holidays

When I was younger, I never realized why all the characters in "winter holiday" movies (whether they be Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.) were so cynical about them. I didn't realize why they all hated the holidays and found them so depressing.

Now, I'm not saying I am finding them depressing, or that I hate the holidays. At all. I am just saying that I can now start to see why those characters felt that way. I'm not depressed, but I am lonely. The people in those movies are, for some reason, reluctant to be with family. That I do not get. I want to be with family more than anything right now. So that makes me feel better, knowing I'm not at the point those characters are at.

I used to wonder why those people only saw the bad things. They were such pessimists. The holidays is about being grateful for what we do have, in comparison to what other's do or do not have. But all those characters were not grateful at all. I do not consider myself a pessimist, and I am very grateful for what I have. But I am seeing some bad things in this particular holiday. Mostly because I am noticing how others are not grateful for what they have, and it's ridiculous because they have so much.

Anyway, enough about that. Just some observations I've had. LOVE LOVE LOVE. So much!

New Things

So, first of all, sorry. For taking so long. I do have an explanation though.

I have been busy! I've been working every day of every weekend, keeping up with school, maintaining a long-distance relationship, and have recently been finishing/still in the process of making four student films. It has been awesome, so much fun, but oh-so-tiring. That's my explanation. Hope it's good enough for you.

That's my brief update at one in the morning. There are details and snippets and more elaborated stories of course, but they will most likely come out easier with a question. So please, prompt me.

My other piece of news is, probably not as exciting for you, but a great new idea for me. I have just thought of it while signing in to make this post and see/remembering I have a whole other blog. Remember Teen Bogue? Well, I have decided to get that running again, well actually, not again, because it never really happened in the first place. But I have decided to change the topic. Instead of "bogue-ing" people based on what they wear, I shall merely record little things I experience throughout the city. Little snippets of conversation I overhear on the street, or people I observe on the subway. It seems like an interesting new aim for me, but tell me what you think.

LOVE. <3

work

Work is work. Indeed.

It seems so easy looking at it from the other side, just talking to customers. But you have to make sure you ask open-ended questions, and you have to know every detail about every bra: like how the straps define the bra, like differ from bra to bra, and you can literally tell what the style is just by the straps. It is HARD!

But it's also fun, and I can't even describe the satisfaction of helping someone find something they need. It makes me really happy, it's weird. I know this was short, but that's really all the update I have for now. I will keep it up, and hopefully have something more interesting to talk about later. LOVE.

First Day

So I started training at Victoria's Secret today!

I filled out paperwork for about two hours ;) and then we watched a safety video. Then we talked about dress code (which I now have a bunch of cute black clothes to wear to work thanks to Plug!). And we talked about specials and discounts employees get.

After a ten minute break we went out on the floor and shadowed someone. I learned how to do a bra fitting, how to "recover" which means to reorganize the panties that people have rifled through. And I learned the right phrases to say to customers when I approach them and things. It was great fun.

I can't wait to really work there and know all the ins and outs. :D

LOVE.

new job

So, I did not want to write about this earlier because I did not want to jinx it. But:

I got a job at Victoria's Secret!

I went to the Columbia job fair, and they were the first booth I went to. I talked to the women there, who like immediately set up an interview. And I was ecstatic! Of course no other booths there were as exciting or eventful.

I had the interview last Tuesday. It is the Victoria's Secret in Water Tower Place, on North Michigan Avenue. When I went there I don't really know what I was expecting, but soon after I realized there were many girls and they all looked very anxious. That was not even the part that threw me. Later, the manager comes up and starts to talk to all of us, asking questions and saying how we are going to move into the back room.

It was a group interview. I had not even thought about that, but I guess it makes sense. I mean, they had a job fair and I'm sure got a lot of girls who 'really want it'!

But I thought I gave pretty good answers and I talked to the woman after about availability. And two days later she called and left a message saying she wanted to talk more!

I called her back, and realized it is REALLY HARD to get ahold of her. It three days until we actually talked on the phone, and she asked me to call her the next day. I was disappointed, because I really just wanted to KNOW! But I called her the next day, not really expecting to get through. But I did, she asked for about references, just double-checking them. And I guess she called them, called me back like ten minutes later, and offered me the position! She offered $8.50 an hour and welcomed me to the team!

I start training next Wednesday, and I hope I get my work schedule then. I do not work Thanksgiving day, but the day right after it I do. And I work the week before and of Christmas, but I'm hoping not the actual day(s). Meaning "Eve" and "Day". Who knows? Probably boxing day though. Kinda sucks but I need money, and I've finally broken into the retail business!

LOVE. <3

Classes

So this past week was the first week of classes.

My first one was Writing & Rhetoric, which I thought I wouldn't like because I really don't like writing essays. But we only really have four essays in that class. So that's awesome. I really like my teacher, she actually reminds me of Goo. She's talkative (in a good way), and peppy, and is really interested in lots of things.

Then I had Voice Training which is really what I expected. Reading out loud, improving diction and forming your voice to sound like "Standard American English". We also lay on the floor and practice breathing, and we yell at the wall. Pretty fun.

Next is Body Movement. Wow, ok, so I can't even try to hide the name of my teacher, it's just too good: Precious. She's such a hippie, and she wears the weirdest clothes, and she's such a scatterbrain, she's just all over the place. But it's a cool class. Lots of running, laying on the floor breathing, touching ourselves and others.

End of day one and I'm digging art school. Most of my teachers are weird, and all of them introduced themselves by their first name, which I wasn't expecting. Pretty cool.

Now the next day was different. I had First Year Seminar which I still don't get the point of the class, and it seems like just another English class. And my teacher is kind of...pretentious. Well, that was my first impression of him anyway. Also, freshman are just dumb. Like that class feels like High School again, no one challenges themselves, or thinks deeply. Ugh.

Last, but my favorite class, Acting 1. Best teacher, and funnest activities. We walked around and changed our "purpose", then made tableau(s), then made and solved a human knot with our eyes closed (and I was the leader, thank you very much). It's so great.

I also had two auditions this week! Man, the amount of opportunities here!

city

The City. Is. Amazing.

I miss home, of course, very much. But it's a new place so that's exciting. I've been super busy, too, so that's distracted me some. The things I've done so far goes as follows:

- The audition at the agency went well, I didn't mess up my monologues, and they said I'd hear from them but I haven't yet.

- I saw a show by a company thing called "Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind". If you haven't heard of it, look it up they're AMAZING! Best thing I've experienced in awhile.

- We've had rehearsals everyday for "flash mob performances". Our group did a piece where we lay down and play kazoos and then stand up and lean different ways and then play "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga on the kazoo and it's AWESOME!

- Tomorrow night is Casino Night, where we all dress up and play games for free, it's gonna be super fun.

I'll let you know more when more happens. LOVE. <3

Move-In

So for those of who actually occasionally check to see if I've written anything here (I know it's been TOO LONG):

I moved in to my apartment today! Very nerve-racking, at first, but then plain awesome. Still a lot of work to be done, stuff that's probably only on my list and no one else's. My room is PRACTICALLY done, but not quite there. I did the bathroom, looks awesome. I still need to organized the hall closet. And my roommates and I need to decide on the living-room furniture arrangement, and the kitchen cabinets arrangement. But I'm not the only one that's not completely done...I think.

Tomorrow I need to do some last minute shopping, then I'm off to an audition (or on-screen test?) for an agent. VERY NERVOUS! Then in the night there's a taco-pajama-board-game-party in the lobby of our building. It's gonna be super fun!I hope. Anyway, off to bed, first night in my twin-sized college bed. LOVE. <3

roommates

Ok, so quick update on the job at Plato's: I didn't get it. But the thing I'm most mad about is that they led me on for like five days after the first time I called them; they kept telling me they'd call me the next day when they totally could have just told me then that they "filled the positions". Ugh.

BUT! Some good news is that I got my room assignment information. My roommates pseudonyms are Paper, Lightbulb, and Scarsdale. Scarsdale is an acting major like moi and I feel like we'll get along great! And Paper is a Musical Theatre major, and she seems fun. And Lightbulb is a dancer, who seems silly. I'm so excited. I got such a rush of questions for them that I made a questionnaire for getting-to-know-you purposes, and when I told them about it they were all like "yeah, send it!".

Wish me luck!

Update

So, not a lot to update on. I sent y'all an e-mail after graduation kind of updating but I wanted to bring back the blogging.

The only thing really is that, on Wednesday I had an interview at a place called Plato's Closet. It's a clothing/shoe/accessories store that buys used stuff from people and then sells them at a lower price, but it's all now, in-style teen clothing. It's awesome. So I haven't gotten a call from them yet telling me if I got the job or not. They said they'd call during the weekend, so...

I'll let you guys know when I know. LOVE. <3

published

So, news!

I entered a poetry contest and I'm a topical winner. I'm not a national winner, so I don't get considered for the scholarship, meaning I don't get money. But I do get published in an anthology titled "Of Faith and Inspiration". So I get to put it on my resume, and it gives me confidence; you know, I feel like I'm good at poetry. Here's the poem I submitted:

Look

We live in a world with love.
Though people are more disgusted
By public displays of affection,
Than public displays of violence.

People look away
From people kissing;
But gravitate towards
A pointless fight.

Look at Love. Resist Hate.

We live in a world with color.
Colors of beautiful seasons:
A changing leaf, flower.
Colors of beautiful people:
The natural eye, hair.

But people look down,
When they walk,
When they talk,
When they look.

Look at Life. Resist Disconnect.

Look at Love. Look at Life. Look.

Splurge?

So our family is a frugal one, and I am ever so grateful for it. I've grown up shopping at Goodwill, garage sales, Plato's Closet, bag sales, and the like. It does feel really good when you make a great buy for not much money at all. I have a method for myself to not be an impulse buyer: I ONLY shop in the sale section, and if I want something I leave and if I still want it 30-days later, then I should get it (or if I can't get it I know I really want it). But I've read in magazines that sometimes it's ok to splurge, like on something that you'd get a lot of use out of and that's totally awesome. Especially because everybody should like themselves, and respect themselves, and treat themselves to nice things every so often. And money is ridiculous anyway. So I thought I'd ask my oh-so-wise family on being frugal vs. a once-in-awhile splurge...???

found

So the memory cards were found.

The first, mine, was found by Easel. It was in the pocket of the apron I used when I cooked dinner that night, the night that I lost it. I felt dumb.

The second, Easel's, was found by me. Today. It was in the packet, or box thing of gum I have, and I put it there for safe keeping.

Quick tip: don't put things somewhere for safe keeping, because it is probably so safe that you forget where it is. Like Christmas presents, Plug, and such.

I still haven't found the check, but it's only for 18.50 so it's not that big a deal.

Thanks for being concerned. LOVE. <3

Lost Things

One of the things I despise most is losing things. In the past week I've lost a check, my iPod, two memory cards, a pair of earrings, a pencil, my slippers, a necklace, and a hair tie. And of course things that I lose for like a minute here and there (my hat in the morning). But all these things have been or were lost from an hour to a day, or more. So far, though not all at once, I have found: my iPod, the earrings, my slippers, my necklace, and my hair tie. Of course the things I still can't find are some of the most important items, which are a check, and two memory cards, one being Easel's. I'm so very ticked off at the moment, and I've done everything; gone through all my steps, thought about the last time I saw them, checked EVERYWHERE, in all the weird places, double checked, triple checked, and then checked in the most obvious places AGAIN. I've done everything except find them! I do not know what to do.

teen bogue

So! Do any of you read/look at Go Fug Yourself???

CUZ Easel and I just made a new blog, called "Teen Bogue" that is our version of it. We're gonna take pictures of people we see on the street that look bogus, and post those pictures, and write about them, alternating who's writing. We made up the verb "bogue", which means to be caught in the act of looking bogus, and having it made known. ("I'm caught---It's known---Oh god!") <<<< Someone who just got bogued.

Here's the URL: www.teenbogue.blogspot.com

It can also be found if you go to my profile, scroll down, and it's under "my blogs" as well as this one. :)

LOVE. <3

College

I GOT INTO COLUMBIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(College Chicago) :) Yay!!!!!!!!

birthday list

Rachel’s Birthday List 2010


1) Laptop, of course. ;)

2) PERFUME: (you’ll find them at Macy’s most likely)
-Versace Light Crystal
-Vera Wang Princess
-Burberry Brit [pink & plaid]
-Miracle, So Magic

3) GAMES:
-The Office Clue (Urban Outfitters $40)
-Scattergories
-Taboo

4) MUSIC:
-Regina Spektor cd’s (Begin To Hope & Soviet Kitsch)
-Regina Spektor sheet music from all albums

5) FIX SHOES:
-cowboy boots->bottom of heel
-grey booties->bottom of toe
-fringy boots->bottom of heel
-black booties->chains off (temporarily?)

6) TIGHTS: (Urban Outfitters, Icing)
-black and patterned +
-one pair of solid black
-colored and patterned +
-colored, solid +
-funky, fun

7) SCARVES: (Target, Plato’s, Urban Outfitters)
-patterned, or solid [not wintery] +
-artsy, hippie, pretty

8) iPod Nano Armband (Wal-Mart $20)

9) MOVIES:
-Whip It
-Harry Potter 6
-Bruno

ANYTHING YOU THINK I’LL LIKE, BECAUSE I TRUST YOU!



+ means you can get more than one, because I like an abundance!

Finals

This week was finals week.

American History of Film & Music:

Wrote an impromptu film review of Sherlock Holmes. Listened to music.

AP Studio Art 2D Photography:

Picked out my 13 best pieces out of A LOT. Put them in order of best to not-best.

Study Hall:

Totally dipped out. Went to lunch at Crazy Buffet.

English:

Like four multiple choice questions, and two essays.

French:

Studied like mad, about an hour actually, was on it!

American Government:

Studied for like five hours. We got to use a notecard. Those five hours were making the notecard. I think I did really well.

P.E.:

Studied. Most of it was common sense. Afterward we played four square.

ONLY ONE MORE SEMESTER OF HIGH SCHOOL LEFT!!!