I'll be back

Just because I haven't updated this in awhile doesn't mean I'm done with this. There is still some cool stuff here and ....... I'll be back....... :)

From the Mouths of Babes

I rediscovered this video recently and it sent my thoughts in two directions.



My first thought was around how rapidly and drastically our environment is changing. And by environment I don't just mean the literal health of our planet but also society and how the increased connectivity has impacted our awareness and sometimes perhaps over exposure to what is happening all over the globe. I can't help but think that what shocked and inspired this young girl in the early 90's (granted her father is an environmental activist so she likely had more exposure than most) is now so common place that children are desensitized to the images and concepts before they even enter kindergarden. In 1992 I never would have thought that my 3 year old niece, who is barely out of diapers, would be able to operate a smartphone with no assistance...there are all sorts of articles and statistics about the impact of technology on kids and for the most part I think the benefits outweigh the risks developmentally, but I do wonder about the exposure factor and if it is desensitizing us as a culture. To be fair, on the flip side, there are definitely benefits to the increased connectivity, take for example, kiva.org where (now that we have this increased awareness of what is happening world wide) anyone can offer a micro loan to someone in a third world country where a mere $25 can save their business which also seemed far fetched in 1992.

The next thought was to remind myself of just how much kids are capable of. I know that I, for one, was not thinking much about these types of big issues when I was her age, I do think that at the time, in the early 90's she and her peers were in the minority for having set their sites on such real and global issues. But even so, the fact that she is there, speaking to these people...As adults it's so easy to diminish the validity of the concerns of kids or even how much of an impact they are capable of having. I know it's easy for me to minimize the thoughts and opinions of the kids in my life. But after watching something like this I can't help but find myself wanting to listen a little closer and encourage kids to get plugged in and pursue what's important to them, including taking action as big as speaking to the UN. It makes me want to commit to really listening to the kids in my life, and wherever possibly encouraging them to look for ways to improve the world around them.

Fringe 2013 Reviews

5/18

Dirk Darrow 2 : Was dry but funny, he’s a great performer, rolling with the punches. Jeremy laughed a LOT, I did a lot of forehead slapping and shaking of my head J

Prinaha the Musical : Cheesy, some great talent, but I don’t know that I can honestly recommend it with all of the other fantastic options.

5/19 

6 Guitars : Amazing. Make Time for the show next Sunday. Buy tickets now. Enough said.

5/21

I had planned to see Loon @ 7pm in Green (Orlando REP) however I failed to plan ahead and it was sold out. John and Laura did go and they had nothing but praise for it so I think I may try to make it happen on Friday. Since I was already out there I decided to find another show to see and went with:

Jett Backpack and the Battle at the End of the Universe @ 7:15 in Yellow (Shakespeare Center)
This just wasn't my sort of humor so keeping that in mind....it was clever and well done. I have friends who would have found it hilarious. If you like SpaceBalls, slap your forehead kind of humor go check it out for sure.

Walk through Visual Fringe (The Venue on Virginia)
My buddy Thomas wound up being my date for this and we enjoyed it however I must say that I would have preferred if there was more art available for viewing. I felt like they could have managed to find places to display what little they had in the warehouse at the other venues, it just didn't feel like enough to be walking/driving to another location to see. They have a putt putt golf course designed by artists which is really interesting visually and might make the trip over there worth while, however because they're designed by artists and not engineers most of the holes don't actually work :( which made us sad. 

5/22

C- @ 8:30pm in Black (The Venue on Virginia)
The content was really interesting. He acted out snippets from interviews he's done of his old college frat buddies highlighting their journey to where they are now 30 years later. This was the last performance and I must say I think I'd rather read a book about his findings, his performance just wasn't enticing but again the content was really interesting, I did find myself wanting to know more.

Ain't True Uncle False @ 10:30pm in Purple (Shakespeare Center)

So great. I can only compare it to an adult version of story time. Paul Strickland started off with a song that created some amazing visual images in our imaginations of a trailer park called Big Fib and from there went on to tell the stories of some of it's inhabitants including Ain't False, Uncle Truth, Faye Cation and more. I would compare his style and tales almost to those of the movie Big Fish. He has several more shows this weekend that I would highly suggest folks make time to see. I know I'm excited to see his joint effort with Chase Padgett of 6 Guitars tomorrow.

5/23 

A Field Guide to the Gays @ 8:15pm in Purple (Shakespeare Center)

I laughed so hard! They handed out a quiz at the beginning which I could answer 80% of going in, Jeremy couldn't answer any. By the end we both could get them all. It was informative, hilarious and a great support to LGBT rights. It does get a bit graphic but based on the name I would've been disappointed if it didn't. 

4 Truths and a Lie @ 10pm in Blue (Shakespeare Center)

I didn't realize this is based in a podcast calked five truths and a lie...it was really interesting. Great way to hear snippets of people's lives. This show had my favorite Sak player, Mike Carr, which made me happy. Neither of us picked the actual liar by the way. 

Chase & Paul: Solo Shows are Hard @ 11:30pm in Gold (Theater Downtown)

It felt like we had been invited to hang with them during a jam session. It was so  incredibly funny. Their both so talented it wound e been hard for then to produce anything but awesome together. I would recommend seeing their solo shows first if possible. 

5/24

Loon @ 5:30pm in Green (Orlando REP)* 

It's purely a person with a mask, music, lighting and sound effects that convey the story. But it still manages to be dynamic with a plot reminiscent of a Pixar short. So much creativity and talent. 

Skill Focus: Burlesque @ 7:15pm in Green (Orlando REP)*

I've seen then before and this wasn't their best performance. But I still love the idea of nerdy themed burlesque. 

Default Plans

I had no plans today so I drove out to New Smyrna and read on the beach for a few hours, enjoyed some great conversation too. 

When the afternoon storms rolled in I moved my relaxation to my porch. Right around the time the storms catch up to me I'll be heading out to hang with friends. :)

                             

Second weekend in a row that's played out like this, I think these are my new default plans. 

They are awesome. 

Drunken Balcony Conversation

I'm getting over a cold and took a DayQuil too late in the day and as a result had trouble falling asleep. So I took my book out to my hammock to read in the cool night air around 1:30am. Holy Shnickadoos! I didn't need the book, I had all the entertainment I needed in the available people watching. It was perfect timing to watch all of the young professionals that live in the apartments around me have taxi's drop them off at home and then observe as the stumble to their doors and create a raucous in the street. I even got to meet a couple of my across the street neighbors by having a conversation with them from my balcony. I think I shall have to spend more wee morning hours on my hammock... :)

I love where I live.

Photo Update

I went into 2012 saying it was going to be a monumental year. So many major milestones in my life and the lives of those around me, how could it not be? I mean the year I turn 30...

Not only has that proven to be true but the past few months have been jam packed. I can't even begin to try to document it all so I just chose some photos that would summarize it nicely and server as a memory trigger for me later when I look back over this log of my life.

Like I said, a lot has happened...and these are just the highlights!

Yummy Oatmeal

I was introduced to theoatmeal.com today...it's my new favorite site for a good chuckle. :)

Loved their guide to spelling and grammar.

And their guide to petting a kitty is classic.

Goes nicely with my morning oatmeal breakfast :)

I don't want to be an ANT

Because of this bit from Waking Life my brother, pseudo-sister and I have all adopted an ANTi, nonant sort of mentality about life. Today my brother and I got ant tattoos on our wrists as a reminder to keep up our ANTi status. :)

Plus, like I said, my mom said at her 50th birthday that she wanted a tattoo on her 60th so it was a family affair! Mom got a flower that looks a little like a wooden piece or henna and Laura got a tomato flower in honor of her love of gardening.

In the end I never really found the right ants so Thomas, the tattoo artist who did my other two pieces, came up with the cutest little happy line of ants.

Getting ready for the tattoo party!

My Mom with her new tattoo and Thomas.

Mom's little brown flower.

John's Ant.

Laura's tomato flower.

My line of happy ants.

Ant Time

So almost 10 years ago my dear mother finally joined the modern world and pierced her ears for the first time on her 50th birthday. Afterward she said that when she turned 60 she wanted to get her first tattoo. Boy was that a big mistake, I haven't let her live that one down.

So, in a couple of weeks she will be 60. And my brother, mom and I are all going to get tattoos together. It will be my third and mom and John's first.

I know that I want a short line of ants. I was planning to get them down the outside of my left wrist, however now that I'm officially Cast and have to keep up the Disney Look I think I've been convinced that I either need to keep it smaller or put them somewhere a little less visible. SO, now I'm thinking I want them crawling up the outside of my right ankle.

The biggest decision left is which ants to use....here is what I'm looking at. I think I like the first, less organized one better...

Flower Power

I am such a trend setter! I bought little baby barrettes with a flower attached in Spain to allow my short do to reflect the Flamenco vibe.

Today I was shopping at H&M and look what I found!

Fringe

It was Fringe week!

I didn't see all of the shows I wanted to but I did manage to hit a few good ones.

Medicine by TJ Dawe - I've been a fan of TJ Dawe for years now, this wasn't my favorite of his shows but it was still skillfully delivered.

The Nashville Hurricane by Chase Padgett - Having never seen any of his shows before I went in without knowing what to expect. I was beyond impressed. Chase impressively executes a one man show where he plays the part of at least 6 different characters, shifting between them using only his speech patterns and mannerisms. His talent with a guitar was like nothing I'd ever seen.

Skill Focused Burlesque does Fringe - I went to see this with my girl friends, the night we went they were using a Gotham theme so the characters included The Penguin, the Riddler, Poison Ivy and others from the Batman world. It was awesome as stated in my last post. :)

The show I most wish I had been able to see was Still Alive, they are a group of folks ages 75 and up who sing covers of modern songs. I heard they had an 86 year old woman sing Beyonce's 'If you like it then you should have put a ring on it' complete with the dance! Luckily they are from a church downtown so hopefully I'll be able to find another performance of theirs to go to.

Pancakes, Sun and Nudity

Today was a good day.

I got a lot of stuff done at my new apartment, introduced my buddy to Deleon Springs (which of course means I got pancakes!), napped and read in the sun, had an amazing dinner at Tako Cheena and then saw a smokin' hot burlesque show at Fringe with my girls. Definitely a good start to the holiday weekend.

Family Ride

Yes, that is a large family, complete with a kid with training wheels on his bike. They are apparently out for a family ride along 436 in front of Altamonte mall, an incredibly busy intersection. Seriously? Did both parents forget their common sense today?

Moving On

I moved this weekend. I downsized so now I'm in a one bedroom condo off of Lake Ivanhoe, it's still a big place at 1000 sq ft but it feels much more appropriate and cozy than the 3/2 I was in before. And now I'm close to all sorts of fun stuff like Imperial, White Wolf Cafe, Ethos, Taco China and more!

It was a crazy move too! I had mostly new furniture delivered Saturday from IKEA and somehow managed to get it all put together, all my boxes moved and mostly unpacked by 5pm on Sunday. My family is so awesome like that.

Now I'm on my first official Disney related trip. I'm in Raleigh learning how to use a new software application. As usual life is going a million miles a minute and I'm just holding on for dear life. But right now it's all so positive. I wish I could bottle this feeling so I could reflect back on it later when things are tough to remember to be grateful....

Avenge!

I saw Avengers twice this weekend. For the love of Allah, if you haven't seen it yet go! It's awesome! Not only is there an actual plot and comedy but the graphics and cinematography are impressive too. Now I can't wait for the new Dark Knight to come out. Oh Joseph Gordon-Levitt - how you make me smile :)

The smell of melting rain

I love the way the earth smells after it has rained and the sun is melting away the dirt and moisture. It smells different in different parts of the world.

Random thought for today :)

Europe

Europe was amazing by the way, read all about it on my travel blog here, in the mean time here are some of my favorite shots to entice you to go read up.

The Eiffel Tower

Sagrada Familia 

Beach in Barcelona

Feria de Abril in Seville

Typical scene during Feria in Seville

Cast!

What a way to end a vacation!

Before I left for the EU I had applied for a permanent Cast job and even scheduled a panel of interviews for late May. I received an email from my old boss on Thursday telling me that HR needed to talk to me and it was worth interrupting my vacation. So I schedule a call for Friday when I knew I'd be in a quiet hotel in Paris.

The offered me the job!

Interviews got cancelled and I start May 7th!

Holy Moly!

Europe Bound Again

Tomorrow I leave for Europe with Megan for 15 days! Paris Barcelona and Seville. Check out my travel blog to follow us on our adventure.

SeeUsTravel.blogspot.com

I'm so excited!

Slow Dancing

They more John Mayer I listen to, the more impressed I am by his lyrics. So many of his songs do such an amazing job of eloquently putting words to an every day situation or feeling that most of us can't articulate. Like Daughters or Neon or my current favorite, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.

It's not a silly little moment,
It's not the storm before the calm.
This is the deep and dying breath of
This love that we've been working on.

Can't seem to hold you like I want to
So I can feel you in my arms.
Nobody's gonna come and save you,
We pulled too many false alarms.

We're going down,
And you can see it too.
We're going down,
And you know that we're doomed.
My dear,
We're slow dancing in a burning room.

I was the one you always dreamed of,
You were the one I tried to draw.
How dare you say it's nothing to me?
Baby, you're the only light I ever saw.

I'll make the most of all the sadness,
You'll be a bitch because you can.
You try to hit me just to hurt me
So you leave me feeling dirty
Because you can't understand.

We're going down,
And you can see it too.
We're going down,
And you know that we're doomed.
My dear,
We're slow dancing in a burning room.

Go cry about it - why don't you?

My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room,
Burning room,
Burning room.

Don't you think we oughta know by now?
Don't you think we shoulda learned somehow?
Don't you think we oughta know by now?
Don't you think we shoulda learned somehow?
Don't you think we oughta know by now?
Don't you think we shoulda learned somehow?