Haply Here

101 Little Things

2010-03-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

This whole topic of happiness is sort of addicting. I'm going to explode with happiness on Friday at 1:41 when I head off to Florida for spring break! But until then, I found this adorable list of 101 Little Things that can make you happy. Enjoy :)

Happiness is...

2010-03-01T12:42:00.001-08:00

Finding a pencil, and oh so much more. For our professional development seminar at Grace today, scientist and psychological researcher Shaun Achor from Harvard University spoke to us about positive psychology, happiness, success, and everything in between.

I went into the meeting feeling genuinely happy about life (who wouldn't be when they get to wear jeans to work?!) and left feeling... the need for change. Epic, I know. Though the five-hour presentation was a bit much to sit through, it really made me deconstruct what I know to be success and happiness, and how one does not necessarily lead to the other. As I sat there, I had moment after moment of self-realization. And I share...

- I tend to create goal posts that are consistently being pushed farther back. I will be happy if I get an A. I will be happy if I get this job. I will be happy if I save this much money. Keep pushing the if back, and I'll be 95 and still "unhappy" by my own standards. Strike one.

- I know what I want to do, but don't often do it. I want to take dance classes. I want to see my friends more often. I want to read more books. It's the hurtle of starting, which is not as easy as settling. Strike two.

- I've spend my life weighing happiness and self-worth on success. Good grades = good college = good job = good money = good life = happiness. Wrong. Those things are important, of course, but it's a flawed formula. There are so many other variables in the mix that I've failed to really recognize. Strike three.

Now, Shaun recommended making a "habit chart." According to certain studies, if you do something routinely for 21 days, it becomes a habit. I'm not going to go so far as to create an excel spreadsheet and post it on my wall to glare at me everyday, but here are some goals I'm going to try out. We'll see what sticks.

- Exercise. One of the five most recommended things to make you happier. I'm trying the "before-work-workout" tomorrow morning at 5am (Wish me luck). No matter the time of day, I want to go at least four times a week and take one dance class a week.

- Journaling. Another one of the five. Not taking it in the literal diary sense, I'm going to count "active blogging" as my documented release. Expect updates, my friends.

- Reading. I love reading. Why don't I do it more often? Because the TV remote is so close, and watching House takes much less energy than reading John Irving. But screw energy, bring on the books. At least a half hour each night.

So there you have it, folks, the road to my own personal happiness. Have I been brainwashed by a motivational speaker? Quite possibly. But positive change can only yield positive results, even if they are short-lived. I found today to be quite inspiring and meditive time for self-refleciton. Here are some clips of Shaun's speech, if you're even a tad intrigued...

Report Card

2009-11-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

Reports are due! While I sit here writing (or avoid writing) two-page narrative reports for my JK kiddos, I thought I should take this checkpoint to reflect as well. What have I learned in Junior Kindergarten so far this year?

1. Write things down. Anything and everything. Quotes, lessons, observations... I want to remember it all and I'm already slacking.

2. Kids are just little adults. There's no need for baby-talk, not even in Junior Kindergarten.

3. Smile and bear it. I finally understand the annoyance of "Watch this!" I was that kid, and now I detest that kid.

4. The power of a sticker is immeasurable.

5. Love them, love them, love them. Otherwise it's just not worth it.

Apples to Applesauce

2009-10-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

The great thing about apple picking? It's so much fun! The bad part about apple picking? Consuming a bag of 16 apples before they go bad.

My Jr.K lesson last week was making applesauce in class with one apple from each kid's bag. I bought the perfect applesauce-making picture book by Eden Ross Lipson, Applesauce Season, which had the recipie imbedded in the story. Amazing! The kids got to chop, mash, and enjoy.

This, however, did not solve my own apple surplus problem at home. I'm not that big on applesauce. I don't care for apple pie. And I cannot stand apple crisp. Luckily, I remembered an old, old, recipe from the famous Erin Phraner: Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies! Yes, folks. I made my own applesauce, then made my own cookies! Our little Brooklyn kitchen is really gettin' its groove on. It officially smells and tastes like fall!

Field Trip!

2009-10-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

Four-year-olds make everything fun. I'm convinced. This week, the whole JK trekked out to Dr. Davie's Farm to go apple picking! I'm not even the biggest fan of apples, and I had a blast. Picking apples, eating on the grass, a hayride, and being able to wear jeans to work -- What could be better?

No Work and All Play

2009-09-17T17:42:00.000-07:00

Jr. Kindergarten is a great place to be when you act like a five-year-old on a daily basis. I'm teaching my first full lesson tomorrow on sharing with the help of Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose by Dr. Seuss! I plan on sharing my scooters and legos, as you can see by my beautifully crafted antlers...

Back to School

2009-09-09T15:09:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my first day of Junior Kindergarten! 32 little four-year-olds will be marching in (or clinging to mom and crying in) to our classroom and I couldn't be more excited! Oh, and in case you need someone to play with...

For Jonathan

2009-09-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

I love my brother. Since there is a Mother's Day and a Father's Day, I think Brothers & Sisters Day should be celebrated, too. I can't really explain why, but it was incredibly sad to leave my brother this weekend. Who needs Labor Day? Here's to Brother's Day.

A New Chapter

2009-08-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, I start my first full-time job here.

Am I really an adult already?

Nerd Alert

2009-08-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

Stamps are boring. Why collect stamps when you can collect ticket stubs?

Since way back in 2000, I've been keeping all sorts of ticket stubs and shoving them in a plastic baggy. Until today, when they all got a major upgrade into a scrapbook! Yes, that's right, it was a hobby-tastic afternoon as I organized all my tickets in chronological order. The sad part is, I really enjoyed it. Not only did it cater to my mild OCD tendencies, but it was like taking a walk down memory lane. I didn't realize how nostalgic a simple ticket stub could be!

This is one of my favorite pages -- It has the first Broadway show I ever saw, Cabaret, the first annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards, my friend Jared's show at Walnut Hill from back in the day, and the little green one is from the movie Hellboy. Not the best movie by a long shot, but I remember thinking it would take some real luck to have that little stub survive the "collection." But it did! Brave little fella.

I'm so proud of my little collection. Of course, it will probably sit on my shelf with all my other scrapbooks and photo albums, but maybe it's something the grandkids can appreciate someday...

What's Wrong, Gregory?

2009-08-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

I'm finishing up Gregory Maguire's book, A Lion Among Men, the third in the Wicked trilogy, and I'm just simply uninterested. The first two? Golden! This one? Bleh. I still drool over his poetic writing -- I swear he could make anything sound beautiful -- but flipping pages in this book is like pulling teeth. Each book fills in the same formula: The main character travels all over Oz to find some purpose in life. The earlier were so exciting, fun, and seemed to reference familiar names and places more often. I had such high hopes for the Cowardly Lion's adventures. Ah well, onto a new book.

A Summer in Review. Here We Go!

2009-08-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

I had a hunch that once DRT started, this blog would be put on the back burner. It was a whirlwind of a summer. Eye-goungingly busy, but worth every stressful minute. Last year we had 60 campers, and this year we almost doubled our numbers with a total of 110! With the economy being the way it is, I'm so impressed we did so well. The camp shows were the best they've ever been -- The most rewarding for me, of course, was Not a Box from the first session. Who knows what story book music review I'll throw together for next year! Anyway, here's some footage from some afternoon workshops at camp, along with an adorable performance at the 11:00 show.

So this has been my life from 8:00am-4:00pm everyday, then we all come back from dinner to rehearse our own shows until the wee hours of the morning. Our first show, All Shook Up, was one of my favorite shows to choreograph. I think it's the best production DRT has done to date. Here are three numbers, "C'mon Everybody," "Can't Help Falling In Love," and "Burnin' Love" for your viewing pleasure.

Holy videos, Batman! I know that was a lot, but we cram in so much during the summer, I just had to share. Now I'm back in a cozy Brooklyn apartment, attempting to decorate and organize my life before my first full-time job starts!

Welcome to the 11:00 Show, Kiddos!

2009-07-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

Take a peek at the youngest DRT cast performing a number from Not A Box -- A musical review written by yours truly and featuring some splendid DRT counselors -- for the 11:00 show at camp today. This was their first time sharing anything with the whole camp. Aren't they adorable?! (Don't mind the silly costumes... It was Pirate Day!)

I'm sure you're wondering what this crazy show is about. The concept emerged from the book, Not A Box, which is an Ed.Theatre bible of a children's book. Ashleigh introduced me to it and I clearly fell in love. Now it's a mini-musical with songs from Hairspray, Annie Get Your Gun, The Wiz, and even some Spice Girls. These kids rock!

Counseling and Choreographing

2009-07-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

I apologize for disappearing from the blogosphere! Summer work has officially kicked off and I have not had a second to keep ya'll informed. The first week of DRT is already over! We have 54 campers in our first session, split up into casts of Not a Box, James and the Giant Peach, and Grease. They are an extremely talented bunch and I can't wait for them to wow their parents next friday night!

DRT counselors on Team Color Day.

In addition to teaching kids from 8:30-3:00 everyday, all of us crazy people rehearse for our own show at night. All Shook Up is our first production and we only have two more weeks to put the show together. I'm choreographing the beast, and I have to say that it's looking pretty great so far! If I seem to be slacking with these updates, just know that I'm probably teaching, choreographing, or just trying to catch some sleep at the Derryfield School.

Southern Comfort

2009-06-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Vacation has officially begun! I'm currently sitting in the Atlanta International Airport, having just spent the past four days tending to my southern roots with the McCorkle family on Oak Island Beach. The whole family rents a beach house on the North Carolina coast every year since I can remember, but I haven't been able to go for seven years! But it was just as spectacular as I remembered it to be. My short four-day stay was filled with wave jumping, kitchen dancing, frogmore stew making, and lots of dirty talk about "screwing" umbrellas into the sand and many, many beach "balls." My family is so mature.

My dear grandmother Wanda McCorkle is responsible for creating the six children that resulted in the whole McCorkle clan, which consists of 12 grandchildren: The oldest being 30, the youngest 8, and there's me, smack-dab in the middle. On this beach trip, though, Grandmama McCorkle was blessed with the presence of her two first great-grandchildren. Let me introduce you to the cutest, and most fearless beach bums on the carolina coast:

These are my second cousins, Kent and Colby. All the puppies, dance recitals, and first grade art projects in the world put together would not be as adorable as these two. Needless to say, hanging out with these guys made me so psyched to start teaching my Jr. Kindergarten kids this fall! Don't you love their matching beach garb?

Now, with a fresh face and a decent tan, I'm continuing onto the second half of my mini-vacation. Houston here I come!

A Tribute To Erin Phraner: Oriental Shrimp Salad

2009-06-01T16:25:00.001-07:00

After spending a weekend in a penthouse condo in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, and coming home with sunburnt faces, one of my "besties" and I were craving seafood more than aloe vera. Steph, being the kitchen wizard that she is, attempted to make her own version of Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad. If you're reading this, you have to know how picky I am when it comes to new foods, but today I was daring and it was totally worth it - Steph's creation was fantastic and totally hit that seafood craving spot on.

Applebees on the left, and Steph's on the right. Not too shabby, huh?

In fact, we were much healthier than Applebees, too, in that we used shrimp instead of fried chicken and also didn't use any dressing. I've already asked Steph to write down her concoction and send it to me, so I can cook it up in my new Brooklyn kitchen this fall. Of course, the whole time Steph was bustling around the kitchen, I couldn't get Erin's Shrimp Pad Thai update out of my mind, and had to pay her this food post tribute. How'd we do, Ms.Phraner?

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

2009-05-17T12:49:00.001-07:00

Four years of hard work finally pay off in this glorious moment!

Ode to Ken Robinson

2009-05-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

If you've seen me or talked to me in the past week or so, you're inevitably aware of my newest obsession: Sir Ken Robinson. He's an old British man with a Dwight-Schrute-smile, but he is a genius. I had to watch his video on TED talks (another growing obsession of mine) for a class last fall, and I just treated myself to a graduation present: his book, The Element. I cannot tell you how inspiring and hilariously entertaining this man is. I'm only halfway through the book, and I'm already raving about it. He speaks about finding your "element," and how it can change your life, whether it be dance, physics, or anything in between. For anyone who hasn't chosen their exact life path (and who has, really?) read this book!

If my words aren't convincing enough, watch this. You'll understand.

O Call Back Yesterday, Bid Time Return

2009-05-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

The end is near! I've been begging for this week to come, and now I just want time to stand still before all of my Ed. Theatre and other NYU folk scatter across the country (or the world... Ashleigh...). Today was the last day of classes, but my schedule is everything but free. I'm jam-packed with meetings, rehearsals, presentations, and end-of-the-year gatherings. Oh, the bustling energy of May!

For the past four months, I've spent every Thursday night schlepping myself to a theatre to see a show for a course called Drama in Performance. The structure of the class is this: We see a show. We respond to an incredibly mind-boggling, seemingly ridiculous prompt. We discuss said show and said prompt in class. Over the course of the semester, we've seen: The Cherry Orchard, The Winter's Tale, Freshwater, Three Sisters, Dollhouse, Max, The Bald Soprano, Hedda Gabler, The Garden of Earthly Delights, Agamemnon & The Libation Bearers, Thirst: A Spell for Christabel, La Dedon, Cirque de Soliel, and Impressionism.

Quite a list, no?

For our final project, my dear friends Dean, Amy, Sam, and I collaborated to create a Drama in Performance video-musical-physical-theatre-extravaganza. Sam, who happens to be an incredibly talented musician, wrote a song that includes almost every show title from the semester, and we used it as a base to create a theatrical masterpiece. Amy and I went to the recording studio to record back-ups for the song, and it was so much fun! Of course, I had to document the trip...

Sam and Amy, in all their glory.

Oooh. Fancy buttons...

We felt really cool.

Mariah was with us in spirit.

Now, the song is littered with inside jokes (Sam even snuck the professor's name into the lyrics. Genius!) so you won't understand the hilarity of it all. But, we're hoping our classmates will on Thursday, as we blow their minds with music, theatre, and video projection. We're still working on a band name. The most popular vote is "Ladder to Nowhere." Personally, I think we're destined for fame. Have a listen!

God Bless Post-It Notes

2009-04-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

Six post-it notes of assignments lie between me and my NYU diploma. Today marks the last week of classes, next week is the last week of student teaching, and then it's pure celebration to follow. My Red Sox swept the Yanks this week, so I'm taking that as a sign of good luck for the weeks to come.

Rosie's Broadway Kids are performing in a huge event tonight. I'm really bummed that I can't be there to see them, but I know they will be fabulous. Here's a clip they'll be showing tonight of Mary, a freshman and the next La Chanze, singing "Be A Lion" from The Wiz with Ken Page, the original Lion from the Broadway production. How incredible is she?

Theatre Behind Bars

2009-04-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

Today is a day I will remember for the rest of my life.

I've been sitting here for almost an hour trying to put my thoughts together and figure out how to blog about my experience, but honestly, I'm still processing it all. I am amazed, inspired, sad, hopeful, and a myriad of other emotions after today's events. After four years of dissecting, analyzing, researching, and practicing any and all things under the educational theatre umbrella, this was a huge breath of fresh air. THIS is why we do this. Theatre is amazing.

A group of us from my Applied Theatre course at NYU set out early this morning for a trip to the Woodbourne correctional facility in Upstate New York. It's a graduate course and I'm actually the only undergrad taking it, so I was the baby of the group. Accompanying us was one of our beloved full-time faculty members and a physical theatre extraordinaire, Dr. Nancy Smither, better known to everyone as simply "Nan." She has been working with a group of incarcerated men at Woodbourne for months, as part of an organization called Rehabilitation Through the Arts. Once the troops were assembled, we loaded up into the caravan of cars and headed out of Manhattan.

Getting ready to head out.
(As a disclaimer, we were told to intentionally dress frumpy.
Don't judge our sweatsuit style.)

"Nan! Come downstairs! We're ready to go!"

The ladies in the backseat were pumped for the three hour car ride to prison!

I really didn't know what to expect from this trip. We hadn't been told too much about it, and I'd clearly never set foot in a New York State prison before. The nerves didn't really hit me until we had passed through the metal detectors and security gates, the courtyard of cell windows, and into the classroom hallway. Every inmate stared at us as we walked by. Some of these men were in their 40's and over 200 pounds, and I was just a little blonde girl with NYU stamped on her sweatshirt. The butterflies in my stomach turned into monsters. We were warned that the men would be very interested in talking to us, but to keep our distance. I quickly found a seat and glued my eyes to the back wall. So nervous.

Nan gave a quick speech before the activities ensued, and then invited us to participate in the warm-up with the inmates. I wanted to stay in my seat but decided to join the group at the very last minute. We did the classic Nan warm-up, complete with the "dumb" laughs, throwing our arms and legs into the air, and some really amazing viewpointing. I almost forgot they were prisoners. It completely put my at ease.

The next hour was a collection of work the fourteen men had been working on over the past few months. They did everything from poetry to clowning, red noses and all. It was incredible. I was doubled over laughing so hard. I was almost in tears. I was... amazed. These men were simply amazing. I really can't explain it. They were beaming with passion and energy, without any sense of self-consciousness or discomfort. And so talented! They could honestly give some professionals a run for their money. We had a discussion after the performance and one man explained how liberating the program was -- How, in prison, you can never let your guard down for fear of appearing weak. RTA allowed him to throw all those facades out the window. "I haven't been able to be myself in 20 years," he told us. Breathtaking. It's so difficult for me to imagine any of these men capable of committing a crime. They warmed my heart.

I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to do something like this again. God knows it would give my mother a heartattack. Working with these populations is difficult, especially if you want to start a program or an organization on your own, but it is truly life changing.

Little April Showers

2009-04-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fan of rainy days. They're great for going to the movies or the mall, I suppose, but in New York City it's just plain awful. Having huge holes in my bright yellow rain boots doesn't help either. We've been spoiled with beautiful weather for the past few days, and of course now that I'm not trapped indoors, the rain clouds come out to play!

Well maybe it's the weather, or maybe it's my pending freedom from school, but I can't help thinking about summer. How much I miss days like this:

Spring "Break"

2009-04-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

The New York public school system was on break this week, which means I didn't have to haul myself up to Lincoln Center to teach every morning. Instead of sleeping in, however, I spent the week with Rosie's Broadway Kids! I usually only work there on Saturdays, but they needed some extra hands on deck for the kids' Spring Break Intensive. It was really great just to get to know the kids better outside of the RBK walls. Tuesday, we got a tour of the New Amsterdam Theater, home to Mary Poppins at the moment, and each of the kids actually got to audition for the casting director! I'm not sure they realized how incredibly cool that was. We also cultured ourselves at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Wednesday which, believe it or not, was my very first visit to anything on Museum Mile. I am ashamed...

What I really want to mention, though, is today's events! The advanced groups got to take some master classes, and who did I get to usher around the building but Donna Mckechnie! Her autobiography, Time Steps, is only sitting on my bookshelf -- The woman is a Broadway legend and a complete sweetheart. Over 60 years old and can still kick her face. Unbelievable! She taught our kids the original choreography to "One" and they were absolutely fabulous. Look out for video footage on BroadwayWorld.com (I'll post it on here, of course, if I find it!) I immediately took her book off my shelf during my quick break and devoured the first 30 pages over at the Black Box.

Speaking of the Black Box Theatre, I just have to give a huge "Bravo!" to the Shakespeare Youth Ensemble for their work this weekend! My Stage Lighting class designed the lights for their production of Two Noble Kinsman and it was a wonderful experience. I was so impressed at how well these high school kids dealt with the language -- such talent. And, of course, the lights looked beautiful and I now have a lighting design credit on my resume! I leave you with a beautiful shot from Act Two, which my group designed:

Members of NYU's Shakespeare Youth Ensemble in Two Noble Kinsman.
(Photo by Ashleigh Hill)

Goodbye Motivation, Hello Red Sox!

2009-04-08T19:18:00.001-07:00

Even though the sun is starting to shine and the Mr. Tasty trucks are emerging from their winter hibernations, nothing, and I mean nothing, gives me a worse case of senioritis than baseball. Let the procrastination begin, my friends, because yesterday marked the beginning of the end! Fenway Park had its official opening day, as the Red Sox tooled Tampa Bay in a 5-3 game. Of course, my two favorite boys, Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek, hit two homers for the Sox. Did you expect anything less? Now, as I sit staring at a blank word document at my desk with a stack of books beside me, all I can do is daydream about sitting at Fenway with a hot dog, a baseball cap, and a bunch of friends with Bostonian accents.

Oh, Dustin. If only you weren't married... or bald.

As you can imagine, the start of baseball season is going to make graduating NYU very difficult. Keep in mind that I, sadly, do not own a television and therefore must go to the gym to watch a game. Though this is great for my waistline (in theory), it is not so great for the homework scene. I just have to survive four more weeks, and then I'll have the convenience of NESN at my fingertips back home.

Even now, I'm avoiding work just to write about the sox. This is going to be problematic.

My Feet Hurt, Do You Copy?

2009-04-05T18:22:00.000-07:00

Today, I got to be a secret service agent! Well, at least I got to pretend to be a secret service agent. With a cord in my ear and a microphone in my sleeve, I was lucky enough to work as a Floor Manager at the youngARTS New York all-day event at the Park Avenue Armory. The whole day was devoted to celebrating the accomplishments of high school students in all disciplines of the arts. Students who attended were regional, and some national, winners of scholarship money and had the opportunity to take master classes with some amazing guest artists. On my floor, Terrance Mann and Adam Rapp gave theatre and writing workshops, both which seemed fantastic from the keyhole peeks I got from pacing the hallway. However, I was more entertained by my toys. I had far too much fun radioing-in whenever a VIP did anything worth reporting. "Annaleigh to Joe: Mr. Mann is heading down the staircase. Do you copy?" I am a five-year-old.

The event closed with an award ceremony featuring a guest speaker, Daniel Pink, who spoke on ideas from his new book, A Whole New Mind. Though it was odd to sit through his powerpoint presentation, his book intrigues me. By focusing on economic history and facts of neauroscience, he argues that artists will soon rule the world. As a young artist facing a nation with a crumbling economy, that sounds like a good read to me.

A Momentous Occasion

2009-03-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

A new chapter in life. The last month of my undergraduate study is dwindling, and I can't help but think about the future and what the world has in store for me post-NYU. I wanted to start this blog this coming Fall, but I can't hold out any longer. There is just too much fruitful activity happening in these last college moments -- the need to blog is too strong!

What a weekend it's been. I wrote and directed a short play, titled And You For Me, that was part of the Theatrix! Student Festival of Ten Minute Plays at the Black Box Theatre on Washington Square Park. This little diddy was my final project for a Beginning Playwriting course I took in the fall, and I somehow mustered up the confidence to submit it for the festival. The leading ladies, Erin Phraner and Emily Weidenbaum, were a blessing to have working with me on the project, and brought audiences to tears! I think the butterflies were flitting harder in my stomach than theirs on Friday, opening night, but I could not have been happier. My baby play was born into a beautiful little piece of theatre! (The metaphor makes sense in my own head...)

Erin Phraner and Emily Weidenbaum in And You for Me.

Now, I admit, doing this tiny little project might not seem so epic to the average New York thespian. To me, however, it was a huge accomplishment and an undeniable proof that if I set goals, I can reach them! It sounds cheesey, but let me explain: Last spring, I worked as an Education Apprentice at The New Victory Theatre (one of the best experiences I've ever had), and one of our professional development workshops focused on goal setting. Under the Self-Expression section, I surprisingly wrote: Write and produce my own show. This wasn't something I'd ever thought about doing before, but somehow it ended up on that paper. My inner artists was telling me to create, and create I did! This weekend allowed me to put a huge check-mark on that list of goals. How fulfilling! It may be a long while before I can check off things like Buy my parents a house, but I've got some time.

Thank you to anyone and everyone who came to Theatrix! this weekend, and anyone and everyone who's tuning into this new blog. Let the adventures begin!

Love, love, love,
Annaleigh :)