Lively

Rabbit Rabbit

2010-01-03T13:50:00.000-08:00

--of sorts, though it be January 3rd.

Welcome to 2010, A Lively Year.

This year has many goals and names. Things that I am already doing or want to do:

Take Myself Seriously
Travel during every break
Continue/start to do all the things that I've longed to do but haven't yet
Take Courage
Love more

I don't feel one way or another about 2010. It may be good, it may be bad. Or both. But I hope it's good. I just do.

Ap-a-low-gees

2009-12-29T13:05:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the egotistically large new header. I was trying to do a different photo and it didn't work. You'll see my head until I return from Norway.
Love,
Rachel

Norwegian New Year, pt 1

2009-12-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

After Christmas rush there was work and then "oh shit I'm going to Norway in a day" rush. I bought some winning little snow boots and some ski socks, rushed off to the flat of P&C music factory and spent a tiny Christmas, part deux, with several of the Berrys + choosers, then rushed back home to pack. I was dead in the water and getting sick.

I went to bed at 1am, set my alarm for 4am and slept a few, log-like hours. At 4am, I hopped out of bed, prayed I didn't forget anything and rushed out the door. I caught the bus to Bromley-By-Bow, where you can catch a cheap coach to Stansted. Except it never comes. I stood in the cold on the highway with two French girls who were there when I arrived and we waited until it became apparent that no bus was coming and that I was going to miss my flight. Stupidly, I had no number for a cab, for TFL, for anything.

I went home, cried a little because my ticket is non-refundable and non-transferable, called Norway, decided I would still come. Booked another ticket, which was not cheap and then went to my room to take a nap. Carlosando had put his newly arrived guests in there and so I crawled into Baltimore's room, where it was cold and tried to sleep.

I got up, had brunch with the guests and then slept into the early evening, a satisfying, costly nap. I feel so much better, though.

This is the second costly travel blunder I've made this season, dashing my dreams of staying on budget and dreams of cheap, fun travel. It is fun. It's also a bitch. I can't wait to go tomorrow and I hope Norway is great, great, great. Soon, there will be 22 more memorable shots of me, C and A in the snowy wilds.

Christmas Dreams

2009-12-26T06:49:00.001-08:00

I've been having many an odd dream about homes in warehouses and dresses and lots of women in my life.

And by the way--Merry Christmas!

15 School orphans came to my flat for a Christmas Eve potluck, dancing and party games until 6am. Some stayed over for Christmas day, which found us playing John McCutcheon songs on the guitar, playing Run DMC on youtube and playing on the equipment in Mile End Park. Afterwards, we made breakfast crepes, read tarot, faffed about and then had Christmas dinner--roast lamb, tons of wine, Christmas eve leftovers and my favorite winter salad.

After dinner, our tired brains proposed games verging on weird: a dumb pet trick talent show, a game where one team ties the other team to each other and then runs and hides. The tied team has to escape and come find the hiders. There was dirty word Pictionary and Reindeer Games and passing out from exhaustion to the excited laughter of two Argentinians, one Brazillian, one Greek, one New Zealander and one American.

I awoke this morning to the sound of Nela and Diego cleaning the kitchen (bless their hearts). We made coffee, planned to have dinner together in January and called Christmas to a close. I have a total of four blurry pictures from the whole time. Happy Boxing Day!

Myo-fASScial Dreams

2009-12-23T03:14:00.000-08:00

I was celebrating Christmas in a pub with some friends. I looked over and who should be there, but old Act III friend, Tara. I said hello. She recognized me but had trouble remembering my name.

Lord of the Flies was there too, making a nuisance of himself.

Tomorrow is LISPA Orphans Christmas! I will enact family traditions by making caramel rolls and not doing a Christmas thing until the eve and do something new by meeting people for Christmas meditation, lead by Argentinian Goddess, Nati.

The English Countryside

2009-12-21T14:57:00.000-08:00

One Year Later

2009-12-19T03:36:00.000-08:00

One year later, here we are again, end of first term, celebrating the holidays, international style! At the end of Nosferatu, I am supposed to create a surprise ending by emerging from behind Angelina Mouse ,fake blood dripping from my mouth. Sadly, the blood capsule fell from my sleeve halfway through the piece. I decided we should all get bloody for the holiday party.

A Bloody Christmas Carol

International songs were sung and the Indians did this Bollywood dance (we were told the song was "Vintage Bollywod").

We danced to an emo Seattle-style rock band at The George (and had a few drinks)

Happy Holidays!

Case Closed

2009-12-18T18:58:00.000-08:00

Convicted on all eight counts.

Finally called my family away from family. I suck.

One sole invitation may never be accepted.

My stomach hates me.

First term, second year--done.

Walk out to winter.

It's a Wonderful Life

2009-12-17T16:56:00.000-08:00

The past week has been so, so grand, from wonderful brunches to amazing claymation films, to incredible friends and collaborators, to projects going really well.

Tonight was the last night of the quarter for us second years! We presented our works in progress for the first years. I lucked out with two great groups and got to show both our platform piece (Nosferatu) and our Commedia piece (Mother Poisoning). My performance wasn't flawless (argh) but the pieces came off well and I am proud of everyone's hard work.

A great after party at the Bow Bells and now home, trying to "get tired," because I have to work tomorrow. Gah.

Also, a case of the grrrs, and this--the odds have always been in your favor, so I guess you win. It's snowing in London and I'm freezing inside.

All Creation, All the Time

2009-12-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

When I heard that the last week of every term second year was "all creation all the time," I shuddered. Creation all day? Spending eight hours in frustration and irritation? Mime-walking through the endless fields of futility? Please kill me now.

Here I am, about to start my first term's worth of All Creation All the Time and I've been saying, "give me the irritation and the frustration--we've got to make this thing fly!" Today we devised from 11am-7:30pm. It was irritating. It was frustrating. It was fun and satisfying and exhausting.

Now I've got to work on my space lab project. So close to end of term. One week--one week!

East End Girl

2009-12-11T02:38:00.000-08:00

Heigh-ho, Friday morn. Today's pleasures:

Saw the most dreamy looking guy giving me the eye at the coffee shop next door. I checked him out later only to see him with his baby in the pram. Why are dreamy men with babies even more dreamy?

Only one more week till end of term 1! The circles under my eyes are enormous.

I have succeeded in taking myself seriously almost the entire quarter.

Realizing that this whole fall I've done good work putting on my summer dress, rather than letting it be always winter and never Christmas.

We had lilies in work today and they smelled gorgeous.

I did my first set of unassisted front handsprings. Too bad I'm still working on my backward roll.

Commedia scene was finally made today. Many struggles, small rewards. I wish it were somehow more amazing, but it's a tidy stiff drink and I'm pleased, plus, my group is great.

Worked more on Nosferatu and I love working with this group. We spent half the time snapping at each other but it's so not personal that even our frustration with one another is great.

Had a great turn in the "schizophrenic self" commedia class today. Amy let me get all the way through from fighting with myself about eating sugar vs not eating sugar to dying from a sugar rash to coming back as a ghost. It was great, great fun. I like this stuff.

Planning, planning galore: trips to Stroud, to Norway, Christmas fun with family + orphans, trying to finish projects, make presents and more. Very busy, and no flies present--hurrah!

Sometimes It Rains

2009-12-09T15:57:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it does this.

Observing the World

2009-12-09T02:47:00.000-08:00

Germany and I observed Vauxhall and talked and talked. We saw the Brit Oval:
The Vauxhall Farm: there were chickens with posh hairdos:
Much laughter:
Running through churchyards and Clapham Common in the rain:
And remembering the Glorious Dead:

Then off to myofascial release where I had another transcendent experience. This morning I did a little yoga, had quinoa with raspberries and am listening to XTC's "Always Winter and Never Christmas."

Despite good days, good friends and total validation (from Norway: "wow, if XX was like this to work with last year, I understand why you went so crazy.") I must admit I had bad dreams and woke up a little depressed. It's time to shake it off and get back to taking myself seriously. I have a scene to write and a foot injury to fix.

Tears and Fears

2009-12-07T17:35:00.000-08:00

Went to an amazing cabaret in a warehouse on Saturday and ran into the last of the in-town Vacas Locas. He wept at the sight of me. It's so cool to observe last year's second years out in life, post-school. I can't believe that we're the second years now, but we are!

It looks like both my platform piece and my commedia piece might make it into the "Best of the Quarter" presentation. Pretty freakin' exciting. It is important to realize that it's just school and what I do after matters more. Even so.

A point of etiquette: if some classmates think they're making great art but are actually writing good sketch comedy--should you tell them?

Said to me this evening: "do people tell you all the time that you look like Toni Collette?"

On Sunday I went on an observation field trip to Vauxhall and Clapham with Germany
and we had a marvelous time. Then I went in for what turned out to be a harrowing massage session with another German and I learned and number of really interesting things. Next weeks she is doing my neck and jaw which should be something short of hideously painful.

Stretchy

2009-12-06T02:14:00.000-08:00

Dreams that I could put my legs in straddle and lay my chest on the floor. Yippie Skippie!

Dumb Dreams

2009-12-05T03:38:00.000-08:00

Dreamed last night of two classmates, one (Mr. Repressed Anger) who I went to kiss me on the cheek but instead, gave me a very nice kiss on the mouth. The other (Mr. Repressed Anger #2) got very mad at me for this because he thought we were together. I tried to explain, but really I just wanted to be with Mr Repressed Anger.

What does that mean? And why do I go to school with so many people with repressed anger?

The night before, I had a dream that I was having an affair with Mr. Expressed Anger and it was great.

Maybe it's time to give up on this idea of me being "a nice person." It seems it doesn't matter anyway. I've been feeling like a jerk and the other night Norway tells me, "You're such a good person!"

I Like My Bruises pt 9

2009-12-05T01:40:00.000-08:00

If I continue making physical theatre, I may spend the rest of my life covered in bruises. right now I've got a big one on my left bicep, from spotting handsprings, two mystery ones on the top of my left thigh, a huge one on my left shoulder blade from doing a shoulder roll on a wooden plank floor and several others just scattered about.

This week, I would have been able to do my handspring with only one spotter, if the acro teacher had been available. I honestly can't believe I'm doing this and for once, I am ahead of most of the group, rather than lagging behind. I still can't do an adequate backward roll, but front handspring? I'm on my way!

Creation Bear

2009-12-04T01:05:00.001-08:00

I'm going to Norway for New Year's! I hope I don't freeze to death.

And hooray, it's December! Which means that my friend Jose Bold has come out with his annual December album. This year, you can find it here, in addition to his last two, December City and Fly the December Skies. He is a very talented and very special guy.

Please enjoy.

The Territories

2009-12-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

Capitano is harder than he looks.
Pantalone came surprisingly easily.
The Zanni? Cake.

So I get this stuff. So what? Where does it lead? I also have an aptitude for pantomime. Fabulous, another dead art form at which I am adept. I guess I have to continue to wait and see.

This myofascial release stuff is changing my life.

This digestion stuff that the naturopath prescribed me is changing my life.

My flat is changing my life.

School, will you change my life? I guess I have to continue to wait and see. And please let me get handspring this week.

Christmas plans are getting in order! Nati and I started our wish list of Christmas activities. I spent a lovely afternoon with Norway planning a new year's trip, not to mention the possibility of Stroud.

All in all, it's only Tuesday and it's been a good week so far.

The Sound and the Fury

2009-11-30T02:01:00.000-08:00

Wow. Feelings sure are funny. You should probably stay out of my way today. I might throw a punch.

No, not to worry. Repression is for the Brits. And punches in the face are for self-centered dickwads.

Augh

2009-11-29T02:45:00.000-08:00

Another session of myofascial release tonight. I wonder what will happen.

Then back to taking myself seriously.

Turns Out

2009-11-28T01:13:00.000-08:00

Turns out that I really get commedia.
Turns out that my handspring is getting close to me being able to try it by myself.
Turns out that getting rid of bus emotions allows me to experience moving through space in a different way.

Turns out that I am a creature of habit.
Turns out the things I want are a lot smaller than I thought they were.
Turns out that today, it's enough to be a part of my flat.

In my flat, the boys laugh at me. They give me shit about the number of vitamins I take and the crunchy Northwest lifestyle I lead. They try and encourage me to smoke. Someone brings home a bottle of wine and we all share it. They give me aspirin for my hangovers. In my flat, the boys anti-flirt with me. They flirt by way of rejection, which is funny, endearing, and ultimately flirty in a totally harmless way. In my flat, there live three good spirits and one gal who's still finding her way in the world.

Turns out that most of the people that I am thankful for weren't at Thanksgiving.

Another Day, Another Dollar

2009-11-27T03:03:00.001-08:00

I don't see the pregnant mommies on Tuesday evenings any longer, not since I started school. I now work on Friday mornings, when the couples come in for relationship and sexual counselling. It's great to hear the couples argue.

This morning, the male half of one couple blew in with such force and intensity that it gave me a sharp reminder of how I don't have to live with that.

I like people. There are blessings every day.

Just Thinking

2009-11-26T17:21:00.001-08:00

I have been thinking a lot about what being a friend means and what I want out of friendships. I am appreciating all of the amazing friends I have in my life and have been wondering why I've invested a lot of time in a few fairweather friends.

Since the weather is rarely fair in England, I'm cleaning closet.

Remembering America

2009-11-26T17:11:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, I had some bodywork done that brought up my previously repressed (and 12-year old) memory of being hit by the bus. It was awful and amazing, both.

On Wednesday, the head of my school told us that we should skip rehearsal and get wasted with our group. "It will help you find the spirit of commedia," he tells me. I lead the charge and four creation groups left the space to get trashed at the local pub.

A group of us left at midnight to sit by Regents Canal and drink more. All I can say is, what happens at Regents Canal, stays at Regents Canal but, we did find the spirit of commedia there.

Today I had a horrible, horrible hangover that was well worth it, since I gave a good turn in class in the Pantalone mask. Class members report that the head of school was wetting himself with laughter. Yay!

Today, after receiving a late-breaking invitation to a small Thanksgiving, I went over to JM's for some amazing turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce where we talked about things we did to celebrate the holidays. I realized, once again, what a special family I have. On the way home, I found a £10 note on the street.