Melinda's Moments Mmprh

Maybe not a monsoon, but while we were in Chipotle, the rain started coming down in sheets. It looked like someone turned on a faucet. It’s so nice and muggy here. I’m told, if this were summer, that I would, in no way, ever be able to enjoy the humidity in the air because it would be so stifling that I might just keel over dead on the spot.

The trees, air, plants and atmosphere here are the closet ever (that I have physically been to, at least,) to the idea of what the swampy south/ the bayou is like in my head… and we’re only in north-central Florida, we haven’t even been to New Orleans and Lafayette yet. I can’t wait. I love being able to see all these parts of the country that are the actual counterparts to things I’ve seen in movies or depicted by cultural stereotypes (no negative connotation implied).

Today was a pretty normal tech day. Becca and I didn’t wake up until noon Florida time (9 am our time.) We probably slept in so late because we didn’t go to bed until 2 am last night, which sounded late to us until we remembered that that would be 11 pm… an early night. Whatever, yesterday was a travel day, that always poops me out.

After we got up and got ready, I walked to McDonald’s for a $2 ice cream cone and cheeseburger breakfast, (eewww, I know) then we walked all over looking for a grocery store. Finally we asked the hotel for a shuttle, and a very nice driver took us pretty far out of his way so we could buy cereal, fruit and toiletries we forgot to pack. By the time we got back, we had just enough time to chill out for about an hour before we had to meet everyone in the lobby to head to the theater.

We got there, Chad led warm-up, my socks got ruined (a normal occurrence,) and we got our standard Ed-led tour of the space and backstage. Then we ran through act one and I read my book (currently The Narrows, I just finished Memoirs of a Geisha, again) whenever I wasn’t onstage. We got done an hour early (unusual) so we all raced home to try and get to Chipotle before it closed at 10. Refer back to paragraph #1 to note that we, in fact, did make it to Chipotle just fine. Now I am very full of vegetarian fajita burrito yum. SNL is on E! and I have wireless internet and I am contented even though I miss Jerry and home and I feel pretty sick. Boo.

Now I get to go plan two one-hour warm-ups that I have to lead tomorrow. Boo again.

I might be in Gainesville. Either we flew into Gainesville and bused to Jacksonville, or we flew into Jacksonville and bused to Gainesville. It’s kind of sad that I have absolutely no idea. We have tomorrow morning off before we have to tech Act One in the afternoon/evening. We had one dancer miss the flight this morning, which was one of a handful of random/stressful situations that took place getting us all here today.

When we got to the TransAir counter (which, by the way, none of us had heard of before…) we promptly found out that their computers were all down, so the line was moving maybe, at a generous estimate, 10 times slower than at a standstill. We all totally thought we were going to miss our flight, but luckily, since everyone on our flight was in the same boat we ended up making it okay.

For the flight, however, since there were no computers, there were also no boarding passes (instead a creepy handwritten piece of paper) no bag-tracking (instead pink “transfer” tags and again handwritten destinations — very assuring,) and no assigned seats, (instead a mad-dash for not getting a middle seat, and a lots of whiny, whiny bitchy people.)

Thankfully, our bags all got here just fine (shockingly navigating our Atlanta stopover okay.) The only real snafu, in fact, was the fact that at LAX they had taken our creepy-boarding-slips and so once we arrived in Atlanta we had to seek out new boarding passes for our second flight at the last minute when we realized we were without a way to get on board.

Once we landed in Gainesville/Jacksonville we had a two-hour bus ride to Gainesville/Jacksonville where the hotel and the venue at which we are performing are. After we all got to our rooms, we headed out to dinner at a Bistro that is across the street from our hotel. I paid far too much for chicken pesto pasta that was remarkably good – very well made from fresh ingredients – but with the small downside of it having about a pound of salt in it somehow. After about three bites, I had had my sodium fill for the next three days. It really sucked because I literally couldn’t eat it it was so salty – and now I’m uber-dehydrated from both of the flights and my dinner, and I’m starving just over an hour after I “ate”.

What a whiny post. I think I am just in a bad mood from missing home and having gotten no sleep the couple nights before I left. I’m going to stop before my little black rain cloud shorts out my keyboard.

There’s one bright ray in my day: the hotel has free wi-fi. Yippee!! Also – we have three days off after our show, we get to spend them here in Florida…

Being home again was so nice, and Jerry and I really, finally constructed a home by moving a lot of our wedding presents and nesting supplies into our apartment. I can’t believe how happy and proud I am of our apartment… it looks like we’ve been a successful couple for years already, but in reality, we’ve just been crafty and good planners. I am so happy with everything we’ve bought over the years and all the things we picked out for our registries – it all came together crazy well. I’m hopefully going to have a photo gallery on my photo blog up by the end of the night, depending on how quick Jerry gets around to taking pictures and sending them to me… But really, when I walk in and see how awesome everything, I can’t believe I live there. *update* : Jerry went above and beyond and made a cute little homage to the stuff I miss about our apartment, he put it up temporarily on his web page: http://www.jerrykansky.com

Next on the upgrade list: getting an actual bed (or wait it out until I move mine back from LA) and buy another dresser to keep some of my clothes in. Also buying the rest of our towels, cookware, glasses, etc. from our registries. Not because we NEED it, but because I have an irrational “fear” of not having the same number of things that go together (salad plates, bread plates) and also the things we picked out not being made anymore — which has already happened to some things. Tragic, I know.

Basically home was great. Busy, but great. Mom and Dad took me and Jerry to a movie and dinner, and I finally got to have dinner with the Kanskys and Steph post-wedding. I love everyone.

Ugh, I’m putting off packing, because it is an entirely frustrating experience. I wish I could have four bags, and a bag-monkey to carry them so I would have to pick and choose what I bring.

And now, because I am realizing that nothing I am saying is of much worth, a present one of those damn surveys:

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20 years ago I was…: Begging my mom to ask Miss Emily to bend the rules and let me start dance earlier than the normal minimum age. It worked, but I know no details of the story.
10 years ago I was…: Just starting my 7-year career at the International school… at the old campus, off of main street.
5 years ago I was: Freshly graduated and trying to desperately hold onto my High School friends and life in Seattle, while falling head over heels in love my new life and friends in LA.
1 year ago I was…: Starting my last Semester at LMU, working on my thesis and my duet that I choreographed for the Student Dance Concert.
Yesterday I was: Having a really hard time saying goodbye for a month (again) to my new hubbers, my mom and dad and my new favorite place, my Sammamish apartment.

5 snacks I enjoy: Chips and Salsa, snack plates, Ramen, cinnamon graham crackers, Munchies Mix.
5 songs I know all the words to: everything on my iPod (which is more than 5 by a long shot.)
5 places I would run away to: My new home, my old home, the Salish lodge, disneyland, Las Vegas.
5 things I would never wear: gold lamé, spurs and chaps, 70’s ferra hair, sports jerseys, and shitty halloween costumes.
5 bad habits: procrastinating, overspending, justifying bad ideas, drinking too much soda, and sleeping with my TV on (I just learned today it means I have made myself much more susceptible to cancer… yikes.)
5 biggest joys: The babers, my family and friends, dance, good music, a good nap, and good food (that was six.)

1) Was 2005 a good year for you?
Best of my life: Graduated LMU, got married, got into Diavolo. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to match it.

2) What was your favorite moment of the year 2005?
Getting married and my first show with Diavolo, and learning the eagle fly in Korea.

3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Anything stressful.

4) Where were you when 2005 began?
Being proposed to by Jerry in a gazebo on top of Somerset hill.

5) Who were you with?
The Babers, and then later mom, dad, Megan, Mike and Char and Rob.

6) Where were you when 2005 ended?
Standing on Lake Union, newly married, watching the fireworks.

7) Who were you with when 2005 ended?
A whole slew of people I love – all my wedding guests.

Did you keep your new years resolution of 2005?
I don’t remember what it was.

9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2006?
To be much better with money than I have ever been before and to get as far out of debt as I can and pay my mom back as much as I can.

10) Did you fall in love in 2005?
Again, with the same guy. This happens often.

11) If yes, with who?
The hubbers.

12) If yes, do they know?
… I hope so.

13) Are you still in love like with them?
More than ever.

14) Do you regret it?
No. Man, this survey is totally made for the 14-year olds with a crush demographic.

15) Did you breakup with anyone in 2005?
Nope.

16) Did you make any new friends in 2005?
Yes! I even made what I would call a new family with my Diavolo peeps. AND! I even legally gained a whole new family with the Kanskys.

17) Who are your favorite new friends?
Obviously, my company.

18) What was your favorite month of 2005?
October and December.

19) Did you travel outside of the US in 2005?
Ko-rea.

20) How many different states did you travel to in 2005?
Haha! I can actually answer this with fun answers: Washington, California, Colorado, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Missouri, New York, West Virginia, etc. etc.

21) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2005?
Thankfully, no.

22) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
Goodness yes. But, I live my life in kind of a perpetual state of always missing someone or someplace.

23) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2005?
Whoa, I see so many movies!! I might actually want to say Jarhead, but that might only be because it was so recent… I’m sure I saw something I liked ever better earlier in the year that I’m just not recalling.

24) What was your favorite song from 2005?
The whole new Death Cab album and Rihanna – Pon de Replay. Cursive – The Recluse, and Arcade Fire – Rebellion (lies,) neither of which are new, but whatever.

25) What was your favorite record from 2005?
Oops. See above. Then add the new Coheed and I’m sure some others.

26) How many concerts did you see in 2005?
A lot.

27) Did you have a favorite concert in 2005?
Bright Eyes in February with Cherie.

28) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005?
Yeah, I guess… but not in a college-binge drink kind of way. It’s more that I’ve finally found a few drinks I actually enjoy and therefore order drinks on a whole more often.

29) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2005?
I’ve been high *almost* every day. (right.)

30) How many people did you sleep with in 2005?
Whoa there, survey.

31) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
I spent too much money that wasn’t directly mine to spend. Plus, when I don’t feel good, I’m too much of a class-A bitch to the people I love.

33) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2005?
Ugh, I try and block that stuff out so I don’t dwell.

34) Did you treat somebody badly in 2005?
Yes. See #31.

35) Did somebody treat you badly in 2005?
Probably. Sometimes people really suck.

36) How much money did you spend in 2005?
Well, first off, there was the wedding, and even above and beyond that monetary behemoth, way, way, way too much. Except in Korea, where it was justified.

37) What was your proudest moment of 2005?
Having a rad wedding, graduating from LMU, getting into Diavolo, doing my duet, being in Holly’s piece, winning honors for french and GPA… first shows with Diavolo, getting to do what love for a job, getting our first apartment together with the babers… did I mention it was a good year?

38) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005?
I can’t even get into it. Buh.

39) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and do it over what would you do?
Probably not, because it all turned out pretty darn well. I would stop some other people from doing certain things, but that’s about it.

40) What are your plans for 2006?
Continue to tour. Plan honeymoon/first anniversary trip to Tokyo, hopefully go to Yellowstone with my parents (they don’t necessarily know this yet,) try and choreograph something, re-learn/brush up on my French and Japanese, and teach myself to play the drums. And! get out of debt and save as much money as I can. And! Go home and see the babers and the family as much as I can. And!! Kick dance ass. And!!!! Read the million books I bought. Okay.

I should write more in my blog, but I am too tired to do so now, so I am using the urge I had to post something to post the following which I wrote at the Salish on my honeymoon and for some reason never posted…

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Sunday Morning… Totally at the Salish Lodge.

Jerry and I are pretty stoked because they have wi-fi here. That means, y’alls get an update. This place is totally sweet. Last night was awesome, and I can’t believe how much people helped and did nice things for me… thank you thank you thank you.

Jerry just ordered room service and they called him Mr. Ritchie (cause I reserved the room in my name.) We found this ironic, because, ya know, it is.

Ugh, this update is going to be short, simply because I have too much to say about last night. Too big of an undertaking right now. So in short, I love my parents, my sister and my bridesmaids so crazy much… thank you guys, you’re all sooooooo great. Really.

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Also, today at rehearsal I did the big eagle fly again for the first time since Korea (aka – the fourth time ever. Man, that shit is so fun.

Aaaaannnnnd, goodnight.