Summer Needs

Can you even BELIEVE the summer is coming so quickly? My heart isn't EXACTLY aching with fear about what I'm going to do... but it KIIIIND of is. 

Here are the things I need/would like. Do NOT mistake this for a pessimistic list again. It's not.

1. A place to live. Surely this will happen. I'm semi-purposefully waiting because they prices are still only going to go down. 

2. An internship. This is what I think though. I can STILL get an internship over next year. My life isn't going to be OVER if I don't get one now. BUUUUT my plan still is to get one. I'm semi-hopeful. 

3. A job. Now, I haven't begun with the job search because I don't know when the internship will need me. 

4. A transition plan. I obviously can't decide what to do with my stuff until I know when I have to move and where I'm going to move to. 

I'm not saying I'm screwed. I KNOW something will work itself out. I just don't know how. 

In other non-news, I watched all of the commentary available to The Office, season two. BRILLIANT commentary. MUCH better than Friends, which never has any of the cast. In The Office, several members of the cast and a writer and maybe a producer do the commentary. I really love watching commentary, but it's bittersweet because I ALWAYS feel simultaneously extremely pleasured AND creepy and weird. I'm not sure I can pinpoint the reason for the weird feeling but it's along the lines of being obsessed with something enough that you're watching the commentary. It's weird falling under that category of not only loving the art, but loving the people that created the art... which is what crazy people do. AND what I do. 

The bigger issue is that... I'm trying to decide how I can convince myself that it's OK to buy the other seasons so that I can watch THOSE commentaries. My SECRET SECRET SECRET desire that netflix will stop allowing me to watch the episodes for free on my computer so that it will be more reasonable for me to buy the seasons. 

God, I judge myself so much. 

Also, I'm becoming increasingly aware that all I ever have to talk about is school work and my relationships with fictional and famous people. I know if I keep talking about The Office and Bob Dylan, no one will want to talk to me anymore. But I love them. 

My Brother, the Internet Sensation

Another Work of Art by My Brother. 

There are actually two new videos but they both look exactly the same except he actually catches the ball in the other one. 

(Matt is the one in the bright pink pants...)

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Gorgeous weather today! Super sunny and a little breezy. After work, I was inspired to go into the city or play outside or something, so I called Rachael to see if she wanted to have a catch. Nay because she wasn't home. So I decided to walk to the park and read a little. UNFORTUNATELY, ALL of my pants have holes in the crotch and the rubbing on my legs KILLED! So instead of walking straight to the park, I went to the Prudential Center to see if I could get some new pants. BUUUUT that place has only the high end stores and, despite my pain, I couldn't justify spontaneously spending $200 on a pair of jeans... although my roommate rightly informed me that it would make an interesting plot line for Seinfeld. Anyway, instead, I sat down at the food court, which IS nice because it has a huge variety of foods... like Indian! (although I actually got chicken). Then I limped to the T and went home. 

Still, I'm monumentally happy... and even if your inner thighs are burning, it's still lovely to walk around in the beautiful weather. 

On a side note, I have FINALLY redeveloped a taste for non-Bob Dylan music. Yesterday I listened to Regina Spektor and today I listened to the new U2 album. I did ALSO listen to Bob Dylan on both days though. 

Weight Off My Back!!!!!!!!!!

I am SOOOOOO JUBILANT I COULD DIE!!!

It went UNBELIEVABLY, IMPOSSIBLY WELL!! 

1. Everyone came on time and they were SOOOO PLEASANT and KIND!! And they memorized their lines perfectly! And they took directions PERFECTLY!! And they were SUPER FUN! Iwant to be best friends with them! And they WEREN'T silly or offended when I asked them to do something differently. And they all thanked me like... a JILLION TIMES for getting them pizza... when THEY were giving ME their entire Saturday!!! AAAAAND they performed their stunts so well!!!

2. NO ONE came into the basement. From 7:30am to 4:30pm not a SINGLE PERSON came into the basement to put in a bike or do their laundry. How is that even POSSIBLE?

3. We weren't missing a SINGLE PROP! 

4. The camera performed perfectly!

5. We all agreed that creating a set, while looking like a pretty hellish room to live in, was the best way to shoot the film. 

6. There was NO ECHO PROBLEM!

7. While I absolutely did NOT sleep the entire night... it actually made me SUPER CRAZY ENERGETIC!!! I wasn't sad or cranky or anything. I was actually very happy the entire day. 

8. We finished an ENTIRE HOUR EARLY!!!! How is that POSSIBLE??!! 

I can't even BELIEVE how well it went. Past Blythe would have liked to hear that... but it's okay that she didn't. Also, in retrospect, I'm glad that I was so worried because it means that I cared about it a lot. That's good news. 

Also, I'm pretty sure I feel monumentally better about everything (although I can't say for certain because I haven't slept in quite a long time). I don't know that I need to go on a campaign of optimism after all. 

Now all I have to do is finish the Britney Medley, but it seems far less taxing than it did before. 

The Pessimistic Shoot

Ok, I'm not TRYING to be pessimistic, but I can't see how tomorrow could POSSIBLY go well. We're finally doing our shoot. So here is what I'm worried about, but all of these problems are unavoidable. (BTW, I reprimand myself for even MAKING such a negative list... but I am going to REALLY go on a campaign for more peace RIGHT AFTER APRIL 15!!! Seriously. It's going to be a whole new/old Blythe.)

That said, here are the issues: 

1. We are using actors I've never met. They could act too silly and take forever. They could be late. They could talk too much and take forever. Unfortunately, I do not HAVE forever. I have seven hours. 

1b. WHAT IF SOMEONE DOESN'T SHOW UP?!

2. What if we're missing a crucial prop. There is no way to know. I've gone through the script, obviously. 

3. Something might be wrong with the camera. If ANYTHING happens with the camera, DEATH. Impossible to know right now. 

4. I could fall asleep right now and not wake up on time to set everything up. Or not have done any of the script preparation. 

5. The mattress might not FIT through the doors to the basement. 

6. It might not work shooting in an area with only 2 walls. It might look like a studio shoot. 

7. More people could USE the basement than I think. What if someone comes down there every 10 minutes to bring a bike. I'll have to stop the camera each time. What if someone decides to do their laundry. Then I'm going to commit some homicide. 

8. I might get too nervous about time (like I did LAST TIME I directed) and forget to aim for quality and only shoot to get things done. For example, what if I forget to do transition shots, or decide to save them for when the actors are gone and then forget to do them after they leave because I'm so relieved. 

9. What if I don't sleep tonight and I end up really cranky tomorrow? That is CRAZY likely... except I bet I won't be so much cranky as sad or anxious. I'm going to try REALLY HARD to stay calm and act like everything is under control. 

OK. The positive part is that I'm EXPECTING so much to go wrong that... I HOPEFULLY be relatively prepared and calm. I can only prepare as best as I can... and then whatever happens happens. It's not going to be the end of the world. If everything in the WHOLE WORLD gets fucked up tomorrow, we'll just try again next weekend... even if our actors storm out saying that they are unprofessional and we wasted their time... we will have only wasted ONE DAY and we can get NEW ACTORS. PLUS this is great experience!!! AND I am already an experienced director, so I can remember the mistakes I made last time and try to avoid them. 

My final thought: I wouldn't waste a wish on it... but I kind of wish I could read, right now, my blog for tomorrow to find out how it will all go. Then my belly might feel less arrogant*. 

*I know that doesn't make sense in that context.... but it's the word that I need to use... and I don't feel like explaining why. 

Notebooks, The Office, Chocolate

OK, I'm finally ready to start posting again. 

Here are the problem solutions: 

1. We will be shooting this Saturday. Two actors out of three have confirmed. While I continue to be anxious about it, at least it's a manageable amount of concern.

2. I will be sending my resume and cover letter to a variety of internships that pretty much all have to do with WHDH. The deadline for submitting resumes is April 15. That will happen. I WILL be staying in Boston, barring extenuating circumstances. 

In other news, I finished up my Taj Mahal notebook, so I got three more at Urban Outfitters. One of them is really pretty with butterflies, but I have to say, I was skeptical about buying it. Is it too Mariah Carey? Mariah Carey RUINED BUTTERFLIES!

Also, as always on Wednesdays, I was exhausted by the time I got home so I decided to take a snooze, setting my alarm for 10:20pm (So I can watch Important Things with Demetri Martin (which I'm honestly not THAT attached to... but I'd still like to catch it)). When I woke up, I looked over at my clock and saw that it was 3:45am! I was like "WHAAAT??!!" If you still have homework to do in that situation, it's just the WORST THING... because then you have to do the math and decide if you can only sleep like... 1 more hour and then wake up to do the work... which makes you feel like you only got 1 hour of sleep... even though technically now your nap was your sleep. Ugh, terrible. So I lay in bed deciding for about 10 minutes, and THEN I realized that our power went out earlier and I didn't reset my clock. So I look over at my cellphone and it was only 1:15am. YES! 

This week I got bruises in my ears from my HEADPHONES!! Like... skin has been broken because I've been using my headphones so much! I'm inclined to blame The Office as I spent ALL of Saturday watching it on netflix, using my headphones because my computer isn't loud enough without them. Then on Sunday... I watched MORE of The Office... plus I arranged part of a song for chords which also involved headphones. On Monday, more Office and then arranging another part of a song (Britney Medley!)! Tuesday-- more Office. 

I love that show! I've been rewatching episodes... episodes that I watched on Saturday! Plus, don't judge, but on netflix you can only watch seasons 1 through 4 and you can only watch the last 5 episodes online... which leaves like... 12 earlier episodes of season 5 that I CAN'T SEE!! or  COULDN'T except that I've BOUGHT most of them on itunes...

PLUS I bought season 2 on dvd... which MIGHT sound like the dumbest thing in the world... but.. I have my reasons. 

Plus, and you REALLY shouldn't judge this... but you can if you need, but I moved The Office to a lower position on facebook because I was disappointed with the show and didn't want my opinion to be devalued because I love the show so much. Well... I re-promoted it. ... Yeah... I guess you might HAVE to judge that... because I can't stop judging myself. 

The last thing about this, is that tomorrow there will be TWO NEW EPISODES!! One at 8pm, then Parks and Recreation, then ANOTHER new episode, then ... I assume 30 Rock. Now, tomorrow we're singing at 7pm in West... and if I'm not back by 8pm... I'm not saying I'm going to throw a fit... because I'm sure I won't... but I will throw an internal fit... and I will reprimand myself for getting upset over a TV show. This will be an internal struggle. 

AAAAANYWAY, my mom sent me chocolate for Easter (due to her new good mood). She has never sent me anything for Easter before. It was very nice. I totally forgot that Easter existed. BUT she sent me chocolate eggs, a chocolate bunny, a little thing of vanilla fudge, AND (drumroll) chocolate PLAYING CARDS!

LASTLY, I picked and got my classes. I am taking:

1. Writing for television comedy

2. Television comedy (and they are the same professor... possibly not wise)

3. Sociology on socialized medicine-- medical programs here and abroad (completely elective)

4. Classical themes in modern literature (I had to take a writing or literature course)

5. Intro to guitar!

I think it looks pretty good. 

Strangely, The Office (The Wheels on my Obsessions Go 'Round and 'Round)

All I want to say at the moment is that I've been re-watching a LOT of The Office lately... like pretty much the entire series... a LOT of it today. Those first seasons are SO GOOD though... and it kind of made me especially sad that this season kind of sucks. Also, during this time I was like... "man, it's been so long since I watched these" but actually it's only been a few months since I watched the entire series. Problem? Maybe. 

ANYWAY! So, obviously this spurs hours of looking at interviews of the various cast online... checking out the imdb... or if I REALLY need to know some information, wikipedia. While I was watching an interview with John Krasinski (possibly with Craig Ferguson that I somehow missed/ it was in September when I didn't watch him every night), Craig, or whoever the host was asked what's going to be happening with Jim and Pam. AAAAAND John Krasinski said that they don't really have an arc because of the WRITERS STRIKE!!! I was like OOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!! Now it makes sense that it sucks so bad! All the shows had to be made to be independent of one another... go out of order. Or something like that...

I officially forgive The Office. 

Plus, John Krasinski is going to be in some movie called Away We Go with Maya Rudolph and Allison Janney and Catherine O'Hara and directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road). I really do love that character he plays...he has a soothing voice and a sincere face and I love when guys that are really tall and chill do that towering slow walk with the shoulders kind of hunched and their hands in their pockets. I know you know exactly what I'm talking about. Plus this movie has the independent feel to it which let's people explore themselves a little more, I think... and he has a big beard which I find pretty attractive. And it's about pregnancy... and we all know that's my secret favorite genre (preferably teen... but I like it in all flavors (that was kind of a weird way to put it)). BUUUT if it's good, Claire and I can add it to the list of movies to screen at our "Your Eggo's Not Preggo" party... which was designed because of the brilliant pregnancy genre. 

(I just had a vision of someone that I know becoming pregnant and have the party with the opposite title. Crazy.)

On a tangent, the funny/sincere thing about obsessions is that they don't necessarily go together and thus don't define you. Michael Cera and Bob Dylan couldn't guest star on The Office. 

Am I defining them?

Actually Michael Cera COULD guest star on The Office... but it would be weird seeing him in the vicinity of Bob Dylan.

ANYWAY can't totally talk about the work load yet. The storm has passed though...

Also, tomorrow we're registering for classes. I just came up with the ones I wanted to take today and I can't say they were the most thought-out choices I've ever made. But I don't care.