Tuesday post for 11/11

It's Sunday the 9th, I have to finish my research paper, I am sad. I don't know what to say to get to the word limit right now. I hate this feeling of being at a stalemate in my life. Nothing's going anywhere. I really hope I get into U of M. That'd just be a nice little validation. I want to go; I don't want to leave. Is anything else new? I've never been content staying where I am, my whole life, but I've always felt I'd rather be safe than sorry, as well. This is a weird post. I'm so tired. I think this is probs 100 words; I'm gonna call it good. hgfjkdl.

I'm okay, I will be okay, I've survived lots of things before

Friday post re: class 11/3, 11/5

I was absent on the third, but on the fifth (my birthday!) attended both class and the Night of the Research Paper event at Waldo... and I'm actually really, really surprised at how many in-depth ways of finding resources and works to cite there are that I never had a clue about. I've already found half of my sources, so I mean, hey. I really hate research papers and the topic I'm currently tackling is a little daunting - it's a very current/recent argument and I'm scared I won't be able to find much directly related information, but I'm looking forward to further educating myself on an argument I'm very passionate about (and getting more back-up information for the next time someone asks me 'why')! ... grammar? But, yeah. :~)

Extra Credit Post: Cymbeline

I saw Cymbeline on 10/25, and was blown away. For Shakespeare's most obscure piece, the entire ensemble did a fantastic job working under Ben's directing to make the plot, characters, and overall themes as clear as possible. I'm not a huge fan of the piece itself (Shakespeare just kind of went ham with it, honestly) but it was beautifully directed and performed. There was only one scene I didn't follow, and it was because Trevor (Cloten) had his shirt off and I was busy literally staring at him. Sorry, that's inappropriate. Oh, well.

Tuesday Post for 11/04

My birthday is on the fifth. Billy just broke up with me. Things are kind of strange. I'm on a train. I cried a lot. I am nearly nineteen and I wonder if I'm growing up too quickly a lot of the time. This is very choppy writing, and I apologize for that. I hope things work out with us again. We both agreed it was a possibility. The timing just sucks. As cliche as that right-person-wrong-time thing is, that's the truth in this situation. We're both pursuing BFAs at schools three hours away from each other. Living weekend-to-weekend just isn't working. I really hope he isn't going to find someone new. A huge part of me believes that, in part because things ended well, this will be okay, and we will be together again; just now isn't the right time. I hope that and pray that and in part believe that to be true. But who knows? All I know is that I am in God's hands, and I know that whatever He has planned for me will be great and fantastic; I can only hope and pray that Billy is part of that plan.

Friday post re: Class 10/27, 10/30

We talked a little bit about conspiracy theories in class this week, and I really am intrigued by conspiracy theories. It's always fascinated me, the weird alternate realities people can assign themselves to and dedicate their lives to proving. Personally, I believe that Marilyn Monroe was murdered, for example. I mean, I'm no die-hard and I'm not going to go crazy trying to prove that my beliefs are right or anything. But it's logical to me. The slightly more illogical ones just blow my mind though. But anyway, that's that. Oh, also logical fallacies and debate have always interested me so I'm excited to tackle those.

Tuesday Post - 10/21

So, I have had a tremendously crazily busy week/weekend, to the point that my whole life is a lil in shambles right now. (I generally don't like to complain, so I'm just getting it all out on this blog. I promise I'm not as negative as I feel this blog sometimes paints me).
With midterms, voting, auditions, work, homework, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, I am finding myself having to boil every hour down to exactly what I'll be doing when, and it really doesn't help when buses are late or wifi isn't working or et cetera, et cetera, et cetera
I know these things are my responsibility, but they are just piling up right now
This semester feels an awful lot like not really knowing how to juggle but being in a circus where they keep throwing you balls?
Also I really like journaling for stress management and to record my life and I unfortunately haven't been doing that very much lately, cos I'm too busy trying to get everything else done that I just need to sleep
BUT ANYWAY, this weekend was great (though every free second was inhabited with catch-up work). I saw my boyfriend's show, he met my mom (!!!) which went really surprisingly well (!!!), we got to spend some time together for the first time in three weeks (which was great albeit a lil stressful cos he doesn't have wifi so there were a million things I could've been doing but couldn't - but it was okay, cos I think I needed to slow down for a little while). Then I went home, sang at my friend's wedding, and promptly came back to Kzoo. MY HEAD IS SPINNIN'
But I've got all next semester's classes scheduled out and finals and all so I'm feeling a li'l less stress-y
Okay! Now time to FINALLY finish this paper.

baiiiiii

Friday post - 10/13, /16

Class on the 16th was cancelled, so these are technically reflections over class only on 10/13

So we're talking about analysis and all that jazz as you know, but I have just a few thoughts

To me, a 'theme' has always been more of an overall image the piece is dealing with vs. some kind of moral (i.e., one could interpret some themes of the musical HAIR to include love, war, religion, acceptance, and peace, while the moral would be something the piece is saying, like for example 'war-is-bad-peace-is-good-accept-and-love-and-don't-hurt-anyone' or something like that) but that's probably just my education differing from another's, so that doesn't bother me at all, though I do get a little confused in class sometimes

Additionally, I find it strange that we aren't to summarize at all - whenever I have done analysis papers in my prior experience, a bit of background information was considered essential. Instructions were often "write this piece as though it's for someone who has never read (or seen/heard, in the case of a film/song) the piece." So while I do understand that the purpose of these activities is to actually describe how our 'theme' fits into the world of the piece, I don't quite yet understand the background info:analysis ratio that is desirable when writing

PEACE

Extra Credit Post

I won't be in class today cos I'm really sick. Like, really, really sick. Which sucks. I might get out to Sindecuse but then again that also means leaving my bed. But anyway, I'm stuck out of class. So I figured in addition to writing my required 'Tuesday post,' I might write an extra one or two for extra points. I mean, why the heck not, ya know?

So, I wish there was a link to the worksheet we used to analyze the songs in class on the blog because now that I have finally picked a song my thoughts are a little scattered. I know it's only a draft, but I would like it to be as concise as possible so that, when editing, I just need to refine and/or more specifically articulate my argument. (I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna have to tear up my movie analysis and start over because it was not my best work).

Part of me really wanted to analyze "Children Will Listen" from Into the Woods by Sondheim. (The movie is going to be awful, I think, unfortunately). The other part is really adamant that I do "Ready to Be Loved" from Edges. This is a crazy tough decision.

Guess I should just look for that sheet & start writing, though

BYYYYYE

Friday Post Re: Class Sept. 29/Oct. 1

This week, we worked a little on song analysis.

It's not weird for me to analyze music interpretively (I'm a Music Theatre Major, for God's sake) but it will prove a lil uncomfy trying to do so while analyzing the music in layman's terms.

I say this because a lot of my current curriculum involves me analyzing music from a theoretical standpoint, i.e. chordal analysis, complex accompaniment/composition choices, and other music theory stuff like basic time signature, key signature, accidentals, rhythms - all the way to more abstract ideas like feel, pulse, etc. So I'm trying to write this paper for anyone to read in this class, whereas in other classes I am trying to write for those with a theoretical musical knowledge.

That's it y'all

Extra Credit Post

HI GUYS

I'm writing an extra blog this week for them extra credit points, ja feel? (respond: ja definitely feel)

So my show opened & has been getting some pretty rave reviews. That's awesome, yeah?

Billy (my boyfriend) came to the show last night. That was really nice! I took him out to dinner at Roadhouse (I was gonna take him to Martel's but they were closed & he insisted I take him to Roadhouse since I currently have a discount). Saying bye is always a lil sad. I'm seeing him next in another 2 weeks. So that's not that far away. Still it's a little bit sad that he doesn't get to spend every night. BUUUT I digress

So Fourth Coast has this stuff called "Witch's Brew" right now, yeah? It's fricking chai mixed with fricking apple cider. Like, fricking stop. Just stop right now. Can anything get any better? Oh, Lord, it's so yummy, & I have already had two of them today.

Also, I'm really awful at getting sad & spending money. Like someone please never let me have a card again, yeah? I now have $13 till next payday (the Tuesday after the upcoming one) cos I decided I needed more clothes, cos I was sad Billy was leaving. But that's okay! I've lived longer on less.

People say we look like Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka. That's fun. :)

I guess that's it

Bye, y'all! Have a positive week! I gotta watch a movie for this analysis I completely forgot we had to write! WHOOPS

love & positive thoughts & smiles & cute samoyed puppies
^ a few of my favorite things

P.S. Why are cishet boys so against pumpkin spice? Why can't they be against, like, I dunno, date rape drugs?

BYE

Hello

WMU's HR/payroll is a huuuuuge biyatch to figure out. But I just cashed my check so it's fine now.

My show opens on Friday! So that's cool. I'm excited to finally be in front of an audience, cos the show is very definitely ready. Our first audience will technically be on Thursday, which is a sponsor show. Representatives from local businesses that sponsored the show/theatre will be coming out to watch our final dress-tech rehearsal before opening tomorrow.

I'm kind of bummed that y'all watched Carrie when I was sick and missed class -- I love that movie! I actually just watched it last weekend, though. I'm assuming you watched the original one (read, the good one/the only one that truly matters). I was sick, so that sucked.

My boyfriend is coming to see my show this weekend! I'm very excited. Four more sleeps! :)

Today, one of my favorite professors told me I'd be an excellent parent. That made me very happy. I want to have a family someday so badly.

That's all folks! Peace out

Friday Post Re: Class 9/17

This is a day late. Wifi was being weird, and I hope I can get at least partial credit. ANYWAY.

I'll start this off with a funny story: I came to the cancelled class. Woops. I thought I'd missed some kind of relocation memo. You think as a sophomore, I'd know this stuff, but I guess not yet. Huh.

I don't really have many questions regarding class this week, other than where to begin with my narrative.

I really, really love writing. What I don't necessarily love is starting to write. Like, how do you? What am I supposed to write about? A person or place that affected me? That's so broad! Which is probably the point. But nevertheless! Where does one begin? There are places I remember... please, someone catch my lyrical reference.

I guess I'll write about grammar as far as narratives or other personal writings go... It is my personal belief that the importance of 'proper' grammar is very subjective depending on what genre of writing you're in. Generally, I think it's only really essential for formal writing. If you're doing a poem, fwoomp- it's out the window. A narrative? Ehhhhh. You'll want to observe some general structuring and organizational ideas but really the point of a narrative is your voice and getting that across. Almost no one talks in 100% Bonafide, Certified, Free-Of-Err English. So, why would we write a narrative as such? That being said, punctuation is still necessary, but whether the rules of it are to be as strictly followed in a narrative or blog post as opposed to an essay is kind of up to interpretation. There's a specific way I form my sentences, and as a result, I pick and choose grammar and punctuation that reflects my voice rather than for being 'proper.' I don't know where this is coming from; I just don't have any questions really regarding last class.

Guess that's it, y'all.

Peace & blessings

Friday Post Re: Class 9/8, 9/10

We are (in case you didn't know) (you probably know) required to write 2 blogs weekly, and one - due on Friday - has to be about any questions we have regarding class.

On a purely comprehensive level, I have more or less understood we've done in class. But I do have a question to poise.

Before reading this, please don't read this as a criticism of the course or instructor. That's not it at all. It's more a criticism of society, I guess.

I wonder why we feel the need to gather information about race, gender, and sexual orientation from the narratives unless they are specifically relevant to the piece. Obviously, 'getting to know' the narrator is important, but personally I have a non-binary gender identity that I feel are not necessarily important to relate to the humanity that I present in my narrative.

I say this mainly because the person who read my narrative pinned me down as a "straight woman." This doesn't bother me at all. It also wouldn't bother me if I was thought to be a "gay man." I really couldn't care less, but I feel that information is irrelevant to my narrative. I am completely comfortable being referred to with she/her, they/them and he/him pronouns, as I feel my gender is not as important as my humanity. So I wonder why do we have to feel we know someone's gender to know them?

I am male bodied. I am dating a cisgender, gay man. I identify in a way specifically tailored to myself, and it's something I don't ask anyone else to understand. To acknowledge, yes, but not to fully understand. As a matter of fact, I don't want anyone to. That is something I have constructed myself and something I'm very confident in.

Generally, I feel I can be known as a person, especially through my writing, with or without any indication as to orientation, sex, or gender identity. I do refer to my boyfriend in my writing. That's all I feel is truly important.

If you're interested, look up the poem "Gender is a Universe" by Lacey Roop.

Thanks for letting me indulge myself.

:)

Mobile Post #1 -- Gratitude

So, fun story, guys. In case you weren't listening when she went over the assignment sheet, Mickey says we can get extra credit. And I am all about that life. So I'm gonna post on here all the freaking time. Y'all ready? Okay.

I had a really bad day. And one thing about me: it takes a lot for me to admit it's been a bad day, because I typically don't allow bad stuff to infiltrate my mood. So that means today has been really, really awful. So I guess I wanna take some time to write a list of some things I'm thankful for. These are in no specific order. 

I am so thankful to be cast in a show right now. Last year as a freshman, I spent the majority of my first semester without any artistic projects to indulge myself with. It quickly became a very dark time filled with reliance on some toxic things and people that I am really glad I have been able to expel from my life. 

I am so glad that my mental well-being is so stable and positive. 

I am so grateful to have a loving and supporting God to believe in. Though it's sometimes hard to have faith, I know that He is always there for me. There have been many times throughout my life that I have doubted my beliefs about God and His existence. I now finally have the strength to know what I believe and how I believe it, and that growth is something I can thank only God and myself for. 

I'm beyond grateful to have a loving and supportive family. 

My sense of self and identity is beyond my years. I'm thankful. 

I have a really incredible boyfriend (I know that's kind of cliché) who is just… amazing. Yeah. He's pretty good to me. I'm going to see him this weekend - he goes to Oakland - and it's been a little while. I am so freaking excited. You don't even know. And there was a time this trip started to look like it wouldn't work out so I am really, really, really SO thankful that it is going to happen. 

I'm proud of myself for being a first-generation student and to be currently balancing 17 credit hours, a show, and my first job along with a social life. Kind of. It's a liiiittle imbalanced. But it'll work for now. 

I'm thankful that puppies and bears exist. Like oh my god. How cool that I live in a world with those balls of fluff. Instruction to classmates: Please show me any pictures of cute animals you ever come across. (Also, don't. I might cry).

Wow, I feel a lot better already. 

:)

Required Introductory Post

Hey, y'all.

I'm Aaron. I don't wanna put my last name on this blog, cos in my career field it's really important for your name to be spotless when googled. I figure there's enough Aarons in the world that I can get away with this, but in case of emergency, you may refer to me as "White Leopard."

I'm 18 years old, gender non-binary (any pronoun is cool, but preference goes to they/them or he/him), I'm a sophomore Music Theatre Performance major, and yeah that's it.

If you want to see me in a show, let me know, cos I can tell you how to get tickets & all.

I like dogs, & I like cookie dough.

Thaaaaaaaat's all, folks!

This is kind of a negative post. I had a bad day. Usually, I'm all about them positive vibes. I'll be a very happy blogger. Maybe I'll blog a lot of puppies.