They are trying to fix our internet. So instead of just not working well, the cable guy has succeeded so far in making it not work whatsoever. So I am back leeching off the internet in Montford Books, however sitting at the table this time in an attempt to save my back, which is already angry with me for the abuse I've been putting it through -- either hunched over a bike, on my feet all day long, or doing arabesques. I also got some free coffee out of the deal, which is great, seeing as I took an hour and fifteen minute long power nap and am still sleepy.
But here we are -- I'm not really sure what to say except that life goes on. I've been at work for about six or seven straight days now and don't have a day off in sight -- when I'm off at the hotel, I'm working at Pack Place, and then doing a double Sunday at the hotel. At least I no longer have to be out every night -- that was just absolutely killer. I'd get home at ten thirty and collapse into bed. Wake up at six and repeat the cycle.
But I can't complain -- did the internet here just die?! No? Good. -- because I got to spend several hours in a theatre, watching some fantastic dance. It was a tribute to Salvatore Aeillo -- the company was Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance, and they are fantastic, you should check them out -- and they did his pieces "Clowns and Others" and "The Rite of Spring", along with a piece choreographed by the artistic director of the company, Heather Maloy, called "Second Line". Clowns was just really precious, Second Line had some fantastic swing music and a really hot pas de deux, and Rite is totally energetic and crazy and awesome. It was great because I got to see each piece several times, so I learned them well and got to think about them and all that fun stuff.
I also met another fellow dancer for coffee yesterday, a woman who is the cousin's wife of one of my bosses at my internship this past semester. She danced professionally for several years in New York City before recently moving to Asheville, and she has her own company, which blends modern with butoh, which was originally a Japanese form of dance, created post World War 2. It's an interesting form -- if not really in my aesthetic, but it was great to chat with another dancer.
Also on Sunday night, Hilary, Raj and I went to see King Lear, put on by the Montford Park Players and the Asheville version of Shakespeare in the park. It was great -- very laid back, this little amphitheater in Montford Park, rent a chair for two bucks and chill. The acting wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't terrible either. I like Lear anyway, so it was fun. Afterwards, Raj and I took a wander through the nearby cemetery, which was really really lovely with the full moon rising, huge and yellow and generally howl worthy.
This week is fourth of July, which is actually one of my favorite holidays. I'll probably go to the fireworks game on Saturday night, even though I don't get off until 8:30. I'll just be one of those really annoying people who don't show up until the fourth or fifth inning. Not my idea, people!!
In any case, I managed to talk myself out of two hundred bucks -- I got the revised paycheck from the hotel the other day. But at least my karma is still spotless, and I've earned the respect of the grumpy manager who was getting on me for not having the name tag. That hotel -- the atmosphere is so heavy. People are so angry and frustrated...I try to be as cheerful as I absolutely can, try and lighten things up. At least a couple people have told me that the place is happier when I'm there, and it makes me smile -- that's what I'm trying to do, there and in life. Make life wonderful again.
I think this place closes at five, so I should think about heading out. I am highly doubtful of the internet's ability to work but hopefully it will be fixed soon and I will stop annoying you endlessly complaining about it.
Until next time.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
June 23rd, 2010
I have nothing to report except a new story that further showcases the idiocy of the corporate workplace. And I suppose I'm buying into that world when I offer a disclaimer and say that I am making fun of everyone equally. I just know about the place I'm working because, well, that's where I'm working. Trust me. You do it too. I know you do. I am not only making fun of the people I work for. I think it's all ridiculous.
In ANY case. So. Today I work both jobs and attend a dress rehearsal for the show I'm assistant stage managing, which equates to a 7am-10pm day, with no time in between except maybe to eat. Last night I had to get together all my various clothes and food and shoes necessary, and along the way managed to leave behind my name pin, a fact I realized as soon as I arrived at the hotel. Uh. Oh.
So I go in and put on my uniform, and upon learning that I have no name tag, all the servers tell me to keep it hidden from the dude in charge, we'll call him Peter for the blog's sake. He comes around. I slink around trying not to be noticed. I manage -- sort of. I am slinking somewhat guiltily by, I say "good morning!' cheerfully, and then he says, "where's your name tag, Gillian?"
Bust.ed.
I say it's at home, and I'll look for it tonight (I know exactly where it is. It's just not with me.) Then here's the kicker: he says he can get in BIG TROUBLE if I don't have it. In fact, "if we get audited," he could get in trouble for a WHOLE YEAR.
All because I don't have my name tag.
At which point, the whole time I am nodding and looking appropriately chastened and saying "okay" and "I understand", I am thinking, "WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!"
SERIOUSLY?!
A whole year of trouble because of a name tag?! Good heavens, what are we doing with our time? Shouldn't someone be worrying about the oil spill? Or maybe thinking up new ways to use energy? But instead we are spending our time deciding that not wearing a name tag is grounds for keeping a hotel under watch for an entire year?
My god.
Really though. My god.
Then of course he later caught me eating a cookie in the kitchen, which is a Big No No too -- oy -- and later on I discovered there was a problem with my paycheck. Allow me to be incredibly self-righteous for a minute and say that my punches were completely messed up, such that I was getting paid WAY over what I was supposed to get -- and I reported it immediately, so my paycheck will be probably half - or less -- than what it said on the check today. Not to mention I've forgotten to punch in and out about five times, so they have to look through all the stuff with me and make sure my hours are right. Yikes. They are now thinking, why in the WORLD did we hire that girl? All this trouble for a summer's worth of work, what were we thinking?!
It's kind of like me and the goddamn phone processing fee that I've forgotten to add at least twice now. All very embarrassing and strange and I swear I am not usually this scatterbrained. Wonder why so much is falling through the cracks right now...
Anywho. Just had to say that.
Ciao
In ANY case. So. Today I work both jobs and attend a dress rehearsal for the show I'm assistant stage managing, which equates to a 7am-10pm day, with no time in between except maybe to eat. Last night I had to get together all my various clothes and food and shoes necessary, and along the way managed to leave behind my name pin, a fact I realized as soon as I arrived at the hotel. Uh. Oh.
So I go in and put on my uniform, and upon learning that I have no name tag, all the servers tell me to keep it hidden from the dude in charge, we'll call him Peter for the blog's sake. He comes around. I slink around trying not to be noticed. I manage -- sort of. I am slinking somewhat guiltily by, I say "good morning!' cheerfully, and then he says, "where's your name tag, Gillian?"
Bust.ed.
I say it's at home, and I'll look for it tonight (I know exactly where it is. It's just not with me.) Then here's the kicker: he says he can get in BIG TROUBLE if I don't have it. In fact, "if we get audited," he could get in trouble for a WHOLE YEAR.
All because I don't have my name tag.
At which point, the whole time I am nodding and looking appropriately chastened and saying "okay" and "I understand", I am thinking, "WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!"
SERIOUSLY?!
A whole year of trouble because of a name tag?! Good heavens, what are we doing with our time? Shouldn't someone be worrying about the oil spill? Or maybe thinking up new ways to use energy? But instead we are spending our time deciding that not wearing a name tag is grounds for keeping a hotel under watch for an entire year?
My god.
Really though. My god.
Then of course he later caught me eating a cookie in the kitchen, which is a Big No No too -- oy -- and later on I discovered there was a problem with my paycheck. Allow me to be incredibly self-righteous for a minute and say that my punches were completely messed up, such that I was getting paid WAY over what I was supposed to get -- and I reported it immediately, so my paycheck will be probably half - or less -- than what it said on the check today. Not to mention I've forgotten to punch in and out about five times, so they have to look through all the stuff with me and make sure my hours are right. Yikes. They are now thinking, why in the WORLD did we hire that girl? All this trouble for a summer's worth of work, what were we thinking?!
It's kind of like me and the goddamn phone processing fee that I've forgotten to add at least twice now. All very embarrassing and strange and I swear I am not usually this scatterbrained. Wonder why so much is falling through the cracks right now...
Anywho. Just had to say that.
Ciao
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
June 22nd, 2010
It has been a month to the day since we arrived in Asheville. As I write this, it is almost exactly a month to the hour since we looked at the apartment we are currently sitting in, watching as the internet sporadically connects and disconnects and trying to figure out what to eat for dinner.
I kept thinking about blogging recently and then decided not to because I thought nothing happened, but now that I think about it, actually a lot happened. And since I can’t currently remember what day I last wrote, and I can’t get on the internet to check, I may repeat myself. I apologize. I am also tired, so that would probably do it.
So the jobs are going well. I got paid from one, yay. I don’t know yet about the other and if the internet was working I’d get on Chase and check it out. But I can’t. So never mind. But in any case, I had yesterday and today off from the hotel, and then work 7a-1p Wednesday through Sunday. I will be training to actually wait tables, which is what I want to do, because I like people and I want the tips. I also think I would make an incredible server.
However, I will be training ‘on the down low’ whenever the guy in charge is in his office and not paying attention, because my supervisor had to convince him that I could actually wait tables. What the problem was is beyond me, but there apparently was a hold up—probably the lawyers decided you can’t train for more than two jobs within a week or something like that. Personally I can’t see what his problem would be with me serving. Maybe I’m too young and therefore irresponsible. Or he knows I broke a couple dishes bussing and decided that means I’m untrustworthy. WHATEVER. IVY LEAGUE EDUCATION, buddy.
Anyway, as for my other job, I am working exactly four hours this week, so I can’t WAIT to see my pay check for that. That is also the job which doesn’t have direct deposit, so I am forced to open an account with a bank here for the summer. At least, that’s what I think I’m going to do. I’ll probably go in on Thursday and see what they recommend. I also need to take a bus ride out to the NC DMV at some point and get an ID card for visa…
Have I mentioned yet that the visa process is a total Pain In The Butt? At the very least I believe that my friend (boy?) is going to help out and find a friend to drive us down. The unfortunate part is that due to timing, I have to go down the weekend of my birthday. Annoying. And I’m not even turning 21, so it’s not like we can enjoy the Atlanta nightlife in celebration. I was kind of hoping to be here and just chill, but we must do what we must.
I’ve also managed to acquire a non-paying job assistant stage managing a show for the summer dance company here called Terpsicorps. I think I may have already mentioned my postering amusement, but this week I’ll be at the theatre every single night until about 10. It’s cool and all, and I’ll learn a lot, but since I’m currently tired it’s rather frustrating. However, as a perk, I get to take classes with the company, so for the past two days I’ve taken a ballet class with a bunch of professional dancers. Yes, it is very intimidating. It’s a little discouraging because I still think I’m pretty behind, but encouraging in that I realize that the only thing that separates me from the rest of the dancers is strength. Balance, extension, everything, it all comes with strength. So if I get myself really strong again, I’ll be golden.
My technique, if you’ll allow a self-absorbed tangent on dancing here, is pretty solid, and there are no steps we’ve done in the classes that I actually don’t know. My ability to do them is sometimes lacking, and I’m sure I look like a clown next to the incredible dancers around me, but I at least know what I’m trying to do. That is important, by the way. But in any case, I am going to try and make a habit of giving myself a barre on the mantle every day and doing some stretching, because my hips could stand to be a lot more flexible.
Anyway, so yesterday – my day off – I biked off to class, took an hour and a half of ballet, then biked up the infamous Clingman hill –whenever I reference this, picture a steep hill. It is fortunately not long, but it is a bruiser. Upon returning home, Hilary and I gathered all of the many clothes that smell like sweat and hiked off to the transit center and caught a bus to West Asheville, home of the Laundromat and an Ingles grocery store. We did laundry and got food, both extremely overdue, and called our friend Richard to pick us up and take us home, which was WONDERFUL.
However, even after all that, my day wasn’t over. My friend (boy?!) came over for dinner. He, Hilary, and I decided to make a run for ice cream afterwards, and were of course right by the little convenience store down the street when it started to rain. So we ran. And then it started to pour. And then the power went out. We still managed to buy ice cream (and beer) and hung out in the store waiting for the rain to stop, then ran all the way back home barefoot because flip flops are useless in the rain, not to mention dangerous. It was a lot of fun, actually. Crazy. But the sort of thing you do when you’re young and it’s summer.
Naturally, the power was out at our place too, so we hung out for a bit, then Raj (the (boy?)friend) and I decided to go contra dancing. So we biked there and did exactly that, about an hour and a half of crazy dancing. Fun as always. I ended up crashing at his place for the night, then biked off for another hour and a half class with the professionals, a class that was much harder than the previous day, at least, technically, so I managed to look slightly silly. Then I biked BACK up the Clingman hill, grabbed some food, and booked it to the theatre, where I spent all afternoon. My main job is filling these GIANT balloons with helium, tying them, and attaching them to string. And then making sure they get to stage right. We are on dinner break right now – a good three hours – so I have to be back at 6:45. I will probably be there until 10. Yay. And then up at six to be at the hotel tomorrow morning.
Yes, I know, whine whine moan. I wouldn’t be so grouchy if my body wasn’t so sore. But since you’re probably embarrassed for me, I’m going to cut myself off and wait for the internet to return so I can post this.
Until next time.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
June 16th, 2010
We have a couch. I am done spending money. And the internet is still as responsible as a sixteen year old goth wannabe.
However, in the midst of all this seeming insanity, life goes on. Hilary and I agree that we feel like we’ve been here for years already, (Hey look the internet just started working!!!), and I cannot fathom that it – (checking) – HASN’T EVEN BEEN FOUR WEEKS YET?!?!?!??!! !
Jesus.
Okay I’m better now. Wow.
Anyway so here we are. I’ve worked several days at the hotel now and discovered that you actually make some tips as a busser, though will be getting on the management to let me wait tables because the tips are WAY better there, so we will see. I told them I am really poor and I’m going to Europe in the fall and if they could help me out, that would be fantastic. We shall see if they do.
SPEAKING of which, my financial aid advisor has said, in my understanding, that she will provide a letter of ‘financial guarantee’ for the consulate, which means Columbia financial aid says they’ll be able to give me $600 a month. Now. I do not actually believe that is true because I don’t believe anything good about Columbia financial aid, but it does mean my visa requirements are coming together. Yay. I am still waiting on a package of letters to come from Columbia and getting concerned as to their whereabouts, since I really need them soon.
Anyway, moving on because thinking about that makes me tired and I’m already half asleep. Yeah, so about that, I spent my day off helping our friend Richard haul heavy things out of his storage and around the house, and then walking all over downtown putting up posters for a show I’m actually not even working on.
Okay, well now I am. I did these two things because A) Richard has been so kind to us already and I wanted to help out, and B) because the show is a dance company and I want to meet all the dancers/take classes with the company/learn how it all works. So yes of course it’s all ulterior motives. I went in today to talk to the guy who got in touch with me about helping the dance company out, and he’s like, yeah, you can put up posters! And I smiled and said, Okay! while thinking fuckkkkkkk.
But I did it. Until I got rained out. And then I bought a mix of amaretto and dark chocolate ice cream with a crunch bar in it from the marble slab creamery (kind of like Coldstone) with a dipped waffle cone. Heaven on earth. Also Richard bought me Greek food for lunch. I love Greek food. And then I got back to the apartment and stumbled into the bedroom and disappeared off the face of the planet for at least an hour and ever since then I have been going around in a haze of grogginess.
We also got a microwave, actually the source of endless amusement for Hilary and I last night. We bought it from Habitat for Humanity. It was $20, and the sticker on the top said that it heats a cup of water but the other functions could not be tested. We hauled it up to the front desk, where I promptly asked the woman, “Does this thing work?” She had no idea, so we bought it anyway and took it home. Put in a cup of water, set it for like thirty seconds, and with great trepidation pressed start.
First of all, the light doesn’t turn on, and second of all, it’s very quiet. It heat the cup of water --- success!! – but Hilary and I are convinced it is somehow terribly nefarious because you can’t see what it’s doing in there. Probably shooting toxins into the food or something. It ain’t natural, if ya know what I mean. Should heat the food out in the open.
Also on the way back, in the truck with Richard with the couch/chair in the back, we discovered that there are several streets that have a “Short” version. We drove on “Short MacDowell” to get to the normal MacDowell, and then found ourselves on “Short Coxe.” Since we had been remarking on the phenomenon, Hilary goes, “Short Coxe, long Coxe.” We have been giggling about this ever since, yes I know very mature. If you don’t get it, just say it aloud to yourself.
But really, it’s hard to believe it’s only the middle of June, but the middle of June is still kind of a scarily far along place in the summer especially for people—can’t think who—on a deadline to get visas. It will all work out I’m sure but I will be SO MUCH HAPPIER when I have in my hand the letters from Columbia. Hopefully soon. But really, how long can it take to send letters from New York to Asheville?!
I just saw a bus go by, which is confusing, because I thought they stopped running at like six thirty. Hmm.
Okay I think that’s all I have to whine about for now. Hilary is out late every
night this week with the Tourists, leaving me by my lonesome here. I had my friend (boy?) Raj over for dinner last night, and I think we’re going to some show tomorrow night, and then I will probably go to the game on Friday night because it’s fireworks, so that would be cool. I’m keeping busy, but still trying to just be alive and have that be enough.
Until next time.
However, in the midst of all this seeming insanity, life goes on. Hilary and I agree that we feel like we’ve been here for years already, (Hey look the internet just started working!!!), and I cannot fathom that it – (checking) – HASN’T EVEN BEEN FOUR WEEKS YET?!?!?!??!! !
Jesus.
Okay I’m better now. Wow.
Anyway so here we are. I’ve worked several days at the hotel now and discovered that you actually make some tips as a busser, though will be getting on the management to let me wait tables because the tips are WAY better there, so we will see. I told them I am really poor and I’m going to Europe in the fall and if they could help me out, that would be fantastic. We shall see if they do.
SPEAKING of which, my financial aid advisor has said, in my understanding, that she will provide a letter of ‘financial guarantee’ for the consulate, which means Columbia financial aid says they’ll be able to give me $600 a month. Now. I do not actually believe that is true because I don’t believe anything good about Columbia financial aid, but it does mean my visa requirements are coming together. Yay. I am still waiting on a package of letters to come from Columbia and getting concerned as to their whereabouts, since I really need them soon.
Anyway, moving on because thinking about that makes me tired and I’m already half asleep. Yeah, so about that, I spent my day off helping our friend Richard haul heavy things out of his storage and around the house, and then walking all over downtown putting up posters for a show I’m actually not even working on.
Okay, well now I am. I did these two things because A) Richard has been so kind to us already and I wanted to help out, and B) because the show is a dance company and I want to meet all the dancers/take classes with the company/learn how it all works. So yes of course it’s all ulterior motives. I went in today to talk to the guy who got in touch with me about helping the dance company out, and he’s like, yeah, you can put up posters! And I smiled and said, Okay! while thinking fuckkkkkkk.
But I did it. Until I got rained out. And then I bought a mix of amaretto and dark chocolate ice cream with a crunch bar in it from the marble slab creamery (kind of like Coldstone) with a dipped waffle cone. Heaven on earth. Also Richard bought me Greek food for lunch. I love Greek food. And then I got back to the apartment and stumbled into the bedroom and disappeared off the face of the planet for at least an hour and ever since then I have been going around in a haze of grogginess.
We also got a microwave, actually the source of endless amusement for Hilary and I last night. We bought it from Habitat for Humanity. It was $20, and the sticker on the top said that it heats a cup of water but the other functions could not be tested. We hauled it up to the front desk, where I promptly asked the woman, “Does this thing work?” She had no idea, so we bought it anyway and took it home. Put in a cup of water, set it for like thirty seconds, and with great trepidation pressed start.
First of all, the light doesn’t turn on, and second of all, it’s very quiet. It heat the cup of water --- success!! – but Hilary and I are convinced it is somehow terribly nefarious because you can’t see what it’s doing in there. Probably shooting toxins into the food or something. It ain’t natural, if ya know what I mean. Should heat the food out in the open.
Also on the way back, in the truck with Richard with the couch/chair in the back, we discovered that there are several streets that have a “Short” version. We drove on “Short MacDowell” to get to the normal MacDowell, and then found ourselves on “Short Coxe.” Since we had been remarking on the phenomenon, Hilary goes, “Short Coxe, long Coxe.” We have been giggling about this ever since, yes I know very mature. If you don’t get it, just say it aloud to yourself.
But really, it’s hard to believe it’s only the middle of June, but the middle of June is still kind of a scarily far along place in the summer especially for people—can’t think who—on a deadline to get visas. It will all work out I’m sure but I will be SO MUCH HAPPIER when I have in my hand the letters from Columbia. Hopefully soon. But really, how long can it take to send letters from New York to Asheville?!
I just saw a bus go by, which is confusing, because I thought they stopped running at like six thirty. Hmm.
Okay I think that’s all I have to whine about for now. Hilary is out late every
night this week with the Tourists, leaving me by my lonesome here. I had my friend (boy?) Raj over for dinner last night, and I think we’re going to some show tomorrow night, and then I will probably go to the game on Friday night because it’s fireworks, so that would be cool. I’m keeping busy, but still trying to just be alive and have that be enough.
Until next time.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
June 12th, 2010
There is something I will have to get used to living in cities: the heat. I have been impossibly spoiled growing up in the mountains of Colorado; the dry, perfect sunny heat not 'enhanced' by humidity or concrete. Today in particular Asheville is very sticky; in an attempt to kill time between shifts at my two jobs, I found myself adrift after Plan A didn't work out quite as I thought (I'd been planning to hang out on the upper level of the double decker bus/coffee shop in town, but discovered the AC didn't reach past the winding steep stairs and the upper level felt like an oven, so went outside but the stone benches became uncomfortable remarkably quickly). Just wandering around -- mostly looking in vain for a shop where I can buy miniature hair clips (in order to recreate the 'hot mess' look of a few years back) -- and I noticed the stickiness. Also because I was still wearing black slacks from working at the Renaissance and closed toe shoes. I really dislike close toed (closed toe?!) shoes, by the way. Flip flops and jeans any day of the week for me.
In case you are wondering, yes I should probably be working right now, but seeing as Pack Place is technically 'closed' right now, until 7 when the box office reopens for the show tonight, I have nothing better to do than to post and read up on Nietzsche on Wikipedia...in French. I have the sneaking suspicion that my French skills are on the way DOWN and especially after a summer off, the Parisians are going to look at me and laugh their asses off when I try talking to them in French. My solution: go read Wikipedia. And since I was reading Nietzsche earlier, I thought, why not. It's probably good practice anyway to read 'academic' language.
Even though, while in Paris, I am endeavoring to take as absolutely few academic courses as absolutely possible, after the whole 'reading' thing became very old with three (at least) reading intensive classes (reading intensive also means dense philosophic texts that I don't understand until explained to me, something which always drives me crazy) this past semester. If you understood that sentence despite the attack of the parentheses, I applaud you.
I interrupt my musings to announce that I really, really hate not having money. Of course, I have money, in that my bank account is not empty and I could technically pay for another month's rent and food without going broke. But with my eyes on Paris -- always, always -- and looking at all the amazing opportunities I will have and the simple fact that at the end of the month I will have to pay rent and I will have to eat, plus wondering just how much I can actually save over the summer what with various start up costs and especially buying the airline ticket itself ----
It's like this: I have to think before I spend five dollars.
(Wow, this has turned into the introspective, "Gillian whines about her life/talks about what she's thinking" edition as opposed to "Gillian talks about what is actually happening in her life". If this bores you to tears, I suggest skipping the rest, it won't get better.)
Anyway, like I said, I have to think before I spend five dollars. There is no just spending; I don't like going out to eat, even though Asheville has fantastic restaurants. Anytime there's an extra cost to do something -- which there is for almost everything -- I have to think about doing it. It is heartily annoying.
By the way, google "25 things I have learned in 50 years by Dave Barry." Just do it.
You can also go here: http://bit.ly/axKFa4 My favorite is: No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
Speaking of that, in case I've never told you this before, I think the world takes itself far far far too seriously. I really shouldn't say this, but I think you all know what I mean: just working -- just applying -- for a job with a corporation, like Windsor Capital Group, Inc, with whom I am currently employed (thanks for signing my paychecks, by the way!!)-- you realize that. When I was filling in the endless new hire paperwork, my boss was telling me about applying for a job with Pizza Hut, how he filled out one paper application and showed them a picture ID, and started working the next day. These days, he says, there is a stack of paperwork an inch and a half thick.
Well, you/the lawyers say, we have to cover all the bases, you know. Someone may protest doing something not in their job description, and they MUST know if they are lifting more than ten pounds more than two/thirds of the time. What if they don't know-- and we get sued?
Here is what I have to say to this: In my experience, human beings are remarkably good at doing what is expected of them, and at acting how they are treated. In thinking we have to protect ourselves from ourselves, we are succeeding spectacularly in making ourselves stupid and, another thing that bugs me, serious. Which is why my mission starts with the corporate world and aims at that exact problem: getting people, specifically lawyers, out of their heads where they have nothing better to do than think up ridiculously detailed and pretentious job descriptions/applications and be uptight about everything, and into their bodies with an activity that brings them joy....drumroll please...dance.
All right, so it's a complicated plan, but that's where my life is going right now and I'm crazy about the idea. During my interview for the Renaissance, I was asked where I want to be in 10 years, and absolutely without thinking I said I want to reinvent dance and only later thought it was a strange answer.
Anyway, I think I have babbled long enough, so I will move on now. Besides, I think shortly I will actually have something to do. Hooray.
Ciao.
In case you are wondering, yes I should probably be working right now, but seeing as Pack Place is technically 'closed' right now, until 7 when the box office reopens for the show tonight, I have nothing better to do than to post and read up on Nietzsche on Wikipedia...in French. I have the sneaking suspicion that my French skills are on the way DOWN and especially after a summer off, the Parisians are going to look at me and laugh their asses off when I try talking to them in French. My solution: go read Wikipedia. And since I was reading Nietzsche earlier, I thought, why not. It's probably good practice anyway to read 'academic' language.
Even though, while in Paris, I am endeavoring to take as absolutely few academic courses as absolutely possible, after the whole 'reading' thing became very old with three (at least) reading intensive classes (reading intensive also means dense philosophic texts that I don't understand until explained to me, something which always drives me crazy) this past semester. If you understood that sentence despite the attack of the parentheses, I applaud you.
I interrupt my musings to announce that I really, really hate not having money. Of course, I have money, in that my bank account is not empty and I could technically pay for another month's rent and food without going broke. But with my eyes on Paris -- always, always -- and looking at all the amazing opportunities I will have and the simple fact that at the end of the month I will have to pay rent and I will have to eat, plus wondering just how much I can actually save over the summer what with various start up costs and especially buying the airline ticket itself ----
It's like this: I have to think before I spend five dollars.
(Wow, this has turned into the introspective, "Gillian whines about her life/talks about what she's thinking" edition as opposed to "Gillian talks about what is actually happening in her life". If this bores you to tears, I suggest skipping the rest, it won't get better.)
Anyway, like I said, I have to think before I spend five dollars. There is no just spending; I don't like going out to eat, even though Asheville has fantastic restaurants. Anytime there's an extra cost to do something -- which there is for almost everything -- I have to think about doing it. It is heartily annoying.
By the way, google "25 things I have learned in 50 years by Dave Barry." Just do it.
You can also go here: http://bit.ly/axKFa4 My favorite is: No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
Speaking of that, in case I've never told you this before, I think the world takes itself far far far too seriously. I really shouldn't say this, but I think you all know what I mean: just working -- just applying -- for a job with a corporation, like Windsor Capital Group, Inc, with whom I am currently employed (thanks for signing my paychecks, by the way!!)-- you realize that. When I was filling in the endless new hire paperwork, my boss was telling me about applying for a job with Pizza Hut, how he filled out one paper application and showed them a picture ID, and started working the next day. These days, he says, there is a stack of paperwork an inch and a half thick.
Well, you/the lawyers say, we have to cover all the bases, you know. Someone may protest doing something not in their job description, and they MUST know if they are lifting more than ten pounds more than two/thirds of the time. What if they don't know-- and we get sued?
Here is what I have to say to this: In my experience, human beings are remarkably good at doing what is expected of them, and at acting how they are treated. In thinking we have to protect ourselves from ourselves, we are succeeding spectacularly in making ourselves stupid and, another thing that bugs me, serious. Which is why my mission starts with the corporate world and aims at that exact problem: getting people, specifically lawyers, out of their heads where they have nothing better to do than think up ridiculously detailed and pretentious job descriptions/applications and be uptight about everything, and into their bodies with an activity that brings them joy....drumroll please...dance.
All right, so it's a complicated plan, but that's where my life is going right now and I'm crazy about the idea. During my interview for the Renaissance, I was asked where I want to be in 10 years, and absolutely without thinking I said I want to reinvent dance and only later thought it was a strange answer.
Anyway, I think I have babbled long enough, so I will move on now. Besides, I think shortly I will actually have something to do. Hooray.
Ciao.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
June 11th, 2010
First day at the Renaissance yesterday. I am serving/bussing/room servicing/hostessing; essentially I am doing whatever needs to get done, and doing it incredibly early in the morning. Put it this way: a 7am start time is actually sleeping in. When I'm doing room service, my shift starts at 5:45. I haven't had one of those yet but I'm sure it's coming.
Apartment is more furnished than it was, now outfitted with shoes, books, and quotables, adding a little spark and colors to our lives. I can't live without color, by the way. We are still in desperate need of a couch, but we bought one yesterday from Habitat for Humanity, along with a chair and an ottoman, for $135. Not too bad. I was kind of hoping for a $30 job but I guess there is something to be said for having something that looks clean and not like a thousand butts have made their home there. We still need to make a run to Target and Sam's club, most notably for lamps and a bed frame, but once the couch is in the house (assuming it fits) and its ugly upholstery is covered by a sheet or something, things will be looking up. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I CAN STOP SPENDING SO MUCH GODDAMN MONEY.
Ahem.
So yesterday I discovered that in order to get a visa you have to have proof of residence in the jurisdiction of the French consulate; i.e. a driver's license from NC. I don't HAVE a North Carolina driver's license. However, my dad says there is such a thing as a North Carolina identification card, so hopefully that will work. Otherwise heads will roll. As my mom said, rather unhelpfully the other day, if I get to Paris, I will have totally earned it. I say, yes, harumph, that is the case.
I spent most of last night with a friend I met contra dancing, hanging out on a porch and watching the sunset and the fireflies come out of the grass where they apparently sleep all day. I have a confession: I adore fireflies. I am completely fascinated by them. I also realized this morning that last night is the pace I want to go this summer, and I am sooo far away from it. Even three weeks (or a thousand years) removed from New York, I am still ticking along at the pace of the subways. I want things to happen, things to do, it's like I must be flapping my wings to live, hummingbird style (I know, I know, hummingbirds don't die if they sit down).
And honestly? I don't want to do that anymore. Over the course of my sophomore year, I took 44 credits, performed in 4 shows, worked 2 jobs and 15 hrs/wk at an internship. Overachieving is a way of life; I don't do it on purpose, it just happens. I take on the world regularly because I know I can handle it and only find out later that just because you can doesn't mean you should. But I want to stop for the summer and just find out what it's like to live during the moments and not worry so much about the cracks between THIS and THAT; I have the feeling life happens in the cracks and not in the points.
But I am SOOOO bad at doing that. I mean, you have no idea. So that is my project for the summer: slow down. Read. Write. Hang out at the pool. Work during the days. Let life move on with me, not behind me. Let each moment be handed to me instead of grabbing for it.
If I am to teach the world to live, I must first learn myself.
Apartment is more furnished than it was, now outfitted with shoes, books, and quotables, adding a little spark and colors to our lives. I can't live without color, by the way. We are still in desperate need of a couch, but we bought one yesterday from Habitat for Humanity, along with a chair and an ottoman, for $135. Not too bad. I was kind of hoping for a $30 job but I guess there is something to be said for having something that looks clean and not like a thousand butts have made their home there. We still need to make a run to Target and Sam's club, most notably for lamps and a bed frame, but once the couch is in the house (assuming it fits) and its ugly upholstery is covered by a sheet or something, things will be looking up. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I CAN STOP SPENDING SO MUCH GODDAMN MONEY.
Ahem.
So yesterday I discovered that in order to get a visa you have to have proof of residence in the jurisdiction of the French consulate; i.e. a driver's license from NC. I don't HAVE a North Carolina driver's license. However, my dad says there is such a thing as a North Carolina identification card, so hopefully that will work. Otherwise heads will roll. As my mom said, rather unhelpfully the other day, if I get to Paris, I will have totally earned it. I say, yes, harumph, that is the case.
I spent most of last night with a friend I met contra dancing, hanging out on a porch and watching the sunset and the fireflies come out of the grass where they apparently sleep all day. I have a confession: I adore fireflies. I am completely fascinated by them. I also realized this morning that last night is the pace I want to go this summer, and I am sooo far away from it. Even three weeks (or a thousand years) removed from New York, I am still ticking along at the pace of the subways. I want things to happen, things to do, it's like I must be flapping my wings to live, hummingbird style (I know, I know, hummingbirds don't die if they sit down).
And honestly? I don't want to do that anymore. Over the course of my sophomore year, I took 44 credits, performed in 4 shows, worked 2 jobs and 15 hrs/wk at an internship. Overachieving is a way of life; I don't do it on purpose, it just happens. I take on the world regularly because I know I can handle it and only find out later that just because you can doesn't mean you should. But I want to stop for the summer and just find out what it's like to live during the moments and not worry so much about the cracks between THIS and THAT; I have the feeling life happens in the cracks and not in the points.
But I am SOOOO bad at doing that. I mean, you have no idea. So that is my project for the summer: slow down. Read. Write. Hang out at the pool. Work during the days. Let life move on with me, not behind me. Let each moment be handed to me instead of grabbing for it.
If I am to teach the world to live, I must first learn myself.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
June 8th, 2010
I am currently trying to find a way to sit that doesn't kill my back, because here in Montford Books, where we are currently leaching off the WiFi (more on the internet situation in a minute) has only these green plastic chairs. To be fair there is also a large table, but there is someone in the room there and we would prefer not to bother the heck out of the poor guy. I'm sure we're doing enough of that hissing and muttering over here, as well as my computer dinging loudly and announcing that the virus database has been updated. Thank you, Avast.
So we are moved into the apartment, joy of joys, however having spent ten wonderful days with our friend Janet and her partner Richard. They were impossibly kind to us, as I believe I may have mentioned once or twice, fed us several dinners, are loaning us several pieces of furniture, and are responsible for the fact that we have a queen size bed to use, as opposed to one single twin size air mattress. Yay for NOT sleeping on the floor!!
The apartment is adorable; at the end of the post I'll link to some pictures. It's very small, the doors don't shut unless you really turn the handle, there is a grand total of one small closet in the entire place, the toilet sometimes doesn't flush normally, and this morning I pulled the shade from the wall while attempting to open it; but for all of its quirks -- it was built in 1896, after all -- it's very cute. The walls are not whitewashed, hardwood floors, a ceiling fan, and LOTS of windows. We still have a long list of things - furniture mostly -- that we need, even after spending $113 at Family Dollar going crazy. The result of that is that we have dishes! Actually we got a ton of stuff, so it's all good.
I wish I could be more articulate, but what I can say? I'm worrying about: getting black polishable shoes for my job at the Renaissance Hotel (working 6am shifts as a server person), remembering to print out my CampusFrance stuff and finding a way down to Atlanta, where the French consulate is; whether or not we will actually ever have wireless in the apartment (we were going to share with someone but the network is not quite as reliable as an angry rhinoceros). I'm excited about starting work, about going to baseball games --- we went to a game last night, which was far too much fun even though I spent $20 on food for the two of us and ate barely half of my own. I was shanghaied into doing this funky competition on the field of throwing nerf balls at this board. I had three tries and missed on all of them, however the last two were perfect throws, just too high. In any case we had a fine time and biked back up the damn hill at the end -- I should mention that EVERYTHING in Asheville is uphill, no matter which way you're going.
Things should settle down soon; with four or five shifts at the Renaissance and a couple shifts at Pack Place I'll finally have some money coming in. I'm planning for a baseball game and a dance class a week, which would be lovely. In the mean time, I'm awake most nights; Frankenstein's monster likes to hang out below the window and hack his guts out. Of course I sleep eventually, but there's a lot stressing me out for no particular reason.
Hilary and I are both extremely happy to be settled in -- we were SOOO TIRED on Sunday after moving though, and celebrated with a shot from the entire bottle of Captain Morgan that the previous tenant left behind for us, which we think is fantastic and if we finish it by the end of the summer I will be shocked.
In any case, since we are leaching off the internet I must go. Keep in touch, by the way.
EDIT: I forgot to add the link for the pictures. Here it is: http://s598.photobucket.com/albums/tt64/hilaryrhodes
So we are moved into the apartment, joy of joys, however having spent ten wonderful days with our friend Janet and her partner Richard. They were impossibly kind to us, as I believe I may have mentioned once or twice, fed us several dinners, are loaning us several pieces of furniture, and are responsible for the fact that we have a queen size bed to use, as opposed to one single twin size air mattress. Yay for NOT sleeping on the floor!!
The apartment is adorable; at the end of the post I'll link to some pictures. It's very small, the doors don't shut unless you really turn the handle, there is a grand total of one small closet in the entire place, the toilet sometimes doesn't flush normally, and this morning I pulled the shade from the wall while attempting to open it; but for all of its quirks -- it was built in 1896, after all -- it's very cute. The walls are not whitewashed, hardwood floors, a ceiling fan, and LOTS of windows. We still have a long list of things - furniture mostly -- that we need, even after spending $113 at Family Dollar going crazy. The result of that is that we have dishes! Actually we got a ton of stuff, so it's all good.
I wish I could be more articulate, but what I can say? I'm worrying about: getting black polishable shoes for my job at the Renaissance Hotel (working 6am shifts as a server person), remembering to print out my CampusFrance stuff and finding a way down to Atlanta, where the French consulate is; whether or not we will actually ever have wireless in the apartment (we were going to share with someone but the network is not quite as reliable as an angry rhinoceros). I'm excited about starting work, about going to baseball games --- we went to a game last night, which was far too much fun even though I spent $20 on food for the two of us and ate barely half of my own. I was shanghaied into doing this funky competition on the field of throwing nerf balls at this board. I had three tries and missed on all of them, however the last two were perfect throws, just too high. In any case we had a fine time and biked back up the damn hill at the end -- I should mention that EVERYTHING in Asheville is uphill, no matter which way you're going.
Things should settle down soon; with four or five shifts at the Renaissance and a couple shifts at Pack Place I'll finally have some money coming in. I'm planning for a baseball game and a dance class a week, which would be lovely. In the mean time, I'm awake most nights; Frankenstein's monster likes to hang out below the window and hack his guts out. Of course I sleep eventually, but there's a lot stressing me out for no particular reason.
Hilary and I are both extremely happy to be settled in -- we were SOOO TIRED on Sunday after moving though, and celebrated with a shot from the entire bottle of Captain Morgan that the previous tenant left behind for us, which we think is fantastic and if we finish it by the end of the summer I will be shocked.
In any case, since we are leaching off the internet I must go. Keep in touch, by the way.
EDIT: I forgot to add the link for the pictures. Here it is: http://s598.photobucket.com/albums/tt64/hilaryrhodes
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