The Storm is Passing Over...

 Take courage my soul and let us journey on,

though the night is dark and I am far from home;

Thanks be to God, the morning light appears

The storm is passing over (Lord)

The storm is passing over

The storm is passing over, hallelujah

  These lyrics to one of my favorite choir songs came to mind today as I watched the news because they describe the events of the past few days so perfectly.  Sandy came with a vengeance and devastated parts of Queens and Lower Manhattan.  The subways are flooded and it's going to take a long time for this place to get back to normal.  As I watched the news today and all day yesterday of the storm coverage and the aftermath I'm blown away by Sandy's rage but for some reason it doesn't seem real.  I'm here in New York, I braved the storm all by myself in my own little corner of Astoria, Queens unscathed.  I was never scared, the power never went out, the street I live on was untouched and life went back to normal for most.  It's almost an eerie feeling that I can't really describe. I don't think I will fully grasp what happened until I make it into the city in the next few days and see it with my own eyes.
The events leading up to the past few days were interesting.  I became homeless when Jeff returned from his summer gig last Saturday and had to do some couch surfing for a few days.  I stayed on the couch at Jeff's until Wednesday and then went and stayed with Elizabeth and her husband, Jared.  They offered me their place for the weekend while they were out of town so I jumped on the chance to enjoy some alone time in Washington Heights.  I really like the area that they live in.  It's right next to Fort Washington Park and the George Washington Bridge so they have a great view and are in a nice quiet pocket of the city.  While I was homeless I secured a sweet deal on a one bedroom apartment in Astoria until November 26th, thanks to my former roommate Cheryl.  I bought myself a little bit more time to find a long term place.
When I heard the storm was coming I asked Jeff if he would help me move my massive amount of crap 7 blocks away to my new place on  Sunday before the subways shutdown at 7:00.  I told Elizabeth I was leaving her place early before they got back and I was scheduled to have a meeting with Corrie and Laura, the founders of NYC CYT to discuss how things are going.  I was a little nervous about the meeting because I know they don't normally meet individually with the teachers so I knew they wanted to talk to me about something specific but I had no idea what it was.
When I got to our meeting place I was loaded down with all my bags that I had from staying at Elizabeth's and told them my story of couch surfing.  We made some small talk and then they prefaced the meeting with, "We just wanted to get together with you because you weren't at the teachers meeting and we wanted to hear your thoughts on how you think things are going. What's working, what's not working etc."  So I just kind of sat there and nodded my head like okay what do you want to know?  Then they asked "what is working for you?"  I said "well, I really think things are going well but I kind of feel like an outsider looking in.  I like watching Richelle teach and sort of being in the background so I can take it all in because I'm so new to teaching theatre and I don't really know what I'm doing and I'm used to being in charge so it's good for me to be in this new role."  We talked about a few other things and then Corrie said "It's interesting to hear you say you're kind of an outsider because we feel that way too.  We need you to be actively participating in the classes and not just watching.  The culture of CYT is messy and you just have to jump in there and do it."  So, again I just nodded my head a little shocked at what she was telling me because I felt like I was jumping in there and getting involved....but it was clearly not up to their standards.  Through the conversation I realized, through tears of course,  that I was a little hurt I didn't have my own class and was told in front of everyone at our very first teachers meeting.  Laura gently said to me at one point "it seems you might have some control issues."  And I guess I do have control issues but It's hard to jump in when I don't know what I'm doing. I also realized I have no idea what it looks like to be an assistant according to them because I said at one point, "I just need to get with Richelle and ask her how we can divide the class and how I can help her teach."  Corrie jumped in quickly and said "That's not what I want. Richelle, planned those lessons so she teaches them.  You need to come along side her and be ready for whatever she needs"  Okay, so again, I thought that's what I was doing.  Any way, I cried a lot but the conversation was a gentle rebuke about getting over the fact that I'm unfamiliar with what it looks like to be an assistant and the fact that I'm uncomfortable.  Being uncomfortable seems to be the theme of my life these days and I'm figuring out how to work through it and get over it.  It must be a lesson I've got to learn.  But man, it's tough and I don't really like it.
Once the meeting was over I was a little wounded but thankful that my christian sisters love me enough to gently remind me to be strong and courageous like Joshua 1:9, our theme verse for CYT  says, and to step it up and do my job to their liking.  After thinking about our conversation and processing all that was discussed it boils down to the fact that I need to develop stronger relationships with these people so I can feel more comfortable and that takes me spending time with them outside of a car ride to New Jersey every Monday night.
Anyway, after my meeting I headed to Astoria to get my stuff and move into my new place.  I was a little antsy to get there because it was getting dark and the subway was about to shut down in 2 hours.  My loads of crap only took about 30 minutes to load into Jeff's car and about 30 minutes to unload 7 blocks away.  After I unloaded I went to the store to get food, water, a flashlight and batteries, a lighter for candles in case the power went out and of course, a bottle of wine. The grocery store was a little insane but that's expected when we are told to prepare for the worst.  After my shopping I locked myself in my new one bedroom, turned on the news and watched the storm coverage for the next two days.  If I missed anything my sister made sure to text me all the updates too.  (Love you sis).
While I sat and waited for the storm to pass over I cleaned my apartment, unpacked, practiced and sort of wished I wasn't all by myself.  I think I should have stayed at my old place so I wouldn't have been so bored.  Oh well, another coulda, shoulda, woulda.  I'm just thankful that I have an awesome place to stay, that I made it through a devastating storm and that I had people praying for safety.

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A few days have passed after the storm and things are getting back to normal. I went to work on Wednesday and was happy to get out of the house.  The buses were the only public transportation running and some people had to wait over three hours to get into the city.  Thankfully, I did not have to wait that long.  On the bus we were crammed in, body to body and the traffic in Manhattan was crazy because street lights were out.  All of lower Manhattan below 34th street is without power for who knows how long so it really effects everything.  As I was riding on the bus I couldn't really see a lot of damage but the feeling in the air was a bit somber compared to the hustle and bustle that normally permeates the city.   Partial subway lines opened yesterday but again, they are packed to the brim. It's almost faster to walk than to wait for a train car that you can fit on.   So, the aftermath is great but the restoration has begun.

Love a thankful, uncomfortable girl,
Miss Gulley in Manhattan

 Autumn in New York is beautiful.
Fort Washington Park  

The George Washington Bridge
This was my view on my way to run in the park

How in the world did I accumulate all that crap in
such a short amount of time!!

My sweet one bedroom for November

My living room and kitchen!  Bonus, a red couch!

My street the day after the storm
Here is a link to pictures of the city after the storn

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-after-landfall/100396/

Living and Surviving

Life for me is interesting these days....The roommate/apartment saga continues!  What was once three, was then two and now it's me, all by myself searching for a place to live!  This whole thing is super duper crazy and I can't even put it into words because searching for a place to live in NYC is absurd. I'm 100% in survival mode and it is not fun!

Rebecca and I ended our search as roommates when we found a 2 bedroom in Upper Manhattan that was livable and safe but way out of our price range.  They were asking 1st months rent, last months rent and a broker fee/deposit.  With the 2 bedroom being in the 1400 range that was not even close to being doable! So, we just decided to part ways and look on our own.   I still haven't found a place to live and I'm afraid that come October 21st, which is a week from today,  I will actually be couch surfing...except I don't know enough people to ask to crash on their couch!  Also, I have to make a decision ..I can sublet for a couple of extra months, get another job, save some money and get a place of my own or just find roommates who have already signed a lease.  To me...alone seems divine,  but in reality it's all about affordability right now and to be honest I don't even have enough to pay November rent right now.  I mean, I'll have it when November comes but I've worked all month just for rent.  I'm living a new lifestyle and it is crazy, I'm rendered speechless most of the time because I just don't get it.  But, it's all part of the experience and all part of being a New Yorker.  I do know the Lord provides and I do know he keeps his promises so I am going to find a place sooner or later.  However, I'm not gonna lie, it's stressful.

Enough about apartment hunting and onto daily life.  Classes in New Jersey are the highlight of my week and every time I leave my heart aches for my own class to teach. The kids in the class are soooo cute!!  I feel like I need to work out my teaching muscles or they will go away!  I think often I should just teach here but I'm being so stubborn because why would I do that?!! I left my job that I loved to pursue other things that I can't pursue because I'm just trying to survive!!!!  Can you tell I'm so frustrated?  Anyway, I do hope that CYT will need me more in the Spring because I would love to teach every day of the week.  Classes are only two hours out of  a day and I think that would be amazing!

My Meisner class is so good and I feel like I'm finally getting it.  I'm not having sleepless nights about my crafting and I feel like I'm learning so much.  Charles, has informed me that I am too much of a lady and that I need to quit being so polite in class when I'm "at the door."  I've said this before, but I have to say it again. This acting class really taps into the parts of myself that need to be worked on.  It's unreal to me how being vulnerable will change you.  My partner for class has made me ponder a few things too like "Do I really want to be an actor?  If so, then why am I not putting for the effort it takes to be a good one?"  He challenged me with those questions while we were rehearsing one day and man, it hit me hard.  After he asked me those things I put my game face on and have really been working hard.   I'm so used to things being easy for me but not anymore.  It just got real on so many levels.

With all that being said I went to a non-union audition last weekend for Songs for a New World.  I feel like I've got to start small so I have little victories.  My goal for the auditions was to go in the room sing and leave feeling good about it.  I didn't expect to get the part, I just wanted to not feel so defeated after the audition like I normally do.  I rehearsed with an accompanist the two songs I chose to sing on Friday and later that night I worked with my friend Elizabeth on it too so I  felt really prepared.  That in itself was a little victory.  I went to the audition on Saturday. Keep in mind, I always have issues with finding the right thing to wear because I'm never right.  The last audition I was dressed in black pants and a cute top and walked out without auditioning. This time I thought I would wear a cute dress and heels just to be safe.  HAHAHA the laugh is on me because the girls were wearing skinny jeans and boots!!! GEEEES, I'm just gonna wear what I want to auditions because I'm not going to be dressed right anyway!  I mean how do you know what to wear?!!!!  I was so frustrated by that but I felt good about my preparation and did like my outfit so I wasn't going to walk out without auditioning.  Then, it was my turn.  I walked in, told the accompanist where to start, introduced myself and proceeded with the audition.  The accompanist started and I didn't because he was supposed to play the pick up note and didn't so I was totally thrown off.  I looked at him and said "Oh, oops, I was supposed to be singing...can we start again?"  And then started again and sang my 16 bars, said thank you and walked out the door.  Man, auditions are not my friend but I will say that even though I wasn't dressed right and I had to start over it was progress.  I mean, I at least showed up and was prepared.  The next audition will be even better and soon enough I will walk into the audition room expecting to get the part... at least I hope I get there one day.

Being in survival mode is rough but I have been blessed the past few weeks to be working at Columbia University at the Teacher's College Research Center.  It's a desk job where I get to answer phones, sort files and do a whole lot of nothing.  I can't complain because I'm getting paid and the people in the office are super duper nice.  The best part is a lady in the office named Gladys. She is an actress with a wealth of knowledge about the business that she freely shares with me any chance she gets.  .  I just know I was put there so I could meet her and soak up all the stuff she tells me.  I have one more week there working full time while Sarah, the receptionist, is on a cruise.  After that, I don't know where I will be temping but I think it's kinda cool I can say I worked at Columbia  University for a month.


Last week was my birthday and it was a little weird.  I didn't tell anyone because I just didn't feel like making a big deal about it.  However, I told my acting partner, Luis,  because we rehearsed that morning. .  After we rehearsed I went to work at Columbia, then headed to my Meisner class and then headed for the train home in Union Square.  A precious thing happenend...Luis and Afrim happened to be on the other side of the street by the train and walked over to me.  They were making comments like "I would love some dessert,"  "Is there a place to stop and get something?"  The whole time I was a little clueless and then they said " It's your birthday and you need to celebrate!  We are going to buy you dessert and stick a candle on top so you can make a wish"  It was so sweet and so special.  I looked at Luis and said "you weren't supposed to tell anyone," and then Afrim chimes in and said " You're a long way from home, it's the least we can do."  Tears came to my eyes because it was exactly what I needed!  It was so sweet, Luis bought me flowers and Afrim bought me a red velvet cupcake, my favorite!  They bought a candle and sang Happy Birthday to me in the middle of Union Square.  That is a moment I will never forget!  Last Friday I celebrated with Rebecca, Elizabeth and Megan by ordering sushi and watching Funny Face at Elizabeth's house.  It was full of good food, conversation and fun!

So, I'm 33 and living in New York!  That's pretty amazing! I complain, I cry, I stress out and wonder how I'm going to survive but my life is good.  I know I'm in good hands and I am blessed every single day.
Here's to the apartment search that never ends, the auditions that can only get better and a journey that is unbelievable.  I think 33 is gonna be a great year!  

Love,
Miss Gulley in Manhattan

Luis, Me, Afrim, and my birthday cupcake!

Girls party night!

A nice treat!  Rebecca got comp tickets for the Met dress rehearsal of Otello with Renee Fleming!  We had our own box!

Party food and so yummy!

It's unsettling be unsettled

Things are not always what they seem.  New York is amazing...if you're visiting.  If you're living here...now that's a different story.  Don't get me wrong, it's still amazing even though I live here but it just comes with a lot of challenges, a lot of change, a lot of heart ache and uncertainty and a lot of choices to make.  So after I got back from my wonderful, fabulous Texas visit I am at a crossroads.  I am juggling 3 jobs, trying to make the right choices about doing temp work when they call or sticking to my random schedule at Anthropologie.  Also, I was hit with the fact that I won't be teaching the Our Gang class for CYT in Jersey on Monday nights, instead, I will now be the assistant in one of the classes.  That means less money and being stuck in survival mode.  I go through all the coulda, shoulda, woulda's in this situation like, I should have saved more money, or I could've waited to take that meisner class or I should've looked for a real teaching job that way I would have steady income.  But, it is what it is and that's the life of an artist I'm told.  So I take the good with the bad and know that somehow it's gonna work out.

I am trying not to be a Debbie Downer but with the day I'm having...a very emotional one...that's how it's gonna be. So I'm going to be very candid right now and allow myself to have a point of veiw.....I HATE CHANGE!!!  I HATE IT! I hate the fact that Rebecca and I have gone through another third roommate ditching us as soon as we found the perfect place and now we are looking for two bedrooms that we can't afford b/c there are none in our price range.  I also, am freaking out because Rebecca is freaking out.  She has to be out of her sublet by next Friday!  That means we have to find a place TOMORROW!!!!  However, she's already called me stubborn because I don't want a third roommate or want to look into one bedrooms...but she's right, I am stubborn and not willing to give on the things that I need in order for my apartment to be a home.  I want to be able to have people over, I want visitors from out of town to be able to stay...and by all means... I need, yes, need my own space!    I say all that to make the point that just because our deadline is tomorrow I'm still not willing to give just because she has a deadline.  If i don't feel comfortable with the place or it doesn't feel right I'm okay letting her know that.  But hopefully, it will be okay and we will find the right place tomorrow.
 I also hate the fact that I love where I am living right now and I feel like I've just become comfortable with my roomies. Cheryl and I had a lovely chat this morning and she said to me "oh I wish you could stay..."  So, after that I had a realization that OMG!!! I'm going to have to be reaccquainted with a new place, a new roommate a new area and I hate it!!!! I hate it, I hate it!!! I'll be over it in a few days but today I hate it!  I'm gonna miss walking down the street to Broadway and popping into the cute wine store for a quick tasting.   I'm gonna miss late nights watching Jimmy Fallon with the roomies and I'm gonna miss the little old man four houses down greeting me with a New York "Hi, how ahh ya!" every time I walk by.  He's always sitting outside on his front porch, smoking a cigar and I love it.  I'm going to miss how close I am to the city, my friend Megan, from Hillsong who lives down the street.  I'm gonna miss walking ten minutes to my voice lesson because my voice teacher is down the road and I am going to miss my roommates.   I really have made this place my home for the past three months and I don't have an option to stay. I have to go and of course, I want to live in the city I just didn't think i would like Astoria as much as I do.  I'm just rambling but its been an emotional day.  I do have to say that I am so thankful Jeff offered me his room while he was gone, and I'm so thankful that being here in this apartment with my two roommates made the transition from Texas to New York a nice one.  I  hope the transition into Manhattan will be just as easy and living with Rebecca who is 10 years younger than me will be okay.

Even though I'm comfortable here it's clear I'm still a little unsettled.  I'm still in transition and that really is unsettling to me.  I am having a hard time facing the fact that I will be living paycheck to paycheck working two jobs I don't really want to work and just praying that I am able to pay rent and buy groceries because this skinny girl has to eat. So that's where I am and what I'm facing in these moments right now and I didn't feel like sugar coating any of it.  I'm gonna close my eyes so this day is over and the new day can begin when I wake up. It's gonna be a great one because I am reminded of Lamentations 3:22-23... Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  

Love an unsettled girl,
Miss Gulley in Manhattan

A Series of Short Stories

"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

This is the best news ever!  I am the Music Director of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown with a new youth theatre that is just starting this fall called Christian Youth Theatre.  I feel so blessed and  privileged to be a part of the very first production team!  I remember sitting at home in San Antonio researching children's theatre in NYC and Christian Youth Theatre came up so I clicked on it, got some info, saw that the very first production would be Charlie Brown, bookmarked the page and put it in my memory for future reference.  I knew right away that I wanted to be a part of this theatre!  As soon as I got to NYC and my portfolio was finally finished I turned in my cover letter, resume and portfolio to the director via email.  I didn't get a response so I called just to make sure that it was received.  The director and I had an interesting conversation because I asked if they were looking for teaching artists and she said "no not right now b/c we are just starting up and we have all the people we need for now.  But go ahead and turn in your resume and maybe check back in the Spring."  I replied with "Well, I already turned in all that stuff to you but was really just doing a follow up call."  She said "Oh my goodness I know the exact day that came in and I was so busy I didn't get a good look at it."  She continued with "Thank you for your interest, if I think of anything I'll let you know."  So, of course I was a little disappointed but at least I had an answer.  Well, the next thing I know there is an email in my inbox asking me if I would be interested in volunteering and of course the answer was yes because any way to get my foot in the door was enough for me.  CYT was holding a volunteer dinner on August 3rd and I was so excited just to go see what it was all about.  I never expected anything more than that.  I enjoyed the dinner very much, met some very nice people and got to talk with Corrie the owner/director.  She sat down with me and said something like I know you turned in  your resume but tell me what you did in Texas.  So I told her I taught elementary music for 9 years and loved every minute and told her that I would love to work in a children's theatre b/c that is one of my passions to watch children create.  She immediately said "Oh my goodness!  Would you be interested in music directing our show?"  Without hesitation I said of course!  But then proceeded to tell her that I would be signing up for a class that would meet on Monday's and Wednesday's for a whole year.  Okay so long story short...I made some great connections at this volunteer dinner, I was in the running for the music director and I was so excited.  Thankfully my class ended up changing to Tuesdays and Thursdays instead and when I found that out I immediately emailed Corrie and  asked if she had found a music director yet and that my class had changed.  She responded with an email that said good to know let's meet on August 22nd to discuss being the music director.  Oh my goodness I was so excited!  This came at the time I needed it most because I was literally having a pity party that week because I didn't have a job and was stressing out to the max!  So, on Wednesday I met with Corrie and we had a nice long chat and she told me it sounded like I would be nice fit but nothing official until she had a chance to talk to the others and then I would receive an email offering me the position.  I left our meeting floating on cloud 9.  I had so many people praying for me that day and words cannot describe how excited and blessed I am!  I was also amazed because seriously?  Charlie Brown?  That's what Cindy and I chose for the Encino Park musical so, not only is it a privilege to be on the first production team of CYT in NYC, I still get to work with one of my BFF's long distance on Charlie Brown!  This is definitely not a coincidence but the hand of God.  Okay so my official position is Music Director of Charlie Brown and teacher of Our Gang (6-7 year olds) in New Jersey every Monday night.  Classes begin September 24th and Auditions for Charlie Brown are at the beginning of October.

CYT production teach

St. Clements, the Off-Broadway Theatre

The House

Dressing Rooms

Light from the windows shining on the stage...
This theatre has such character.

THE STAGE!!! Where the magic happens :)

"Classes after Meisner"

As we all know I had a love/hate relationship with my Meisner class but once it was finished I was a little empty inside so I signed up for a monologue class and an audition class.   Of course, I'm always nervous to go to these classes because I really have no idea what to expect.  My monologue class was a week after my last Meisner class.  I signed up because I don't have any monologues.  I never have and I knew I needed some.  I was sold because the ad on playbill.com said that the teacher specializes in finding material specifically for you.  I was really hoping that was true because I have searched for monologues before and they can be tricky.  The ones I have looked at are always too young or super vulgar and I can't do either of those.  So, I had high hopes going into the class and I left with two great monologues picked specifically for me and my personality as well as 3 others that I loved.  Success!!!
Because I hate auditions, I thought this audition class would be awesome and give me some really great pointers on how to tackle them.  Well, not so much...turns out it was basically an audition to be in her vocal studio.  I'm so glad it was a free class.  The class consisted of 12 students and we each got up to sing a song or two if you had two.  It was like a vocal coaching with each student because she would work on one of the songs in detail with each person.  However, when it got to me I sang Warm All Over from the Most Happy Fella, because I know that one and love it.  All the other stuff I have is new and I have never sung it with the piano before. After I sang she didn't even give me pointers she asked " Why did you sing that song?"  I said "Well, I know it and like it."   Then proceeded to tell me she could tell I was classically trained, I have a beautiful voice but I need to be singing stuff that is older.....OMG!!! My heart broke a little because I knew this would have to happen one day...but she basically told me I can no longer play the lovely ingenue :(  I'm now a young mom type!! GRRRRRR  Not what a person who has age issues wants to hear.  So, I did not get any audition pointers and I was told that I was going through a role change.  I guess I needed to hear that so I can hone in on the type of stuff I  should really be singing.  Thank goodness there are still great roles for women in their early thirties!  I mean there are great roles at any age but you know, the dream roles are the young ones.  Oh well, honesty is always the best and I always appreciate it.  Even though I left that class a little defeated I did enjoy hearing her work with the other people and loved the pointers she gave to them.

"First audition of the season...or let's say coulda, shoulda, woulda"

Okay this story is a bit on the ridiculous side but honestly it's not surprising to me that I would do this!  On Friday, August 24th I had planned to go to an OPEN CALL for the Sound of Music.  Okay, Open calls do not happen very often especially for the Paper Mill Playhouse in Jersey!  So, I was determined to go.  The night before I researched what to wear because I just have no clue.  When I went to auditions last summer the attire was all over the place, some wore jeans, some wore dresses, some wore whatever.  So, I carefully planned my outfit because I was having lunch with my friend Jonathan at noon and then going straight to the audition.  I chose to wear a pair of black jeans and a really cute, teal, ruffled top.  Totally me!  It was cute and I was comfy in it.  Well, all my plans went out the window when I walked into the studio and saw hundreds of girls wearing fancy dresses, bright red lipstick and blush that would make any one say WHOA!!!  I totally freaked out and left as soon as possible!  There was no way I was going to audition in what I had on because I would be thinking the whole time, "oh lordy, I'm not dressed right" and that would throw everything else off!  I already don't do well at auditions so I just couldn't do it.  I did have a brilliant idea to go shopping really quick and buy a dress and shoes and then return it after I auditioned.  So, I did go shopping and did try to find a dress and shoes.  Alas, nothing fit and everything was over $100.00.  When I realized that plan wasn't going to work I found an empty chair in front of  The Loft in Times Square and gave myself a little pep talk that went something like this "Crystal, you can do this.  You cannot miss an open call because it's for the SOUND OF MUSIC!!! It doesn't matter what you're wearing.  You know the song, you know the music, you got this....get up and go...now!!"  Okay, so that was my train of thought as I sat in that chair for a good 15 minutes.  I finally got up and decided to go back to see if the auditions were still going.  Well, there were still very made up girls standing outside the door waiting to sing but the list was closed so I could not audition.  Honestly, I was a bit relieved but I missed out because of my stupid freak out!  I have got to get over my fear of auditions.  I am hoping now that I got that ridiculousness out of the way I will be able to go into the next one with confidence and the right attire.  LOL

A "Magic" Monday

Monday, August 26th, 2012 was an amazing day.  Because of a connection I made at the CYT volunteer dinner on August 3rd I had an interview Robert Half International, a staffing agency.  The interview was at 9:00AM and by then end I had a job doing temp work.  Literally 30 minutes later I got a call from my favorite store in Rockefeller Center..Anthro!  I went in the week before for open interviews and I was just hired as a part time sales associate!  Amazing!  I now have, not one, but 3 jobs.  How I'm going to balance all of them I do not know but I am so thankful the Lord provided abundantly.  I will still be making barely enough but that's the life here so I will manage.  I'm thankful for every penny :) and so thankful I will be starting these while I still have some cushion from NEISD.  Later that afternoon I met up with Corrie and the rest of the production team to view the Off-Broadway theatre where the kids in Charlie Brown will be performing.  It is a small Episcopal church in Hell's Kitchen with so much character.  St. Clements is the name and the congregation uses the stage as the pulpit and the theatre seating as pews.  I love it!  While we were in the theatre/church we had our first production meeting and talked about the show, how we were going to utilize entrances and exits, you know, the logistics and then I realized...I will probably be conducting the three piece band in the corner during the show and I had another little freak out because I've never done that before!  I got a little nervous too because everyone thinks I'm the music director because I play the piano.  I had to correct that because I DO NOT play the piano. After taking piano for 10 years I really do wish I that was a skill I  possessed.  Thankfully, I do know enough to plunk out parts and teach kids the music.  The rest I will be learning how to do as I go.  I'm definitely being stretched musically and I'm not complaining at all.  Once we had our little meeting  I met up with Elizabeth for a reading of W.C. Chester's "Magic."  I got to the theatre a little early so Elizabeth and I could catch up and I just have to say that she is a gift from heaven and I love that girl and our friendship already. I have to be honest, the play reading was very interesting.  I don't know if I liked it or not.  It was just a little dry and needed a whole lot more development.  That's what readings are for but I liked that the point of the reading and the series of readings to follow, are  to get more wholesome plays on stage in NYC.  That's always something I stand behind.

To sum everything up I have been busy, provided for abundantly, blessed beyond measure and so thankful for the Lord's hand in all of this.  I am excited about the things to come and can't wait to see what happens next!

Love,
Miss Gulley in  Manhattan 

Be Still...

It's funny that my verse for the day was "Be still and know that I am God" because my mind has been running like crazy thinking about my life here.  I need deep friendships  here in the City.  I know I have them at home but I need them here to hold me accountable, to be a familiar face in this big crowd, to spur me on.  I know those take time to develop so in the meantime I'll be patient and continue to work on and build the relationships I do have here.  

Speaking of relationships I spent the first part of my week in Hanover, New Hampshire visiting my BFF of 17 years, Clare Mortimer.  It was a much needed get away from the concrete jungle I live in. New Hampshire is a treasure trove of hills, and trees and mountain people.  Let’s just say they are very interesting.  Clare is doing the Opera North, Young Artist program so I went to see her show.  I've seen her perform in college but never on a professional level so this was a lovely treat.  Her roommates were awesome and, like old times , we stayed up till 3 in the morning talking and laughing and catching up on life.  Aaahhh friendship.  I needed that.

  Before I went to New Hampshire,  Cindy David and her daughter Alyson Young came to the City for a visit.  I needed that too!  I miss Cindy soooo much it's ridiculous! We had dinner at Serendipity, dessert at Juniors two nights in a row and lots of shopping and lots of coffee.  When we parted ways tears left my eyes because, once again, I needed that taste of home but I also knew that she was going back to school this week to set up her room and I wouldn’t be there.  When I really think about that it takes a toll on me and I just cry...I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get over it. Who knows?  

I have also thought a lot about the rejections I will face in the future and I've got to be tough because, let’s be honest, it hurts.  I got a taste of rejection Wednesday night when I finally sat down at my computer long enough to check my emails.  I received an email from Education Through Music, the company I interviewed with a couple of weeks ago.  It was a letter saying they enjoyed my interview but I was not a good fit for their company.  It was nothing about my teaching just not the right fit with the schools they have.  I kind of had that feeling when I called and they said if we want to hire you we'll call.  I was prepared for that news just didn’t know when it would be official.  I ran the interview over and over in my head and asked myself, what in the world did I say that didn't sit well with them... and I know exactly what it was.  In the interview I talked about all the performances we did with the grade levels and choir and the All School Musical and the Program Director flat out asked "Don't you think all those programs take away from the musical concepts taught in the classroom?"  I quickly responded with something like "absolutely not because they are learning life lessons, how to work together, how to listen to each other and sing in a group,  how to be confident and perform in front of others, I think it adds a great deal of value to the music concepts being taught in the classroom."  Geeeees, to me teaching is not about making sure the kids know all the note values and how to play Orff instruments and how to sight read by the time they reach fifth grade.  I believe it’s my job as an educator to introduce them to music and the basic concepts, nurture an appreciation for it and give them the desire to learn more so my students will pursue it in the future. As long as they appreciate and know the type of musical opportunities that are out there I have done my job.  I know my philosophy is very different than most but that’s  what I believe in.  Don't get me wrong, I taught those musical concepts on every grade level but since my passion is performing that's what I bring to the table when I teach.  So, of course they didn't hire me.  I need a children's theatre job, that's what I really want!  Okay, so now that it's almost the end of August and I'm back at square one with the job hunt, I'm freaking out just a little bit.  I know the Lord is my provider but man, I hope he provides soon.  I have one more paycheck and then I will really be a starving artist. However, I did have two quick interviews this weekend with a restaurant called Hillstone on the East Side.  I’ll know in 24 hours if they want me to come in for the second round.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed and saying my prayers.  

I've also thought a lot about my Meisner class.  Our last class was on Thursday and I'm a little sad.  Even though I've had many sleepless nights, I've enjoyed the people in my class more than I thought I would and I'll be sad when I don't see them twice a week at least.  But, that's normal for me.  I'm so sentimental and I really did learn way more than I expected, especially from my favorite scene partner.  Oh well, c’est la vie! I will be taking the year course with the same teacher, Charles Goforth, and that starts in the middle of September.  So, I'll have a little break and then it's back to sleepless nights trying to craft an independent activity.     

Along with meisner, rejection, job hunting and friends I have thought about my apartment situation.  Really, the roommate situation. Two weeks ago Rebecca and I went searching for apartments again.  I had wrapped my brain around the fact that they were going to be small so I was a little bit more prepared this time and did not hyperventilate.  We were able to see at least 6 or more apartments and they were all so different.  Rebecca and I were very clear about what we liked and what we didn't like at each place.  Of course, the last place we looked at was "the one."  I knew it when I walked in and could envision furniture in specific places and a room that called my name!   It was the perfect size and it had a little hallway which made me feel like I had a little corner to myself when I needed it.  We were with our realtor, Mike, and said we want this one.  Funny thing about the place is that it's the same apartment building where I had my freak out.  We began and ended the search in the same place. As soon as we decided we wanted it Mike laid out all the paperwork that was needed.  Rebecca and I both looked at each other like "whoa, that's a lot to gather."  Well, there was one problem, Jessica, our third roommate.  How in the world were we going to get her paperwork and all the information we needed from her?  I immediately called her because I feel like business like that should be taken care of over the phone, not via text or email.  Well, I never got a call back.  Instead she texted me and said she would call the next day.  In the meantime, I emailed her all the paperwork that was necessary to hold our apartment.  To make a long drawn out story short, Jessica ended up telling me via email that she had no proof of income, no guarantors, no way to sign a lease so if we wanted her as our roommate we would have to do a 3 bedroom sublease.  When I read that I literally laughed out loud because 3 bedroom subleases do not exist!  So, bottom line is it’s just me and Rebecca now.  I honestly think it’s probably better that way because it will give us more space and Rebecca and I know that we already get along really well.  This is just proof that the Lord knows what’s best and probably protected us from a bad situation in the long run.  Since I still don’t have a job and we lost a roommate we have decided to put the search on hold until September and then hopefully we can move in as soon as we find a place. 

As I write this sitting against a tree on The Great Lawn in Central Park I just have to say this New Yorker is very homesick.  My heart aches for home.  Alas, home will have to wait until my next….actually last paycheck from NEISD.  Until then I will be searching for jobs, taking some dance classes, quieting my restless mind, and hopefully getting settled in a little bit more because I have to face the reality that I’m here in New York for a while.  That’s the choice I made, that’s the choice I feel is right,  it just takes a little getting used to. 

Dartmouth College in beautiful New Hampshire

Bright Lights, Big City

Forever Friends at Serendipity with yummy frozen
Hot Chocolate!

Love,
Miss Gulley in Manhattan

Me and Clare remembering the college years

Sic 'Em Bears!  We just happened to be
wearing Baylor colors and had to pose with
the bear! 

Searching deep within, Tex-Mex and apartments shopping

I have had to do a lot of searching the past few weeks...soul searching, apartment searching and of course good ol' Tex-Mex searching.

My Meisner class has become very intense.  This past week a lot of tears were shed, not just by me but by about half of the class...boys included!  We are at the point where we have to "craft"  an independent activity  that is extremely difficult so it takes all of my concentraion. It has to have a reason that is deeply meaningful, a consequence, and it has to involve wishful thinking as well as a time limit.  Charles asks us to think about this question when crafting, what would walk across hot coals to LA for? There is so much to think about when "crafting" the activity.  I have serioulsy had sleepless nights over it because I have to be vulnverable and really think about the things I want more than anything in life.  Once I figure that out I have to be willing to share that moment with the class.  It results in tears for most because when you are treating the exercise as a reality and somebody is coming and knocking on the door and repeating at you it's intense knowing that if you don't complete the activity in the time alloted you don't get that thing you want more than anything else in the world!  I know all this makes no sense but to me it's deeply personal and emotional and soooo hard!  It has required me to search deep within when I hardly ever do that, let alone give others that i barely know insight into my hearts desires.  By the end of class I am exhausted because it really takes everything out of me.  I think it's all worth it because I am learning so much.  Our last class we were given a scene from a play and told to memorize it and work with a new partner.  Of course, my partner is the guy who I thought was all over the place and was going to annoy me to death.  His name is Marcelino and it turns out he's a pretty cool guy.  When rehearsing we were told to memorize the scene by rote, meaning no inflection in your voice because when we do it for class we have to read the behavior of our partner and respond based on what we get from them.  It's all so very interesting and we have one more round of independent actvities so I'm guaranteed at least one more sleepless night before I have to do mine.  Then it's going to be interesting when we do the scenes with new partners.  I'm sad to say, though, that there are only two weeks left of the class.  I am so glad I jumped right in to such an intense class but I'm going to be sad when it's over.  I will be searching for a new acting class to take.

Wednesday I had my second interview with Education Through Music.  It was with the program director, Peter Paulik, and I really liked him.  He was so friendly and down to earth yet very passionate about what the company does.  We talked for an hour about what brought me to New York, how I would run my classroom, my preference on days to work and if I was opposed to working in the Bronx.  When he asked me about working in the Bronx I told him that scared me a little but he quickly reassured me and said that they are just kids and have only been alive for 12 years at the most.  .  He did throw me off guard at the very beginning when he said "Wow that was a huge leap of  faith.  What was it like to leave your students and school behind?"  Oh My Gosh!! Uncontrollable tears burst out of my eyes immediately.  I told him it was really hard and so sad and I can't believe I actually did it.  Then I apologized for crying and he said Crystal I've been there, I've done the same thing so I completely understand how you're feeling right now.  All in all,  I feel like the interview went well but I have been praying that if the Lord has something better or different in store then I don't want the job.  After the interview I talked to Mom and confessed that I don't know if I want to teach music here in NY or not.  That's not what I came here for but none of the theatre companies are going to hire me unless I have some sort of New York experience and what better way to get that than teaching music, something I know and I love!  So again, it's the waiting game for me.  I am supposed to hear something this week and Peter said I if I didn't hear within 7 days to call and follow up.  It's comforting to know that I will know either way.

Wednesday began the dreaded apartment  search and I can already tell it’s going to be trying!  Jess is still at home in Rochester and won’t be here till we move in so it’s me and Rebecca searching without her.  It’s fine but she’s so young and so excited and is willing to take anything.  I, on the other hand, don’t share well and will not live in a cracker box.  I will wait for the right place and not jump the gun because I really feel like my home is my haven and if I can’t be comfy then it will just be miserable.  Our budget between the three of us is pretty small so we are limited to the Harlem/Morningside Heights area or Washington Heights/Inwood.  That translates to way far north in Manhattan between 146^th street and 207^th street.  Before Wednesday Rebecca and I got coffee and talked about apartments and searched craigslist, padmapper, hotpads…you name it we looked.  We put in inquiries on each apartment and some of them were already taken but one guy was willing to set up a time to show us an apartment we were interested in.  So, at 5:30 on Wednesday we took a look at our first apartment.  I think I nearly hyperventilated when I walked in because it was literally smaller than my apartment in Encino Park and had 3 bedrooms.  You couldn’t even fit a twin bed in one of the bedrooms and there were no closests!  WHO DESIGNED THESE PLACES?!!!!!  Rebecca was so excited and she looked at me and said “I think it’s really cute!”  My jaw hit the floor and I probably hyperventilated a little more and then freaked out.  I said “Whoa, living by myself for a long time plays a huge role in the apartment search.  There is no way I can share a space that small.  I have to have my own space and be away from people or I can’t function. There will be a place that will fit our needs and will be bigger than this.”  She said “Okay, I can completely understand but they go so fast and I don’t want to miss out on one.”  Then I looked across the street and the whole wall was tagged with graffiti so I pointed and said “ and that over there, it doesn’t sit well with me at all.”  Needless to say we walked away from that place gladly on my part.  We set up a time on Friday to look at more.  Rebecca and I parted ways and she went to visit her little boyfriend  two streets away on 148^th (I think that has a lot to do with why she like that cracker box so much….but sorry Charlie, I ain’t havin’ it!  We are not living next to your boyfriend because I don’t want a boy at my place all the time NO WAY!!!! I’m too old for that! ) Wednesday ended with a nice little concert in Central Park with Elizabeth, Jared and their friend Emily.  We had the privilege of listening to artists from the Metropolitan Opera here in NYC.  It was a great end to a very hectic day.

When Friday rolled around I was excited to go on the hunt for more apartments with Mike, the realtor from Wednesday.  I wrapped my head around the fact that the apartments we look at will be small. But still very unwilling to settle on a cracker box.  While I was having coffee with Megan from Hillsong, Rebecca and I decided to cancel the appointment because we don't have paperwork ready with proof of employment or anything like that and Rebecca has confessed on numerous occasions, that she is just stressed and overwhelemd.  So, we decided to meet up later for pedi's.  In the meantime, my new meisner partner, Marcelino, came over to my place to run/memorize lines from our scene we got on Tuesdsay.  We have to memorize it mechanically, by rote, so when we actually have to perform it we will be able to read each other and act on our impulses.  It should be very interesting.  Our rehearsal was fabulous and I definitely appreciate a partner willing to put in the time to rehearse.  My original partner, Afrim, is sort of a slacker in that area.  I'm always calling him and saying hey can you rehearse and the answer is always no let's do it before class.  GRRR!  It does work out fine, I just know we would both get more out of it if we rehearsed more.  That was a random tangent so back to Friday.  After Marcelino left I met up with Rebecca and indulged in a much needed pedi.  The streets of New York take a toll on my feet so I was not going to pass up that opportunity.  After our pedi we went back to Rebecca's, ordered chinese food and watched teh opening ceremony of the Olympics.  We were all falling asleep by the end of it because it was so long and so not what I was expecting.  A very interesting opening ceremony to say the least.   

Saturday was a lovely, laid back day.  I slept in which is always one of my favorite things.  Tom David was in town and we met up for dinner.  First, he did a little searching for some good ol' Tex-Mex on google and found two places with Tex-Mex fare.  We ate at one close to Grand Central Station and it was definitley not San Antonio Tex-Mex by any means but I sure did love a taste of home and good conversation with my dear friend Tom!  Thanks TOM, you made my day!  AFter dinner I came home and sat in front of the TV and watched the olympics.  And the week started off with a little taste of heaven at Hillsong last night.  We're off to a good week :)

Love,

A soul searching, miss gulley in manhattan.

When Reality Sets In....

I have a tendency to compare my summer last year to this summer and there is no comparison.  Last summer was so different.  God provided a job for me right away and completely provided for me financially so I could play all summer.   This summer God is providing in a different way.  He has provided new friends, a church home and two future roommates!  I realized that he is paving the way to set my life up here for a while.  How do I know this?  Well, I know because I am jobless and living in NYC indefinitely.   I turned in my resignation papers on Monday and I still don’t really know how I feel about it.  Of course, I cried big fat tears because a chapter in my life is officially closed but I’m sort of excited to find out what lies ahead. 

 Last week was a rollercoaster of a ride.  I walked around the city and went about my business with goosebumps most of the time. It started when I went to Hillsong and met Sarah while we were in the overflow room.  Hillsong now has seven services and for some reason 2:00 PM was the one I decided to go to.  When I got there I was so mad I was in the overflow room and just wanted to go home.   I wanted to be where all the action was but I knew I was there for a reason.   During the four minutes of meet and greet I met Sarah.  We are both from Texas and our stories of what brought us here are so similar it’s ridiculous!   I can clearly see the work of the Lord in my life and it just amazes me!  Last Tuesday I went to a connect group, a small group bible study and that’s where I met Megan.  It was sort of an instant connection and we got coffee the next morning and chatted for a really long time.  I also met two girls on Friday for dinner named Rebecca and Jessica.  We all met to talk about being roommates come September  1^st.   It’s a perfect situation.  We are all performers but in different areas, all Christians and we all want to live in the same general area.  So, we made it official and will be starting the search for apartments this week.  We were connected with each other by a mutual friend, Elizabeth.  Her and her husband reminds me so much of Greg and Rachel Ligon because they are so good at connecting people with the same needs.  I spent some time with them last weekend and they were so encouraging.  Elizabeth looked at me at one point and said “I don’t normally say this but I know you’re here for a specific reason.” I was definitely thankful for that statement because it’s always good to hear confirmation like that.  I also had the opportunity to talk to a professor at NYU about the Educational Theatre Masters.   If I do the Educational Theatre Masters without the teacher certification it will only take me one year to complete it.  That sounds pretty amazing and it’s at NYU!!!! I’m still looking at other programs just to make sure that Educational Theatre is the direction I want to go when it comes to getting my masters.

  I think Friday was one of the hardest days for me.  I found out that one of my high school choir directors, Joan Davis, passed away.  I was so sad about that because she was a beautiful woman who played a huge part in my love for music and passion for singing.  She encouraged me and didn’t let me get away with much.  Those teachers are always my favorite and she will for sure be missed.  On the same day I heard that Colleen Bohrmann was moving up to Central Office and would no longer be at Encino Park.  Talk about an emotional day!  When I heard the news about Colleen I just felt like, once again, confirmation that I am doing the right thing and supposed to be here.  Because, Colleen moved up I needed to resign ASAP so Cindy can have the full time music position for next year.  I knew I would end up resigning I just thought it would be in August instead of now.   In the midst of all the emotion and shock I was reminded of this verse "Remember not the former things, nor the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; do you not percieve it? I will make a way in the wilderness and a river in the dessert." Isaiah 43:18-19. 

Even though I’m jobless I do have a job lead.  I had an interview with a company called Education Through Music on Monday.  It’s a very interesting company.  Fifty percent of NY public schools do not have a music program in place so, ETM’s ultimate goal is to put teachers in the schools that don’t have music and try to get those principals to hire them on as “real teachers” with the NY department of education.  I think it’s a great company with a great purpose.   I would only work part time which would allow me to take classes, go to auditions or work a second job.  I think it sounds perfect!  Monday’s interview was only the first round though.  It was sort of an interesting interview, I felt like it was an audition actually.  There were seven of us in the interview and we all had to present a five minute mini-lesson for a specific grade level.  Everyone came from a different musical background so that made all the lessons very interesting.   I thought I would find out next week if I was “called back” for the second round of interviews but, I found out today before my acting class that I have a one on one interview with the Program Director next Wednesday at  2:00PM.  Yipee!!  My week is off to a great start and to make it even better I got to watch Roman Holiday in Bryant Park with my two new friends,  Megan and Sarah. 

 When reality sets in I will be praising my way through this journey.  I’m in NEW YORK CITY!!!!!  And I’m somewhere over the rainbow where dreams really do come true!   I know the Lord is control, he is my provider, he is my refuge in times of trouble and he will never leave me or forsake me or give me more than I can handle. 

Love,

The official New Yorker, for now, Miss Gulley in Manhattan

I don't remember where this was but it was an
awesome rooftop bar.  I had drinks with my Tango
partner Lawrence last weekend.  Don't worry, I haven't
seen him since. LOL

A little fact...this is my stop in what is known as
ACTORia.  

Waiting for the movie to start in Bryant Park

Moto...I suggest this place to anyone visiting!
I't in Brooklyn and it's AWESOME!

Yay for new friends.  On the left is Sarah from Texan
and on the right is Megan from Seattle.

Me and Elizabeth :)

The art of "doing"

To be a good actor you have to have a lively temperament, an able and limber body, and a voice. According to Mr. Charles Goforth, my Meisner teacher,  acting is "doing" truthfully under imaginary circumstances.  Well, it's a revision from Sanford Meisner who says acting is to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.  The Meisner class  I started taking  this past week is fascinating.  As soon as the first class was over I was so intrigued and interested I went and bought the book called Sanford Meisner on Acting . I've already learned more than I could have imagined and it's only the first week.  Let me give you a recap of my first two classes.  
Class #1
Of course, I was seriously nervous about my first class because I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I would have to do things I don't do or have never done.  I was okay with that and ready for an exciting three hours.  I met a girl in the class, named Athen, while I was sitting in the lobby waiting because I was early. She said that Charles is a great teacher and three hours goes by really quickly.  That was a relief to hear.  At precisely 1:30 our class began.  It was a small class of five ranging from 20 somethings to 40 somethings and consisted of two girls and three boys plus Charles.   He laid out his expectations and then we immediately began the most famous exercise in this training called the Repetition exercise.  This is where your partner makes an observation about you and you have to repeat it back and forth until the repetition naturally or organically changes in one of three ways. A simple change is the pronoun.  If my partner says "you look really young" I would say "I look really young."  Easy right?  Well, then the second change comes when the repetition just plain piles up.  Say my partner and I have repeated the same phrase at least 10 times back and forth, eventually one of us is going to say something to change it based on how we feel about what we are saying or the partners' reaction. The third change comes when you observe a behavior change from your partner.  I have just said to my partner "I am upsetting you"  my partner says "Yes you're upsetting me"  I would then say "Oh my gosh! I didn't mean to upset you."  I know, it doesn't really make sense and it is really hard to explain but the exercise is designed to make you have true, honest, real, naturally organic responses to what is happening.  Charles started the Repetition exercise with each one of us before we were left on our own and I have to say with him it was easy and natural.  I'm sure that's because he knows what he's doing.  After we were left on our own with a partner he would stop and correct us and tell us why our repetition didn't work or what could have been said etc.  He also made it very clear that the classroom was a safe place and there were no wrong answers.  I love that! After a good long practice with repetition we discussed as a class that giving an honest response in real life is not the norm but for an actor it means everything.  That's why when you're acting you're not pretending to be someone you're not, you're acting as you under imaginary circumstances.  That was a real eye opener for me. Charles said over and over in the first class "take in your partner" meaning what behaviors are you observing from him?  What does his body language say?  How is he responding to you?   If I'm honest, it's hard for me to read someone especially if I don't know them.  Charles summed up the class with the words "you can't think about what you're doing, you have to act on your impulses."  He gave us official partners and homework to practice the repetition with our new partner for at least forty-five minutes to an hour before Thursday. The first class was a breeze compared to the second one.  
Class #2
I did my homework with my partner named Afrim.  He is very nice and lives in Brooklyn and I felt way more comfortable doing the repetition with him outside of class instead of in class.  It just felt a bit freer and a little more forgiving because we both have not clearly grasped the concept yet.  On Thursday we had a complete class of eight.  Two more boys joined us and one more girl.  It created a whole new dynamic to our class that will definitely make the interactions way more interesting.  The classroom was set up a little bit different  and Charles acted more like a teacher.  He hid behind a desk in the corner instead of rolling around on his rolly chair like he did in the first class.  He was definitely down to business today and later I found that he does not put up with peoples little games.  Afrim and I were called up to do the Repetition excersice first and like last time Charles stopped us every now and then to ask "what are you getting from him?" "how are you feeling about that?  or say "Crystal, make a subjective observation to start," or  "Afrim, you're too mechanical, let her response land on you and take her in."  We were up there a good 15 minutes or longer just practicing.  I confessed to Charles that I see a behavior change from Afrim but have no idea how to put that into words. Once I confessed most of the other class members agreed with that statement when they were up there practicing too.  I found it very interesting to watch the others and I found it even more interesting to watch Charles.  I can always tell when he is going to start the repetition with someone because he literally looks you up and down and stares right into your eyes for a good three seconds and then says something like "you seem very pensive today," and the exercise begins. He literally takes you in.  The new students had to catch up very quickly but they seemed to pick it up very well.  I did observe that Athen will be the teachers pet and one of our new students (I wish I could remember his name) is going to drive me crazy because he is all over the place and asks questions that have already been answered.  Joseph, is older and he gets on my nerves too because he's a little bit full of himself and has the same exact expression every time his partner makes an observation to begin the exercise.  Everyone else is just as interesting but those three definitely stood out to me this week.  We were reminded during our class, once again, to take our partner in and stay in the moment because the unit of acting is a moment and we don't want to miss one.  He reminded us to act on our impulse and to treat the exercise as a reality.  Charles told us  another change that can come in the repetition is a point of view change and that the principle of acting is don't do anything until something makes you do it.  
By then end of class we had all practiced the repetition and Charles gave us another exercise to do that will help us read our partners behavior a little better.  It's called the Three Moment Exercise.  In this exercise you sit in a chair across from one another and ask a provocative question.  Your partner is supposed to repeat it and then you tell him what behavior came from that question.  So, my partner and I had to go first and I freaked out a little bit.  I am not a question asker normally and especially not provacative questions with someone I don't even know!  So, I squirmed in my chair for a good while and then looked over at Charles  and said "a provocative question? Like, do you have a list?"  He laughed as well as everyone else and then asked me the dirtiest question ever that I had to repeat!  This class is a whole new ballgame for me.  I'm so not used to those kinds of questions.  Then it was my turn to ask Afrim and I couldn't.  I had no questions...my mind was literally blank becasue I was so terrified! This is when I found out Charles isn't going to put up with anything because he looked at me really stern and said "Crystal, put your feet on the floor, get over the fact that you are not comfortable and do it!" So, I took a deep breath and asked the stupidest questions and then my turn was over. Whew, that was clearly not an easy task for me.
  Everyone else did not have a hard time with that exercise and I realized a few things in that moment.  First of all, I'm so used to getting my way and getting out of things and that's definitely not going to happen in this class.  Secondly, I am very reserved and have not had the same "life" experiences as the people in my class so that makes a huge difference.  Third, I'm gonna have to push through the fact that asking provacative questions makes me very, very uncomfortable.  I need a list...so if any of you have good questions to ask please share :)  Last but not least, this class is very good for me and the teacher is good for me as well.  I know I will grow, I will learn, I will be taken into unfamiliar territory and stretched to my limit.  I hope when it's all said and done I  will be a better actress and will be able to read people better.  I can't wait to see what this weeks classes hold.  


Love,
A very uncomfortable Meisner student,  Miss Gulley in Manhattan