Good morning, USA! I've got a feeling that it's gonna be a wonderful day!

I used to like the American Dad theme song just because it's catchy... Now I like it because after today's work on repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell, I feel just the tiniest bit patriotic. Our country took one huge step forward towards equality today.

So this week at work, we went in really early to rearrange the store and straighten it for a corporate visit the next day. And a new coworker and I were talking as we folded sweaters, and kind of got acquainted with an employee from another store. She mentioned she was into musical theatre, I told her I was an aspiring actress and we talked for a while. She had to leave, and then my coworker and I talked for a bit longer about theatre. I mentioned in passing that I didn't think people understood how important theatre is, and he asked, "What do you mean?"

I told him that theatre--and in this conversation it included all forms of entertainment--was not simply an escape for people, but a new way to bring ideas to our generation. A generation of people who don't watch or read the news to get their information, but go out and see movies or concerts, and understand messages through storytelling and relating to characters. I was happy because he, as a strictly non-theatre person, seemed to completely understand what I was telling him.

And I loved that I felt excited to be telling anyone about my passion. I never doubted my passion, but it's always nice when I feel that surge again.

One thousand words.

I don't normally do this, but I came across this photo today, and I can't explain why, but I felt really connected to it. I don't think I need to say anymore, so I'll just post it.

The Holiday Season

A year of buying things for myself, and occasionally for other peoples' birthdays, never seems to lead me to where I want to go for Christmas. Specifically gift-giving.

Don't get me wrong, I always give gifts over Christmas. But I realized this year that while I've given some great gifts to my friends, I find myself always neglecting my brothers, usually due to a very limited budget and an even more limited number of ideas. My brothers are amazingly difficult to shop for, namely due to our extreme difference of interests. I always thought it would be easy to shop for me because I'm very nerdy, and there are a vast number of things I enjoy. My brothers aren't quite the same story; there are things that they like, but nothing they're always openly excited for aside from sports. Adam is a huge Cubs fan, for instance, and Derek loves the Oregon Ducks. But sports? I hate giving sports memorabilia, especially since both already have a ton of it.

But my plight, the Plight of the Well-Meaning Sister as I call it, will cease to exist this year.

No longer will I suffer through Christmases of feeling bad because I didn't get my brothers something for Christmas! Nor will I wait until the last second to find them a sub-par gift. Because I have already found them gifts. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, on this day, December 6, I have found both of my brothers Christmas gifts that they will not only like, but will love wholeheartedly. I have found that the only trouble I'm having is limiting the number of gifts to give them, because I have struck a seriously huge goldmine of ideas. I obviously can't post them here (not that I think either of them read my blog), but I'm very excited about my gift-givings this Christmas.

Very. Very. Excited.

My first REAL post.

I know my actual first post was pretty dumb. Why write anything if you're not going to say anything, right?

So I'm ignoring it.

I'm out of college now. I have been since May. I've been in Omaha since the end of July. When I moved out of Emporia, I'd really hoped that I would... I don't know, DO something. I have a job working retail at Banana Republic. But that's really it. I haven't done much else aside from cooking. I did audition for a play at the Community Playhouse, but there was only one girl part and I was too young for it.

But this is good for me. I'm now absolutely fed up with being bored, and I'm doing something about it. I've picked two monologues to audition with in January, I'm on the hunt for two more (two comedic pieces, one classical and one modern, if you can think of any), and I'm saving some funds up for whatever is coming.

What am I auditioning for, you ask? Well... I don't quite know the answer to that myself. I've applied for U/RTAs in New York City. But even after sending in my application I've been wondering if grad school really is what I want to do. I mostly sent it in as a precaution, and because it's not only grad schools I could audition for at U/RTAs. But then I had a talk with my fantastic friend, Lindsay. She's been in California for the best part of a year, and she told me how she's not the happiest she could be with her location. She'd auditioned for something called the ITAs last January, got a few call-backs, but by then she'd decided to move to California so nothing panned out.

What are the ITAs? Something awesome, it turns out. The Illinois Theatre Association holds auditions every year for several theatre companies based in Illinois, mostly in Chicago. Anywhere from 20-30 companies see you audition, and can call you back to audition for their company. Problem is... it's the exact same weekend as the U/RTAs I'd signed up (and paid) for.

So that was it. I wasn't going to ITAs, I was still going to U/RTAs, so I shouldn't fret about it. Well... I'm all about instinct at this point in life, and that just didn't quite mesh with what I felt was right. But it's paid for. I have to go. And then I talked to my dad about it (mostly just in passing, telling him what Lindsay was up to now), and he said "And you already paid for U/RTAs?" "Yeah," I said. "How much were they?" "A hundred dollars." "Well, Lindsay, think about it. If this is something you really want to do, I'll pay you the hundred that you already gave to U/RTA." I couldn't believe my ears! How awesome of my dad.

And now you know my whole debate. I'm leaning towards ITAs... but at the same time, I wasn't just going to U/RTAs for myself. I was going to New York to support one of my greatest and closest friends, Ryan, when he auditions for Juilliard. Before I even thought about U/RTAs, I'd planned on going to morally support him in something he really wants to do, and consequently is extremely nervous about.

It might not seem like much of a debate to an onlooker. But it sure feels like one.

My new(est) blog.

I have another blog (Adventures of a Newborn Hobbyist). I fully plan on continuing to update that blog, but I feel that I need to have one for my thoughts as well as my activities.

Unfortunately I don't have much to post at the moment, due to the fact that I am tired and must go to bed soon. But expect quite a few updates!