So as true Italians, my mother and I cooked up a storm on this fine New Year’s Day. As you guessed it, we made Meatballs and Pizza. Some would thik that the two dishes -at the same time- would be a bit excessive, but here’s the deal: my mother had always planned onmaking the meatballs and had done all the shopping. Yet after my Mother and I had taken down the Christmas decorations I was hankering for some pizza, and knew that the supplies were running low. We ultimately decided to make both dishes IF, I was going to help with the cooking and the cleaning.
What would YOU have done? (1) Do a little cooking and cleaning for two awesomnely marvelerific dishes, OR (C) Do nothing all day but eat?
Well, in any case, the kitchen was a hustlin and a bustlin with two delicious Italian cuisines from about three o’clock until eight o’clock! Now we (I) have many meals set up for my enjoyment in the near future.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to put this up on here because it’s really random and it basically just shows me being weird, but I decided why not? EVERYONE’S weird…
so it’s basically just random clips that include:::in no particular order::: Me asking my staff what superpower they would have if they had the choice, me dancing to MJ’s “Beat It” with an actual beet, RA Christina admitting a dirty little secret of hers, a portion of my room, and a really embarrassing lip sync to the cuppy cake song (NOTE: this is not original and I totally copied it from someone else on youtube).
I hope that this video does not make anyone rethink being friends with me, nor will it sacrifice my future friendships for that matter.
So…………
……….what superpower would you have if you could have anything?………..
Aside from singing in the shower and in the car and in a club (sans mic) I have never actually sung or played an instrument, but I must say that music of all sorts -no matter my limited involvement- has always been an integral part of my life and my activities. Recently I attended a fantabulous program hosted by RA Shannon in Esopus where we all just sat together and watched “Across The Universe.” As it was -as if you couldn’t tell- I have been on a pretty awesome Beatles kick for the better part of a month, and after watching this feature film, I was donezo! Not a moment was spared for anything but listening to The Beatles. Ironically, all of my 873 songs on my iTunes are on shuffle (that’s how I roll!) and “Helter Skelter” as made famous by The Beatles, and sung by Dana Fuchs, JUST came on!
Anywhoseandbeez, for as long as I can remember, I have always heard a little background music while cooking, or eating, or doing whatever, and this has definitely transcended into my independent life here at New Paltz. Even now, while I am writing this blog I am listening to some choice John Mayer. Personally, music has always had this fancy-dancy way of connecting with my heart and soul. There are some times when I enjoy my quiet time, when everything is qquuiiieeeett… Yet, for the most part when I am eating, drawing, painting, printmaking -what have you, I am listening to some music.
It is no surprise that -especially within the last two generations- music has been a pillar of popular society, and most people subscribe to one form or another. However, I encourage all of you to not only integrate and interact with music on the daily, but to also experience other forms, styles and genres of music.
And, of course: Enjoy!
The Beatles: All of it
Across The Universe Soundtrack: All of it, as well
John Mayer: All of it -especially the “Where The Light Is” album
Saturday night was GIRL’S NIGHT! So it was just me and my best friend Renee Levine. We’ve both been “hella” busy, as Renee, the Californian native would say. Therefore, we wanted to hang out and get a chance to talk. We haven’t seen each other in a dog’s age. Since we were both finished with our obligations at 5pm, we planned to meet up and then decided we wanted to go to this event called Dance Evolution 2008, The Joker’s Revenge.
Dance Evolution was an event of all sorts that took place at the New Paltz high school, which was a 3 minute drive to get there! So close! Even if you didn’t have a car, they had shuttles leaving from the Haggerty Administration Building circle on campus, so you could make it to the event on time and without paying a cent! However the event was 4 bucks if you lived on campus and 8 bucks if you lived off…so not ENTIRELY free. I drove Renee, my friend Akeem, who lives in the same suite as my brother at UAlbany, Angie, and Lisa, Angie’s roommate. Dance Evolution was SUPPOSED to start at 6pm “sharp,” but there were major technical difficulties and it almost started an hour later than anticipated! To be honest, that was a little frustrating. This is no fault to anyone, especially the performers. Heck, I’m sure it was frustrating for them too, but it was a while to sit in the audience and wait for the show to start. At any rate, everything turned out alright. The event had several entertaining acts, as well as an enthused audience. Let me show you!
Below are several videos! The first one is the National Anthem sung by Paula (I didn’t get her last name) and the black National Anthem.
Video of M’Powered! 9-17 year olds dancing hip hop and African dance! This dance group is A-MA-ZING!
Then after the concert, Renee and I were starving so we drove into town and decided to try this new sushi place. It was called Hokkaido. The restaurant was a cute little place and we were excited to get a nice meal, but uh, we couldn’t find the door. There were stairs on the side of the restaurant, but no doorway. So we actually walked around the building a couple of times until we finally found the entrance around the corner. AH. So we sat down, ordered some endamame, and some rolls. For those who don’t know endamame is a healthy appetizer. Here, I’ll copy and paste what Wikipedia says about them: “endamame is a preparation of baby soybeans in the pod commonly found in Japan, China and Korea. The pods are boiled in water together with condiments such as salt, and served whole.” I ordered the common California Roll and the Shitaki Avocado Roll: both hit the spot!
Then after we had some “us” time to talk and catch up on each other’s lives and thoughts, we went back to Renee’s apartment on Main Street, which she shares with three other people. I changed into my pj’s which I brought from my room and jumped on the couch with Renee to watch Thirteen going on Thirty. I bought that movie over the summer and haven’t really had a chance to watch it yet. It was an uplifting chick flick, but there were parts of it that were SO SAD! However, it ends nicely, thank the lord. It stars Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo and Judy Greer. I really love Jennifer Garner. I find her acting to be so genuine. Anyway, it was a nice ending to a nice night. Our girl’s night, sleepover was a success!
In the morn we got up at 8am since Renee had work at 10:00AM and the Bistro, right down the street, was calling our names for a hot meal. So we got all freshened up and ready for some breakfast. The Bistro is always SUPER CROWDED so we wanted to get there early. Never have I ever walked into Bistro and sat down right away. There is ALWAYS a wait, because it is just that well known. However, today, we made history, by being seated right away. We were right by the door, but we were sitting! We both ordered the Breakfast Special, which is 2 eggs any way you like, homefries and 2 pieces of wheat toast, all for a little under $2!! Isn’t that amazing? It’s handy for all us poor college students, that’s for sure. Anyway, as soon as we were delivered our meal, the power went out….I’m not kidding here. The power just went, Ka-poot. So I saw another historical moment: The Bistro had to actually TURN DOWN customers, because they wouldn’t seat people until the power went back on. Crazy! And it wasn’t just The Bistro that lost power- it was all along Main Street! Starbucks had a sign on the door saying it was closed due to the power outage, and I know my friend who lived on Main Street didn’t have power…insane! While we were eating Renee looked at me and asked, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I wasn’t sure, but she said, “I’m thankful we got our food before the power went out!” Wow were we on the same wavelength with that one!
I took a picture of some of these robots that were on the wall of the Bistro. They were called Junk Bots and they were on display for purchase. Interesting. Renee’s favorite was the robot that had a body similar to the shape of a piece of bread. Do you see it?
So I went out to eat a lot, at least one meal each day of this weekend, but it was fun and worth it! Plus I got to spend it with good company.
Alright, mucho sleepy. Must go to bedy bye! Night all! <3
We’ve all heard that this winter is going to be especially bad because of the caterpillar with the stripes on his back. Just a little aside, how reliable is that source? We’re trusting a CATERPILLAR with the forecast for the next season? What’s that about?
Anyway, no matter how they got their information, I think “the-powers-that-be” are right. For those of you who were awake at 11:10 AM today saw that the proof was in the precipitation: IT WAS SNOWING!!!Snowing, in October -CRAZY. AND, it was sunny blue skies a moment later! Also, let it be known that NP Blogger Jesse tweeted that it was snowing just a few minutes before I did -so propps to her for that.
More on snowing -I love it. There is something about the forces of gravity and wind acting upon tiny clusters of partially frozen water that just make me, well, warm. So much nostalgia and that stuff-that-makes-up-smiles overwhelms me when it begins to snow, especially the first snow. And although I have to laundry every waking moment to have new, dry clothes to wear, and my back aches from shoveling I still get upset when I hear such ill repute about such a wonderful form of delight. And it costs nothing -truly the best things in life are free.
On another topic entirely, I have grown insanely famished in the last, oh, three or four lines. My sister Catherine and I both tend to get INSTANTLY and intensely hungry.
No warning, and no appeasing the hunger in any way but eating a whole lot. So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be off to the SUB for some choice grub!
To tell the honest truth, I like my history and social studies classes -a lot. And when I hear a professor talking about the “hot button” issues in our fair nation, I always get really motivated to make change, because I believe that change does come from such simple, modest roots as one individual, and to quote Gandhi, I’ve always wanted to “Be the change [I] wish to see in the world.” Well, in less than a week, I supported two causes near and dear to my heart.
On this past Saturday (the 18th) I took part in the Gunk Project. Organized and coordinated by Wyatt Krause -RA in Lenape Hall- the Gunk Project was a day of cleaning up out fair Gunk. Many times during capture the flag on Tuesday nights at 10PM we have had players (Rob Schemitsch and a few others) who have been as brave to swim in the Gunk for the sake of the game. However, over the course of these capture the flag games we (Rob and Co.) have retrieved some SIX (6) bicycles and FOUR (4) traffic cones. It was then that Wyatt got the idea to have a Gunk cleaning project, aptly named, the Gunk Project. On Saturday, a few “dredgers” -Rob included- swum the Gunk to remove as much “stuff” from the depths as possible. To my knowledge, the dredgers worked tirelessly for hours to retrieve a screen door, a paper towel dispenser, two shopping carts, a computer monitor, a skate board, and various debris the likes of which I have forgotten! In addition to dredging out the Gunk, others and I went around to collect some THREE HUNDRED signatures of those that were in support of our efforts, and want to urge the administration in cleaning up the Gunk more, and making our campus more green.
I was very proud that so many students from different Residence Halls came together to clean up our campus, and that I was a part of that group as well. I believe that moving toward a greener campus, nation and lifestyle, we can all ensure that our lives and the lives of those that come after us will be secured, safe and healthy. This Gunk Project is a small step because not only do we want the administration to take up the next “leg-of-the-race” but we also want to inspire more pro active actions and good habits in our own lives and that if the people around us.
As for the second bit of getting involved that I am about to tell you about, I feel very strongly about both the subject matter and the actions involved. On Tuesday (10/14) I got a phone call from one of my best friends, Tim K. who is a sophomore at SUCO Oneonta. He tells me that there was a protest that took place on his campus that day involving a Christian man and his anti-homosexual views. He also said that he heard this man was coming to SUNY New Paltz soon! So after informing my entire Women: Images and Realities class, I waited until on week later on the 21st when he showed. I saw the men protesting homosexuality of all sorts on the concourse of the SUB on my way to my women studies class, and upon sounding the alarms, the bulk of the students went during the break to protest these individuals in return!
Personally I feel that everyone should be entitled to express themselves in the way that they were born to be, and should never be subject to anyone else condemning them. In that light I made a killer sign, sporting rainbow colors, that said: “DON’T LISTEN : D.” This also made me feel accomplished because I finally had the chance to demonstrate some inalienable rights bestowed upon me from birth, and protected through the United States Constitution! (What-WHAAT! -Take THAT!!!).
It is in these actions and in voting that I feel my civic duties are being fulfilled, and it is a great start!
With that in mind, I have a very appropriate song selection for this blog:
Ok, so on October 3rd (way back when) I remember getting back to my room after rehearsal and turning on the TV to the thriller movie, What Lies Beneath. I remember looooving that movie when it first came out so I instantly became sucked in. It was 10:50pm, ten minutes until TBA was about to perform. TBA (To Be Announced) is an Improv group on campus created last year, that’s made up of New Paltz students or Alum. TBA has performed in the city and other gigs locally. Anyway, here I was snuggled ever so comfy in my bed, watching the thrilling performance of Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford, and that’s where I wanted to stay. I didn’t want to moooove after such a long day, but I told myself, “Hey- this is just a movie! I can rent it anytime! I can’t see TBA perform any old time!” (Well, you get the jist.) So I jumped outta bed and walked for about 2 minutes (I live REALLY REALLY close to Parker Theatre, where the performance was being held.) So in the long run, I was glad I motivated myself to go instead of being a bum, because I laughed until my stomach hurt. Wooo I burned a lot of calories that night .
TBA based their skits off of Who’s Line is it Anyway, which is an amazing improvisational show if you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing it on Fox Family. Actually, I remember back in the day someone showed me this clip on youtube of Richard Simmons being a guest on the TV show. It’s hilarious!! I remember showing my parents and we just sat around my computer CRACKING UP! Here, I’ll share it with ya! Be ready to laugh!
So I hope you enjoyed that video. It’s a little long, but BOY IS IT WORTH IT!
Now, TBA does a lot of similar skits. TBA didn’t use people as props in this particular skit. In this skit, they had people do sound effects, which they’ve done many a time on Who’s Line is it Anyway. Here’s a video of ONE of the clips that I video taped. ENJOY TBA , LIVE!
Top of the mornin to ya all! Well I have exciting news…COMPANY, THE MUSICAL OPENED LAST NIGHT! (The title above is from the lyrics of the opening song, so I thought I’d share…with all those exclamation points and everything!)BAM!
Last night was the official opening and Wednesday night was Gala night. For those who don’t know, Gala is when all the theatre majors each get a free ticket to come see the mainstage production. (We have 4 mainstage productions each year: 2 a semester. We have one musical a year (the 1st production) and then the other three can be what the theatre faculty decide.)
Anywho, Wednesday night was chock full of theatre majors/minors and others who were given a gala ticket. For example, I gave my gala ticket to my roommate Samantha since I was in the show and couldn’t use mine, now could I?
Gala is always a wonderful, exhilarating, energy heightening experience, because it’s all your friends!! Some people aren’t a big fan of it because, again, since it’s all your friends, they laugh AT EVERYTHING! It gives us as performers over-exaggerated feedback and we’re unsure how it will be accepted the following evening with a paying crowd. However, I feel one just has to embrace all those positive responses because you’ll never get the applause or the laughter that tremendous again.
Anyway, here’s to videos of Gala that I took AFTER the show was finished and all of us are in the lobby, eating cheese, crackers, fudge, and fresh fruit while hugging, smiling and conversing with one another. It’s a lovely atmosphere! And as Marni Strump puts it: “Gala is ALL about the cheese!” I’m not really a cheese fan, but MANY agree with her!
Let me go into a basic plot summary of Company. (I found this online by the way.) “Set in New York City, Company tells the story of five couples and their mutual friend Robert. Robert, turning 35 at the beginning of the show, seems to have everything: good looks, charm, and a great sense of humor. Nevertheless, he is still single. In Company he watches and learns from the various couples. He sees both the wonders and pitfalls of relationships. In the end though, Robert realizes that while relationships rarely turn out like they do in fairy tails, life is still better when you have someone to share it with.”
I think to get a REALLY good idea of what Company is about while getting the inside scoop, you should read the article written by one of our school newspapers here on campus: The Oracle.
It has interviews and WONDERFUL concepts of the show by our musical director Stephen Kitsakos. I highly recommend you check it out. Alyssa Jung wrote the article, and I believe she gave COMPANY justice. Thanks Alyssa! Click away!
On that note, please, please PLEASE everyone get your tickets to see Company. I can just say from experience, that one of the most amazing feelings in the world is when people you know and love come to see the show you’re in. I’m telling you, it’s the most rewarding experience! And everyone put so much work into just 2 weekends of shows!
Here’s the information:
The theatre department’s first production of the semester, “Company”, will debut Friday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. and on Oct. 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25. Sunday, Oct. 19 and 26 performances will be at 2 p.m. at McKenna Theatre. Tickets are $16. To get tickets call 845-257-3880 or go the McKenna Box Office from 11:30-4:30 (I believe those times are pretty accurate. If you’re unsure, you can just call them up.)
I know the price seems a little steep, but listen up students: tickets are $9 ON THURSDAYS FOR YOU GUYS! So take advantage of that I say. You still have one Thursday left!
Break a leg for ALL INVOLVED! We have a wonderful cast, crew, lighting design team, sound design team, director, stage manager, assistant stage managers, etc, etc! Thanks again and enjoy your Friday people!
Due to no other reasons than the Presidential Debate and a Midterm tomorrow, I cut out of Gideon Yago’s presentation approximately twenty-three minutes ago. For those of you who went: good job; for the rest: FOOLS! (lol) But, seriously, let me tell you, in the half an hour I was there I was so shocked and inspired by what he had to say.
Numbers.
Gideon opened his speech on a little background on his career, MTV, and statistics. He said that we -You and I- Americans from the ages of seventeen to twenty-one are, what he called, “A Nation Within a Nation.” There are some 78 MILLION Americans from the Ages of seventeen to twenty-one.
That’s ONE-in-every-FOUR AMERICANS…
That’s TWICE the population of CALIFORNIA + NEW YORK CITY…
That’s TWENTY MILLION MORE that GREAT BRITAIN…
That’s THREE TIMES the population of IRAQ…
If YOU think that YOUR vote doesn’t count, well than look at these numbers and You get back to me!
We will get REPRESENTATION once we prove it and VOTE!!!
Unfortunately, politicians, news teams, and the majority of C.E.O.’s -including the heads of M.T.V.- are old folks, who are not in touch and who are not in sync with TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT of the population and their mindset. That being said, it is YOUR job to prove that YOU voted, and that YOU are active in YOUR government, not passive. We have an immense skill that we don’t even know we possess: Networking.
Last year, I heard the word networking more that ever before in my life! And it is only NOW, that I have realized what my emails, Text Messaging, Instant Messaging, THIS BLOG (lol) Twitter, etc. have in potential.
WE are the ones who are technology savvy,
WE are the ones who can NETWORK within the ENTIRE AMERICAN POPULATION to self-mobilize: to vote and to get involved,
WE are the ones who need to PROVE that we are to be HEARD!
I believe that it is a privilege and a civic duty to vote and to get involved in YOUR Government, and again, I ts foolish to just sit back and let others make the choices for you!
This guy rapped a song called “Bubble Butt.” Obviously he could have sang, “Mary had a Little Lamb,” and the lady audience members would have still loved him.
.
Evan Teich hand raised to Justin Orth, SUNY New Paltz alum and creator of TBA. Russ Dembin just wants everyone to get along.
Taz Fearon staring speaking to the audience with Pete Appelt in the just behind him.
Charlotte Pines plays one of the girlfriends, Marta, and sings the well known song, Another Hundred People. She’s fun and somewhat rebellious. Can’t you tell from that makeup!! 
Larissa Goldberg plays April, the flight attendant who’s cute but somewhat odd. She’s one of Bobby’s girlfriends and sings the duet Barcelona with Bobby.
Andrea Green getting ready to play her role as Amy. She’s loving, but a little neurotic at times, which makes her scenes THAT much more hysterical. 
Dana Paige Priebe designed all the costumes for the show! Here’s one of her sketches of Amy and Paul during the wedding scene. 
All of the married couples and the main character Bobby in their black and white outfits for the Birthday Party scenes. Again, more mastery of Dana Paige Priebe.
Michelle Hines as Joanne, “the boisterous upper-class New Yorker who has been married three or four times.” 