Shorts and Selling Stuff

The performances of the 9th annual evening of shorts are done! I'm so happy to have my life back. And by life, I mean that I can sleep late and only have to be at school for an hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And I can watch Netflix from the couch and do craft stuff and play games on my phone and stuff.

I don't really want to talk about the shorts much, but I did take some video and pictures that I need to edit together and upload to my youtube channel. I'll get to that within the next week or so. I should probably do that today, but I'm feeling really lazy.

I've also found a way to sell some of my stuff online and get money out of it. Of course, I have shut down my storenvy shop and set up an Etsy shop instead. Its http://etsy.com/shop/RusticandRefinedTX and I have a ton of stuff on there. I've been waiting to actually start selling things from it. I mean, there's a lot of crochet stuff, but no one has bought anything yet, which sucks since I need money.

I also found this app called Yerdle. Its supposed to be like an app to get things for free, but its really not. You start out with a set amount of credits that represent money, and you can sell your stuff to people on there in exchange for credits. And you can buy things with credits, and all you have to pay for with actual money is the shipping. And none of the shipping is too bad. I just bought a $20 book that I've wanted for a while for just the $6 shipping an like 4 credits. I also sold my Junior year prom dress and shipped it off yesterday. I got 30 credits for it, and I got 25 extra credits since it was my first sale. Its awesome. I have this referral link, so that we can both get 10 extra credits if you sign up with it, by the way. https://yerdle.com/i/elizabeth-walker-88c8b8df-bac2-4afa-8cd8-48f0a9abc568

Its not a perfect app, but the concept is great and I can get rid of stuff and get stuff for a lot cheaper than I would otherwise. They're still working out the glitches, but overall its usable.

I've also got some interesting blog posts coming up. I feel like blogging right now, but its going to take me a few days to get all of the information out in an orderly manner. Bear with me!

Also, I plan on doing a live event on youtube sometime soon, since I now have the ability to do so. I'm thinking maye Monday? Or next Friday? Or perhaps Wednesday? It needs to be before 3:30. Comment here or on my youtube channel when you think it should be.

-EW

SUCH TIRED

Directing a play takes a lot more time and energy than I'm used to putting into theatre stuff. Particularly since I've had rehearsal from 9 to 10 each evening since Monday. And I get to do the same thing next week. And the week after that. And so on. I've been wondering if maybe this was a mistake. Oh well. Too late to turn back now.

It is going well though, as far as the play is concerned. There will be a lot of sign language in it, which makes me happy.

Today is a very rainy, dreary day. I feel like sleeping. But I can't since I'm at school. Instead, I've been sitting in the cafe above the library for the last hour and a half working on homework that is due tomorrow. I plan on working on it a little more later today and finishing it tomorrow. The rain makes me want to listen to Ed Sheeran music though, so that's what I'm currently doing. And its not helping my mood any more than the rain is. Such sad. Such tired. Andrew won't text me. Blah.

I'm super bored though.

Oh, and my bento box lunch sucked today. Plus, I couldn't finish it since I forgot a fork. So I bought a chicken salad sandwich from the cafe and I plan on getting something to drink from the vending machine in a bit.

Sorry I have been kind of missing from the internet lately. I'm just lacking inspiration for blogs and videos, plus I've been rather busy. I'll be back on track next semester if nothing else.

-EW

Auditions: Day One

Today is the first day that I get to watch people audition for the play that I am directing. I'm looking to cast one female and two people of either gender. Either both male or one female and one male.

I got to college early because of class today. I was here before 11:00. But my scene partner for theatre class didn't show up and probably isn't going to show up next time either. I have no clue what I'm supposed to do about that. I guess I'll memorize a monologue from the play or something between now and Thursday. This sucks.

Anyway, this means that I technically could have skipped class and it wouldn't have mattered. I could have stayed home and gotten things done. Not that I won't be getting things done at school, but just different things. At least its kinda nice outside today. Its not freezing cold like it has been. I'm sitting outside the library while I blog and brainstorm ideas for the play and eventually edit a vlog and upload it to the keeyss channel. I'm kinda tired of doing the tuesday vlogs to be honest, particularly since no one else ever posts videos anymore. But I suppose I'll do them at least every other week until summer. Then maybe everyone will get back on track. If not, we had a good run.

I'm thinking about possibly doing a series of short vlogs on my main channel while I direct this play. I wanted to do that with the other play, but we were too busy. This time, I'll  kinda be in charge of it, so there will be time for it.

I'm only going to have three people on my cast at the most, and one at the least, and only one character has lines. A monologue to be exact. Should be interesting.

Auditions are at 6, so wish me luck in entertaining myself until then.

Also, this morning I found out that someone is majorly encroaching on my princess business. And for a higher price and less acting and less fun stuff and less time. She doesn't even sing. I'm not very happy about this. Anyway, this means that I need to step up my princess game and blow everyone out of the water. I'm thinking that on Thursday I'm going to dress up as either Ariel or Merida (although I'm unsure about driving while wearing a corset) when I come to school, hang around campus for dead hour and take pictures with people, hand out business cards, and then see about walking around Walmart, Walgreens, etc. a little later on. Good idea or bad idea? Idk, it just sounds fun.

-EW

Catching Up on Homework and Stuff

The last performance of our play was on Tuesday, and it was amazing. Any actor can tell you that different performances always have different levels of energy, and that helps give the show a good or bad outcome. A lot of the time, opening night is the night of highest energy. For us, that ended up being the last night of the show. As a cast, we were excited, and there was the thing about being watched by two judges. There were awards on the line! And our audience was a bunch of college theatre people from other schools, so they were feeding us really good energy because they were rooting for us. The show wasn't perfect by any means. There were some little glitches here and there, but the audience and the judges didn't notice. It was great for  a last night.

Yesterday morning, at 9:30, we had our critique. They said a lot of good things, and their things that could use improvement were just little nit-picky things. Then we were supposed to spend that day, today, and tomorrow watching the plays of the other colleges. I watched two plays yesterday, out of the four that were performed. Oedipus Rex, which I didn't care for so much, but then again I don't really like Greek Mythology. And The House of Blue Leaves, which was a great dark comedy and their set was amazing. It was the size of a house! There was even a fridge and a couch and a stove and a television and a sink with running water! And everyone had an accent. It was hilarious but also made me feel like crying.

I went home after that. I didn't want to stay at school until the last play finished at like 11:00. And I'm not going up there today or tommorrow if I can manage it. Unless the director offers to pay for my gas there and back. I don't want to drive 45 minutes there and the same amount of time back. And try to find a way to pay for food. And gas. I use a quarter of a tank of gas each day! I kinda wish I lived closer to the college. But that's Texas for you. I'll be back at the school for the awards show on Saturday. Attending which, I might add, has cost me an Elsa gig. OPPORTUNITY COST! I lost fifty bucks by participating in this, More actually, if you count the other gigs I've had to turn down because of rehearsal.

Today, I get to spend the day catching up on the homework that I've been putting off that is due on Saturday. I hate government homework. And I get to clean the house some. Since apparently out of five people, I'm one of the only ones that does chores. I feel for the maids in the book I'm reading, The Help. Although, I know that I don't have it as bad as they did. I also know that they were way better at cleaning than I am.

I have been working more on writing Letters Home, or rewriting as it would be. I made a huge change, but its going to add a lot to my word count. I just have to take the time to write it all. After that, I'm going to see about getting an agent. I feel like I'm just diving into the deep end without knowing how to swim. That's why I'm going to get an agent. That's going to take a whole lot of weight off of my shoulders. I'm not too concerned with ever being famous, but I do want people to read the things that I write. And  writing is something that I love to do and that I can do while having other jobs. Anyway, I'm hoping that I can see about sending my stuff to an agent by this summer. Aside from attempting to clean/detail my car the week after next (SPRING BREAK! WHOOT!), I plan on doing a lot of writing. I kinda miss nanowrimo because I HAD to write every single day. I want to do it again next year. I've already got a book idea going for it. I just need November to be here. But not too soon.

-EW

The Last Performance (almost) and a Day Off

Last night was our last public performance of AND THEN THEY CAME FOR ME. We have one more on Tuesday for the Play Festival, and then we're done. We originally had rehearsal planned for today, but it was cancelled and instead I'm at home, lounging around in leggings and a tank top as I drink tea and eat animal crackers in an attempt to push the dream I had last night from my mind.

The performance wasn't the most high energy performance ever. Everyone was kind of tired from performing it so many times.There were also some family things that were happening to some actors that made an impact on their performances. Not to mention, it was the next to last performance and we were all kind of sad about it. When you're in a play, the cast becomes like a family. You don't think you'll ever have to leave each other. There are inside jokes and caring for each other when you're sick and going out to do fun things before and after rehearsals and performances. Its really sad to have to depart from such a great group of people. We've all got each other on Facebook for the most part, but its not the same as seeing each other in person on a daily basis. Some of them are leaving the college after this semester, so I'll be lucky if I ever see them again. But such is life.

"Don't cry because it's over, smile  because it happened." -Dr. Seuss

The dream I had last night was kind of terrifying. I dreamed that I had a younger sister. She was maybe eight years old or so. And somehow she died. And I was left to hide the fact that she ever existed. I woke up terrified and with a headache. I hate dreaming about death. And I've always wanted a little sister, so the idea of this nonexistent sister dying sucks. I was tempted to try to write a book or short story about this, but I think that might be a bit too scary. There's a reason that I'm not going into detail about the dream here. And I don't think that doing so for a story would be very nice, on my brain or the brains of readers.

I've started reading the book "Afterworlds" by Scott Westerfeld. I got a signed copy at Barnes and Noble a little while back and was putting off reading it. It is SOOOOOOOO good. Its actually like two novels in one that go back and forth every other chapter. The first and main story is of Darcy, who is a newly contracted author. She wrote her book in the month of November (NANOWRIMO!!!) and managed to get an agent and got the book bought by a publishing company. She moves to New York and starts rewriting to finish before the next November and is supposed to write a sequel. The other book is the YA fiction book that Darcy "wrote", Afterworlds. Its about death and ghosts and psychopomps and a love story. Its great, but I don't enjoy it as much as I enjoy reading about Darcy trying to write.

This book has brought me back to editing and rewriting my Nanowrimo novel, Letters Home.  I want to have it sent off to an agent or publisher or both by November. That would be AMAZING. I just recently made a huge change in it though, so I have to finish the rewrites from that. In Afterworlds, Darcy says that she found out that when you write 2,000 words a day for a month, you get a 60,000 word novel. This is a lie. Even at 2667 words a day, you only get a 50,000 word novel in a month. That's the length of The Great Gatsby. This is not long enough to be a novel on its own, really. Not in the current times. You need to double that to make it good, in my opinion. Short stories are lovely, but they make the reader hate you for not writing more. Oh well. I'm going to try to do some writing today on the novel and write an essay for Theatre class and work on homework for Government class.

-EW

Opening Night!

Today, I come to you from a comfy place at home with a bible in my lap and a cup of ramen noodles right beside my laptop on the desk. Today is the opening night for And Then They Came For Me: Remembering The World Of Anne Frank. I had class this morning, which was supposed to be scene rehearsals with the director, but the guy who I am doing a scene with was sick, so he wasn't there. I sat in the hallway and chatted with my classmates for an hour instead. And since I didn't want to spend five hours sitting at the school, I decided to, for once, come back home before tonight's festivities. I feel like I need a power nap and a shot of espresso or something. I know that you're not supposed to have caffeine or dairy products before a performance, but I could really do with a Starbucks Frappuccino right about now. I almost stopped on the way home and got one.

The show starts at 7:30, but I have to be there at 6:30, which means I need to leave the house at like 5, to give myself plenty of time to get there. We have a show tonight, another tomorrow, two on Saturday, and another on Sunday. Then we have play festival next week and another performance that goes along with that. After that, I'm free for a little while, aside from two days of auditions before spring break. Then rehearsals for the short plays (one of which I'm directing!) begin after spring break.

I love Professor Skiles to death, but he does do some things as a director that I don't like. Mainly, he waits until the last minute for costume stuff. This meant that he didn't fix the low back on my dress, so I had to spend yesterday, rushing around before rehearsal, trying to find a tank top and a sports bra that were skin colored. I finally found them at walmart, but the tanktop had too high of a back. So, the two very hurried costume changes that occur backstage end up with me in tights, shorts, and a sports bra for about two minutes total. So much for modesty.

I'm really not too terribly scared about the performance though. Not yet anyway. An hour beforehand might be a different story. A lot of people that I know are coming to see this play. I'm not sure which night everyone is going to be there, but that doesn't matter so much. My parents and brothers will be there tonight. So will Sarah and possibly her family, though I'm not sure about that. My spanish teacher from high school was supposedly interested in coming, as was my theatre teacher. Ellen might be coming, though I'm not sure. Andrew might be coming one night. And some of the people that work with my parents will probably be coming too! Its crazy!!!

Yesterday, after I finished getting costume stuff, I cooled down by going thrift shopping in a couple of the shops in our town. I was mainly looking for books, and I found two. One is "Eat Pray Love", which looked like it might be good. That may be because I like books about food and travel and finding yourself though. Like Julie and Julia. I also found a new translation of the bible. New to me, though not too new in general. Its "The Message//Remix". I like it, although its not strict interpretation of the scripture. Its more like the bible put into common, everyday language. A little earlier, I was looking through it and found this verse:

Clear the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.

The thing about the message is that the verses kind of blend together, so I'm not sure if this is Psalm 19:12, 13, or 12-13. Doesn't matter too much though. I really like this verse. Like, I want it on my mirror whenever we move or something like that.

Well, I'm off to start an etsy shop and work on homework and read and possibly take a nap.

-EW

The Painted Girls: A Review

So, today I finished reading a book that I bought the last time I was in Old Town Spring as Ariel. I came across this tiny little book shop tucked in between several other businesses, called "Glow Worm". The place was packed with used books, many of which were in great condition. I definitely want to go back there, but in the meantime I have other books to read. The one that I picked up the one time that I went there was "The Painted Girls" by Cathy Marie Buchanan.

I had heard about this book before, but just a little bit. I thought that it was a story based on a painting of ballet girls that is part of the cover of the book. It wasn't exactly like that, however. I did end up loving the book regardless.

The book is based on a work of the artist Edgar Degas, the little dancer of fourteen years. The sculpture is of a ballet girl, Marie van Goethem. About half way through the book, I ended up looking up the sculpture to see what the main character was supposed to look like, and I was surprised that the facial features of the figure are more masculine and, as said in the book, "ape-like" than what I would have expected. The sculpture is made of wax, which was more of a temporary medium. The tutu, hair, and hair ribbon are real though, although the hair is covered in wax to preserve it. There are apparently many replicas that have been made and the tutus of the replicas vary. The actual sculpture resides in Washington DC at the national gallery of art, if I'm not mistaken. I think it would be neat to go and see it some day. That is one of the few reasons that I would ever want to go to Washington DC.

Anyway, this book tells the tale of two ballet girls who were sisters, Marie and Antoinette van Goethem. I don't want to give to much away from the plot, but these two girls in the book have a rough life. They go through extreme poverty and abuse and all kinds of terrible things. Antoinette doesn't make it far as a ballet girl and circumstances cause... Never mind. There's just too much that I could give away by saying anything about the plot.

This book is really unique in both that it is written about an existing character and that it is written from the perspectives from both of the main characters. The chapters go back and forth between Marie and Antoinette telling what is happening. Unlike many books with this style of storytelling, this book doesn't get boring in constantly re-telling the same events in different perspectives. There is also another layer of interest added to this book because it takes place in Paris in the 1870s and has a lot to do with ballet and the opera. There were quite a few words that I had to look up, but I am all for this! I love when an author actually uses the proper language when discussing a subject matter. In the Acknowledgements, it is obvious that this author did her research.

This wasn't a book that I could read really fast because of the amount of information and new vocabulary that I was coming across. I spaced it out over a couple of months with some other books thrown in the mix as a break from it. It is definitely a higher reading level book. I would say that this book is appropriate for a high level, mature middle schooler or a high schooler. The subject matter can get kind of intense at times too, which makes me think that a high school level person would be better for reading this book. I'd rate it PG-13 if it was a movie. But the thing is, it attempts to accurately portray how life was at that time. Life, even today, isn't always pretty and nice.

I'd give this book a 4 of 5 stars, just because I felt like I needed a background with ballet to fully understand parts of it. There were also a few pages here and there that were just blah and I felt myself just skimming it, not really taking in the words. It was a very wordy book. But if you can get past that, its fantastic. I would definitely reccomend this book to someone interested in Opera or Ballet or dance of any sort. Or even someone interested in famous artists, since that plays a large part in the plot also. Happy reading!

-EW

Into the Woods

Today is yet another rainy day that I am spending at school. January and February are just rainy months for Texas. I kinda hate it right now though. Its super cold and wet (although it hasn't flooded, thank God) and I have to stay indoors, especially since I'm finally getting over this stupid cold.

My day started at 7:00 this morning, when I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep when my parents left the house. And then, thirty minutes later, my alarm went off. Just a little while back, my phone charger died, so my mom bought me a new one. Sadly, it doesn't reach to my bunk, like the last one did. So, to turn off my alarm, I have to actually get out of bed now. It sucks. But I suppose that its good, since I'll be getting out of bed faster than I normally would. I did spend an excess amount of time on my phone today though, which meant that I had showered and gotten dressed, but not packed or done my hair or makeup with 30 minutes until I needed to leave the house. And, in all of this rush, I remembered my water bottle and my cup of tea, but forgot half of my lunch. I made it to school and then to class though.

Class today consisted of rehearsing a scene a few times with a classmate, Gigi, who is this gorgeous dancer, about a year younger than me at the most. I swear, she makes me feel like an ogre who was dressed by a colorblind grandma. She's fabulous and her clothes make her look like she belongs in a magazine or something. She's not a bad actress either. After rehearsing, we performed along with a bunch of other groups in front of the class and received a bit of a critique for the scene. We perform again on Thursday, but for a grade.

After class, I retreated to my car and enjoyed a solitary lunch of crackers and salami slices and water and a granola bar. I spent at least two hours in the car, reading and playing ukulele and texting Andrew. At that point, it was getting too cold to stay in the car and I didn't feel like starting the car to warm it up, so I walked across campus to the cafe above the library, where I am now. I spent an hour or so writing. I've gotten almost 7 pages handwritten of the newest novel idea that I have. I'm kinda wandering around in the story idea, blindly trying to figure out what happens next and what has already happened.

Think of when you were an unborn infant. You couldn't see anything, but at some point, you became aware that you existed. Your brain had formed to the point that you could respond to external stimulus like your parents' voices and whatnot. But you're still kind of in the dark, so you're feeling around with your unborn hands and feet, trying to figure out what your existence is. And suddenly one day you get born and you have this whole new universe to explore and figure out, but you kind of have people to guide you along the way. I'm still at that point of unborn curiosity with my story. I don't understand much of anything, I just know that the story is there and that something is happening with it. I'm trying to get to the point where the writing will really start and the ideas will really start forming a definite outline of a story. Did that make any sense?

I think I might have to get some kind of snack from the snack machine some time soon. Stupid self. Why did I have to leave half of my lunch at home?

In other news, I went to see Into The Woods this weekend with Sarah and spent some time afterwards at the mall. I have fallen in love with the musical again. I watched a video of the onstage version when I was in high school in theatre class. I loved it, but everyone else in my class hated it, or at least acted like it. People in college don't hate it though. We go around singing and listening to the songs during rehearsals. I'VE FOUND MY PEOPLE. I've got the soundtrack and have been listening to it in my car as I go back and forth from school. I get to listen to it basically one and a half times each day, approximately. My favorite song has to be Agony. Or maybe just the part of Into the Woods with little red riding hood. Or the part on the stairs of the palace. There are lots of little parts that I like more than the whole.

OMG. There's a janitor/custodian lady who is cleaning up right where I am. Apparently, sweeping right by/under people's feet is okay now. Or maybe I'm rude for not being somewhere else. Idk. Its an awkward thing. Sorry.

Oh well. I'm probably going to go to the theatre building in a little bit and watch a movie on my laptop or memorize lines or write or read or listen to music or something.

-EW

Highlights and A Book Review

Good morning ladies and gents who read this here blog. Gah, I have some strange ways of starting a blog. This morning, I am coming to you from my kitchen table. I've got a cold and my youngest brother has a stomach bug, so he and I and my mother are all at home today, which is why I'm at the kitchen table, getting highlights put into my hair. I figured that this would be the perfect time to sit down and write my review of "I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai.

Malala Yousafzai is the girl who was shot in the head by islamic terrorists a while back and ended up surviving. This book is her retelling of the events and those before and after in her life.

Let me start off by correcting myself to some extent. Something that Malala states in her book is that she doesn't want to be known as the girl who was shot by terrorists. The whole reason that she was targeted was that Malala was an activist who spoke out for girls education. You see, Malala's father ran a school in Pakistan, where they lived. This school was special because it allowed for girls who lived nearby to get an education in a world where most girls stayed at home until they were married off. Malala loved school and, as the book tells, was quite good at it.

However, there came a time when girls were now banned from attending school. This was because of the terrorists that were in control of the country. It became dangerous for a female to even go out in the streets without her whole body covered and a man by her side. Many were beaten to death and even shot because of this. Still, Malala and her father worked to let girls be able to get an education.

Malala ended up doing interviews and a blog and other things speaking out for girls rights to education. This, of course, did not please the Taliban, which is why she and her father became targets and Malala was shot on the school bus on the way home from school on October 9th, 2012.

Her story didn't end there, though. Malala spent quite some time in the hospital, going through surgeries and getting better. And none of this hindered her from wanting to work for children everywhere to get an education. She speaks about it and has written books about her story. She was even awarded a nobel peace prize in 2014!

This book tells her story, and it is a really inspiring and eye opening story. She was just a normal kid, but she's made a huge impact. I ended up reading the "young readers version", which is put into language that can be understood by a fourth or fifth grader. There is more than one version of the book. My version had pictures in it also. I'd give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. It would probably be appropriate for someone in fifth grade or older. It was really interesting to read her story and know more about it than was told in the news. I'd recommend this book to a younger reader. I would say to be warned that some of this book deals with very serious, scary issues though.

I enjoyed it and I hope you do to, if you choose to read it. My next review will probably be of the book "Painted Girls".

-EW

WRITING AND STUFF

Howdy. Sorry about the fact that I haven't been blogging so much. It sucks for me too. But I'm back for now.

While I haven't been blogging much, I have been writing. I'm editing my novel bit by bit. I'm also kinda looking into getting an agent. My mom thinks that she can act as my agent or I can act as my own agent, but I'm not sure that I'll be taken as seriously that way. I really want to be published by random house or penguin or scholastic. Like, those are the publishers that you see in book stores most often. I want my book to be one that actually ends up in stores, not one that you have to order online, which means I need one of those. And agents only take 15% of what you make, which isn't too bad. Finding one is going to be the issue, particularly since I'm a new author and I'm so young and that this is kind of a new concept for a book. Ransom Riggs is the only author that I know of that has used old pictures in his books before now. I'm kinda so freaked out about thinking that I'll never be published that I'm constantly putting off editing the book. Plus, editing is not fun at all.

But back to the writing. I'm starting on another novel right now. I had this idea a couple of days ago (won't spoil it for you yet!) and just kinda wrote down a short paragraph about it in a notebook that I have dedicated to such things. Shortly afterward, I watched a lifetime dramatization of J.K. Rowling's life story and how she wrote the books kind of out of order and was living off of welfare at the time. She ended up buying a typewriter and typing it up at the request of her friend for her to finish the first book. And within three years, she was a published author and one of the richest women of our time. I thought it was an incredibly inspiring story, since I want so badly to be an author and to improve my standing. I don't want to live with my family forever. And writing and acting are my two passions, honestly. At least, at this point they are. So, I took the idea from the movie of writing the story by hand first. The woman had already written the last chapter of the last book before she had finished the first one! I figured that if Rowling could write out of order, so could I. So, I grabbed a couple of blank spiral notebooks and got started. I swear, each page is about a different thing. Some of them are notes and some are actual parts of the story. But its not that hard for me to keep going when I can write whatever part I want to. I can work on making them fit together correctly later on when I'm typing it up. There's a certain freedom to it. I don't have to worry about losing an idea because it belongs later on in the story.



I love writing by hand, too. I have this fantastic pen that I've been using. I don't get favourite pens often, but I love this one. Its green, of all colors, but I love writing with it. Its a "Frixion clicker" made by pilot. Its an erasable pen, so heat makes the ink fade, but I don't plan on getting the notebook warm. I keep it with me pretty much all the time. Plus, if it does fade, I can stick it in the freezer and bring it back to being at least partially visible. I need more of these pens. I could even use them in my theatre stuff since they're erasable. Pencil is safer though, for theatre. I plan to keep writing on this book this semester. I'm still stuck for the plot points, but plots have always been my downfall, endings especially. I get a beginning and then I get stuck. I do have a general idea of this one though, I just need to make sure that it doesn't go too fast, and I would love to make some smaller plots to go in and twist around the bigger one. I swear, I am full of words!

Late last week, my right eye started swellinf up for no apparent reason. I've gotten styes before (kinda like an eye pimple), but its been a long time since I had one. As it turns out, that's what it was. I've been taking anti-inflammatory meds (advil, naproxen sodium, whatever you want to call it) and using special eye drops and warm compress and all that. I think the thing that bothers me the most is not being able to wear contacts. I never realized how much I don't like wearing glasses. I feel like my clothes and hair and makeup don't look as good when I'm wearing them and that people are judging me harshly for it. Most of this is just my imagination being horrible, but I hate it nonetheless. I feel like that second grader that just got glasses and thinks people will make fun of them for it. In reality, it doesn't really matter, as long as I can see. But I've been so needlessly self conscious this week, which is ridiculous, since I've gotten more complements this week than I have in a while. A complement on my Elsa shirt yesterday. And on my combat boots the day before. And on my ukulele today (well, I think it was a complement, It was shouted from a car while I was in the parking lot, so I didn't hear it well). Self image is so weird. And today I went out of my way to make sure that I wore something that I felt pretty in, and that I made my hair and makeup look good. Today has been a good day as far as looks are concerned. I also just realized a few minutes ago that the skirt I'm wearing today would work really well for a 10th doctor genderbend cosplay. I just need a red tie, a blue collared shirt, red converse, and a trenchcoat. Rocking the pinstripes. *insert flirty wink and finger guns here*

Did that even make any sense?

I woke up yesterday with a sore throat and even though I've overwhelmed my body with vitamin C and other healthy things, its worse today. And the fact that I talk a lot because of theatre and sing a lot since I'm, well, me hasn't helped. THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING. I have a play to be performing in less than a month! Speaking of which, if you live in the area, you should totally come see it. I'll be performing it quite a few times. And if you're a blog reader that I don't know personally, you could totally come up and say hi afterward. Like a mini, not-at-all-even-slightly-famous-person meet and greet. I'll give more details about it a little later. Its during the last couple of weeks in February.

God, I've written a lot. And I've only been sitting here like 30 minutes. It took me that long to get blogger to load on my computer before that. I guess I just have all these words clogged up in me from not really talking to anyone all day. And with the caffeine on top of that. Andrew was away, so I haven't talked to him. Sarah's busy with whatever. Mom has been at work. I don't talk much to people at college. I just needed to talk. Thank you, blog reader, for being here so I can pour my soul out to you.

I swear, I will eventually be doing book reviews. I have one book read already, waiting for me to review it. And I'm in the process of reading two others.

Almost time for play rehearsal. TTYL!

-EW

The one where it rained

Hey ladies and gents! I'm finally back to the blog. I think I'm going to blog on Tuesdays and Thursdays when I stay at school all day. I get here at 11, and after an hour of class, I'm free until like  6:30/7-ish.

Today is a very cold, rainy day. It didn't seem like it, but it started raining on the way to college. The cold followed. I got to use the gigantic umbrella that my Pawpaw put in my car a little while back. The thing is, it makes me look incredibly tiny, like the Morton's salt girl and her umbrella or something.

I'm currently sitting in the cafe above the library, trying to be warm. My lunch was mostly warm, and I have a hoodie. But I didn't think and ended up wearing flats instead of my boots, so my feet and the bottom of my pants legs are soaked. Oh well. Maybe I'll have a cup of coffee a little later to help me warm up.

I'm sitting on the floor, since all the tables are taken, which sucks. I've got my laptop and kindle and a couple of dvds and a book to keep me busy today. If the rain lets up a little, I may go fetch my uke from the car and sit outside and play and sing. Maybe I'll find a place under an awning or cover of some sort. I'm listening to "Good Morning Sunshine" by Alex Day in hopes of driving the clouds away with happy, warm thoughts.

I was actually planning on writing a review for the book that I read the other day, but I really don't feel like it. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow or Tuesday. I should also probably work on memorizing lines or editing my book. Eeeew. Oh well.

I'll talk to you all later, I guess. Stay warm! :)

-EW

Happy Friday

I come to you this morning from a glass of chocolate milk, a couch, and an episode of Friends. I was going to be lazy this morning and sleep in. But I didn't really get to sleep, since the dogs kept barking. I got out of bed specifically to get them to stop, but they kept barking at NOTHING. So instead I was lazy by laying in bed and tumblring.

I started watching Friends as soon as I found out that it was on Netflix. I'm on like season 4 or 5. I binge watch this show, and its fantastic.

I made it to school and back without any problems yesterday. Of course, I suck at parking, so I looked like a fool. I pulled in the space crooked and when I tried to fix it it got worse, so I just stopped trying. I was technically in the space, which is really all that matters.

I actually did film a youtube video yesterday, I just didn't get to edit and upload it. I plan on doing that today. I also have to write a bio about myself to go in the playbill for the show and send it to the director. I should also start working on the first couple of assignments for my two classes that I'm taking this semester.

I feel like I am being the most boring person in all of bloggerdom right now. Oh well. Check on my youtube channel in a little while for a new video.

-EW

On My Own

Today is the first day that I will be driving to school on my own. I'm kinda scared. Every other time I have been driving with my mom in the car. But now I actually have my license (WHOO! I CAN DRIVE!) and I have school so I have to drive. I don't enjoy driving so much as you'd think I would.

I got up at 7:30 this morning. I showered and got dressed and organized some stuff and rented the one textbook that I need for government class this semester (Biology class got cancelled, but its whatever).

I am absolutely starving and there's nothing to eat for breakfast unless I want to make scrambled eggs or muffins, which I'm too lazy to actually do. Or I could eat trix cereal without milk. Or club crackers. Maybe I'll just buy a candy bar or something when I get to the college. And when I get home at like 1:30, I can scrounge around for actual food to eat.

Sorry I haven't been blogging. This week has been super busy and I've been so tired. I have had play rehearsal every night this week so far. I don't have practice again until Tuesday, thank goodness. Its from 7 to 10 each night that we have it, and I have to leave at 6 or earlier to get there in time and I get back at like 11. I scarf down food and go to bed immediately. I suppose it will be better when I manage to get into a routine.

I have to have something to eat. Maybe I'll vlog or something today when I get home. I missed tuesday's vlog for keeyss, but I should have one for next week.

-EW

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'M BACK!

I know that my hiatus was kind of longer than expected. I missed the blog though. I'm glad to be back. And I love writing, so I'm not giving up the blog any time soon. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

As far as what has been happening since the beginning of November, I guess I owe you an update. First of all, I finished the first draft of my novel. I still need to finish editing it, but I hate editing. The clothing month of Seven ended a little early, but it went pretty well. No real spiritual revelations from it though. This month is the month of Seven in which we give away 7 items each day. I'm kinda ahead, but I'm getting rid of a bunch of books and clothes, so that's why. In other news, I failed my driving test because of parallel parking. I know exactly how I went wrong, its just that the lady at the dps was a total jerkbag and freaked me out before the test started by telling me that my insurance went out that day. I cried as soon as I hit the little rubber post thing in front of the car and cried until I was half way home. My next test is next week on Tuesday, so be praying that I get it right this time.

I really need my licence because I won't have another way to get to and from school. Sarah is taking a semester off, so she won't be driving me. Plus, I've got play rehearsal every weekday from 6 to 9. YES, I AUDITIONED FOR A PLAY AND GOT THE LEAD ROLE. And I kinda need to get a job of some sort to help pay for college stuff. I'm looking at this semester and at least one more, probably two at lonestar, then going off to SHSU. And spending money would be nice too.

I think my first real job should be either around books, coffee, or craft supplies. Because my college is close to a few stores like this, it shoudn't be too horribly difficult. There's Hobby Lobby, which would be great because they pay great, or at least so I've heard. And working at Barnes and Noble or Half Price Books would be awesome because I would get to be around books. I love books. Like, I just re-organized my bookshelf a couple days ago and it looks awesome. I'm not sure if I would be able to work at a coffee shop though. I'm afraid that I can't remember enough or understand people taking well enough to take orders, which would put me cleaning tables and sweeping floors, which would suck. Idk. We'll see how that goes.

I started watching Friends on Netflix a couple of days ago. I'm already like 6 episodes into season 2. I love this show. And it makes me want coffee. So I've had a cup of coffee each day that I watch it. And it makes me miss the 90s. And I also relate to the characters a lot right now. Three of them have almost no income. Like, the jobs that they do aren't significant enough to make a decent amount of money. And I'm a lot like Rachel in that I'm all about making sure that I get what I want and working hard for it. I'm a lot like Pheobe sometimes because I can be really silly and ditsy. And I'm quite a bit like Monica in that I can freak out about things really easily.

Anyway, I've got to do some cleaning. See you probably tomorrow or something.

-EW