Try As I Might...

...I just can't bring myself to do the work I need to do today.  Instead, I keep looking at photos from my recent New York trip and watching silly movies.  Meh, I still have tomorrow.

 

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend, everyone!

It Gives You Wings

I feel like this might be self explanatory, but for those of you who don't love Liza as I do (and shame on you, by the way)....I am heading to my beloved NYC tonight after a YEAR long absence!  Yes, it is true (and I can't believe it), I haven't been back in a year (and 17 days...but who's counting...).  I am so unbelievably excited I am actually bursting at the seams.  My happiness cup overfloweth.


As my darling friend Rachel, who shall also be in NYC this weekend (thank god), said, "I'm going to hug everyone... and I mean everyone...in the whole city."  I hear ya, Rach.  It is going to be the most glorious home-away-from-homecoming that has ever happened.  Ever. So watch out, New York (and everyone in it), I'm a'coming.  And I've missed you terribly.


For those of you non-Liza fans (I can't believe any of you could be, but who knows) who chose to skip the video, I encourage you to watch it in its entirety.  Not only does she kill it at 2:07, she also does at 2:50... and 3:40.  Seriously, goosebumps abounding, I pinky promise.

Old Friends

I'm pretty sure this song is explanation enough, but just in case it isn't, here are some photos of a lovely dinner in the city last week with two of my oldest friends.  The food was delicious, the company was lovely, the entire evening was just perfect.  As you can see, I was a little distracted during the actual meal to take any pictures, but here's what I ended up with...

Well hello, Fall

I am in love with this week already.  The weather is finally crisp enough for boots and my red beret that I've had since I was 5 (no joke, it is awesome) PLUS, as a life long theatre artist, I love any excuse to put on a costume, and the knowing that Halloween is this weekend makes me giddy in anticipation.  Fall is here and things are magical already.  Seriously, just look at these photos.  Don't they make you want to make a cup of hot chocolate, climb under a blanket and read Jane Austen?  Nobody?  Just me?  Ah well...

Here are my plans for this week (I love lists):

• Finish a blasted study guide that should have been done weeks ago.  Ugh, procrastination
• Play the guitar/prep for my writing group on Tuesday.
• Finish decorating our house for Halloween (pictures to follow).
• Have dinner with some old friends.
• Hire 15 actors for next week.  Oy.
• Purchase scotchy scotch scotch for Saturday.
• Finish putting together my costume for Saturday (which will involve the purchase of some pretty fantastic mustaches).

I hope everyone has fantastic plans for this pre-Halloween week.  Do something snuggly, the weather is absolutely perfect for it.

Transitive Property Street Cred

As we are all well aware, I am just not that cool.  No no, I'm not saying this so someone comments with something ego-stroking, it is mostly true.  If you are a 7 year old, I'm extra cool, but for a 23 year old, I would rather stay home and watch The Big Bang Theory than go out and get shwasted every single night and not remember any of it or go to a club and get grinded up on by random people.  Let me put it to you another way, bouncers don't know me, if and when I approach them, they look at me with a question mark imbedded on their face.  It is almost amusing to watch, let me tell you.

The actual point of me ranting away about coolness is to mention that everyone should check out the new album by a band called Hetch Hetchy.  They are AWESOME.  Seriously, download their album today.  You won't regret it (and you can get it for free free free, which makes them extra awesome).  Go to: http://hetchhetchy.bandcamp.com/  If you like it, spread the word.  These guys absolutely deserve some buzz.  

the album cover for Hetch Hetchy's new record, Glen Worple.
nicked from here.

Juiced.

Have no fear, I'm not on steroids (though I have been...not so fun, I don't know how those body builders do it). I've just got lots of things beginning to simmer...creatively.  Those creative juices (see, tied in the title) are a-flowing.  I'm excited about all my new projects that are beginning to come into focus.  Perhaps some involving my dear friend Camilla (many heartfelt congratulations, by the way.  Yay for engagements!), perhaps some involving old high school friends and Tuesday nights (details to come, I promise), perhaps some involving an upcoming audition, perhaps some involving this:

I'm feeling a little buzzy or, as the Salem ladies say, like I have champagne bubbles running through my veins.  And I've got to tell you--I. Love. It.  I haven't felt this way in a long time.  I'm excited to share new things here, but I think we'll have to let this creative culinary concoction (ah, alliteration) come to a boil first.  I have a feeling it is going to be a lovely Fall.

Side note:  even though it is for the lamest thing I have ever heard, welcome home, sir.

Step Step Step

What I'm currently listening to

I have thought a lot about posting something here over the last few weeks.  I mean a lot.  There is a ton of shit going on in my head and it seems like sometimes saying it to the nameless, faceless interwebs actually helps.  And yet, I stop myself every single time.  Why, might you ask?  Because I worry for you, oh reader.  I know that I'm in a funk/slump, one like I've never experienced before, and that I am doing my best to pull myself up out of it, but I find myself not wanting to share it for fear of this blog becoming very johnny-one-note.  Like all 3 of you would come here and see a new post and be like, "Oh, Jesus, Ashleigh is depressed...AGAIN.  How lame."  And you know what, that is just crazytown.  I started writing this thing to chronicle the renaissance of my post-college 20s, not to be all sunshine and rainbows every second.  Change is hard, reinvigoration takes work, and growing older is messy.  I'm just trying to figure it all out the best I can.  I thank you for reading, especially for those who have been following since the beginning.  As I'm sure you are well aware, the future is completely unknown to me and I have big plans for myself.  I invite you to join me on this adventure.  Who the hell knows, it could be freaking magical.


I've found that over the past few months I've created a sort of mantra for myself.  It was totally unintentional, something that just crept up on me and shines a little light when I feel like everything has gone to shit:  Step Forward.  So simple, right?  It is almost comically simple, and yet there in lies the beauty.  Sometimes this is the hardest thing in the world to remember, especially when work is getting me down and I am missing New York City, but taking one little step towards what I want, even if it is almost negligibly small, brings me peace and gives me the strength to take another step.  

I found this picture I'd taken of my brother in the spring, facing down a massive tree.  He's a big guy, but in the picture he looks so small in the shadow of this giant.  This is how I am feeling--teeny tiny as I march towards this giant unknown future.  And at the same time, I find comfort in this image.  I love trees, they are strong and beautiful and full of life.  And if that's what I'm walking towards--a big, beautiful, lively unknown--them I'm ok with that.  I find peace and solace in that.