So, when I was in A Thousand Cranes we spent a lot of time in the van traveling. A LOT. And at first, we let Cameron control the radio with his iPod. However, that didn't last very long and we listened to the radio. A LOT. And that meant that we heard the same songs over, and over almost every time we were in the van together. This is one of those songs, and it always makes me think of good times in the cramped van, driving all over the Utah and Salt Lake Valleys.
As you may recall, I went to Los Angeles this past February to compete at the American College Theater Festival and as part of my Advanced Makeup class adventures. Because I was one of the select few that was attending both events, I had the special privelage of traveling all of LA to be able to got to all the different venues, workshops, etc for each event. Me, Janell, DJB, and McKell became seasoned veterans of the LA highway system. However, this meant that we would spend a lot of time in the car. So, DJB made us a mixtape. And this song appeared on it twice, and will always make me think of sunny LA :)
I always seem to forget to keep up with these challenges daily. SO here's a catch-up post of the 30 day song challenge!
Day 03: A Song that Makes You Happy
The first time I heard this song I was watching the music video, and my heart literally lept for joy. I then proceeded to share it with all of my roommates and we all became a little happier than we were before. Then, we all decided to do a little research and realized that the two were really engaged! How fantastic! (as an update - they're married now! Adorable.) Even if you've heard the song before - just watch the video. I mean, come on. How could it NOT make you happy???
Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Bublé
Day 04: A Song that Makes You Sad
I love French music. I Always have. And the French have a wonderful talent for making sad, tragic things beautiful. That's what this song does. I discovered it when I was about 17 and every time I hear it makes my heart cry with sadness at it's message and it's beauty. It's actually a song about suicide, which I find interesting. I'd also just like to say that if you ever feel like you've reached the end, and want to give up reaching out - don't. There are 6+ billion people on the planet, someone is there for you. Believe it. Hopefully you can enjoy the beauty of this song just like I do :)
C'était l'hiver by Francis Cabrel
She said,"I've already walked too far, my heart is already too heavy with secrets, too heavy with sorrow." She said,"I won't go on, I've already seen what awaits me, it's more pain."
She said living was cruel, she no longer believed in the sun, or the silence of churches. Even my smiles frighten her - It was winter in the depths of her heart. (x2)
The wind had never been colder, the rain more violent, than on that night, the night of her 20's, the night she extinguished the fire behind the facade of her eyes in a white flash.
She has surely joined the sky, she shines beside the sun, like new churches
And since that night I cry; it's what makes it cold in the depths of my heart.
Day 05: A Song that Reminds You of Someone
So, my freshman year I lived in the dorms and had a kick-awesome RA. We spent lots of time together, and bonded over many things. One of the main things we bonded over was music. Another thing we like to do was what we called "shower parties". Now, that may sound suspicious but it just means that we would plan to shower at the same time, go into the communal bathroom and bring our iPods and speakers and play music while we showered (in our respecrive showers, of course). Now, when I came back from Christmas vacation I had just a bought a CD. That CD was Jesse McCartney: Departure. We discovered this next track and blasted it during many a shower party, and when we went home for the summer we would call each other anytime it came on the radio. 24-7; 3, 6, 5 .To this day, everytime I hear it I think of my dear Kelsey Moss!
So, I love Fleetwood Mac. Really, I do. I mean, the "Rumors" episode of Glee was fantastic and I do love to rock out to "Tusk" when I need to be pumped up. HOWEVER there is one Fleetwood Mac song that I hate. It's "Landslide". Now, I'm probably going to be hated for saying that since I know many, many people love it - but it just drives me crazy! Maybe it's because the first time I heard it, the Dixie Chicks were singing it, I don't know. But every time I hear those first opening notes, something within me cringes. SO here you go. One of my least favorites songs ever. And it's the Dixie Chicks version ;0)
My good friend Kelsey Johansen posted this at her blog a while ago, and I thought I would just reiterate what she said and add my own spin on things.
Also, I'm actually going to go off on a pretty big rant right now, so if you're not in the mood to read it than don't.
***
So everyone says pick a major or job you love, that way you won't lead a tortured existence where you just hate what you do every day of your life. However, what they fail to tell you is that if it isn't something 'respectable' or 'serious' than they will judge you and think that you are wasting your time and your talent.
This is one of the reasons why I always hesitate to tell people what my major is. I mean, saying "theater" is one thing, but then going on to say "makeup" well...
Like, Kelsey, I am sick and tired of people saying things like “is that really a class?” in a condescending tone or "well that's cool, but are you taking any real classes?". MY CLASSES ARE REAL CLASSES TOO. I know you're just bitter/jealous or whatever because you're dying from the amount of papers you have to write or books you need to read and tests you have to take in the testing center but that's not my fault. Taking those classes were entirely YOUR decision, and you're taking them in order to (hopefully) do what you love JUST LIKE ME. My classes may sound fun (which they are) but they are no means easy. They're just different. Just because I don't read chapters and chapters out of conventinoal textbooks doesn't mean I don't read. I read plays. Lots of plays. And journal articles. And instructional manuals. Watch instructional videos. Read magazines. All to be able to try and keep up with what is happening in my industry, JUST LIKE YOU. I watch videos, interviews, films, and television to try and see what is being creatively thought of in the world, JUST LIKE YOU. I spend hundreds of hours a year outside of class practicing, working on projects I DON'T get paid for, sitting backstage during performance, staying later than most people after performances, and taking seminars to try and get a little bit of an edge. So, while I'm not spending time at the library, I'm certainly not spending it lounging around my apartment, contrary to popular belief. So, now can you understand when you say that my classes aren't real that I might get a little upset? They ARE to be taken seriously and they are NOT lesser than yours. I just happen to do all of that hard work and almost (I'd say 85-90% of the time) always HAVE FUN TOO. Which I think is awesome.
I'm doing what I love, just like everyone told me to do. And I don't understand why that can't be important either.
Also, if you think that I won't be able to "do" anything with my degree/experience you are also wrong. Makeup design is a legitimate profession. Weddings, photshoots, movies, television, theater, opera, musicals, the nightly news - you name it. There are lots of venues for me to explore.
If you think that I'm wasting time and money studying something that's going to leave me broke and make me a 'starving artist' than that's not true either. If I wanted to be a makeup effects artist for movies or commericals, I could get paid THOUSANDS of dollars a day in one of the world's highest paying industries. Does that mean I won't have to work my butt off in order to make it there? Nope. JUST LIKE YOU I'll have to work my way up. It's not an 'instant' 'anyone can slap a little makeup on someone's face' 'you don't even have to go to school for it' job. It's a shark tank. Like any other business. And I'm giving myself survival skills to help keep me afloat.
My major teaches me about myself in so many ways and gives me the tools to help others. If, after you read this rant of mine, you still are, as Kelsey calls you, a 'nay-sayer' than I'm like to present you with a little article written by Michael Key, editor-in-chief of Makeup Artist magezine and professional makeup artist:
Its just make-up? I would like to leave you with a few thoughts about what we do. When discouragement rears its head and tells us its just makeup, we should remember that makeup artists have the power to:
Transform a wimpy actor into a ferocious warrior, or a plain-jane actress into a striking woman who turns every head
Take brief descriptions of characters in books or scripts and bring them to life far beyond what the writers ever dreamed they could be
Create the evil monster who strikes fear in the heart and allows the hero to be brave and victorious
Help emergency personnel prepare to face real-life situations
Enhance blushing brides and create looks that will be cherished for a lifetime
Help those dealing with injuries or illness to look and feel better
Enable those with birth defects and disfigurements to feel whole
See the potential in someone’s face
Make it possible to believe
I know that I won't walk out of college being able to do quadratic equations in my head, be able to save an ecosystem from dying out, or know a detailed history of WWI, but I will have come out of college being abe to relate to people. To be able to asses their needs and weakness, and try to come up with ways to help them. I will have magical problem-solving skills. I will know how to make someone's face out of plaster. I will be able to have symptahy for what people are going through. I will be able to comunicate effectively with people both in and out of the professional world. And, if nothing else, I will be able to tell my children amazing stories, and give them the best Halloween costumes they could ever dream of. I'll also be slightly annoying constantly be critiquing the directing/costumes/makeup (most of the time inside my head, but out loud sometimes too).
But even if that’s all, isn’t that ok? Why can’t that be good enough for me? Who knows when these skills will come in handy? You needto stop telling me that they are a useless, waste of my time, and that my major and my goals and my dreams are "nice" but "pointless" and start thanking me for following my heart.
I cannot stop watching "Melrose Place". Like, the original 90s evening soap. Darn you Netflix and your powers of seduction
I was finally caught up on everything that happened at work while I was in Utah and why everything was/is so different. Interesting.
The guy who took my order at the food court sonic called me a 'pretty young lady'. He was maybe 18 years old.
I keep dreaming in sit-com format
I left a disc out of the "Friends Season 6" DVDs that I borrowed from the library and had to drive all the way back to return it :( embarrassing
My Dad can't stop singing the first 2 lines of "The Edge of Glory" and the first chorus to "Mean" haha
My brother and I had a 45 minutes discussion about Harry Potter while doing the dishes. Which, in of itself is no awkward, but my brother just doesn't talk about books.
Watching a romantic comedy in which you don't want the main characters to get together at the end is like...."Something Borrowed".
Awesome
I GOT MY MISSION CALL! California, Los Angeles Mission, Spanish Speaking :)
I bought my first mission outfit! It's a suit!
Blueberry picking and swimming for Memorial Day!
I got to hang out with Kelsey Claxton TWICE this week!
I'm back in the land of Chik-fil-a and Shipley's donuts
I had multiple babies smile at me at church on Sunday. I mean, if that doesn't brighten your day then I don't know what will.
Pirates. of. the. Carribbean.
"Fast Five" was surprisingly good. That's probably because it isn't anything like the other "Fast & the Furious" movies haha
I keep getting wedding announcements :) I'm so happy for so many people!
My little broskie is graduating on Saturday! He made it!
AND he graduated from Seminary!!
My swimming pool is warm enough to swim in and I'm finally I'm getting a little tan
30 Day Song Challenge Day 01
So, who knows how long this will last, but I have a weakness for sharing music that I love. So here goes nothing. For the first day you're supposed to share your favorite song. However, I love too many songs and feel like I would just never be able to make a decision. It's almost a guarantee that any song I post during this challenge will be a favorite of mine. So, I've just decided to post this GAP ad that I absolutely love, that happens to be about favorite songs :)
