Sarah Lawrence Siren Song

When I was in high school my dream was to go to college at Sarah Lawrence in New York. I had an old, wrinkled pamphlet that I'd found amongst a crate full of college brochures and catalogs in a summer school classroom. Eventually, I realized that this dream wasn't going to come true. Depression continually derailed me from my educational track, and the public school system did what it could to help it. I became apathetic, at best, and resentful, at worst towards the idea of any type of formal education. Clearly since I didn't start my college adventure until the age of 29, that mindset lasted for quite a while. I don't even know what happened to that old brochure.

Last semester I was able to join our campus's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, which is a two-year college honor society. Now I occasionally get e-mails and mailings from colleges looking to recruit PTK members. Imagine my surprise when this weekend I got a packet in the mail from Sarah Lawrence College. After getting the mail I climbed back into bed, and started thumbing my way through it. At first I was thrilled to receive it, even though it was just a bulk mailing. By the time I'd turned the last page, I was a bit depressed. A little sad to think about what I might have missed out on all those year ago.

Yesterday I got an e-mail inviting me to Sarah Lawrence's Transfer Days coming up in February. I'm starting to feel like my old dreams are just flat out haunting me now. The cost of attending this school is astronomical in comparison to my plans at UNT. And they don't have the same degree plan that I've been planning on. And I'd have to move to New York. And when I bemoan feeling stalked by things I can't have, Josh suggest that I can have whatever I want. But that ship has sailed, in all logical and realistic ways.

It's only $60 to apply.

The Word of the Day...

...is Escape.

One Foot in Front of the Other

I completed my school application last night, and got my transcript ready to mail to them today. It's just community college, but it's the first step. Unfortunately there are so many more steps to follow! I'm feeling really good about this though. I've decided my big, ultimate, dream goals are to either work for Conan/Jeff Ross/Conaco Productions or to work at the Paley Center. I'll be lucky to get a job in the television industry at all, probably, but it doesn't hurt to have something big to shoot for, right?

I'm feeling a little low and frustrated at the same time though. When you finally figure out what it is you think you should be doing with your life, you kind of want to be able to start doing it right away. Trying to exercise patience is not going to be easy, but it must be done. I'm also on the downside of the high that was last Thursday. I get sad after Christmas, post-vacation, etc., so the comedown from the greatest day in my life is a bit rough. I'll manage though. I'm already looking at internships with TBS/Turner/Time Warner/Warner Bros., as well as the Paley Center. And Conan's new show is set to start November 8th. So there are some things to look forward to. ;)

One Day All My Dreams Came True...

...and my heart exploded into a million tiny joy-filled pieces.

Momma wants a Brand New Bag

I am trying to think up some ways to get some spending money. Between taxes, car repairs, being out sick, and a firm desire to take a vacation or two this year I am very low on spending money. Josh makes extra money by playing gigs with Back In Black and his other bands. If only I had such a skill that I could easily monetize! I replied to an ad on Craigslist today from an event coordinator looking for an assistant for the occasional weekend wedding/party/corporate function. We'll see if anything comes of that. Looking for someone to clean your house? Maybe you'd be interested in discussing the stocking of your freezer with some meals? I enjoy pulling weeds. Perhaps I should put up my own Craigslist ad: "Girl desperate to shop willing to trade domestic skills for cash." Because I wants:

My Woody Allen Experience

First off, I just have to say that I have the best husband in the world. He was willing to take off work and drum lessons for me, despite having missed a lot of both lately with the holidays. He drove the three hours to Austin and back, despite having had to be and perform in Houston on Saturday and Dallas Sunday. All just to make one of my biggest dreams come true. That is the definition of love right there, and I know it.

So, one sentimental ball of mush out of the way and on to another. I spent almost two hours less than 30 feet from Woody Allen. It was one of the greatest things that I have ever experienced. When we sat down in our seats I had a moment to be elated at how good they were before I started to nearly hyperventilate with excitement at what I was about to witness. We were really as close as one could hope to get when they bought last minute tickets, and I had a completely unobstructed direct view to Woody. Clearly, he was what I was there to see, but that whole band is amazing. It was so fascinating to watch a smaller band play together, since my only other experience watching jazz performers has been the much bigger UNT band. Aside from the phenomenal music, I took so much pleasure in being able to watch Woody be Woody. I've watched so many interviews of him over the years that a lot of his little mannerisms are known to me. So when he took his sweater off about two songs in and brushed his hair back with his hand, when he slid his finger between his glasses and face to rub his left eye, when he stretched his arms down his legs and rubbed his knees- it was just him being himself right in front of my eyes. And more than that, I got to see him doing something he truly loves to do, is passionate about doing. Like I said, it was a dream come true.

They played for a little over an hour, and then did two encores which Woody claimed was a record for them, but I find that hard to believe. And they were long encores as well, adding almost 45 minutes on to the show. It's hard for me to know all the songs they played, I am not as familiar with my New Orleans jazz catalog enough to always easily recognize them- especially with a music as variable as jazz can be. I'm still trying to figure more out, but I know they played:

Ice Cream
Tie Me to Your Apron Strings Again
St. Louis Blues
Listen to the Mockingbird
Down by the Riverside
All the Whores Like the Way I Ride
My Old Kentucky Home
Home Sweet Home
Easter Parade
Sweet Georgia Brown

Again, just amazing to me that I've actually done this. It has been a dream for so long that I hardly know what to do with myself now that it's actually come true. Where does one go from here? To be honest, one still wants to go to NYC and see him at the Carlyle, to do it all over again. :)



































Crappy iPhone pics from the evening.

Pantry Project- Before

Who knew that when I was dreaming way back in 2007 that I would so soon have a pantry of my own to make pretty. Not me! But now I do and as it turned out I was just in time to catch the last weekend of the Container Store's elfa sale. So, after some consulting and confusion we picked up all the ingredients for new shelves and a cart for the microwave. Now that I have so much more counter space I don't want to donate any of it to the ugly appliance. The nice elfa-elf that helped us was almost giddy to hear that I shared her distaste for the cooking box. I will someday also get the over-the-door storage system, but I couldn't go whole-hog just yet. Maybe next year's sale will bring the opportunity. Anyway, here's what I'm starting with. You fortunately can't really tell just how gross and grimy it is in there right now. I'm going to tear out the shelves and supports, scrub the walls something fierce, and maybe even paint it (if I could choose the right color, which we all know is quite the ordeal). I am very excited about having a nice, new and well-organized pantry in my future- even if I have to work hard for it!

Recurring Dreams

As it pours, and pours, and pours some more I'm having flashbacks to my previous yearning for wellies. Still just dreaming, unfortunately.

Dreaming

plus















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equals happy dreams indeed.

Craving

I have a very strong craving to be laying on the couch with a Dr. Pepper and bag full of Doritos, watching So I Married An Axe Murderer. If only that was all I had to do this evening. Sigh.