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Chongalicious

Aug 23, 2007
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So, I am at work right now, clearly not working like I should be. Actually there really isn't all that much for me to be doing anyways, so frankly, keeping myself awake by staying busy is a good thing.

Summer is almost over, thank god. I don't know if I am ever going to learn to enjoy the summer. Next year I need to plan a little better. I have not been unhappy, by really any stretch of the imagination. Clearly there have been low points, but I can't say that I have been sad or upset like I was last summer.

However, I have not really been happy. Again, maybe this is just an exaggeration, because I know that I've had really high points. But, especially recently I have felt like I'm really indifferent about pretty much everything, and I'm not ever really engaged in what I'm doing. It's like a contest with myself to see how I can keep busy. This summer also once again reinforced in me the fact that I have to go into performing, because lordy I miss it and am not happy blending into the surrounding world like I do when I'm not working on my craft.

But, I am really excited for the school year to start, and the next few weeks as well. First of all, my mommy is coming out to help me move into my new apartment. I'm really glad she is, because if for no other reason, I am really missing home right now, and I would love to be there. Mom coming in feels like a great touch of home that I really need.

I tend to get really stressed out and overworked emotionally when I'm here at school, and it happens more when I'm at school for an extended period. I haven't had a real chance to go home and unwind in sometime now. I've been turning over in my mind a fewe thoughts on this recently. One of the reasons I knwo I like to go home is because there is so much less responsibility, and it's where I have people who take care of me. Yet while I'm here, I'm forced to grow up a little more, take care of myself, and assume the responsibility that I really don't like.

Yet the thing is, I think it's good for me to be forced to stay here, because I do need to grow up and mature. So while I miss being able to be a little more carefree, I hope that growing and maturing in this way will make me a stronger person and a more mature human being who will be more self sufficient and capable when he enters the real world. Again, one of the reasons summer is always hard for me is because there are so few people around me that I know, so it really doesn't allow me to rely on many if any people.

Anywho, moving on to the more positive. High School Musical 2 came out! Lord knows I was there last friday watching the primere, and was not disappointed. They definitely had their heads in the game. the one thing I have to say though, there was one scene, the scene where Gabriella leaves Troy, where I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Good acting!!!

I know, I know! But as she was singing, she was really doing everything she should have been and I was impressed. Thank god they interrupted the acting with random ass shots of her walking through a locker room, staring into space singing to no one. That is the caliber I expect when I watch these movies, none of this actually being of quality stuff.

So this movie was everything I could hope for, Bad acting, horrible dancing, singing over processed to the point it didn't even sound human, and even southwestern scenery! (a little touch of home there) I loved it, and I hope to god they offer Zac efron more money so he'll make the third one they have planned called, get this: Haunted High School! Couldn't be better than that!

I'm at work, otherwise I would now go into the many pictures I have to share. Over the last few weeks I have had many opportunities to take pictures (like my 21st birthday, and a day trip david and I went on to Jamaica Plain) But alas, that will just have to wait for later.

As for now, I seriously need a nap.

Birthday!

Aug 9, 2007
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I'm 21! That's all for now.

24 hours can go so fast

Aug 7, 2007
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I don't have enough time to write an actual blog entry (I have two more days of classes, and quite a bit of work to be getting along with) but I have a few announcements.

First of all, I have the most beautiful pictures to put up here later this week hopefully from this last weekend. I know, what's the point of saying that if I don't have any pictrues, but trust me the wait will be worth it.

Also, I am about to enter the last 24 hours of my life being under age! I know! SO exciting! As of one day from now (give or take an hour) I will be fully legal. I'm surprised by how pumped for this I am. I mean, as most people know I've had a fake ID for awhile now, and it's not like much in my life is going to change, but the fact that I won't have to worry about it, and I will actually be legal is SO exciting, borderline liberating!

And after that, I don't have another birthday until I'm thirty, and there is absolutely nothing depressing about that ;)

Spoilers ahead!

Aug 1, 2007
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Hey everybody, it has certainly been awhile.

I'm currently waiting for two of my friends from school to get into the city, so I'm just spending some time sitting in the library until they get here, so I decided this would be a good way to occupy my time. I have to inform you all, I'm hard core going to start in on Harry Potter here, so spoilers will abound in this entry. So for those sorry few of you who have not yet finished Harry Potter, I heartily suggest you find some other blog to read.

Bottom line, I can not think of a better way for this series to end. At first, I was so sad that it was over, and frankly for a day or two I got really moody and had to consciously occupy myself to avoid dwelling on the fact that something that meant so much to me had finally reached an end. I couldn't believe that this series I had grown up with was finally over, because for over ten years I had been wondering, what was going to happen, how was it going to end. And then after all those years of wondering, speculation, what have you, the answers were held in the form of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Now I don't think that I can say that it is my favorite book in the series simply because it doesn't seem like one of the books in the series. It seems more like it is the entire series wrapped into one. I'm not sure if that is going to make sense to anyone but myself, but in each of the books it was like there was a specific plot line independent of itself (the first trying to guard the sorcerors stone, the second discovering the mystery of the chamber of secrets, etc.) yet this book, the major plot line was the running plot line from the entire series. SO to say that this book was my favorite feels like saying the Harry Potter series was my favorite book.

Number of times Garrett cried while reading, 3. The first time was when Dobby died, I actually got so incredibly emotional over this, and I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that Dobby hardly even spoke in the entire book. He was just briefly there, and he was only there to help Harry, and it cost him his life. Dobby's complete self sacrifice was one of the most touching story lines in the entire book, and I am actually get really emotional just think about "Dobby, a free house elf"

Second time, when Fred died. We all knew one of the Weasley twins was going to die, we all knew the Weasleys couldn't make it out of this saga unscathed, but that did not stop me from wishing it wouldn't happen. More what hit me was the fact that George had essentially lost half of his dientity with the loss of his twin. One of the best twin character moments was when George lost his ear, and when asked how he felt he said "holey." Their ability to find the humor in EVERYTHING was amazing. I think Alex, maybe Katherine put it wonderfully when they said they liked the idea of George putting up a portrait of Fred in the joke shop that watched over for shop lifters, yelling funny quips at anyone who tried to knick something. Now that I think of it I'm pretty sure it was julia who said it.

And the last time I cried (along with everyone else I think) was when Harry walked into the forest to face his death. It was SO beautifully written, when he was surrounded by all of these people who had died for him, died facing that which Harry faced, just looking at all of the things Harry had lost, and even in the face of that how he was willing to sacrifice everything in order to spare those he loved from the loss he had felt. And him asking "does it hurt" was so simple, so beautiful, so honest. But it was more when he asked if they would all stay with him that I broke down and howled. It was probably the best written passage in the entire series.

But the best part of this book: Molly Weasley kicking some serious Bellatrix ASS! Molly was my second favorite character in the series, until this book made her my favorite. I was terrified shewas going to die, cuz I know sh would sacrifice herself for these kids. But when she screamed "Don't touch my daughter, you bitch!" and then went to fight her, I was like, WOOOOO damn! I have never loved you more!

To JK's unending credit, I have to say that no author has never made me feel as invested in their characters as she has. Now granted I have never journeyed near 5000 pages with any character before, but everyone of these characters was so alive, and so real to me, that I was emotionally invested in each and everyone of their outcomes.

I'm planning on re-reading thisbook pretty soon here after summer school is done, and before next semester starts, because now I feel I'll be able to take my time and fully enjoy it. I was so obsessed with finding out what happened and not letting it be spoiled for me by the internet that I did rush a little bit and there were a few points where I skipped some stuff.

My friends are almost here, so I'm going to cut this a little short, but I'll end just by saying that I always knew that Snape was good, and I was so glad to see him get the redemption that he deserved. He really is such a tragic hero (I don't care what Jo says, he's a hero in my eyes) and just the fact that his dying request was to see the eyes he loved so much, was great work on JK's behalf.

Harry Potter Time!

Jul 11, 2007
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So of course I went to the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix last night. Under usual circumstances I would be nervous about spoiling anything for anyone who might read this. But, seeing as most people who really care already know what happens, I'm going to give my two cents on it now.

Hands down, my favorite of the Harry Potter movies yet. From the very opening I was so happy with what I saw. The whole look of the film is so dark and appropriate. It opens with the dementor's attack on Harry, and the scene was so well done, and so scary, I loved it!

Now would be a good time to mention that I didn't even mind DanRad's acting all that much. Granted, he's still a kid and he's learning still, but he's no longer bearing his teeth when he wants to be mad, fake crying because he think he should, or anyof the less than woderful choices he has made in the line of acting over the past four movies. Emma Watson, calmed her eyebrows down a bit, which was nice. Now if she could learn how to act, that would be wonderful. Rupert was fine as Ron, he added comedy and what have you. But Hermione and Ron bring to attention a very important thing I noticed.

Everyone in the movie is not there very much. I really liked how they handled the book, it's the longest book (yet shortest movie) and they did a great job of sticking to the book, and making it make sense. One thing I wasn't so crazy about the fourth movie was that it moved at breakneck speed. I really liked how this one moved. It was coherent, it was correct, and it was well thought out.

However, pretty much every one of the subplots that doezn't directly contribute to the overall concept of the movie were cut. Which made this a movie with pretty much just Harry Potter in every scene. I don't think DanRad ever left the screen the entire movie. But Maggie Smith I think had two lines, Alan Rickman was in about 3 scenes, Emma Thompson barely spoke, same with Hagrid, and even Ron and Hermione. I just think I would have been more than willing to sit through another half hour if it meant that I got to see more of the characters I love.

Newcomers! Applause all around. First there was Helena Bonam Carter as Bellatrix LeStrange. She was just wonderful. Again, she didn't have all that much time, or that much to do, but she did it wonderfully. I thought she was absolutely creepy, and so sinister. But on the topic of sinister, Imelda Stauton as Umbridge. If you've seen any reviews on this movie, they have probably talked about how much this woman is stealing the movie. She was PERFECTION! She caught the sweet, bubbly, evilness that so defines that character to me. I hated her SO MUCH throughout the movie. She did a fantastic job, I was so happy with her!

Also new to the scene, we have Luna Lovegood. Again, pretty much exactly how I imagined her to be. She also seemed to have a lot of screen time. She was really funny and seemed so natural and simple. Well done to that actress, whatever her name is.

Then there was the ending battle scene. I loved this part of the movie because they really pulled out the big guns here. The fight between the Order and the Death Eaters was so cool, it just got my heart pumping. The fight between Voldemort and Dumbledore is my favorite chapter of any of the Harry Potter books, it's called "the only one he ever feared."

I should start by saying, Michael Gambon was doing better this movie, at least better than the other two. He just still is not Dumbledore to me. Dumbledore has such a calm, powerful feel about him in my mind that Michael Gambon continuously fails to capture. Frankly, it's like his Dumbledore is too weak, and not in control. As an actor, I can appreciate his humanizing of the character, but it's still not what I want to see. So I liked the end battle, but Voldemort seemed stronger than Dumbledore, and more powerful, which is not ok.

This movie pumped me up so much. It's the first time in a long while that I have seen something that really turns me on artistically, and it has really pumped up my motivation. I don't know what motivation exactly, to create, to inspire, to act. I just haven't been inspired for a while, and it's nice to have that feeling again. I really love it when I get the opportunity to see or experience something like that.

It also has made the remaining wait to the release of the book border on the line of unbearable! I can't wait for that book to be in my hands! For the record, I'm going to a midnight relase in Harvard Square in the old Harvard Book Store. It freaking looks like the Hogwarts library and is going to be completely decked out. they're transforming that night Harvard Square into Hogwarts Square. All college students, who love Harry Potter! Just thinking about this all is making my heart pound and breath shorten! I can't wait.

I have already informed myself that I will be going to see Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix at least one more time, if I can manage it, one more time this weekend. It was really great you guys, and I suggest everyone, make your plans to see it now!

So here we go (finally)

Jul 5, 2007
3 comments

So as some of you might have heard, I made a trip home about two weeks ago for a little family event. Chances are you heard about it, chances are you were there! I took lots of pictures and am now finally going to do a post about them!

Now, I have about 132 pictures that I fully edited and whatnot, and I don't think it's best for me to post them ALL here, so if you hadn't heard yet, I made a photobucket album and posted them all there. To see, you just go to photobucket.com and then where it asks for the user name, you type in AmandaandTaylor, and then for the password you type in Best man. Then you can see all the beauty that I don't show here!

So lets get started!

I came home thursday a week before the wedding, for a very simple reason...Bachelor Party! For the record I have to point out that taking a flight at 6 am from Boston to Phoenix is really weird. First of all, it makes me exhausted, second of all, the day seems so long, because after getting up, going to the airport, taking a 5 and a half hour long flight, landing getting my bag and being picked up, it was only 9:45 in the morning. The day seem infinite.

That first day I got to see all my family, and Connor and I ended up going over to Taylor's new apartment to spend the night, and have some good "clean" fun, just us brothers. For the record, it's a miracle that Amanda didn't divorce Taylor when she got to their apartment after the honeymoon and saw the state it was in.

Friday night started the bachelor party weekend. We went to a Diamond Backs game where we were way up in the nose bleed section, surrounded by redsocks fans. I have to say, Taylor was in great form that night, yelling at all the loud Boston people. My favorite exchange was:

"Why are you cheering for Boston, you're not even form there!?"

"Yes, actually I'm from Chelsea!"

"Then why don't you go HOME!?"

So here was us on our way into chase Stadium

I love Opa and Grandpa in this picture...but don't know what my dad is doing

After the game (which we llost magnificently) we went back to the Bell pad, and had a friendly exchange of alcohol, while soaking up in the Hottaaab

The next day we went golfing in the early afternoon, looking like complete tools (Taylor was dressed in his 8th grade baseball pants, among other things) and then the party was that night. For the sake of Taylor's marriage, I will not be showing pretty much any of the photos of him or us on that night to anyone. Except this one.

I think we were finding out the results of the golf game here (we had a bunch of obsurd categories, the best of which I thought was "best non golfer")

The rest of the week leading up to the wedding was devoted to seeing a few friends, the Tony awards (wuh, wuh) and getting in as much family time as I could.

Finally, friday came and we started our way out to California. It was a TRUE carivan, how we got out there. My family took two large cars, filled to bursting, and then we met up with Kirk and Nancy and Grandma and Grandpa on our way. It was extreme. It was a really fun car ride though, I have to say, complete with laughter, hi energy, and Connor's Hairy ass hanging out the window.

Laguna Beach was BEAUTIFUL. The entire weekend, just gorgeous sunny weather everyday. We couldn't have asked for any better. My parents rented a house from the hotel we stayed at to set up base camp for the wedding. Everyone in the wedding party stayed with us, and family and friends just came and went as they wanted, spending hours on end just talking and laughing. It was truly beautiful, and a wonderful idea if I do say so myself.

Here we have the beautiful couple themselves, lying together on the vanity couch that overlooked the ocean. For the record, Taylor was specifically posng here to try and look all dramatic

This is what he was looking at:

It was such a beautiful house. The house was gorgeous, and every window had such a great view, alla the above!

That night, Danielle came into town to spend time with Julia and me which was SO awesome! And then we all (taylor, connor, amanda, jessica, will, julia, danielle and I) went into town to get some grub. Downtown Laguna is literally the kind of place where I feel I could live forever. It's beautiful, quaint, and for lack of a better word, utterly picturesque.

He we were waiting outside for our food (we ordered to go, rather than wait for an hour for a large table)

We brought back the food, and had fun with everyone out on the porch deck of the house, eating and talking until the wee hours of the night. I'm pretty sure I was the first one to sack out and go to bed.

Waking up the next morning, I saw that there were lots of people already at the house. It was gorgeous, the sun was shining and the beach was calling our names. However, we had a rehearsal to go to, so I had to suffice with entertaining myself with taking pictures of Connor "reading"

He frankly just looks like he's sleeping.

We went to the Hotel Laguna, where most of the rest of the wedding party started to join us, for some rehearsal and then a little food.

The new sister with the bro and papa bear

I just realized that almost none of my pictures from the lunch loaded onto Photobucket. I will be fixing that very shortly, cuz I have a few good ones that HAVE to go up!

After the lunch, we went back to the house to set up for the cocktail hour we were having for everyone who had gotten into town for the wedding.

Here we have a picture that I like to call, trouble just waiting to happen

When I was babbptised, my Godfather, Glen, gave me a bottle of wine that was to remain unopened until my 18th birthday. Now, we all thought it was my 21st birthday I was supposed to wait for, so it was still unopened. Since my Godfather and Godmother were both going to be there, and it was so close to my 21st birthdya, my dad surprised me and told me he had brought the wine with us to open. It meant so much to me that I got to open it with all of them, and then we shared a glass. The 21 years we had waited were well worth it, as the wine was probably one of the best I had ever tasted.

And the boy with his Godparents (always the moral center of my life, wink)

Since Danielle got to come up and spend the wedding weekend with us, it meant that Julia, Katherine, Danielle and I (the fantastic four, as I refered to us during high school) were all together for the first time since New Years eve 2005/2006. I was SO happy about it, and rushed to get a picture of the momentous event!

Slash, I got artsy (as always)

This picture is just TOO perfect to not share.

After the party, a bunch of us went out to dinner with the Mr. and Mrs. getts. We made it an early night, because the wedding was the next day!

The whole day leading up to the wedding went by in such a blur, especially considering how much I accomplished in that time. From the moment I woke up I tried to make sure Taylor was being taken care of. For instance, I had to make sure he did not see Amanda once before the wedding, which was difficult to do considering they were staying in the same house.

Eventually we got our tuxes and everything and went downtown to check into the hotel and get some grub. We went to a sports bar (the theory being we could watch the US Open, a theory thwarted by the shocking lack of tv's in the bar) and got lunch, along with some incredibly strong margaritas. I think this was a good thing, as this was the time when Taylor was just starting to get the jitters.

We went up to the Guy's suite to get changed and then chilled for a little while. Taylor started to get very pail, and so we turned on Black hawk Down, pure guy movie to divert him. In the mean time, I went down to where the wedding was going to be to practice the song I was going to sing in the wedding. While I was there Amanda came out for the bridesmaids photos.

She Looked GORGEOUS!

I keep showing my pictures to anyone I can get to sit down and look at them, and EVERY single one of them has gasped when I reached the wedding photos. The dress was beautiful, my favrite wedding dress I have ever seen. the bridesmaids and their dresses, great, and if I do say so myself, the groomsmen were non too shabby themselves ;)

As they were taking the professional photos, I walked around taking a few pics of my own

Look at that smile...so terrified

After the girls photos were done, the men were next. I tried to get my dad to take some pictures while we were being photographed, but he wouldn't, so I only have a few to show

Clearly, these were the classiest photos of the evening

When the wedding came I gave my camera to Julia to take photos of the ceremony. MASSIVE props go out to that girl who took such GREAT pictures of the wedding, seriously girl, I am impressed!

Here was the beautiful ceremony!

Momma and Papa going down the aisle to their seats up front!

They look So pretty!

the beginning of the wedding, look at the back of that dress! Slash, look at Taylor's ass! Both, utter perfection

Here they were exchanging their vows

This is while I was singing their song for them. I love how in love they look...with me that is.

THE KISS! Julia Caught it!

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Bell!!!

After the wedding there were more pictures taken, this time of the entire bridal party. Once again, no one would take pictures for me, so we'll have to wait til the actual wedding photos come for that one.

Here we have an early tossing of the bouquet.

And who caught it!?

Kirk.

Now it was time to bussle Amanda up, and get ready for some Party!!!!!

Check the sash here, what does it say?

That's right, BEST MAN (I had one too, Connor and I were both the best men at the party)

Taylor and Amanda love eachother as much as a fat kid loves cake...

That would be a burn to Connor!

One beautiful pair of love birds!

Another pair of Love birds, taking thier first dance!

Right before the cake was going to be cut!

And eating cake!

Let me tell ya, it was good cake!

Next came the most emotional part of the wedding for me. I was so happy through the entire ceremony, I couldn't stop smiling or beaming, it was so happy! But then came the mother son dance. My dad and I agree that we don't think we have ever seen my mother as happy as she did during this moment. She literally glowed the whole dance, as she sang Return to Pooh Corner to my brother as they danced. That song since has reduced me to tears everytime I hear it, and I love these pictures...

Here we have the bouquet in mid flight action shot!!!

Then, come 11 o'clock the party moved back to the house, while the newlyweds went up to the honeymoon suite. It was the perfect wedding, so classy, so fun, so them, so wonderful.

The next day Taylor and Amanda packed all their stuff then headed off to the airport to make their way to tahiti, we packed the car, this time with Wedding presents on top of everything else, and then after the last goodbye to family, started our way back across the desert to Arizona.

The car trip back was so sad, I was not ready to go home, and what's more, go back to Boston the following day. For a weekend, I found myself suspended in time. I was living in a beautiful house on the beach surrouneded by literally almost all of the people who I love the most, and are the most importnat to me in life. Nobody talked about anything beyond how happy they were, and how glad we all were to be together. I wanted it to go on forever. This might come across as morbid, but I think of it as beautiful, that when I get to heaven someday, that is what I think it would have to be like, because I can't imagine being any happier than I was at that moment in time.

Driving back, my mom and I had a good talk about life, where I am in mine, where my brother's now are in theirs, and just what a wonderful weekend it was. Eventually my mom had me drive so she could take a quick nap, and when she was asleep and I was sitting in silence at the wheel, I started thinking about my brother, and then about my brothers. the life that we have had together up until this point, how much we have been through together, the childhood we had. The playing, the memories, the fights, the laughter, the love. It made me think just how much my family means to me, and how precious and beautiful my life has been so far. In the silence of that car ride I started to cry, which I only allowed for so long, because I was driving, and did not want to get in an accident.

The next day went by real quick as I got ready to go to the airport. Once I got there, I found my flight was 3 hours delayed, which meant I would be getting into Boston around 1:30 in the morning, which made me ever so happy. As I sat in the airport, I pulled out my Ipod, and decided to listen to Return to Pooh Corner. I think it was at that moment that I recognized just how brilliant of a song it is, because it speaks directly to the childhood I feel like I left in California with this wedding. I went on to listen to the song probably 10 times, crying all the time. Eventually a woman sitting by me asked if I was ok, and I told her how my brother just got married, and then I showed her the photos on my camera and told her pretty much everything I have just said here. I don't know if she cared, or if she listened to a thing I said, but I loved getting to tell her about that weekend.

I can't wait to see everyone again, even though I know it will be quite sometime before I do. I hope Amanda and taylor share the same great memories about this weekend as I do, and as they embark on their lives together, I wish them all the happiness the world can give, because they deserve absolutely nothing less. To go with the end of Connor's and my toast, my deepest prayer is that this last forever.

Much love everybody!

Tantalizing

Jun 24, 2007
2 comments

This entry is going to be unsatisfying, but I just needed to update, since it's been over a month since my last, which is disgusting. But let me just tell you all, that I have an amazing post coming, with a LOT of pictures! Like seriously, a Lot!

I'm trying to limit down the 725 that I took over the wedding weekend to something everyone can handle, I might make a photo bucket album with a lot in it so that it won't be as overwhelming for everyone to see. But yeah, things are good, and I don't really want to update right now, just, know things are coming ;)

New York, New York a Hell of a Town

May 21, 2007
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Hey cool peeps out there. It appears that I am going to fall even further behind in my attempt to get all my pictures up on this, but don't worry, that's just because I have MORE pictures to share.

This week, I was talking to Teresa online, and she was telling me how she was getting into New York this weekend, and she just casually dropped the suggestion that I come down, since she has the weekend free and doesn't start work until Monday. And I was like, yeah, that would be fun. And then I just thought to myself, well why shouldn't I go? There isn't a single reason.

Every single person in my class has made it to New York several times this year, with the exception of me. I just prevent myself from going, and I have absolutely no idea why that is. And 110 in the Shade is currently performing a limited run in New York starring Audra McDonald, and I DESPERATELY wanted to see it, and I start work this week, so didn't know the next time I'd have this chance would be. So spontaneously I decided, yes, I'm going to go down to New York for the weekend!

Before I had finished talking to Teresa online, we already had our tickets for 110 in the Shade, and I was SO pumped about this trip.

I went the next day to South station and bought my ticket for the bus on Saturday at around 11, bringing me into the city by about 4 so teresa and I could grab some dinner before the show.

But before I get to that, other exciting stuff happened. It appeared devinie intervention was at hand this week as I got to see not 1, but two of my good friends from Arizona. Julia came out to Boston for her sister's graduation. So on friday we got to spend the day together. Unfortuneately it was raining the entire time, and my attempt to brave the weather and walk the streets was short lived. So we came back to my apartment, made hot cocoa and watched casino Royale instead.

I also even go tup the guts to make Julia dinner. I am NOT a good cook, and am trying to improve myself, which I think I am accomplishing, and this was the first time that I ever made an actual dinner dish for anyone. It was my patented teriaky chicken.

So saturday came, and off I went to New York. I got to Time Square, and found Teresa and we went and got some Italian food for dinner (chicken alfredo that was amazing, but sat like a rock in my stomach for the rest of the night). We then went off to get our tickets for the show, but then had about 2 hours to kill. Two hours in New York city, and two crazy kids with a camera? What are the odds, we took pictures?

First, here is me on the bus ready to leave for the big city. the ride down there was really nice because it wasn't very full, so I had my whole row to myself, which I lied across and took a nap on...

Here is me in front of the Drowsy Chaperone poster in Time Square, attempting to be Mary Poppins

Teresa and I next moved on to Toys R Us, here we are, attempting to scale the lego Empire State building...

They even made a lego Captain Jack Sparrow, which I thought was extremely exciting. By the way I am SO excited for that movie to come out this weekend!!!!!!!!!

We spent an embarassingly long time in Barbie's house, just because it was really funny to say that we were in there for so long

By the way, I saw Shrek 3 at 10 pm the night before it came out (I don't understand how that was legal or how we managed that, but yeah). Very funny movie, though not as good as the others simply because the story needed to be developed more, or cut down so that which they did have was developed fully.

Here is me with one of the stars of said movie...

I really like that picture by the way, even though my hair looks brown again in it.

Another thing Garrett is outrageously exicted for?

In the Toys R Us candy station, they have all the characters from the candyland game (except for the queen whatever her name is, Teresa looked tirelessly for her)

Like a true theme park, they take your picture upon entering the store, and like true college students, we take pictures of the pictures instead of buying them.

Then we went to what I had been waiting for my whole life, a broadway show starring Audra McDonald!!!

I basically just took my picture with every poster of her I could find

And I finally got what I had wanted since last November when it evaded me, Audra's signature. I did not however get a picture with her, we were a little towards the back and I'm sure I would have managed it if I had been forceful and patient, but it started to rain pretty good and I was nervous cuz I had a poster and my signed playbill that I didn't want to get ruined. But I did get a picture of her!

She's so beautiful! And just for the record, the show itself was good, she was freaking fantastic! Tony award worthy all the way! I can't even begin to describe how impressed I was by her overall performance, she was histarical, and then she was heart breaking, and the amount of passion that just emminated when she breathed! It was Incredible. The story is about a woman who isn't able to find herself a man, because she's outspoken and smart and strong, and what have you. Then a rain maker comes to town who re awakens in her a sense of her own woman hood.

Two best scenes in the show, the one where the brother told Audra that she was ugly (I did cry, as did she) and teh one where the rainmaker got her to say that she was beautiful (I think the whole audience cried)

Best night at the theatre I have ever had. And when it rained at the end! SO GOOD!

We then went to teresa's hotel where she was spending the night, getting only significantly lost on our way there. Then I was caught in bed with my lover:

The next day I headed back to the theatre district nice and early in order to get student rush tickets for Grey gardens. However, there was no one else there, so instead I went over to rockerfeller plaza for a short while, got a jamba juice, then came back two hours later and was still first in line. Front row center for twenty dollars.

After that I ahd three more hours until the show, so I first went to central park (by way of a bakery that had these INCREDIBLE chocolate chip cookies dipped in chocolate) and I layed on the grass for about an hour, appropriately I listened to Sunday in the Park with George as I watched the people pass by.

I then went back and hit Colony music, which was a mistake because it took ever ounce of will power I possess to not drop about 200 dollars on stuff I wanted, though I was smart and wrote down the things that caught my eye ;)

Grey Gardens was an incredible show. It's based off of the documentary by the same name, about Edith and Edie Bouvier, the cousins of Jackie O. They were the socialites of socialites during the fourties, and their mansion in the hamptons was the hotspot of all activity. Yet thirty years later the two women remained in the house that had fallen into disrepair with 37 cats and virtually no plumbing. eventually the house was condemmed, yet the women refused to leave.

The show started in the fourties, and then went on in the second act to the documentary, thirty years later. It examined the relationship between this mother and daughter and how they could have fallen so ungracefully to the depths they descended. The two main women gave some of the best performances I ahd ever seen, actually the entire company (which to be fair was only like 8) all were extraordinary. However, the show itself (very strong book, great music, wonderful set) was really upsetting and very disturbing, but in a very good, affecting way.

So both shows were complete hits! I was very happy with this weekend, as it was filled with such great theatre. But something that I started to think this weekend, that will come across as maybe pig headed, or ass kissing, btu I find kind of exciting.

Broadway has always been in my mind this idealized sort of image of that which I some day aspire to, but is always just slightly beyond my grasp. For the first time this weekend, I felt like it is something that I'm not that far away from. As I was watching these shows I was sitting there and I was like, I can do this, and I can compete with this. It really was exciting. I feel like 2 years from now when I'm leaving this school, there's nothing that will be saying that I can't make it in whatever I choose except for that which I can not really help, my age, my height, my hair what have you. So, yeah.

Also, something that I discovered last time I went to New York (over a year ago) but reaffirmed, I really don't like New York City all that much. Frankly, I prefer Boston and Scottsdale to it pretty infinitely. Part of it is just because I am so unfamiliar with the city, but it is SO overwhleming to be there, and I get so claustrophobic and it's so much dirtier than Boston, just, too much for me. Even central park, it's TOO big. I prefer the openess of the common and gardens, and how much smaller they are, so I don't feel so disconnected.

This was a very long entry, but I hope yall enjoyed. More pictures are to come!

P.S. Shout out of Congratulations to Sara and JD!

And every week new...

May 14, 2007
4 comments

It has been a long time since I last updated, so excuse me while I solve this problem...

Well I am now officially two weeks into my summer vacation. I have to admit, it was a bit of a rocky transition, but now that I'm fully submerged into the summer mode I'm really kind of enjoying myself.

Moving off campus was a bit of an ordeal for me, and I don't mean just the physical act of moving (though let me tell you, that was no piece of cake in and of itself). As I mentioned before, the thought of moving off cmapus is just very daunting, and it was extremely intimidating at first. I ahve lived in the Emerson bubble for the last two years, and I now am coming to terms with how little of the city I actually ever really saw on a day to day basis. So when I moved to the south end (not south boston, the south end, it's a BEAUTIFUL area famous for the red brick apartment buildings) I was pretty overwhelmed with the fact that I didn't recognize anything around me, didn't know what to do around where I lived, how to get places, how hard it would be to get to those places. I was a stranger in a strange land.

I'm not going to lie, the first day or two I really just hid in my apartment and had a bit of a panic attack over how lost I was feeling. Everyone had left for the summer, and I was just alone in this new place. But then the inticing summer weather lured me outside, and I began to wander. David also helped (having lived in the south end himself during one point) and I got to start pounding the streets of Boston. I think that I have been covering at least 8 miles a day of this city since then, and my bubble has just exponentially grown.

I also came to realize how many people were still in the city. None of them my closest of friends, but people that I have now gotten to know better, and gotten closer to. And now I'm really having a lot fo fun living on my own in this beautiful city during this wonderful time of year. I really like just getting up and walking around, trying to see and find new things. Futzing around with friends, lying out in the sun on the common, and I started running again seeing as the wedding is coming up so soon, and I have to look good for all those pictures that are going to be taken.

On the topic of photos, I have a butt load of pictures to share with yall here over the next few days, I think I have around 50, so I'm going to be spreding it out just a little bit. See graduation was today, so over the last two weeks, the seniors have been experiencing their last taste of college freedom before they enter the real world. So there have been quite a few parties and gatherings of sorts, so lots of photos taken, none of course with any kind of mind altering drinks.

It's really weird that the seniors have now graduated. They were what I am now when I came into the school two years ago (I hope that makes sense, they were incoming juniors when I was a freshman) and just the thought of how short a time that seems, and that I will be graduating in really not that long. I'm halfway done with college! AH!

I can't lie, I'm not all THAT upset that this years seniors are leaving. I mean I liked them and all, but I was never really all that close with anyone of them. Kind of just vanilla feelings really. But what is shaking is the idea that I'm slowly growing to the top of the food chain. When I became a senior in high school it was really freaky at first ebcause I was so used to there always being this cushion of students above me. But then when they left it seemed so vulnerable, because I was the top dog that was cushioning people below me (that sounds kind of pig headed, but it's not meant to in any way).

Growing older is crazy, thank God I don't have to face the "real world" yet.

Ok, on to the main event. Pictures. This weekend was the senior showcase, where the BFA senior students put on a show to showcase themselves, and casting adgents from New York come to watch. So a few of my friends who had already left for the summer came back into town to see the show (which by the way was wonderful and truly made me proud to be a member of my department)

So while they were in town we decided to have a nice litte romp around the city of Boston!

Here's Grant, Angel, and Shawn as we waited for our food at California Pizza Kitchen...

Grant, making love to the camera

Grant and I in our new big glasses (that are polarized, which I thought was really cool cuz it means they're REALLY protecting your eyes)

Now there was something funny about this picture at the time we took it, cuz we thoguht somehting about it was hilarious. I just for the life of me can NOT remember what it was...

Boy band pictures

This one is just beautiful

grant and I hanging form trees while Ross throws flower petals

Daveed and I in the public gardens

Now some of you might have heard that yesterday in a stroke of inspiration I went and dyed my hair red. David does hair a lot (he pretty much is the personal hair stylist for our entire department) so I bought some dye and he did it for me. the color is called Hot Tamale! It's pretty extreme. So you might be abel to tell the difference in the next few pictures. It shows more in some than others...

This one is me candidly being bad ass

Here's Jordan and david as we were waiting for the T by their apartment

and me and Grant at dinner earlier tonight

The red hair is obviously not going to stay probably longer than two weeks from now, because that whole wedding thing, but when I get back from the wedding I'm planning on doing something REALLY drastic. Not decided on what quite yet, but trust me, it should be fun.

Well I've given you all enough to chew for tonight I'm thinking. There are a lot more photos to come, so brace yourselves. I hope everyone is doing well and planning when they are going to come out to Boston this summer to visit me, WINK ;)

This one's a doozy

Apr 29, 2007
4 comments

So it's the end of the year, which means that it is time for Garrett to get a little nostalgic on yall.

This year has been quite the roller coaster. All in all I have to say it has actually been pretty rough. First off, last summer was not the fairy tale adventure I would have planned for myself. I chose to work at Disneyland, a job that I actually really enjoyed, however in a state that I was not familiar with, with no one I knew around (besides obviously my brother and his beautiful fiancee) for company. I felt very lonely and isolated. I would not trade last summer for anything.

I don't want to come across all moody and misunderstood, which frankly is how I feel, but in Little Miss Sunshine, there is a beautiful scene between Steve Carrell and Paul Dano where Paul says he wished he could just skip past high shcool. Carrell talks about this one philosopher believed that the eyars and times when he was suffering were the most important in his life because they were the ones that shaped who he would eventually become. And to want to bypass high school, prime suffering years, would be a huge disadvantage to someone who wants to grow up.

Ultiimately, I feel that explains my summer. It was a really hard time where I changed a lot. I grew much more independent, and I learned about things I shouldn't do when I move to a new place. I feel overall more prepared in life because of it.

Then the school year started, I got back to school and was so happy to be here, and we went right into Cabaret. Again, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be. All the relationships I had freshman year had shifted by the time I got back to school. There's no other way to put it really, but as I was physically seperated from everyone I knew, I felt very cast out. And granted no one really made the effort to include me in the doings around the city, and what's more, as I was one of the directors of Cabaret, I was usually just an hour too late getting out of rehearsal to go out with everyone.

Once the show finished, I spent the rest of the semester really just working on my classwork (mostly acting, the best class I've had at this school so far). I just started getting really frustrated with people here for some reason. I think it was because I truly began to recognize the double standard that is the people in my department. We are constantly being taught to focus on ourselves, our feelings, how we deal with things, and look at the world as we react in it. It's all about us. Everyone is so nice to eachother, "OMG I love you so much!" It's really kind of ridiculous how lightly people are willing to throw around the "L" word at this school, but no one means it.

If the people who claim they "love" me are not able to remember anything that I have ever told them, or ever demonstrated the least bit of curiosity in what is happening in my life, then I am disinclined to believe they really care all that much about me. And the rough thing about all this was the fact that I was certainly not different than a lot of these people. I was guilty of most all the things I was growing to dislike in these people.

Winter break came, and that was a wonderful recharge for me. I had a great time, being with old friends and family, and I was genuinely really upset when I had to come back to school early in order to start rehearsals for Pullmancar Hiawatha. However, that rehearsal process was probably the best part of my year. I was so satisfied by that show, as my first "legit" play, because I learned so much, and got to apply pretty much everything that I had been working on all year. When the show performed, I was so happy with what I was doing, more than any other role I have done before, and this was definitely not my biggest role ever.

Outside of rehearsal I was in Musical Theatre ensemble, preparing for the BFA auditions, working like crazy trying to learn all these new things about lyrical analysis, putting songs together, the delicate balance between singing and acting a song. I was so happy with the creaive challenges that were being placed on me. I felt stimulated but not overwhelmed by all that was going on in my life.

Then spring break, and upon returning to school, preperation for the BFA audition, midterms, rehearsals for On the Town, this was where it was all a little overwhelming. But then the auditions happened, the midterms passed, and everything seemed to kind of crash. I found myself having a lot of downtime, feeling kind of unmotivated, and just all in all kind of sad.

Then On the Town came and went, and that was fun, not nearly as fulfilling as Pullman Car, but still it was fun. And now it's done, and the last week of classes has passed. Tomorrow and the next day are finals, and then school is over.

I've said before, but I'll reiterate, I am still very nervous for the summer, and most of that just comes from last summer. I don't want to feel lonely, isolated, or bored like that again, which frankly has been kind of how I've been feeling lately in general. The thing is, I really need to feel involved in things, like I have somehting going on. Right now, since it's the end of school, everything is just ending, nothing is starting yet, so it's hard to feel all that pumped.

Pretty much all of the upperclassmen in our department have agreed that the sophomore year is the hardest one, and I first hope that they're right, and second think it makes a lot of sense. Me and my classmates have all gone through a lot this year, especially this semester, just in the sense that there are a lot of changes that have been oging on in our lives, getting into studio moving off campus and starting preperation for the real world.

This whole post was triggered by something I saw on facebook. There was a photoalbum of some kids who went ot my highschool who just had their trip to Disnyeland, I'm not sure what for, maybe choir, who knows. But that just sparked so many memories. I can not believe that it has been two entire years since I graduated high school. On one hand it seems like no time has passed at all, on the other, it feels like it happened ten years ago. I feel very detached from Chaparral and AZ in general in many ways now, but naturally it is the place that feels most like home to me still. I have such fond memories of senior year, and my trip to Disneyland and that whole last semester of high school. It really was a crime how much fun I had.

I do really miss that. In many ways I miss how carefree and frankly naive I was in high school. I feel much harder, and older right now, but I think I prefer that. I feel like I see the world now much clearer than when I was 18, that I see myself much more honestly, and with that I think comes the potential for a much greater, and realer happiness than the more shallow form I feel I experienced through high school. I'm obviously not there yet, but the journey is thrilling, and I believe is what teaches me what I need to know in order to appreciate it when it comes.

Oh life right? Well it's almost three o'clock in the afternoon and I have yet to shower today, which is pretty gross. I also have a paper to write, and some friends to spend time with before they leave in a couple days. So I am going to sign off, and just end right there.