Forgive me, oh blogosphere, for I have sinned. It has been a million zillion years since I have last written. I cannot begin to explain the number of times that the task of blogging has crossed my "to-do" list, only to be overshadowed by something more important. But have no fear, that phase of my blog is over. On to newer, better, and (most importantly) MORE FREQUENT posts! Whew. I think I just felt everybody's collective sigh of relief. Well, you're welcome. I know you've missed me.
I want to start with a couple of links to blogs that I like to read when I'm not here. The first is an organization blog called my color coded life, and is actually written by the Education Director at the theatre where I work. There's some really helpful advice in there that is presented in a non-intimidating way. In short, even I can read it and not feel overwhelmed by how messy my apartment might be. So yeah, read her blog, follow it on twitter, go nuts! My favorites are her helpful humpday hints.
The next two are 25 in my 25th, [a blog written by a friend of mine from college. All of her posts are witty, hilarious, and REAL. I'm always excited when I see that she has a new post.] And White Beyonce, [written by another friend of mine from college. Quirky and funny in a totally different- but equally wonderful- way.] Reading these blogs makes me miss my friends, but also sort of makes me feel like maybe they aren't that far away. Thank goodness for the internet- otherwise I might really feel alone.
The last blog that I read is written by a woman named Jenny, or The Bloggess. She's spunky, outrageously funny, and is never ever afraid to say what she thinks. She also has a shop full of excellent crap that everybody needs, writes articles for a parenting blog, AND some really screwed-up sex columns. I would recommend her to anybody that needs a quirked eyebrow, a laugh, or simply a breath of fresh- if not slightly bizarre- air.
Tonight, I am going to take a page out of Jenny's book, and write an installment of SHIt I DID WHEN I WASN'T HERE (only I'll change the name. Nobody likes a copycat). It'll be great- sort of like we haven't seen each other in a while and are meeting up at bagel central to discuss life over bagel-wiches and raspberry-lime rickies (which I assume they've started slinging by now). So, without further ado...
CRAP THAT I'VE DONE WHILE I'VE BEEN GONE....(see what I did there...?)
AT RISING STARS...The Hunger Games has quickly consumed nearly the entire 3rd and 4th grade classes, prompting kids to ask me questions like "So, Amanda, what does a snapped neck look like?" and "Come on, who do you REALLY think deserved to win the games?" It's funny, because until this all started happening, I really hadn't given much though to how very ADULT this book's young adult content is. I would never EVER give this book to a CHILD of 9 or 10, unless I was ready to discuss dystopian society, the shadow archetype, the crowd mentality and how messed up THAT can be, and those creepy things called hormones. Ick.
AT THE THEATRE...Robin Hood is up and running, and has safely settled itself with the other hits that have graced the stage this season. I've booked busses, written lesson plans, and helped organize Girl Scout Day, which was this past Saturday. 100+ girl scouts, troop leaders, and moms came out to catch a matinee of the show and take part in drama school activities, get a special backstage tour, eat a soft pretzel and drink a capri sun. My favorite question of the whole day: "Um, why did the boy and the girl kiss? Did they know each other outside of the theatre?" mig just become my favorite question ever.
PROJECTS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON....I've crocheted about 100 hats and scarves, and am gearing up to launch a project with them that I am really excited about, but more on that when I get more details ironed out. Ben and I also managed to clean out our closets today, and now have significantly less crap than before. What's scary is how much crap is still left. Bring on the Spring Cleaning!!
SELF INDULGENCE (AND SUCCESS)...I went to an acting class at The Actor's Center, a really awesome place on the other side of the Penn's Landing overpass. The class went really, really well and I was asked to audit another class (one geared more toward camera work) this Wednesday! If all goes according to plan I will spend the next six weeks taking notes and working hard and making sure I present myself as best I can with my headshot and resume. I'm very excited. And I feel so motivated! Even thinking about it makes me really happy! I also have two auditions at the end of May- one for Dog Sees God at the WAG theatre, and the other for Cymbeline with Philly Shakespeare Theatre! I am already slightly obsessing about the outfits I will wear the the monologues I will do and every possible detail. But it's good. It's really good!
CRAP BEN'S DONE...Ben has been accepted to Mount Sanai's medical school in New York City!! He's been given a decent financial aid package AND...we qualify for couples housing!! [All we had to do was open a joint bank account, provide proof of prior cohabitation, give each other power of attorney, and, oh yeah, obtain a domestic partnership once we move to Manhattan...sort of like being married without actually being married]. So, Ben will be moving at some point in August, and I will follow in September. With any luck, we will have a one bedroom apartment with room for a futon, so any and all visitors are WELCOME! Oh, and for those of you that are curious, Babs will be making the move with us. She is allowed to join us in the couples housing apartments as long as she does not grow to be more than 25 pounds and proves to not be part doberman (or any other scary- or not so scary- dog breed). So, everything med school has been pretty awesome. And that's- pretty awesome.
AND there you have it, everything that has been going on since I last wrote. Like I said, I want to make a sincere effort to be more consistant. Here's hoping.
I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GOOD MONDAY!!!
...
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
...and just what IS a jackass?
I'll admit it. I seriously considered devoting an entire blog post to my disappointment with the new "Hunger Games" movie. It failed to meet my expectations in several different areas and I was upset that the movie was not identical to the book- a sentiment that I usually have in these scenarios. HOWEVER, after sleeping on it and considering the whole thing today, I have decided that I would not be totally opposed to seeing the movie again, and perhaps this time NOT being quite as rabid about the lack of adherence to the book. So for now, I will leave my shredding of "The Hunger Games" for a later date. Though don't be surprised if it shows up in the near future.
I've been thinking a lot lately- dangerous, I know. I've been thinking about what I should be doing with my life (as per usual), and how I could better prepare myself to get places. Luckily, THIS time, instead of staying up all night watching snippets of embarrassing tween movies (see: March 12, 2012), I've put my anxiety and energy to good use. This time, I spent an afternoon creating a list- a massive to do list of things I want to accomplish in my future- all filed away in a binder that is color-coded, separated by tabs, and organized in a helpful and non-intimidating way. Believe it or not, this giant list has come in quite handy, and makes me feel motivated to star work on some projects (emails, scheduling, crafts, etc), while simultaneously helping me find a way to finish things (i.e. my NOVEL(s) that all sit, unfinished, on my computer's desktop). It's amazing what back-to-school supplies and a little coffee can make you feel capable of. Five-year plan? CHECK! And just like that, I'm winning.
In addition to huge life decisions, I have also been thinking about equally important things- for example, one of the messages presented by Walt Disney's Pinnochio. I haven't seen this movie in quite some time, but it was very popular when my sister and I were young- it was one of the few Disney movies that Dad didn't mind watching with us, so I think it got more than it's fair share of play. But a recent trip to Disney World (a GLORIOUS four days in Orlando with my mother, sister, and grandmother this month), got me thinking about Pleasure Island. Wasn't that whole thing kind of weird? One minute they were playing pool, smoking cigars, getting drunk, and being pretty lame, and then they all turned into donkeys and had to work in salt mines? Pretty screwy. And then it hit me. That whole thing- the donkey thing, is still ludicrous, but suddenly it started to make a little bit of sense. The boys were turned into donkeys- because they were acting like JACKASSES. A-HA! And it only took me 15+ years to figure that out! The more I thought about it, the more I thought that I might have heard Jiminy Cricket say something about making a jackass of yourself- though that seemed awfully crass for a Disney movie. And then I found THIS. Some of the comments for this video assert that by ignoring education and figures of authority, you will turn yourself into a jackass no matter what, while others think that this part is hilarious. Still others encourage viewers to "forget about the saw movies"- that this is one of the most depraved and terrifying things they have ever seen. I think I'm on board with opinions one and three. I don't know how I watched this when I was younger without a slew of nightmares. And I also can't help but think-- you know, Jiminy DOES have a point. Can you imagine a world where wasting your life in bars and being a complete ignoramous would mean you would end up a donkey in the circus or the salt mines? Business on Main Street in Manayunk would CERTAINLY be down. Not to mention the rate of enrollment of any college, anywhere. Regardless, I really like that whole "don't be a jackass" message. When you get right down to it, that possessed toy and talking cricket make an awful lot of sense, don't they?
I've been thinking a lot lately- dangerous, I know. I've been thinking about what I should be doing with my life (as per usual), and how I could better prepare myself to get places. Luckily, THIS time, instead of staying up all night watching snippets of embarrassing tween movies (see: March 12, 2012), I've put my anxiety and energy to good use. This time, I spent an afternoon creating a list- a massive to do list of things I want to accomplish in my future- all filed away in a binder that is color-coded, separated by tabs, and organized in a helpful and non-intimidating way. Believe it or not, this giant list has come in quite handy, and makes me feel motivated to star work on some projects (emails, scheduling, crafts, etc), while simultaneously helping me find a way to finish things (i.e. my NOVEL(s) that all sit, unfinished, on my computer's desktop). It's amazing what back-to-school supplies and a little coffee can make you feel capable of. Five-year plan? CHECK! And just like that, I'm winning.
In addition to huge life decisions, I have also been thinking about equally important things- for example, one of the messages presented by Walt Disney's Pinnochio. I haven't seen this movie in quite some time, but it was very popular when my sister and I were young- it was one of the few Disney movies that Dad didn't mind watching with us, so I think it got more than it's fair share of play. But a recent trip to Disney World (a GLORIOUS four days in Orlando with my mother, sister, and grandmother this month), got me thinking about Pleasure Island. Wasn't that whole thing kind of weird? One minute they were playing pool, smoking cigars, getting drunk, and being pretty lame, and then they all turned into donkeys and had to work in salt mines? Pretty screwy. And then it hit me. That whole thing- the donkey thing, is still ludicrous, but suddenly it started to make a little bit of sense. The boys were turned into donkeys- because they were acting like JACKASSES. A-HA! And it only took me 15+ years to figure that out! The more I thought about it, the more I thought that I might have heard Jiminy Cricket say something about making a jackass of yourself- though that seemed awfully crass for a Disney movie. And then I found THIS. Some of the comments for this video assert that by ignoring education and figures of authority, you will turn yourself into a jackass no matter what, while others think that this part is hilarious. Still others encourage viewers to "forget about the saw movies"- that this is one of the most depraved and terrifying things they have ever seen. I think I'm on board with opinions one and three. I don't know how I watched this when I was younger without a slew of nightmares. And I also can't help but think-- you know, Jiminy DOES have a point. Can you imagine a world where wasting your life in bars and being a complete ignoramous would mean you would end up a donkey in the circus or the salt mines? Business on Main Street in Manayunk would CERTAINLY be down. Not to mention the rate of enrollment of any college, anywhere. Regardless, I really like that whole "don't be a jackass" message. When you get right down to it, that possessed toy and talking cricket make an awful lot of sense, don't they?
Monday, March 12, 2012
sunday=worst night to have sleep troubles.
Last night I was struck by insomnia. It was the terrible, nagging insomnia that is relentless, even long after you've turned off the lights. It was the type of insomnia which reminds you that, no matter what you have done thus far, it is not good enough, and that you are now too old to really do the kinds of things you need to do to get what you want. I tossed and turned and tried to ignore it for about 45 minutes, and then sat up again in bed, turned on the light, and proceeded to make a list of the things I want and the things that I can do in order to put things in motion. It actually looks MUCH less intimidating once it is broken down like that. Suddenly the overwhelming things start looking like baby steps that build up over time so that I can make mammoth strides. I think I can live with that. And Molly suggested a book to avoid future sleepless nights, which Tom bought for me as an early birthday present- definitely something to look forward to. I spent a little while longer youtubing everything under the sun and googling tips for writing fiction (my favorite site was this one.), and then finally got to sleep around 3. And now it's Monday, and the birds are signing outside my window and I think that what remains of today will be good. I have a massive list to tackle, and I find that there are few things that I enjoy more in life than crossing things of lists.
More later.
More later.
Friday, March 9, 2012
...if things don't work out between Ben and I, you best believe I'll be finding an apartment full of geniuses to live next door to....
....but anyway, a thought for today....
There is a phrase that my mother often uses that's become increasingly relevant to me. I remember the first time she said it to me- I was small enough to ride in a grocery cart, and I was interrogating my mother with the many questions of life while she stocked up on mac+cheese and pork chops. "Mom," I asked as she passed me a box of cereal, "why are there so many people in jail?" And then she said it- a phrase I would hear much more- and even grow to repeat someday-
"because people are idiots."
And there you have it- the explanation for SO many of life's unanswerable questions, which included, but were not limited to "why don't people eat their vegetables?" to "why is there hell?" and you know, in my old age, "people are idiots" has become pretty damn useful. Call me naive, but it really had never occurred to me that SO many people are- well, idiots.
So go ahead- use the brilliant reasoning of my mother this weekend. If something bothers you, rationalize with old reliable. People ARE idiots. Go nuts.
And have a good weekend!!
There is a phrase that my mother often uses that's become increasingly relevant to me. I remember the first time she said it to me- I was small enough to ride in a grocery cart, and I was interrogating my mother with the many questions of life while she stocked up on mac+cheese and pork chops. "Mom," I asked as she passed me a box of cereal, "why are there so many people in jail?" And then she said it- a phrase I would hear much more- and even grow to repeat someday-
"because people are idiots."
And there you have it- the explanation for SO many of life's unanswerable questions, which included, but were not limited to "why don't people eat their vegetables?" to "why is there hell?" and you know, in my old age, "people are idiots" has become pretty damn useful. Call me naive, but it really had never occurred to me that SO many people are- well, idiots.
So go ahead- use the brilliant reasoning of my mother this weekend. If something bothers you, rationalize with old reliable. People ARE idiots. Go nuts.
And have a good weekend!!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Valentine's Day- 2012
Ben and I had already decided that we would celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday. He had a lot of things to get finished for his MCAT class and Tuesday is in the middle of the week and it would just be more convenient that way. So, when I woke up this morning- feeling pretty rad for having a cold, I was not planning on spending the day with my boyfriend. In fact, I was planning on getting to my internship, filing, emailing, organizing, hopping a train and two buses to rising stars to celebrate Valentine's and then spending the evening with Elizabeth so that Ben could have the apartment to himself to film his teach-back. HOWEVER, the universe must have been conspiring to have us spend this special day together, even if it wasn't for a particularly romantic reason.
This morning, I managed to experience something that I don't think most people can add to their list of bragging rights. I, Mandy Fahey, fainted on a SEPTA bus going into Center City. I was feeling really warm and like I might get carsick, and then I woke up on the floor of the bus, wondering why I was looking at everybody's shoes, which was scary. Fortunately, the 27 makes a stop directly in front of Hahnemann University Hospital. Even more fortunately, I was on a bus of the nicest people in the world, including a nurse and a social worker who helped me off the bus, called Ben, and made sure I was situated in a room before continuing on with their respective days. Ben got there quickly- I think half expecting me to still be unconscious, and I changed into the most confusing hospital gown EVER (there were snaps where there should be sleeves....it took a couple tries). By this time I felt totally fine again, just a little shaken and stuffed up, but I was at the ER, and they needed to make sure that there was nothing wrong with my brain or my heart, AND that I wasn't pregnant (apparently many women find out they are pregnant from passing out...? News to me, but I guess I wouldn't doubt it....). But my brain is fine, my heart is fine, and, according to my nurse, my urine was "pristine," so no babies. It was just as I had suspected, my fainting was a result of not feeling well, being dehydrated, and feeling overheated on a crowded bus. So after ingesting an entire IV bag of saline and watching The Price Is Right on the hospital TV, I was allowed to leave. Ben positioned himself to be able to catch me if i fainted on the bus ride back (I didn't), and I spent the rest of the afternoon drinking seltzer, watching Frasier, and reading cosmopolitain while Ben read up on his chemistry for his next class- how romantic! But we still might celebrate on Saturday...
And so, that is how Ben and I managed to spend our Valentine's Day together. It's also how I acquired a very bizarre experience to my life story. According to my co-worker, Doretha, I am the only person she has ever heard of passing out on a city bus. I'm sure I'm not the ONLY one, but I'm probably in a select few!
Happy Valentine's Day, all!
This morning, I managed to experience something that I don't think most people can add to their list of bragging rights. I, Mandy Fahey, fainted on a SEPTA bus going into Center City. I was feeling really warm and like I might get carsick, and then I woke up on the floor of the bus, wondering why I was looking at everybody's shoes, which was scary. Fortunately, the 27 makes a stop directly in front of Hahnemann University Hospital. Even more fortunately, I was on a bus of the nicest people in the world, including a nurse and a social worker who helped me off the bus, called Ben, and made sure I was situated in a room before continuing on with their respective days. Ben got there quickly- I think half expecting me to still be unconscious, and I changed into the most confusing hospital gown EVER (there were snaps where there should be sleeves....it took a couple tries). By this time I felt totally fine again, just a little shaken and stuffed up, but I was at the ER, and they needed to make sure that there was nothing wrong with my brain or my heart, AND that I wasn't pregnant (apparently many women find out they are pregnant from passing out...? News to me, but I guess I wouldn't doubt it....). But my brain is fine, my heart is fine, and, according to my nurse, my urine was "pristine," so no babies. It was just as I had suspected, my fainting was a result of not feeling well, being dehydrated, and feeling overheated on a crowded bus. So after ingesting an entire IV bag of saline and watching The Price Is Right on the hospital TV, I was allowed to leave. Ben positioned himself to be able to catch me if i fainted on the bus ride back (I didn't), and I spent the rest of the afternoon drinking seltzer, watching Frasier, and reading cosmopolitain while Ben read up on his chemistry for his next class- how romantic! But we still might celebrate on Saturday...
And so, that is how Ben and I managed to spend our Valentine's Day together. It's also how I acquired a very bizarre experience to my life story. According to my co-worker, Doretha, I am the only person she has ever heard of passing out on a city bus. I'm sure I'm not the ONLY one, but I'm probably in a select few!
Happy Valentine's Day, all!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
the networking mystery---solved!!
For some reason, I've always imagined networking to be something that only happened in posh mansions in southern california. The only people who were ever known to "network" were very rich people who spent their evenings standing by a swimming pool with some kind of alcoholic beverage in hand, discussing how difficult it is to be rich and busy and important. Obviously I wasn't too clear on the whole "networking" concept, unless you count having a facebook page and posting inside jokes on the walls of my friends, which I don't. But this weekend- I think I might have ACTUALLY experienced it. And there wasn't a swimming pool or alcoholic beverage in sight!
I recently accepted a position with a small production company called Tiny Dynamite, whose claim to fame is the relatively new "a Play, a Pie, and a Pint." Basically, for $15, you get a beer, a slice of pizza, and a 40 minute one act play on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening in Society Hill. It's a pretty sweet deal. I will be their production intern, which means that I will help the stage manager find props, assist during tech rehearsals, and schmooze with audience members before the shows start. I won't be paid, but I WILL get free pizza, beer, and plays, and have the opportunity to meet some really great people. And I figure- the more things I can get on my resume that aren't paid, the closer I can get to actually BEING paid. It's all winning.
So this weekend, I hopped a train to Narbeth, Pennsylvania for our first production meeting. I was half expecting Narbeth to be some kind of scary suburb, as so many of them are, but this place was actually really nice. There was a quaint little main street, with specialty shops and a french bakery where I stopped for a cup of earl grey. And then I made my way to the nicest house on earth, full of the nicest stuff on earth, and some of the nicest people I've met in a while. And all of them were so wonderful and wanting to help me and were just-- GREAT. I had a wonderful time. And that's that- networking is no longer a mystery, and in fact, it was kind of fun! I'm looking forward to working with these people. And on the train back, I had this overwhelming feeling that everything is getting better all the time. Cue the Beatles. WOOHOO weekend!
:)
I recently accepted a position with a small production company called Tiny Dynamite, whose claim to fame is the relatively new "a Play, a Pie, and a Pint." Basically, for $15, you get a beer, a slice of pizza, and a 40 minute one act play on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening in Society Hill. It's a pretty sweet deal. I will be their production intern, which means that I will help the stage manager find props, assist during tech rehearsals, and schmooze with audience members before the shows start. I won't be paid, but I WILL get free pizza, beer, and plays, and have the opportunity to meet some really great people. And I figure- the more things I can get on my resume that aren't paid, the closer I can get to actually BEING paid. It's all winning.
So this weekend, I hopped a train to Narbeth, Pennsylvania for our first production meeting. I was half expecting Narbeth to be some kind of scary suburb, as so many of them are, but this place was actually really nice. There was a quaint little main street, with specialty shops and a french bakery where I stopped for a cup of earl grey. And then I made my way to the nicest house on earth, full of the nicest stuff on earth, and some of the nicest people I've met in a while. And all of them were so wonderful and wanting to help me and were just-- GREAT. I had a wonderful time. And that's that- networking is no longer a mystery, and in fact, it was kind of fun! I'm looking forward to working with these people. And on the train back, I had this overwhelming feeling that everything is getting better all the time. Cue the Beatles. WOOHOO weekend!
:)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
January's WINNING-est!!
Here they are!!! The three most winning-est things I've seen this month!! ENJOY!
3) At the end of my street there is a diner that looks adorable, but we somehow have not managed to get to yet. Outside of this diner are a bunch of free newspaper bins, one of which belongs to Philly's famed, independent "CITY PAPER." Ben and I used it once to wrap each other's Christmas presents, and hey, who could have known that it would go so well?? Turns out there are several pages of...ahem...."adult" classifieds, complete with pictures and vivid descriptions. Christmas wrap AND a good laugh? What more could you want from a free newspaper?? I have the answer. THIS. Now, I'll admit, there are a couple of these that are very sad and/or heartfelt, and to the people who submitted those, I hope everything works out for you. To even fewer- THANK YOU for being so positive!! BUT THE REST OF YOU: how awesome must it feel to have your road rage, complete with a wish that all of this reckless driver's children die of brain tumors, in print?? And the woman who was scored by Kenneth, the man that spews lies, GOOD FOR YOU! Your publication of his flaws will ABSOLUTELY do something other than make you seem like a crazy person. I mean, I'm sorry he dumped you, but get some wine and watch the notebook like the rest of us. I can't really decide who this is more of a win for- CITY PAPER, which came up with this idea, or for me, because now I get to read them all. Who knows, maybe these love/hates are a good way for people to blow off steam so that they don't become violent. But if you ask me, it's just a way for them to blow up the newsprint and make themselves look like idiots. That I can laugh at, of course.
2) I know that some might say that Gingrich was the winner here, but trust me, I'm pretty sure Jon Stewart won this debate, which is quite a feat, considering he was not in attendance.
1) Melissa McCarthy, who has been nominated for an Oscar for her work in "Bridesmaids." I think that's freakin' awesome. She was hilarious in that movie. cha-ching!! WINNING!!!
3) At the end of my street there is a diner that looks adorable, but we somehow have not managed to get to yet. Outside of this diner are a bunch of free newspaper bins, one of which belongs to Philly's famed, independent "CITY PAPER." Ben and I used it once to wrap each other's Christmas presents, and hey, who could have known that it would go so well?? Turns out there are several pages of...ahem...."adult" classifieds, complete with pictures and vivid descriptions. Christmas wrap AND a good laugh? What more could you want from a free newspaper?? I have the answer. THIS. Now, I'll admit, there are a couple of these that are very sad and/or heartfelt, and to the people who submitted those, I hope everything works out for you. To even fewer- THANK YOU for being so positive!! BUT THE REST OF YOU: how awesome must it feel to have your road rage, complete with a wish that all of this reckless driver's children die of brain tumors, in print?? And the woman who was scored by Kenneth, the man that spews lies, GOOD FOR YOU! Your publication of his flaws will ABSOLUTELY do something other than make you seem like a crazy person. I mean, I'm sorry he dumped you, but get some wine and watch the notebook like the rest of us. I can't really decide who this is more of a win for- CITY PAPER, which came up with this idea, or for me, because now I get to read them all. Who knows, maybe these love/hates are a good way for people to blow off steam so that they don't become violent. But if you ask me, it's just a way for them to blow up the newsprint and make themselves look like idiots. That I can laugh at, of course.
2) I know that some might say that Gingrich was the winner here, but trust me, I'm pretty sure Jon Stewart won this debate, which is quite a feat, considering he was not in attendance.
1) Melissa McCarthy, who has been nominated for an Oscar for her work in "Bridesmaids." I think that's freakin' awesome. She was hilarious in that movie. cha-ching!! WINNING!!!
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