Merry Christmas! Right now I am sitting in the Denver International Airport getting ready to board a plane to visit my sister in New York. It is very much needed as The Nutcracker has been going on the past four weeks, making for some long weeks at work. I went to almost every performance because I help run a program with the Auxiliary called The Sugarplum Alums, along with doing backstage tours here and there. Every show has sold really well...better than other seasons, in fact. It is quite a sight to see so many excited people at every show. My favorite part is seeing the little kids all dressed up, uncomfortably tugging at the hems of their dresses or the belt on their trousers.
In case, none of you have attended a CB performance before, you don't know what you are missing! Here is a video of one of my favorite numbers in The Nutcracker. Here is "Arabian" danced by Luis Valdes and Shelby Dyer.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Prop 8: The Musical...and other amusing things
I found a couple amusing media peices today. One addresses a rather serious topic in our country right now in a comical manner. The other one is just plain funny and I can't wait to check out the real thing when it releases
'Emo Boy' headed to big screen
Vanguard Films picks up rights to comic book series
By Borys Kit
Dec 5, 2008, 12:00 AM ET
John H. Williams and his Vanguard Films have picked up rights to the cult comic book series "Emo Boy," setting Kyle Newman to direct the adaptation. Stephen Edmond, the comic's writer-artist, is penning the screenplay. Emo is a fashion and music style as well as emotional description of someone who is overly sensitive or angst-ridden. Published by Slave Labor Graphics, the satirical comic followed the travails of the most self-dramatizing young man in the history of the world, whose emotions were so intense he even had "emo powers."Vanguard discovered the book at Comic-Con. Vanguard's Rob Moreland is overseeing. The company hopes to make music a key component of the project, which has been described as being in the tone of "Napoleon Dynamite," "Harold and Maude" and "Zoolander." Newman, repped by UTA and the Collective, is the helmer behind "Fanboys," the long-delayed comedy about "Star Wars" fans. The movie is due to open Feb. 6.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Twilight
Last night, I attended the midnight showing of the much-anticpated film adaptation of Twilight with three girlfriends. For those of you that live under a rock, Twilight is the story of 17-year old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, WA and falls in love with a mysterious, good-looking classmate named Edward Cullen. Edward and his family turn out to be vampires and Bella and Edward begin a relationship that is laced with love and danger, as Edward could kill her at any minute. I came along, more or less for the company, but I was also anxious to see how this film would translate onscreen from the book. After seeing the movie, I felt that I had just watched a story that didn't really engage me and left me a little disappointed, but after more thought, I can appreciate some elements and the daunting task it must've been to bring this beloved book by millions alive on the big-screen.
Since I am not a die-hard fan of the books (so far, at least as I've only read the first one), I need more than just the satisfaction of seeing the characters and setting come to life; I need a story and characters that has three-dimensional qualities. Since there was so much to cover in the story, a lot of the points were breezed over. There was a backstory about vampires and werewolves that hardly got any discussion. I didn't feel the relationships between all the characters were developed fully. Even with Bella and Edward I was hoping for more angsty, fluttery moments. There a couple swoon-worthy scenes between them and it would have been nice to get more of those to really understand their emotional distress.
However, I can certainly understand how it is difficult to bring the same emotional turmoil that you experience in a book to a big screen that only allows 
for two hours of material. The director followed the plot pretty closely from the book and I thought the film was rather well cast. Kristen Stewart did a good job of playing an awkward and vulnerable teenager, who could easily fall in love with a specimen as stunning as Edward. Rob Pattinson is the only
for two hours of material. The director followed the plot pretty closely from the book and I thought the film was rather well cast. Kristen Stewart did a good job of playing an awkward and vulnerable teenager, who could easily fall in love with a specimen as stunning as Edward. Rob Pattinson is the only young actor I can picture in this role, as he is a good age and has the sexy yet dangerous quality that Edward needs to have. I didn't agree with the choices for some of the supporting characters but that will make this review way too long!
There are some sociological points that some feminists and realists can argue and I will say that while those ideas can absolutely be supported, it's important to remember that this film is not for the purpose of advancing society. Maybe once in a while, we need to believe that people are "meant to be" and that they will do absolutely anything to be with the one they love.
So, in conclusion, you must be in the correct mindset when watching this movie. If anything, try to enjoy some of the Oregon coast scenery that is the setting for this movie. There are some beautiful scenes between the two leads, including one that features this song called "Bella's Lullaby." I would love to hear what other people thought about this movie so feel free to leave your comments! In fact, please do!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Creative Conversations
Today, I attended an event called Creative Conversations at an art studio called The Lab in Lakewood. These events are designed for young professionals in the beginning stages of their careers that want to enhance their leadership capacity. The event consisted of an afternoon of speakers from the Denver community that are finding ways to serve through art. Some of the presenters definitely left an impression on me.
One of the speakers discussed the trends occurring in the art world. One of her main points is that our society is shifting into an immediate gratification mindset. The attendance rate of live performances are going down. Some arts organizations like the Metroplitan Opera in New York are attempting to remedey this by providing the option of streaming their operas online. People have the power and ability to choose their own timing to "attend." While this concept definitely speaks to my generation it somewhat worries me. To me, there is nothing like seeing something live and in person. Nothing can substitute for that emotional connection between your role as an audience member and the performer onstage. If experiencing art starts to become only digital, I just can't imagine what this will mean for our society. Will people start having digital relationships? For some reason I get this picture in my head of people having family reunions over webcams- eek! Thoughts?
On another note, A great couple named the Birky's came and discussed their brainchild: a restaurant called SAME Cafe. The restaurant serves organic, healthy food and is contained in a space that is only 19 by 30 feet. The kitchen is open-air so that there is absolutely no division between anyone. But what really makes the restaurant unique is the concept: It is a community-space where all is welcome, meaning that anyone is able to eat regardless of financial status. They ask that you give back in some way, meaning that you can donate your time in the kitchen or you can just make a donation of whatever you can in a donation box they keep in the restaurant. Somehow the donations in the box always cover their costs. Their concept has resulted in a space that is truly a community- they have people from all walks of life from business people, homeless people, single parents, students. I have yet to eat there but I am very excited about checking it out soon!
A dance company called Sweet Edge also performed. They are a modern dance group, founded by a dancer named Kim Olson. The piece was performed to Radiohead by five dancers. Her perspective of dance is that it doesn't need to be presented in a space that strictly separates the performers and audience. It should be presented in a space that is accessible to everyone. In fact, she was commissioned to create a piece that was performed in a parking garage. The dance they performed was very abstract and left a few people in the audience in tears because of their personal interpretations.
Overall, it was a great afternoon and I felt rejuvenated after the presenters. I think it's easy for me to forget to take time away to let myself be inspired. I hope to do things like this more often.
One of the speakers discussed the trends occurring in the art world. One of her main points is that our society is shifting into an immediate gratification mindset. The attendance rate of live performances are going down. Some arts organizations like the Metroplitan Opera in New York are attempting to remedey this by providing the option of streaming their operas online. People have the power and ability to choose their own timing to "attend." While this concept definitely speaks to my generation it somewhat worries me. To me, there is nothing like seeing something live and in person. Nothing can substitute for that emotional connection between your role as an audience member and the performer onstage. If experiencing art starts to become only digital, I just can't imagine what this will mean for our society. Will people start having digital relationships? For some reason I get this picture in my head of people having family reunions over webcams- eek! Thoughts?
On another note, A great couple named the Birky's came and discussed their brainchild: a restaurant called SAME Cafe. The restaurant serves organic, healthy food and is contained in a space that is only 19 by 30 feet. The kitchen is open-air so that there is absolutely no division between anyone. But what really makes the restaurant unique is the concept: It is a community-space where all is welcome, meaning that anyone is able to eat regardless of financial status. They ask that you give back in some way, meaning that you can donate your time in the kitchen or you can just make a donation of whatever you can in a donation box they keep in the restaurant. Somehow the donations in the box always cover their costs. Their concept has resulted in a space that is truly a community- they have people from all walks of life from business people, homeless people, single parents, students. I have yet to eat there but I am very excited about checking it out soon!
A dance company called Sweet Edge also performed. They are a modern dance group, founded by a dancer named Kim Olson. The piece was performed to Radiohead by five dancers. Her perspective of dance is that it doesn't need to be presented in a space that strictly separates the performers and audience. It should be presented in a space that is accessible to everyone. In fact, she was commissioned to create a piece that was performed in a parking garage. The dance they performed was very abstract and left a few people in the audience in tears because of their personal interpretations.
Overall, it was a great afternoon and I felt rejuvenated after the presenters. I think it's easy for me to forget to take time away to let myself be inspired. I hope to do things like this more often.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Swan Lake reviews are in!
Colorado Ballet's second show of their 48th season, Swan Lake, opened last weekend. The local Denver media is buzzing about this amazing production! I have seen the show three times, mainly because I have to work, but I have never been disappointed. Swan Lake runs through October 26 so check it out if you can! Here are some media pieces about the production:
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Sigur Ros
Last week I got last- minute tickets to see the Sigur Ros show at Red Rocks. They played on Saturday night and it was INCREDIBLE. If you are one of the few people that have never heard of Sigur Ros before, they are an Icelandic post-modern rock band with classical and ethereal qualities (as described by Wikipedia...=)). The lyrics are a mixture of Icelandic, English and their own made-up language called Volenska. I drove up with my good friends, Chance, Tyler and James but when we arrived Chance and Tyler discovered that they had lost their tickets. So James and I went and they had to drive back home to look for their tickets. They ended up finding them at the ground of the gas station they had stopped at on the way. What a nightmare for them!
Anyway, the show was amazing. It was pretty full and the crowd was very enthusiastic with people ranging in their 20's to 60's. The music was sweeping and epic. The stars were shining and the the breeze fluttered lightly through everyone's hair. Video projections and lights reflected off the red rock formations behind the stage. Amazing in every sense of the word.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Bump and Grind
Last weekend Beth and I decided we needed a date. It's funny how little you see the person you live with. We decided on a breakfast date and I brought us to a little place I heard from one of the dancers called Bump and Grind. It's a hipster hang out in uptown Denver with AMAZING food. The amazing thing is on weekends all the male servers dress in drag. Not only are they all wearing wigs, short skirts/booty shorts, they totally play the part by sitting on the side of your chair when taking your order, bending over to talk to you, etc. It's amazing! I asked one of our servers "Hey...what's your name?" He/she replies dutifully with a stoic expression "Nasty." Oh the joys of big city living! If you are in Denver, check it out!
Bump and Grind
439 E. 17th Ave
Denver, CO 80203
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Life in Denver
For the past couple months I've been living in beautiful Denver. My absolute best friend in the world, Beth and I live in a little ghetto two-bedroom apartment and we LOVE it! We don't have a TV that is hooked up to watch stations and we use Internet that we steal from a neighbor. Our neighborhood is about a 15 minute walk from downtown and we are next to many coffee shops, independent restaurants and a big outdoor ice cream shop that is shaped like a milk tin. Life is grand.Two weeks after returning from Costa Rica I was offered a job with Colorado Ballet for the Auxiliary and Special Events Manager, meaning that I mainly manage their special events (opening receptions, board dinners, etc). I accepted and the rest is history! I gotta say that it's alarming to say that I have a real job...when did I become a grown-up?? The last two months have been a period of adjustment with having to learn to work in a different environment with very different responsibilities. So far it has been fun and very different from working with Up with People. To be associated with a dance company that is as acclaimed as CB is not a bad gig though! Learning to live in one place again has also been an adjustment but it is treating me well so far. I'm excited to see what's ahead in this new chapter!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Sex and the City
I was called a fucking bitch over seats to the new "Sex and the City" movie last night. It was hysterical. Oh the mature things people do over obsessions. I will give the full story soon.
I am in Costa Rica until June 21 for vacation, woohoo! Be well and I will see you all when I get back!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
New York, anyone?
About two and a half years ago, I randomly attended a concert at the Fox Theatre in Boulder. My sister had told me to come because she said that this 17-year old musician from Canada named Kyle Riabko was absolutely amazing and I just NEEDED to see him. Well, am I glad I did because I was blown away. His style of music is blues/pop/soul and he is just one of the most infectious performers I've ever seen. I've seen him two more times since then but he has not toured on his own for about two years.
I was checking his website a couple days ago and he is going to be on BROADWAY! The musical is called Spring Awakening and it won eight Tonys last year. The music is written by Duncan Sheik and is incredible. It has caused quite a bit of controversy because the plot involves teenagers and their discovery about sex, masturbation, etc.
So pretty much I need to go to New York to see him. Who wants to come? Here is a clip from a show in Argentina, as well as Kyle in his own element.
Kyle performing "Miss Behavin'"
Spring Awakening- "I Believe"
If you want to see the less censored version, click here!
Monday, May 26, 2008
It was bueno in Plano!
The last city on Cast A 2008's tour before heading off to Thailand was a northern suburb of Dallas called Plano during the week o May 12. I had the pleasure of working with my colleague, Armando Gonzalez from Mexico City to set up this great city. We fought to work together and we did it! I don't get along with anyone quite like I do with him. Our two interns, Jessica Kendra from Pennsylvania and Jessica Rojas from Tucson, AZ were wonderful. We all learned a lot from each other and had a lot of fun. Just like any other city set-up it was a roller-coaster. In the end, it was a great week for the cast and it was wonderful to see them off before heading out on the last leg of their tour.
Some highlights from the week:
Jessica Rojas herself is blind and the idea from the Education Team to have the students experience what it is like to be in her shoes. The cast arrived blind-folded and had to find their host families according to a special host code. Each student and their matching host family was assigned a code that dealt with the students smelling, hearing, tasting or feeling something. The host families and students split up into groups according to their code and the students had to go around tasting, hearing, feeling and smelling different things until they found their correct host code. Codes were everything from chocolate, to sound of drum, to feel of tree bark. It was a little crazy chaotic for a little bit but it was a really cool experience for us as staff to see how dependent the students had to be on us and also for the students to realize how we can take sight for granted at times.
One of our community partners is an organization called CITY House. An organization that has programs and emergency shelters for at-risk youth. The students did a variety of projects with them but one project in particular was painting and rearranging a computer room in their Teen Shelter so that it could convert into an ARt room. Some of our more artistic students did this project and the results were absolutely breath-taking.
The Education Team conducted a Wealth and Poverty workshop where they discussed the wealth distribution of the world. They also split the cast up into different groups and served them dinner according to their assigned class. 15 students were served a multiple course meal on a decked out table with real silverware, plates and napkins. 35 students ate beans and rice on paper plates and the rest of the students (about 50) ate rice and salt water in some paper cups. It was an interesting, informative workshop that brought up many discussions, feelings and thoughts from the cast.
There was one Community Impact day that the road staff didn't show up for the day so that the students would have to run the whole day on their own. Armando, the Jessicas and I were around for any emergencies but we didn't try to interfere at all. They set up for a mini-show at an elementary school and did their projects at CITY House completely on their own. We and the road staff were very proud of how well they handled everything!
Cast University: For an afternoon, different students led workshops that the rest of the students attended. There were workshops for crocheting, how to tie a tie properly, how to apply make-up, beginning Dutch, Tai-Chi, meditation and MUCH more.
Every semester an Expression Session is held. This is where if they choose to, certain students "express" themselves in front of the cast...sort of like a talent show. My favorite was a number where one of our Belgian students and our Nepalese student choreographed a peace-themed dance where each dancer represented a different continent. Our Namibian student read some of his poetry. Three of our Swedish students covered "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "I Will Survive" to parody all the fears people have of traveling internationally. It was so fun and great to see some of the students in their element.
Their flights for Thailand left early at 6am the following Monday. They stayed overnight at the Plano Chamber of Commerce until 3:30am, doing some activities together like reflecting on the last three cities of the tour, having a birthday party for all the cast members that didn't or wouldn't have a birthday during the tour and watching a short film that one of the Danes had made. It was good, quality time that they got to spend together before making a huge jump into a different continent. All of us Field Managers went with them to the airport and we gave a bunch of hugs and said our good-byes.
While it is always nice to think otherwise, I know that I will never see some of those people again. This cast was definitely exceptional in lots of ways; There were many students that were grateful for everything and always made me feel welcomed into the cast when they arrived to my cities. I will definitely miss them!
Some highlights from the week:
Jessica Rojas herself is blind and the idea from the Education Team to have the students experience what it is like to be in her shoes. The cast arrived blind-folded and had to find their host families according to a special host code. Each student and their matching host family was assigned a code that dealt with the students smelling, hearing, tasting or feeling something. The host families and students split up into groups according to their code and the students had to go around tasting, hearing, feeling and smelling different things until they found their correct host code. Codes were everything from chocolate, to sound of drum, to feel of tree bark. It was a little crazy chaotic for a little bit but it was a really cool experience for us as staff to see how dependent the students had to be on us and also for the students to realize how we can take sight for granted at times.One of our community partners is an organization called CITY House. An organization that has programs and emergency shelters for at-risk youth. The students did a variety of projects with them but one project in particular was painting and rearranging a computer room in their Teen Shelter so that it could convert into an ARt room. Some of our more artistic students did this project and the results were absolutely breath-taking.
The Education Team conducted a Wealth and Poverty workshop where they discussed the wealth distribution of the world. They also split the cast up into different groups and served them dinner according to their assigned class. 15 students were served a multiple course meal on a decked out table with real silverware, plates and napkins. 35 students ate beans and rice on paper plates and the rest of the students (about 50) ate rice and salt water in some paper cups. It was an interesting, informative workshop that brought up many discussions, feelings and thoughts from the cast.
There was one Community Impact day that the road staff didn't show up for the day so that the students would have to run the whole day on their own. Armando, the Jessicas and I were around for any emergencies but we didn't try to interfere at all. They set up for a mini-show at an elementary school and did their projects at CITY House completely on their own. We and the road staff were very proud of how well they handled everything!
Cast University: For an afternoon, different students led workshops that the rest of the students attended. There were workshops for crocheting, how to tie a tie properly, how to apply make-up, beginning Dutch, Tai-Chi, meditation and MUCH more.
Every semester an Expression Session is held. This is where if they choose to, certain students "express" themselves in front of the cast...sort of like a talent show. My favorite was a number where one of our Belgian students and our Nepalese student choreographed a peace-themed dance where each dancer represented a different continent. Our Namibian student read some of his poetry. Three of our Swedish students covered "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "I Will Survive" to parody all the fears people have of traveling internationally. It was so fun and great to see some of the students in their element.
Their flights for Thailand left early at 6am the following Monday. They stayed overnight at the Plano Chamber of Commerce until 3:30am, doing some activities together like reflecting on the last three cities of the tour, having a birthday party for all the cast members that didn't or wouldn't have a birthday during the tour and watching a short film that one of the Danes had made. It was good, quality time that they got to spend together before making a huge jump into a different continent. All of us Field Managers went with them to the airport and we gave a bunch of hugs and said our good-byes.
While it is always nice to think otherwise, I know that I will never see some of those people again. This cast was definitely exceptional in lots of ways; There were many students that were grateful for everything and always made me feel welcomed into the cast when they arrived to my cities. I will definitely miss them!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Non-Americans say the darndest things
One of the awesome things I get to experience while working for Up with People is hearing some of the funny things some of the non-American cast members say. Not to mention they say everything in their amazing accents. Here are a few quotes that I've heard this semester and last:
"They were really religious. They really liked George Bush."
-Britta, from Sweden when talking about one of her host families in Colorado
"Well, this is really bad but when I got to the US, I thought that everyone would be really fat. But I don't think this anymore!"
-Marlien, from the Netherlands when asked what surprised her the most during their tour of the United States.
-Britta, from Sweden when talking about one of her host families in Colorado
"Well, this is really bad but when I got to the US, I thought that everyone would be really fat. But I don't think this anymore!"
-Marlien, from the Netherlands when asked what surprised her the most during their tour of the United States.
"I can be ghetto...I can say bitch and ho!"
-Francois from Namibia when getting teased for wearing his do-rag that he got during the Chicago stop of their tour.
-Francois from Namibia when getting teased for wearing his do-rag that he got during the Chicago stop of their tour.
"Do they really get on the bus and go back to their school...you mean, just like in the movies?!
-Lucas from Belgium after attending out host sister's volleyball game.
"I want to go to go eat at a diner where there are stools and a waitress that chews her gum and says "Honey, what can I get you?"
-Armando from Mexico City, my beloved colleague, when asked what he wants to do in the States before going back home.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
St. Joe, MO
Exactly one month after Cast A came through Lincoln, they arrived in St. Joseph, Missouri. This is a town about an hour north of Kansas City, with a population of about 75,000. It was a pretty last-minute decision to make this a tour stop, so it was a little bit of a scramble.
However, in classic Up with People style, it all worked out in the end just fine. My student intern was the lovely Britta from Sweden. The process of setting up a city is always a roller-coaster but working with Britta was wonderful. She is so thoughtful and reflective for someone her age and I so enjoyed getting to know her during the whole process! I can't wait to visit her in Sweden someday!
It was a short city stay so there was a day of community service and the show day. One of the communi ty service projects we set up was getting the students to work on a project called "Tiny Tot Town." This is a yearly event that some early education organizations put on. A mini-town is set-up for children to go through with their parents to learn how different businesses function. For example, in a mini-bank the children learn about what the need for a bank is, etc, etc. In past years the structures that represented the businesses in this mini-town were very unsturdy and made of simple materials. We had the students construct more durable structures with that would be used for many years to come by painting pieces of plywood into the type of businesses or organiztions they wanted to. They were extremely creative painting everything from a firehouse, pet store, a basilica (a big church, essentially), a cafe, flower shop, and everything in between. I was beyond impressed with their skill and creativity.
The show drew a small but enthusiastic crowd at the Missouri Theater. It was a smooth running city and it was great to see the cast again!
However, in classic Up with People style, it all worked out in the end just fine. My student intern was the lovely Britta from Sweden. The process of setting up a city is always a roller-coaster but working with Britta was wonderful. She is so thoughtful and reflective for someone her age and I so enjoyed getting to know her during the whole process! I can't wait to visit her in Sweden someday!
It was a short city stay so there was a day of community service and the show day. One of the communi ty service projects we set up was getting the students to work on a project called "Tiny Tot Town." This is a yearly event that some early education organizations put on. A mini-town is set-up for children to go through with their parents to learn how different businesses function. For example, in a mini-bank the children learn about what the need for a bank is, etc, etc. In past years the structures that represented the businesses in this mini-town were very unsturdy and made of simple materials. We had the students construct more durable structures with that would be used for many years to come by painting pieces of plywood into the type of businesses or organiztions they wanted to. They were extremely creative painting everything from a firehouse, pet store, a basilica (a big church, essentially), a cafe, flower shop, and everything in between. I was beyond impressed with their skill and creativity.
The show drew a small but enthusiastic crowd at the Missouri Theater. It was a smooth running city and it was great to see the cast again!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Cast A 2008 in Lincoln
Cast A 2008 came through Lincoln last Monday to Thursday. It was a short stay and their very first city on the road. This cast consists of 112 people from 26 countries. The students conducted the Stand For Peace project in 4th, 5th and 6th grade classrooms in some of the Lincoln Public Schools and performed a show at the O'Donnell Auditorium at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Instead of giving you a play-by-play of their time here, I am going to post an entry of a blog of a student in the cast. I don't feel like typing everything and it's more interesting to see the perspective of a students anyway! Enjoy!
Lincoln, NE by Daniel Rohmiller (from South Dakota)
It’s been a busy past few days. We’ve been traveling around so
much that its seems like we’re trying to make up for the LACK of traveling we’ve been doing the past four weeks! We left Denver on Monday morning, bright and early, leaving our teary-eyed host families behind for the promise of a great adventure ahead on the road. We drove for about eight hours on the road to Lincoln, Nebraska, where we arrived at a local church and parish center for our city arrival meeting and orientation. Along the way, we made two stops, the last of which was in Kearney, Nebraska. I have to admit it was nice being in a town whose name I knew. The stops were about fifteen minutes – and not a minute later! If we were late to get back onto the buses, we might as well wave at the bus 
as it drives by because it will not stop. Some of this learn this the hard way on the trip to Maquoketa, but that’s a story for later. After some going back and forth in the Lincoln arrival building, I finally figured out that I was to be roomed with Ren-Horng Wang for Taiwan/USA, one of the guys I had been riding the bus with during our Denver orientation. Together we met our new host family, Les and Paula Schultz. We grabbed our luggage and made the short drive back to their home. There we had a great Midwestern meal of roast beef and potatoes with carrots. It. Was. Great. Ah! :)
We spent the few days in Lincoln – sadly only two full days. The first full day we spent doing the "Stand for Peace" program in some local elementary and middle schools. I spent the morning and afternoon with two different 6th grade classes. In the morning I was with a class from Lux Middle School, and in the afternoon I was with a class from Scott Middle School. It was an exciting time, though a bit challenging to do. It was the first time for me to actually do this program, so a bit of trial and error was in order. But, overall, I think it went well. I was with Eilis from Georgia/Maryland/Ireland, and Carolina from Sweden. We each took different sections of the presentation, which made it easier to do.
My note: That afternoon, after Stand For Peace, everyone went to the office of our supporting sponsor, Talent Plus They are an international executive consulting firm that helps clients find the best people for their company. The mission of their company is to find out the values of their clients and to, in turn, find the people with the right talents for their clients. Their recruitment department did an activity with them called "Focus on You" which split them up in groups and gave them a chance to know each other. This was a great activity, as it was their first city on the road, there were many of them that still needed to get to know each other. After the activity, they did a presentation about the company and what it is like to work for an international company. The students were very interested in learning more and had great questions. 
On Wednesday, we spent the entire day prepping the stage for the show, doing dance workshops, and also vocal prep. The first thing that I noticed about the theatre we were set to perform in was that it was significantly smaller than the Buell. Don’t get me wrong – I knew that we were being spoiled by the Buell, but it still surprised me by its size. Definitely small. In fact, for most of the numbers, we had to split the cast in half for the show, having only half the numbers come on the stage on any given song. Only on a few songs did we have the ENTIRE cast on the stage at the same time, as opposed to the Buell performance where EVERYONE was on the stage for nearly every number. We spent the afternoon rehearsing these changes and the show in general. After that run-through, we had some dinner (Runza), and did our own preparation for the show before Green Room. After Green Room, we made our way into the crowd of people swarming into the O’Donnell Auditorium, and I happened to catch a glance of my grandparents and a couple of my aunts in the lobby. I was able to talk with them throughout the pre-show, intermission, and post-show, and it was GREAT to see them. It really gave me a boost of energy for the show, especially when I could look out on the stage and see them staring back. Overall, I thought the show went well, though I do know that it wasn’t up to my performance at the Buell. I just think not having practiced those dances for so long and then picking them back up a couple hours before the show really dulled the once sharp edge I had on them. But, I’ll take that experience and learn from it.
After the show, I spent the entire evening (about two and a half
hours) striking the set and restoring the auditorium to the way we found it, which included replacing the front row of seats that had been removed so the front stage lights could be set up. That was a fun task. Or not. :) We finished at about midnight, and then I spent the next couple hours packing my stuff up again for the morning’s trip to Maquoketa, Iowa.
Lincoln, NE by Daniel Rohmiller (from South Dakota)
It’s been a busy past few days. We’ve been traveling around so
much that its seems like we’re trying to make up for the LACK of traveling we’ve been doing the past four weeks! We left Denver on Monday morning, bright and early, leaving our teary-eyed host families behind for the promise of a great adventure ahead on the road. We drove for about eight hours on the road to Lincoln, Nebraska, where we arrived at a local church and parish center for our city arrival meeting and orientation. Along the way, we made two stops, the last of which was in Kearney, Nebraska. I have to admit it was nice being in a town whose name I knew. The stops were about fifteen minutes – and not a minute later! If we were late to get back onto the buses, we might as well wave at the bus 
as it drives by because it will not stop. Some of this learn this the hard way on the trip to Maquoketa, but that’s a story for later. After some going back and forth in the Lincoln arrival building, I finally figured out that I was to be roomed with Ren-Horng Wang for Taiwan/USA, one of the guys I had been riding the bus with during our Denver orientation. Together we met our new host family, Les and Paula Schultz. We grabbed our luggage and made the short drive back to their home. There we had a great Midwestern meal of roast beef and potatoes with carrots. It. Was. Great. Ah! :)We spent the few days in Lincoln – sadly only two full days. The first full day we spent doing the "Stand for Peace" program in some local elementary and middle schools. I spent the morning and afternoon with two different 6th grade classes. In the morning I was with a class from Lux Middle School, and in the afternoon I was with a class from Scott Middle School. It was an exciting time, though a bit challenging to do. It was the first time for me to actually do this program, so a bit of trial and error was in order. But, overall, I think it went well. I was with Eilis from Georgia/Maryland/Ireland, and Carolina from Sweden. We each took different sections of the presentation, which made it easier to do.
My note: That afternoon, after Stand For Peace, everyone went to the office of our supporting sponsor, Talent Plus They are an international executive consulting firm that helps clients find the best people for their company. The mission of their company is to find out the values of their clients and to, in turn, find the people with the right talents for their clients. Their recruitment department did an activity with them called "Focus on You" which split them up in groups and gave them a chance to know each other. This was a great activity, as it was their first city on the road, there were many of them that still needed to get to know each other. After the activity, they did a presentation about the company and what it is like to work for an international company. The students were very interested in learning more and had great questions. On Wednesday, we spent the entire day prepping the stage for the show, doing dance workshops, and also vocal prep. The first thing that I noticed about the theatre we were set to perform in was that it was significantly smaller than the Buell. Don’t get me wrong – I knew that we were being spoiled by the Buell, but it still surprised me by its size. Definitely small. In fact, for most of the numbers, we had to split the cast in half for the show, having only half the numbers come on the stage on any given song. Only on a few songs did we have the ENTIRE cast on the stage at the same time, as opposed to the Buell performance where EVERYONE was on the stage for nearly every number. We spent the afternoon rehearsing these changes and the show in general. After that run-through, we had some dinner (Runza), and did our own preparation for the show before Green Room. After Green Room, we made our way into the crowd of people swarming into the O’Donnell Auditorium, and I happened to catch a glance of my grandparents and a couple of my aunts in the lobby. I was able to talk with them throughout the pre-show, intermission, and post-show, and it was GREAT to see them. It really gave me a boost of energy for the show, especially when I could look out on the stage and see them staring back. Overall, I thought the show went well, though I do know that it wasn’t up to my performance at the Buell. I just think not having practiced those dances for so long and then picking them back up a couple hours before the show really dulled the once sharp edge I had on them. But, I’ll take that experience and learn from it.
After the show, I spent the entire evening (about two and a half
hours) striking the set and restoring the auditorium to the way we found it, which included replacing the front row of seats that had been removed so the front stage lights could be set up. That was a fun task. Or not. :) We finished at about midnight, and then I spent the next couple hours packing my stuff up again for the morning’s trip to Maquoketa, Iowa.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
R.I.P.
A couple nights ago I received some devastating news. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach; My heart felt like it had been shattered in a million pieces; I was essentially speechless for like a whole five minutes...and that's a lot for me. I found out that my all-time favorite band ever, The Format, had decided to not record a new album ever again.
The Format is more than just a band to me. They were almost like a friend I could aways go to if I needed anything. While I've explored other musical acts and have expanded my tastes over the years, I have always gone back to the Format at some point or another. It's like they were someone I could always depend on to be there whenever I needed them. So to hear that Sam and Nate will no longer make new music together is quite devastating.
In case you are not familiar with the greatness that is The Format, here are a just few examples of why they have meant so much to me these past 5 years. And trust me, these don't even do them justice.
The Format is more than just a band to me. They were almost like a friend I could aways go to if I needed anything. While I've explored other musical acts and have expanded my tastes over the years, I have always gone back to the Format at some point or another. It's like they were someone I could always depend on to be there whenever I needed them. So to hear that Sam and Nate will no longer make new music together is quite devastating.
In case you are not familiar with the greatness that is The Format, here are a just few examples of why they have meant so much to me these past 5 years. And trust me, these don't even do them justice.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Weddings galore!
This past weekend, I endured a 6 hour delay in a train station, in addition to 8 hours actually ON a train to come home and attend two weddings. The first one was Ryan Lane who is an old middle school/high school friend and the other was Matt Orr, a friend that I met in college through other friends. I was really excited to come back to see old friends and to celebrate. I actually cried during Ryan's slide show! That was completely unexpected. It was a traditional wedding with all the works. His bride, Kristin looked goregous. We had lunch, danced our hearts out and then waved them off in a horse-drawn carriage. Matt's wedding was more unconventional; His bride Molly wore a beautiful, shimmery green dress. Dinner was catered by Chipotle (SOOO good). Both weddings were fantastic.
That night a bunch of us old high school friends went out to the bars in Boulder and it was such a blast. We hit Conor's and the Sun Downer. It was the last time many of us were going to be in the same state for probably at least a year, so that alone was enough reason to be together. There's something about being with old friends because since there is such a history and a unique level of comfort...even if we've all changed. Good times! When it was all over and time for me to go back to Nebraska I actually felt pretty emotional. I think it was the combination of a really great weekend coming to an end and the obligation of having to switch back to work in a matter of a train-ride home. The little part of me that yearned for of stability in my life decided to spill over. I got off the train at 6:45am and when my host dad drove me home I showered, got ready and went to work. All is well again as I am now settled back in Nebraska. Bring on Cast A 2008!
That night a bunch of us old high school friends went out to the bars in Boulder and it was such a blast. We hit Conor's and the Sun Downer. It was the last time many of us were going to be in the same state for probably at least a year, so that alone was enough reason to be together. There's something about being with old friends because since there is such a history and a unique level of comfort...even if we've all changed. Good times! When it was all over and time for me to go back to Nebraska I actually felt pretty emotional. I think it was the combination of a really great weekend coming to an end and the obligation of having to switch back to work in a matter of a train-ride home. The little part of me that yearned for of stability in my life decided to spill over. I got off the train at 6:45am and when my host dad drove me home I showered, got ready and went to work. All is well again as I am now settled back in Nebraska. Bring on Cast A 2008!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The Velveteen Rabbit
I'm here in Lincoln, NE now and so far I have been very pleasantly surprised with what this city has to offer. To start off, I am staying with two wonderful host parents and tonight I got the chance to chat with them. They asked me about relationships and I briefly told them about my cynicism towards love. Well, my host dad starts talking and I just wanted to share. It went something like this:
"Have you ever heard of the "Velveteen Rabbit?" It's the story of how a stuffed toy rabbit gets shabbier and shabbier because of how much a boy loves him. His tail starts to fall off, his eyes get all scratched up, his fur starts to come off, but it doesn't matter because the boy still loves him anyway. And isn't it how we all are? We've all been in relationships that have left us shabbier, but when we find that person that loves us no matter what, that is when life is outstanding. And Linette (my host mom and his wife) really does love me like that, even though my own tail and fur is falling off. "
I couldn't help but smile and yes, it did give me a glimmer of hope with this weird thing called relationships...for a second, at least.
"Have you ever heard of the "Velveteen Rabbit?" It's the story of how a stuffed toy rabbit gets shabbier and shabbier because of how much a boy loves him. His tail starts to fall off, his eyes get all scratched up, his fur starts to come off, but it doesn't matter because the boy still loves him anyway. And isn't it how we all are? We've all been in relationships that have left us shabbier, but when we find that person that loves us no matter what, that is when life is outstanding. And Linette (my host mom and his wife) really does love me like that, even though my own tail and fur is falling off. "I couldn't help but smile and yes, it did give me a glimmer of hope with this weird thing called relationships...for a second, at least.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Viva Las Vegas!
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Well, except for the things you brag about of course =). On New Year's day and through the 4th my sister (Helen), her two friends, (Matt and Cat), my best friend (Beth) and I visited Las Vegas for a fun trip. Beth and I stayed at the Flamingo and Helen and her friends stayed at the Monte Carlo. Upon arrival we didn't have many set plans-just to visit the hotels and see Zumanity, a Cirque du Soleil show. We wanted to go clubbing but we knew a cover was around $20-$30 so we didn't have high expectations for it.
Well, we ended up getting a connection that not only got us into one club, but THREE, and with NO cover. It was more than we could've imagined. We were the people that walked in front of the long line and said to the guy with the earpiece "Um, we're on the list." It felt awesome. Okay, enough bragging. These are the clubs we attended. To keep from boring you, I kept the reviews short and sweet:
Tuesday night: Moon and Playboy- These two clubs are located in the Palms Casino. Moon has a very outer-world quality, hence the name, with silver being the dominant color. It is two stories and has outdoor patios on both floors. The crowd was They have a very big central dance floor and the music was great.
Wednesday night: LAX- This club is located in the Luxor casino and is home to Paris Hilton's favorite club in Vegas. In fact, she was even there that night and got on the microphone and said "Hey guys, let's have a great time here in LAX tonight!" This club is very posh with red velvet curtains and black leather furniture. This club also boasts two floors with a HUGE (but still not big enough) dance floor. The crowd was really awesome and friendly, not too uptight. My favorite club of the trip.
Thursday Night: Tao- This club was an experience. It is easily the most popular and talked about club in Vegas and it is not hard to see why. It has a sensual Asian theme and draws a very sophisticated crowd. The go-go dancers and models shocked me with their attire and dance moves. They even have girls that lay on beds and give each other back massages! The dance floor was very small though and I didn't care for the DJ as much.
We also saw Zumanity on Wednesday night and that was fantastic. Yes, the racy, sexually-themed one. To be honest, while it was probably more sexy than your average show, the acts are very stylized, choreographed and calculated that it doesn't arouse the feelings you might imagine. You are just more in awe of the skills and the level of athleticism it takes to do something like bend your body so that you don't hit your head when you dive into a human-sized fishbowl. The audience interaction was HILARIOUS because they would pull people on stage and embarrass the heck out of them. I haven't seen the other Cirque shows, but apparently this one has a much smaller cast and is extensively less acrobatic than the other shows in Vegas. Still, I enjoyed it very much and I highly recommend it!
Back to reality now though and I will be heading out to Nebraska in two days to resume my adventure as a Field Marketing and Operations Manager (we had a title change) for Up With People. I am going to try to blog once a week so if you read this, stay on my case to make sure I do. If anything, it's good for keeping up my writing skills that I feel like I'm rapidly losing. Feel free to comment and keep in touch. Happy 2008 to you all!
Well, we ended up getting a connection that not only got us into one club, but THREE, and with NO cover. It was more than we could've imagined. We were the people that walked in front of the long line and said to the guy with the earpiece "Um, we're on the list." It felt awesome. Okay, enough bragging. These are the clubs we attended. To keep from boring you, I kept the reviews short and sweet:
Tuesday night: Moon and Playboy- These two clubs are located in the Palms Casino. Moon has a very outer-world quality, hence the name, with silver being the dominant color. It is two stories and has outdoor patios on both floors. The crowd was They have a very big central dance floor and the music was great.
Wednesday night: LAX- This club is located in the Luxor casino and is home to Paris Hilton's favorite club in Vegas. In fact, she was even there that night and got on the microphone and said "Hey guys, let's have a great time here in LAX tonight!" This club is very posh with red velvet curtains and black leather furniture. This club also boasts two floors with a HUGE (but still not big enough) dance floor. The crowd was really awesome and friendly, not too uptight. My favorite club of the trip.
Thursday Night: Tao- This club was an experience. It is easily the most popular and talked about club in Vegas and it is not hard to see why. It has a sensual Asian theme and draws a very sophisticated crowd. The go-go dancers and models shocked me with their attire and dance moves. They even have girls that lay on beds and give each other back massages! The dance floor was very small though and I didn't care for the DJ as much.
We also saw Zumanity on Wednesday night and that was fantastic. Yes, the racy, sexually-themed one. To be honest, while it was probably more sexy than your average show, the acts are very stylized, choreographed and calculated that it doesn't arouse the feelings you might imagine. You are just more in awe of the skills and the level of athleticism it takes to do something like bend your body so that you don't hit your head when you dive into a human-sized fishbowl. The audience interaction was HILARIOUS because they would pull people on stage and embarrass the heck out of them. I haven't seen the other Cirque shows, but apparently this one has a much smaller cast and is extensively less acrobatic than the other shows in Vegas. Still, I enjoyed it very much and I highly recommend it!Back to reality now though and I will be heading out to Nebraska in two days to resume my adventure as a Field Marketing and Operations Manager (we had a title change) for Up With People. I am going to try to blog once a week so if you read this, stay on my case to make sure I do. If anything, it's good for keeping up my writing skills that I feel like I'm rapidly losing. Feel free to comment and keep in touch. Happy 2008 to you all!
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