Origami

(just a little poem I wrote today.)


"They say that paper holds memory.
Like a brain, and that each fold produces information. A memory. 
A scar of what has been.
If I could make memory physical, I would fold a thousand paper cranes for you. Of you.
And I would fill your home with them. The tangible memories of what has been.
The happy scars of days gone by. 
When life was easier, simpler, and free. When visiting you brought me the joy of a groundhog crawling out of its hole to the signs of spring. 
A smell or a sound can call me back to those happy times. Those times I always want you to treasure. Those places you've seen, the adventures you've had. To the folds I never want you to forget. 
If memory were paper, I'd fold you anew.


And you would always remember me."




























Love, Flo

Oh the joys of ears!

Guttentag! Long time no converse, ay? 


Well, last semester is all finished and I am in the midst of winter break, getting ready for a day of errands with my favorite (and only) sibling. And I feel like a hundred dollars today! Know why? Well, frankly, because I can hear once more. I had a darn pesky cold which had me in a virtual aquarium and last night the ear pressure finally ca-putted and I feel like a new human! And my brain is working today too! Oh the joy!


Right now I am just going to relate a motto that has kept me sane for many eons: Always, I repeat, always carry a book. You never know when you might get stuck overnight in a train station with nothing to do but twiddle your thumbs and draw designs in the dust of the concrete floor. Books are a much more enjoyable means of passing time.

Of Many Things...

 Good evening fellow October people, 

 It is presently evening and I sit alone in our apartment, typing away. The dreamy music of Timbre serenading my thoughts. I just got done taking a bath and reading some bits from a book I recently discovered and got ahold of "Turkish Delights and Treasure Hunts". It has now gained a foothold into my favorite books of all time because it is filled with imagination and creative ideas of recipes and activities to do from classic children's novels. For example, "Enjoy a Dark and Stormy Night", "Mr. Tumnus's Toasty Tea", "Make a Borrower's House", and many other tantalizing past times. I am feeling warm and rather content even though I have quite a bit of random homework to complete by the end of the night. Nothing that sipping a cup of tea and eating some cinnamon-y biscuits (made by Bailey) can't make 10 times better.


Last night I went to a small group Halloween Party(from our Theatre Bible Study), and it was lovely. We dressed up in costume, I was Nancy Drew (complete with a magnifying glass made of tinfoil), we carved pumpkins (mine turned into a grotesque Picasso), and in general had fall festivities. It was a great evening. Today was a get er' done day but I love the feel of getting my life somewhat in order. Nothin' wrong with that.


I should probably scha-doodle now, but I wanted to write a quick post just for kicks.


XOXO, Flo


Oh, and I found this DIY project, how to make an old school book strap and I am very tempted to give this a go.



http://www.designsponge.com/2011/09/diy-project-old-school-book-strap.html
 

My Apartment Smells Like Thanksgiving

Golly wallace. I am so thankful for weekends. You wanna know why? Today I read Hamlet in a coffee shop, got groceries, took a walk in the crisp fall air, talked to my sister, took a nap, drew a picture, studied lines, made stuffing for dinner, and then made apple crisp while listening to "Rhapsody in Blue". I don't think a Saturday gets much better than that. 


And yesterday I really felt like I was making progress in Laramie Project rehearsals and I had a success moment when I made the director and SM cry with one of my monologues. It probably sounds kind of silly, but I love to touch people in such a way that they cry. I think that is a beautiful thing. So, although I have a ton of work still to do with this play, this show is going to be an emotional powerhouse and I am honored to be able to put it on. And a great thing is that I get to put it on with many fellow believers in our Maker. I think that is pretty darn cool that in a public school theatre department there are 6 of us at least in this production that believe in the same God. That is something to be grateful for.


Emily also had a lovely talk session last night until 2 in the morning and gosh I love that girl. Yes, I have been very blessed this semester.


Tonight, I will continue to work on my lines, maybe watch a movie (really a novelty now that I'm at school), eat apple crisp, and take a bath. I'm really into that bath-taking-thing now. But I wish you a magical Saturday evening. Go find some fairies in the woods and make friends with them.


Love, Flo.

Lavender Baths and Emily Dickinson

My hair smells like lavender, because I just took a bath with lavender foaming bath suds. It was a beautiful night as I was cast in another show, "The Laramie Project" which is a series of powerful interviews of townsfolk, regarding the murder of a young gay man and it is a show that speaks strongly against hate crimes. So I was on the high of getting in that. In addition, Emily and I had a delightful little quiet time with our Maker tonight. And then the bath to top it all off. And reading Emily Dickinson in the warmth of the tub. It was heaven. 

I am one happy little camper.

Of good things...

It is Sunday morning. And I am a very happy little girl. I just got in my first mainstage production at UMD and am in Tom Isbell's show, "Target Behavior". The show is a new script written by a student that is witty, gritty, funny, and heart-wrenching all in one and I play a character named Gracie who is schizophrenic, quirky, and LOVES cats. It will be a fun role, and I am so thankful. And to work with Tom Isbell in a show is really a dream come true. 

And I have had a couple modern dance classes now, and if there is anything besides great acting that gives me goosebumps, it is modern dance. It is just so very human, rhythmic, and powerful. And it feels so natural and right to me. I'll also have to ask my instructor for the names of some of the songs she uses, because it is a mixture of drum music and other such things.


This morning I woke up early, had a cup of coffee, and listened to Sufjan. It was good. 


I should probably go now to attempt to get something done. 


I will write more later.


xoxo, Flo


song of the day: "Come Thou Fount" (Sufjan Stevens)

Góðan dag. Or good morning, in Icelandic. I slept like a very heavy and non-porous rock last night. More like a boulder than a volcanic rock. I have just been exhausted the past few days with move-in, audition preparation, and the many things to get done and people to see. However, my room here is very cozy (my overused but so useful word), we have a kitchen!, and there have been many lovely adventures like a picnic to Chester Bowl and an evening walk in the woods to the top of Bagley Hill with Emily. The whole realm of Duluth spread out before us like a placemat with the twinkling lights of the city as a main course and the stars overhead for dessert. We were a little creeped out for part of it and imagined bears or humans running out of the woodlands to attack us, but we were so obnoxiously loud that I don't think any animal or human had any desire to even attempt to run us over.

And today is the one last day of pre-school (not the school for little people and playdough) but actually before school prep. I still have to get ahold of books and dance supplies, practice my monologues, and pack up my backpack. Living with all theatre people, the intensity is absolutely overwhelming. There are lovely things like passionate enthusiasm and zest for people and life, but the anxiety which seems so common to people in the theatrical world can be a bit much. I long for a nice calm conversation. No panicking, no stressing for no good reason, and a good dose of common sense. I suppose I could be considered a typical intense theatre person as well, but living here makes me appreciate the happy non-theatre folk ever so much more. I'll have to seek out new faces this semester in order to keep sane. 

Hehe. And here is good ole' Ickle and Lardee. This picture gives me so much joy. The expression of Lardee's face is exactly how I feel today. But there are good things waiting around the bend. So now, I go to face the world with a determined glint in my eyes. You have yourselves a good day, ya hear?

p.s. I've actually been doing the artist's way the last couple of days, and if I can keep it up, I will be muy proud of myself.

Music of the Morning:

The Vince Guaraldi Trio (and linus and lucy just popped on and reminded me of an old classic peanuts computer game I used to play when I was a wee thing.)