I'll tumbl for you...

Seeing as how I always like to recap what’s happening in my life, ESPECIALLY at the end of a year, and how today is December 30th (I actually had to be reminded at work this morning that tomorrow is New Years Eve), here goes it.

2010 was an insane year.  So good, so hard to get through at times, but so rewarding.  What did I do? Well, I performed my first opera role, which while it might not have been the crowning achievement in operatic history, it really was a learning experience, all in all was pretty fun, and hey we’ll always be able to say that we survived Figaro ‘10.  Gave a successful art song recital.  I completed my first year of graduate school, and I’d have to say that it was a success.  Not perfect, a lot of things I wish I’d done differently, but I took a lot away from it.  I got hired at Subway, again, and met a crew containing some of the best people I’ve met in a long time.  I was hired for my first professional acting gig, and had the time of my life working on The Drowsy Chaperone.  Met some amazing actors, made new friends, and solidified some existing ones.  Survived a Carbondale summer, complete with cicada attacks, no air conditioning, and the crazy hoarder house next door.  I welcomed a new member to the family, with the arrival of my beautiful little niece Lily Marie.  I was able to go home three times to see friends and family and share in the happiness of Michigan.  Moved into an awesome, nice house, and moved in with a wonderful roommate.  I started off the fall semester getting a role in Crazy For You, which not only started the most amazing trio Carbondale has ever seen (Hangout Club! Yeah yeah yeah!), also served as a wakeup call and put a lot of things into perspective.  Enjoyed being part of a thriving theatre department at SIUC, which included opportunities like skype-ing with Ken Ludwig and a master class then lunch with Alice Ripley.  Made huge leaps in acting class, and had a great time with a very talented group of peers.  Stopped fighting being a college kid again, and had some ridiculously fun times not caring.  Stood up for myself by not taking a role in the opera.  4.0’d my first semester of college, ever, passed my theory proficiency test, and wrote a pretty decent paper for bib. 

So beyond all of those things, 2010 was another year for growing and changing (and not growing too— I dropped a pants size and then some, losing about 30 lbs so far).  Seeing glimpses as to what I want and don’t want out of my life, and beginning to take steps down the paths that can take me there.

Now, onto 2011.  This coming year is going to be a big one from me.  I’ll graduate with my MM in May, and then it’s the great unknown.  I’m applying for one teaching position (at CMU, what are the odds), and I hope to find summer stock work and then possibly be able to audition some too.  Right now, it all seems so daunting.  That in a couple of months, I’m supposed to begin pursuing my career as a working actor and singer.  All this, while I keep feeling the pull back to the wonderful friends and family I have back in Lansing…. 

Lots and lots of good things happened.  And for the things that weren’t so good— I got through it.  I worked hard, learned from my failures, and pushed forward.  As for the coming year, while I’m not one to make resolutions, I really see this as a chance to make changes.  I’m not going to let opportunities pass me by when I can help it, and I’m not going to sit on my haunches and not go for what I want with everything I have. 

Here we go.  2010 was better than 2009 which was better than 2008.  Here’s hoping to keep building :o)