dozens of pictures. It’s always hard to leave these people, but I’ve got an autograph book full of messages, a camera full of photos, a mind full of memories, and a heart full of love for the actors.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
But the Greatest of These is Love
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails…….13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthans 4-13
So, love conqures all, huh? I sure hope so, because sometimes, that’s all we’ve got. I’m not going to get all philosophical on you, but I’ve been going through some rough stuff very recently, and even though my faith and trust have been challenged, I’ve realized that regardless of what happens, love remains.
Sometimes we all need reminders of what is really important in life. I’ve had constant reminders over the past few days, and have been carrying one around with me, in my pocket. It is a little green, sea glass stone with the word, “Faith” etched inside of it. As I walk, I can feel the weight of it in my pocket, and I smile as I think of the friend who gave it to me as a graduation present, but also for what it stands for.
I appreciate all of the wonderful people who have taken their time to talk to me over the past few days. I truly am a blessed person to have so many wonderful friends and family members. So thank you. I shall try to make this my last depressing blog for awhile. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the silver lining to the cloud, the icing on the cake, the cream in the cookie, and all of those other clichés!
I hope that you are reading this today, and I know that if you are, you will know what I mean. Even though we might not hear from each other for awhile, I’m still here, and I’ve placed all of this in God’ s hands. This too shall pass. Keep the faith. I love you.
So, love conqures all, huh? I sure hope so, because sometimes, that’s all we’ve got. I’m not going to get all philosophical on you, but I’ve been going through some rough stuff very recently, and even though my faith and trust have been challenged, I’ve realized that regardless of what happens, love remains.
Sometimes we all need reminders of what is really important in life. I’ve had constant reminders over the past few days, and have been carrying one around with me, in my pocket. It is a little green, sea glass stone with the word, “Faith” etched inside of it. As I walk, I can feel the weight of it in my pocket, and I smile as I think of the friend who gave it to me as a graduation present, but also for what it stands for.
I appreciate all of the wonderful people who have taken their time to talk to me over the past few days. I truly am a blessed person to have so many wonderful friends and family members. So thank you. I shall try to make this my last depressing blog for awhile. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the silver lining to the cloud, the icing on the cake, the cream in the cookie, and all of those other clichés!
I hope that you are reading this today, and I know that if you are, you will know what I mean. Even though we might not hear from each other for awhile, I’m still here, and I’ve placed all of this in God’ s hands. This too shall pass. Keep the faith. I love you.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
I'm Nobody's Princess
Quid est amor sine fiduciam?
What is love without trust? Is it possible? Does it exist? Whenever I think about the themes of love and trust, I always think about my favorite movie, Everafter. In the movie, the heroine, Danielle, is a peasant girl who dresses up like a courtier to save her family’s servant who has been sold into slavery. While she is dressed as such, the prince of France sees her, hears her plea to free the servant, and falls in love with her…typical chick flick. Girls, you know we love this stuff. Prince Henry thinks he has found his match, and Danielle keeps up the charade by taking on her mother’s name, Nicole, and continues to play the part of a courtier. She has the prince fooled, and wants to tell him the truth, but is afraid. Her evil step mother (yes, this is a Cinderella story) discovers her deception and exposes her lie to the entire royal court, including the heartbroken prince who disowns her on the spot. After she runs away (leaving, of course, the glass slipper), the prince is confronted by a wise old man, who just happens to be Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci tells him to go after her because she is his “match.” The prince looks up at the old man and says, “And love without trust, what of that?” He cannot trust her. She has deceived him. All of the millions of times that I’ve watched that movie, I felt sorry for Danielle for being rejected like that, but this time around, now that I know what it feels like to be lied to by someone you love and trust so dearly, I feel for Prince Henry. It’s a horrible thing to have believed in someone so deeply, placed all of your faith in that person, and then find out that he or she has been lying to you all along, masking a deception. It is the stuff broken hearts are made of.
So, once you’ve discovered the lie, how do you deal with it? Can you forgive and go on loving? Or, do you take this as a warning and protect yourself from future heartache? I don’t really know, to be honest. The good news is, I’ve stopped crying, and I’ve got a great support system made up of my mother, who would kill for me, a friend who sits up with me until 2 in the morning, and a best girlfriend who brings me ice cream to pig out on until I feel better.
But wait a minute! You might be thinking, “But how does the movie end? Does the Prince accept her?” Of course, being the Cinderella story that it is, he does. But unfortunately, life isn’t a fairytale, and I’m nobody’s princess.
What is love without trust? Is it possible? Does it exist? Whenever I think about the themes of love and trust, I always think about my favorite movie, Everafter. In the movie, the heroine, Danielle, is a peasant girl who dresses up like a courtier to save her family’s servant who has been sold into slavery. While she is dressed as such, the prince of France sees her, hears her plea to free the servant, and falls in love with her…typical chick flick. Girls, you know we love this stuff. Prince Henry thinks he has found his match, and Danielle keeps up the charade by taking on her mother’s name, Nicole, and continues to play the part of a courtier. She has the prince fooled, and wants to tell him the truth, but is afraid. Her evil step mother (yes, this is a Cinderella story) discovers her deception and exposes her lie to the entire royal court, including the heartbroken prince who disowns her on the spot. After she runs away (leaving, of course, the glass slipper), the prince is confronted by a wise old man, who just happens to be Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci tells him to go after her because she is his “match.” The prince looks up at the old man and says, “And love without trust, what of that?” He cannot trust her. She has deceived him. All of the millions of times that I’ve watched that movie, I felt sorry for Danielle for being rejected like that, but this time around, now that I know what it feels like to be lied to by someone you love and trust so dearly, I feel for Prince Henry. It’s a horrible thing to have believed in someone so deeply, placed all of your faith in that person, and then find out that he or she has been lying to you all along, masking a deception. It is the stuff broken hearts are made of.
So, once you’ve discovered the lie, how do you deal with it? Can you forgive and go on loving? Or, do you take this as a warning and protect yourself from future heartache? I don’t really know, to be honest. The good news is, I’ve stopped crying, and I’ve got a great support system made up of my mother, who would kill for me, a friend who sits up with me until 2 in the morning, and a best girlfriend who brings me ice cream to pig out on until I feel better.
But wait a minute! You might be thinking, “But how does the movie end? Does the Prince accept her?” Of course, being the Cinderella story that it is, he does. But unfortunately, life isn’t a fairytale, and I’m nobody’s princess.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)