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Sinéad O'Connor "Jerusalem" |
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Oh, howdy.
Man, I guess if we didn't count the last DJ entry (the paltry, pathetic thing that it was), then I really haven't updated in two weeks! I am beside myself with guilt. At least I haven't been cheating on DJ with a dirty xanga or anything like that. No, girl, I stay true. I can't stay long because my follow-up interview for my RA position happens tomorrow, and I'll need at least an hour before the interview to second-guess my V-neck sweater and pinstripe pants. Anyway, I spent the weekend in the metropolis of Lemont, so of course I have war stories. And if you're lucky, Uncle Louis will even let you to touch his shotgun wound.
My mom(my) arrived in Iowa City at around 1 on Thursday, shortly after my Theatre Movement class finished. She and I grabbed Starbucks and hit the road, and I even drove for most of the way home. We picked up Culver's, and the classiness of the car ride was then secured. If I recall correctly, I really just chilled out upon first getting home. I ran on the treadmill, took a nap, and played Mom in Scrabble. That ho totally kicked my ass twice. Even with the enlisted help of a shitload of popcorn, my ass was grass. Most importantly, it was just great to see my family and take a load off... very nice to be able to ignore The Daily Iowan and Theatre Crafts and other fictional priorities for a day or two. Anyway, Friday, after getting hair-cutted by Wayne (umm, were you expecting anyone else?), I attended my brother Mark's play at LHS. In case I haven't yet voiced my incredulousness at the play Mrs. Jacobs chose, allow me to unwind. LHS staged The Boys Next Door, a play about four mentally handicapped men who live together under the supervision of a social worker. I really don't think high schoolers, or amateur actors at all for that matter, should really be taking on roles like mentally challenged people because -- long story short -- professional actors go through extensive training to take on such roles. There's such a possibility of playing "retarded" as a type, and from the perspective an amateur actor, I can hardly see any other way of going about it. Luckily, not all of the characters were "too" handicapped besides Sean Driscoll's role... so really the roles were just more neurotic than anything else. Still, I think this is dangerous territory for a high school drama club.
Aside from my hang-up about the selected play, I must say, the cast did a great job. I was really impressed with quite a few of the actors, including my brother Mark, who really played his first large "main stage" role well. Lots of conviction to what he was doing. Also, let it be said, Sean Driscoll was a fucking wunderkind up there. The minute he first entered, my hand was on my heart. Just like the Kylie song. He's always so good and so compassionate with his roles, including this one especially. He also commands so much power when he has to. His confidence seemed like a professional actor's. Definitely. The other main actors were also quite good... and in this play more than others I've seen, all the actors kept their characters between lines and stayed occupied onstage. Believe me, I was the first person ready to slam the hell out of this production, but it was just very well done. The direction was more tolerable than it usually is, but that's obviously Mrs. Jacobs' discretion and not the actors. I watched the show a second time with Monica... and naturally I was bitchier about the whole play seeing as Monica is my cohort in analysis of all things. More on that in a few.
On Saturday, I finally got to meet my online buddy Andy who's from Coal City. In person, he doesn't speak in instant messages, so I had to get used to that. We met up at the 75th Street Panera, which is one of the hot spots of home if I do say so myself. I had a shitload of money to spend because I gained 200 bucks just moving boxes at my Dad's office for an hour with Mark. I know, 200 bucks. It was a fucking lottery win. So anyway, conversation with Andy was spirited, but I have to say, my shakiness in finally meeting this dude for the first time totally kicked in, and I think I sprung too far into entertainer mode. He seemed amused and called me on it, which made me like him even more. But okay, I parted company with Andy at 5:30 or so, and I went home to gear up and watch The Boys Next Door with Monica. We took our seats right near Adam Carter and Mandy Kilinskis, aka a couple of true LHS drama alums. After the play, Monica and I jetted to (bright lights... BIG CITY...) Bell Road for some Starbucks, Baskin Robbins, and Wendy's in that order. I love catching up with Monica because, one, we could talk for fucking decades. Secondly, it's always great to check in with Monica about current events and our similar interests because we're both strongly opinionated about a lot of important global issues (namely Madonna's song "I Love New York"). It was fantastic, and we were out till 3:30 a.m. The next day, mom whisked me off to the Burbs Bus train station at the Oak Brook mall, and who else boarded the bus but my buddy Hank AND my roommate Zak! It was a goddamn reunion. Where was Maury Povich to commentate on it all?
Yesterday was motherfucking go-time. I had two articles to write, four one-page responses to write for Enterprise Reporting, a short source paper to jot down, articles to edit and critique, and literature to read. What a cruel re-introduction to Iowa City after my time off! Before I dove into that mess, I had Quizno's with Lauren on Sunday (how that girl even survived Auschwitz, I mean, Dance Marathon, I'll never know) and a wonderful milkshake at Steak N Shake with Alyssa. The night was capped off with a Scott stint after midnight, and well, I did a lot that Sunday night. All pretty fun and memorable. Love my compadres. Even the ones who aren't blowjob bearers.
Today had its shaky moments. I thought my iPod had broken on the way back from the journalism building, and after sending all my fucking info to the iPod people, I discover I just had to "reset" my iPod. Luckily for me, I didn't have an anxiety attack. What a feat for the record books. Then I got into a frustrated argument with Rachel online, and suddenly I realized my (hopefully) good intentions in offering advice were lost in what was received as haughtiness or callousness. I'm no stranger to feeling demeaned as someone gives me advice... and maybe I feel like I'm vindicated or something if I speak authoritatively to someone else about their issues. Still, I have to say, some of the advice I've received that seems to come from a cold place (or... unbiased place, I guess) is also the same advice I remember for years. Not to say that dispensing of self-righteous advice without consideration for the cordiality of a friendship should always be justifiable. Definitely not. In the end, I'm really sorry if I ever just offend someone with coldness when I'm trying to be of service. I'm incredibly sensitive myself, so it's probably true that I'm often deflective to cover up a vulnerability. I don't mean to power-trip. I don't mean to look like I've been anywhere, known anything, or have somehow conquered any problem in my path. It's all the opposite, actually. I do know that Wheat Thins kick Triscuits' ass, though. Don't challenge that.
I've also just discovered how easy it is to buy iTunes. Guys. I just spent 12 bucks on a Madonna rarities collection, a Sinéad O'Connor song, and a cover performed by Aimee Mann. If I'm paying with money that comes off a card and not out of my wallet, it's basically free, right!? Super!! Back to dancing!! So in other words, I need to gauge my online spending before it starts costing me more than a dozen dollars. I'm still reeling from the sweet-ass $200 pick-up from Saturday, so rock on, Louis.
And OH YEAH: my cousin Tiffany had her kid a week early! There is a new member of my family! Her name is Aubryannah Lynn Benson (aka Aubry). Tiffany's labor was induced because she had high blood pressure, so on February 3, out came Tiffany's baby. And get this, Tiffany is still getting married this Saturday. I will be there, I will be reading the old stand-by "Love is kind, love is not mean, love is like kitties" reading that's read at every wedding. I sure don't have a suit... so I'm screwed sort of. I always find a way to make dapper-ness happen, so I'm not worried. Anyway, Project Runway is on tomorrow, and that means all my cares have flown away anyway. Lucky me, dammit.
But okay, I need to get going. My interview happens in... ten hours, so I figure I should sleep for at least eight of those. Love you guys so much. Thanks for reading, and thanks for joining me during this actually-not-unbearable February. I'm feeling a little confused about all this leaving and returning to Iowa I've been doing, but I'm keeping pretty sane. Actually, life is still manageable. Borders on humdrum sometimes but crosses into hilarity always. You know how I do.
Love you especially if I can beat you at Scrabble, xoxo,
Louis
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