Ring Around the Moon

Not long after midnight on January 1st, I saw something that I'd never seen before.


I didn't take this picture, but I did see this phenomenon. All I could think of was the musical version of The Spitfire Grill, and the lyrics to the song, "Ring Around the Moon".

"Ring around the moon
Bigger world than me
Ready or not
Here I come
Olly olly oxen free"

They look like terrible lyrics, now that I've typed them up, but it's actually a moving song. It's a woman moving forward in her life, taking risks, and hoping that everything is going to work out. And to me, it felt like a good beginning to the journey called 2010.

(Note: Technically, 2010 is the LAST year of the decade, not the FIRST year of a new decade as most people seem to believe... The millennium started in 2001 because there was no Year 0. Our calendar goes from 1 BC to 1 AD. And by the same logic, the next decade technically begins a year from now. Not that any of that is actually important, nor do I need you to believe me; I just figured that this blog was an appropriate place to air that pet peeve of mine. Okay, I'm done.)

I have to say, I have no complaints on the first few days of 2010. They've been pretty stellar as far as days can go. And not just because I saw Bernadette Peters in concert last night (although it certainly didn't hurt... if I were the sort of person who wanted to have children, I would name a daughter Bernadette. That woman is a sequined river of emotion).

I've talked for hours with people I adore. I've done a little bargain-hunting (fingerless gloves for a dollar... I win at shopping). I've cuddled in a bed with two gay men (strangely, the bed didn't belong to any of us). And I spent time with someone I admire who made me feel more attractive and desirable than I've felt in a long while.

And the year hasn't yet ticked past the 12th day of Christmas... (which is traditionally January 6th, the feast day of the Epiphany, for those of you who were always confused by that song.) So a great deal of good feelings have been packed solidly into a short period of time. And I've loved it.

So what now?

Not long after midnight on New Year's Day, I mentioned to someone I barely knew that I didn't have a resolution yet for the new year. His response:

"Maybe that's because you're finally becoming okay with who you are. And maybe your resolution should just be to enjoy it."

This coming from someone whose name I learned a few hours before. It was like conversing with a fortune cookie.

Then yesterday, I met up with a friend I haven't seen since before I started graduate school, who bestowed upon me more compliments than I deserve. I can't recall the exact wording of the compliment that may have been the greatest of the set, but it was something along the lines of:

"You're more yourself than you used to be. You're more confident. You're just more you now."

I don't know if it's true, but I was grateful from my core for the words.

Maybe that's where the last year has brought me.

Usually, I look back on a year with positive thoughts, but I don't really feel that way about 2009. It's wasn't a particularly BAD year, per se. Only one person I cared greatly for died, and she was elderly (which, in my opinion, lessens the blow a bit). No one in my family lost their jobs, which should be cause for celebration. But emotionally, it was a year of trauma for me. And it was a year during which I did a great deal of healing, most of which I had to do alone.

Maybe I have, in fact, grown. Maybe I am more "me" than I was before, although I must admit that I'm still not entirely certain as to what that means. And maybe instead of changing things and fixing myself, I do indeed need to just start appreciating myself and all that I've become.

But it's me, and I couldn't possibly go without resolutions... So first, let's review.

Last year's resolutions were:

- Call my brothers more often.
(Sort of... Not enough. But I saw them plenty, so I felt like I didn't need to.)
- Stop trying to talk myself into things and out of things. Just let them happen, and take them as they are.
(Getting better at it, but not great yet.)
- Make up my own mind about things, instead of just agreeing with the opinions of others.
(Getting much better)
- Acknowledge my emotions and then let them go, instead of pushing them aside and letting them control me.
(Getting better, but I sucked at it post-Filmmaker)
- Stop taking personal responsibility for the happiness of others.
(Still terrible with this)
- Be more assertive. Stop letting people take advantage of me just because I'm nice.
(Still terrible with this)
- Stop judging people based on their history or reputation.
(Getting better)



And this year? Well, I guess I'll make some up now.

1. Enjoy being myself.
Because I think that first random guy might have been right.

2. Find a better way to deal with injustices in my life than with bitterness and grudges.
The sooner I find a way to converse with Alpha while staying true to myself, the better.

3. Cut back on spending in order to save money for my study abroad program in London.
I head to London on May 5th, and I'll be there until mid-June.

4. Stop taking personal responsibility for the happiness of others.
It's a valuable lesson that is taking me a very long time to learn.

5. Put more time and energy into looking fabulous.
2010 is going to be The Year of the Crimson Diva. At formal events, I'm going red nails, red lips, pale skin, false eyelashes, high heels, Dita Von Teese style diva. And people will fucking love me for it. ;)

6. Make a mental box other than "As Good As Gay" to contain the problem men in who keep flipping the switch and evading the AGAG label.
Maybe less of a box, and more of a jail cell. I'll make the sketchy ones keep their distance... and perhaps let the others out for good behavior.


May you be who you are. And may you enjoy it.

~A~




P.S. I couldn't find these lyrics online, so I took the liberty of typing them up.

"Outside in the night, there's a ring around the moon
The wind sings in barbed wire; I've listened to the tune
What seems like fifty years, or maybe it was five
It's hard to count the days when you're buried alive

Outside of these walls is a bigger world than me
I had no where to hide the last time I was free
I've circled on the map a place to start again
A town called Gilead
Close my eyes, and count to ten

And it's one one-thousand, two
Three one-thousand, four
Five one-thousand, six one-thousand
Seven one-thousand, more
Eight one-thousand, nine
Nine one-thousand, ten
Five years seemed like fifty
Now it's time to start again

Ring around the moon
Bigger world than me
Ready or not
Here I go
Olly olly oxen free
Olly olly oxen free

Two steps follow one, one step follows two
A ticket in my hand, a bus to somewhere new
A circle on a map, count the miles to go
On the road to Gilead
Down a highway I don't know

It's one mile turnin' two
Three miles turns to four
Five miles turns to fifty
Then a hundred miles more
Bus rolls to a stop
Driver turns to me
"This is Gilead
What there is, is what you see."

A ring around the moon
Bigger world than me
Ready or not
Here I come
Olly olly oxen free..."

It Was a Very Good Year

(me as Hildy Matthews in "Find Me a Dream" by Kurt Vonnegut)

I wrote my Grad School Resolutions back in September. I updated my progress in December. And now, I have officially finished classes for my first year of graduate training... it seems like a good time to do it again.


Resolutions for Grad School:

1. Take studying SERIOUSLY.
As I explained last semester, my class preparation is more about training than studying. That said, I'm doing really well with it. I take everything down here very seriously. If only I could show you how far I've come. My progress across the boards speaks for itself.
WIN

2. Finish homework, papers, reading assignments, etc. as quickly and efficiently as possible.
I got an official extension on my Titus Andronicus paper, but I ended up getting an A on it. Everything else I've done well with keeping on top of. I'm pretty proud of myself.
WIN

3. Do not add negativity into the world of the school.
In Chicago, my nickname was Sunshine. They don't call me that down here, but I don't think they'd be shocked by that name. I'm not positive 100% of the time, but I do pretty well.
WIN

4. Be open-minded and willing to try all exercises in class, no matter how lame they seem or how stupid I might look doing them.
Always. It's a promise.
WIN

5. Do not gossip behind people’s backs.
I am human. I try to limit my venting about classmates to people outside of my own class (namely my roommates and my boyfriend), but it's occasionally inescapable. I try to leave the room when other people are talking about others, but I do get sucked into the world pool.
FAIL

6. Try not to dance during class. (Except for movement class, because I think we’re supposed to dance there sometimes. I just don't want my professors to think of me as "the one who dances in the middle of discussions.")
Honestly, I'm a lot less dance-y of a person than I was when I got here. I put my energy toward more productive ends now.
WIN

7. Remember that we all made it through an arduous process to get here, and we are all clearly talented, intelligent people. They deserve to be here, and so do I.
I know that I deserve to be here now. And I respect my classmates' abilities.
WIN

8. Don’t let politics within the school get personal. Just because something is going on in class or in rehearsals, doesn’t mean it has to carry over into the rest of life.
Not all that applicable yet. I'm worried for next year, but for now, we're oh-bee-kay-bee.
WIN

9. Try to make friends outside of the program.
Considering I got a boyfriend outside the program this semester, I'm going to call this a success... Quality is better than quantity, right?
WIN

10. Go out and have fun at least once a month.
I go out every couple of weeks. Every week hasn't really been possible this semester... but I do make time to do fun things.
WIN

11. Try to stay a vegetarian until at least the first week of November (which will have been a year... I've saved plenty of animals, and I want to eat meat so badly I can't even tell you).
No longer applicable. I beat this beast last semester.
--- (WON)

12. Actually read all of the assigned reading. Don’t just skim it. Occasionally take notes.
I can't think of anything that we were supposed to read this semester that I didn't actually read. Is that possible? Whoa. I'm turning into a good student.
WIN

13. Budget properly. If having trouble, begin writing down all expenditures.
Thanks to my tax refund (thank you, Uncle Sam), I'm doing just fine at the moment. As long as I can make money over the summer, I should be fine next year as well.
WIN

14. Take all available opportunities to learn new skills.
I don't know what kinds of opportunities I thought I'd have... This isn't really applicable.
---

15. Work on outside projects (such as student films) if they fit into schedule.
I did a voiceover at a nearby college for a student project. I'm probably going to do two films this summer. I've been offered a role in a workshop of a new play, and I'm trying to fit it into my schedule.
WIN

16. Take a trip to somewhere outside of town (even if it’s just to the next closest city) at least once a semester.
I've visited my boyfriend twice this semester, and he's over 5 hours a way. Definitely successful.
WIN

17. Go to Disney World at least once.
Haven't done it yet. But I will. I swear.
---

18. Have as close to perfect attendance as is physically possible.
No missed classes yet. *knocks on wood* I was late to Movement Class twice this semester (by no more than about 5 minutes). Both times it involved baking... The first, I had put cookies in the oven and they just WERE. NOT. BAKING. I couldn't leave the house with the oven on, and I didn't want them to be half-baked. I didn't even wait for them to cool before leaving. The second time, I baked a cake for my classmate Iceman's birthday and left it at home, so I had to turn around and retrieve it. But seriously, I think I did a pretty darn good job of being where I was supposed to be.
WIN

19. Remember how hard it is to get to grad school. Remember how great of a program this is. Be grateful every, every minute.
You have no idea how grateful I am, and how much I love it here.
WIN

20. Find something to love about every class and every professor (so that I can focus on those things on the days that classes seriously blow).
I loved all my professors this year. I hope the same is true next year (slightly different line-up in the 2nd-year)
WIN

21. Do not kiss anyone in the program (unless it's required by a scene or something).
I kissed the same 3rd-year again in January... or rather, he kissed me. On more than one day. And it ended really strangely, and I regret it. But I've had my lovely and wonderful boyfriend since February, and now there's no one else I want to kiss... (By the way, I have kissed 5 guys in my class in scenes.)
FAIL

22. Do not get crushed on anyone in the program.
Not a problem.
WIN

23. Do not actively flirt with anyone in the program.
Not a problem.
WIN

24. Do not pursue a relationship with anyone in the program.
Not a problem.
WIN

25. Keep all classmates on the “As Good As Gay” list.
Not a problem.
WIN

26. Swear less.
I gave up swearing for Lent (which actually means that I just cut back, because sometimes I'd forget and a word would slip out, and then I'd pray...).
WIN

27. Replace swear words with exclamations such as “drat”, “shoot”, “freakin’”, “frak” (← it’s a Battlestar Galactica term), and the like.
I say "frak" all the time.
WIN

28. Cut alcohol out of diet (as much as possible).
I drank on New Year's Eve. I drank one night in February (on a school night, like an idiot). I drank one night with Filmmaker when I visited him on Spring Break. I drank Thursday night. Once a month... I'm going to say that's not that bad.
WIN

29. Try not to drink until my birthday (October 25 – If I can cut meat out of my diet for 9 months, I can certainly take out alcohol for 3).
No longer applicable.
---

30. Do not have alcohol more than twice in one week, regardless of occasion.
Already listed my drinking days...
WIN

31. Try to limit caffeine intake.
Yeah, I rarely have caffeine.
WIN

32. Make sure to eat tons of peanut butter, cheese, tofu, hummus, and other protein-containing foods in order to keep energy up.
Huh... I forgot that I wrote this... I mostly just eat things that I can defrost.
FAIL

33. Don’t tell classmates about my (lack of a) sexual history. Remember that it is none of their business.
No longer applicable. They all found out last semester. And I really don't care that they know any more.
---

34. Don’t even THINK about doing NaNoWriMo.
No longer applicable. In fact, until just now, I kind of forgot that I have an unfinished novel that I should kick my butt into gear on...
---

35. Try not to make the fact that I’m a blogger public knowledge. (Even though I’ve already warned my roommate. And one of the second years found my blog in February).
No longer applicable. They've known for a while.
---

36. Consider lying and saying I blog about something that they won’t want to read. Make it sound like it’s not a personal blog.
No longer applicable.
---

37. Do not discuss individuals from grad school program on my blog, in case they find it.
I did in a vague way, but I deleted most of those posts anyway... Oh, whatever. I failed.
FAIL

38. Do not mention what grad school program (or city) I’m in on my blog, so that they won’t be able to find it.
Check.
WIN

39. Be supportive of classmates, not competitive with them.
I'm good at this. Most of my classmates are not going to be once we audition for things.
WIN

40. Avoid getting too negative about myself or my potential.
I had one weekend when I had a breakdown about this, but now I'm in a good place. I'm good at this, and I can make a career out of it if I put my mind to it.
WIN

41. Use days off well, because they’re few and far between.
I'm getting so much better at this.
WIN

42. Laugh as much as possible.
I do. :)
WIN

43. Write down all homework assignments (because I WILL forget them if I don’t).
I still write them down, but I've also gotten to a place where I won't forget them if I don't.
WIN

44. Walk or bike to school on occasion. (Will work out details on this once I figure out if it’s even safe to do this, as I’d have to cross a couple of 4-lane roads, and Florida drivers are NUTS.)
Nope. Sorry. Not happening.
FAIL

45. For understudy assignments, attend every rehearsal that fits into my schedule (there are only three actual understudy rehearsals per show, and we’re mostly expected to learn what to do by watching video tapes and whatnot… so clearly, the more actual rehearsals you can make it to, the better).
I rocked my understudy stuff. No, seriously. I wish you could have been there.
WIN

46. Work on completing my novel in my spare time (HA! Spare time! Like I'm going to have any of that!).
Nope. Not possible.
FAIL

47. Remember to step back and take time to breathe.
I do.
WIN

48. Do whatever it takes to get closer to the goal of becoming a castable, skilled, professional actor.
I try.
WIN

49. Loosen up. (recommended by Eric Shonkwiler.)
Working on it.
WIN

50. Don't let things from OUTSIDE of class affect what's going on INSIDE of class. (The reverse of #8)
I'm growing up so much, guys. I think I've learned to compartmentalize.
WIN



36/42
Not bad at all.



May you get better at being good.

~A~

A Year's Progress

So last year in my post Unresolved, I discussed my resolutions for 2008. Here's how I did...


- Make a conscious effort to call my brothers more often.
Yeah, so I sucked at this. And I did better with one brother than the other. Maybe I should make this resolution again for 2009?
FAIL


- Be more physically active.
I did this for awhile, actually. When I was living in Chicago, I started walking more, and I took 14 flights of stairs in my skyscraper office at least once a day up-and-down (sometimes 2 or 3 times). Being active has been harder in Florida, but I do have to jump rope for 5 minutes a day when I have movement class. So am I amazingly active? No. But am I more active than I was in 2007? Yes.
WIN


- Learn to accept compliments with more grace.
This is definitely the thing I've done best with. Just ask Brian. I can accept compliments like a pro these days. You should have seen me at my Assessment. I handled the praise really well.
WIN


- - Memorize the correct spellings of excersize, maitenance (maintainence), and immeadiately.
I just gave myself a spelling test. I got "exercise", "maintenance", "immediately", "pursue", "separate", and "desperate" correct! But it took me 4 tries to spell "corduroy" correctly (my first three guesses were courderoy, corderoy, and courduroy). But 6/7 is pretty darn good! I've really focused on those first three, and I nailed 'em.
WIN


- Finish my NaNoWriMo novel.
I'm really disappointed that I haven't been able to do this. I'm sure some of my readers are as well... But I just couldn't. I have other priorities.
FAIL


- Figure out what I want to do with my life.
I want to be an actor. I don't just want it; I feel it. I need it. It's not a choice; it's the ONLY choice.

And yes, I still think I'm going to hate the business part of it, but my need to be an artist is going to drown that out.

Since I've gotten to grad school, I've realized just how important this is to me. I'm willing to sacrifice financial security. I'm willing to sacrifice weekends. I'm going to sacrifice having a family. I'm willing to sacrifice love.

I'm not just acting for me anymore. I'm acting because it's my civil service. I'm truly acting because I'm trying to change the world.

WIN -- A thousand times win.


Final score:
WIN 4, FAIL 2.



May you learn what's important to you.

~A~

Progression/Regression

Remember when I wrote my Grad School Resolutions? Well, now that I'm a semester in, I thought I'd check on my progress...


Resolutions for Grad School:

1. Take studying SERIOUSLY.
Studying here is WAY different than studying in undergrad was. For the most part, it doesn't exist. My homework assignments have to do with stretching, and my tests involve breathing and saying words. In some ways, it's a lot harder, because you can't rush through things (something that I would otherwise be likely to do). But I have been taking things seriously and doing my work. Except for tremoring every night at home. I don't. Because if I did, I think my body would be in a perpetual state of spasm (like I said, my homework is weird).
WIN

2. Finish homework, papers, reading assignments, etc. as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Heh. I think we all knew that this wasn't going to happen. I'm a born procrastinator. And I've successfully written all my papers within two days of their due dates. But you know what? They were all turned in on time. And they were all decent papers and assignments. So I'm just going to pat myself on the back for doing successful procrastination, and call it a day.
FAIL

3. Do not add negativity into the world of the school.
I won't say that I've been completely successful in this. What I will say, is that I am FAR more successful than most of my classmates. I go to school with some pretty negative people. And I am not one of them. So I count a win.
WIN

4. Be open-minded and willing to try all exercises in class, no matter how lame they seem or how stupid I might look doing them.
I am. And I do.
WIN

5. Do not gossip behind people’s backs.
This is just straight up impossible. But I think about it less as gossip, and more as venting. Or raising concerns. I don't talk about petty stuff. I talk about things like, "so-and-so is thinking of dropping out of the program," and "that guy was monopolizing class time with his agenda." I'm going to call it a different thing...
FAIL

6. Try not to dance during class. (Except for movement class, because I think we’re supposed to dance there sometimes. I just don't want my professors to think of me as "the one who dances in the middle of discussions.")
I only danced between classes. And sometimes in Movement class. I put it in the past tense because it seemed to make a couple of my classmates uncomfortable, so I've stopped (which, to be honest, I think had a negative effect on my mental health).
WIN

7. Remember that we all made it through an arduous process to get here, and we are all clearly talented, intelligent people. They deserve to be here, and so do I.
It wasn't always easy to remember this, but I tried to remind myself of it frequently.
WIN

8. Don’t let politics within the school get personal. Just because something is going on in class or in rehearsals, doesn’t mean it has to carry over into the rest of life.
We won't really get into politics until we start being cast in things. But some of my classmates are not successful in not letting classwork enter the personal realm. I'm pretty good at it, most of the time.
WIN

9. Try to make friends outside of the program.
WAY harder than it sounds. Aside from a couple of regulars at karaoke, I've failed. (by the way, The Engineer hasn't called me since before Thanksgiving. I left him a message a week ago which he never responded to. Oh well.)
FAIL

10. Go out and have fun at least once a month.
Month? Please. I have to do something at least once a week just to maintain my sanity. Which is exactly what karaoke is for.
WIN

11. Try to stay a vegetarian until at least the first week of November (which will have been a year... I've saved plenty of animals, and I want to eat meat so badly I can't even tell you).
SCORE! I rocked this one. And now that it's over, I'm like 18 kinds of happier.
WIN

12. Actually read all of the assigned reading. Don’t just skim it. Occasionally take notes.
We're allowed (nay; encouraged) to "read artistically" for some of our classes (no, I'm not kidding... those were my professor's exact words). I'm behind in my Acting reading, but it's not a huge deal. And I never read the final act of Anna Christie (but we only spent one day talking about it, so it didn't really matter... Maybe I'll read it over the summer.)
FAIL

13. Budget properly. If having trouble, begin writing down all expenditures.
I'm doing fine now. It was a battle at first because of how little I started off with, but I'm good at the moment.
WIN

14. Take all available opportunities to learn new skills.
Not yet applicable.
---

15. Work on outside projects (such as student films) if they fit into schedule.
They haven't fit into my schedule yet.
---

16. Take a trip to somewhere outside of town (even if it’s just to the next closest city) at least once a semester.
I went home for Thanksgiving. And a couple of days ago I was stressed out and talking to myself and ended up in a town I didn't know existed... but that's a story for another day.
WIN

17. Go to Disney World at least once.
Haven't done it yet. But I will. I swear.
---

18. Have as close to perfect attendance as is physically possible.
I was about 4 minutes late to Movement class once, and 10 minutes late to Acting class once. But that's it. No missed classes yet. *knocks on wood*
WIN

19. Remember how hard it is to get to grad school. Remember how great of a program this is. Be grateful every, every minute.
I am grateful. Very, very grateful.
WIN

20. Find something to love about every class and every professor (so that I can focus on those things on the days that classes seriously blow).
I have. Many somethings, in fact. I like far more than I dislike.
WIN

21. Do not kiss anyone in the program (unless it's required by a scene or something).
I kissed a 3rd-year. Which I regret. But he's a really nice guy, and we're back to a normal conversational relationship now. I also regret kissing CCM, even though I thought he fit into a loophole by not being a student. He's at every social thing I'm at, and I'm still uncomfortable with the whole thing. (By the by, I've kissed three of my classmates in scenes.)
FAIL

22. Do not get crushed on anyone in the program.
So far, so good.
WIN

23. Do not actively flirt with anyone in the program.
I only do when drunk. Which is why I stopped getting drunk around them.
WIN

24. Do not pursue a relationship with anyone in the program.
Not a problem.
WIN

25. Keep all classmates on the “As Good As Gay” list.
Also not a problem.
WIN

26. Swear less.
Heh. I went totally backwards on this one. I think I actually swear MORE down here. Drat.
FAIL

27. Replace swear words with exclamations such as “drat”, “shoot”, “freakin’”, “frak” (← it’s a Battlestar Galactica term), and the like.
(HA! Typing that in my last one was not intentional) I do say "drat" and "frak". Alongside other swearwords... but still.
WIN

28. Cut alcohol out of diet (as much as possible).
I fell off of this one for a three weekends, but I've recommitted to not drinking. It's way better for my stability.
WIN

29. Try not to drink until my birthday (October 25 – If I can cut meat out of my diet for 9 months, I can certainly take out alcohol for 3).
Well, I ALMOST made it...
FAIL

30. Do not have alcohol more than twice in one week, regardless of occasion.
I did once. Which was the weekend that my classmate verbally attacked me for several hours... It was also my birthday weekend. And I haven't had alcohol since.
FAIL

31. Try to limit caffeine intake.
Done. I think I've had pop under 10 times this semester.
WIN

32. Make sure to eat tons of peanut butter, cheese, tofu, hummus, and other protein-containing foods in order to keep energy up.
Done. And now I'm trying to cut peanut butter and cheese OUT of my diet, as my Movement Professor says that they're making me gain weight (I'm replacing them with meat).
WIN

33. Don’t tell classmates about my (lack of a) sexual history. Remember that it is none of their business.
Whoops. That came out REALLY EARLY. Luckily, I'm not the only virgin in my program. Heck, I'm not even the only one in my class.
FAIL

34. Don’t even THINK about doing NaNoWriMo.
I'll admit it. I thought about it. But I quickly (as in, seconds later) thought the better of it. Hence, I'm still counting a win.
WIN

35. Try not to make the fact that I’m a blogger public knowledge. (Even though I’ve already warned my roommate. And one of the second years found my blog in February).
They all know.
FAIL

36. Consider lying and saying I blog about something that they won’t want to read. Make it sound like it’s not a personal blog.
Nope. They know what it is. And some of them want to read it.
FAIL

37. Do not discuss individuals from grad school program on my blog, in case they find it.
I totally have. Whoops. (I sort of forgot that I wrote this.)
FAIL

38. Do not mention what grad school program (or city) I’m in on my blog, so that they won’t be able to find it.
Check.
WIN

39. Be supportive of classmates, not competitive with them.
Check. Although I am occasionally jealous of their talent.
WIN

40. Avoid getting too negative about myself or my potential.
This is really freaking hard. But I'm better than I was.
FAIL

41. Use days off well, because they’re few and far between.
I don't. Unless by "well" I meant surfing Etsy for 5 hours at a time. Because I've definitely done that.
FAIL

42. Laugh as much as possible.
I do. :)
WIN

43. Write down all homework assignments (because I WILL forget them if I don’t).
I do. But for one of my classes, they're all in the syllabus, which is EVIL because I always forget to read it.
WIN

44. Walk or bike to school on occasion. (Will work out details on this once I figure out if it’s even safe to do this, as I’d have to cross a couple of 4-lane roads, and Florida drivers are NUTS.)
I walked to school once, and I never bought a bike. Walking to school sucked because it meant I had to leave for school earlier, and my body was already tired by the time I got to Movement class and had to do 5 minutes of jumping rope. I didn't like it.
FAIL

45. For understudy assignments, attend every rehearsal that fits into my schedule (there are only three actual understudy rehearsals per show, and we’re mostly expected to learn what to do by watching video tapes and whatnot… so clearly, the more actual rehearsals you can make it to, the better).
I didn't the last week of classes because I was too busy with class assignments, but now I'm going every day.
WIN

46. Work on completing my novel in my spare time (HA! Spare time! Like I'm going to have any of that!).
Nope. Haven't written a word since I got here.
FAIL

47. Remember to step back and take time to breathe.
I do.
WIN

48. Do whatever it takes to get closer to the goal of becoming a castable, skilled, professional actor.
I try.
WIN

49. Loosen up. (recommended by Eric Shonkwiler.)
Working on it.
WIN

50. Don't let things from OUTSIDE of class affect what's going on INSIDE of class. (The reverse of #8)
I SUCKED at this. But I'm getting better.
FAIL



By my count, that's 30 Wins, 17 Fails, and 3 N/A. And in my book that's pretty freaking good.


May you win more than you fail.

~A~