Newsy Wednesd-y

I love Sigur Ros. And I just found out the lead singer, Jonsi, has recorded a new album. You can listen to it here on NPR radio. I have a sneaking suspicion he will soon become my most-favoured artist of the year.

Also, I was inspired by Stella to start a blog on health and wellness and have created: Lovely, Happy, Healthy

I'm a newbie at health blogging, but I am really passionate about being well and living well, so I hope you enjoy it. Ideally, I'd like it to be a collaborative project - I want it to be a simple, inspiring, helpful, encouraging, uplifting, informative and (hopefully) entertaining piece of cyberspace you can visit and contribute to once in a while. The truth is, I'm really trying to get well. I don't have a disease and I'm not sick at the moment, but I have definitely been convicted of my poor eating/nutrition/overall personal health habits and I want to get better. I'm a new blogger, but I can already see how powerful having an online community of readers and friends can be.

Oh, and if you haven't yet checked out Stella's blog supernovahealth - do so! She is candid, honest and open to all kinds of new experiences - and she shares every detail. It's inspiring and I know she has already had an effect on how I take care of myself. Thanks, Stella. :)

Anyway, there's my shameless plug. But honestly, I want this to be, above all, helpful. I created it mostly for myself, but I hope it will be of use to someone else out there.

Where did my panache go?

I spend most of my day during the week sitting down. In class, on the bus, in front of my computer, in the coffee shop, in front of my computer, in front of my computer. I repeat, in front of my computer.

This past Saturday I was invited to be a guest performer at the Herberger Theater's Young Artist Competition. It was the first time I'd been on a stage since June, and the first time I'd been on that particular stage since last March. I selected and memorized my monologue ("Request Stop" by Pinter) the day of the competition. I did not get enough sleep, I completely stressed out about it. I walked out onto that stage, began the monologue, and completely choked. That. Had. Never. Happened. To. Me. Before. I forgot a huge chunk of the monologue, but still managed to make it through. All I can say is thank goodness Pinter loves pauses. Long story short, it probably wasn't as bad as I made it out to be in my own head. I felt, as I walked on stage and started to perform, that I wasn't really there. I felt like I was in a memory, seeing myself on stage. There was a disconnect in my body. I was there physically, but completely absent mentally. It was terrifying. Only, I didn't feel scared. I felt...apathetic. I literally felt that, at any moment, I could stop, jump out into the audience and crowd-surf my way to glory because it was just a dream anyway. It literally felt like I was in a dream.

Talk about scary.

Sir Derek Jacobi actually told me (and I say me meaning myself and 100 other drama students that were in his master class) that every actor will, at some point in their career, have a moment like that. It happened to him on the final performance of a world tour of "Hamlet." It was his 500th performance as the prince of Denmark, and right before "What a piece of work is a man" speech, he completely blanked. He couldn't remember his lines, after 499 performances. He questioned himself and his own abilities to perform. He went onstage and performed the monologue practically from muscle memory. After that performance, he was so completely shell-shocked he took a 3 year sabbatical from theater. It was only after the Royal Shakespeare Company offered him two irresistible parts that he returned to acting.

It's that tiny seed of self-doubt that we plant in ourselves that can completely consume us, override our confidence, and completely suck us dry.

You're up there, under the hot, white lamps, the egg-shaped shadows of two hundred heads barely visible beyond the glare of the spotlight.


I attribute this moment of mental vacuity to lack of preparation, lack of sleep, and lack of mental stimulation. The first two of that list are usually things that don't affect me when it comes to performing. No matter how tired I am, when it comes to performance, I'm always on. Always. And, not to brag, but I memorize things really, really quickly. It took me ten minutes to memorize my monologue. I just psyched myself out.

Over the past eight months I have been at journalism school. And it's been..less than stimulating. I find myself aching to have time to read a good book, to play my guitar, to write a creative story, to sing, to pick apart a new monologue. No such time is to be found, I'm afraid. Whenever I do get a spare couple of hours I usually spend it sleeping, doing homework, or numbing my brain with pointless social networking websites. I think I've actually gotten dumber.

I can't handle it anymore. I'm so glad I changed my major.

Oh, I've got a call-back for a commercial tomorrow! I have to bring 3 outfits I think a domestic housewife would wear. So...suggestions? :)

Now then, what was it I was supposed to do?

What was this going to be about?

I can't remember.

I think these were the main points:

-love
-contentment
-motivation
-imagination
-nutrition

Hmm.. I'll be back.

Well, hello there spring!

Don't you just love this time of year?

*pause for effect.*

I know I do.

It's spring again! And don't you know what that means?

*pause for thought*

It's time to clean! If you have one, grab a feather duster and a fresh bottle of Windex (there's nothing worse than one that's almost empty and dribbles all over your hand while dispensing.)

I find that the coming of spring is almost more motivational for me than the beginning of the new year. It's time for a fresh, clean start.

Man I wish I had some french windows that led into a flowery, green garden.

*pause for reflection.*

Calls me higher.

You know, as much as I love music - I don't listen to it as often as I think I do. When I do, I'm very specific about what I choose to listen to. I have hundreds of CDs, but unless I purposefully think to listen to music, I can go an entire day without hearing a note. I do sing to myself pretty much all the time though, so that's probably why I don't find myself missing it.

Despite the great variety of bands, genres and artists in my iTunes library, I always come back to a select few and listen to them over and over and over. I've never been one to go to concerts just to scream and jump around - I've never been good at band worship and I hope I never will be. If I was into pop music, I might enjoy going to a Beyonce or Lady Gaga concert because they're actual shows. No actual live singing is happening, but they're dancing around and putting on a show.

I like the music I like and I have deep respect for musicians. I find it funny when someone asks me if I've heard about this or that band, and most of the time I haven't, and then they look at me wide-eyed and gasp and say, "What?? I can't believe you've never heard ____! I'm gonna have to introduce you. You're missing out." And then they'll proceed to burn me a CD (or download the mp3s onto my itunes library) and prod me over the next couple of weeks asking if I liked the band. I have nothing against this - but I've discovered there are actually only a handful of genres that I absolutely love: Jazz, Classical, Musical Theater, Choral and Folk. Granted, there are bands in practically every genre of music that I like. Except for rap. I just don't get that. 

But music that calls me to a higher state of thinking, emoting and expression is what I love the most. Take, for example, Eric Whitacre. A choral composer with an incredible imagination and talent for dissonant chords, haunting tunes and inspiring melodies perfectly designed to first pluck, then passionately strum the heartstrings. My heart swells whenever I listen to "I Thank You God for Most This Amazing Day," or "Lux Arumque." More recently, Eric composed a techno-opera musical based on John Milton's "Paradise Lost." The opera, entitled "Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings" is absolutely riveting. I saw one of the first preview performances of the show in Pasadena, California. I sat in the front row of the 100-seat auditorium with my brother and mother and was more than once, lifted out of my seat with the most heavenly, haunting, powerful sounds my ears have ever heard. The seamless and innovative composition of techno beats, operatic arias and orchestral music literally made me feel as if I was witnessing a supernatural concert. It was that unreal.

So no, I don't listen to bands that are as obscure as the ones my friends listen to, and I generally like to stick with what I know. When it comes to new musicians, I think I (unfairly) make it their responsibility to impress me. I very rarely will listen to a band just to 'give them a shot.' If I hear a song in a movie soundtrack or on the radio that sticks out to me, I'll make it a point to track them down. Because usually, most contemporary music that gets played in the world around me (i.e. in my friends' cars, on the radio, in the shopping mall) is just white noise to me.

Enclosed is a recording of one of many beautiful trios in Eric Whitacre's "Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings." I hope you listen, and enjoy.

The Corpse Had a Familiar Face - Book Review

Edna Buchanan's semi-autobiographical novel The Corpse Had a Familiar Face delivers a succulent dose of crime, mystery, whimsy and face-to-the-wind, ain't-no-kidding-around-about-it journalistic passion. 
The gripping novel narrated by Buchanan herself details the gruesome, mysterious and poignant events of her 15 years working on the police beat in Miami, Florida. It's an anecdotal work that captivates the reader from the first punchy line of prose:


"It was my day off. But it was murder. Again."

Buchanan narrates the book of memoirs in a voice that clearly indicates her passion for her career. She describes working on the police beat in a no-nonsense, take-it-or-leave-it tone. Her lively descriptions of the killer-brothers both named Terrence Beecham, the 15 year old serial killer, and the handsome Australian psychopath with a fetish for beautiful, young women highlight the bizarre, musty-tinged atmosphere of the Miamian crime scene. 

It is Buchanan's ardent compassion for both the victim and the convicted that indicates her unwavering devotion to her career as a journalist.


"No matter how despicable, the killer always proves to be human, someone you can identify with in some way."

Buchanan proves to be a shining example of objective journalism. In what would seem to be a horrific, demented aberration of a human being, Buchanan finds the humanity - and relates to it. In what would seem to be an 'unimportant murder,' Buchanan finds compassion for everyone - and tells each and every story to the best of her ability.

It is a memorable, personal, and passionate book of memoirs that reveals the courageous, full-throttle, live-life-on-the-edge heart and soul of its most esteemed author.

Notes From Oxford Vol. II

Shakespeare Instructor: James Bundy - Dean of Yale
 
In class one day, our first Shakespeare instructor of the course asked us to write down why we were here. Here's what I wrote:

"I came here to learn, grow, explore, take risks, and become a more honest actress."

One of the biggest things  I learned about working with Shakespeare that I never really connected with before was that Shakespeare's characters are not ironic. Playing irony is much safer, and let's be honest with ourselves here, much easier. Shakespeare's characters say what they mean and mean what they say. All the time. Shakespeare's sonnets are not ironic. There is always something at stake, and to play a speech from an ironic distance would be diminishing the value of the entire work. In my opinion, Shakespeare stands alone in this regard. So much of modern theater is written to be ironic. Characters constantly keep secrets from others and themselves and the audience and play it off with a smile and a chuckle. Shakespeare does no such thing. Shakespeare puts into the mouths of his characters what very few people can actually do in real life: speak honestly all the time.

And you know what I found to be fascinating? I was uncomfortable being so real on stage. It was so new and invigorating I hardly knew what to do with myself. So many modern actors and actresses make fortunes for themselves playing characters from an ironic distance. It's much tougher to speak the words written for your character with absolute conviction and honesty. It's risky, but when it's done right, it's completely and utterly spell-binding.

A few notes on Shakespearean monologues: 

-What is the immediate prior moment?

-Do not treat your first line as a preamble. Every word counts. Thoughts. Ideas. Reactions.

 -Live in the antitheses, where we change our mind, make decisions and comparisons.

-Do not use the last word of the line to prepare for the next line.

 -Mean what you say.

-Make the good lines good and the bad lines bad.

-Say what you mean.

-Less stress, more value.

 -"chicken kiev" the adjective with noun.*

    *we coined this term together in class. To "chicken kiev" the adjective with the noun, is to make the noun more important than the adjective. Ex: "What studied torments tyrant hast for me?" NOT "What studied torments, tyrant hast for me?" It makes the meaning much more comprehensive.

-Don't get intellectual on the pauses. 

 -Be on your voice!*

   *So many of us adopt an affected tone whenever we're on stage; especially with Shakespeare. It's safer, and something inside us tells us it's right. It's not. Everything sounds so much better when you speak in your normal range and tone. 

-Be specific. Play the meaning, not the bigness.

-Find different colors in the speech.

-Don't let go of a word until you mean it.

-Trust your instrument.

-Play to win.

For dramatic monologues:
"Absolute seriousness is never without a dash of humor."

Remember this:
Shakespeare's characters have duality. Let the adjectives sound and the nouns exist. Don't play up the adjectives in preparation for the noun. Change with changes. "I shame to hear thee speak; ah timorous wretch!" 


"People of Shakespeare's plays live full lives and go to bed tired. They are connected to nature, never forget they are animals, and never let anybody else forget they are divine." -Macefield


Voice:
Instructor: Andrew Wade

"How can I know what I think until I hear what I say?" -Oscar Wilde

Antithesis is what we do to make sense of things - comparing one thing to another. The second one is usually more important.

"A picture frame sets a painting into focus; distinguishes it. So the frame of our speech serves as a function - it keeps the idea important."

Prose - logical, persuasive, rational
Verse - emotional, imagery

*Language is active. It provokes the next moment. See the words in your mouth and head as active, having an impact on the world, and using those words to win. 

*Language, however naturalistic is still presented speech.

*To speak words should alter you.

*When language is written, we almost respect it too much.

*The aim is to release not just a literal/intelligent response, but a more imaginative response.

*The release of thought into words should be as exhilarating as a dance.

*The music of language both provokes and comforts.

*Words are a life force, a provocation, the opposite of silence.

*Actors are the guardians of language.

*Actors are made articulate through the language they bring alive. Their care helps the hearers to be articulate.

*Feel the need to break the silences.



Book to read: The Actor and Target - Decklyn Donalyn

Yulu Youwho?

Ok so the local market here in downtown Phoenix just started selling these things called 'yulu beans.' I've found out very little about them on the internet except that they are seeds of the wild papaya (or 'bonete' in Spanish.) They're surprisingly tasty and I've found that just a small handful satisfies my hunger. They're high in protein and taste phenomenal in salads, or mixed in with some hummus on top of freshly baked pita bread! I bought a 6 ounce bag for $5 and I've still got three-quarters of it left after having it for over a week. There's a rather frightening picture of a rattlesnake on the side of the bag, but I didn't let that faze me.

In other news...can I just say I can't wait until this week is over?

I got little to no sleep over the weekend - which is fine - I had an amazing weekend  - but now I am much more inclined to sleep all day than do my work.
Midterms..how you vex me. Working 32 hours a week and going to school full-time was manageable for a little while..now I'm thinking I might just have been a little over-ambitious. I have to read an entire book and write a book report on a book I don't even own but fortunately found an electronic copy of on the internet for my news class, finish about two weeks of French homework, take an online statistics quiz and exam, write a 4-5 page argumentative paper for English and...I think that's it. I have to confess I'm a bit peeved at myself for not getting the book sooner. I've had to put down "Interview with a Vampire" for "The Corpse Had a Familiar Face."

I'm going to look at an apartment on Friday in Tempe. It's really close to the main campus and is only $650 a month! I must confess I do a little dance in my heart whenever I think about getting out of these dreadful dorms.

Spring break is almost here..California roadtrip is almost here....

Well..should probably get to work! Wish me luck...

Tomatoes - More than a healthy snack!

Ok so here's another tip for skin-care that's worked really well for me. Here's what you need:

-One organic tomato
-Sugar (granulated white sugar works best)

Cut off the top of your organic tomato with the vine still attached to the top. This will be your handle. Pour out a small amount of sugar into a dish and rub the tomato in the sugar. Apply to your face in a circular motion. The sugar exfoliates your skin and the natural juices of the tomato are super healthy for your skin!

I do this scrub about once a week - you can do it as many as three to four times a week, but you shouldn't exfoliate every day.

Enjoy :)


-E

Healthy Skin, Healthy Wallet.

So. Skin care products can be obscenely expensive. Make-up remover, masques, lotions, creams and ointments can cost a fortune. Being but a lowly college student, I took it upon myself to explore my options. So, without further ado, let me present to you my miracle, desert-island product:

 

That's right folks. Extra-virgin olive oil. 

I use it as my:
-Make-up remover
-Shaving lotion
-Moisturizer
-Facial Cleanser

It is without a doubt, THE most effective make-up remover I've ever used (especially for the eyes.) It's gentle enough on the delicate skin of your eyes, and it moisturizes your eyelashes too! I've been using EV olive oil as my primary make-up remover for about a year now, and I can honestly tell you NOTHING works better. My eyelashes are fuller and healthier, and my skin feels nourished and moisturized. I keep a little dish of it in my medicine cabinet and use round cotton pads to remove the make-up.

It's great for shaving too (especially the bikini and under-arm areas.) My skin is pretty sensitive, and I always seem to end up with razor-burn no matter how much lotion I use. I used EV oil oil to shave my legs, bikini line and my underarms, and it left literally NO razor-burn. And because it's a natural moisturizer, I didn't have to put on lotion afterwards!

I also use a solid, 100% olive oil soap bar to wash my face. I kid you not, within three days of using it, almost all of my blemishes and redness were gone. I've tried Clearasil, Oil of Olay, Dove, Neutrogena, and even some of those really harsh benzoil peroxide treatments, but nothing has worked as well as olive oil soap. And the best part about it? One bar of soap costs $4 and it lasts me about a month. It's amazing. I can't praise it enough. Once I started using it, I began to rue all the money I spent on countless skin creams, night masks and moisturizers. But hey! I'm older and wiser now right? I get my soap from www.jacobsspring.com

So, not only is Extra-Virgin Olive Oil great for cooking, seasoning and dressing, it is my all-in-one skin-care regimen!

So....Go try it! Stop wasting your money on chemically-enhanced products! Yay!

<3
-E