What should this title be...

Well, for the past week I've had my friend Branden from Wayne State staying with me. It was so nice to have a good friend staying over. He was here auditioning for the mass grad school auditions called URTA's. What a process. You go into the first audition and audition in front of two people. These two people decide if you can go onto callbacks - which are in front of all of the schools. If you do not get passed on, you can go to the open call, which is in front of all of the schools, as well, but you only get one minute to do one monologue instead of two minutes for two monologues. Then, schools call you back and you get a private interview/audition with them. What Branden also did, was walk around to the different schools' hotel rooms and sign up to audition for seperate schools. You can pay the application fee and schedule yourself a private audition and interview as well. So, he was busy auditioning all week. We went out a few times which was fun. He enjoyed the eclectic mix of places and bars we went to, as well as all of my friends that he met.

One of the shows we saw this week was Shrek: The Musical, which was actually a lot of fun. It was a fun, family show. I was honestly surprised. I think it was so enjoyable because it was supposed to be cheezy, it was supposed to be making fun of itself, and it worked. The sets were pretty sweet, and they had a rotating stage that they used to show the walking through the forests, etc. The lighting was used very well to highlight the action, change the scene, set the mood. And then there was the dancing. Some of it was very simple - changing lines, grapevine, jazz squares, but it was fun none the less. Then the break out tap number was hilarious. A lot of laughs, good times. I would recommend it to anyone who just wants to have a good time or wants to bring their kid to something on Broadway that they will enjoy. If you're looking for a truly outstanding Broadway show, go see In the Heights.

I had a lot of visitors this week, actually. Marianna, our "dorm mom" while in Moscow, traveled to New York this past week. So, I was able to visit with her and grab a coffee and catch up. It was so nice to see her again. It's crazy because you meet people from all over, and you never know when your paths will cross again, especially with someone who lives literally on the side of the world. It was so great and I am really glad I was able to see her while she was here. My professors from Wayne State were also here, holding auditions for our grad program. So, I stopped in there to visit with them because they had called me to tell me they would be here. it was so nice to see them, as well. I was really close with all of my professors and love them all so much, so it was really great to see them. Unfortunately, I was only able to visit with them for a short time, but it was well worth it. We caught up, swapped stories, and exchanged hugs. Love it.

By working at Macy's, I've really grown a knack for wanting to travel. I've never really been much a world traveler (not until this year, I suppose, looking back...), but meeting people from all over the world while ringing them up in Lacoste has really made me want to visit their countries or hometowns. Most of the people I meet are so nice, so generous, so happy...I would love to see what they call home. Eventually, I will travel more. Even if I have just enough money to take a trip, I will do it. You only live once, why not experience it all. Sometimes, I feel like people shoot for the stars, but I shoot for a whole different galaxy. It's good to have goals and dreams. Where would be without them? And how amazing they are when they come true. Love it.

Class starts back up Feb. 9, I'm really excited for that. I'm so anxious and excited to see where the journey this semester takes me. One more week! ahh!!! And, I'm even more excited to see what will happen when this journey comes to an end and yet another new beginning emerges at the beginning of May. Life is thrilling.

Well, I guess I will close this blog with some pictures of my friends and I because I haven't posted any in a while. Take care, and if you're in Michigan, bundle up! :)

Branden and I his first night in the city.

50 Cent Beer night at my favorite bar. It's located on the Upper West Side. Here are some of my co-workers from Lacoste that had come out this evening.

Marianna and I at Starbucks.

This is my friend Julie, who I met through a friend from Wayne State, Melissa. Julie is good people. It's nice to find someone truly real and not fake like many others.

Have a wonderful day.

Everybody has a story...

Tonight while riding the subway home, I sat all the way in the back in a seat facing into the car; facing all of the other people. I really looked around at the people and energy that filled this train. Wow. Every single one of their faces held such a story unlike any others, however none were clearly detailed obviously. There were faces of sadness, tiredness, distractedness, happiness; it's such an interesting and intriguing find. I just wanted to give them all a hug and make their sadness go away. Maybe one day, I will. I do, however, flash a smile, and you know what they say about that - a simple smile can make all the difference in one's day. It's proved true for me many times. So, smile at someone today because you never know how good that might make them feel.

I've encountered and become friends with some genuinely nice and truthful people. Who cares, right? WRONG. It's so hard to find actual, true friends nowadays. Sure, it's easy to find someone to go out to the bar with, whatever, but to find someone you know you can count on is a different thing. And, to have those two qualities combines into the same person? I'm a lucky individual. God has really blessed me with many good things. Although life is consistently a roller coaster with a very bumpy ride, there's always the good that makes it go smoother.

I have a very low tolerance for cold. I have to have all of my blankets on me, the heater on, and a sweatshirt on in order to fall asleep warm. I step outside and I'm fine. About 30 seconds of being outside and my shoulders are hunched, body shaking, and teeth chattering. In the movie theatre, it's ridiculous for me to even think about taking off my coat because I'll just have to put it back on. Crazy! So why, then, did I move to another cold city? Ha. Funny question, really. You'd think I would move somewhere warm like Florida or California (California being the better choice here). However, it is not as cold as Michigan is right now, thank goodness. No matter what the temperature is, though, I love New York. I really do. Everything about it...except the cold. :) Just a few more months and it'll be spring and I'll forget all about it.

Identity. This is something in which someone classifies themselves with whether it be a label, a color, a name, a number, etc. It is also something that people search for within themselves to define themselves. Many people spend their entire lives trying to find their identity, their true self, their inner being. I'm here to admit I'm definitely still on this road. Do we ever really know who we are though? We know what we believe in, we know the facts as they occur to us, we know our surroundings, we know what we like and what we don't like. Should these things define you? Should they label you? I don't know. I think as long as you know enough about yourself, you're fine. As long as you know you, for example, don't like cheese, but like yogurt, that's a for sure thing for yourself and helps identify you for yourself. This was definitely a tangent, but it makes sense. You are what you believe yourself to be. Enjoy that road to self discovery, I hope I'm treading this road until the day I die. How fascinating to discover something new about yourself everyday. Awakening to your life's purpose, right?

What a year.

So many people say how their life should be a reality TV series. I firmly believe my family was MEANT for a reality tv series. First off, there are seven of us, including the cute little beagle/terrier, Cassie, who is pretty much a human anyway. So, right off the bat - there are 7 different personalities, different lives, all staying under the same roof over the holidays; definitely an entertaining experience for any viewers or visitors. Shirts are missing, someone's in the bathroom too long, someone criticized someone else, someone breaking something, hogging the TV or computer, running late for Christmas dinner or mass. Great. It just sounds like we're the typical family with all the "moments" every family has. Wrong. We have better moments. So, we have all of these crazy times, but the reason our reality tv show would be a success is because we have all of those "entertaining moments," but we also have all of ones to counterbalance - the movie nights, game nights, going out to grab a coffee with the sister, going to the bar with the brother, rolling on the floor with Cassie, and more. We're such a close family. I'm good friends will both my brothers and my sister and through good and bad, we're always there for each other, as well as my mom and dad. We have all of the balancings in that on Colony Street to make for a great show that people all over can relate to and grow to love. I couldn't have imagined spending my holidays anywhere else. What a great trip home.

2009 brought with it a good energy, a better vibration and frequency within the world. I've smiled more these past 9 days than I did for the month of December, I'm pretty sure of it. I'm not a depressed being or anything like that, I'm actually very positive and optimistic. 2008, although it was full of life experiences and teachings that will remain with me forever, was a tough year - in every sense of the word. I know that that can ring true for many, many people. I'm excited for 2009. I have a good feeling about it.

I realized the other day while out with my friend Liliana, how many completely different people I have come across and gotten to know over the years. It's amazing. Truly amazing. You hear stories of what people have accomplished, how they grew up, where they're from, where they're heading, their beliefs; the book could write itself. I think I'm going to do that. Write a book. Each chapter being a different character I've encountered. I think it will make for an excellent experience and read because most of the people I have drawn to me have been of good energy. We'll see what happens. It's crazy how you can meet someone for only a few minutes and in those few moments, they've influenced your life in such a way you'll never forget. What a crazy thing this world is.

As hard as things get here, I'm really enjoying my life here and have come to call this place my home. I'm more comfortable, learning new things, and have made some good friends. I didn't really realize that that was how I felt until I was coming back here from St. Clair Shores. I was excited. Friends knew I was coming back and were calling. It was such a different feeling from the last few times I had come back or gone home. My house on Colony will always be my home, but it's nice to know I can call somewhere so far away home also.

I had some really great thoughts to write when I wanted to write the other day, but I can't remember them. Sorry. :) I'm off to work. Have a great day.