Turns out that being a part of a community theater production is a bit of a language and cultural immersion. I thought I was already fully immersed! But, no, because here is a list of new terms I have started hearing and using (and probably improperly)...
Note: This is what I have assumed things to mean. I do not ask questions about what these things mean while they're being said because I don't want to be the obvious Newb.
Call
Definition: This is basically the time when you have to be somewhere.
Use it in a sentence: Me: "When should I ask off work during show week?" Stage Manager: "Calls generally range from 6-7pm."
Sitzprobe
Definition: Hmmm...a seated rehearsal with the orchestra. Basically. Though I don't think actors are seated, just the orchestra.
Use it in a sentence: It was during our first sitzprobe rehearsal that the show really started to come alive with sound.
Stumblethrough
Definition: You walk through the entire show without knowing all of it to get an idea for pacing and staging issues.
Use it in a sentence: My ego is still trying to recover from stumblethrough.
Singthrough
Definition: The first time you sing through the entire show with the cast.
Use it in a sentence: Can we sit besides each other at singthrough so that I can hear what the notes are suppose to be?
"Thank you, ____"
Definition: It's this reply people say when they've been given a 5/10 minute warning.
Use it in a sentence: Someone important: "5 minutes, people!" The people who know what they're doing: "Thank you, five." Me: ........
Chest voice
Definition: Singing from your chest.
Use it in a sentence: When someone belts, they're using their chest voice.
Head voice
Definition: Basically singing falsetto outside of your chest voice range.
Use it in a sentence: I have to go up to head voice for the high notes.
Here's hoping I'm less obvious than I feel!
Also: I was not feeling particularly well yesterday and took the day off from work. I feel so much better today so it just goes to show you that sometimes listening to your mind/body and taking a day off to do nothing is exactly what's needed to get back on track.
I've been assigned to 'set crew' for the show. In the show, everyone gets assigned to a 'crew' to get done all of the things (in addition to the actual performances) that actually have to get done to make a show happen. There are a lot of 'things' like costumes, lighting, finding props, doing hair and makeup, and.....building the set. These responsibilities are all split up between the cast and production crew. Jeff is the master carpenter (boss) and usually brings coffee and munchkin donuts for us which make it way easier for me to wake up early to get there. (#willworkformunchkins) I'm not going to lie, I thought I would hate building stuff and would also be useless. I've found, though, that I get the same relaxing zen-like high from building things that I do from working out. Like group fitness, I feel like I'm a part of a team and I also feel really productive. There are many days at work where I feel like I have nothing tangible to show for my 8 hours, but at set crew, I always have something to 'show' and something to check off our list. Doing some of the scarier things (like using a chop saw by yourself) can be really empowering. As empowering and as fun as it is, I also feel a bit of sad nostalgia working around power tools and sawdust.
My dad made a living doing construction. He started out working for other people and then started his own business that specialized in home remodeling and additions, mostly small projects that he could do by himself and the way that he wanted. He wanted to do things 'right' and of high quality. When we were little, I remember my sisters and I spending many weekends on job sites and helping my dad out, learning names of tools and materials, and taking trips to Home Depot. We actually kinda loved the trips to Home Depot and Lowes. Even though my dad tried to keep us close by, we'd always try to hurry him to our favorite sections: the lights/chandeliers aisle, and the bed/bathroom model section. We would always play house in the 'model' section. My dad was very particular about the way he built things and very smart. I think I get my perfectionist side from him, but I did not get his math skills. I would be in awe of the way he could do all of the math related to building something in his head. He just got geometry and the way things fit together naturally. With 3 daughters, my dad was completely outnumbered by women in our family. Because I know us, I know how difficult that can be at times, but I don't think he minded one bit. Yes, he was happy to teach us the value of hard work and teach us some things about construction or yard work or the way things work. We have this inside joke about my dad when we went to Disney once as a family and his favorite part of the ENTIRE park was the Swiss Family Robinson tree house where he was completely entranced by "How do they get this steel to look like bamboo?" and how the constructed the tree to look so realistic. That was him.
Sometimes Mike reminds me about the best parts of my dad. Like: When he gets all excited about a new project and researches it to the point of exhaustion....When he tries to put my extremely large set of car keys (so I don't lose them) into his pocket, but they hang out and jingle when he walks... (My dad always wore his keys clipped to a belt loop.) When he is right about something (or I am wrong) and he gets a little smug about having taught me something new....Oh my goodness! He gets so excited about teaching me new things....about stuff I don't care that much about....like sound....and space.
I speak about my dad in the past tense because he and I haven't really had a stable relationship since I graduated in college. My parents divorced my junior year of college and it wasn't really the divorce that was so bad for our family as the way it dragged on and on and all of the things that have happened since then. I will spare you the details with the point being that sometimes I get nostalgic for the dad that I knew. It's not necessarily a sad nostalgia because it's honestly nice to be able to remember things the way they were. He was a wonderful dad and I'm glad that building things has given me an opportunity to feel closer to that part of my past.
I had big plans for this past weekend all of which fell through.....well, except for my plan to finish Call the Midwife on Netflix. We can cross that one off the to-do list. Instead of all of MY plans for being super productive, I got exactly what I NEEDED after a week in which I felt extremely out of sorts.
Also: the title of the post is title of a song by Anberlin that I thought of when writing this post.....I think mostly because I couldn't think of better words other than 'healing' 'restore' 'repair' 'cure' to describe the weekend. And going forward, I'll work to remember that sometime what we need to move ourselves on from disappointment is not 'trying harder', being more productive, or getting back on a pedestal of perfection. Sometimes all we need is to be still and let ourselves be comforted.
What I Needed:
Sometimes you need to follow some of your friends to a party full of 1Ls so that....
you can remember exactly why you are glad that your undergraduate years are behind you
you can realize how amazingly lucky you are to have friends who also feel no less than 50 years of age at such events and would just rather leave and play board games all night
you can help chaperone
Sometimes you need to watch dualing guitar battles for 30 min at the H street festival and sign up for the rock opera listserv....
because it's so inspiring and hilarious to see people just doing something simply for the fact that they love it
(because you also you were probably hyped up on the free red bull)
The rock opera group at H street festival
Sometimes you need to walk from Dupont Circle to Adams Morgan in the pouring rain for a shopping date with a new friend....
because nothing bonds people together like fording rivers under one umbrella
because waiting for weekend metro trains means tons of time to get every thought you've ever had out in the open and things are always better out in the open
because being in NW means passing a starbucks every other block and it's about time you bought a pumpkin spice latte
because being in a fancy urban designer store reminds you that you know nothing about men's clothing
Michael and a hat he almost bought
Sometimes you need to eat a homecooked meal, then play cards against humanity, then have your second ice cream of the day...
because some days are a "two ice creams" kind of days (or 3 or 4....)
because "oh hey" everyone deserves to win CaH once in their life or at least beat imaginary player Obama at the game
because going to the grocery store with the boys is the most amusing thing EVER
because there is something about the combination of comfort food, friends, improv piano, and neverending laughter that heals the worst of tummy aches
Sometimes you wake up and end up going on Home Depot/Safeway shopping adventures with the exact same people....
because, when frienship comes this effortlessly and although I prefer Lowes, I'm not going to let you go to Home Depot without me
because otherwise Mike would have no one to support his decision to buy an entire pork loin...
Sometimes at the end of a weekend, you find yourself so overwhelmed with love that you feel an intense need to invite new friends over so that you can cook for them....
and, because you couldn't just make a lasagna, it has to have garlic bread, salad, and red velvet cake as well
because now you idolize anyone who can cook more than one course at once and have everything magically ready at the same time
because you are so wrapped up in reminiscing and laughing you momentarily forget about the Redskins' loss and the fact that tomorrow is Monday
While I was cooking, I witnesses this circus act
These pictures are from a previous dinner at Lavagna (amazing handmade pasta!), but I still wanted to put them somewhere.
flight of rose!
I thought they were pretty so I took a picture
Here's to an upcoming weekend in which everything definitely won't go as planned, but that doesn't worry me much....
"To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven. " Ecclesiastes 3:1
I finally feel safe enough to declare it Fall in DC. There were a few extremely hot days in September when I wondered whether it would ever come. But I think Fall smells distinctively different from Summer and I'm finally finding that scent in the air. In the Spring, EVERYONE on my newsfeed was getting engaged. Over the summer, EVERYONE was getting married. (These are different EVERYONES, of course.) So far this Fall, I've seen nothing but babies on my newsfeed and I suppose that's fitting because we're less than two months away from baby Ashton's arrival. (Henceforth, likely until I turn 35, the seasons will be known as: rings, weddings, babies, Christmas. Thanks, Facebook.)
A couple of weeks ago we celebrated his upcoming birth with a baby shower for my sister. Here are some pictures from it. All photo credits to Kim's camera. Both Kim and Noel took these pictures. (Noel's dad is the editor of National Geographic so I suppose she takes after him when it comes to picture taking.)
Mom To Be
Presents
Lauren & I
Rick being in charge of the grill
Mom and Dad
Basketball jersey cake courtesy of my coworker's baking business!
Paul & Kim
Mom & Grandma
Cousin Kristin & her daughter Kiera
Noel & Ike (Ike honestly won 3 out of the 4 shower games we played)
Artsy
Pretty
One of my favorite pictures of Court and Gilbert
Family
Kim & Noel
Court & Pepe. I love Pepe so much!
This season feels like it is all about new starts. I have lots of brand new students to work with and am taking on more duties at work, I'm looking forward to a baby nephew soon, and am trying out new things in my free time. It feels like anything could happen and like I have NO idea how ANYTHING is going to turn out. Because of that, it is also a season of learning to trust. Trust the process, trust others, trust myself. All valuable lessons.
Oh my, has it been a busy week. I have a post in the works re-capping my sister's baby shower from last weekend, but I want to make sure I can get the amazingly artsy pictures from Kim's camera sent to me first before I post. (I'm so jealous of her natural photography skills!)
I did want to share some exciting news from the past week that does not require pictures, though.
Where to start.......?
I don't even know where to start because I still don't know exactly what came over me to cause me to audition for GGSS's Fall production of Cabaret. After all, the ONLY experience I have that even comes close to musical theater/theater in general is: cheering for 6 years through high school and college, being in one play in high school, and, well, regular drama productions with my church throughout my school years. Oh also, dating Mike. I'm going to count that as experience because he has been my one and only intro course into musical theater. PLUS, let's not forget that (I believe) I naturally shy away from anything which involves me being in front of other people. Haha that sounds so funny when I say it (mostly because it is so true)! #shykelsey
So, after being very comfortable supporting Mike (and his friends) in their roles and skills on stage and becoming accustomed to all of the work that goes on into making a production happen, what thought process led me to thinking I could do that too? I feel like I had very little control over it.
So, basically...
"Farmer Hoggett knew that littleideas that tickled and nagged and refused togo awayshould never be ignored..." -Babe
I've always been in awe of how talented my group of friends are and have always told myself and others that the reason I don't participate in certain things is because I lack talent when, to be honest, my fear of failure is more of a barrier than a lack of talent. Skills can be taught and it's hard to know what you can do if you're too afraid to try. I'm such a fangirl of my talented friends and the announced production team that I was feeling a little disappointed about not being able to participate. Then I saw there were dance only spots announced and for the tiniest moment, I felt like this was fate and that auditioning was a great idea. I at least believe that I learn 8-counts fairly quickly (thank you, competition cheer). Of course, I do what I (annoyingly) tend to do when unsure of myself. I become paralyzed with indecisiveness, briefly and carefully mention the idea to the most important people in my lives to try to determine if I'm actually being crazy or not and then don't listen to them at all. This plan is fool-proof. If they support my idea, then I'm instantly affirmed. If they don't, it only strengthens my resolve to prove them wrong. I'm hilarious. And actually, everyone was pretty supportive of this plan. Courtney said, "This [step outside your comfort zone] would probably be really good for you" and I tried to take that as a compliment. Mike said, without a second thought, that I should definitely audition. Kelly, who knows me too well, said I would be like the Troy Bolton to Mike's Vanessa Hudgens (HSM reference, anyone?) and, of course, then I was sold.
Auditions
Thus, somehow, leading up to the first night of auditions, my desire to dance and perform outweighed any fear and nervousness. I was glad I was called back to dance a 2nd night because as auditions went on, the "not good enough" thoughts got quieter overwhelmed with thoughts of "strut strut strut". Then, as I should have known would happen just when I thought I'd double the size of my comfort zone....I was asked to sing during the next night's callbacks. I strongly considered that God was playing a joke on me. Here I thought I was AS FAR outside my comfort zone as I could get only to realize how much further I would be pushed. I enlisted lots of help to practice singing from Mike (an amazing singer) and another girl auditioning, Alex, who helped me find a song from HSM that I could sing and the musical accompaniment online. Apparently, there is a way to sing that I have not been doing my entire life. It is all about breathing and air control (band class nostalgia) and really hard! I'm in awe of anyone who naturally sings this way.
For the 2nd night of auditions, about 10-12 girls learned some choreography as a large group, performed it, and then I was one of 5 girls asked to stay for more extended work to determine solo dancers. We did more advanced moves across the floor and I have to be honest that I had never heard of any of them and was definitely 5th best in this group of five talented women. However, when the cast list came out the next day, I had gotten a role as one of the 6 Kit Kat girl dancers in the show! (The name's Fritzy.) Mike got the role of Schultz and Josh is Ernst. Absi is going to be a member of the ensemble and a girl I met at auditions (Bethany) is going to be another Kit Kat girl. That means we have a total of FIVE William and Mary people representing at this show!
I'm so incredibly excited to have the opportunity to hang out with so many of my friends at the same time working hard to put on a great performance and showing of this famous musical.
Going back to finding the guts to audition.... These scenes from The Holiday (please tell me this is also one of your favorite movies) come to mind. I think I just got tired of telling myself that I can't do things and limiting myself. Mike sets a really good example in this area of my life as do many of my friends. Mike's base level assumption is NOT that he cannot do something. He just spends his energy figuring out how he's going to do it. Sara does not let people tell her what she can or cannot do. She doesn't need anyone's approval for anything and that is so empowering! (Btw, Sara is another Kit Kat girl in the show, basically my mentor for all hip movement and sass, and says that our motto as girls is going to be "Don't tell me what to do".)
Now for the scenes from The Holiday. I felt like auditions were a Kate Winslet moment for me and am so excited to continue to grow and learn through this entire process!
GUMPTION!
A DOODLE PRODIGY. Oh I love Jack Black and Kate Winslet in this film. I also love this musical theme.
BE THE LEADING LADY OF YOUR OWN LIFE!
Dates for Cabaret!
As an FYI for anyone who may want to attend the show, performance dates are November 6th-9th in the evening (I think around 8pm). That's a Wednesday through Saturday in downtown DC. If you have any questions about tickets or the show, just let me know:)
"I decided that the most subversive, revolutionary thing I could do was to show up for my life and not be ashamed." ~ Anne Lamott.
There is something about a trip to the mountains that is good for the soul. I know people that are self-professed "beach people", but I also know that I'm definitely a mountain girl. Maybe it has something to do with my ancestry (my grandma's family on my mom's side grew up as a coal mining family in southwestern Virginia) or the fact that I grew up climbing (and sometimes running up) up mountains at school, but being near the mountains brings a special peace over me, like I have a physical marker of where I am in relation to the rest of the world. Don't get me wrong, I much prefer beach running (without inclines), but when it comes to healing weekends, the mountains make me feel a little closer to God and spiritual awareness than anywhere else.
This past weekend I was able to journey into the mountains twice. My geography skills aren't that good, but I believe they were the Allegheny mountains in MD and the Blue Ridge mountain range in VA. The first part of the weekend was spent in Cumberland, MD visiting Mike's grandparents on his mom's side of the family. Sunday, I got to go home to the mountains for the wedding of a family friend. Monday, back in DC, we invited a bunch of friends over to celebrate Labor Day with a cookout.
Cumberland
Mike and I left DC Friday evening for the 3 hour drive to Cumberland. I know that traveling together is supposed to be a big test of a relationship, but I love traveling with Mike (especially when he is driving). I try to find all of our favorite songs on my ipod, sometimes I make him sing them, and I normally always have snacks.
We were headed to Cumberland to celebrate the 80th birthday of Mike's grandma, and consequently, I got to meet most of that side of the family.
Because I think in bullet points, highlights from this trip include:
Getting surprised at the car as soon as we arrived by Mike's grandparents, Aunt Deb, Aunt Linda, his mom, and "Pfredd" the dog (because "Fred" is a human name).
Delicious, homemade food the entire weekend!: Chicken enchiladas, turtles, pecan waffles with blueberries and bacon (I like to crumble bacon over the blueberries and waffles before adding syrup), mexican salad, and BLTs.
Getting to talk about geological mountain formations with Mike's grandpa who is a retired doctor, but also apparently also knows a lot about everything (guess that is where Mike got it from).
Hearing stories about and seeing pictures of baby Mike.
Going for a walk around the mountain and seeing the sights.
Sitting around the table after dinner right before we had to leave and talking for another hour because we had so many funny things to share and discuss before leaving.
We only managed to capture a few photos from our brief stay there, but I hope to get back up there again soon!
Mike, his mom, and I in Cumberland :)
Rappahannock
Going home for a day for the wedding of a high school family friend was really a chance to reunite with my own family (since we were all invited). I got to see how Courtney is progressing and, every time I see her, I'm more and more impressed by the miracle that is pregnancy and more and more confused by how it all works. Due to having one sister who likes to insists on photo shoots (Courtney) and another with pretty sweet photog skills (Kim), we ended up with more pictures from this 12 hour period then I've taken maybe the whole summer. Enjoy!
Me, Kim, and Court with the mountains in the background
Amanda and Matt at the outdoor ceremony
I think this pic was a mistake, but I love how awkwardly candid we all are.
My mom and I before the wedding.
Court and I
Rappahannock Sunset<3
View of the mountains at the wedding.
Labor Day Meat Party
Mike and I decided a cookout was the appropriate way to usher in September, especially given the abundance of Costco meat we have. Also Ben got back in town over the weekend and I wanted proper quality time with him! Also the law school students started 3L the next day so we had to have one last 2L summer hurrah! Mike made delicious hamburgers and Justine and Patrick provided potato salad, cookies, and pasta salad. The only small cooking blip we had was when Mike and I (yes, I take some responsibility) tried to grill bacon on the grill. If you want to know why people never think to grill bacon, you'll have to check out Mike's blog for the 'after' photo. Hint: it may be hard to spot.
September so far....
MJ and I were fortunate enough to be able to get lunch together this week because I had a midday doctor appointment. We started off at a super healthy joint called the Protein Bar by splitting a fruit smoothie and buffalo chicken salad. Then, as fate would have it, Mike checked Twitter and found out Captain Cookie & the Milkman (his friend Kirk's cookie truck) was nearby. Well, there's no refusing Kirk's cookies. We split a black cherry, ginger molasses, snickerdoodle ice cream sandwich and Mike declared to me afterwards that he might be happy sticking with Ginger molasses and black cherry ice cream combo or the forseeable future. (Now you know how good it is because this is a BIG DEAL for a guy who loves to try new things every single time!)
Cookie #2 truck! Follow Kirk at @captaincookiedc!
So worth it.
I am loving September already. Work has calmed down a little from the start of the school year, but is still keeping me on my toes enough to be enjoyable. The weather is beautiful this week and I have a lot of packed weekends to look forward to (including my sister's baby shower this upcoming weekend)....I'm excited for all that Fall has in store!
Well, working in higher education, I never left for the summer. However, I still love this time and catch the back to school bug every year. New textbooks are flooding our office. I meet new students every day. My friends are getting ready to go back to or start graduate school and I will live vicariously through their continued studies. I see little kids with the cutest backpacks boarding buses with their parents. My caffeine intake and stress levels have also increased significantly as this is our busiest time of year....the time of year when every day, you just pray for it to be October. But still....I love it.
Some of the team the morning of orientation to welcome new students!
(At least the ones who got the green, black, and white coordinating memo.)
The craziness of the season is probably why I almost had a heart attack when I processed yesterday that it was indeed August 20th. That's late August...almost September. I also realized on the 15th that I have been at my current job for a year! Yes, it's true. I've been working 40s hours a week, every week for a year, in the same office. This being my first full-time, salaried position, I feel quite accomplished...like I should be able to cross "become an adult" off my to-do list.
However, reflecting on the past year, I think what really stands out to me is a realization that everything is a process. I am still learning every day and I never stop. Looking back, I have come really far, but looking forward, I still have a lot of work to do. There is no one moment I can point out where I can say "That's the moment I arrived as a professional."
Some things I've learned in the past year of full-time work:
Self-care is VITAL.
So much of my graduate education in counseling emphasized self-care, but because working in higher education and academic advising is not counseling, I kind of slacked on the wellness routines I had developed. Let me tell you: without self-care (in any position), you will quickly burn out! If I'm being honest, my job is intense, stressful, and not unlike a 'front line' counseling position.
How it's changing what I do: Simple things like making sure I sleep enough, drinking plenty of water, eating healthy, and exercising cannot be emphasized enough. Working out in the morning has changes my energy level for the entire day. I also KNOW that I need decompressing time for like an hour after work and a stressful commute to just be alone.
I hope it goes without saying to use your lunch breaks and vacation days.
Make friends!
I'm always cautious when I first start a job about being too transparent or too casual too soon. I am the youngest in my office currently and want to be seen as a professional. However, being taken seriously should not be the only goal. I believe building relationships with colleagues should also be a priority. Not many people can understand exactly what your job is like, but your coworkers can and are a built-in support system!
Have a routine.
I am still working on building my routine a year into this job, but some of my current habits include keeping a binder of relevant articles in the field that I read, keeping an updated portfolio of projects and presentations, contributing to discussion in the field via social media, and taking breaks throughout the day so I'm not always sitting at a desk.
Find fulfilling activities outside of work.
There are good and bad work days. The good days mostly make the bad days worth it, but if you tie your self worth to a job, your sense of self will follow the roller coaster of the good and bad days. I have always found a lot of self-fulfillment from whatever I'm doing at the time, but it was always 5 million things. Whenever everything wasn't going perfectly at one job, I always had other things that I could look to. Working full-time, there is not a whole lot of time for outside activities, but it has beeen SO helpful for me to find things to do outside of just work and to actively work on defining my own self worth rather than basing it on what I'm doing at any given time.
When it comes down to it, I really do love what I do and am so grateful for that. There are definitely bad moments when I feel like little I do is actually helpful or significant, but then the times when I get a thank you email from a student or positive feedback from a colleague make it all worth it.
