3.7 days until a grand visit south.

I've known people that have been so excited about their upcoming trip that they pack at least a week in advance. Not me baby. I usually pull all-nighters the day of the trip trying to decide how decrease the amount of clothes/shoes that I have convinced myself that I might need...just in case...but due to flight restrictions or space in the vehicle it wouldn't be possible to bring it all. We'll see what happens Friday night.

My flight is at 6 am...layover in Atlanta...and arrival in Charlotte is around noon. It will be a week long, partially spent at home spending dear time with my family, getting to see Matthews Playhouse production of Les Miserable the school edition (with the set designed/built by my sister and a bit of help) practicing/recording a special project with my brother, and I will also be in Greenville, SC for my graduation rehearsal/ceremony Friday and Saturday. It's exciting getting to go back, although I've been out of the loop with my friends there at BJU, due to finishing my requirements early in December. I cannot believe that I'm going to be wearing a cap and gown, walking across the FMA stage, receiving a diploma that will state my earning of a degree. It was a running joke in my family that I wouldn't complete big academic things in life, because my older sister and brother completed every single one of the AWANA books, while, I, the wayward child, didn't even get close. There were sighs of relief when I graduated from high-school, and gasps of unbelief when I actually finished college early. Mom was convinced that I was going to elope and never finish ;). Wonder what the reaction will be if graduate work is pursued?

Anyhow, there is such a calm feeling inside knowing that I'm going to see my dear family and friends very soon. I hope the week goes by very slowly. :) Definitely looking forward to a change in temperature.....

This past Thursday I went to go see Ragtime the musical at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. It's an absolutely beautiful theatre. It's one of Chicago's top theatre companies. Big stuff. The show was so lovely to watch. My mom, sister, and I saw the revival of Ragtime on Broadway back in November, so I knew what was coming at me in the heart wrenching story that it is. The cast was phenomenal. Bravo bravo bravo to them. The man who played Coalhouse Walker, Quentin Earl Darrington, was actually the same one who played the role in the Broadway revival that we enjoyed. It was great to get to see him perform again. The music is fantastic. One of my favorite songs from the musical is "Back to Before".

Sunday afternoon a friend from work and I went to see A Tale of Two Cities the Musical at Jedlicka Performing Arts center, which is actually the show that I mentioned in a way earlier post that I auditioned for. My good friend Austin Cook was a lead--Dr. Alexandre Manette--and he was able to get us comp tickets. Yay for free shows! The show had extremely talented people in it, and it was such a pleasure to watch. The music was gorgeous. There's amazing solos/duets in the score. It's has a grand epic feel very similar to Les Miserables. The show was actually on broadway for a little bit back in the fall of 2008, but the economy hit broadway hard during that time. It really needs to be back in NYC, and I have a feeling that they will put it back where it belongs.

After the show I rushed back to gather my thoughts/get gorgeous for the audition for Emerald City Theatre company which performs for children/young audiences. To tell you the truth, I wasn't motivated at all. It was for the upcoming season, and I wasn't sure what I'd be doing at that time. While trying to decide what to wear, I suddenly remembered that my sister brought my red patent leather shoes when my family visited back mid-march AND that the company is doing The Wizard of OZ in their season. So proud of myself, I threw an outfit together to compliment the shoes, and scurried to the audition. First words out of one of the ladies' mouths "I just love your red shoes!" Yep. SCORE! :) The director of the show took a look at my resume and said how funny it was that I was in the Mikado, and I graduated from BJU, because he was in the Mikado at BJU back in 1999 on tour with the Gilbert and Sullivan Players from NYC. So incredible. I'd love to be a part of the G&S NYC players someday. Concerning the audition--it went pretty well. I was just happy to be in fun red shoes. I sang part of "Green Finch and Linnet bird", and my monologue was from Beyond the Horizon by Eugene O'Neill. We'll see if anything happens :).

Fun happening this past weekend...Saturday night I worked at the floor 103 Skydeck gift shop. It was a slow day due to 0% visibility. As evening settled in, it began to clear up somewhat. Soon after, we started to see clouds zooming by at unusually fast paces. Rain occasionally spattered up against the windows, and the clouds continued to swirl around the skyline. It was quite a sight to see! It got a bit creepy as the building began to jolt a tiny bit as tall buildings do in windy weather. When it does get very windy like that, the skydeck has to shut down the main elevators, because their cables shake and could get twisted...not a pretty happening. They had to close the skydeck, and all of the workers plus the girl scout troop, and a few other visitors all had to walk down the stairs a floor and ride the huge freight elevator. For safety reasons, the freight elevator can only go 10 floors at a time. Guess what beloved game I thought was going to be started by the girl scouts? "Are we there yet?!" After hearing it once, I thought, "Oh no...". Thankfully they didn't continue it :). We got to go home early that night! 9:00pm instead of 10:15!!

Random facts of work at the skydeck:

It's adorable when grandpa-aged men take their own nice pen out of their pockets to sign receipts just at the time I hand them our pens to sign.

I continue to love it when foreign guests have no clue what the American coins are and they hold out their hand full of change for you to pick out what change they need.

You see beautiful sights every day at work. Even on 0% visibility days on floor 103. It's still so similar to being on a cruise, except you don't get to spend a few days to get to know them. Just a quick conversation about their experience in Chicago to melt from their accents. Then they go on their merry way.

I had a special meeting with the directors at work today. My coworker friends were a bit worried and hoped that everything was ok, but they knew from my happy appearance that it was. Work newsflash will come soon. ;)

I think I can, I think I can....

This past Friday morning was a rough one. Tears and yearnings to just give in and go back home consumed it. I felt as if I've messed up so much. I had hoped to find an affordable plane ticket for a brief visit to home for today through Sunday morning due to having two days off of work in a row, but tickets averaged around $400. I also wanted to audition on Sunday for "The King & I" at matthews playhouse, because I've been auditioning to no avail so far here. I convinced myself that I had to get home somehow, and I was prepared to drive through the night and surprise Mom, and hope that I could find a one-way back on Sunday. Once I put my mind to something, it's hard to change it. I thought on it constantly as I went to work that afternoon (I worked until close). I ended up working at the top floor (103) and getting to see the sunset for the very first time, work in the ambience of the dim lighting and few customers, as well as meeting some beautiful brazilian people. It was a very enjoyable experience, but in my mind I had to go as soon as I got home from work. I decided that it would be good to check plane tickets one last time, but I called my sister who handed the phone over to my brother, Matthew. He reminded me that I'll be home in 2 weeks, and it will be ok...and that I can just move up to NYC with him in August and there will be loads of auditions there. Problem solved? Just might be ;). Other opportunities have come into my path, though....

During the day on Friday it hit me. It was the 15th. Every month on the 15th since my dad's passing away on September 15 ,2008, although I haven't always been thinking specifically of the date, something inside of me feels the "anniversary". Just as my last post described March 15th....for some reason I become very emotional inside..feeling a hole...then I realize the date.

11 more days until visiting home and SC to walk at Graduation. This is where the "I think I can.." title plays in.

Back to opportunities: I was contacted regarding a Graduate Assistantship at BJU--one that would be working in a department that I love so dearly. I've been thinking about the benefits aside from further education and getting to be with wonderful friends again, and one would to be in "A Christmas Carol" the musical which excites me greatly.

Life? It's consisted of working mainly at the Skydeck, some hours at Auntie Anne's, auditions, and hanging out with people. Work at the Skydeck has continued to be lovely. I'm getting to know my coworkers more, and we've had a blast. The beautiful and adorable foreign people are definitely a plus of working there. ;) Concerning auditions...I've become more comfortable at auditioning which has been fabulous.

Audition horror story:

I left with just enough gas in the car with plenty of time to drive up to Ravinia to audition for a huge production of Annie Get Your Gun. I came to the conclusion after I had been driving around and around in the area where the venue was supposedly at, that my directions were wrong. I panicked inside as my scheduled audition time rolled by, and I still wasn't there. The gas tank was on empty, and I couldn't find a gas station nearby. I knew that getting gas and not being stranded was the most important need of the moment. I called my friend Austin, and he googled where I was at, directed me to a gas station, and got me on track to the audition. Thankfully, a staff member for the auditions called me up to see if I was going to make it. I explained that I was lost, and that I was going to try my best to get there if that was ok. Finally, an hour later after the scheduled time, I arrived quite happily. I auditioned with "Once you lose your heart", but my top notes weren't gorgeous due to congestion, but it went pretty well. I was just glad that I made it there and was still able to sing for them.

Audition happy story:

La Costa Theatre company held auditions for "Little Shop of Horrors", and guess who attended? Yours truly. I was able to have special rehearsal time the day before with the accompanist of the auditions and assistant music director, which put me ahead of the game. How did that come about you ask? Just a good friend from college. Yep, Austin was it. I auditioned with "I won't say I'm in Love" from Hercules and "A Change in Me" from Beauty and the Beast, because they were both Alan Menken musicals (as well as great contrasting pieces), and he just happened to write Little Shop. Because Austin was at the auditions, he was able to give me their thoughts (when you don't normally get the insight on it all). He said that it was a fantastic audition, they loved me and thought I was cute, but they were looking for more of a pop voice due for the roles that were open. The role of Audrey (who I could fit very well in) was already cast. They kept my headshot/resume, though for future reference! :)

Auditions on the agenda: at the top of my head, there is one this weekend for the Emerald City Theatre Company which does children's shows. Their line-up for the 2010-2011 season include The Wizard of Oz and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Sounds like FUN! :)

The other day I was able to visit Shedd Aquarium with my friend for FREE! Perks of working at the Skydeck. The moment we walked in, my friend asked me to help him put his wristband (for entry into the aquarium) on. A lovely foreign man watched me and asked if I could perhaps help him with his wristband. Once in a lifetime experience right there. I was way more than happy to oblige. My friend nicknamed him Hans, and we referred to him throughout the visit in the Shedd. It's such a fascinating place. We had an enjoyable time!

You know when you get on topics of books you like to read, what you are reading, or what genre you really like? I knew that I liked to read, but I just wasn't sure what specific genres to say. After some thought and a visit to the library, I discovered that I love reading biographies/autobiographies , books on animals, and books on Theatre. My dad would take us to the library pretty much every weekend when we were little, and I always checked out books on animals. I rediscovered that passion after visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo just recently.

Many more things could be said, but I must go and prepare a video audition for the King and I to send to Matthews Playhouse.... ;)

A bientôt!