Journey of Adulthood

The first baby steps of adulthood (pun intended):

18 candles.. finally!

I admire in adults that weariness they have, the feel that they give that they've experienced life. Maybe, I can mix the freshness of youth's vitality with the aura of wisdom? Ah, perhaps. I shall see. 

It will be a difficult road, full of obstacles and perhaps even walls. But with sheer will power, faith and work ethic I'll shatter those walls down and jump over those obstacles (I can't promise to gracefully) and come out of life's journey as the triumphant winner, sweating and covered with dust.

Here's to adulthood! (Break out the bubbly! ... 'Til I go to the states again. My natural right to alcohol revoked by Americans!) 

Mother Nature, the Original Artist

I haven't posted in a while. Blame the holidays. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and if you don't celebrate Christmas, whatever holiday you do celebrate, I hope it was amazing and restful. 

What also is amazing and restful is nature. There's nothing more awe invoking than Mother Nature and it can also evoke feelings of Zen in you. I always look to nature for inspiration because it is the original artwork of our existence. Hope you enjoy some pictures I took this winter break!

"If you want unconditional love, buy yourself a dog"

The French have such a tasteful way of saying things.

Oh how I've missed my pups so. Aren't they adorable? Truly, they are a source of unconditional love!

Home Sweet Home

Rising with the LA sun

Nearing home... and snow!

The infamous Greek crossroads... 21st century version

HOME

The well-trodden (ridden) road

There truly is no place like home and there's no one quite like family. The only people in the entire world that would welcome you with open arms, no matter what you do. Absence does make the heart grow fonder!

Everyday I'm Studyin'

From bottom to top:

Much Ado About Nothing, Arcadia, Henry V, Hamlet, Prometheus Bound, Waiting for Godot, Volpone, Mother Courage and Her Children, Oedipus Tyrannus, King Lear, Richard III, Great God Brown

On the Road to Venice (CA)

Man Meets Nature... who will win?

The Row of Quaint Houses

Floating in the Air

The Lonely Sign

No One There

Peter Meineck & George W. Bush

What does an NYU professor/creator of the Aquilas Theatre have to do with the former president of the United States of America? A lot, apparently.

He told a wonderfully hilarious story (that I cannot do justice but will attempt) on how his theatre group performed Much Ado About Nothing at the White House during Bush's presidency. "Watching Bush watch Shakespeare" taught him so much about not just the man but Shakespeare too (how religious it was, for he got all the religious allusions in the text). According to him, he is a very likable man, despite how the media portrays him as. The most memorable moment was probably when Bush told him, "Don't miss it"... regarding his wife's pregnancy ("Peter's pregnant folks! Peter's going to have a baby!" in which Mr. Meineck thought that his wife is just a baby-carrier and he's the one actually having the baby). Wow, talk about humanity in a moment.

But perhaps the funniest moment was when Mr. Meineck told the actor playing Benedick, famous for his long dramatic pauses, to not pause (for Mr. Bush must sleep at 9PM. Can you believe it?). Yet, during Benedick's speech on loving Beatrice, he stared right at Bush and said the speech--which directly reflected Bush's life. And Bush just stared back and laughed (and Mr. Meineck did a fabulous impersonation of his laugh).

But his greatest advice for someone trying to set up their own theatre company was this:

"Be squeaky clean in an industry that's so easy to get dirty"

That, and "always pay your actors every Thursday and they'll follow you into the fire." 

Denial ('Tis Life)

Peter Meineck (the blog post about him coming up soon, I promise!) said that the hardest thing on starting your own theatre company is: 

$

However, art does not require money. And since we're still in college and I'm not required to pay anyone (yet), on with the show! Wind in the Pines is my baby and I refuse to let it die because some board decides to starve it. 

...Besides, I only wanted the money for the noh mask ($415!).. oh how I want one so bad!