Shtuff

Yeah, so that habit of blogging all the time didn't last, apparently.

Lots of show-ness, lots of work-ness. Moving out next week = happiness. :) I can hang up my clothes and not live out of my car. Love it. Went to the symphony on Saturday and saw folks I knew, which was cool. I love Charleston for that. (well, at the moment. I'm sure that at some point I'll just want to be anonymous. but for now it's great!)

Show will be rockin. Sweet.

Chatted w/ Kerri and she told me about this fab website that carries my beloved cats'-eye sunglasses w/ rhinestones (b/c dancestore.com sucks and doesn't have them anymore): http://www.garmentdistrict.com/store/party/sun/index_sun.htm Score. Good stuff. Also, on a related swing note (I've been listening to a lot of swing lately. hm. must mean I need to go dancing), http://www.swingdanceshop.com/bathingsuits.html has the cutest little retro bathing suits! *squeal* Now, I'm not keen on beach life, but I think I better get used to it considering my location. I've always wanted a vintage bathing suit -- I may shell out the dough eventually. Don't know if I could make a really nice one myself (prolly not, at this point), so it'd be better to buy one...

Cannot wait to move into the house! Oh, there will be retro goodness. and it will be amazing. And then I can revamp my wardrobe so it is flirty and 50s and Charlestonian.

C'est tout, y'all. (Like the french and the southern mixed together? yeahh, it's nice). 'Night.

Weekend Update w/ me. Just me. 'n' stuff.

Yeah, haven't posted for a few days. Busy.

Saturday I was at CBT on and off throughout the day. Lara's fitting took maybe 10 minutes, when I finally had an opportunity to do it (they had new choreography to learn, so I had to wait until afterwards. kinda cool watching, but I hadn't planned on the time issue). But mostly everything already fits, so not a whole lot of alterations.

Talbots went well. They were nice and will pay okay. Seems like a great company to work for. Maybe at some point?

Ward's show was fantastic! I got to see many of the other musicians and artist from around town. I didn't realize I already knew so many people! So the verdict is in: Ward is both a rock god and a virtuoso. Very nice.

On Sunday I went to an Easter get together at one of the Kiki writer's parents' house. (confused yet?) Good times, great oldies (to quote). Met lots of amazingly nice ppl and stayed until 1 am discussing, amongst other things, how to make Kiki the beginning of a united Charleston artist/performer scene. The only bad part of the evening was that I'm covered in bug bites. Evil gnats and mosquitos, they ignored the bug spray. Let me tell you, my legs and feet look especially attractive covered in red bumps. Stupid mean Carolina bugs. It's distracting, I keep scratching! Argh!

Monday was stressful, of course. Work always is; I'm always terribly nervous when the boss is around. Almost to the point that I'm shaking. I don't mess up much, but I feel as if I've committed a crime when I do. not fun. :( I'm not perfect, and I"m doing the best that I can, but I don't feel like it's good enough. it sucks. Kiki rehearsal was fun though. I like going, it helps dissolve the ickies from work.

Tuesday was a little better -- had some lovely conversations with customers-- but at the end of the day I spent about an hour in the basket room. With sweetgrass and straw baskets.
Basket room+ me + severe allergies = one very unhappy gal.
My voice was starting to go, just from being in there and breathing in the straw-ness. Boss didn't notice. Voice came back, headache stayed. Me no likey. My stomach hurts from the stress. I felt a bit like little Cosette. I try to make myself as scarce as possible and not interfere when I'm told to do stuff in the "stock room" aka basket room of doom. There's not much air in there as it is, so I think that exacerbates the problem. My sinuses are draining like it's their job! (and maybe it is...)

I need to get to a point where I can focus. I have Kiki stuff to do. I'm feeling very scattered, which is evident from the state of my room. (minor chaos.)

Maybe I should budget my stressing: not stress about work (yeah right) and focus on things I'm passionate about (Cabaret Kiki) -- and then if I must stress, put it toward my passion. A friend of mine does that, and it sounds like a good idea. I just don't know if I can handle work if it's gonna be like this... It may get better. I mean, logically it should, I just don't know if the change will be significant enough. I was debated today whether it's better to be miserable and make money or to not have as much money and be happy. I think I'd rather be happy. Just not sure what I'm going to do about that, though...

And ze Friday into ze Saturday

Yeah, the title's better w/a French accent.

Work went well again today; I racked up the big bucks yesterday and today (well, mostly yesterday...) Works out to like $21/hr Thurs, and $17.50/hr today. It's kinda boring sometimes, but I guess it pays nicely.

Went to the Bill Carson/Films show at the Music Farm. Good times. Just got back a little while ago, actually. Hung out w/ the dancers from Kiki, mostly. Danielle and I totally rocked out. She got the Films's drum stick (the drummer had a habit of chucking the sticks into the house) and that started a whole thing that involved finding Cary Ann and chillin' in the green room w/ various area rockers. Good times were had. Bill Carson rocked it -- I've never heard him rock it like that, but it was quite fabulous, and The Films seemed amazing. It's so loud, it's difficult to make out the music if you don't know it. Said hello to various Charlestonian friends, like Kiki-ers and Brent. Met several "Opiates" from the Jump board, spread Kiki propaganda. Wore two Kiki stickers.

And-- this is lovely-- I don't Have to be at the Lara fitting at 10 tomorrow. We'll see if I make it; it's been a long week. Also, on an unrelated note, I"m investigating whether Lauren can sublet her place or something. I cannot stand 2 or 3 more weeks of couch surfing. I mean, everyone's been sooo nice and accomodating; I just want my own place, dagnabbit! I'd like to get settled and not live out of my car, and be able to find things! (yeah like the "where did I put the safety pins" game I played? I don't like those games. I Want organization, yo!)

C'est tout. I'm definitely feeling better after that crazy week at work. I so love Charleston. and I love nice people, too. :)

Long day...

It was a long day. I ran the store by myself primarily, which was mostly cool. I messed up and got yelled at. Well, not yelled, but you know what i mean. it sucked. I was sad. I ate a box of wheat thins. and then I read that it was passover. oops. blast. I kinda wanted to keep kosher, but I just bought a fresh loaf of carmelized onion/garlic bread from HT. gahhhh.

I'm still kind of bummed. I should be happy. I'm just stressed and I want to sleep, but I have to throw the rest of my stuff in bags so I can move again tomorrow after work. I hope things get better. If the past few days have been any indication of future weeks, I need to find some other job. Also, it's not much fun working alone. People don't visit me b/c they're all working, too -- and besides, people don't hang out in little gifty/crafty stores, they hang out where there is food and drink. It was different at the cafe, b/c folks dropped by just to chill. Alas, not in this situation will that happen.

I don't think I want to work weekends though. I'm going to need weekends to do all the stuff I can't do during the week. and de-stress, so I don't spontaneously implode. and for rehearsals and funness, b/c this store is not fun, and Kiki and chillin' w/ those ppl is fun.

Maybe thursday will be better. Oh! and I missed Lost. sadness. I hope someone Tivo-ed it. it looked like it was gonna be a good one, too. :(

need to sleep...

Day one at new job

Yes, I actually woke up and got downtown in time for work this morning. My car was fine. I was parked waaaaay over on the Battery by 9:20, 9:30ish and walked over to Broad Street. It's a long walk! I need to bust out the pedometer one day and see just how far. Also, I'm parking further east if possible tomorrow. The walk is at least 20 minutes or so.

I was there at 9:45, and waited until 10 for the boss to show up. (In the meantime, Talbots called and I have an interview at 3:30 on Saturday. I don't know how much I really want to work in addition to there... can't think about it now.

I got thrown headfirst into everything, pretty much. We had as much business today -- on a Monday, which is usually slow -- as is normal on a Saturday. Crazy. I caught on to most things quickly, like scanning credit cards, keeping things clean, things I've done at previous jobs. learned to work the pricing machine, other stuff. Then more stuff got thrown at me, things got stressful, I felt incompetent. Not the best first day, but it could've been worse.


So yeah. I'm not sure if I'll go to Metal Monday or not. Met some dude at the little restaurant where I had lunch, some guy who went to Ball State and is in town trying to start a music label or two w/ friends-- and told him to check out Metal. I should probably go to rehearsal b/c it's always fun, and then I'll likely want to go out later. But at this point I'd rather sleep. I'm cold and tired and vaguely hungry. Long day. Yet I should be sociable!

I will at least go to rehearsal, which is at 8:30. We'll see about later. My toes are numb and feel odd from standing and walking all day. I don't like it. Argh.

Addendum, 12:30 am: Nope, didn't go to Metal. But rehearsal went well. We made progress regarding show order and a coherent throughline and stuff. Quality. Maybe Metal next week. Too much went down today to allow me to properly, how do the kids say, "Rock Out!"

Now, if the losers on this street would stop blaring their music and honking their horns, mayhap I can cop a nod. (that's catch some z's for all you squares out there)

Night, all.

Kiki-riffic day!

Wow! That was a busy day!

I had fittings at 11:00 at Charleston Ballet Theatre. However, I had to first go to Evan's place and pick up the suitcase, bags, and hangers full of costumes and load it all in my already-filled car. When I got to CBT, I discovered I'd forgotten my camera. Blast. So I ran back and got it. Kind of a rocky start, not too bad, but things improved. Not that it was terrible, just a bit exasperating.

Fittings went amazing!! I'm so glad I'm OCD about measuring everything I buy, and that Jessica took perfect measurements for me to work from. The dancers already look hot, and today was just Round One of Fittings. Golly gee, was that fun!

Then I met w/ Claire, who owns the house I'm planning on renting an apartment in. She's awesome. We talked for several hours over coffee and bagels. Good times were had. And, the house is really cute. It's a little blue cottage near the Crosstown, but on a quiet street. So 1950s. I'm excited, I can't wait to finally get settled somewhere! but alas, I've got a few more weeks of couch surfing ahead. Which is okay, b/c my ppl are rockin' totally.

Hung out at "home" for a while, worked on Cum Sum Yun Gai's slipdress, and then went off to find Rebellion Road Studios (I think). Got a little lost (of course!) at Folly, but Molly straightened me out and I made it mine.

I have never sat in during a band rehearsal/readthrough before and damn, is it fun! We had Gus our mentor-esque director (Cap'n Biv is the director for real) help us clarify things and work out a storyline, for what it's worth. The band alternately rocked out and then laid a smooth groove (yes I said "smooth groove" hahahaha). Hot jazz, y'all. HOT. It was an amazing experience. Words are totally escaping me right now, but it was so incredibly cool. Gahhh, that's the best I can do. Just to be around everyone jamming, doing there thing on their respective instruments was almost surreal. And I'm part of it!! Ahhhhhh! How did I get here?!

I am so ridiculously and totally blessed. And so happy. I finally feel like I've found a place where I can fit in -- a place I never found in school-- high school, nor college. Living in Charleston and working w/ other local musicians and artists just feels like home to me. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's completely and honestly true.

And... on a Charlestonian note, I hope my car is in a happily legal spot. Molly said cops don't usually come through this neighborhood and ticket, so God willing I'll be fine until I move my car in the morning. And if they do, it's $15. I'm counting on the fact that M. New York car is similarly parked...

Well, I should be off to bed, b/c I've got to get up for my first day of work tomorrow. Should prolly get up über-early so I can drive down to the battery, park, and walk. I suppose if I have extra time I could drop into G & M and hook up w/ some coffee.

Yeahhhhh. It was a good day. Happiness. :)

Okay! Time to start blogging again!

I've been back in Charleston for a week and a half. So far, I've landed a full-time job, couch surfed in two locations, befriended many local musicians, artists, and brilliant people through Cabaret Kiki, -- www.cabaretkiki.com -- and met yet more musicians with the Chas. Symphony Orchestra through simply chillin' w/ members of the former group. (In case you didn't know, I'm costume designer for the Cabaret.)

And -- I've landed a singing gig! Yes, I"m getting paid to sing! supreme sweetness, I think.
Check it, y'all. http://www.piccolospoleto.com/schedule/default.aspx?m=5&d=30&perfid=1082
I'm staying w/ the photographer for Kiki, and it's awesome. I'll be here only a few days before I resume my original location several blocks south, on the CofC campus. Hooray for amazing and wonderful friends! People I hardly know have welcomed me like you wouldn't believe... okay, maybe you would believe it. I mean, Southern Hospitality and all.

I've got fittings tomorrow, followed by a meeting w/ a gal whose house I may be moving into, followed by other stuff, I don't know what, then rehearsal at 8:00. I need to work on some costumes tonight -- prolly a slipdress for one of the dancers, and maybe rig some tearaway pants. Also, I have my own pants that need to be hemmed, but we'll see what I feel like doing later. Working on clothes for 10 other people really doesn't make you eager to work on your own.

I have never been so happy. I love the city, I love the people, I love the fact that I can just wander around town... (and, uh, get caught in the rain on Upper King and buy another umbrella. well, I needed another anyway.) I love the houses, and the small-townness of the city, and how I've made more connections in a week than most people have in two years... It's good to know the Bivins brothers. They know everyone who's anyone here, so I get to meet all those people. Amazing. I love my freedom! I'll love it more when I get my own place next month and can get settled, but for now, life is grand all the same!

It's been storming pretty bad here. Lots of thunder and lightning. The house is rattling. Tornado watch until 9, and it's only 5:30.

Well, Imma go do some shtuff, yo. Call me or IM me or whatever, all y'all who know me. :)