Home Sweet Harlem

I've recently moved into a sweet little deal in Harlem. I have two really great roomies, and Sophie loves the apartment. Though I've been in New York City since May, I haven't really written about it, except to say that it was lonely when I first got here. I'm more accustomed to the loneliness, and I find that sometimes, I prefer the loneliness to the hustle and bustle of the city, but I digress. I think the reason why I stopped writing- other than being insanely busy- is because I haven't felt at home in this city. Maybe all I needed was time, or maybe it was because I was sleeping in a living room, but New York is now... home. Maybe all it took was finding the right place.

So now that I'm finally writing again, I should talk about AMDA. It was the reason why I came to New York, afterall. My days consist of acting, singing, and dancing. I take tap, jazz, ballet, and theatre dance. I have acting classes. I have voice lessons. I have voice and speech classes. I am taking up musical composition and dialects as my electives. And then I have musical theatre class which integrates the acting, singing, and dancing. It has been an awesome experience. I know that I will miss it dearly when next October rolls around- that's when I graduate. I've had the opportunity to meet some crazy talented people, and I hope that I will know them for a long time.

I know this is a very brief and unsatisfactory overview, but it will have to suffice for now. I'm a very busy girl, and I have a lot of work to do.

The End

Ashley closed on the house, and it's officially the end of the season. Atlanta isn't home anymore, Goodbye Huntington Trace. Goodbye Frank and Alfonso. Goodbye children running around. Goodbye daffodils and tulips in the spring. Goodbye ice cream truck that played the same song over and over and OVER. Goodbye days of lying on the couch and watching "You've Got Mail."

Sigh.

Lonliness

"Nighthawks"
Edward Hopper

Edward Hopper really captures a sense of lonliness in this painting. They're all in this little diner or bar, and yet they're alone- even the couple. I feel this way. I'm surrounded by people, and yet I'm facing a void. I'm lonely. I am lonely.

Big Fat Crush

I HAVE A BIG FAT CRUSH ON CHRIS RICE.

Twenty Four Waiting Rooms

Well, two big events just passed. First was the big AMDA audition, and the second was my twenty fourth birthday. I'm still waiting to hear back to see if I made it. I think I did well. The adjudicator said I did well, so I am 75% positive that I at least got accepted. But after waiting for an acceptance, I'll be waiting for the financial aid. It feels like it's one waiting room after another. It's one step, then the next. I feel like one of Brian Andreas' Story People.

Life is Unfair

I was supposed to receive an Ipod Shuffle through a promotion for signing up for a banking company. Well, after about two months of waiting, I finally called customer service and asked them what was up. Well, after another full month of waiting for a response, I got a call from them.

The package was delivered and signed by an "M. Jacky" on December 14. I called customer service to inquire about this. How did this "M. Jacky" receive my shuffle pod? It had to have been sent to the wrong address, how was it sent to the wrong addresss? What are they going to do about this?

Well, they don't know how any of it happened, and they aren't going to do anything about it. So I have no Ipod Shuffle, and I have less minutes on my cell phone, and I have a bank account that I never really needed in the first place. One thing that really bothers me is that customer service could care less about what happened. It's called "service" for a reason. If you can't even do what you're being paid to do, then why should I even bank with you? You need me, I don't need you. I'll just burn that bridge.

When I terminate my relationship with this banking company, I'll have gained nothing but headaches and hassle, and lost a few small things including my trust in people. Especially people who steal other people's Ipod Shuffles. And people who work in customer service... and people who work in mailing services too.

Top Five

Well, I am the girl of 100 lists, here's the short version of my admiration lists:

Top 5 People I Admire:

1. Lynette Lewis

Speaker and Author Extraordinaire
This awesome woman is intelligent, has business savvy, and waited on the Lord, even when things seemed the most hopeless. She was faithful to the task God gave her, and chose to give hope and inspiration for women, even when she felt that she was lacking. She didn't try to fit into the mold of most Christian women, and actually excelled in the working/real world without compromising her Godly character.

2. Jim Henson

Entertainer, Engineer, Conservationist, Amazing man

Henson left a legacy! He changed the face of puppetry! When most people think of puppets now-a-days they think of the muppet structure which Henson popularized. He brought entertainment to audiences of all ages through child-like means, and he not only used his creations to entertain, but also to educate. He was a peaceful man who wanted to turn the world around. He passed down his vision to his family and friends, and that vision continues today. I now realize it's not easy to be green, but some of us realize that it's beautiful, and it's what we wanna be.

3. Walt Disney

Dream Maker, Miracle Man, Pure Awesome

How do I possibly describe this man? He was a genius who didn't just animate cartoons, but created an entire enterprise devoted to invention and technological advancement. During his early years, he faced a world of dissappointments, yet he continued to create with what he had. By the time The Great Depression hit, Disney was bringing joy and laughter to audiences. People doubted his capabilities, and he proved them wrong. After his death, his family made a WORLD and LAND out of his creations where they continued to encourage the young and old to make dreams and wishes come true.

4. Helen Joy Davidman Lewis

Writer, Poet, Mother, Wife

Helen was a Jewish, athiest, communist, and who later became a Christian, and a tenacious one, at that. She was the wife of C.S. (Jack) Lewis, and she wasn't very well liked by his acquaintances because she was so saucy and fiesty. When their relationship first began, she was the pursuer (very much in the Ruth-like fashion), and Jack was known to hide from her whenever she came to call, but by and by, he came to love her too. She was a dynamic person, and was very ambitious, and went after life at full force, despite all the trials and hardships that she had faced in her past, and she ended up with her treasure at the end of it all.

5. The Newsboys

Rock Band, Worshipers

They aren't afraid to be weird or different, and they carry with them an aura where you are captivated by what they have to say. Their music is wonderfully composed, and it's filled with a lot of clever and tasty lyrics to sink your teeth into, with the help of Steve Taylor, of course. They've changed looks, band members, singers, and instruments, but they're still going strong and bringing the gospel of the good news unashamed to the masses.