Warning: Finals Approaching

A short apology for not posting more frequently: I've been sick, there's always a load of homework, and no internet access over Thanksgiving being just a few of my excuses. And, with finals swiftly approaching in a week and a half, I probably won't be back to posting until I'm home over Christmas break.

That being said, I do have two projects in the works: a review of Pan's Labyrinth and my thoughts on Lord Peter Wimsey (preview: I love him!). They may even get posted earlier if I'm feeling rebellious and don't want to study my Harvey. I may even throw in my thoughts on The Barber of Seville (I'm going to see it on Sunday). You have been warned.

5 Quick Takes Saturday

1.

The past couple of Fridays have seen me being called in to do something unexpected. Last weekend it was going on in Alice. Yesterday, it was a call from work to go on as a character. It was nice, because I got my calculus homework done between runs. And anything, even being trapped inside a stuffy, sweaty box and being punched and poked by little kids, is heaven compared to finding derivatives... PHF=80

2.

There was an absolutely gorgeous, humongous orange harvest moon last night. PHF=90.

3.

Security guards rock. Majorly. I had a nice exchange with one at one of the entrances. And as I was leaving, a security guard drove by on a segway. That's right. On a Segway. PHF=95.

4.

PHF=99

5.

Have you seen the homepage of Google these past few days? PHF=100

Craziest Day of My Life!

And that's saying something!

So, this morning I was doing my physics like the industrious student that I am,

*looks angelic*

when my mother came down and handed me the phone. It was the stage manager for Alice in Wonderland. She told me: "So...[the girl who plays the Caterpillar/Alice's Sister (who I'm understudying)] isn't feeling well today. They're going to try to get her better before tonight's show, but I just wanted to make sure you were prepared to go on." I was pretty much in a state of shock at that point, so I murmured my "Okays" "Mhhhmmms" and "Of courses" without thinking. As soon as I hung up, I recalled that this was the one night that I had a conflict with the show!!! I had to go to work!

*smacks head*

So, I called the SM back immediately, and told her I had to work(I'd told them about the conflict when I agreed to understudy, so that was all good). But, I promised I would contact work and see if there was any way possible to get my shift covered. I was pretty darn sure the answer would be no. They had told us at a meeting that we wouldn't be able to find subs for the Halloween event-they were short-staffed as it was.

Soooooo....yeah....

I finally got a hold of work, and instead of saying: "Sorry, NO." like I expected her to, my boss said: "Welllllll, I'll see what we can do..." We tried to work stuff out, but we couldn't find anyone who wasn't working that night who could cover for me. Eventually, I said: " You know what? It's okay. I'll just come on in to work as normal." So, I called the stage manager-she was completely understanding, but I could tell she was very, ridiculously, horribly stressed. I felt terrible, but I went off to work.

In the car, my cell phone rang-it was my work. They had decided to let me off, so I'd be able to do the show! So, I went in for the first hour and a half of my shift, then rushed off to do Alice. I've never heard anyone sound as relieved as that stage manager did when I called her to tell her the news!

So, then there was the small task of memorizing lines. Eep. The thing is, I only learned about a week ago that I was understudying this show. And the first and only time I've seen the show was on Tuesday. So, in the car, in between driving and practicing my lines, I was praying my head off. Today was one of those days that I totally felt that God had to be in control. Because I for sure wasn't.

Somehow, thanks to the wonderful, amazing cast, I made it through the show. I'm sure my guardian angel was having the time of his life helping me out! It was just crazy. There was this moment during the preshow when I was sitting on the stage reading a book, and I realized-this was it. This wasn't just pretend. I couldn't put the show on time-out, and run check my script really quick. This was the real deal, and I somehow had to get through the whole thing, no matter how badly I goofed things up. Thankfully, I didn't goof things up too horribly. It was crazy, wild and insane, but somehow God just guided me through it.

I think these are the days that I live for. This is why I love theatre-it's messy and imperfect and ridiculous, but somehow it all works out, and something beautiful is created. It's kind of like life-somehow God makes a work of art out of our confusing, lovely, and often crazy lives. We just have to trust Him and be not afraid.

Weekend!

Ah, yes, Thank God It's Friday. And I mean that in the best possible sense. Thank you, God, for creating the Weekend. Because school is stressful, and sometimes I just need...nothing: a day on which I can take a blanket outside (it's southern California; it still gets up to the 80's here in the afternoon), curl up with a book, and fall asleep while I pretend to do homework.

Let's face it; I will probably end up screaming insanely at a pile of books sometime in the next month. Don rags are in two weeks (sort of a "constructive criticism" meeting with all of your tutors), our bug project is due on Monday, there are props to learn, books to read, lines to memorize, our seminar paper gets assigned on Tuesday, and so on and so forth. I'm already looking forward to Thanksgiving break, which will not occur for another month and a half.

On the positive side, I was able to spend some time in Adoration last night/early this morning. The college has a tradition of all night Adoration the night before the first Friday of the month. It was incredibly beautiful. The chapel, which could be considered a small church, was packed full of people -- at midnight. There was complete silence, and the presence of God was tangible in a way that sent goosebumps up and down my arms. The feeling was almost one of being wrapped in an enormous blanket, cocooned away from the world and all of its cares, worries, and responsibilities.

And what better way to read the Bible than in the presence of God? Only with this book can you take it directly to the author and say, "Dear Lord, I'm very confused. What the heck did you mean by this, that, and the other thing?" Jesus also helps tremendously with props, no blackboard required. Sleep, coffee, and brains are all secondary.

Thespianism Unleashed

Well, as college settles into the dull rhythms of ordinary life (read, I no longer need a schedule to find my next class), I have auditioned for a series of one act plays to be performed on campus. Callbacks were this evening, and the cast list goes up tomorrow. Sometime. Until then, I will be checking the bulletin board and my box approximately every 15 minutes when I'm not in class.

And then I will (hopefully) have lines to memorize in addition to all that reading. And the bug project (due next Monday). And our Algebra exam on the 28. And we haven't even had our paper assigned for seminar yet. Stress much! But very fun. Weekends are essential for college survival. Coffee, too. Lots and lots of lovely coffee....

Next semester, a group of students will also be putting on a performance of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (which happens to be one of my favoritest). If I have the time and energy, I plan on auditioning for it as well.

The wonders, terrors, and glories of college life are just beginning!