The Funky Chicken

In my head, join me if you will, I am seeing a very large Chicken. This chicken, Henry, has very ruffled feathers. Why you ask? Because he is a Funky Chicken. Henry likes to dance. Henry has spent most of today dancing inside my head.
I had tech rehearsal today and that is when Henry first appeared. He's really a great pal, keeping me company at rehearsal.
What kind of dances does Henry do? Good question.
Well, Henry is a very talented chicken. We started off the day with a bit of classical ballet. He then began to tap dance. After tap, Henry busted a move. That's right we got us a gangsta mutha clucka up in herrrr.
We then calmed things down a bit and Henry showed off his jazzy side. After a quick break, Henry turned up the volume and went back in time to the disco era and had that Saturday Night Fever (commonly mistaken as the bird flu). He polkas, conga-lines, head-bangs, river-dances, and shuffles. Henry's shinning moment was his tribute to Broadway. This entailed a very lengthy (but in a good way) medley of showtunes, in which he had choreographed to the tee. Henry's passion though, although he spent a lot of time on Broadway (he knows I like that kind of stuff, he's so nice to me), is belly-dancing. After his bunny-hops, his swings, squares, jigs and hulas; Henry closed the evening with a nice ballroom number. For this he enlisted the help of his friend, and ours, Heidi the Swedish Cow. Together they glided across the dancefloor so beautifully I had to stop and pay them full attention. Luckily I was stopped at a red light. Henry's finale was an inspirational interpretive dance, symbolizing hope through the act of the hatching of an egg. It was truly unbelievable.

Thanks Henry. I will sleep in peace and will fill my dreams with the hope you have given me. I will never be able to thank you enough.

Tech rehearsal again tomorrow (11-4). Will we be seeing you again Henry?
There is no word. He must be meditating.

In the words of Henry's distant relatives owners:

Bon Appetit.


WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Music(of the heart?...no, just plain ol' music)

I have my songs on shuffle.
I am going to make a comment about each song and then find a way to tie it into my daily life right now. That will be a creative way in telling you how I am doing at the moment.

1) Rafiki Mourns (Lion King Broadway Soundtrack). Rafiki is chanting. There are no real words (ok maybe African words...but I can't understand them) but there is emotion, feeling, passion, meaning and depth to the music and the character behind the voice. It really inspires me and is quite beautiful.
TIE IN TO MY LIFE: Whenever I leave my voice class I find myself to be more perspective. In class we do all these exercises working with imagery and the senses. As I ride home I find myself more alert of my surroundings. This song really is beautiful and makes me feel the same way because there are no lyrics to sing along to, it is just music and it really is something that I just find myself stopping to listen to.

2) If I Were A Rich Man (Fiddler on the Roof). This song makes me dance just like he does in the movie. I love this song. "All day long I'd biddy biddy bum"
TIE IN: Well I am a poor college student. Need I say more?

3) You've Got A Friend In Me (Toystory).
TIE IN: Being in college away from most of the people who really mean a lot to me, really puts into perspective just how amazing they are and how blessed I am to have them. I think about them everyday. And even though we are apart, I know that I have them no matter what. Also, I am working on some birthday presents right now and this songs puts a smile on my face while thinking of them and the gifts.

4) Please Don't Stop The Music (Rihanna). Although things are manageable, life is chaotic in general. And I picture myself dancing through life. Dancing through the chaos. So, "please don't stop the music!"
TIE IN: Tech week is coming up and then the show. Things will be getting super chaotic and well.... bring it on baby.

5) Total Eclipse of the Heart.
TIE IN: Allison

6)My Girl (Temptations)
I used to sing this "My Dog" to my dog Shylow. Whenever I hear this song I think of him, no matter what. I miss him, but he was a great dog and I am happy I got those several years with him. (for those of you who don't know: He isn't dead, we had to get rid of him when we moved. "I still think we should go steal him back"- courtesy of Duncan)

7)SOS (Mamma Mia)
TIE IN: Lindsey

8) Hakuna Matata (Lion King)
TIE IN: This is my life motto. "It means no worries for the rest of your days. It's our problem free philosophy."

9) Cleanin' Out My Closet (eminem)
TIE IN: I am writing little excerpts here and there for that book I want to write...and well, it is really cleaning out my closet...

10) When You Say You Love Me (Josh Groban)
TIE IN: the song I WILL dance to at my wedding. Whenever that will be.
the lyrics are beautiful, look them up.

Ok so these really aren't tying into my life at the current moment too much. But I am having fun...so enjoy my randomness.

We will continue with your regular programming in just a moment. But first, breaking news.
I think I am being promoted to the congas. I was playing the Djembe drum but chances are I get to play congas now.
Also, I have an Architecture exam tomorrow. We get four exams all semester. No mid-term, no final. Just four tests. There are no other assignments or projects or homework etc. At the end of the semester there will be four grades taken into consideration...so this is kind of important. I think I will do well though. 25 multiple-guess questions.
On Tuesday I need to have 15 pages written of my mid-term play to read in class. I have the idea I just need to get typing.... I don't know about this one. I don't know about making it a stage script...I feel it is more of a film script...but we shall see.
And now back to your regular scheduled program.

Well that's all the time we have for this evening. Thanks for stopping by. It was great seeing you again. Let's do lunch, shall we? Great!

Bon Appetit!

That was so sad!

And of course I am referring to the series finale of Roseanne...
It ends so sadly. I cried. I was left feeling empty and depressed. I never want to see that episode again. And I love that show. I will watch every episode except that one.

Moving on....

I had a meeting with my Architectural Design adviser. I started thinking, "Why do I have an architecture minor if I won't be able to do anything with it?"
I asked her about making it a second major...but she pretty much told me that wouldn't work best for me. Basically I wouldn't be able to declare it until next fall and then would have to take 4 years of classes then go to grad school and get certified. That totals 8 years of school. She did tell me about a program called the...ok, I don't remember what it is called...basically I keep it as a minor. Graduate in May of 2012. June 2012 I take classes that I would have taken as a major. September 2012 I begin grad school. In May of 2014 I will be a certified Architect with a bachelors degree in theatre.

So, I can be an architect in 1/2 less years and with only a minor in architectural design. I like it.

Of course I might not even need to be certified if my acting career is my destiny (oh please oh please oh please). But I am still pretty excited about this.

Oh and I am only saying this because Lindsey reads this: I am so excited about something that I can't tell you about! (Don't you just love me?)

I am so freaking annoyed. (I am so bipolar in this post) I have a bloody canker sore that is driving me bonkers. I want to rip my lip off. It has been like three days and I am going completely mad. I'll keep you posted as this story develops.

Speaking of developing stories: the website is up and running. By the end of the weekend we are supposed to have the videos up...WARNING: they are going to be really bad... We kind of just turned on the camera and went from there.... lol.

If you can, come to the show. Opens Oct. 2 and runs to the 18th. (Fri and Sat nights and Sun matinee) If you are interested let me know and I'll give you more info.

I think I am going to get ready for bed. I would have a midnight snack but my mouth hurts too bad. :(

Even though I can't eat...

Bon Appetit!

Gettin' in the mood....

....for it to be autumn already. (perverts).

No, seriously. Autumn is my favorite season. Now granted, I would love to live someplace that actually gets autumn (changing of the leaves etc.) but here at least it cools down from the hundreds.
I have these air fresheners from Yankee Candle, Autumn Wreath, they are my favorite. I have been waiting to use them, and well, couldn't wait anymore. SO, now my room smells like autumn. But, when I walk outside it feels like summer in hell. Also, I have so many long sleeve shirts, jackets, and jeans that I am dying to wear. Not to mention my comfy pj pants that rock. Also, eating chili, soup, pot roast etc will be okay again. (I mean I eat all that in the summer but I get funny looks).
The sad news, there is still loads of time before we get into this phase.
And more bad news...
wait there's more? Yes, there's more depressing news.
Autumn/winter in AZ goes by with a blink of an eye. Once it comes, I will be the happiest little camper. But before you know it, the wrath of the AZ sun will be upon us once more.
Why is then that you stay in AZ Emily?
Good question. I have no idea. Probably because I feel like this is where I am supposed to be right now in my life. I really cannot explain it, but I fantasize about where I could be right now, and it's great. However, it isn't for me just yet.

Now for the perverted use of this entry title...you knew it was coming.

Picture it. Yesterday. About 4:30 p.m.
I am standing in the Verizon store waiting to be helped. I had been there for over twenty minutes, waiting. I am dressed in baggy-mission-trip-paint-stained-jeans, an over sized dark purple t-shirt. Hair pulled back, no makeup....sweaty (since I had to park in Timbuktu-*side note: I spelled Timbuktu right on the first try, go me)...yuck, I was disgusting. (can you guess where this is heading, oh I think not- unless I already told you the story).
Anyway, I'm waiting. And what to actors do in public places when they have nothing else to do? They observe others. So I am. I notice a family of four: A mom, dad, son, daughter. After a few minutes the dad looks outside and says look who's here... there were three guys outside. One of them looked a lot like the father (I am assuming it was the oldest son, and I am also assuming these guys go to ASU). The dad and younger son go outside. When the mom and daughter are done getting phones they also go outside. There are the 7 of them, standing outside Verizon hanging out. Finally the family of four leave and the three guys start to walk away toward the main area of Tempe Marketplace (it is basically an outside mall.). A few moments later one of the guys comes walking back. He comes into the store (which I thought was odd, since he was never there to begin with). He walks right up to me. (He wasn't very good looking, the other two weren't great, but they weren't bad. He was more on the negative side.) He says, "Hey, my buddies and I noticed you standing in here. We are heading over to San Filipe's to get some drinks. When you're done here why don't you come over there. My buddies and I want to buy you a couple of drinks."

I said, "Ok, sounds good," and he left. This is what went on in my head, "Ok, I am underage so even if I wanted to go, I wouldn't. If I were of age, maybe I would go. I probably wouldn't drink but I would, if I didn't have plans, probably go hang out. Good way to meet people."

I finished at Verizon, got in my car and met my roommates at Subway, rented a movie and spent the night at home.

That's my story.

Random fact:
Sunshine Cleaning (with Amy Adams and Emily Blunt)...good but depressing movie.

I would like to say God has a funny sense of humor. Friday I was joking around at band rehearsal. Pastor Mike asked us if we had met any guys to be in the band and I said to the girl next to me, "I wish I would meet guys period." The next day my prayers were answered...sort of....

Ok, I am going to bed.
Bottoms up and,

Bon Appetit.

"I will paint your ass and you can paint mine"

explanation: this is a quote from the movie Death Becomes Her. Basically, these women take a potion that keeps them "young". What is actually does is make them the living dead. Their skin needs to be painted on (otherwise they will look like zombies) and after a while it begins to peel off...hence the quote.
It got me thinking. Someday, there will, unfortunately, be a time where we will not be able to do things for ourselves (i.e. eat, shower, dress, go to the bathroom...etc.). I know some of my very loyal friends would say, "If I am able, I will be glad to help you do all those things for you, if you ever need it." However, I wouldn't blame them if they wouldn't (again, this is all assuming I go crazy before all them). I don't know how willing I would be. But herein lies my point. There are people who do this for a living..... I guess someone's got to do it....
Don't get me wrong, I know people who I am close to will get like this and I will love them no less, but I wouldn't be able to wipe there asses for them, let alone complete strangers. Am I being too snobby?
Please, your opinions on this matter. And if your opinion is, "Emily, you're crazy. I would wipe your ass in a heartbeat," please don't comment. I want more worthwhile opinions if you don't mind. This is a serious blog people.

Three day weekends are a Godsend.
Although when you have a rehearsal smack dab in the middle of it that's kind of lame. But I was skilled enough to work around that.
Got to see Allison after over 4 months. Never again. Then again, it were as if I had seen her the week before. Nothing (too major) had changed (I mean she spent the whole summer in Washington-state- and I have an eventful family so we had stories to swap...but that's besides the point).

I also had a mini-Merylthon with Lindsey. Manhattan, Plenty, Death Becomes Her.
I recommend the last one. It is amazing- in a "that's so off the wall and stupid it's great" sort of way. Everyone should see it.
Manhattan and Plenty had plot issues. To clarify: there wasn't one.
But I still enjoyed them, actually. And no, not just because Meryl was in them....

I got the Blackberry Storm (the touch one) today. So far- I love it!

Ok, I have been thinking about the opening discussion point (you know, wiping older people's asses) and I don't think I worded it right. I have this feeling that I sound like such a bitchy snob....I mean, of course if someone I loved needed help I would help them. And I'm sure the people that do this for a living (not necessarily enjoy what they do...but they) are okay with it. As much as it pains me to see people in need of those certain activities (honestly it does) I just don't think I would emotionally be able to handle it. There's my point! I am too emotional to wipe asses for a living.

On that inviting note,

Bon Appetit

here are some Death Becomes her youtube links. I'm telling you to check them out. Now. GO. Obey me, or else. Thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7sMilQeVHk this is the trailer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXsnlzhsoS4 this is a bunch of clips summing up the movie...

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands (clap clap clap)

Today....I was on tv.
Nothing special.
The noon news, who watches the noon news?

Basically for the show I am in we went to the news station, on a field trip, to do some 'research' (it was just a fun way of doing research)and they put us on the air.
We took a tour of the building, and then they set up chairs right in the room where they film the live broadcasts. If you watched the news at noon today, I was right off to the right of the camera.
They had time to kill (which is crazy because they have it down to the second...I will go on about that in a second), so they turned to us and said, "we're going to put you on the air." Next thing we knew, we had lights on us an a camera. They basically panned over us and the anchor said, "Today we have a group of students from the ASU school of theatre and film with us in the studio."

It was so awesome though (the tour...not the 5 seconds of fame). I decided if I wasn't going to pursue being a movie/stage actress I would be a newscaster. They looked like they were having a ball up there. They were so good too. One minute the anchor is talking about wildfires, then they cut to a video of firefighters at the scene, while they do this the anchor turns to the co-anchor and starts having a conversation, mid conversation he switches back to the story. It went like this,"In northern Arizona, those wildfires are really heating up. We go no to the scene. So tonight my wife and I are going to this new restaurant down on whatever street. Furthermore, if the fires continue to spread, evacuations...." It was amazing to watch.
Also, the co-anchor (who was a fill in) walked in as the stereotypical shirt and tie with shorts and flip flops since you can't see under the desk. The lead anchor assured us that never happens, what luck that the day we are there it does. Uh-huh, sure. The weatherman had converse on with his suit and had his spiel to us about how his job requires more skill because he doesn't use a teleprompter. It was good fun today.

I am going to look into if I can intern there this summer. I want to intern in Cali for a talk show (like the Ellen show) or a movie company etc. But I would have to find housing (I think)...so I want to find something along those lines here in AZ where I have an apartment. Hence, the news station would be perfect!

I am super excited. Not only was today awesome (I also had more practice on the drums and am becoming more comfortable with them and cannot wait to actually learn some real skill rather than just play and guess), but this weekend will rock too.
I get to see Allison tomorrow! 4 months is way too long! Lindsey gets to see me play at church and then we are going to have a mini-merylthon!!! woot!

I do have rehearsal on Sunday for 4 hours, but it should be fun because we get to incorporate things we learned today at the station. I already have a few great ideas! :)

But I want to get some sleep so I can party hard with the Sherer's tomorrow!

Nighty Night and of course....

Bon Appetit.

When did this happen?

Yesterday I applied for my own health insurance.
Today I paid rent. I also got the electricity put in my name, and had to put down a deposit.
I also applied for a job and realized that my senior year of high school started two years ago...not just one anymore.

I know I'm not old....but I am beginning to feel older...and it's creepy.

My 'freshman' (the one I adopted as a senior in HS) is a junior, has her license, a job and is starting to think about college.
People I went to high school with are engaged or already married (keeping in mind that most of them are Mormons....).
This is surreal. And this is what I will be blogging about mostly today.

I just spent the past half hour going through some old pictures with my roommate. She loved looking at pictures of me and my brother when we were little (like 5 and 2). I can't believe how long ago that was. And how so many things have changed. My brother is no longer the cute little shadow I once had. Now he is a hormonal teenager with an attitude.
I promised to bring her more pictures next time I make a trip home.

Even though this 'growing up' thing is happening before my very eyes, I still sleep with a blankie and a stuffed animal. I still watch cartoons and know all the songs to all the Disney movies. I still have my t-shirt from my 4th grad field day...and in high school I still wore it.
It just amazes me at how much I've changed/matured/grown but, at the same time, have stayed the same. And I guess that's just it. No matter how much we change/mature/grow, it's just added to our character/personality. We add layer upon layer of age but underneath is still the little girl who played barbies with her little brother (and up until a few years ago still played with barbies...just not with her brother).

It really fascinates me just as much as it frightens me. Listen to me, I sound like I'm a psychology major after all....but I'm not. I'm a theatre major...and again, there's the kid inside of me. ;)

Speaking of theatre. I played the pony game for the first time today. I vowed to never ever play it. I worked so hard to avoid it. But, alas, it has finally found me. And we will be stuck together for the next seven weeks. Basically each person in the cast of the show I'm in picked a warm-up. Every day we are going to do this massive 9-part warm-up comprised of every one's picks. Someone picked the pony game. And being the good actor that I am, I didn't argue with my director. She said ride the pony and I said how far.

I did learn something that I will implement the next time I direct a show (if that ever happens, which I'm sure it will at some point in life.)

Today in rehearsal, we were told to have a meeting.
*side note* the show I am in is about a news team who thinks it is the end of the world, and by the end of the play falls apart. I play an intern at the station (my only role for the actual show is to come on stage and bring the anchor his coffee and etc.)
So, we had this pitch meeting, basically. All improved in character. It lasted 40 minutes. It was the best thing I have ever taken part in in my entire life. It helped so much for my character work. It gave me so many ideas as to how my character really would act in such an environment and it gave the director more ideas on what my role will be in the show.
I decided there on the spot, next time I direct, I will make my cast do improvs in character in a setting that has something to do with the show in production. There is talk of filming one of these improvs and putting it on the website ****, that wold rock.
*** side note*** my director is putting up a website promoting the show. It will basically be a news site where there will be info on the show, the crew, the news team etc. We plan to make it look as legit as possible. As interns, my fellow interns and I are creating vlogs (video blogs) to put up on the site. So, I hope we film a 'meeting' and post it.
I will let you all know when that site is up so you can check it out.

Speaking of checking it out, I am putting together a photography portfolio. Not for any particular reason, just because I have been meaning to and just haven't.
I have a bunch of pictures that I have taken that have been solely as artistic photos that I am going to put in a professional-esque portfolio. I will let you know how that goes. So far I have about 60 photos, I have matched them with different neutral colored backgrounds that emphasize the distinct features that I want to stand out in each, and I will now (over the next week or whenever) being to cut those neutral borders and piece it all together. I think the toughest part will be the order in which I present them.

I am also debating whether or not I should pull a double major with my minor or not. The only thing I will be able to do if I keep this as a minor (architectural design) is museum work, secretarial positions etc. I won't be able to get certified and work on actual buildings. So, that is what is pushing me to take it on as a major. The thing holding me back: Since I just started it as I minor, I have a lot of catching up to do and that could mean having a 5-year college plan rather than a 4-year one. I guess all I an really do is make an appointment with each of my advisors and see what they think/say and then take it from there.
What are your opinions?

Well, I feel the need...the need for sleep.
So, I will let you go. I've kept you long enough. Thanks for stopping by. We should do this again sometime.

I look forward to our next adventure. You bring the equipment and I'll bring the treasure map. Am I making any sense? It's late....sleepy time, she comes.

Rock-a-bye baby, in the tree top.
When the wind blows the cradle will rock.
When the bow breaks the cradle will fall.
And down will come baby, cradle and all....and what does baby say?

Bon Appetit!