More Covers

Okay - just to show how cool and hip I am (ha), this link is to the very concert that I attended on Thursday night - the Hotel Cafe Tour at Mr. Small's Theater. This is Ingrid Michaelson (of "if you are chilly, here take my sweater" fame, and who's awesome song Keep Breathing was featured on last season's finale of Grey's Anatomy) and Cary Brothers, who is a friend of Zach Braff's and who's had songs on Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy and ER. He's probably most famous for "Blue Eyes." Unfortunately, it's only a short snippet of their cover of If You Were Here from Sixteen Candles. Also playing was Josh Radin, who's also had songs on Scrubs and Grey's. (Sensing a theme here?)
The concert was really good - although, I'm too old to STAND for 5 hours. There were no chairs. I guess that's the "in" thing now.

Dancing vs.Dancing

Reasons why Dancing With the Stars is inferior to So You Think You Can Dance:

1. Only half the people can dance
2. The music is horrifying
3. Monica Seles
4. The America's Funniest Videos guy vs. Cat Deely
5. Monica Seles
6. Monica Seles
7. Oh, did I mention? Monica Seles. Good God, that woman is awkward.

Happy Easter!

It was colder here on Easter than it was on Christmas. However, it was sunny, eggs were found, Jesus was worshipped, ham was eaten. Who could ask for anything more?

Poor Tarzan. Last week it was fever and coughing. Today it's been throwing up and...you know, the other end...all day. He just had two Saltines. We'll see if they stay down. Cinderella flared up with the pinkeye today - I knew it was coming, it was just a matter of time.
We actually had a respite yesterday and went to the zoo - everybody was healthy, and it was "Won't You Be My Neighbor" Day, and kids were free. It was also 38 degrees - I've never seen the zoo less crowded! Many of the animals were "put away" for the winter, but we got to spend some really nice quality time with the lions, elephants and gorillas. No crowds, no pushing, no sunburns. Aside from Tarzan dropping his mittens in the toilet, it was a pretty pleasant outing. (And no, we didn't give them back to him, that's NOT why he's sick today)
I also got an email response from Pitt, responding to my inquiry if there was anything I could do to improve my portfolio for future auditions. It's actually very nice, I've quoted part of it below, but strangely, doesn't make me feel a whole lot better. A little, but not a lot.
Here it is:
"I want to tell you first of all that you auditioned/interviewed very well. You were a strong candidate on our list. Of particular note to us, was your teaching session. You did really well and D. and I both agreed that you would make a great candidate for the program. Your fundamental problem with this round of applicants is that we had so many really good people so we had to choose based on complicated criteria that we don't normally consider. Things like balancing what each student would bring to the department. Whether or not the acting skills were as strong with one candidate versus another.I would love to encourage you to apply again if your life circumstances warrant. I say that only based on the strength of this application but I cannot make any promises about how things might shake out. We remain convinced that you would be a great candidate and would love to have you with us.I don't know if that is helpful at all. I'm sorry this didn't work out. I'm sure it is very disappointing. But I hope you can be encouraged by the fact that you did so well."
So yay.

Here's the summary: I got a letter from Pitt on Thursday, saying no. Frankly, I was pretty shocked. I guess I was overconfident, but I really thought that it was going to happen, and I have no plan B in place. I'm extremely disappointed, and not quite sure what I'm going to do with my life now. Most other programs have already passed their submission deadlines, and I'm having a hard time swallowing waiting until Fall of 2009 to begin school. I did just apply to Point Park, but still need to schedule an audition for them, which is where I always seem to blow it. Other news items: Footloose ended last night (Quaker valley's show) and went as well as could be expected, considering the talent level. The audience seemed pleased. AND....Scooby's team came in 2nd at the Odyssey of the Mind competition yesterday, and is going on to the State Competition in Altoona on Apr. 12th!!! I've been coaching his team and it's been VERY time and energy consuming, and I was kind of hoping it would be over this weekend, BUT it's a huge deal to go to States, and so yay for him. He's very proud and excited, and I'm very proud of him too.

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Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?"/ Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night." - Charles M. Schulz

The Sap is Running

Things that made me smile today:
Cinderella singing her version of Footloose: "Mommy! Let your foot be cutted and let your foot be loosed!"
60 degrees outside!
Cinderella's teacher dressed up like the Cat in the Hat
Seeing all the buttons, eyes, hat, etc. lying on the ground next to the now-diminutive snowman
Did I mention it's 60 degrees outside?

Several books I've read recently and want to share my thoughts on, but don't have time right now:
Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer
Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell
Wasted, by Marya Hornbacher