Does anyone here give hugs?- August 29, 2013

I finally got to sleep in today! Got up at 9:30 and was greeted with overwhelming heat.... Oh my goodness it was so hot outside today I could barely stand it...

I was feeling pretty crummy and tired and just... in a general funk this morning, so I decided what would make me feel better was to eat some of my cereal from home for breakfast. Problem: I had to find milk.

First I went to Starbucks, figuring they'd sell a little carton of milk and I could get a chai tea latte while I picked it up. Another problem: Starbucks doesn't sell just milk.

So I went to Ground Zero, thinking I could at least get a chai tea and then walk to the marketplace to get the milk. Except Ground Zero doesn't accept dining dollars, and I didn't want to pay normal money for it.

But it was 91 degrees outside. 9.1. degrees. I could not stand the walk all the way to the Seeds Marketplace.

So I went to the cafeteria and paid the dining dollars for a whole meal just for a bowl, a spoon, milk, and a place to sit down and eat with A/C.

Humph. At least having my cereal from home was worth it.

I hung out in my dorm room for a bit, got cleaned up and ready for the day and all, then went to my first class of the day at 12:30. From now on, the day gets pretty busy.

In class, we talked about Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, of which we read the first act, as well as Aristotle's writings of what makes a good play. I found it fascinating! I haven't learned about this a lot before, plus I'm really enjoying Ibsen's work.

After class, I went to get some food from the Campus Center, and... well... kinda just hung out by myself in the shade for a while to eat it. I've been pretty alone all day today.

You know what I really miss? Hugs. I haven't gotten very many decent hugs while I've been here... I miss my friends from high school...and my family... I got hugs from them all the time....

Maybe I'll wear my "Free Hugs" shirt tomorrow, if it's not boiling outside again.

After lunch was nice! I went a little off-campus to Yogurtland to meet up with a few girls from Christian Students, a group on-campus. We got frozen yogurt and just talked, which was really nice! The yogurt was pretty good too :)

Spanish class went well, then I rushed over to the Massman theater for an acting workshop. I got to meet a bunch of theater kids while I was there, which makes me happy. Theater kids are the best.

Our workshop is being taught by Sharon Carnicke. I didn't realize what a big deal she was until after she started talking about the books she's written and the work she's done as far as Stanisklavsky goes, but wow! What a privledge to learn from her and to meet her!!! I had an absolutely great time, and learned a ton, especially about Stanislavsky's method. Turns out it's not a method at all; it's simply a guideline for all actors to help them reach the "creative mood" in the best way they can! There are huge sections of his original books that never got translated to the English version! And all other languages come from the English version! People in Russia are learning some acting ideas of his that we in America have never even touched on. Plus, a lot of his work was censored by Stalin! He's not just a realist actor; he worked in all sorts of genres and even in the opera working on his techniques and ideas.

Wow. How cool!!!

The workshop ended at 8:30, and I went over to the Scene Dock theater for my on-camera audition! It was really chill. My friend Taubert and I decided to pair up, so we chose a scene from "The Diner" to practice and practice and practice, and then perform in front of two cameras and a group of people. I played Beth. The audition itself went really well!!! I've never really performed in front of a camera before, but I think I did pretty well! We did the scene twice: once originally, then once with some corrections and clarifications that the main person in charge gave us. The second time had a very different feel than the first time, but turned out great!! :) I'm very very happy with it! Man, the adrenaline rush you get is just uncompared after doing a scene well!!!

Since Taubert and I finished at the same time, we then went to dinner together at Parkside. Yes... a very late dinner, but nice nonetheless! Then I walked back to my dorm on my own...  singing On My Own from Les Miserables because it was totally appropriate as I was walking back. Walking, alone, at night, on an empty street, under the lights? Yeah, total Eponine moment. But whatever.

I like the campus at night... It's empty and quiet... Or maybe that's just because everyone was watching the first away game somewhere. I did get updates as I walked around: a huge screen was set up in the Campus Center with lots of people watching! I felt pretty good about the game, which we were winning, and my nice walk, and the great audition, so I got a cookie and came back to the dorm.

Since, I've been in the Pardee lounge, on my computer and watching the game. There were some funny guys in here earlier too! I was the only girl in the lounge, actually.... I felt a little like a fly on the wall during a guys' sleepover, so that was... an interesting and new experience. I got to talk with them too, so that was fun to get to know them :)

Most of them left, so now it's just me and a guy named Forrest. We're both just chilling and watching TV. I feel like one of the guys.

So, overall, this evening was much better than this morning. But I'm still pretty tired and missing home quite a lot... maybe tomorrow I'll send out some things to my friends' mailboxes to make me feel better. What helps too is hearing how they all are! If you're reading this guys, please text me or Facebook me or something!! I want to hear from you!!!

And I really want more hugs... :(

Here's a virtual hug for you: *HUG!!* Fight on, friends.