August Challenge

This month I am setting a goal to read the entire Book of Mormon straight through! 

I will read 8 chapters a day. 

I'm very excited!

Oh yeah....

On July 25th, Andrew & I celebrated our one year anniversary. 

I cannot believe how fast time is flying! It has been such a wonderful year.

I love Andrew so much & couldn't be happier!

 

{montage of eating our frozen cake & trying to get a decent picture}

Here's to many many more years of happiness together!

*I have started writing a personal essay of sorts on all the things I have learned in this first year of marriage. I'm still thinking about whether or not I will just keep it for myself or share it with others.*

Bridal Veil

On Andrew's last day of work at PMI (wahoo!) we spent time up the canyon. 

We "hiked" up to Bridal Veil Falls!

 

Now that As You Like It is over, it is amazing how much time I have to do things such as:

- have a husband

- do my homework

- shower

- relax

- clean the house (kinda, not really yet)

- spend time with family & friends

*It's kinda like coming off a moving sidewalk/escalator, and returning to normal speed....crazy!*

Although, this week is completely dedicated to finishing all my final projects and such. This semester I don't have ANY finals to take. Which means that by the last day of school (TUESDAY) I will be FINISHED! Wahoo!

"I love a warm pig belly for my aching feet"

I feel like I slept through February. Is it really the middle of March?!

Where to begin? Well I did read a couple books for fun recently. I finally got around to reading The Alchemist. It was pretty amazing. It reminds me that everything happens for a reason, and the choices we make hold greater purpose than we can see presently. You should read it.

Blood Wedding opened last week! I completed the lobby display just in time (kinda). I printed out a few Surreslist prints and put them up on the walls for people to enjoy. They look pretty swell, if I do say so. The other part of the lobby display is a video clip of a Flamenco dance version of Blood Wedding. But this part has been pretty much a nightmare to work out. There has been much miscommunication and just general  mis-doing going on that has made this a crazy ordeal. But I figure it's only 2 more weeks, and I can handle it until the show closes. *But just so you know, it looks pretty awesome when it is all working correctly!*

Also, I recently received a pretty generous compliment on my study guide, which has kept me smiling for a while. (Not that I'm trying to pat myself on the back here or anything...) Speaking of, you can read my study guide here, if you are interested.

I am also working on As You Like It right now, and we are about to move in to Tech Week! (The exclamation point is an expression of excitement as well as anxiety.) The show is really coming along! I cannot wait to see it all in full swing, with lights, costumes, makeup!!! I pretty much love everyone in the cast! They are wonderful!

Again, if anyone wants some tickets to Blood Wedding or As You Like It, let me know!

(Or you can purchase them online at BYUarts.com)

Also, I'm GRADUATING this April!! So weird, but totally thrilling! I registered for my cap and gown last week! I feel so grown up & accomplished! I'm also hoping that by the time I graduate I will have a job, or an inkling of what I will be doing this summer. I'm still somewhat in the dark about what to do. I have some ideas and goals, but we shall see...

Andrew and I went to see this lovely movie this weekend.

 I loved it. I love that Tim Burton makes quirky, beautiful movies that are so entertaining to watch! I just kept thinking how much fun it would have been to design the costumes, hair & makeup for this movie! Also, how much I would love to be a part of Tim Burton's production clique!

*However, I don't think my eyes agree with 3-D movies*

Afterwards, Andrew & I ran home to begin reading Lewis Carroll's original Alice in Wonderland!

Sorry this was a long post. Perhaps I should have split it up a bit.

my love and life for the past couple months

I have successfully finished directing my first play! It is a pretty good feeling, I'm not going to lie. The process was pretty exhausting both emotionally and time-wise. (hence why I haven't blogged in a month!) But through this process I have learned so much about myself as an artist and person, and how
"...sometimes it's necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly."  

After each show, there was a talk back session. As people told what they saw in the show and how it affected them I was so surprised at how different each person's experience was. (This is one of my greatest loves with art and theater: There is no one correct answer.) Listening to their thoughts and responses about the show, was when I really felt success. I hope that their exposure with the play has become a learning experience. I just want to share a quote from the playwright himself:

"One must let the play happen to one; one must let the mind loose to respond as it will, to receive impressions, to sense rather than know, to gather rather than immediately understand." 

-Edward Albee

You will never belive this!

So, I did get a response back from my landlord. She emailed me saying that the house was up to standard and that BYU inspects it every August (which I highly doubt, because in the BYU handbook it said explicitly that BYU does not have time to inspect every place once a year.) Anyway, so I decided to go a head and contact BYU housing and request an inspection. And so I did.

Well when I was in Texas, I received a call from my landlord. She told me they had a 'situation' and wondered if I could help them out. She said there was a mix up from some of the girls who had already moved out. They both sold their contracts, but one of them had promised the new girl a private room, and it was a shared room. So basically, they were overbooked. She then asked if I would mind if she released me from my contract for the rest of the summer.

YES, PLEASE!

So, I moved out on Friday, the day I got in from Texas. I got a written confirmation of the release, and my deposit being sent to me as we speak!

This is obviously a wonderful blessing. It is going to save us about $600 and we are getting my $300 deposit back now rather than later!(which will be very helpful)
The only negative aspect about this situation is that I am homeless right now. Andrew and I are furiously trying to find a place to live, where I will just move in right away. This will be nice because I can get somewhat settled before the wedding and before Andrew moves in. We've looked at plenty of places and they are either totally disgusting or too expensive. Clearly we are looking for something in between: nice and affordable.

My Summer Book List

It is finally SUMMER!

As it turns out, I'm going to spend my Summer here, in Utah. I'm enrolled in only one class for the Spring term and am working part time at the ticket office. This means that I have a lot of extra time (for now). Extra time is a rarity in my life, so I'm going to fully take advantage of this opportunity and catch up on all those books/plays I want to read. There are so many books/plays that I need to catch up on so I don't have to plug my ears to avoid potential spoilers. Also, I have started so many books that I just never got around to finishing! So, I am going to start a book list. Today I started 1984 by George Orwell. I am already entranced.

Everyone please give me some summer reading suggestions!

In case you are wondering...

I still have no idea what I am going to do with my life this summer.

I am still waiting to hear back about the American Theater Wing internship in NYC! I called them today and they said that they still haven't reached a decision. I really really really hope that I get this internship because it would be an amazing opportunity for me to gain experience in administration work, live in the city, and get acquainted with famous theaters and people! What's not to love?

What is the most difficult thing about i, is just not knowing. Even if the answer is no, I want to have an answer. It freaks me out that I don't have a plan. And I can't make a plan because I don't know anything.

So, I wait.....

In the meantime I am trying to plan my summer as if I will be in Utah. Here is my plan so far:
1. Work part time at the ticket office
2. Do an internship at the Covey Center or just get really involved in some shows
3. Work part time at Victoria's Secret
4. Take a few classes (but not full time)
5. Go to concerts: possible festivals include Sasquatch, Bumbershoot, Summerfest
6. ROADTRIP!
7. Lagoon

I have decided that even though I could graduate in December, if I stay in Utah for the Summer, I won't. I want to give myself a little off time from school, and I also want to make sure I get to take all the random elective classes I want to take before I graduate. Also, I hear it is harder to get a job right after Fall Semester, as opposed to after Winter semester. And I'm not quite ready to quit being a student just yet.

Those are my thoughts as of late.

Cha..cha..changes

Everything in my school/work life is completely up in the air! I have NO idea how things are going to happen - which is scary. I'm going to map out my options, for my benefit, and for you because I'm just sure you care!

1. Go to New York for a super awesome summer internship (that I haven't been offered, yet). Then take Fall and Winter classes at BYU, and graduate in April, as I have planned for the past few years.

2. Go to Dallas/Nashville for an internship for the Summertime. And proceed with school as planned - graduating in April.

3. Stay in Provo for the Summer. Take classes during the Spring, Summer, & Fall semesters, then go to New York for an internship during Winter semester. Still graduating in April, as previously planned.

4. Stay in Provo for the Summer, take classes during Spring, Summer & Fall semesters and graduate in December! Then later go to New York to live, work and play!

Problems:

*All of my plans are a little scary to me in different ways.

*Plan #4 would mean I would have to suddenly 'grow up.'

*Plan #4 would also mean that I would have to find a new job, because my schedule does not fit with the work schedule at the ticket office...not that getting a new job would be a bad idea...I could find a new job with better pay...if I could find a new job.

*I hate making decisions.

*I have to make a decision.

Busiest Week Ever!

This week is going to be CRAZY! I have so many project, papers, etc. to work on this week. Classes end in two weeks and then there are finals. But this semester, I don't actually have to take many finals. I just have projects and papers, etc. due BEFORE the last of class. Stressful? Yes, ma'am. Anyway, I do want to blog about Allison and Ari's visit to Utah, and about the festival of colors, and other things. However, blogging is going to have to take the back burner this week, just so I can get caught up and make those sparkling grades to bring my GPA up!

Also, I had an interview on Monday morning with Women's Project at 10 AM. I forgot about the time difference and she called at 8AM!! I'm just so thankful I did not answer the phone in a sleepy-Julie way. Somehow, I slept through the ringing, just enough to wake up at the end and notice a missed call. I was then up and called back. I think the interview went alright. Even though I was still slightly jarred. 

I have another interview tomorrow morning with Primary Stages! We shall see...

Update

School
*I really am enjoying my classes and my homework this semester. I actually feel that I am learning. And not only learning, but gaining knowlege that I know I will use in my (almost) daily life.
*I want to read more plays

Work
*The ticket printer at work freaked out on me today and began printing only every other ticket. It was quite frusterating and took a good 15 minutes to fix!
*I gave plasma agian today and got lightheaded three different times! (I think it was because I didn't drink enough water yesterday) My first experience was much better. I'm not sure how long this "second job" is going to last....

Internship
*I'm waiting back for some letters of recomendation to send out my resume and applications. I'm starting to get really nervous about not being accepted into an intership. Also, even if I get accepted to a couple of them that are unpaid, I probably won't be able to go because housing alone costs $3000!
*There is an intership at the Manhattan Theater Club that I desperatley want! It looks absolutley fabulous.

Fun
* Shawn and Shawn are out of town for a week 1/2 so Kathleen and I are taking care of Lincoln over weekend! I'm going to spend the weekend in Salt Lake: playing ball with Lincoln, taking him to the zoo, and showing him off to Andrew's family. I'm so excited. He's getting so big, so fast.

I Think I just decided...

I want to get an internship in New York this Summer. That is, if I can get one....

Finals Finals Finals!

It's the last week of the semester, which means that my extra time is/should be spent studying & preparing for finals. This semester half of my finals have been projects, and the other half have been tests. I have a test today, and one paper to turn in. After today I will only have one more test to take! So far I have felt pretty confident in my grades for all my classes. Hopefully this semester's GPA will be high and help to bring up my overall GPA!! This was a good semester! I had good teachers and great classes. School seems to get better and better the more I have a chance to choose the classes I really want to take (as opposed to the BYU general courses...ugh!).

I'm getting so excited for Christmas! Also, now that Andrew isn't working out of town, he is coming to Texas with me! I can't wait to go to Corpus Christi and see all of my lovely family members! Especially Ari! (no offense Allison, Kathleen, Mommy, or Daddy, or whoever reads this) I just can't wait to see how much he has grown since I left him in August! He and Lincoln just seem to be growing out of control! I cannot believe they are both almost two years old! And I'm totally excited to see the two together! Perhaps now they are both old enough to want to play with eachother! cute!

Well, I suppose I have put off taking this test long enough....