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Soliloquies & Sass

let's try this again// noises off

I really do miss blogging. I don't know why I don't update regularly. I think about it all the time ("This would make a great blog post!" "Better take a picture for the blog!" etc.) but then for some reason, I just don't. As always, though, this is my space, and I am going to do what I want with it. I don't have hundreds of followers like some people, so I really don't feel like making an apology for my "absence." Sorry, I've just been enjoying life, and I think that's perfectly okay!

Instead of cramming everything I've been up to into one post, I'm going to update in segments. The most important thing I've tackled this summer is my involvement with Black Rose Theatre. In May, I got cast as Poppy in the comedy Noises Off! It was such an amazing experience. I worked with what I would say are the most talented people I have ever met (and I've been acting for 10+ years now!) This was the most complicated play I have ever done, as well. I'm used to memorizing lines and digging into emotions and all that good stuff, but there was so much blocking in this play (basically, where and how to move and when) that I had never experienced before. We also had to build a fully rotating set. I was more involved with the set and lighting than I have ever been, as well.

So what's Noises Off! about? Basically it's about a group of people putting on a play and all the drama that goes on on AND off stage! My character ended up pregnant, people threatened to kill other people, actors went missing... so fun! 

By far one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done! And it doesn't stop there! I auditioned for their night of One Acts written and directed by local playwrights, and I got a part in The Date. Rehearsals for that are well under-way and it's pretty funny, too! I never thought of myself as a comedic actress before (my first-love are historical/period dramas and Shakespeare), but it's been fun and a growing experience, for sure!

Summer.

Again, sporadic posting but whatever. It's my blog!

What has been up lately?

- Student Teaching

I have spent the past month teaching for 3 hours each morning in a 5th grade reading classroom. I can't say anything negative about my time there, I truly can't. It's crazy how fast I got attached to my 45 students. And I know now more than ever that teaching is what I am meant to do. After receiving positive feedback from the students, the teacher I worked with, my supervisor, and the vice-principal of the school, I feel so encouraged and supported. My last day was Friday, and the students all wrote me notes and it was all I could do to keep from crying in front of them. I wish them the best as they venture out to middle school! This is the first time I can say I wish the semester could have lasted a little longer so I could spend more time with those kids!

- Recovering

I have still been recovering from the pulmonary embolism and ulcerative colitis attack that occurred late February. A lot of my time is still spent sorting out medicine and going to check-ups. Three months later, and my INR levels are still all over the place. One week I will be therapeutic, and the next week they are low again, and so the dosage is upped. And then the process repeats. It's very frustrating as I am doing everything I am supposed to - no leafy greens, no herbal teas, no cranberries, taking my blood thinners at the same time every day... but they still bounce up and down. I'm ready for consistency, body! On top of that, I also have to have regular visits with my 'lady doctor' (since birth control is the cause of all this nasty business), my GI doctor, and my pulmonologist. So. Many. Doctors.

- Summer

Once I hand in my teacher work sample binder tomorrow, summer will have officially started! I've got some paper-work to get in the mail tomorrow for my job that I will start at the end of May. I don't know how much I am allowed to say about it, but I am very thankful for this job! Hopefully it can contribute a good bit to the 'Heather REALLY Needs A Car' fund!

- Acting

After having to drop out of Earnest when my crazy sicknesses attacked and I was in the hopsital for 10 days, I was feeling really discouraged in the acting department. In a way, I felt like my 'last chance' to be on stage was taken away from me. In a sense, it was. It's the last play I would have done in connection to college. But I was being narrowminded - there are several wonderful community theatres that are all within a 30 minute drive from me. So as I was browsing facebook one day (when I should have been studying) I saw an audition notice posted. I made up my mind that if I could get my work done in an ample amount of time, I'd go to the audition.

And I am SO glad I made that choice!

The auditions were for Noises Off, which is basically a farce within a farce... which is right up my alley! I love the fast-paced lines and the physical humor involved in that kind of show! There are only four female parts and several people auditioned, so I kind of convinced myself that it was a good experience to audition, but I probably wouldn't make it. Plus, everybody else seemed to already be in good standing with the theatre, and here I was, a newbie.

But I went back to the third day of auditions, just to give it one last hurrah. When I got there, I went to re-introduce myself, and got told, "We remember you, Heather. You're hard to forget!" Talk about an encouragement! I truly do love acting and theatre, and that kind of boost is what I need sometimes. When you spend four years acting in college, you don't always know where you stand in terms of your skills in the outside world, if that makes sense.

Well, it turns out I got cast and we jumped into rehearsals the same day! I am so excited to be playing Poppy, the frazzled and over-emotional assistant stage manager. I'm also excited to yell, "I'M GOING TO HAVE A BABY!" at the top of my lungs. Good gosh, I'm excited. And let me tell you, the rest of the cast is unbelievably talented and can pull off British accents better than anyone I've met in the South. I'm also excited to carry on my favorite hobby into the summer. Ahh, I can't wait until next rehearsal! I love being excited about things :)

first week back.

(just some instagrams from the week. i'm ridiculous.)

This week has been my first week to REALLY be back at school since getting out of the hospital. Sure, I went back the Friday before spring break, but that didn't really count.

I'm not going to lie and say it was an easy week, but I can say that it was a week full of blessings. 

I've started a new routine of waking up between 5 and 5:30. If you had told me to wake up that early a year ago, I would have laughed in your face. But I really enjoy the quiet time in the morning where I am the only one in the house awake. Plus, it gives me time to do any last minute work or studying I may need to do before my 8 AM class. AND it helps me get in the groove for student teaching next semester....eeek!

Monday, I had my last group teaching day in the Madison schools. My group taught three different science lessons to four groups of fifth graders over the semester, and it has been so much fun. I always thought I wanted to work with the first or second grade age group, but teaching older kids has allowed me to see that I think I will be happy no matter where God places me in my career. I was really sad to leave the science lab for the  last time - those kids have a bright future!

I spent a lot of time finalizing a unit lesson plan that was due Wednesday. I stayed up the latest I have all semester (1:30!) to finish it. I can't believe I used to stay up until 3 or 4 AM - or even pull all nighters - and be good to go the next day. When did I get so old? I need two or three cups of coffee (at least!) to make it through the day now.

This was also the week we were supposed to find out our placements for the rest of professional block. The way our class works is this - the first half is lecture, the second half is field experience. So, starting in April, we will be teaching twenty lesson plans to a classroom we have been assigned to in Jackson. I was so nervous to find out my placement and who my supervising professor would be! I found out my school and supervisor Wednesday, and the nerves just kept flowing. I nervously facebook messaged a girl from my roommate's graduating class who I knew was assigned to the same school and professor when she went through block, and she sent me back nothing but encouraging words. Today, I found out the cooperating teacher and grade I'd be teaching, and funnily enough, I ended up with the same teacher she had! God knew what He was doing when he placed it on my heart to send her a message. I now have a resource and someone to talk to when things get tough (or go great!) in that classroom! She had nothing but wonderful things to say, and I can't wait to start working with these fifth graders! I meet them on Tuesday, and I am SO excited!

God has just been so diligent in telling me not to worry. I can look so calm and collected on the outside, but inside my heart is always a nervous wreck. I've suffered panic attacks and sleep paralysis because of nerves before, and it's one of the very worst feelings in the world. My quiet times have been so full and rich with God's reassurance that the here and now is temporary, but His provision is eternal. A little camp song has been going through my mind constantly that we used to sing at Redcloud - "Cast your burdens on Jesus 'cause He cares for YOU!" Amen and hallelujah!

Other than that, I have been working on paperwork for student teaching, going to class, eating lots of veggies, and going to bed ridiculously early (between 8:30 - 10, crazy!) I plan on taking it easy this weekend, sleeping in a little, and hearing my baby brother sing on Sunday night!

Currently.

Watching Well, at the moment, nothing. I watched Pitch Perfect earlier, though and I'll probably watch it again later (it's just so funny!) I'm trying to lesson plan, though, and I get distracted if I watch something at the same time.

Thinking about All the work I have to get done between this evening and tomorrow. Two more lesson plans, studying for a test, and preparing for another lesson I'm assisting with on Monday.

Listening to the Lumineers station on Spotify. The song right now is Patron Saints by Regina Spektor.

Excited about The warmer weather! I wore a cardigan and tights to a wedding today and when I left it was so hot! I'll miss wearing cardigans all the time (who am I kidding, I'll still wear them...) but warmer weather is exciting!

Reading The Passing Bells by Phillip Rock. It's similar to Downton Abbey and wonderful so far.

Loving my short hair! I had it this short about two years ago and I missed it. So much less time in the mornings! I feel more grown up with it this way.

Drinking I may have just discovered Chai Lattes this week and I am addicted.

Eating leftover red peppers stuffed with tomato basil sauce and sauteed eggplant. So yum! I also had some wedding food today and I'm not ashamed about it. I can't eat any greens (well, I can have a few) because of the blood thinners I am on, so I have also been eating potatoes more than usual. I used to hate them but I love them now!

Missing School, as funny as that sounds. I was out for 10 days in the hospital, and then had spring break. I miss routine!

Making me happy my brother is home from Saint Louis. I am making progress on makeup work. I have a wonderful family and wonderful friends. I went to a fun jewelry party last night. My house is cute. I get to start my herb/vegetable garden. Basically everything lately is making me happy!

NOLA, Y'all.

I am the most sporadic blogger ever. But it's my blog and I'll blog what (and when) I want to, right? Right.

Spring Break is here. Technically I have had the longest break in the world because I was in the hospital for ten days, made it back to school on a Friday, and then break started that weekend. The hospital was scary (I have blood clots in my lungs...woah.) but I am so glad they figured it out and have me on some good medication and regular doctor's visits now. I never want to miss 10 days of school again. Ever.

Tuesday my mom and I went to New Orleans for a much needed break. We don't go on trips very often, and walking around a big city, doing some shopping, and eating some good food was just what we needed.

I went to this place, where I got the first and most wonderful Chai Latte I have ever had. I might be addicted now.

I may have splurged just a little at Urban Outfitters, but we don't have one in Jackson and I got almost everything on sale. Plus. They are cat shoes. And a cat shirt. I couldn't say no to that.

We ate dinner at Felix's, our favorite place in New Orleans. Normally I say to heck with it and get fried oysters or catfish, but I can't really have fried food now (I did eat the sweet potato fries...) so we both got grilled shrimp for a change and it was AMAZING. I might love it more than fried oysters, and that says a lot!

Maybe I am weird, but I love staying in hotels. It was a lovely stay at the St. James. I slept like a baby and the bed was like a cloud. I didn't want to leave! Checkout was a depressing time.

Wednesday morning we had brunch at The Ruby Slipper, which was right down the road from our hotel on Magazine Street. This may have been my favorite meal of the whole trip. I got a Spanish omelette that had an amazing sauce and perfect sausage. My mom got a strawberry and blackberry pancake and it was also delicious! I'll be going back here next time I'm in New Orleans.

We rounded out the trip with Cafe du Monde beignets and coffee. You can't go to New Orleans and not go there, and that's a fact.

The rest of Spring Break, unfortunately, consists of trying to catch up on all the work I missed and everything that is due in the next couple of weeks. I have a doctor's appointment for my lungs in the morning and then I'll be lesson planning all day. Sunday I have brunch plans and a wedding to go to, and Sunday after church will be more studying and planning. Back to reality, I guess!

The rest of our trip...

...to Georgia was very pleasant. I watched several of the Poirot movies my grandfather got for Christmas, did a little shopping - and my favorite - had lunch at Umaido.

One of the last days we were there, I got a text from my cousin asking if I wanted some "real" Ramen for lunch. I felt bad, but really wanted to get out of the house, so I happily went along. Turns out, this was one of the best decisions ever.

I like Ramen. What broke college kid doesn't? But this was like... real deal. All our noodles were fresh. But before I even get to the ramen, lemme talk about the appetizers! We ordered Japanese pickles, pork belly (so. good.), edamame, and dumplings. We could have had a meal just off of our appetizers, but then the soup came. Y'all. It was beautiful!

There's noodles, scallions, pork slices... an egg (I didn't get brave enough to eat the egg, but everyone else loved theirs.) I've never had "authentic" Ramen, but I can imagine this was pretty darn close. We all enjoyed slurping down our noodles and the bathrooms had cool mirrors, and who doesn't take a selfie in cool mirrors? Well, I did, anyway.

As my cousin Clay said, "How can you eat this and not believe there is a God?"

While we were still in Georgia, I also scored a 50 dollar coat at Old Navy for 12 bucks, and some great movies at Barnes and Noble for 50% off. No complaints there!

Now I'm back in Mississippi with less than a week left until I start school (and my professional block classes!) Two semesters left! Until school starts, I'm busying myself with learning lines for Arcadia and reading all of Hercule Poirot's short stories (lucky library find!)