Hey ya'll (seems to be the way people greet each other in this country) I guess I'm learning something!
I know it's been a while since i last posted something, but I think the break was needed. Sometimes you just have to let go of a few things, and prioritize your life as it changes! What's happened since the last time I wrote something? lets see...I performed in a little cabaret night at the Don't Tell Mama Club, which was a ton of fun. I have to keep doing things like that. you just have to get out there and sing, the more you do, the more fun it's gonna be (if that makes sense at all) it does in my head. I also auditioned for Godspell, which is being revived on Broadway in the fall. There were 1000 people auditioning, and I got to sing a whole 8 bars. AMAZING. It was a great experience, and I thought it went really well. Who knows what they are even looking for, and I thought I looked like Jesus, with my lions mane! I recently did get a haircut, which is a good thing. I did love my golden locks, but it was time to tame them a bit. Dance class is much more comfortable, and to be honest, just living in this city is more comfortable. I believe a heat wave is coming, and I'm kinda excited. I've never really experience hot hot hot temperatures, with such humidity. It's going to be insane. Today was already boiling hot during the day. Luckily I'm in class most of the day, so I don't have to be outside during the hottest part of the day!
My roommate and I went to watch Bridesmaids, and Larry Crowne on the weekend. Both fantastic movies. Bridesmaids is just my kind of humour, so I laughed a lot, and Larry Crowne was so unexpected, and honest, I walked away wanting to watch it again! Julia and Tom are blessed together on screen!
School has been going wonderful. Always learning so much about myself, and about the business. Man, am I glad to have teachers that not only prepare you as an artist, but do everything they can to prepare you for the entire world of show business. It's not all about talent, that is pretty much only half of what you need to know. These teachers are giving us nuggets of gold, i tell you!! My voice is growing again, and I'm discovering new and delightful sounds. I have a better idea of where I want to keep working. A plan is always good. You may not follow it completely, in fact you might go completely off track, but at least you are starting somewhere that is important to you (me).
Tonight my roommate (KINGA) and I went to DIVA night at the club Industry. We met some awesome people and enjoyed a stunning set of music by 4 lovely diva's. They were magnificent. I don't even know what I could possibly say that could sum up their talent.
So now that it's 3:30 in the morning, I'd say, it's time to get to bed. More to come, as always in the life and times of Justin Friesen!
TBC...
J
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
People Watching...it's all about Relationships!
Last week we were given an assignment in our Performance Lab class to go to 2 locations and observe couples and how they interact with each other: body language, speech (if we could get close enough with them noticing) ups and downs in the conversations, comfort levels, energy levels, all that sort of stuff. Now we have to write a little response about what we saw, and I figured I would just share it will all of you too. Here are my thoughts...
I climb the TKTS steps at Times Square and notice an older couple also making their way up to the top of the red steps. There was a comfortable energy between them, not forced, and very relaxed. The man was leading was leading what looked to be his wife up the steps to find a spot to gaze over the Times Square cement meadow. The man found a stop near the top and gestured to another spot for his wife. She sat down right beside him, leaving a little bit of space. I call this the comfort zone. You could tell they had been together for a long time, because they didn't need to be all touchy-feely. They sat there for a good 20 minutes just pointing things out to each other. One would start talking about something over there, and then other would gesture and agree or contemplate what he or she thought about it. There was a calm ebb-and-flow to their conversation. It wasn't forced, but rather graceful. Silence was just as important as the conversations. There was almost more said when words weren't used. When they did speak, it was short quick comments, and then more observing. At one point I think they did notice me looking at them, but it didn't seem to phase them. (and i pretended to look at the Daniel Radcliff poster) It was very stereotypical in some ways, watching the man seem less interested in what was going on. But I think that was also his personality. He didn't get excited about anything, but was always listening to his wife. Sometimes we do more talking by listening! And they barely looked at each other. It's like they didn't need to. They both kept there focus out towards the crowd of people on the steps. It was as if they let the conversation discover them. When one of them noticed something that was going on, they weren't afraid to talk about it, or just comment on it. It was completely effortless.
Next I observed a family that had just sat down after what seemed to be a long day of site-seeing in NYC. I could really hear their conversation because most of it was choppy and it sounded like it could have been swedish or something. I heard some English, but then it would go back and forth between something else from across the pond. It was a mother, father, son and daughter and the mother was getting frustrated at the son for picking on his sister. I felt like I was watching a movie. These things actually happen. The idiot brother picks on his little sister and mom gets really mad, while dad is sitting there not paying attention. They were near the bottom steps and I can imagine once they got to the steps, they had no desire to climb any higher after the day they had wandering around NYC. The father was leaning back on his elbows, completely relaxed, just taking in the warm breeze. The mom, on the other hand, was still standing trying to organize her bag, wallet and map. (where were they, where were they going to go for supper, my goodness my feet hurt, and my back, and my neck is sunburnt, I want air conditioning, and food, and no children around; all thoughts that i'm sure were dashing around in her head. Yet she had to keep in all in tact. She held her ground got the kids to settle down. The boy really didn't want to stop teasing his younger sister, and kept untying her shoe laces every time she looked away. I thought it was hilarious, but she certainly didn't. It was funny watching her try to get him back. She couldn't because he was always ready for anything she attempted. Watching family's holds another kind of simplicity and chaos. The mom obviously was trying to calm her kids down, but at the same time, didn't care and probably just wanted to join her husband who seemed to be in another land. The kids were teasing each other, but it was pretty harmless. There was laughter and screams, and lots of touch. Touch is something I notice in kids. They are not afraid to touch each other; especially siblings. There is an ease and comfort when you watch two people who are comfortable touching each other, but not have it feel forced. It was never uncomfortable, it was just honest. I've seen this in other kids too. They don't seem to care about touch like we adults do. Sometimes I feel like we are afraid to touch because it makes people uncomfortable. How did we get here? We are human beings, we were made to touch, our instincts are to touch each other. Now don't misunderstand me, when I say touch, I mean a certain kind of touch. There are many forms of touch, and each carry's it's own energy. The comforting touch, the pushing touch, the excited touch, the quite touch, all forms of communication. Touch, or lack of touch is extremely powerful to watch. When you are watching a couple on a date, you the guy looking for the right time to put his hand on top of guy sitting across the table. (okay, yes I just used a gay reference, how could I not) Touch is what we long for!
After times square we moved on to Columbus Circle at 59th Street, right below Central Park, and sat by the fountain to do more observing. I first noticed two women sitting in front of me laughing about something. They were siting quite close together, and yet i couldn't tell if it was romantic or just close girlfriends. The one girl seemed like she wanted to be closer to the other, but neither were uncomfortable. It almost seemed like sisters, but they didn't look like each other at all. They were having a lovely conversation that seemed to flow effortlessly. There were peeks of laughter, and then lulls of silence, and then peeks of silence with some awkward laughs. It all depends how you look at it. They took out there camera at one point and started snapping some pictures. At this point one of the girls put her arm around the other, and kept it there for quite a while, as if she was holding her friend (or was it sister, or girlfriend) It was really confusing. The girl that was being held didn't seem to mind the semi hug, but didn't put her hand around her friends. My focus was pulled away from the girls when I noticed a couple starting to raise there voices. I looked over and it was a man and woman sitting with a good amount of space between them, but the woman was leaning in, as if she was trying to show something off. The man wanted nothing to do with it. He sat there looking straight ahead, as if he didn't even notice the woman. He would glance at her from time to time, but wasn't phased by her awkward position. They she all of a sudden pulled back and it looked like they were arguing. The intensity started to rise and he body language became louder. He was calm, and then all of a sudden he would raise his hands, or legs, and if making a statement. It actually looked a little bit like a temper tantrum; as if he were 5 years old. In seconds it got quite, almost dead, and then they sat in silence, the tension rising. Who was going to speak first? I noticed most of the conversation was instigated by the woman, so perhaps she had more at stake. She was trying really hard to work something out, but the man's body language read loud and clear, he didn't care. There was a moment when I thought this was brother and sister, but as I kept observing, I was certain they were either separated, in a fight, or even divorced. The energy was harsh and forced. Each movement was more of an outburst rather than a reaction. It didn't seem like there was a lot of listening going on between the two of them.
All this to say, relationships are simple yet so intricate. When you break it down and actually watch all the little details, it's fascinating to watch. And as an actor, it is incredibly helpful to think about the things I saw when I want to relate truthfully to my scene partner. The way I see others interact is similar to the way I should behave when I'm alone on stage, imagining I have a scene partner with me. There needs to be a honesty on stage whether you are with or without a scene partner. An audience can tell if you KNOW who you are talking to. How close are you to them? are you look at them or looking away? are you listening to them? Are you getting what you want? Are they listening to you? All of these questions inform the scene. and when we worry about those questions, the scene comes alive!
And there you have it ladies and gentlemen, People Watching has been brought to you by Me, Justin Friesen!! Have a lovely week, and take some time to pay attention to all the wonderful things that are happening around you!
Cheers,
TBC...
j
I climb the TKTS steps at Times Square and notice an older couple also making their way up to the top of the red steps. There was a comfortable energy between them, not forced, and very relaxed. The man was leading was leading what looked to be his wife up the steps to find a spot to gaze over the Times Square cement meadow. The man found a stop near the top and gestured to another spot for his wife. She sat down right beside him, leaving a little bit of space. I call this the comfort zone. You could tell they had been together for a long time, because they didn't need to be all touchy-feely. They sat there for a good 20 minutes just pointing things out to each other. One would start talking about something over there, and then other would gesture and agree or contemplate what he or she thought about it. There was a calm ebb-and-flow to their conversation. It wasn't forced, but rather graceful. Silence was just as important as the conversations. There was almost more said when words weren't used. When they did speak, it was short quick comments, and then more observing. At one point I think they did notice me looking at them, but it didn't seem to phase them. (and i pretended to look at the Daniel Radcliff poster) It was very stereotypical in some ways, watching the man seem less interested in what was going on. But I think that was also his personality. He didn't get excited about anything, but was always listening to his wife. Sometimes we do more talking by listening! And they barely looked at each other. It's like they didn't need to. They both kept there focus out towards the crowd of people on the steps. It was as if they let the conversation discover them. When one of them noticed something that was going on, they weren't afraid to talk about it, or just comment on it. It was completely effortless.
Next I observed a family that had just sat down after what seemed to be a long day of site-seeing in NYC. I could really hear their conversation because most of it was choppy and it sounded like it could have been swedish or something. I heard some English, but then it would go back and forth between something else from across the pond. It was a mother, father, son and daughter and the mother was getting frustrated at the son for picking on his sister. I felt like I was watching a movie. These things actually happen. The idiot brother picks on his little sister and mom gets really mad, while dad is sitting there not paying attention. They were near the bottom steps and I can imagine once they got to the steps, they had no desire to climb any higher after the day they had wandering around NYC. The father was leaning back on his elbows, completely relaxed, just taking in the warm breeze. The mom, on the other hand, was still standing trying to organize her bag, wallet and map. (where were they, where were they going to go for supper, my goodness my feet hurt, and my back, and my neck is sunburnt, I want air conditioning, and food, and no children around; all thoughts that i'm sure were dashing around in her head. Yet she had to keep in all in tact. She held her ground got the kids to settle down. The boy really didn't want to stop teasing his younger sister, and kept untying her shoe laces every time she looked away. I thought it was hilarious, but she certainly didn't. It was funny watching her try to get him back. She couldn't because he was always ready for anything she attempted. Watching family's holds another kind of simplicity and chaos. The mom obviously was trying to calm her kids down, but at the same time, didn't care and probably just wanted to join her husband who seemed to be in another land. The kids were teasing each other, but it was pretty harmless. There was laughter and screams, and lots of touch. Touch is something I notice in kids. They are not afraid to touch each other; especially siblings. There is an ease and comfort when you watch two people who are comfortable touching each other, but not have it feel forced. It was never uncomfortable, it was just honest. I've seen this in other kids too. They don't seem to care about touch like we adults do. Sometimes I feel like we are afraid to touch because it makes people uncomfortable. How did we get here? We are human beings, we were made to touch, our instincts are to touch each other. Now don't misunderstand me, when I say touch, I mean a certain kind of touch. There are many forms of touch, and each carry's it's own energy. The comforting touch, the pushing touch, the excited touch, the quite touch, all forms of communication. Touch, or lack of touch is extremely powerful to watch. When you are watching a couple on a date, you the guy looking for the right time to put his hand on top of guy sitting across the table. (okay, yes I just used a gay reference, how could I not) Touch is what we long for!
After times square we moved on to Columbus Circle at 59th Street, right below Central Park, and sat by the fountain to do more observing. I first noticed two women sitting in front of me laughing about something. They were siting quite close together, and yet i couldn't tell if it was romantic or just close girlfriends. The one girl seemed like she wanted to be closer to the other, but neither were uncomfortable. It almost seemed like sisters, but they didn't look like each other at all. They were having a lovely conversation that seemed to flow effortlessly. There were peeks of laughter, and then lulls of silence, and then peeks of silence with some awkward laughs. It all depends how you look at it. They took out there camera at one point and started snapping some pictures. At this point one of the girls put her arm around the other, and kept it there for quite a while, as if she was holding her friend (or was it sister, or girlfriend) It was really confusing. The girl that was being held didn't seem to mind the semi hug, but didn't put her hand around her friends. My focus was pulled away from the girls when I noticed a couple starting to raise there voices. I looked over and it was a man and woman sitting with a good amount of space between them, but the woman was leaning in, as if she was trying to show something off. The man wanted nothing to do with it. He sat there looking straight ahead, as if he didn't even notice the woman. He would glance at her from time to time, but wasn't phased by her awkward position. They she all of a sudden pulled back and it looked like they were arguing. The intensity started to rise and he body language became louder. He was calm, and then all of a sudden he would raise his hands, or legs, and if making a statement. It actually looked a little bit like a temper tantrum; as if he were 5 years old. In seconds it got quite, almost dead, and then they sat in silence, the tension rising. Who was going to speak first? I noticed most of the conversation was instigated by the woman, so perhaps she had more at stake. She was trying really hard to work something out, but the man's body language read loud and clear, he didn't care. There was a moment when I thought this was brother and sister, but as I kept observing, I was certain they were either separated, in a fight, or even divorced. The energy was harsh and forced. Each movement was more of an outburst rather than a reaction. It didn't seem like there was a lot of listening going on between the two of them.
All this to say, relationships are simple yet so intricate. When you break it down and actually watch all the little details, it's fascinating to watch. And as an actor, it is incredibly helpful to think about the things I saw when I want to relate truthfully to my scene partner. The way I see others interact is similar to the way I should behave when I'm alone on stage, imagining I have a scene partner with me. There needs to be a honesty on stage whether you are with or without a scene partner. An audience can tell if you KNOW who you are talking to. How close are you to them? are you look at them or looking away? are you listening to them? Are you getting what you want? Are they listening to you? All of these questions inform the scene. and when we worry about those questions, the scene comes alive!
And there you have it ladies and gentlemen, People Watching has been brought to you by Me, Justin Friesen!! Have a lovely week, and take some time to pay attention to all the wonderful things that are happening around you!
Cheers,
TBC...
j
Sunday, July 3, 2011
A LITTLE LATE FOR THIS...but so worth it!
Hi all you crazy's who might actually be reading this...
It's late, bit this is important and I need to write it out of my head, giving space for me development of what I'm about to write.
I was fortunate enough to have more friends visit me here in New York. Leo and Pete (and their friend Lexis, whom I now adore as well) arrived on Wednesday morning at approx 6:15 in the morning. I learned a very helpful life lesson that morning, one that I didn't expect would hit me so clearly on the head that early in the morning, but I think our brains our different in the morning. They are closer to having been in Unconscious world, which is a fun and crazy place to be, I THINK! Well, Leo and Pete and I didn't really plan this pick up very well, because what ended up happening wasn't what I had in mind. I got up late, and thought to myself, I really don't need to pick them up from the bus station, I should just tell them how to get here, and that will be fine. But my once stubborn and controlling self decided NO, I NEEDED to HELP them. So I did. I took the train to Port Authority and waited for them on the platform. Without my knowledge, or through miss communication, they jumped onto the train and headed to my place. Only while crossing the Williamsburg Bridge did they get my text saying I was waiting on the Platform still. AHHHH, my head screamed with frustration. THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING. I tried SO hard to help them. Which is exactly the point of the story. So i got back on the next train and headed home to Brooklyn. I couldn't find them when I got to my station so I figured they probably just found my house, because I had given them my address. NO, not the case, when I walked home I got a text saying they were at the McDonalds across the street from the Subway. So I turned around, AGAIN, and went to get them. I know this story may seem ridiculous to you, and it should. That's how it feels to me too. How much more ridiculous could I have been. (well I could have brought my cats with me, that would have been more ridiculous) but you get the point. I have been using this confidence to my advantage for a long time now, and it's done me well. It's part of what's gotten me to New York. But let me tell you something amazing, it's not all of me. There is so much more to Justin Friesen than being confident. Justin is also sensitive, he is brave, he is intelligent, he is scared, he is quite, timid, shy, awkward, talented, crazy, ridiculous, open, honest, accepting, and much much more. It's fascinating how attached I was to this confidence and flirtatious personality, mostly because it got me what I want. I don't think this is a bad thing, but this one little morning lesson was the tipping point for me. It had been building for a few weeks now, and finally I had to face it. What a relief it is, to know I don't always have to be flirtatious and confident. I can be a human being, and that is my goal each day. I really like the idea of trying on new qualities, be bold one day, be quite another, try listening extra hard one day, trying being opinionated one day, try anything you can think of. It's a much more exciting way to live, I think!
In addition to this wonderful life lesson, I was also inspired beyond what words can say, even though they have icebergs below them. (I believe words are nothing and everything. They are like the Titanic hitting an iceberg. You think it's just a word, but then you realize how big the iceberg is underneath. Words mean so many things to each of us) - MOVING ON - I went to see a show on Friday night called Masterclass. It featured Tyne Daly, and if you haven't seen her, she is brilliant on stage. You will recognize the face. I've attached a picture!
This show was all about Maria Callas, the famous opera singer. I will also attach a youtube link. This woman was called La Divine. She was unbelievable to watch on stage. Her performances were unlike anything before her. She took the music and the score to a whole new level, redefining what it meant to be an Opera Singer. Many didn't always agree with her BOLD choices, but you couldn't take your eyes off her. She was spectacular, and her vocal chords were basically made of steal. She could sing anything she wanted, from Colouratura to dramatic soprano, to Mezzo Soprano. She did it all! And then she lost her voice when she couldn't have the man she really loved. Slowly she lost her voice. In the show she said she lost her Necessity to sing, which was really the reason her voice could do what it did. She had no reason to sing anymore, and I think it was very closely related to that fact that she lost the love of her life. Feelings and emotions are so much a part of what we as entertainers do on stage. This seems obvious to say out loud, but it's a very important thing for an performer to remember. People don't care about the voice, or the acting, or the dancing, so long as there is a story being communicated and real emotions are being expressed. I've said it before, acting is reacting truthfully in imaginary circumstances. In truthful circumstances we are real human beings with real feelings. It is the singers job to find the real emotion in the music. It's all in the music. That is our roadmap to the X. And the journey should be like a treasure hunt, with ups and downs. The singer, actor, dancer, doesn't need to do anything more that search for all the answers in the score, or script, or choreography. It's all there. As a singer, I have been trained (from as far back as being in my mummy's belly) how to listen to music. I spent four years in university listening and analyzing music. This is second nature to me, and yet I don't feel like I've been using it to my fullest potential yet while being in NYC. Well, that's enough of that. This is why I was so moved by Maria Callas and her masterclass, it's all in the music. Out of respect for the Composer and Lyricist, we must do everything we can to honour the music. Let it be bold, let it be miraculous, let is change peoples lives, and let it represent what the composer had in his or her brain. AHHHHH, i can no longer look at a piece of music the same, ever again. I must strive to uncover what the composer was thinking, and then incorporate that into all of my singing and performing. There is no reason to work so hard at making it amazing. The composer wrote it amazing, so if I follow the score and I will be amazing and it will be me, Justin Friesen, because I am singing it! Simple as that!! It's always simple, it is, truly. The answers are always right underneath my nose!
Thank you Maria Callas for reigniting the flame. It's time to really pay attention and live in the necessity to sing, act and dance!!
TCB...
j
Saturday, June 25, 2011
With Tears still in my eyes!
I had to document this moment before it passed and so without time to dry the tears from my eyes, I'm writing this post. It's time to do it. I mean, I'm already doing it, I've been doing it my whole life. But it's time to stand up proudly, and live out the rest of my life as Justin Friesen. I know this is sort of a bizarre thought, but when you have had to take a moment to step back from yourself, and see what it really going on, this moment, the moment of re-entry, feels like jumping back into my life. The tears still wet on my cheek, are from a series I just watched, thanks to the OWN network (my dear Oprah, you continue to change my life) It was a series called "Why Not, with Shania Twain." I had been putting off watching it, because I was just "TOO BUSY" not a good enough excuse. Finally, after a giant push from my beautiful sister, who couldn't get enough of this series, I finally took the plunge and watched all 6 episodes in the last 2 days. Hearing Shania talk about all the pain and loss in her life, the break up of her marriage, finding a new love, and discovering how much she loves what she does, it all hit my heart right in the middle of the bullseye. I think it so easy to relate to this story because I too have felt like a lot of things are changing in my life, and quickly. Obviously I didn't loose my spouse, and all those other details involved in Shania's story, but when someone opens up, as humans we connected the dots of someone else life, and then parallel them to our own life (that is kinda like this, and this moment is kinda like that one, ohhhh, and that is totally how I felt when this happened to me, man alive, I swear I said that to myself too when this happened to me, or when i realized that) All these thoughts run through my brain, and I accept her feelings and emotions and relate them to my own life when I've felt those same emotions, or pushed certain emotions away. Shania's journey of asking herself why not do it, has opened her up to the world. She forced herself to do things that she was so uncomfortable doing, but she did them anyways, with vigour. It was so inspiring to watch. Now I know, she's Shania Twain, of course she can do it, that is was we all think, but this series really dug deep into the mind of Mrs. Twain, and shed light on many parts of her life that she kept completely silent. To see her struggle, to see her push, to see her battle with herself. These are all things any performer can relate too. She was saying words that have come straight out of my own head.
During the final episode she sings a duet with Lionel Richie, and it seriously blew me away. She said, after trying it quite a few times, "well, I'm just going to have to sing it like Shania would." And it hit me, I don't have to sound like anyone else. This is something I have been told before, but sometimes we don't accept information because we aren't ready to hear it. It's been a constant challenge accepting the voice that comes out of my body, sometimes i love it, sometimes i hate it. Today, I am accepting it, with love and light and laughter. I am accepting it and am going to use it, "Just like Justin Friesen would use it." It is my unique sound, no one else has it. Just ME. Isn't that amazing!! AHHHHHHH. How freaken exciting it that. Every time I open my mouth, it doesn't sound like anyone but ME!!!! OH my goodness, what a relief. I feel so much weight lifted off my shoulders. It doesn't have to be anything but me. I feel like I could shout that over all the rooftops in Brooklyn!!
The tears have dried now, but I still have the emotion surging through my body. To let yourself feel the emotion, for me, is half the battle. That right there is the ability to drop into, and accept the moment that is happening. When you let the emotion take over, your accepting where your body, mind and spirit are taking you! I have become so good at being the confident, nice, kind Justin Friesen, that when different parts of me shine through, I cover them up and make sure people only see what I want them to see. And it's worked this far, because the light that I let shine through is ONLY happy, kind, confident, easy going, and warm. Who doesn't want to be around that, AIHHHHHH, wrong, that can get fake and people start to read that. My teacher said to me, you have these more obvious qualities that radiate out of you, but what about the ones that you hide, those ones are just as important. They are what will make you YOU. What about the emotional Justin, or the Justin that gets annoyed with people, or the Justin that wants to throw things around sometimes because he can't handle how much people put themselves down, how much he puts himself down, AHHHHHH, or the Justin that wants to be chill for one night, or the Justin that wants to be sexy, or the Justin that just wants to be Justin! There is so much light to let through, and that is what the world wants to see. That is why I react when I see Shania Twain opening up to all of her fans and supporters, and it inspires me to sing all the different songs from my heart too! I am going to sing my song, in whatever key i want, and it's going to feel amazing. Today is My Day, and nothing can stand in my Way!!
There you go universe. My two precious cents for this, June 25th 2011, in my apartment in Brooklyn! (you don't know how long I've waited to write that, permanently) STAMP!!
TBC...
J
During the final episode she sings a duet with Lionel Richie, and it seriously blew me away. She said, after trying it quite a few times, "well, I'm just going to have to sing it like Shania would." And it hit me, I don't have to sound like anyone else. This is something I have been told before, but sometimes we don't accept information because we aren't ready to hear it. It's been a constant challenge accepting the voice that comes out of my body, sometimes i love it, sometimes i hate it. Today, I am accepting it, with love and light and laughter. I am accepting it and am going to use it, "Just like Justin Friesen would use it." It is my unique sound, no one else has it. Just ME. Isn't that amazing!! AHHHHHHH. How freaken exciting it that. Every time I open my mouth, it doesn't sound like anyone but ME!!!! OH my goodness, what a relief. I feel so much weight lifted off my shoulders. It doesn't have to be anything but me. I feel like I could shout that over all the rooftops in Brooklyn!!
The tears have dried now, but I still have the emotion surging through my body. To let yourself feel the emotion, for me, is half the battle. That right there is the ability to drop into, and accept the moment that is happening. When you let the emotion take over, your accepting where your body, mind and spirit are taking you! I have become so good at being the confident, nice, kind Justin Friesen, that when different parts of me shine through, I cover them up and make sure people only see what I want them to see. And it's worked this far, because the light that I let shine through is ONLY happy, kind, confident, easy going, and warm. Who doesn't want to be around that, AIHHHHHH, wrong, that can get fake and people start to read that. My teacher said to me, you have these more obvious qualities that radiate out of you, but what about the ones that you hide, those ones are just as important. They are what will make you YOU. What about the emotional Justin, or the Justin that gets annoyed with people, or the Justin that wants to throw things around sometimes because he can't handle how much people put themselves down, how much he puts himself down, AHHHHHH, or the Justin that wants to be chill for one night, or the Justin that wants to be sexy, or the Justin that just wants to be Justin! There is so much light to let through, and that is what the world wants to see. That is why I react when I see Shania Twain opening up to all of her fans and supporters, and it inspires me to sing all the different songs from my heart too! I am going to sing my song, in whatever key i want, and it's going to feel amazing. Today is My Day, and nothing can stand in my Way!!
There you go universe. My two precious cents for this, June 25th 2011, in my apartment in Brooklyn! (you don't know how long I've waited to write that, permanently) STAMP!!
TBC...
J
Friday, June 24, 2011
Practically Perfect...in every way!
My dear blog readers, (and the universe that is always with us)
I can't believe how satisfying it is to clean up. Today I have a new roommate for the month on July. KINGA will be living with me, as my other roommate takes a leave to teach in another country. KINGA also attends the New York Film Academy, and we have become dear friends over the course of our program. She gets me, and I get her. It just works, and we love it!! I am so thankful to have a friend like her. So down to earth, kind, warm, beautiful inside and out, and much much more! I am so excited to be living together and I think it's going to work wonderfully. I know the whole roommate situation can be really hard on relationships sometimes, but Kinga and I run the same way! Today we spend the afternoon and evening cleaning, and boy did that feel good. The apartment feels different already. I just feel better knowing that things are organized, even if I can't see them. I truly don't know how to compare the satisfying feeling of cleaning something up, to anything else in life! It evokes such happiness in my heart.
Switching gears a little, I was talking to a friend Leo, who is coming to visit me in New York with his boyfriend and another friend and he asked me how things are going here in New York. In the heat of the moment, I said things were going great. The generic answer, which isn't untrue, but it doesn't hold any weight, and isn't really how I was feeling. Over the last month, and more specifically, the last week, I have really started to pay attention to what my life looks like from an arial view. How do people perceive me? How do I react, and act in a plethera of circumstances? How do I live in the now? How do I drop into a circumstance in order to accept the character I am playing in a certain scene? How do I live a normal life in New York City, as a farm boy? How do I be true to myself? All of these questions were spinning around, as I looked at myself from up above. It was such a crazy month. I was still enjoying classes, but found myself not wanting to be at school as much. After 5 months friendships start to change and evolve, which isn't bad, it's just part of our nature. We have to grow or else we will die. It's pretty simple when you think about it. And sometimes with growth comes discomfort, and that is okay. It doesn't make it easy, it's just okay, and I know I will get through it. Despite the discomfort, amazing things have happened to me over the past month. All in one night I went to a Broadway Inspiration Voices concert, which was basically like being in the Sister Act 2 movie, times 10, for 3 hours. It was so incredibly moving, and then from there I went to the Broadway Bares fundraiser for aids, which once again, made me remember that I am infact in New York City, and this kind of energy doesn't happen just anywhere. I am here for a reason, and it's never felt so right! Anyways, back to the reason this has all come up. Leo asked me how I was doing, and I said great. Awesome okay, nothing to crazy about that, but this is the beauty of feeling like you are exactly where you want to be, it's never a normal week. Even when I expect, from habits or the past, that it's just going to be a normal week, it never is. I saw to amazing shows last Sunday, and then on Tuesday, my life was once again transformed when I got picked from the Wicked lottery to see the show front row. I mean, come on. This is a show that I will be playing a role in as soon as possible. I absolutely loved it. The music, the acting, the staging, it's such a well oiled machine, and yet it has so much depth and heart. This is truly because everyone, and I mean everyone: from costume, to automation, to carpentry, to scenic design, to stage management, to actors, to choreographers, directors, and producers, to the guy who sweeps the stage before each show, it's all done with amazing passion and vigour. These people know they are apart of something extremely special. it's so much more than what we see on the stage. The magic is released because of all the behind the scenes people. Wow, it was such a magical experience. Something I will never forget!
Each week is never just normal. I also discovered the ability to drop into a circumstance when I sing a song. I never had a problem imagining things, but it's believing the situation your in that is my challenge. I know that it's not necessarily real, and even if it was, I would not let it phase me, so I wouldn't have to deal with emotion. I finally dropped in, and felt it, and it made everything better. This is the exciting work, I have been longing to be apart of. It's freaking amazing!! That is all i have to say.
I must get to bed, okay folks. ENJOY!!
TBC...
J
I can't believe how satisfying it is to clean up. Today I have a new roommate for the month on July. KINGA will be living with me, as my other roommate takes a leave to teach in another country. KINGA also attends the New York Film Academy, and we have become dear friends over the course of our program. She gets me, and I get her. It just works, and we love it!! I am so thankful to have a friend like her. So down to earth, kind, warm, beautiful inside and out, and much much more! I am so excited to be living together and I think it's going to work wonderfully. I know the whole roommate situation can be really hard on relationships sometimes, but Kinga and I run the same way! Today we spend the afternoon and evening cleaning, and boy did that feel good. The apartment feels different already. I just feel better knowing that things are organized, even if I can't see them. I truly don't know how to compare the satisfying feeling of cleaning something up, to anything else in life! It evokes such happiness in my heart.
Switching gears a little, I was talking to a friend Leo, who is coming to visit me in New York with his boyfriend and another friend and he asked me how things are going here in New York. In the heat of the moment, I said things were going great. The generic answer, which isn't untrue, but it doesn't hold any weight, and isn't really how I was feeling. Over the last month, and more specifically, the last week, I have really started to pay attention to what my life looks like from an arial view. How do people perceive me? How do I react, and act in a plethera of circumstances? How do I live in the now? How do I drop into a circumstance in order to accept the character I am playing in a certain scene? How do I live a normal life in New York City, as a farm boy? How do I be true to myself? All of these questions were spinning around, as I looked at myself from up above. It was such a crazy month. I was still enjoying classes, but found myself not wanting to be at school as much. After 5 months friendships start to change and evolve, which isn't bad, it's just part of our nature. We have to grow or else we will die. It's pretty simple when you think about it. And sometimes with growth comes discomfort, and that is okay. It doesn't make it easy, it's just okay, and I know I will get through it. Despite the discomfort, amazing things have happened to me over the past month. All in one night I went to a Broadway Inspiration Voices concert, which was basically like being in the Sister Act 2 movie, times 10, for 3 hours. It was so incredibly moving, and then from there I went to the Broadway Bares fundraiser for aids, which once again, made me remember that I am infact in New York City, and this kind of energy doesn't happen just anywhere. I am here for a reason, and it's never felt so right! Anyways, back to the reason this has all come up. Leo asked me how I was doing, and I said great. Awesome okay, nothing to crazy about that, but this is the beauty of feeling like you are exactly where you want to be, it's never a normal week. Even when I expect, from habits or the past, that it's just going to be a normal week, it never is. I saw to amazing shows last Sunday, and then on Tuesday, my life was once again transformed when I got picked from the Wicked lottery to see the show front row. I mean, come on. This is a show that I will be playing a role in as soon as possible. I absolutely loved it. The music, the acting, the staging, it's such a well oiled machine, and yet it has so much depth and heart. This is truly because everyone, and I mean everyone: from costume, to automation, to carpentry, to scenic design, to stage management, to actors, to choreographers, directors, and producers, to the guy who sweeps the stage before each show, it's all done with amazing passion and vigour. These people know they are apart of something extremely special. it's so much more than what we see on the stage. The magic is released because of all the behind the scenes people. Wow, it was such a magical experience. Something I will never forget!
Each week is never just normal. I also discovered the ability to drop into a circumstance when I sing a song. I never had a problem imagining things, but it's believing the situation your in that is my challenge. I know that it's not necessarily real, and even if it was, I would not let it phase me, so I wouldn't have to deal with emotion. I finally dropped in, and felt it, and it made everything better. This is the exciting work, I have been longing to be apart of. It's freaking amazing!! That is all i have to say.
I must get to bed, okay folks. ENJOY!!
TBC...
J
Monday, June 20, 2011
All is well in Justin Land!
Well folks,
Tonight has been a memorable one, that is all I can say in words. I almost don't know where to begin. I guess I should start at the beginning, a very good place to start (thanks Maria). This past week I was asked, along with 3 more of my classmates, to participate in the 7th inning stretch fundraiser for a local Hoboken Theatre Company. Every year they do a baseball themed night of theatre (10 minute pieces). Each year there are commissioned by local writers and then performed as a fundraising event. I discovered a new love: Hoboken, which is just across the Hudson River, in New Jersey. It's like a smaller, quiter, Manhattan, just across the river (just around the riverbend: Thanks Pocahotus) The whole experience was wonderful. The cast of our play was so much fun to work with, and I really loved performing our play. It had heart and was still really funny! With Baseball as the theme, the playwright chose a high school setting with a crazy teacher, a nerd, a few dumb jocks, and some pretty high school girls. The nerd brings in a presentation for someone that inspires him. He choses Charlie Waitt, the man you invented the baseball glove. Now when baseball started, no one use gloves, and there were injuries left right and centre, so Charlie thought of using a glove to protect his hands from getting hurt so often. Seems obvious, but it took 21 years for people to catch on, and stop calling him Sissy, queer, fagot, and a whole slew of other degrading words. People wanted to be tough, but in the end they were just to preoccupied trying to look cool, and as a result they were injured all the time. Finally people started following Charlie's trend and now we would never think to play baseball without gloves. It was such a cute little story, but had great heart and courage! I was very proud to be apart of something that meant something to me personally. So that was a huge part of my week and weekend.
I've also been viewing the world from a different angle these last few weeks. It's been a growing experience, to say the least. These things tend to creep up on us, when we least expect it. It's amazing when you look back , and wonder how you lived any other way then the way you are living now. I look back to before i came out of the closet and I think, WOW, how did I even do that, and even looking back to life before NYC, how did I do that. Sometimes it's incredibly important to take a step back and take the birds eye view of yourself, not an easy thing to do. you basically have to look at yourself from everyone else's perspective. How are other people viewing you. To clarity a little, I don't mean you have to worry yourself to the enth degree about how people are judging you, but it's good to know how you are being read. Sometimes we loose sight of who we are, this is just the human condition. We aren't perfect, and sometimes we put a lot of focus on one thing and then forget about another thing, something that we care about a lot but didn't notice we were neglecting. We often focus on certain parts of our lives, in search for a balance. I think the balance comes when you surrender to the power of the universe (or whatever you believe is greater than we are) I think that it is the grace of that which is Higher, that allows us to find balance in our lives. My mom reminded me of the word grace, and how important it is. I don't think I've ever really understood it, despite hearing it all my life in church. Grace; it's not quite the same ask thankfulness and gratefulness. Grace is surrounded by trust, humility, peace, love, respect and honesty. Grace is something we give and receive through love! It is a gift. Tonight I went to the Broadway Inspirational Voices concert, and I was literally knock of my rocker. I mean, literally, I don't even know what to say. It was a cleanse, it was a rejuvenation, it was a dunk in the deep end of the water, it was powerful, mighty, joyful and courageous!! The choir was made up of broadway stars, and they were raising their voices to the LORD, AMEN. It brought me back to my roots. All I could think about was my mennonite roots and RJC, and CMU, and my home church. All those memories came a flooding back. It was a great reminder of where I come from, and what I am still connected to. It gives me a solid ground to stand on, and I am so grateful for that. The music stirred my soul and re lit a flame of passion, openness, determination, grace, love and joy. Joy in what I do, Joy in being me, joy in loving others, joy in all the emotions we feel everyday (happy, sad, mad, angry, annoyed, mortified, nervous, scared, exuberant, brilliant) All of these emotions are apart of everyday, and we need to let them surface.
After the concert I, along with some friends, went to the Broadway Bare 21st fundraiser for Broadway Care/Equity Fights Aids. Without going into too much detail, i have to say it literally changed my life. The fearlessness of all the dancers and performers was, once more, incredibly inspiring, and a reminder than I can, and need to do the same. Let was is most deep within out into the world. Share the you that we often keep at home behind closed doors. I challenge you and myself to open your front door and walk out with the you that is inside you, being transparent with the world. Allowing your inner self to lead you!
That is my prayer for the week. Take care, ya'll!!
LOVE LIGHT AND LAUGHTER
TBC...
j
Tonight has been a memorable one, that is all I can say in words. I almost don't know where to begin. I guess I should start at the beginning, a very good place to start (thanks Maria). This past week I was asked, along with 3 more of my classmates, to participate in the 7th inning stretch fundraiser for a local Hoboken Theatre Company. Every year they do a baseball themed night of theatre (10 minute pieces). Each year there are commissioned by local writers and then performed as a fundraising event. I discovered a new love: Hoboken, which is just across the Hudson River, in New Jersey. It's like a smaller, quiter, Manhattan, just across the river (just around the riverbend: Thanks Pocahotus) The whole experience was wonderful. The cast of our play was so much fun to work with, and I really loved performing our play. It had heart and was still really funny! With Baseball as the theme, the playwright chose a high school setting with a crazy teacher, a nerd, a few dumb jocks, and some pretty high school girls. The nerd brings in a presentation for someone that inspires him. He choses Charlie Waitt, the man you invented the baseball glove. Now when baseball started, no one use gloves, and there were injuries left right and centre, so Charlie thought of using a glove to protect his hands from getting hurt so often. Seems obvious, but it took 21 years for people to catch on, and stop calling him Sissy, queer, fagot, and a whole slew of other degrading words. People wanted to be tough, but in the end they were just to preoccupied trying to look cool, and as a result they were injured all the time. Finally people started following Charlie's trend and now we would never think to play baseball without gloves. It was such a cute little story, but had great heart and courage! I was very proud to be apart of something that meant something to me personally. So that was a huge part of my week and weekend.
I've also been viewing the world from a different angle these last few weeks. It's been a growing experience, to say the least. These things tend to creep up on us, when we least expect it. It's amazing when you look back , and wonder how you lived any other way then the way you are living now. I look back to before i came out of the closet and I think, WOW, how did I even do that, and even looking back to life before NYC, how did I do that. Sometimes it's incredibly important to take a step back and take the birds eye view of yourself, not an easy thing to do. you basically have to look at yourself from everyone else's perspective. How are other people viewing you. To clarity a little, I don't mean you have to worry yourself to the enth degree about how people are judging you, but it's good to know how you are being read. Sometimes we loose sight of who we are, this is just the human condition. We aren't perfect, and sometimes we put a lot of focus on one thing and then forget about another thing, something that we care about a lot but didn't notice we were neglecting. We often focus on certain parts of our lives, in search for a balance. I think the balance comes when you surrender to the power of the universe (or whatever you believe is greater than we are) I think that it is the grace of that which is Higher, that allows us to find balance in our lives. My mom reminded me of the word grace, and how important it is. I don't think I've ever really understood it, despite hearing it all my life in church. Grace; it's not quite the same ask thankfulness and gratefulness. Grace is surrounded by trust, humility, peace, love, respect and honesty. Grace is something we give and receive through love! It is a gift. Tonight I went to the Broadway Inspirational Voices concert, and I was literally knock of my rocker. I mean, literally, I don't even know what to say. It was a cleanse, it was a rejuvenation, it was a dunk in the deep end of the water, it was powerful, mighty, joyful and courageous!! The choir was made up of broadway stars, and they were raising their voices to the LORD, AMEN. It brought me back to my roots. All I could think about was my mennonite roots and RJC, and CMU, and my home church. All those memories came a flooding back. It was a great reminder of where I come from, and what I am still connected to. It gives me a solid ground to stand on, and I am so grateful for that. The music stirred my soul and re lit a flame of passion, openness, determination, grace, love and joy. Joy in what I do, Joy in being me, joy in loving others, joy in all the emotions we feel everyday (happy, sad, mad, angry, annoyed, mortified, nervous, scared, exuberant, brilliant) All of these emotions are apart of everyday, and we need to let them surface.
After the concert I, along with some friends, went to the Broadway Bare 21st fundraiser for Broadway Care/Equity Fights Aids. Without going into too much detail, i have to say it literally changed my life. The fearlessness of all the dancers and performers was, once more, incredibly inspiring, and a reminder than I can, and need to do the same. Let was is most deep within out into the world. Share the you that we often keep at home behind closed doors. I challenge you and myself to open your front door and walk out with the you that is inside you, being transparent with the world. Allowing your inner self to lead you!
That is my prayer for the week. Take care, ya'll!!
LOVE LIGHT AND LAUGHTER
TBC...
j
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Middle of the Week, plus some same sex marriage
Hey ya'll,
We've reached the middle of the week and what an exciting one it's been. Lots of stuff going on at school, and then in the evenings I have been rehearsing a show I am apart of with the Three Mile Theatre in Hoboken, New Jersey. I am apart of 1 or 7 1- minute plays all to do with baseball. Every year they have an event called the 7th inning stretch, and they commission 7 different 10 minute plays about baseball. There are 3 others from my NYFA class that are also apart of it. It's great to meet new people outside of school, and to get your name out there, no mater how small the gig is. you just never know who is going to be watching. In New York City, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO!! This is just absolutely true. Word of mouth is the fasted way to get something around and have everyone believe it. I don't care how awesome emailing, and texting are, the human mouth is still more reliable.
So this week has been a little more busy than usually having rehearsals all evening, and school all day. But it's worth it. Another great credit on the resume and getting to work with a great cast and director and creative team. I love it!!!
Oh and it's extremely exciting that the Marriage Equality Act was passed and is now heading to the senate. To read more about this follow the link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/15/new.york.gay.marriage/index.html?eref=igoogledmn_topstories
Coming from Canada we take for granted the ability to get married as a same sex couple. In New York State, this is not recognized yet, but it's getting really close!! People are really rooting for change, which is amazing. Especially since I feel like half of the population of New York City is gay!! haha:) Let them get married!! STAMP:)
I will talk more about this in my next Post, but there have been amazing leaps in our acting classes that I would love to share. We are always kept on our toes, growing and learning new ways of thinking. I must get to bed, it's late, and each night I've gotten less sleep, so tonight i'm breaking the chain!
Night Night all, Lots of Love, Light and Laughter all the way from NYC!!!
TOBECONTINUED
j
We've reached the middle of the week and what an exciting one it's been. Lots of stuff going on at school, and then in the evenings I have been rehearsing a show I am apart of with the Three Mile Theatre in Hoboken, New Jersey. I am apart of 1 or 7 1- minute plays all to do with baseball. Every year they have an event called the 7th inning stretch, and they commission 7 different 10 minute plays about baseball. There are 3 others from my NYFA class that are also apart of it. It's great to meet new people outside of school, and to get your name out there, no mater how small the gig is. you just never know who is going to be watching. In New York City, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO!! This is just absolutely true. Word of mouth is the fasted way to get something around and have everyone believe it. I don't care how awesome emailing, and texting are, the human mouth is still more reliable.
So this week has been a little more busy than usually having rehearsals all evening, and school all day. But it's worth it. Another great credit on the resume and getting to work with a great cast and director and creative team. I love it!!!
Oh and it's extremely exciting that the Marriage Equality Act was passed and is now heading to the senate. To read more about this follow the link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/15/new.york.gay.marriage/index.html?eref=igoogledmn_topstories
Coming from Canada we take for granted the ability to get married as a same sex couple. In New York State, this is not recognized yet, but it's getting really close!! People are really rooting for change, which is amazing. Especially since I feel like half of the population of New York City is gay!! haha:) Let them get married!! STAMP:)
I will talk more about this in my next Post, but there have been amazing leaps in our acting classes that I would love to share. We are always kept on our toes, growing and learning new ways of thinking. I must get to bed, it's late, and each night I've gotten less sleep, so tonight i'm breaking the chain!
Night Night all, Lots of Love, Light and Laughter all the way from NYC!!!
TOBECONTINUED
j
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Today is your day:)
Hello everyone,
Well, i just experienced my first ever TONY AWARDS. Kinda hard to believe, when this is the career I am in. But you have to start somewhere.
I just love award shows. They seriously make my heart jump up and down! Some of the speeches were amazing. Book of Mormon did amazing, and they deserved it. I can't wait to see it! I mean, at the end of the day any of the nominations could win. It's all so subjective at that point. Obviously there are times when it's clear who should win. But most times once the nominations are posted, who cares who wins. I would love to win a TONY, and don't think I'm not shooting for one, because I certainly am. I want a TONY, GRAMMY, JUNO, EMMY, PEOPLES CHOICE, OSCAR and GOLDEN GLOBE. It's not really about winning, but I'm a competitive guy, always have been (thanks mom and dad). I think it's part of what makes me work my ass off. Awards are not the be all end all of life, but it is something to push harder than you might normally push yourself for. All of those awards equal an olympic medal in show business world. And I've wanted an olympic medal since I was able to watch the olympics and understand what they were.
Man, this weekend has been such a rejuvenation for me. I feel ready to take it all on. I've been so inspired by so many things. The last of the 3 musicals in one week was "Catch Me if you Can." This freakin blew the top off the cake. Shaiman and Wittman, who wrote the music for Hairspray, teamed up again for this project, and it was completely magical. The music is genius, pushing all the right buttons. The dancing, the men and women. The airline hostesses, are glamazons from mount olympus. Aaron Tveit, and Norbert Leo Butz killed every second they spent on stage. I basically melted in my seat every time Aaron opened his mouth as Frank Abagnale Jr. As a male, I am very critical of a male voice. It's much easier for me to enjoy the sound of a woman. I don't know why this is, but it's just how I've always been. But Aaron, ahhhhhh, now that is music to my ears. He has played a lot of roles that I want to play, including this one in Catch me if you Can. I also love how brilliant the story is. There was singing when I wanted singing, there was action when I wanted action, there was sentiment when I wanted to feel something. It was all there. Again, I was transported into another world. My eyes couldn't believe the overstimulation. It's a crazy story, with some wonderful themes. Behind all the stealing, is the story of a boy who is trying to figure out what is really important to him. It's also about shooting for exactly what you want, and that can change over time. This, combined with the TONY's, Mary Poppins, A Normal Heart, and a wonderful day alone yesterday equals something Shania knew how to articulate brilliantly. "Today is my Day." I feel a new sense of ownership over the body I live in. I can't wait to see what the week brings! Alright, it's time to get some sleep! Also important. This week is about owning the body that I was given and loving every inch of it....and.....GO:)
TOBECONTINUED...
j
Well, i just experienced my first ever TONY AWARDS. Kinda hard to believe, when this is the career I am in. But you have to start somewhere.
I just love award shows. They seriously make my heart jump up and down! Some of the speeches were amazing. Book of Mormon did amazing, and they deserved it. I can't wait to see it! I mean, at the end of the day any of the nominations could win. It's all so subjective at that point. Obviously there are times when it's clear who should win. But most times once the nominations are posted, who cares who wins. I would love to win a TONY, and don't think I'm not shooting for one, because I certainly am. I want a TONY, GRAMMY, JUNO, EMMY, PEOPLES CHOICE, OSCAR and GOLDEN GLOBE. It's not really about winning, but I'm a competitive guy, always have been (thanks mom and dad). I think it's part of what makes me work my ass off. Awards are not the be all end all of life, but it is something to push harder than you might normally push yourself for. All of those awards equal an olympic medal in show business world. And I've wanted an olympic medal since I was able to watch the olympics and understand what they were.
Man, this weekend has been such a rejuvenation for me. I feel ready to take it all on. I've been so inspired by so many things. The last of the 3 musicals in one week was "Catch Me if you Can." This freakin blew the top off the cake. Shaiman and Wittman, who wrote the music for Hairspray, teamed up again for this project, and it was completely magical. The music is genius, pushing all the right buttons. The dancing, the men and women. The airline hostesses, are glamazons from mount olympus. Aaron Tveit, and Norbert Leo Butz killed every second they spent on stage. I basically melted in my seat every time Aaron opened his mouth as Frank Abagnale Jr. As a male, I am very critical of a male voice. It's much easier for me to enjoy the sound of a woman. I don't know why this is, but it's just how I've always been. But Aaron, ahhhhhh, now that is music to my ears. He has played a lot of roles that I want to play, including this one in Catch me if you Can. I also love how brilliant the story is. There was singing when I wanted singing, there was action when I wanted action, there was sentiment when I wanted to feel something. It was all there. Again, I was transported into another world. My eyes couldn't believe the overstimulation. It's a crazy story, with some wonderful themes. Behind all the stealing, is the story of a boy who is trying to figure out what is really important to him. It's also about shooting for exactly what you want, and that can change over time. This, combined with the TONY's, Mary Poppins, A Normal Heart, and a wonderful day alone yesterday equals something Shania knew how to articulate brilliantly. "Today is my Day." I feel a new sense of ownership over the body I live in. I can't wait to see what the week brings! Alright, it's time to get some sleep! Also important. This week is about owning the body that I was given and loving every inch of it....and.....GO:)
TOBECONTINUED...
j
Getting better at this
Well, I did write a whole thing about seeing Mary Poppins, but I lost it. So that kinda sucks. But it's been a while since i last posted something, and so much has happened since, I just have to start somewhere and go for it. Life goes in cycles, we all know this, I think. Even the things you don't think go in cycles, it's most likely that they do in fact go in a cycle. Like going to see shows in New York City. This week I saw three shows. That's practically unheard of for me. There was a dry spell before this that lasted almost 2 months, and then all of a sudden, BAM, 3 shows. It kinda caught me off guard. On Sunday I saw Mary Poppins with my dear friends Amanda, and Nathan, whom are now engaged after Nathan's romantic proposal of marriage in Central Park. It is something extremely special to see a couple right after the proposal. It's like a magical mystery; completely unsolvable. The energy was crazy, i loved it!
So we went to see Mary Poppins and I was completely blown away. Everything about the show was brilliant. I mean, I knew I would like it, but they exceeded my expectations exponentially. The tap dancing, the chimney sweep roof top scene, the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious scene, the way the sets moved, the magnificent dancing, and singing and acting. I wasn't even thinking about how good it was, I was just immersed in the world of Mary Poppins. There was this one moment when she arrives at the house, and starts settling into the room upstairs with the Banks children. She pulls all of her stuff out of this bag. And we're talking big things, so it looks really cool, but then she took out a bed sheet, and as she flung the bed sheet open across the empty stage, a bed appeared underneath and the sheet covered the bed. It was completely magic, I swear. I was shocked, utterly shocked. I didn't even know what to do in my chair. So if ever there is a chance to see MP, do it! You won't regret it. It's Disney's Magic and it's finest.
Then I went to see a show called "The Normal Heart" on Wednesday, which I have been meaning to see for a long time. Finally it was time to check it out. I knew a bit about it going into it, but also knew that it was going to change my life because of the what the subject matter is. It's all about Larry Kramer and beginning of the AID's epidemic in New York City, 1981. AIDS is something that I knew very little about, in terms of it's history. I knew that it wasn't good, and that there is no real cure. It was supposedly only suppose to be a GAY disease, but Africa proved that to be completely false, and now it is something that all sexual orientations have to deal with. "The Normal Heart" was a knock the wind out of you kind of experience. It was a wave of information hitting you like the ocean tide, knocking you out and then sweeping you underneath the surface, spinning you around until you catch yourself on the ground and push yourself up and out of the water, gasping for air. Every scene was so full of energy and the actors playing on stage were beyond what I could explain in words. For 2 and a half hours I was in a different world. The emotions were all over the map. It was funny, until it wasn't. Society treated this AIDS thing like it was a joke, it was completely, and still is, swept under the rug. Over 35 million people have died of AIDS and they still aren't accepting it as an epidemic. When the swine flu broke out, the medical world went nuts, thinking this was going to be a pandemic (or something crazy big) and it was nothing compared to the way AIDS has taken millions of lives. During the 80's this disease hit the Broadway crowd extremely hard. People where dying left, right and centre. It was insane, like flies. Some didn't know how the Broadway world would recover from loosing so many actors. I mean, to try and comprehend this is mind blowing. And to think that it was only apart of the Gay community when it first arrived in America. WHY?? is my question. It's absolutely crazy that even when people were dying, sexual orientation was the deciding factor between life and death. How can that be true, but it is. Because of being Gay, no one would want me to help me, or more specifically, no one would want to be seen helping me. We all care way to much about what everyone else thinks of us. What happened to that fact that we are all human beings, with a heartbeat, just trying to make it on this earth. That is hard enough, why do we add all of this extra stress and pressure to our lives. We are who we are, it's as simple and as complicated as that. PEOPLE, you must try to understand this, people literally died because others didn't want to be associated with the Gay community. There was one line that still sticks with me; it hit me like an arrow in the heart: (I'm paraphrasing) "why do we even look back at our history, we don't learn anything from it." I realize this is a general statement, but in many ways it rings true. 6,000,000 Jews were killed in the Holocaust. We now know see this as one of the biggest tragedies in history, and it is. But you think we would have learned from it. 35,000,000 have died of AIDS. It just blows my mind. If people would just let go of there freakin ego and pride and just help each other, AHHHHH!
Well you can see how this play has affected me. So, if you ever get the chance to see "The Normal Heart" do it!!
Switching up the mood dramatically, on to the final musical...it was a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio. He ran around chasing women, and money, and told any story he could to get what he wanted, whether it was true or a complete lie. I'll CATCH you after the break.
Time for some breakfast!
TOBECONTINUED...
j
So we went to see Mary Poppins and I was completely blown away. Everything about the show was brilliant. I mean, I knew I would like it, but they exceeded my expectations exponentially. The tap dancing, the chimney sweep roof top scene, the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious scene, the way the sets moved, the magnificent dancing, and singing and acting. I wasn't even thinking about how good it was, I was just immersed in the world of Mary Poppins. There was this one moment when she arrives at the house, and starts settling into the room upstairs with the Banks children. She pulls all of her stuff out of this bag. And we're talking big things, so it looks really cool, but then she took out a bed sheet, and as she flung the bed sheet open across the empty stage, a bed appeared underneath and the sheet covered the bed. It was completely magic, I swear. I was shocked, utterly shocked. I didn't even know what to do in my chair. So if ever there is a chance to see MP, do it! You won't regret it. It's Disney's Magic and it's finest.
Then I went to see a show called "The Normal Heart" on Wednesday, which I have been meaning to see for a long time. Finally it was time to check it out. I knew a bit about it going into it, but also knew that it was going to change my life because of the what the subject matter is. It's all about Larry Kramer and beginning of the AID's epidemic in New York City, 1981. AIDS is something that I knew very little about, in terms of it's history. I knew that it wasn't good, and that there is no real cure. It was supposedly only suppose to be a GAY disease, but Africa proved that to be completely false, and now it is something that all sexual orientations have to deal with. "The Normal Heart" was a knock the wind out of you kind of experience. It was a wave of information hitting you like the ocean tide, knocking you out and then sweeping you underneath the surface, spinning you around until you catch yourself on the ground and push yourself up and out of the water, gasping for air. Every scene was so full of energy and the actors playing on stage were beyond what I could explain in words. For 2 and a half hours I was in a different world. The emotions were all over the map. It was funny, until it wasn't. Society treated this AIDS thing like it was a joke, it was completely, and still is, swept under the rug. Over 35 million people have died of AIDS and they still aren't accepting it as an epidemic. When the swine flu broke out, the medical world went nuts, thinking this was going to be a pandemic (or something crazy big) and it was nothing compared to the way AIDS has taken millions of lives. During the 80's this disease hit the Broadway crowd extremely hard. People where dying left, right and centre. It was insane, like flies. Some didn't know how the Broadway world would recover from loosing so many actors. I mean, to try and comprehend this is mind blowing. And to think that it was only apart of the Gay community when it first arrived in America. WHY?? is my question. It's absolutely crazy that even when people were dying, sexual orientation was the deciding factor between life and death. How can that be true, but it is. Because of being Gay, no one would want me to help me, or more specifically, no one would want to be seen helping me. We all care way to much about what everyone else thinks of us. What happened to that fact that we are all human beings, with a heartbeat, just trying to make it on this earth. That is hard enough, why do we add all of this extra stress and pressure to our lives. We are who we are, it's as simple and as complicated as that. PEOPLE, you must try to understand this, people literally died because others didn't want to be associated with the Gay community. There was one line that still sticks with me; it hit me like an arrow in the heart: (I'm paraphrasing) "why do we even look back at our history, we don't learn anything from it." I realize this is a general statement, but in many ways it rings true. 6,000,000 Jews were killed in the Holocaust. We now know see this as one of the biggest tragedies in history, and it is. But you think we would have learned from it. 35,000,000 have died of AIDS. It just blows my mind. If people would just let go of there freakin ego and pride and just help each other, AHHHHH!
Well you can see how this play has affected me. So, if you ever get the chance to see "The Normal Heart" do it!!
Switching up the mood dramatically, on to the final musical...it was a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio. He ran around chasing women, and money, and told any story he could to get what he wanted, whether it was true or a complete lie. I'll CATCH you after the break.
Time for some breakfast!
TOBECONTINUED...
j
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Wow, what a day!
Tuesday has come and gone here in NYC. And guess what, I have a TV that works now. I have set it up in my room, mostly for news in the morning. I'm not sure how i feel about having such a big TV in my room. I mean, it's kind the first thing you notice when you come in the room, and I don't think I like that. It might have to be moved to the Living Room. I don't like the idea of my room revolving around a TV. Don't get me wrong, I'm kind of excited to have a TV in my room. Like I said, I will be watching Good Morning America for sure. Which is a good thing, because sometimes I feel like I would love to be up to date with what is going on in the world. I think it's important that we are aware of what is going on around us, locally and globally.
School was a good, even though I really didn't get enough sleep last night. It's all about energy. I mean, you can't go too long only getting 4 hours of sleep, but when you are in a place that gives you energy, just by taking class, you know you are in the right place. I wasn't at my best today, but at the same time, one learns a lot about themselves when you feel "OFF." We were talking about our BRAND in business class today. And it is one of those things that takes some finessing. You have to carefully craft the right words to create a master line. Something that encompasses at least three areas that represent me.
There will be more about this whole BRANDING thing another day. Right now it's time to head to bed. Today was about awareness. Awareness of many many things. Awareness is always a part of change. Things are always changing:)
Embrace the change and move forward!
TOBECONTINUED...
J
School was a good, even though I really didn't get enough sleep last night. It's all about energy. I mean, you can't go too long only getting 4 hours of sleep, but when you are in a place that gives you energy, just by taking class, you know you are in the right place. I wasn't at my best today, but at the same time, one learns a lot about themselves when you feel "OFF." We were talking about our BRAND in business class today. And it is one of those things that takes some finessing. You have to carefully craft the right words to create a master line. Something that encompasses at least three areas that represent me.
There will be more about this whole BRANDING thing another day. Right now it's time to head to bed. Today was about awareness. Awareness of many many things. Awareness is always a part of change. Things are always changing:)
Embrace the change and move forward!
TOBECONTINUED...
J
Two in a Row
Hello all!
This on is a little late night, due to a little Monday Night DIVA show at Industry. It was a wonderful and inspiring show. There were three gorgeous women performing, as well as a special guest. I loved it! These women, not only could they sing to the heavens, they could sing together to the gods! It was unbelievable. I was literally in heaven. There is something about women's voices singing together, it melts my heart. I can hardly explain it in words. I've always been so intrigued by the woman's voice. A man, yes they can sing too, but a woman, now that is something I could listen to for a long time!
This week is now it full tilt. I had a Jazz and Ballet class today, and it was amazing. Learned a little routine from Dreamgirls the Musical: it was Fierce, and a ton of fun. And then in Ballet, like always, we work out so hard, by shirt is literally drenched, and could be squeezed out with sweat. I love it. It brings me back to my track days in High School, and Volleyball too!
It's short but that is what happened today folks. I must get some much needed sleep. Bon Voyage!!
TOBECONTINUED...
j
This on is a little late night, due to a little Monday Night DIVA show at Industry. It was a wonderful and inspiring show. There were three gorgeous women performing, as well as a special guest. I loved it! These women, not only could they sing to the heavens, they could sing together to the gods! It was unbelievable. I was literally in heaven. There is something about women's voices singing together, it melts my heart. I can hardly explain it in words. I've always been so intrigued by the woman's voice. A man, yes they can sing too, but a woman, now that is something I could listen to for a long time!
This week is now it full tilt. I had a Jazz and Ballet class today, and it was amazing. Learned a little routine from Dreamgirls the Musical: it was Fierce, and a ton of fun. And then in Ballet, like always, we work out so hard, by shirt is literally drenched, and could be squeezed out with sweat. I love it. It brings me back to my track days in High School, and Volleyball too!
It's short but that is what happened today folks. I must get some much needed sleep. Bon Voyage!!
TOBECONTINUED...
j
Sunday, June 5, 2011
And We are BACK
Okay Folks,
Justin Friesen is back in the blogging world. I just had a fantastic day, getting lots of work done, while at the same time, seeing some fabulous live art on the Broadway Stage: Mary Poppins. Now, yes it was good, and I expected it to be good, but it was actually more than good, it was excellent. It was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. (if that's how you spell it) seriously people, you under estimate the power of Mary Poppins. The story is one that is worth telling. We miss things in life, they pass us by because we are too busy to notice them. I love the way Mary Poppin's is all about organization, and yet having so much fun while doing it. She is my kinda gal. The world could take a few lessons from this beautiful woman. Ashley Brown did a fabulous job of portraying Mary Poppins. The perfect combination of, like I just said, excitement and yet order. The kids learn how to make regular things more interesting. And isn't that something we all could try sometimes. There is life in everything we do, and I think it's worth digging for. We have been snuffing out our play candle for years and years. I, only 23, already feel the pressures of society to work work work to get money money money, so you can what, be happy? Happy? Happy? I have to do what I love, it's plan and simple. Some people don't seem to understand that, and part of me thinks its because of the generation they come from. I have thought the same things myself. You can't possibly do what you want do to do? What happens when the money runs out? How do you expect to always LOVE what you do? This is unrealistic? You need a real job, so you can support yourself and your family! All of these thoughts have ran through my head, and a million others, all limiting the way I think about life. Why is the glass have to be half empty, when it could just as easily be have full. We choose to think of the positive, just like we choose to think of the negative. Life in New York City is not just a piece of Chocolate Pie (although I can get Chocolate Pizza at Max Brenner, that alone, is worth coming to New York City for) It's hard being away from home, and being completely alone, I can't denny that, but at the same time, the feeling of finally fitting in, finally feeling like you belong somewhere, that feeling trumps anything else. I want to be here because it constantly makes me happy. I don't know how all the bills are going to be paid, I honestly don't but I know they will somehow! It's amazing when you let go of something that seems to control so many peoples lives. Yes I'm human and I still worry about money and how things are going to work out, but I remind myself daily to let go of this stress and just live. Anyways that's my two sense today. All brought upon by the wonderful Mary Poppins. Who would have thunk, eh! (oh the Canadianism is still there, eh!)
Enjoy the Regular things this week, you never know what surprises you might find!!
TOBECONTINUED...
Justin Friesen is back in the blogging world. I just had a fantastic day, getting lots of work done, while at the same time, seeing some fabulous live art on the Broadway Stage: Mary Poppins. Now, yes it was good, and I expected it to be good, but it was actually more than good, it was excellent. It was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. (if that's how you spell it) seriously people, you under estimate the power of Mary Poppins. The story is one that is worth telling. We miss things in life, they pass us by because we are too busy to notice them. I love the way Mary Poppin's is all about organization, and yet having so much fun while doing it. She is my kinda gal. The world could take a few lessons from this beautiful woman. Ashley Brown did a fabulous job of portraying Mary Poppins. The perfect combination of, like I just said, excitement and yet order. The kids learn how to make regular things more interesting. And isn't that something we all could try sometimes. There is life in everything we do, and I think it's worth digging for. We have been snuffing out our play candle for years and years. I, only 23, already feel the pressures of society to work work work to get money money money, so you can what, be happy? Happy? Happy? I have to do what I love, it's plan and simple. Some people don't seem to understand that, and part of me thinks its because of the generation they come from. I have thought the same things myself. You can't possibly do what you want do to do? What happens when the money runs out? How do you expect to always LOVE what you do? This is unrealistic? You need a real job, so you can support yourself and your family! All of these thoughts have ran through my head, and a million others, all limiting the way I think about life. Why is the glass have to be half empty, when it could just as easily be have full. We choose to think of the positive, just like we choose to think of the negative. Life in New York City is not just a piece of Chocolate Pie (although I can get Chocolate Pizza at Max Brenner, that alone, is worth coming to New York City for) It's hard being away from home, and being completely alone, I can't denny that, but at the same time, the feeling of finally fitting in, finally feeling like you belong somewhere, that feeling trumps anything else. I want to be here because it constantly makes me happy. I don't know how all the bills are going to be paid, I honestly don't but I know they will somehow! It's amazing when you let go of something that seems to control so many peoples lives. Yes I'm human and I still worry about money and how things are going to work out, but I remind myself daily to let go of this stress and just live. Anyways that's my two sense today. All brought upon by the wonderful Mary Poppins. Who would have thunk, eh! (oh the Canadianism is still there, eh!)
Enjoy the Regular things this week, you never know what surprises you might find!!
TOBECONTINUED...
Monday, May 9, 2011
I'm Back!!
Hey Folks!
I'm 15 minutes away from heading to school for my first day in semester number 2, here in New York City. And I've decided it's been long enough since i used this blog. I'm back in blogging action for second semester! I actually miss it. So here goes! More to come on this beautiful Monday!! Keep your internet eyes peeled:)
LLL (Love, Light and last but not least, Laughter)
TBC...JGKF
I'm 15 minutes away from heading to school for my first day in semester number 2, here in New York City. And I've decided it's been long enough since i used this blog. I'm back in blogging action for second semester! I actually miss it. So here goes! More to come on this beautiful Monday!! Keep your internet eyes peeled:)
LLL (Love, Light and last but not least, Laughter)
TBC...JGKF
Monday, February 21, 2011
The little Boy and his Mother, it will blow your mind!
I was in the New York Film Academy Cafe, and this mother and boy (about 4 years old) walk in the cafe. I was just doing some homework, when I glace over at the boy and his mother, who are now deep in conversation. The Mother is telling the boy a story, and she is getting really really into it. Using hand motions and scary eyes and lips to add dramatic effect. Every time the mom did something new with her hands or face, the boy would gasp, and scream, and sit there in AWWWWW. He could not believe what was unfolding in front of him. The words coming out of his mothers mouth were soaring through his brain like hypogriphes in hogwarts. His eyes were glued to everything the mother was doing; completely and utterly mesmerized by the magic of the story. I could have sat there and watch it all day. Seriously, what could make life more worth it than that!!
Also something else I feel needs to be shared with the world today. This is called the most brilliant use of a certain muscle we don't use often enough. It's called the play muscle. We are told, as we get older, not to use that muscle. It gets shut off and we sort of forget we even have it. What i am about to reveal is an example of what it feels like to use your play muscle, and let your imagination take you somewhere you never dreamed possible (okay that might be a little dramatic) But you get what I mean.
This will blow your mind, literally!!
Get ready to learn something you never thought you could ever understand. Take it away Rachelle!!
The 11 laws of Neurology have been split up and matched with 11 different teams in the MLB!! Enjoy the comparisons, they will blow your mind (pun intended, haha) Mind...get it, cause it's about the brain, and neurons, and stuff. Right, okay, lets get right to it!
Division # 1 - blue jays - bell's law - my favourite and easiest to remember --> massage along the spine gives strong sensory stimulation (the blue jays doing well in their division, making good trades for the future gives me a strong sensory stimulation along the spine)
Division # 2 - new york yankees - i love them and hate them and i know a lot about them because they are always the most popular team - highly effective but use their money to get what they want a lot of the time - hilton's law --> determing whether pain from the joint itself, the muscles around the joint or skin over the joint can be diffecult because stimulation of each area will affect all parts. As for the yankee's, they have all around talent on every single part of the field and lineup. you think that their strong point is hitting but then it ends up being their closing pitching that you can't get one single hit off of in the 9th inning (so, the joint is their hitting but the muscles and skin are also connected to the teams success - which is the fielding and clutch pitching)
Division # 3 -Kansas City Royals - worst team in the league (as far as I know), boring to watch --> law of unilaterality (light stimulation remains fairly localized in response to massage) - they don't have any real ability to make a difference in the overall standings. you hardly hear about them unless you are from the local area, otherwise they only have light stimulation to the rest of baseball fans.
Division # 4 - Tampa Bay Rays. They have been a sleeper team until the last three years when people realized that they had made a lot of good choices/trades with their young players. Anyways, Hooke's Law (method's that lengthen tissue must be intense enough to match existing shortening and then slightly exceed it to create change). The Rays, match the team they are playing against almost every time until the 8th or 9th inning when they exceed the opponite just slightly and end up winning the game (clutch homerun/hit/baserunning).
Division # 5 - Boston Red Sox. No doubt one of the best teams in the league BUT they often don't make the playoffs because somewhere down the season they lose focus and lose a few too many games. This is like Cannon's Law of Denervation (an injured area may hyper-react to all sensory stimulation even after it's healed -- a cold, stress, can't sleep -- and previous injured areas flare up like a surgical wound incision can be very sensitive). when the red sox lose focus it is like how the body can hyper-react to all sensory stimulation because of a distraction, injuries, etc. which causes the team to get irritated with each other, mad that they are losing, etc.
Division # 6 - Seattle Marianers - Weber's Law (for massage method to change sensory perception, the intesity of method must match and then just exceed existing sensation). Kinda like Hooke's law so maybe I should have picked a team like Phili or Yanks but i can't help but think of Cheif Weber from grey's anatomy and that he is from seattle. haha.
Division # 7 - LA dodgers and LA angles - these two teams are from the same city but different divisions (one is from the national and one from american league so they could end up playing each other in the final). They are matched with the Law of Symmetry, Intensity, and Radiation (all clumped together in my notes because they have a similar implication for Massage which is by increasing levels of massage intensity, a bilateral effect can be created even if only one side of the body is messaged --> useful for massage to painful or injured areas, massage to unaffected side, painful areas can be addressed without receiving direct work). These two teams push each other to be better even though they are not directly important to each other. by one team increasing levels/intensity of play, they create a bilateral effect by helping the other team start to play better too. If one's hurting/losing, the good play of the other team can get them to start playing better.
Division # 8 - Texas Rangers - now this team made the finals last year but from what I was watching, it looked like this team barely had to lift a finger to get there. it seemed like it was easy as pie. So this is connected to the All or none law (Bowditch's Law --> work and techniques used do not need to be extremely intense to produce a positive response. Just need enough sensory stimulation to begin the process). The Rangers didn't have to be too intense to be able to get to where they wanted, which is the world series (their positive response.
Division # 9 - Philidephia Phillies - this team has the best starting rotation in the league (Jeff hamels, cliff lee and roy halliday). This will no doubt be a winning team. I relate them to the Law of Facilitation (body likes sameness, which produces habitual patterns. After a pattern has been established, less stimuation is required to activate response) because the philies got a taste of winning last year and they ain't going back to losing - after they acquired cliff lee, it will require less work of jeff hamels and roy halliday (makes the job easier or less stimulation) but they will still have the same pattern in place (winning) beacuse it will get easier and easier to win.
Division # 10 - Baltimore Orioles - another losing team that just can't seem to get their act together since Roberto Alomar left:) They are connected to the law of generalization (this response must be avoided if possible. It is importatnt to keep invasive massage below intensity level that causes a general body response). The orioles want to avoid being an embarrassment (mind you they are in the same division as the yanks, red sox, rays and blue jays) so they try to stay below a certain intensity level instead of trying really hard and then just end up losing anyways because all the teams in the AL east are better (general body response)
Division # 11 - Arndt - Schulz Law (to encourage specific response, use slower/gentler methods, to shut off a response, use deeper methods). Cito gaston was very passive, slow, gentle, kind with his players, which had a huge affect on his players. They respected him and wanted to play well for him (a specific response). On the other hand, if he would have been more invasive, angry, shovanistic methods of coaching he would have lost their respect, the team would have been divided and nobody would have wanted to play for him (inhibits/shuts off response)
Bet you never thought that was possible. Well, thank you Rachelle for you insight. Who wouldn't want to get a massage from massager thearapist who can talk about neurons like that.
Well, good luck too all as you continue to warm up and use you play muscles. Do whatever it takes to use it this week. My challenge to you all!!
Sending out much love, light and laughter. Catch it and use it all week. My gift to you, and then pass it on:)
Cheers!
TBC...
Also something else I feel needs to be shared with the world today. This is called the most brilliant use of a certain muscle we don't use often enough. It's called the play muscle. We are told, as we get older, not to use that muscle. It gets shut off and we sort of forget we even have it. What i am about to reveal is an example of what it feels like to use your play muscle, and let your imagination take you somewhere you never dreamed possible (okay that might be a little dramatic) But you get what I mean.
This will blow your mind, literally!!
Get ready to learn something you never thought you could ever understand. Take it away Rachelle!!
The 11 laws of Neurology have been split up and matched with 11 different teams in the MLB!! Enjoy the comparisons, they will blow your mind (pun intended, haha) Mind...get it, cause it's about the brain, and neurons, and stuff. Right, okay, lets get right to it!
Division # 1 - blue jays - bell's law - my favourite and easiest to remember --> massage along the spine gives strong sensory stimulation (the blue jays doing well in their division, making good trades for the future gives me a strong sensory stimulation along the spine)
Division # 2 - new york yankees - i love them and hate them and i know a lot about them because they are always the most popular team - highly effective but use their money to get what they want a lot of the time - hilton's law --> determing whether pain from the joint itself, the muscles around the joint or skin over the joint can be diffecult because stimulation of each area will affect all parts. As for the yankee's, they have all around talent on every single part of the field and lineup. you think that their strong point is hitting but then it ends up being their closing pitching that you can't get one single hit off of in the 9th inning (so, the joint is their hitting but the muscles and skin are also connected to the teams success - which is the fielding and clutch pitching)
Division # 3 -Kansas City Royals - worst team in the league (as far as I know), boring to watch --> law of unilaterality (light stimulation remains fairly localized in response to massage) - they don't have any real ability to make a difference in the overall standings. you hardly hear about them unless you are from the local area, otherwise they only have light stimulation to the rest of baseball fans.
Division # 4 - Tampa Bay Rays. They have been a sleeper team until the last three years when people realized that they had made a lot of good choices/trades with their young players. Anyways, Hooke's Law (method's that lengthen tissue must be intense enough to match existing shortening and then slightly exceed it to create change). The Rays, match the team they are playing against almost every time until the 8th or 9th inning when they exceed the opponite just slightly and end up winning the game (clutch homerun/hit/baserunning).
Division # 5 - Boston Red Sox. No doubt one of the best teams in the league BUT they often don't make the playoffs because somewhere down the season they lose focus and lose a few too many games. This is like Cannon's Law of Denervation (an injured area may hyper-react to all sensory stimulation even after it's healed -- a cold, stress, can't sleep -- and previous injured areas flare up like a surgical wound incision can be very sensitive). when the red sox lose focus it is like how the body can hyper-react to all sensory stimulation because of a distraction, injuries, etc. which causes the team to get irritated with each other, mad that they are losing, etc.
Division # 6 - Seattle Marianers - Weber's Law (for massage method to change sensory perception, the intesity of method must match and then just exceed existing sensation). Kinda like Hooke's law so maybe I should have picked a team like Phili or Yanks but i can't help but think of Cheif Weber from grey's anatomy and that he is from seattle. haha.
Division # 7 - LA dodgers and LA angles - these two teams are from the same city but different divisions (one is from the national and one from american league so they could end up playing each other in the final). They are matched with the Law of Symmetry, Intensity, and Radiation (all clumped together in my notes because they have a similar implication for Massage which is by increasing levels of massage intensity, a bilateral effect can be created even if only one side of the body is messaged --> useful for massage to painful or injured areas, massage to unaffected side, painful areas can be addressed without receiving direct work). These two teams push each other to be better even though they are not directly important to each other. by one team increasing levels/intensity of play, they create a bilateral effect by helping the other team start to play better too. If one's hurting/losing, the good play of the other team can get them to start playing better.
Division # 8 - Texas Rangers - now this team made the finals last year but from what I was watching, it looked like this team barely had to lift a finger to get there. it seemed like it was easy as pie. So this is connected to the All or none law (Bowditch's Law --> work and techniques used do not need to be extremely intense to produce a positive response. Just need enough sensory stimulation to begin the process). The Rangers didn't have to be too intense to be able to get to where they wanted, which is the world series (their positive response.
Division # 9 - Philidephia Phillies - this team has the best starting rotation in the league (Jeff hamels, cliff lee and roy halliday). This will no doubt be a winning team. I relate them to the Law of Facilitation (body likes sameness, which produces habitual patterns. After a pattern has been established, less stimuation is required to activate response) because the philies got a taste of winning last year and they ain't going back to losing - after they acquired cliff lee, it will require less work of jeff hamels and roy halliday (makes the job easier or less stimulation) but they will still have the same pattern in place (winning) beacuse it will get easier and easier to win.
Division # 10 - Baltimore Orioles - another losing team that just can't seem to get their act together since Roberto Alomar left:) They are connected to the law of generalization (this response must be avoided if possible. It is importatnt to keep invasive massage below intensity level that causes a general body response). The orioles want to avoid being an embarrassment (mind you they are in the same division as the yanks, red sox, rays and blue jays) so they try to stay below a certain intensity level instead of trying really hard and then just end up losing anyways because all the teams in the AL east are better (general body response)
Division # 11 - Arndt - Schulz Law (to encourage specific response, use slower/gentler methods, to shut off a response, use deeper methods). Cito gaston was very passive, slow, gentle, kind with his players, which had a huge affect on his players. They respected him and wanted to play well for him (a specific response). On the other hand, if he would have been more invasive, angry, shovanistic methods of coaching he would have lost their respect, the team would have been divided and nobody would have wanted to play for him (inhibits/shuts off response)
Bet you never thought that was possible. Well, thank you Rachelle for you insight. Who wouldn't want to get a massage from massager thearapist who can talk about neurons like that.
Well, good luck too all as you continue to warm up and use you play muscles. Do whatever it takes to use it this week. My challenge to you all!!
Sending out much love, light and laughter. Catch it and use it all week. My gift to you, and then pass it on:)
Cheers!
TBC...
Saturday, February 19, 2011
no strings attached to jersey boys
Hello folks,
We've arrived at the end of week 6 here in nyc. It was a great week, really quite exciting (I mean...it sort of goes with out saying that every moment in nyc is exciting) but this week I actually went to see a couple shows. On Tuesday night, JD and I went to see no strings attached with Natalie and Ashton, and it was exactly what I wanted to see. It was technically the second movie that I have seen in the cinemas, since i've been here, the first being this movie I saw called, "home," (all about the earth and how is formed and what it has become, and how we can continue to collaborate and join in helping mother earth; some absolutely gorgeous footage of this place we call HOME, I recommend anyone to see it. It is quite long, but think about the history of the earth and it's hard to make it any shorter than 2 and a half hours. It's narrated by Glenn Close, Cam it really outlines the history of the earth and where the earth is headed, not necessarily in a totally negative way, WATCH IT)
Okay, we are back. This blog entry is going to be strung together through the day on my droid. What I am about to write about deserves an little introduction due to the fact that it involves going to the bathroom. Don't be alarmed I will be using terms such as #1 and #2, the rest is up to your imagination. We will leave it at that. I have made some new discovers about my body while settling in New York. Our bodies run in cycles- yes i've said this before, but really, our body's function in cycles. It's about finding a routine, and groove for your body to live in. So, now that i've prepped you all, i'm just going to throw this thought into the universe. I have never been more happy to #2 today. My body is in the process of finding a rhythm, and I am so happy about that. I think we all know what an amazing #2 feels like. And I am just relishing in it, right now.
Okay, moving forward to the rest of this blog post. Jersey Boys with No Strings Attached...
No Strings Attached was exactly what I needed to see when I saw it, and I went to the movie Theatre knowing that is was going to be a chick flick and that that is what my brain needed after these first six weeks here in nyc. It was obviously not a movie that sparks tons of conversation afterwards. Chick flick rom coms are all about giving the food to the costumer was signs on everything so you know exactly what you are getting. The only surprise is dessert, which you know is either cheesecake or chocolate cake. A thriller or dramatic film comes to you with each item of food wrapped in tin foil, a continual guessing game for your stomach, and you are likely going to be blindfolded as well, so you have no idea what you are getting yourself into, besides that fact that you can't see anymore. No Strings Attached was exactly what I wanted to see, and I went with a dear friend JD, which made the experience that much better. It also shed some different colors of light on love (cliche as that may sound) you know what, sometimes when you like someone, they aren't always going to reciprocate feelings back right aways. You just have to do what your feeling and they will respond to that. Then the ball is in their court. It's not as if you have to be overbearing, you just have to follow what you instincts and heart are saying, otherwise you will always wonder what it could have been. Everyone is different, and there is no formula, so just feel your way through the mud and you will be surprised how clear it can get if you just open up and express yourself to the person you adore!!
Speaking of adoring things...Jersey Boys, I freaking loved it. I went to see it on Wednesday night with a friend Kristen, and we both were completely entertained the whole time. It was a beautiful story strung together with absolutely ravishing music. The crazy higher than my mothers father on mount everest. I want to play the character of Bob Guardio in Jersey Boys ASAP. It is such a perfect and wonderful role. Adding that to the list of amazing roles I will be thankful to play on broadway in the next 5 years. The story is awesome and really fun, yet quite emotional for the audience. It takes you through the life of the,"Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons." The songs were like barber shops treasures, with harmony's that took me back to my choir days. It would be a show I could do 8 days a week, and enjoy every minute on stage. It's just that kind of show!! I think part of the reason I liked it so much was because I saw myself up on that stage playing the character of Bob.
Well that is all for now. Off to clean the bathroom, have a bath, make a delicious ring of sausage with potatoes, onions, and sweet potatoes. And then i'm going to see wicked tonight. I'm sure I will have lots to say about that as well. Cheers to all!!
Tbc...
We've arrived at the end of week 6 here in nyc. It was a great week, really quite exciting (I mean...it sort of goes with out saying that every moment in nyc is exciting) but this week I actually went to see a couple shows. On Tuesday night, JD and I went to see no strings attached with Natalie and Ashton, and it was exactly what I wanted to see. It was technically the second movie that I have seen in the cinemas, since i've been here, the first being this movie I saw called, "home," (all about the earth and how is formed and what it has become, and how we can continue to collaborate and join in helping mother earth; some absolutely gorgeous footage of this place we call HOME, I recommend anyone to see it. It is quite long, but think about the history of the earth and it's hard to make it any shorter than 2 and a half hours. It's narrated by Glenn Close, Cam it really outlines the history of the earth and where the earth is headed, not necessarily in a totally negative way, WATCH IT)
Okay, we are back. This blog entry is going to be strung together through the day on my droid. What I am about to write about deserves an little introduction due to the fact that it involves going to the bathroom. Don't be alarmed I will be using terms such as #1 and #2, the rest is up to your imagination. We will leave it at that. I have made some new discovers about my body while settling in New York. Our bodies run in cycles- yes i've said this before, but really, our body's function in cycles. It's about finding a routine, and groove for your body to live in. So, now that i've prepped you all, i'm just going to throw this thought into the universe. I have never been more happy to #2 today. My body is in the process of finding a rhythm, and I am so happy about that. I think we all know what an amazing #2 feels like. And I am just relishing in it, right now.
Okay, moving forward to the rest of this blog post. Jersey Boys with No Strings Attached...
No Strings Attached was exactly what I needed to see when I saw it, and I went to the movie Theatre knowing that is was going to be a chick flick and that that is what my brain needed after these first six weeks here in nyc. It was obviously not a movie that sparks tons of conversation afterwards. Chick flick rom coms are all about giving the food to the costumer was signs on everything so you know exactly what you are getting. The only surprise is dessert, which you know is either cheesecake or chocolate cake. A thriller or dramatic film comes to you with each item of food wrapped in tin foil, a continual guessing game for your stomach, and you are likely going to be blindfolded as well, so you have no idea what you are getting yourself into, besides that fact that you can't see anymore. No Strings Attached was exactly what I wanted to see, and I went with a dear friend JD, which made the experience that much better. It also shed some different colors of light on love (cliche as that may sound) you know what, sometimes when you like someone, they aren't always going to reciprocate feelings back right aways. You just have to do what your feeling and they will respond to that. Then the ball is in their court. It's not as if you have to be overbearing, you just have to follow what you instincts and heart are saying, otherwise you will always wonder what it could have been. Everyone is different, and there is no formula, so just feel your way through the mud and you will be surprised how clear it can get if you just open up and express yourself to the person you adore!!
Speaking of adoring things...Jersey Boys, I freaking loved it. I went to see it on Wednesday night with a friend Kristen, and we both were completely entertained the whole time. It was a beautiful story strung together with absolutely ravishing music. The crazy higher than my mothers father on mount everest. I want to play the character of Bob Guardio in Jersey Boys ASAP. It is such a perfect and wonderful role. Adding that to the list of amazing roles I will be thankful to play on broadway in the next 5 years. The story is awesome and really fun, yet quite emotional for the audience. It takes you through the life of the,"Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons." The songs were like barber shops treasures, with harmony's that took me back to my choir days. It would be a show I could do 8 days a week, and enjoy every minute on stage. It's just that kind of show!! I think part of the reason I liked it so much was because I saw myself up on that stage playing the character of Bob.
Well that is all for now. Off to clean the bathroom, have a bath, make a delicious ring of sausage with potatoes, onions, and sweet potatoes. And then i'm going to see wicked tonight. I'm sure I will have lots to say about that as well. Cheers to all!!
Tbc...
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Sunday, February 13, 2011
Ready for Breakfast!
Do you ever go to bed so excited for the morning because you know how amazing that breakfast is going to be when you wake up. I'm exhausted right now, but I am still excited to get up at have my delicious toast with honey and almond (yes, that is correct) Almond Butter. None of this peanut butter, weeza go straight to the great stuff. (I mean, I love peanut butter too, but Almond butter, now that is just a whole different ball game) It reminds me of working at Fresh Cafe (ahhhh, sigh and pause for the beauty of Fresh Cafe) I loved working there. A big hi to Winnipeg, go to Fresh, it's unlike anything else in the world. And with the toast I will be having some delicious...you must have guessed it by now...Cream of Wheat. I can't believe how many times Cream of Wheat has come up on this blog, if only she knew the effect she had on me, that Cream of Wheat!!
What a busy yet productive weekend it was, and week. This week I started to notice all the ups and downs of the week. It's just sort of bound to happen. I don't mean to sound pesemistic. I think it's just part of life, really!! We go through ups and downs, highs and lows, straights and crookeds, fasts, and slows, rounds and squares, buttons and trees, hats and cats, muscles and pipes. haha, I couldn't resist taking that too far. That pretty much describes me week. It's an exciting ride every week, with new discoveries all the time. I finally made my Fish Bowl of Knowledge and Power. Because i am somewhat new to the knowledge and lingo of the Musical Theatre world, I have decided to start a Fish Bowl of Knowledge and Power. In this industry, the more people you know, and know of, the better you will fare in any conversation between you and anyone else in the business. You just gotta know who certain people are, if you know what I mean. I changed the name slightly to work on my wall. So this is how it works. I keep a list of people that i hear mentioned in class, or anywhere, and I take one of those names every day and I research that person throughout the day. Making little discoveries all day. Then I put there name up on my wall under a sign that says "Power People." People that understand the power of show business. I think it's going to be a great way to keep learning about influencial people in the business.
This week i spent a lot of time filming for student NYFA films. It was a lot of fun and great experience. I really love film. The doing it over and over and over is kinda fun. it's like one big rehearsal all the time, you just keep doing it over and over. Both projects were very different, but the actors and directors were great to work with. I just can't wait to see how they turn out.
Okay, the clock is pushing me into my bed, I must go!! More to come this week. Cheers to all!!
TBC...
What a busy yet productive weekend it was, and week. This week I started to notice all the ups and downs of the week. It's just sort of bound to happen. I don't mean to sound pesemistic. I think it's just part of life, really!! We go through ups and downs, highs and lows, straights and crookeds, fasts, and slows, rounds and squares, buttons and trees, hats and cats, muscles and pipes. haha, I couldn't resist taking that too far. That pretty much describes me week. It's an exciting ride every week, with new discoveries all the time. I finally made my Fish Bowl of Knowledge and Power. Because i am somewhat new to the knowledge and lingo of the Musical Theatre world, I have decided to start a Fish Bowl of Knowledge and Power. In this industry, the more people you know, and know of, the better you will fare in any conversation between you and anyone else in the business. You just gotta know who certain people are, if you know what I mean. I changed the name slightly to work on my wall. So this is how it works. I keep a list of people that i hear mentioned in class, or anywhere, and I take one of those names every day and I research that person throughout the day. Making little discoveries all day. Then I put there name up on my wall under a sign that says "Power People." People that understand the power of show business. I think it's going to be a great way to keep learning about influencial people in the business.
This week i spent a lot of time filming for student NYFA films. It was a lot of fun and great experience. I really love film. The doing it over and over and over is kinda fun. it's like one big rehearsal all the time, you just keep doing it over and over. Both projects were very different, but the actors and directors were great to work with. I just can't wait to see how they turn out.
Okay, the clock is pushing me into my bed, I must go!! More to come this week. Cheers to all!!
TBC...
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Do Everything!
Hello friends!!
Wow, it's been an exciting week, filled with ups and downs, sides and splits, bottles and caps, nickers and socks, etc... (that sounded better in my head)
It's amazing how life can go so up and down. One moment you can feel like there is a huge weight holding you down, and the next you can feel like it's all running smoothly. I've had an interesting time dealing with money and banks. It's no ones fault really, but it's just shocking to me that in our globalized world, it is so difficult to transfer money from a Canadian TD to an American TD. But you know what, there is room for reframing, because once again I have had to practice a little thing I like to call Patience!! Money is one of those things that you have to respect and trust will always be there. When you worry about it not being there, it's likely you will never have enough money. Usually you will have just barely NOT enough, because you are always worried about having enough money. Rather than being worried, I have had to trust that the money with always be there somehow. I don't really ask how, because that is a question I don't know the answer to most of the time. Now lets to confuse trust with being stupid and silly. You have to RESPECT money, because it's something we use. It's not the be all end all of life, but it is something we use on a day to day basis. It runs our lives, in some ways, but then on other levels in really quite insignificant.
So money is Money! Great, but I am human so sometimes i still get a little worked up about it!! I think we all do, unnecessarily. Did that make sense??
Right, so moving on...I had a discovery today about the human body (and you can correct me if i'm wrong, cause I don't know anything technical here) but I have always had an a feeling that although the male body doesn't have a "period" every month, it does run in a cycle. When I had acne, my face would always run in cycles, getting really bad, and then subsiding a bit, and then getting bad again. And it was always usually pretty consistent. kind of like getting your period, haha, sort of. Anyways, I still feel like my body runs in a cycle. Like this week I have been craving, like I mean craving, and actually indulging in Chocolate and Chips!! I can't get enough, and now it's getting a little ridiculous because I now I a bunch of sores on my tongue (kanker sores) because of all the sugar. And these aren't just normal kankers, they are literally imparing my speech. It's ridiculous. I can feel them all over my tongue right now, and it's painful. I was trying to each some food just a little while ago, and it almost wasn't possible. So solution, I'm going to sleep with SALT in my mouth. hahah, Just jokes. But I am going to gargle the bejonas' out of my tongue before I go to bed, cause I can't actually handle this anymore.
So that's my tongue story, probably exactly what you wanted to read about, coming all the way from NYC. Today I also realized that I still can't believe I'm here. It's one of those things, when you are living inside your dream, you always feel like it's a dream, until you touch someone, like actually hug, or poke or whatever, and it's not a dream at all. They are real, you are real, and it's all apart of YOUR actual LIFE! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!
I have Improv today, which was brilliante! It's always such an explosion of creativity in those 2 and a half hours with Kevin. We just play games the whole time, AHHH, how much better could life be. Then I did bank stuff, then I had a little acting class with our new acting teacher Dan. We had a wonderful man named Aaron for the first 4 weeks, and sadly, yet filled with delight, he was taken away from us because of getting 4 gigs in one week. So it's rather exciting, because he is getting work as an actor in NYC, but we don't get to enjoy his company and amazing teaching style anymore. Bittersweet!!
Then I ended the evening off with an amazing bonding moment with my new dear friend Celine-Stephanie-Dion!! I went, for the first time in my life, to a Karaokee bar, and it was freakin amazing!! I don't know where they have been all my life! Everyone needs to go and just rip it up!!! Stephanie and I call ourselves Barbara and Celine!! Completely fitting!
Well, that was today. I'm looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow, but also a chance to get on top of some reading for Song Interpratation class, as well as get some Speech Homework done! and make myself some amazing Cream of Wheat. I have been dying to have some all week. Man alive! just give me some Cream of Wheat. I am so excited for tomorrow morning now. Tonight is going to be an amazing sleep, just because the anticipation of Cream of Wheat! I will definitely be blogging about my 1st NYC Cream of Wheat experience tomorrow, so get ready for that. Brace whatever bone you can brace in your body, because the Wheat is about to be Creamed!!
Okay folks, I'm off for now. Ta ta, and toot toot!!
TBC...
Wow, it's been an exciting week, filled with ups and downs, sides and splits, bottles and caps, nickers and socks, etc... (that sounded better in my head)
It's amazing how life can go so up and down. One moment you can feel like there is a huge weight holding you down, and the next you can feel like it's all running smoothly. I've had an interesting time dealing with money and banks. It's no ones fault really, but it's just shocking to me that in our globalized world, it is so difficult to transfer money from a Canadian TD to an American TD. But you know what, there is room for reframing, because once again I have had to practice a little thing I like to call Patience!! Money is one of those things that you have to respect and trust will always be there. When you worry about it not being there, it's likely you will never have enough money. Usually you will have just barely NOT enough, because you are always worried about having enough money. Rather than being worried, I have had to trust that the money with always be there somehow. I don't really ask how, because that is a question I don't know the answer to most of the time. Now lets to confuse trust with being stupid and silly. You have to RESPECT money, because it's something we use. It's not the be all end all of life, but it is something we use on a day to day basis. It runs our lives, in some ways, but then on other levels in really quite insignificant.
So money is Money! Great, but I am human so sometimes i still get a little worked up about it!! I think we all do, unnecessarily. Did that make sense??
Right, so moving on...I had a discovery today about the human body (and you can correct me if i'm wrong, cause I don't know anything technical here) but I have always had an a feeling that although the male body doesn't have a "period" every month, it does run in a cycle. When I had acne, my face would always run in cycles, getting really bad, and then subsiding a bit, and then getting bad again. And it was always usually pretty consistent. kind of like getting your period, haha, sort of. Anyways, I still feel like my body runs in a cycle. Like this week I have been craving, like I mean craving, and actually indulging in Chocolate and Chips!! I can't get enough, and now it's getting a little ridiculous because I now I a bunch of sores on my tongue (kanker sores) because of all the sugar. And these aren't just normal kankers, they are literally imparing my speech. It's ridiculous. I can feel them all over my tongue right now, and it's painful. I was trying to each some food just a little while ago, and it almost wasn't possible. So solution, I'm going to sleep with SALT in my mouth. hahah, Just jokes. But I am going to gargle the bejonas' out of my tongue before I go to bed, cause I can't actually handle this anymore.
So that's my tongue story, probably exactly what you wanted to read about, coming all the way from NYC. Today I also realized that I still can't believe I'm here. It's one of those things, when you are living inside your dream, you always feel like it's a dream, until you touch someone, like actually hug, or poke or whatever, and it's not a dream at all. They are real, you are real, and it's all apart of YOUR actual LIFE! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!
I have Improv today, which was brilliante! It's always such an explosion of creativity in those 2 and a half hours with Kevin. We just play games the whole time, AHHH, how much better could life be. Then I did bank stuff, then I had a little acting class with our new acting teacher Dan. We had a wonderful man named Aaron for the first 4 weeks, and sadly, yet filled with delight, he was taken away from us because of getting 4 gigs in one week. So it's rather exciting, because he is getting work as an actor in NYC, but we don't get to enjoy his company and amazing teaching style anymore. Bittersweet!!
Then I ended the evening off with an amazing bonding moment with my new dear friend Celine-Stephanie-Dion!! I went, for the first time in my life, to a Karaokee bar, and it was freakin amazing!! I don't know where they have been all my life! Everyone needs to go and just rip it up!!! Stephanie and I call ourselves Barbara and Celine!! Completely fitting!
Well, that was today. I'm looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow, but also a chance to get on top of some reading for Song Interpratation class, as well as get some Speech Homework done! and make myself some amazing Cream of Wheat. I have been dying to have some all week. Man alive! just give me some Cream of Wheat. I am so excited for tomorrow morning now. Tonight is going to be an amazing sleep, just because the anticipation of Cream of Wheat! I will definitely be blogging about my 1st NYC Cream of Wheat experience tomorrow, so get ready for that. Brace whatever bone you can brace in your body, because the Wheat is about to be Creamed!!
Okay folks, I'm off for now. Ta ta, and toot toot!!
TBC...
Sunday, February 6, 2011
gotta get back into this
It's been a little bit ridiculous how inconsistent I have been with this blogging thing, but the new blogger app that I just downloaded to my phone will make it easier to write a little more regularly. I am currently driving through Queens with some friends that I am making a short film with. It's kinda cool to see different parts of New York City. It's huge, every borough feels like a whole new city. I still have to see the bronxs and Staten island.
Today I am going to do some much needed laundry. It's one of those things that you put off and put off, until you literally have to do it. and the process of doing laundry in NYC is quite different than back home. I could go to the normal laundry mate, but that means hauling all my stuff outside. Instead, there is this genius system where Landry places come pick up your laundry and do it, then fold it and drop it off, for a certain price per pound. Kinda makes me feel like I can't do my own laundry, but when you have a busy schedule, and not many bigger chunks of time when you could go do laundry yourself, this system is brilliant.
(Ahhh, crossing the Williamsburg bridge, it's like a tiny slice of heaven everytime I cross over to and from Brooklyn. Today is a gorgeous winter's day. The harbour is gleaming with the reflection of the sun on it's splashy waters. The picturesque view of Manhattan will stay engraved in my memory till I die. I look forward to it every morning and night.)
Anyways, it's laundry day, and I gotta get going on learning another song for my interpretation class. It's from Guys and Dolls called,"luck be a lady." It's a pretty popular song because of Frank Sinatra. I also want to see a movie today. Either 127 Hours or Black Swan. Either or is going to be brilliant. Gotta get ready for the Oscars!!!!
I'm almost at my stop, I best sign off for now! Just wanted to say i'm back...I want to blog 3 or 4 times a week. I'll post some videos too. There is always something amazing going down on the streets of NYC.
Best wishes to you all, sending out love, light and laughter, all day long.
TBC... (to be continued...)
Today I am going to do some much needed laundry. It's one of those things that you put off and put off, until you literally have to do it. and the process of doing laundry in NYC is quite different than back home. I could go to the normal laundry mate, but that means hauling all my stuff outside. Instead, there is this genius system where Landry places come pick up your laundry and do it, then fold it and drop it off, for a certain price per pound. Kinda makes me feel like I can't do my own laundry, but when you have a busy schedule, and not many bigger chunks of time when you could go do laundry yourself, this system is brilliant.
(Ahhh, crossing the Williamsburg bridge, it's like a tiny slice of heaven everytime I cross over to and from Brooklyn. Today is a gorgeous winter's day. The harbour is gleaming with the reflection of the sun on it's splashy waters. The picturesque view of Manhattan will stay engraved in my memory till I die. I look forward to it every morning and night.)
Anyways, it's laundry day, and I gotta get going on learning another song for my interpretation class. It's from Guys and Dolls called,"luck be a lady." It's a pretty popular song because of Frank Sinatra. I also want to see a movie today. Either 127 Hours or Black Swan. Either or is going to be brilliant. Gotta get ready for the Oscars!!!!
I'm almost at my stop, I best sign off for now! Just wanted to say i'm back...I want to blog 3 or 4 times a week. I'll post some videos too. There is always something amazing going down on the streets of NYC.
Best wishes to you all, sending out love, light and laughter, all day long.
TBC... (to be continued...)
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Saturday, January 22, 2011
Moving right along!
Hello world!
Wow, it's amazing continue to have moments of realization that...Holy Bollucks, I'm in New York City. And then it goes away, and I go on with my day, and then all of a sudden, BAM, it's back. I can literally change my moods whenever I want to because of the fact that I'm in New York City; and I'm going to use that card as long as I can!
The second week is past, and now we move into a much needed weekend. There was a lot to take in this week. I finally feel like I live in my apartment now, in my own room. And my schedule is starting to feel more settled. I know when I have time to get things done. I have a better idea when I need alone time, or when I have time to chill. I have purchased a much needed day planner, and figured out the calendar on my phone, a combination that will make life a lot more organized for me, allowing me to be as punctual as possible.
It's a short one tonight, gotta get some sleep!!!
Gnight!!
Wow, it's amazing continue to have moments of realization that...Holy Bollucks, I'm in New York City. And then it goes away, and I go on with my day, and then all of a sudden, BAM, it's back. I can literally change my moods whenever I want to because of the fact that I'm in New York City; and I'm going to use that card as long as I can!
The second week is past, and now we move into a much needed weekend. There was a lot to take in this week. I finally feel like I live in my apartment now, in my own room. And my schedule is starting to feel more settled. I know when I have time to get things done. I have a better idea when I need alone time, or when I have time to chill. I have purchased a much needed day planner, and figured out the calendar on my phone, a combination that will make life a lot more organized for me, allowing me to be as punctual as possible.
It's a short one tonight, gotta get some sleep!!!
Gnight!!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
3 Pianos
Wow, Three Pianos...wow, now that is piece of art I have to be apart of making in my lifetime. The brilliant combination of Schubert Lieder, 3 average dudes, a beautiful abstract set, and a raw and simple understand of past present and future equals sheer genius. The New York Theatre Workshop just finished a run of "3 Pianos," and I was fortunate to see a matinee performance this past Sunday. This particular Theatre chooses works that present theatrical experiences that reflect, respond to, and invigorate the world in which we live and work. Three pianos was more than theatre, but it was on a different wave length than musical theatre. It wasn't a concert, yet it was a simpler version of opera, without all the mellow drama and hugely perfectionized classical voices. It was raw, and real. It was a history lesson about Franz Schubert and his collegues, describing the life they live. Or rather, the life they may have lived. These three gentlemen played people of the present day, but would go in and out of history, pretending to be Schubert or his partner Wilhelm Müller. They would go in an out of character, and sometimes it was confusing, but I love it when the audience has to do some work. That is why I go to the theatre, I was to be challenged, i what to enjoy getting somewhere, changing the way I see something. Reaching into a different part of my brain and exploring it on another level. That is also the kinds of projects i want to be apart of. I want to make someone turn around and ask why. If that is all that happens, that will make my job worth it. When you ask why, it is like a doorway to endless possibilities, which is brilliant.
The three actors were amazing: Rick Burkhardt, Alec Duffy and Dave Malloy. They wrote, arranged and performed three pianos....effing brilliant!! The story followed the song cycle called Winterreise (Op. 89, D 911) There are 24 songs, and they intigrated them all into the show, each outlining or driving forward certain themes, and plot lines. There were literally three upright pianos on stage, and they were like a 4th character, and I would go even further as to say the music was a 5th character and the set was a sixth character (maybe getting a little ridiculous) but they changed the way you listened and viewed everything on stage. There was on moment in which they had the pianos in a triangle, all facing inward with all of them inside the triangle, and they proceeded to play one of the pieces while walking in a circle in the middle of the triangle, all playing different notes on each piano. Kinda confusing to explain, but I think you get the picture. It was incredible! I just love how it brings Classical music, and it's complex lyrics back to life, and makes it accessible for a younger audience. My heart goes out to all who were involved in this production. I will be in this show in my career!!
Onto the rest of my life. Well another week is almost past, wow the time flies when you are having fun! I finally feel settled in my room, which is great. Thank you IKEA, despite the fact that my bank account is a little sore. But a guys gotta live, right? It's one of my many on going questions. When do you suck it up and say, I don't need that, and when do you say, I can have it because I want it. There are certain things that I know I need in order to be as productive and successful as possible. It's not like I NEED NEED NEED this things to survive. I could live without a cellphone, I don't technically need a douvet to sleep at night. But then again, I do need to feel good in my room. That is the place, and the bathroom, where I am me 100 percent of the time. There is no one else there to judge me, and therefore I have no reason to be anything else but me. I am able to have things that help make my space mine! Again, it's an on going question whenever I purchase something. "Do I really need this?" Well, I'm pretty sure it's not going to get easier. you gotta just follow those instincts. And like we discussed in my Improv class...when you are making a decision, basically you waste time wondering things that you have no control over. You plan out a sinerio in your head about what could happen if you make this choice or that choice. But you haven't even made it yet, so you don't know what is going to happen. When you start double guessing yourself, you gotta just pick one and go. The better you get a picking, and knowing that both choices are going to lead you somewhere where you need to go, the faster you can move on from that decision and just live your life. We spend a lot of time wondering! make a choice and go, either way you are going to learn something, and next time your choice may be different!
Okay, ballet in 8 hours. Gotta go!!
Always more to come...
The three actors were amazing: Rick Burkhardt, Alec Duffy and Dave Malloy. They wrote, arranged and performed three pianos....effing brilliant!! The story followed the song cycle called Winterreise (Op. 89, D 911) There are 24 songs, and they intigrated them all into the show, each outlining or driving forward certain themes, and plot lines. There were literally three upright pianos on stage, and they were like a 4th character, and I would go even further as to say the music was a 5th character and the set was a sixth character (maybe getting a little ridiculous) but they changed the way you listened and viewed everything on stage. There was on moment in which they had the pianos in a triangle, all facing inward with all of them inside the triangle, and they proceeded to play one of the pieces while walking in a circle in the middle of the triangle, all playing different notes on each piano. Kinda confusing to explain, but I think you get the picture. It was incredible! I just love how it brings Classical music, and it's complex lyrics back to life, and makes it accessible for a younger audience. My heart goes out to all who were involved in this production. I will be in this show in my career!!
Onto the rest of my life. Well another week is almost past, wow the time flies when you are having fun! I finally feel settled in my room, which is great. Thank you IKEA, despite the fact that my bank account is a little sore. But a guys gotta live, right? It's one of my many on going questions. When do you suck it up and say, I don't need that, and when do you say, I can have it because I want it. There are certain things that I know I need in order to be as productive and successful as possible. It's not like I NEED NEED NEED this things to survive. I could live without a cellphone, I don't technically need a douvet to sleep at night. But then again, I do need to feel good in my room. That is the place, and the bathroom, where I am me 100 percent of the time. There is no one else there to judge me, and therefore I have no reason to be anything else but me. I am able to have things that help make my space mine! Again, it's an on going question whenever I purchase something. "Do I really need this?" Well, I'm pretty sure it's not going to get easier. you gotta just follow those instincts. And like we discussed in my Improv class...when you are making a decision, basically you waste time wondering things that you have no control over. You plan out a sinerio in your head about what could happen if you make this choice or that choice. But you haven't even made it yet, so you don't know what is going to happen. When you start double guessing yourself, you gotta just pick one and go. The better you get a picking, and knowing that both choices are going to lead you somewhere where you need to go, the faster you can move on from that decision and just live your life. We spend a lot of time wondering! make a choice and go, either way you are going to learn something, and next time your choice may be different!
Okay, ballet in 8 hours. Gotta go!!
Always more to come...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Back sooner than expected!!
Hello my dear friends from wherever you reside. I still have no idea if anyone reads these silly blogs. Some people say they do, but I wonder if they are just saying that. Regardless, this is therapy for me, and i think it's important to write down how we are feeling. The great thing about a blog is that you can call keep up to date on a more regular basis with my crazy life! (since you all care so much) haha, there was a little bit of sarcasm, but at the same time, I actually do feel a lot of support as I follow my dears (Hallmark Moment) It sounds corny, but it's the darn truth! Being back in New York city, going to a musical theatre/film school, is freakin insane! I'm still trying to wrap my brain around what the heck is going on in my life right now. I want to call Kim in Edmonton, whom I did an Opera program with, and tell her how much of this is thanks to the way she shifted my way of thinking. CMU plus NUOVA equals what is happening right now! If any of you read my 'How to be an opera singer in 6 weeks,' you will understand how that totally changed my life!
So I'm back...back in New York City. It was a long journey, but it only took 3 weeks. I have been waiting my whole life for an opportunity like this, and yet it happened so incredibly fast, that now it doesn't feel like I ever left NYC. I sit in my Apartment in Brooklyn, a little chilly, because the spare bedroom that I'm staying in has a bit of a draft going on, but beyond that, I sit here still awwww struck at what all happened in the last 3 weeks. There are so many people to thank for helping make this 2 years at the New York Film Academy even possible. There were so many little loop holes, and I basically told myself from the second I said yes to coming to school in January, "I am going to do everything I can to get back, EVERYTHING...I've got nothing to lose by trying.
I'm only had 3 days of school, but I'm diggin all my teachers already. They are brilliant artists that have so much knowledge to pass on. And so many of them are still working actors and producers and directors, checking there phones during breaks to see if their agents got them the gig they wanted, or the audition call back they needed...etc, etc. They are all working and teaching at the same time, able to help us to do the same!! It's absolutely fantastic:)
I am beyond excited for what his adventure will bring into my life! This or something better!!!! (TOSB)
jgkf
So I'm back...back in New York City. It was a long journey, but it only took 3 weeks. I have been waiting my whole life for an opportunity like this, and yet it happened so incredibly fast, that now it doesn't feel like I ever left NYC. I sit in my Apartment in Brooklyn, a little chilly, because the spare bedroom that I'm staying in has a bit of a draft going on, but beyond that, I sit here still awwww struck at what all happened in the last 3 weeks. There are so many people to thank for helping make this 2 years at the New York Film Academy even possible. There were so many little loop holes, and I basically told myself from the second I said yes to coming to school in January, "I am going to do everything I can to get back, EVERYTHING...I've got nothing to lose by trying.
I'm only had 3 days of school, but I'm diggin all my teachers already. They are brilliant artists that have so much knowledge to pass on. And so many of them are still working actors and producers and directors, checking there phones during breaks to see if their agents got them the gig they wanted, or the audition call back they needed...etc, etc. They are all working and teaching at the same time, able to help us to do the same!! It's absolutely fantastic:)
I am beyond excited for what his adventure will bring into my life! This or something better!!!! (TOSB)
jgkf
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