Ma Vie en Rose

Imagine Having Nothing to Hide

2011-07-26T09:20:00.001-04:00

Estee Lauder held a 7-city flash mob event on Saturday. I produced the one in Charlotte - the first Flash Mob America event in this area! It was the same Rob Schultz choreography as the multi-city event.

Hello! I'm a producer!

2011-07-20T12:06:00.003-04:00

I worked with the great Conroe Brooks to help produce an event in Chicago last week. It was a 3-city simultaneous event for Estee Lauder, choreographed by Rob Schultz, who teaches at The Edge. Music is from Martin Solveig with Dragonette. Check it out!

Miami Airport fun

2011-07-20T11:56:00.000-04:00

I apologize for the lack of content lately! School, work, internship, planning for the fall...

I am having a fabulous time working with Flash Mob America, an awesome company whose motto is "bringing joy through surprise!" They do that. I love to see the reaction from people when dancers and singers break out in a surprise performance! We did an event for Tap Portugal in the Miami Airport - watch the gentleman's face change when the music starts!

Going Irish

2011-03-19T15:49:00.000-04:00

I hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day! Here are some ways my family and I celebrated.

Lime Pineapple Fizz

Shepherd's Pie with Irish Soda Bread

Guinness Cheddar Soup

A Fluffy Cloud Atop a Rainbow Cupcake

Irish Creme Gooey Brownies

Iced Sugar Cookies

A Jell-o Pot of Gold

All Things Spring

2011-03-15T13:23:00.001-04:00

I love spring - mostly because it precedes summer. Here are some spring occasions I am anticipating!

Colorful Flower Displays

Snowy Pear Trees and Crystal Skies

A magnificent Sonrise on Easter morning

Family games of baseball

The first jump off the dock

Snow Days!

2011-01-12T11:05:00.000-05:00

This snow storm allowed for sledding, hot chocolate and shoveling parties with the neighbors, and making pretzels and cookies to munch by the fire.

Christmas in Davidson

2010-12-10T14:18:00.000-05:00

Last weekend my friends and I said "farewell" to fall by making pumpkin cupcakes. Their aroma was sweet and warm with vanilla and nutmeg, and we could not stop breathing in the spicy batter as if it were the scent of fall itself.

Then, we kicked off Christmas by going to the festival in Davidson, our little town, complete with hot cocoa and cookies, a groovy jazz band in the barber shop, sleigh rides, carolers, vendors selling everything from snowy cupcakes to cinnamon spice candles, and of course, the Nativity.

Glory to God in the Highest!

Little white church and the choir through the window

The true meaning of Christmas - the cross.

Overflow crowd listening to the jazz combo

The Soda Shop - since 1951

Hayrides

And that's our town.

Wrap It

2010-12-03T14:13:00.003-05:00

Miles and I just got back from a nearby nursing home where we were helping decorate for the holidays. This home is for the indigent, those who have nothing and no one. They depend on donated used pillows, sheets, towels, and even toiletries, sodas and snacks. They don't even have enough chairs for all of the residents to sit on during meals.

We were blessed by the way they treated us:

Susan: "Honey, next time you come I am gonna give you some money to go shoppin'."
Me: "Oh, well you will have to tell us what you'd like for us to buy for you."
Susan: "No, honey. Money for you. You need to give yourself a gift."

Susan also gave me a straw hat that her sister had given her for Thanksgiving. Her generosity amazes me. It reminds me of this story from Mark:
"Sitting across from the offering box, He was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins-a measly two cents. Jesus called His disciples over and said, 'The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford-she gave her all.'"

Another lady (as we used Christmas wrap to cover a door): "Children, you are doing exactly what you are supposed to do- spread love. You just wrapped that door in love. Thank you."

Antwonia was listening to a song on the radio. The lyrics said something like:
"make this one life, one chance, the happiest life and take advantage of every opportunity."
If Antwonia can do that in a place where there are not enough pillows or sheets for everyone, I can do that everyday everywhere. What true examples of love and joy and Christmas giving these residents are.

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

2010-12-01T13:56:00.000-05:00

"While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, "where's the line to see Jesus"? My sister mentioned this to my dad, who immediately became inspired and jotted words down to a song in just a few minutes...(Later we) headed to Shock City Studios...where Chris, owner and producer, rewrote the 2nd verse and part of the chorus... with goosebumps and emotions high, we were all hopeful and felt like we had something special. The demo was recorded in just under 2 hours and sent off again to Nashville... still no response. Then 2 weeks before Christmas last year, my cousins Greg and Robbie decided to do a video to see what we could accomplish on YouTube. The first day we had 3000 hits and it soared from there. We received e-mails, phone calls, Facebook messages from people all over asking for the music, CD's, iTunes, anything... we had nothin'...We headed back into the studio this past spring... this time with guitars, drums, bass, pianos, choirs... the real deal.... and here we are today. Getting iTunes set up, a website put together, and loving that thousands upon thousands of Christians have come together... remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults can not understand. Hopefully Spencer's observation will cause people all over to reflect on the love of Jesus, and that one day we will all stand in line to see Him. We are most thankful to our Heavenly Father to have this chance to share our music with you. Merry Christmas everyone." ~Becky Kelly

Thanksgiving Blessings

2010-11-25T23:35:00.000-05:00

A few things I am thankful for:

My family

Sunrise and Sunset

The Joy of Jumping off of a Boat into a Clear Ocean

Having the Opportunity to Make a Kid Smile

A Beautiful Place to Walk

Luna

Stella

Marie- she is in Heaven now

A warm family Thanksgiving dinner

We may not all serve, but we march along in spirit

2010-11-11T21:54:00.000-05:00

Honoring Our Heroes

2010-11-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

Semper Fi - Happy Birthday and Thank you!

2010-11-10T14:37:00.000-05:00

Cinderella, Paris, and Monaco

2010-08-31T22:02:00.005-04:00

From Disney's Cinderella perfume when I was 5, to J'adore now, I have always been fascinated with perfume. I have spent a good bit of time at Epcot and in New York City talking with the representatives of various perfume houses, learning about how perfume is made. Valentino, Dior, Givenchy, Lily Bermuda, Bulgari, and Hermes are my favorites. French and Italian are always marvelous.

Each scent is carefully crafted with notes of flowers, musk, citrus, or even exotic notes like caramel popcorn. Scents are alluring, but what also intrigues me is the chemistry that creates this beauty out of nature. Numbers and scientific equations combine with extraordinary skill and the most beautiful ingredients of creation, resulting in perfection.

One of my favorites has notes of caramel popcorn and strawberry sorbet; imagine you are tres chic strolling through the vibrant Tuileries Garden, attracting attention from un beau gentilhomme sur une vespa :) Vous etes si belle, in fact, that he presents a rosy bouquet filled with beautiful pink, rouge, and blanc flowers. You are, indeed, Miss Dior Cherie.

Bulgari's Rose Essentielle is sugary rose, elegant, where Miss Dior Cherie is sweet and fun. It's like driving your convertible among the hills above Monaco while wearing a strapless silk gown.

Lili Bermuda's Pink envelopes you in a moment of youth, like a first kiss. Romance abounds with sweet white and pink peonies, spicy Bermuda mimosa, and a sparkling breeze of pink grapefruit and clementine. My parents discovered Lili Bermuda on their honeymoon. :)

These are just a few of my favorites. Each occasion invokes a distinct air - romantic, spicy, innocent, or elegant. Happily, there are a profusion of beautiful scents in which to indulge.

Peaches and Porches and Sweet Tea

2010-08-19T21:21:00.000-04:00

The sky has been dark for several days, and heavy with rain. While the rain is refreshing compared to the muggy summer days of late, I look forward to the evenings on the porch when lightning bugs twinkle in the dark, and the rain and humidity are suspended for a while.

Porches are part of Southern history, and I cannot imagine life without one. It is wonderful to sip a glass of tea and enjoy homemade peach shortcake while watching the sun paint the sky in magnificent colors. Simple conversation with family members about such things as planting a dogwood in the garden, the new coat of paint on the house, or how this farmer sells more tomatoes than that farmer, transcend generations of Southerners.

I recently read that the key to Southern happiness is sweet tea; I would add peaches and porches to that, and I think the neighbors would agree.

Postcard from Jamaica

2010-08-12T21:26:00.000-04:00

My brother is in Jamaica, in a remote, mountainous area called Harmons, helping to build homes for victims of Hurricane Gilbert. He is not able to be in touch with us while he is there, but this picture is on the website of the organization where he is volunteering. I'm not sure of the context, but I am praying God will be with this lady.

"A House Divided: Abortion and Slavery in America"

2010-08-04T13:50:00.000-04:00

I have recently discovered this article by Dr. Brian Melton, which illustrates the striking similarities between arguments for abortion and for slavery. It certainly made me think.

Photo of baby Samuel during in utero surgery by Michael Clancy

It is routinely remarked by both intellectuals and pseudo-intellectuals that “those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it.” It is definitely true that one of the history profession’s greatest tasks is to explain to the current generation how people in the past dealt with their problems, the good and the bad. It is to be hoped that by doing so we might (re)learn some lesson or at least will avoid the same pitfalls our ancestors discovered the hard way. One area in which a number of strong comparisons may be made might surprise us. A number of historical similarities present themselves between the arguments antebellum slaveholders used to support slavery and those used to support the modern abortion rights movement.

At its most basic level, African chattel slavery involved one section of the population declaring other portions of that same population non-persons in order to protect the dominant side’s perceived rights and to reap economic gain, public benefit, and convenience. In doing so, the slaveholders claimed as a civil right the ability to perpetrate a moral wrong on someone who was not in a position to complain. This, of course, is nothing more or less than the essence of the “Pro Choice” movement. Arguments in favor of abortion and slavery are nearly identical, revolving around several similar premises:

1. Each person’s “right” to choose to do what he or she would with a life that had been arbitrarily defined as property—slaves or in utero children.

2. The economic and quality of life benefits both systems offered the rest of the population—massive revenues brought in by slave agriculture or possible health care advances through stem cell research; protection against losing a huge investment in slaves or having to raise and inconvenient baby in less than ideal—or even frankly bad—circumstances.

3. The tiny minority of cases from both groups that seem on the face of it somewhat morally acceptable—slaves who apparently consented to slavery and pregnancies that threaten the mother’s life which can only be relieved by abortion (which make up less than 5% of the abortions currently performed in America).

4. An allegedly altruistic case made from the perspective of the victims, arguing that by granting them their rights, we are inevitably causing more harm than good—To keep uneducated slaves in slavery is more human than freeing them to face a harsh world, while to abort unwanted babies to prevent them from facing possible emotional and physical duress in a poor home situation is more humane than allowing them a chance at life.

Southerners employed, and abortionists still do, sham science to justify both movements, even as honest science makes the reality of their victim’s humanity all the more clear. Pro-slavery advocates at the time had an even easier time seeing the slaves humanity than modern Americans do in-utero children; they could look black men and women in the eye, talk to them, and get to know them. Still, they managed to turn to “science” to support their claims. They even trotted out the discovery of the gorilla as “proof” African-Americans were scientifically sub-human. Today, while the evidence mounts through better ultrasound technology that children should be considered human months before birth (indeed, looking at DNA evidence, at conception), the modern abortion movement continues to insist that life in bestowed mystically by a child passing through the few inches of the birth canal. Is the child physiologically different than five minutes before, are such differences measurable and on the scale to suddenly bestow personhood? Of course not, but the modern abortion movement maintains that this is the “scientific” beginning of life. Why then? Not because of evidence, but because, like the pro-slavery use of the gorilla, it is convenient to their position.

So, it also becomes clear that the hardcore advocates in both groups have made emotional, volitional choices to cling to their beliefs in the face of this mounting evidence. Their decisions are not made because of the evidence, but rather in spite of it. In the case of slavery, the humanity of black men and women was completely manifest, but slaveholders chose to deny reality anyway. It is the same with modern abortionists. All of the evidence clearly points to a beginning point for life prior to birth, and yet many plainly refuse to acknowledge it. In both cases, the alleged benefits of the institution cause an emotional reaction that result in a decision in spite of the available evidence. Such a decision requires effort and a willful disregard of the facts.

Finally, both movements try to confuse the issue by focusing on the rights and well-being of a single party in what is in reality a complex situation that involves more than one group. With slavery, it was the rights and comfort (particularly economic) of the slave holder that trumped all others. The rights of African Americans—as individuals, as mothers, as fathers, as families—could not be considered since doing so would inevitably undermine and destroy the institution of slavery. In the case of abortion, the rights and comfort of the mother necessarily trump all others. The child’s rights are not allowed to enter into the equation because doing so could potentially lead to something other than abortion on demand.

There is only one sure way for both pro-slavery and pro-abortion theorists to prevent the victims’ rights from coming to play: Deny the humanity of the afflicted party. If either the slave or the child is human, and therefore due rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” the situation becomes a much more difficult one. Admitting the potential rights of the victims also results in simple, straight forward judgments against both slavery and abortion. Slavery cannot be “good” if it deprives another person of his or her rights. Abortions for convenience cannot be “good” if they are in fact the murder of an innocent child. Therefore, for the erstwhile defenders of both groups, defining a group of persons out of existence becomes an absolute necessity. This, of course, brings our comparison full circle.

This isn’t, of course, to imply that there is a 100% correspondence between the two. For instance, while slavery stole lives a day at a time, abortion snatches away an entire life when it is most innocent and helpless. (At least Nat Turner and Denmark Vesey could revolt.) Slavery caused a Civil War that resulted in 620,000 American deaths, while the violence resulting from abortion (barring that committed upon unborn children) has thus far been negligible. Slavery dealt with fully functioning, mature, thinking individuals, while abortion involves actions against individuals incapable of communication or complex thought. Still, the similarities are significant. Perhaps by dwelling on them, Americans will be able to see both all the more clearly.

Must read: The Daily Caller

2010-07-22T09:18:00.002-04:00

If you haven't been reading The Daily Caller, www.dailycaller.com, it's a must do. They are exposing, piece by piece, how the media has been colluding over at least the past few years to keep information from the public and to strategize how they all cover certain topics to shape our opinions. It's fascinating reading, and would be hilarious, except for being so tragic.

P.S. Fun fact: according to the lamestream (dinosaur) media, I am a "f***ing Nascar retard." According to the new media, I'm a "Smart Girl."

I just want...

2010-07-21T00:49:00.001-04:00

everyone to stop lying. I never know when I can trust people anymore, because people lie whenever it suits them. It's tearing apart friendships as well as our society. America is a land of integrity and honor, not lies. Stop it.

Shine

2010-07-03T13:56:00.001-04:00

Last week I was a teaching assistant at the Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive. Even though my job was to help teach my group of girls, the yellow group, they ended up teaching me quite a lot about positive attitudes and perseverance.

The other teaching assistants are very close friends, so naturally we had a blast. We already knew some of the girls in our group, but since we didn't know most of them, we sat together in a circle and asked them to share about themselves. Now, we were expecting each one to tell us their name and where they were from and maybe a fun fact, but these young ladies talked and talked. We had to continue our circle through three breaks, just to let them all finish their introductions. Why? Because they shared genuine stories about why they were there and it truly touched our hearts. Most of the girls dream of becoming Rockettes. However, their stories were much deeper than just that.

For example, one girl was there to "prove the doctors wrong." We asked what she meant and she told us how she had auditioned last winter to attend the intensive, and shortly after, a ligament in her back failed and led to a protruding disk. This caused her to become paralyzed. The doctors said she would never dance again, much less walk. When she found out she had been accepted to the program, she taught herself to walk again. She taught herself to dance, and sure enough, she regained her ability to do most everything she had previously been able to do. Her desire is to be a Rockette, and she was not about to let anything, even paralysis, stand in her way.

As I watched this group of hard working, determined girls perform "Shine" at their final show (above), I realized how often I have complained about my feet hurting, or dancing in the extreme heat at Disney, or my dance bag being too heavy, and on and on. Never again will I allow myself that negative attitude, because it is not my right to dance. It is a privilege to be able to do this joyful work any day I want. I will remember that.

Chasing fireflies

2010-06-20T15:29:00.000-04:00

It's become an evening ritual to watch the fireflies come out at night. They begin rising up from the grass around 8 o'clock, as it just begins to get dark. They're like twinkling lights on a Christmas tree, slowly drifting higher in the sky. If we look down the street over our neighbors' yards, we can see hundreds of them. They fly higher and higher until it's completely dark and we can't see them anymore. It's funny to watch people try to catch them, and amazing how tame the little torch bearers are. They'll just alight on your hand and stay there until they're ready to move on. It makes you wonder if God created them for any purpose other than to bring us joy. :)

Summer Wind

2010-06-14T21:19:00.005-04:00

In my family, summertime means spending more time in the water than on land, trips to the mountains, sunset on the porch and late night candlelit dinners. Ever since I was young, my favorite place to be was on a boat surrounded by water. I love sitting on the front of a sailboat with the wind in my face, and nothing but clear teal water in front of me. I love jumping into a perfectly still lake, and watching tiny ripples form around me. My brother and I learned to water ski when we were very young, and we still love to zip across glassy water and slice through the wake of the boat. To me, there is nothing more satisfying than staying at the beach all day until the sun dips below the horizon.

Summer is a blessing after a harsh winter. It reminds me that when life seems to be filled with hard, icy days, I can look forward to the days when the sun will be shining and every worry floats away on the summer wind.

My brother and me at Sombrero Reef in the Keys

My favorite summertime drink to enjoy on the porch

Jost Van Dyke

Bass Lake in Blowing Rock

At Cone Manor, overlooking Bass Lake

Waterskiing on Lake Norman

Sunset in Malibu

Assisting the Rockettes

2010-04-26T21:10:00.004-04:00

I'm only in this video for 5 seconds, but I'm super happy to have that much! If you fast forward to 1:04, you'll get a glimpse of me assisting at the summer intensive audition. The Rockettes are the most professional and gracious organization I have ever known! Everyone involved with the company is super nice and talented. I'm extremely blessed and fortunate!

Rockette Summer Intensive Audition

P.S. Many, many thanks to Barbara at BDC for giving me the opportunity to do this!

What I Love About Atlanta

2010-04-16T17:42:00.010-04:00

I was in Atlanta for a few days this week and I just love it!

DOGWOODS - they are spectacular! This weekend is the Dogwood Festival, so they are in full bloom and seem to be everywhere! Gorgeous pink and white trees among the new spring green.

PEOPLE - they are wonderful! Even being from North Carolina, I'm not used to such kindness and friendliness. Waitresses call you "precious", hotel clerks ask you all about yourself, and people are genuinely glad to see you!


FOOD - Loads of wonderful choices, from traditional Southern to cutting edge ethnic, and restaurants are cute and welcoming. Mary Mac's cinnamon rolls absolutely melt in your mouth!



BLEND OF OLD AND NEW SOUTH - Magnificent old homes and an urban skyline; grits and biscuits alongside contemporary fusion. Honoring tradition while moving into the future.




There's very little not to like here, except for the traffic, and very little that New York can offer which Atlanta can't offer, at least for me, other than Broadway and the endless options for dance training. Still, Atlanta is a pretty close second.

Launch of Shuttle Discovery

2010-04-10T19:51:00.002-04:00

Living in Florida for a time, I have been exceedingly fortunate to see several shuttle launches. It is an experience I will never forget. The shuttle takes off silently, then, in a few minutes, the roar comes across the water and shakes every fiber in your body. It's magnificent. I am sad there are only a few launches remaining, before the entire program is over. Hopefully we will get back on track with the Constellation program and keep pushing "the final frontier."

Shuttle Discovery, STS-131, launched at 6:21 a.m. on Easter Monday. The sun came up moments after the craft lifted off, and you can see how it takes off in darkness, then the sky begins to lighten, and the sun begins to glint off the vapor trail. Gorgeous.

Things I Love about Sarasota

2010-04-10T17:10:00.003-04:00

Longboat Key for beach days

St. Armand's Circle for beach evenings

Old Salty Dog for dinner with a view

Mote Marine Aquarium to see dolphins and turtles

Madison Ave Deli for early morning bagel and coffee, with sandwiches to take away for a picnic

The Columbia restaurant

Gelato

Sunset

Room With a View

2010-03-31T18:40:00.000-04:00

This is the view from my room right now. My grandparents gave me this cherry tree and we planted it right where I could see it. Trees are flowering all over the neighborhood and all over town. It's beautiful.

(Very) Early Signs of Spring!

2010-03-18T20:28:00.011-04:00

Birds and people are finally back in the park.

Snowmelt

Camellias Mean the End of Winter :)

2010-03-18T20:08:00.004-04:00

My Aunt Clare (Potter) raised camellias. When they began to bloom at the end of winter, she would cut some of the flowers, bring them indoors, and arrange them in vases in the windows. She always made beautifully artistic arrangements.

We planted a few camellias, very old-fashioned, traditional Southern plants, and they're now blooming. The dark pink one is about 8 inches wide! The camellia blooms mean this exceedingly long, cold, hard winter is at an end. It's not very warm yet, but we're on the way.

A Way Out of Slavery

2010-03-01T19:30:00.002-05:00

In the Philippines, a young girl with 11 brothers and sisters was finally put out of her house and on to the streets because there was not enough food to go around. Living on the street, she was forced to work as a prostitute, or, more specifically, as a slave. Drugs and physical abuse were part of the package.

Did you see the movie, Taken? It shows the reality of sex trafficking in places like the Philippines, Thailand and Japan: young girls and women trapped in prostitution, heavily drugged and forced to work as slaves in the sex tourist business, because they have nowhere else to go or cannot escape. Their very survival depends on their owners, because they are only fed when they work, and are beaten or drugged into submission. 1 million children are trapped in the sex trade in Asia alone. 2 million children are sex slaves worldwide.

"I recall one occasion at the mall where I saw a young Filipino girl no older than 15 getting into a taxi with three male foreigners all of whom were more than twice her age. The girl was not happy and the men all looked suspect," writes one visitor.

"What I wasn’t used to was a middle age Brit acting like it was perfectly normal to be having a honeymoon with a boy, and then getting mad at me for invading his privacy when I asked him what was going on," says another.

"One (girl) was locked in a cage with a dog by her employers for six years and was only let out to fulfill her job duties."

In Cebu City, in the Philippines, a town which patterns itself after Las Vegas, some caring people, in conjunction with the International Justice Mission, have established a safe haven for girls who want to leave the sex trade. One of the major problems is that if a girl wants to leave, she has no where to go and her captors will pursue her. If she has been sold by her family, then she must work off her debt. If she escapes and is followed, she will be beaten.

Volunteers at My Refuge House rescue girls and protect them from their abusers, then help them to heal in a safe and nurturing environment. Many of the girls are already pregnant when rescued.

My church, Mecklenburg Community Church, has purchased a facility for My Refuge House, a home for the girls and their caregivers. The home's mission is "Restoring One Life at a Time."

It's hard to imagine how people can let this horror exist, much less participate in it. There's so much evil in the world; we must fight it whenever we can. Helping even one person matters.

Streets of New York

2010-02-25T01:00:00.001-05:00

There's so much to love about New York. For a dancer, there's no better place to be. Living there, though, takes something out of you - your innocence, your trust, and your security.

This week, a jihadist, whom I won't dignify with a name, admitted he was planning to blow up the New York subways at rush hour, in order to take out the most people. This is very hard for me to write, because just saying it or writing it makes it more evil and more real, and I'd really rather not face it. However, it is true that he planned to carry out this mass murder on or around September 11. I thank God he was found out, because I, along with countless other New Yorkers, could have been hurt by him.

I remember when he was caught, and they found maps of baseball stadiums and Fashion Week events. I was at Fashion Week, enjoying beautiful clothes and fun entertainment with friends on a clear fall evening. How dare he try to take that away from us.

In December, I missed the shooting at the Marquis Theater by only a few minutes. I was going to buy tickets for White Christmas, a perfectly fine thing to do, and barely missed being one of the people in the crowd who were shot at by an evil lunatic.

I've been down to visit the World Trade Center site several times. It's haunting. I stood on the top of the Trade Center one warm summer night in 2001, about a month before it was destroyed, along with 3000 innocent people, by evil. That scares me. I wasn't in New York that September, but the people who were carry it with them every single day.

When I went to visit the USS New York, made from part of the melted WTC steel, we met a man who was in one of the towers that day. Choking up, he thanked the Naval officer who stood guard by the ship. I choked up, too. The steel is placed at the bow of the ship, always leading and breaking through the waves, helping to bring freedom to others.

My friend, Officer Joe, was one of the first responders on September 11. He was there right after the first tower blew, and when the second one blew, his head was gashed by falling glass and he was completely covered in soot. After the buildings were gone, his job was to pick up body parts. How he lives with that every day, I can't know.

This past September 11, New York was strangely silent. People went about their business, but no one felt like talking. It was eerie.

New Yorkers live daily with the results of what they've seen - the loss, the trauma, the fear. Every fire and police station has memorials to their fallen brothers and sisters. Lower Manhattan remains a gaping, horrible hole. Again, how dare anyone do such things to innocent people, their fellow man?

I try not to dwell on the fear that something will happen, but when things happen, like this week's trial, you can't help but reflect on the knowledge that there are evil people who want to destroy America, beginning with New York. You can never feel completely safe.

Steven Crowder reminds us how far we've (not) come in rebuilding the World Trade Center:

Great Ideas for Restoring America

2010-02-07T12:04:00.002-05:00

Mr. Obama has told us numerous times that the Republicans, or conservatives, have offered no ideas of their own for restoring the economy, reforming the delivery of health care, keeping us safe, and so on. In reality, Republicans and conservatives have offered a lot of great ideas, through amendments, proposed legislation, and sharing with people. Because of the way the Congress and the media work, most Americans don't know about these ideas.

Americans of all parties have great ideas, too. We the people on the ground, who actually work in the businesses and raise families and go to school, have great ideas on how to fix things because we're in the middle of it all. Our ideas just don't get heard. So, my brother and I have started a Facebook group to keep a public record of great ideas. Please join us. We're just getting started and I'm sure it will get better over time, in fact, we're already thinking of making it a website instead of a facebook group, but join us for now and share in the great conversation.

The Facebook group is called Great Ideas for Restoring America. Here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=293071955727&ref=mf

(P.S. I love this URL shortener - is.gd - because it reminds me of Pip, the little chipmunk in Enchanted, who says, "It's goooooood!")

"Liberty Weeps", Elliott Earls, 2008

Are we worth dying for?

2010-02-05T00:41:00.000-05:00

Adam Trost took a bullet for us - twice. Look how he's welcomed home - like an American hero should be. Thank the Lord he came home alive. His friend didn't.

"As long as there must be war, I ask and I must answer, was I worth dying for?" Eleanor Roosevelt

h/t American Thinker Blog

What sets America apart

2010-01-26T23:41:00.002-05:00

I am getting pretty tired of people all around the world complaining about how America doesn't do anything right. They can't stop criticizing our relief work in Haiti.

Americans have opened their ever-shrinking wallets for the people of Haiti and jumped on any available plane to get down there to help. Rick Hendrick, NASCAR owner and something of a celebrity around here, has been sending two planes a day, every day, carrying medical personnel, rescue crews and supplies and bringing back people who need help, including one flight with 26 orphans on board - all out of his own pocket. In fact, there are a number of people from around here who have given their planes to be used in relief. They've sought no publicity - word just gets around.

Of course we know our marines and other service people were first on the ground (along with the Israelis, naturally) to bring food and water and medical help, and our search and rescue teams have been doing all they can to save people. None of them do it for publicity or for any personal gain.

This work will go on in Haiti for many years to come. Some will accuse us of invading, some of mishandling things, but the people on the ground know that we are there to do the best we can.

Americans help because that's what we do.

I love Steven Crowder and sometimes he just says things best:

Airline Security Ideas

2010-01-08T23:43:00.018-05:00

Working for Disney has given me an inspiration about airline security, which has been on my mind, as I am sure it is on yours.

No one gets in to Disney without a ticket that is assigned only to that person and tied to the biometric scan of their finger. No one gets in to Disney without having their bags searched, thoroughly. There are hidden cameras watching every area of the parks, and these are manned by experienced and well trained professionals. Security personnel, again, experienced and well-trained, are constantly watching and circulating through the parks. If there is ever any kind of incident, security officers are on it immediately and any troublemakers are immediately removed. You'd be amazed at how quickly managers and officers can appear out of thin air.

In addition, no one gets to work at Disney without an FBI background and fingerprint check.

These kinds of security measures are implemented by private enterprise at a business that cannot afford any kind of security breach. Disney guests do not worry about being terrorized. Why not apply such a policy to air travel?

Why not let security measures be dictated privately, and by free market principles? We all know private enterprise does a better job than the government:

TSA Agent: “I am god, I’m in charge”

Why not let airline travelers register for an ID card, complete with background and biometric or facial ID scan, like they use in Vegas casinos? We could walk through a corridor which could scan our faces, ID us and run a check by the time we exit. Then upstanding citizens could travel freely using our ID cards and verifying our identities with the scans, and those who have chosen not to secure an ID can be subject to any amount of profiling, body scanning or searching which the airline or airport chooses.
I don't imagine any potential terrorists are going to apply for ID cards and background checks.

While we're at it, let each airline or airport choose their security methods. If USAIR wants to profile and Delta doesn't, travelers can choose which method they prefer. All airlines and airports would quickly subscribe to the highest standard, as they will have no business otherwise. I think airline security would be continually improving, as it would be in the best interest of airlines to be the most secure option.

In the meantime, let's place an importance once again on spelling, on critical thinking, and on common sense. And let's hire people who are qualified. One woman I heard on the radio today said her husband applied for a TSA position and was highly qualified, but was told privately that the jobs were first come, first served, so the first 50 people in line got the job, regardless of qualifications. So much for government (in)competence.

Why not adopt the safest security measures already being used by the best-run businesses in the world, instead of trying to create something new, with a thousand layers of bureaucracy, that won't offend anyone (and won't inspire confidence)?

I'd rather be safe.

What will the New Year bring?

2010-01-02T22:51:00.003-05:00

A very Happy New Year to all of you!

I truly apologize for not blogging in a long time. Life has been fun, but I don't feel I've done much of enough significance to blog!

I finished the internship at Broadway Dance Center, worked the Rockette Experiences, which I love, and came home for Christmas, which was full of family, wonderful foods and cold, silent nights. I went to Iowa with Andrew's family, where we played in feet of snow and laughed a lot. We went to Florida, where I was warm for a bit, and got to see his very talented self on the golf course. It was hard to come back home because I miss him very much.

However, my brother severely broke his wrist, and needs someone to hold his arm up until the swelling goes down and to help him stay entertained since he's fairly immobile, so I feel useful here. He's a state champion fencer, and was supposed to compete in several tournaments this month, before going to the Junior Olympics in February. I hope he heals quickly, but it's going to be a miracle if he makes it to the JO's.

I'll be working on my degree (economics and finance) while traveling back and forth to New York for training and auditions. I'm doing pilates certification with Linda Farrell (www.lindafit.com) in a few weeks and am extremely excited! Her class includes lots of anatomy and she is a very well respected teacher. I can't wait!

I hope to return to New York again in March, for my Pilates observation hours and to assist with the Rockette Experiences, but for now I will enjoy a break from the pace and the extreme cold. I miss temperate weather. This is the first year in my memory it's been in the 20's every night more than 2 or 3 nights. Cold weather is forecast for many days ahead.

The snow in Iowa was beautiful. We also had snow in New York and in North Carolina. However, I'm tired of being cold, thus I chose a Caribbean picture for my heading!

We have our work cut out for us in 2010 - saving our country, restoring our economy. May we have the strength to do what needs to be done. Many blessings to all of you in this new year.

Last Day of Filming

2009-12-04T00:38:00.006-05:00

Last night around 11 PM, I got an email that the producers of "The Great White Way" wanted me to come in this morning for a vocal segment. I was excited! I've studied voice for a long time, but I have always thought of myself mostly as a dancer, so to be asked to come in for singing was great!

I had to miss a hip/hop mock audition at BDC, but there was nothing to be done about it since you can't say no to a job you're already in. I was sorry not to be there for my friends, K-Don, D2daP and Double A. We're all ballerina/tappers, and weren't too confident going to a hip/hop audition. I would have liked to have been there to cheer them on. (They've named me Mir-C, by the way - see how gangsta I am?).

Singing was fun. My part of the filming is over and I'm sorry; it was a wonderful opportunity and I learned a great deal. I can't wait to see the reels and hope I can share them with you.

I made it back to BDC in time for ballet, stretch and David's class. I have to say that David Marquez is an amazing teacher (not to mention choreographer). He is incredibly smart; it's like he knows everything about everyone without even asking. And he's kind and encouraging and wants to help us. That's unusual. I am blessed and grateful to be in his class every week. Today he was especially awesome. :)

After class I stopped at Duane Reade to buy something for my now seriously aching muscles. Andrew says I don't feel pain enough; he says I need to pay attention to it so I take care of it and don't let it turn into an injury. So, I got some tiger balm, then made it home in time for dinner for the first time in a while! I usually don't get back in time to eat in the dining room, so they save me a cheese sandwich every night. I've had one every night this week and it was starting to get a little old. I was starved tonight, so I had my first real meal in days - spinach quiche, salad, mashed potatoes and green beans. :) Then I took a hot shower and rested my muscles while talking on the phone and looking at the computer for the rest of the night until I conked out. About now...

Day 3 on "The Great White Way"

2009-12-03T23:51:00.005-05:00

Wednesday was another wonderful day!

Some very talented young actors from "Bye, Bye Birdie" helped with the shoot today. We had so much fun! There was a casting agent there, as well, which made everyone extra excited. I can't wait for the show to air; even though we won't see it here, I will have a dvd, and maybe I can post it so you can see the great teachers, dancers and choreography.

After the filming, I went to class, then worked for April in marketing the rest of the afternoon. April's amazing. She is giving me great business experience and lets me handle some responsibilities on my own. On Friday, I'll be helping an NBC crew film an interview at BDC since she won't be in the office. It's wonderful when someone has that much confidence in you. It only makes you work harder. Sometimes I feel like Anne Hathaway's character in Devil Wears Prada, but April is nowhere near the Meryl Streep/Miranda character in that story. She's more of an angel. :)

After work, I got to go to the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center! My friend, Officer Joe, who works in the BDC neighborhood, invited me to stand in the section he was patrolling. We were only 10 feet from the stage! It poured the whole entire time and I was soaked to the skin, but it was a fun evening. Michael Buble, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, Jo Dee Messina, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin and the Rockettes were all there!

The day ended with rehearsal for Aurelia's end of the internship performance piece. She's very talented, and this piece is about loving people now, while you can, because we're all here for only a short time and you never know when you may see someone you love for the last time. Aurelia has lost some people close to her and it has affected her deeply, so her work is moving.

My muscles are starting to get worn out from so much dancing, walking and standing, so I'm going to have to do something about that...when I have time.

Here's some video of the tree lighting:

Filming, Day 2

2009-12-01T22:04:00.037-05:00

Today was my second day of filming for "The Great White Way." Heather Parcells (left) taught the master class. She's a great teacher and TONS of fun! I had taken class with Heather several years ago at a Broadway Artists Alliance intensive, and it was good to see her again. (BAA does a great job, by the way. They gave me practical help with my resume, headshot, monologue, song, etc.)

Today's choreography had lots of kicks and legwork - my favorite. :D

Filming the class was pretty intense, and we were all wiped out afterward. I'll have to tell you about that after the show airs.

After the class, I had an on-camera interview with Heather! One of the questions she asked me was what advice I would offer to young people who want to be performers.

That question is always bittersweet, because I've had a lot of pain in my dance-related past, as well as lots of good things. I don't like to remember the bad things, like "you've got chicken legs; you'll never be a dancer." (Now I'm kinda known for my legs, so the joke's on them).

But we have to remember those things to realize how far we have come and how proud we should be that we worked past the bad people, the teachers and fellow students, and even family, who tried to stop you and tear you down. I wish I could spare other young people from that - that no one would ever again be ripped apart because of their looks or their body type or just because someone else is jealous.

Dear friends, I know I've said it before, but please, listen only to yourself and to people you trust. If a teacher tells you you'll never be anything, find a new teacher. If your friends make fun of your lifestyle choices or your clothes or your body, use those insults to make yourself even better. (And find some more friends). But don't let it get to you. Don't let anyone have that power over you.

Thinking about how you got where you are today also reminds you how many people have helped along the way. I wonder if there are any successful people who did it all on their own? For me, I could never count all the people who have helped make me what I am today. My parents encouraged me and drove me all over the place for the training I needed. Andrew prays for me during auditions. I have friends, like Cass, who give compliments and encouragement freely (how many friends give real compliments?). Gene Medler was kind to me when I needed it, and he can't imagine what that did for me.

Melodye helps me in class - pointing out my bad habits and helping me with my expression. Laura is encouraging and always looking out for me.

My brother never complained about the time he spent waiting outside a dance studio or watching an endless recital (though he was traumatized by some of that.) He also pushed me when I needed it. Shaun texts me every single day, even though I haven't seen him in months, and it really lifts your spirits to know a friend is thinking of you and interested in your day.

Even the mean teachers help you along the way, because they make you tough, or they make you move on.

My wonderful friend and teacher, Robert Tunstall, another person who will never imagine how much he has helped me, helped me understand that. I once complained to him about my horrid ballet teacher, and he said, "You can learn something from everyone. Find out what that is and learn it. Then move on." Excellent advice.

Whoever it is that helps you in some way, remember and be grateful. There is not much we can do completely on our own.

So, today was awesome! It was a lot of fun and it was nice to have a chance to pass on a little of what I've learned. I'm excited for tomorrow!

A Winter's Eve in New York

2009-11-30T21:35:00.011-05:00

New York City is the only place where you can film a Japanese television show, watch the tree lighting at Lincoln Square while listening to all kinds of live music at Winter’s Eve, shop at lululemon for professional dancewear, enjoy hot cocoa with a winter wonderland cupcake, AND order a vegetarian croque monsieur at a 24 hour French bistro! All in the same day!

I started the day in Charlotte with the last piece of Moravian Sugar Cake from Thanksgiving breakfast, then flew back to New York.

I had been cast in a television documentary about Broadway, produced by Osaka Television in Japan, and my part of the filming began this afternoon. The show is called “The Great White Way”, and is about a girl who dreams of being on Broadway. They are following her through a week of classes and auditions.

We shot a master class with Tyrick Jones, who, if you don’t know him, was in Hairspray and now Finian’s Rainbow. He works with my friend, Leslie, who I met in my very first show, Thoroughly Modern Millie (David Marquez choreographed the workshop for Millie, btw). Tyrick's on the far right in the photo, and Leslie is in the pretty blue dress.

Tyrick is great – we did “Nicest Kids in Town”, a number which suits me very well and is SO much fun. The shoot was well done – professional, efficient and fun. The program will only air internationally, but we do get reels and dvds, plus onscreen credit for our close-ups!

It feels wonderful to be working. I’ve spent the last 5 months mostly in training, and to actually dance for work is awesome!

After filming, I had to go uptown to lululemon, a great place for yoga and dancewear. It just happened that the tree lighting ceremony was starting at Lincoln Square! So I got to see the tree all lighted and there was live music and food vendors from around the city. I got a mini winter wonderland cupcake from Magnolia, and a yummy cup of hot cocoa, which was very nice since my hands were freezing!

While it was kind of hard to come back to the city because I love home so much, it was a great day that reminds me why I’m here!

O Christmas Tree!

2009-11-30T20:42:00.004-05:00

I was fortunate to be able to spend Thanksgiving at home in North Carolina. After two days of wonderful vegetarian feasting - macaroni & cheese and dressing and sweet potato casserole and cranberries and scalloped potatoes and popovers and spinach & pear salad and pecan pie and chocolate cake and pumpkin pie...yummmmmm - we went to the mountains to look for our Christmas tree.

This annual tradition always turns into some sort of adventure. About 4 years ago, we found the most wonderful tree farm near Sugar Mountain. There was a hayride and horses and a big barn where they served hot cider - and the trees were beautiful.

For some reason, we've never been able to find that farm again. There are loads of tree farms in western North Carolina, and all of the names are similar. Three years ago, we went back looking for the Sugar Mountain farm, and we drove around all afternoon but could never find it again. As it was starting to get dark, we just drove into the next farm and determined we would buy a tree there. BUT - it was just someone's back yard where they had planted trees up on a hill. There weren't many. And of course, the owner was standing outside in the yard waiting for us. He told us to jump in his truck and he drove us up the hill to look at the trees. My dad, brother and I quickly got in the back of the rickety vehicle, leaving my mom obligated to ride in the front seat with the man. We three laughed the whole way up (when we weren't holding our noses because of the strong smell of the cows), while my mom sat politely and listened to stories about the man's dog who had a hole shot through his lip so when he drank water it just ran right out.

Once on the hill, we saw the selection was not that great, but we had to buy something, so we chose the best he had, and rode back down. Then, when he tried to bale the tree, the machine broke and my dad had to fix it!

Though we've laughed about it many times since then, we have determined we will never go back to that place. So, this year, we had looked at the farms on the internet and found what we thought was the farm we had liked: Elk River Farms. But when we arrived, it wasn't the same. It wasn't quaint, and there were tons of people. It was like the Walmart of tree farms. We walked up the hill and everyone tried to make the best of it, but my dad finally said, "These trees are all misshapen!" We all laughed and ran back to the car!

So we drove through Banner Elk, ate lunch at the cutest place, and tried Apple Hill Farm. When we pulled in to the farm on top of a gorgeous mountain, we were the only customers there, while there were about 10 employees watching and waiting for our business. My dad said, "Um, we're not getting out here. They only have about 10 trees." But there was no way we could escape and my mom didn't want to embarrass them, so we parked and got out. While they didn't have many trees, they did have alpacas and donkeys, a beautiful barn with a barn cat, and an incredible view! So we enjoyed the animals while we tried to think of an excuse to leave. They sold some alpaca products, so we bought a soft, cuddly scarf for my aunt and took our leave.

As we were driving through Banner Elk, we happened to pass a place called M & M Tree Farms. We decided to stop because we felt the name was a good sign: my brother's and my first names both begin with M, so sometimes we are called M & M!

While they don't have horses, M & M is a GORGEOUS tree farm! We took a hay wagon up to the top of the mountain, and what a view! Trees as far as you could see. We had no trouble choosing two beautiful trees, one for the living room and a smaller one for the den.

Very happy, we drove on to Blowing Rock, a quaint mountain village where I have spent many wonderful days. It was dark by then, and we walked through the evening hush, enjoying the beautiful lights which make Blowing Rock like a fairyland in the winter. We had dinner at a cheerful English pub, and then, tired and happy, we headed back home. For next year, we hope we can remember M & M Farms!

Dance Spirit Magazine: A Week of Legwear

2009-11-14T15:45:00.003-05:00

December 2009

...Out of the Kitchen

2009-10-27T01:20:00.006-04:00

Today I left Hell's Kitchen. It was a great first place to live in New York - very safe and convenient, but I was ready for something a little more like a neighborhood.

The building where I have been living is old, like many places around here, but they hadn't really fixed it up much in the last 50 years. The sink was falling out of the wall and there were holes where a foot long rodent liked to scurry in and out. When I'd ask about removing the furry friend, I was told he didn't exist and that I didn't see any holes, even though I had evidence of him opening my rubbermaid food container and chewing on my box of granola bars. They also wouldn't turn on the heat in the building, so, needless to say, I've been chilly for a few weeks - I've had to wear gloves inside my room and sleep in my coat.

So - I moved to another residence on the upper west side, one where young women have lived for half a century. Some of them are still there. :) It's still temporary, and extremely small (about the size of my bathroom at home), but will do until after Christmas when I have a better idea of how long I will be staying and how many friends want to share an apartment.

While this building is also old, it feels so much grander. There's a proper lobby with high ceilings, a 24 hour desk attendant, a box for my mail, and reasonable meal times - a breakfast window of 6:30 - 9:00 instead of 6:00 - 7:00 at the old place. They also said they will leave a cold supper for me at night, since I will normally not be there for dinner.

My room is on the 6th floor, which is kind of exciting, though my view is mostly of steel bars and a concrete wall. That's okay. If I squint, I can see the park!

The best thing about the new place, though, is that the neighborhood feels real. Instead of just concrete and steel, there are brownstones, trees and CHILDREN! Do you know I have only seen children once since I've been here. One Saturday I worked the front desk at BDC and I was shocked to see little children coming in for their classes! And after having worked at Disney for more than a year, where my world revolved around children, I have really missed them!

Today, after I moved my things in to my room, I walked down my pretty street (it's not Park Avenue, but it feels like it compared to where I have been) and saw children skipping and laughing, with the pretty sidewalk trees in their fall colors. Very nice. I can also walk to my favorite diner - Manhattan Diner.

The only thing I will miss from the old neighborhood is the walk down 9th Avenue. While it was getting tiresome walking that mile in the cold and rain, I did enjoy saying hi to everyone in the shops. They would wave to me each morning and tell me to have a good day. Isn't that amazing? You wouldn't expect that here. They also waved to me on my way home each night. I felt like Tracy Turnblad.

I will miss the Coffee Pot, where I used to stop for a bagel and a chai latte, and I will miss the Thai Place, where they always treated me like I was a special guest, and gave me extra peanut sauce. But, I'll make a special trip to go back to see my friends there. Now that it's colder, I'll enjoy walking only 1 block east and 1 block south to the train, then making my way downtown in swift, warm comfort, instead of in the rain. :)

It's amazing what a difference seemingly little things, like trees and children, can make. It's the difference between just a place to stay and a home.

Post Graduation

2009-10-24T23:24:00.008-04:00

It's been an entire year since High School Musical 3 opened on October 24, 2008. All the excitement, planning, rehearsing that went in to this new show, all the friendships and memories made, are in the past now. That's very sad. It was a terrific run, though. :)

FELA!

2009-10-20T00:48:00.001-04:00

Tonight, as part of my job as a marketing intern at Broadway Dance Center, I got to attend the premiere of Fela! on Broadway! The show is about Fela Kuti, a Nigerian musician and political activist, featuring his music with the choreography of Bill T. Jones. It was fantastic! Fela was influenced by Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra and James Brown, as well as his native African music, and developed "Afrobeat" as a result. The dancing was incredible! At the end, Bill Jones joined his dancers onstage, which was fantastic! What a moment to see! This show just opened, and I hope you get a chance to see it, or at least hear some of the music. Fela was also an activist, and experienced a lot of tragedy in his life because of his critique of the military government. He became a national figure in Nigeria, and his music is known all over the world. I think we will hear more of it here in the future.

Just Haven't Met You Yet

2009-10-16T01:02:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Matthew for introducing me to this great new song! Here's the official video. It's sooo fun and happy!! I hope you like it.

Fall Traditions

2009-10-02T23:38:00.009-04:00

Every fall, for as long as I have lived in North Carolina, my family goes to a local pumpkin patch to choose pumpkins. It's so much fun! There are so many different kinds of pumpkins - some tall and skinny, some short and fat, and all kinds in between.

My brother always chooses a tall, thin pumpkin. I always find the one that most looks like a Cinderella pumpkin! And we always take pictures.

I didn't think I'd be at home for fall this year, but I got sick last weekend, and my parents brought me home to recover. I've done nothing all week but sleep and read (and text). It's so much easier to be sick when you're in your own house and you have someone to take care of you. :) But, I was tired of staying in and have finally started to feel better, so tonight, we went to the pumpkin patch!

There are so many to choose from!

Our visit to the pumpkin patch always ends with dinner at Riccio's. It is a wonderful, family-owned Italian restaurant. It's very homey, and everyone knows everyone else, and the same people have been working there for as long as we have been going. The pizza is pretty much on par with my other two favorites, Angelo's in NYC and Careira's in Orlando, which is saying a lot for Charlotte, North Carolina!

After having nothing but soup and green tea all week, with an occasional sugar free vanilla soy chai latte, pizza tasted wonderful!

We wanted a picture at Riccio's, but I was entirely too consumed with texting to pay attention to having my picture made. :) I was so lucky the timing was just right for me to continue our fall tradition. I hope your fall is off to a great start, too!

Soundtrack to my Life

2009-09-22T19:30:00.005-04:00

B.Reith's music speaks to me like almost no one else's does - only Relient K and Michael Buble are this special to me. His songs are just perfect for what I feel.

B.'s first full-length CD came out today; it's called Now is Not Forever. Until there's a video of one of the songs that I can share with you, this promo will have to do.

There are some beautiful songs on the album. Here's a lyric from U Should Know, which means a great deal to me already:

I never thought that I would meet that special someone til
You came along and froze me still
I'm not so sure that we were meant to be together yet
I can't stop thinking bout youuuuu

I hope you like it, too.

My Inheritance

2009-09-07T22:39:00.019-04:00

Thinking about how I got my name seems appropriate for my birthday, though I especially want to tell you about my middle name, Clare.

First, Miranda: my parents just really liked this name, and my mom, the English major, especially liked that Shakespeare created the name for a character in his play, The Tempest. There aren't a lot of variations or nicknames for Miranda, but sometimes people call me Rindy,

and Abram calls me Mirnda. :)

My last name, Bengtson, is Swedish. My great-grandfather came from Sweden to Ellis Island with nothing but a bag of apples. We're all thankful he did.

My middle name, Clare, comes from my great-great aunt, Clare Potter. She was a fabulous

woman with whom I have a lot in common, even though she died when I was

pretty young.

Clare was a fashion designer, based in New York City. In the 1930's, she was one of the first American designers to achieve name recognition, and she is one of three designers credited with inventing American sportswear.

Clare studied costume design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, then went to work

for a dress manufacturer. By 1936, she was one of 3 named designers for Lord & Taylor, specializing in

their "American Look."

Clare loved the outdoors, especially horseback riding, and she designed clothing for women like herself, who wanted a refined style in a ready-made costume, something beautiful that they

could actually live in. She was famous for her use of color, as well, preferring beautiful color and

lines over ornamentation. At right is a silk cocktail dress from the 1950's, admired for its

elegant lines.

Clare designed a blue dress for Eleanor Roosevelt to wear to meet King

George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She and Eleanor were founding members of Fashion Group

International. Here is a picture of their first meeting!

In 1946, she received a Coty award, like an Oscar for fashion. I'm fortunate to have inherited this statuette. It's a nude, so we have to keep it in the bathroom!

At left is a photo of Katharine Hepburn, photographed by Edward Steichen, wearing a coat designed by Clare.

By the time I met Clare, she was mostly retired and living in upstate New York, in a house she and Uncle Sandy, an architect, had designed, in the woods on a lake, where they could grow camellias, raise Dalmatians, ride their horses and watch their beloved birds.

My parents named me for her because of her intelligence, talent, grace,

and many other fine qualities which they hoped I would inherit. Clare always showed a kind interest in me, which made me feel special, because she was always involved in something "important." Here is a picture of Clare with John Cavanagh and Hattie Carnegie, recipients of the Distinguished Fashion Service Awards presentation at Neiman-Marcus.

Clare was a wonderful cook, and she never kept leftovers. Each night after dinner, she would open the back door and call her friends, the racoons. She served them what remained of the gourmet meal she had prepared that night. Many a family member wished she would save some of her wonderful French dishes so they could feast on them again for lunch the next day, but, alas, the remains always went to the racoons.

She also fed chipmunks right out of her hand! Whenever we would leave the lake, she would make us a bunch of flowers, freshly cut from her garden, to carry in the car, and always tucked in some mint or other fragrant flower so we would be reminded of her.

Along with her name, Clare left me a great deal of inspiration. I hope to be as creative, as elegant, as productive and as much fun as she was!

P.S. Thanks to froo*gal.blogspot.com, to dressingvintage.com, and to coutureallure.blogspot.com, for sharing photos of some of Clare's costumes.

Goodbye? Or See you Soon?

2009-08-27T19:53:00.007-04:00

You know that feeling you have when you are holding something you love in your arms, knowing that at any moment they could draw their last breath and slip away in your arms?

A few years ago, my dog, Sebastian, died in my arms. He was 17 years old, older than I was, and I loved him so much. To feel his body go limp and to see all the life exhaled with his last breath was awful. Even though he had been sick and could hardly do anything by himself, he still enjoyed being alive and being with us, even just sitting and being petted.

Earlier this year, I lost a close friend to drugs - they didn't die physically, but I watched them die in spirit. Slowly, but surely, they were pulled from me into darkness.

Once again, I find myself hoping to have one more day with someone I love. Her name is Marie. Many years ago, when I was 9 years old, I was given a Christmas present. The box tipped as I held it, and I thought I was receiving a basketball! But as I opened the lid, a beautiful kitten jumped out!

Marie has brought me much joy, as I know I have told you. I remember her first birthday party, when we served her fresh meat on a birthday plate! I remember her prancing gingerly through the snow, shaking off her tiny paws after each step. I remember teaching her to jump through hoops, like my friend, Dominique, does with his cats in Key West. I also remember her keeping us warm through a 5-day ice storm, and curling up with me on the couch when I was sick.

Now, at not quite 9 years old, a disease has made her unable to walk, meow or eat. When I pet her, all I feel are her bones, and she meows for me to stop because it hurts too much.

I don't want to lose her, but I trust that after she leaves my care, she will go to live with her Creator.

Dear God, please let animals go to heaven. Thank you.

Update: I wrote this a few weeks ago, before moving to New York, but never had a chance to post it. Marie died last week. I had hoped to see her one more time, when I go home for my birthday next week, but she did not quite make it.

Kicks...and my heart starts beating!

2009-08-16T23:05:00.013-04:00

Today I officially became a Radio City Rockette assistant! This has been one of my goals since I was about 11 years old, when I went to my first Rockette Experience. The Rockette Experience is a one day workshop where girls take class with a Radio City Rockette, learning some jazz, tap, and kickline choreography from the Rockettes Repertory.

Since the first time I saw the Rockettes perform at the Rose Theater in Chicago many years ago, I have wanted to be one of the dazzling girls dancing in sparkling dresses and silver heels. The first step was to attend the Experience, which I did for three years, and then to attend the summer intensive, which I also did for three years. At the last summer intensive I attended, nearly two years ago, I actually got to perform on the world’s largest stage at Radio City Music Hall. It was incredible. The size of the stage, beauty of the Hall, and thrill of performing where the Rockettes have performed since 1932 made it one of the highlights of my life so far.

Today, in addition to assisting with the Rockette Experience, which included demonstrating the gorgeous choreography, I also got a personal tour from the director of the program. We did an “off limits tour” which means I got to go into all of the places that are not typically open for people to see. I sat in the box seats way up high. I sat in the very chair where Judy Garland sat at the round table in the dining room. I saw the original projectors from 1932. I saw many beautiful costumes, and I got to go down underneath the hydraulic system which operates the big stage. It was spectacular!

Tonight at church, I met a girl who has been a Rockette for three years. We had coffee and chatted for a while. She was really sweet and very helpful, giving me great advice about training, education and auditions. She said being a Rockette is very demanding, and it is important to wait until your body is physically ready for those demands, which happens at around 20 years old. I had not heard that before.

I am so thankful for the exciting opportunities God is giving me, and I want to make the most of each and every one of them. No matter whether I ever get another dance job, I'm having an experience that is changing my life. I miss you all and wish you were here.

Sunday in the Park with Me

2009-08-09T22:43:00.007-04:00

Today was lovely.

I started by taking the bus from 10th Avenue to Lexington Avenue. I love riding cross town and catching a glimpse of Tiffany's on 5th Avenue and the lush green park.

Then I took the 6 train up to Hunter College, where Redeemer Presbyterian church has one of their 5 services. I love wonderful church services. I love meeting new people and singing beautiful songs. After the service I went to a reception, where I met this lovely couple from Paris. We chatted for a while about how much they love the city; they think it's better than Paris! They were so cute.

I went back to my apartment to make a picnic. Then I went to the park to have lunch and watch a concert - Jazmine Sullivan with some other people. I also wrote a few postcards that I got from an adorable outdoor bookstore, The Strand.

I read more of my book "Wuthering Heights". I love stories from that time period. It was a beautiful afternoon to read a lovely book in the cool grass as gentle breezes ruffled the leaves on the trees.

Later I went to a super cute restaurant, Blockheads, with my friend, Blake. We sat outside, eating burritos and chatting for several hours about all the news in our lives. It was a wonderful day.

XOXO

This must be heaven

2009-08-04T20:11:00.007-04:00

I Wanna Be A Rockette/Kicks

The David Marquez Choreography Reel

So, yesterday was the best class ever! Guess what? Today was the best class ever! Remember David Marquez? Wow. He is FAB-U-LOUS. He choreographed that Rockettes number, Kicks, above. If you just want to watch a bit of it, fast forward to 4 minutes.

Beneath that is a choreo reel - lots of Fosse style. Fast forward to 8:40.

In class today, after a terrific warmup, he choreographed what was still in his head straight on to the dancers. He's working on a Will Rogers Follies type show for a cruise ship, and worked it out in class. It was like being in a choreo workshop, which I have never done. His choreography is like Fosse - challenging, with long lines and clean techique - perfectly suited to my body and style. He likes tall dancers, too!

I was in heaven.

Why I'm Here

2009-08-03T22:28:00.007-04:00

Today was only the second day of my internship. It seems so much has happened already.

I like the other dancers in the program. Each one is unique - some are hip-hoppers, some are tappers, and a couple of us are ballet and theatre dancers. We already have to start choreographing, which will be fun and challenging.

I like where I live, though it is very hot and noisy at night. The people are very nice and the atmosphere is warm and friendly. I'm just exhausted from not being able to sleep.

I'm also exhausted from walking miles every day.

But, as part of my internship, I was assigned to work with the Rockette Experience, the job I most wanted. I'll also get to work in Marketing at Broadway Dance Center, which will be great, as I plan to earn my degree in business.

The best part, of course, is taking class at BDC. Remember when I wrote about taking David Marquez' class - the best I had ever taken? I get to take his class again tomorrow! But today, I took quite possibly the very best class ever - with Josh Bergasse - who teaches theatre dance. That's his picture above. He was in Movin' Out, Hairspray and West Side Story. The warm-up lasted an hour - it was terrific. We then did a Gene Kelly-esque number - very challenging and just my style. I loved every minute of it.

I miss my Disney friends and my family and friends from home, but I'm very happy here so far, and I feel extremely fortunate and blessed. I only wish everyone I love were here, too. Then it would be perfect.

Starfish on the Beach

2009-07-30T17:59:00.005-04:00

I was at the beach last week, and at low tide, there were loads of starfish washed up on the sand. They were still alive, and I wanted to save them, but I thought, wow, there is no way we can get all of these back into the water. Then I remembered a story my dad had told me some time ago:

A man was walking on the beach and saw another man tossing starfish into the ocean. The first man said, "You'll never get all of those back in the ocean. It's hopeless. It won't make any difference."

The second man said, as he tossed another starfish back into the water, "It made a difference to that one."

So, I picked up as many as I could and tossed them back. I couldn't save them all, but I made a difference to a few.

Life is like that; we can't save everyone, but we can make a difference to a few, just by asking someone how they are doing or giving them a smile. You never know what kind of difference that will make in someone's day.

Sink or Swim

2009-07-23T19:35:00.005-04:00

"Come on, Emma, you can do it! That's it. You are almost there!"

Today I finished a week of teaching swim lessons to Emma. She is one of the sweetest children I know. At her first lesson, she would hardly step off the stairs. Everything I asked her to do, she would reply "I can't do that", and I would say "Yes you can."

Gradually she learned to trust me, that what I was asking her to do would not harm her. Each day she progressed more and more, from being comfortable off the stairs, to letting me help her float, to getting her face and nose wet, to swimming completely underwater, to swimming down to get rings, and learning to say "I can!"

I am so proud of her. And her mother was very proud, too. Emma reminds me of myself, though. A lot of times when I am getting ready to do something new, or a little bit out of my comfort zone, I say, "I can't do this". Even though I'm used to myself being this way after all these years, I still resist when I have to do something hard or something that will force me to challenge myself. Sometimes people have to force me to do what I need to do.

Emma has reminded me that if I trust in God and those around me, they won't let me sink, and I will be just fine.

Here I go, swingin' low

2009-07-22T00:13:00.004-04:00

A LOT has changed for me in the past few months. It's been a VERY challenging time - I left my full time job at Disney, which I loved, to figure out what was next. When you're at Disney, everything you do is tied to your job - it becomes your whole world. When you leave, you're lost - you've left behind your friends, your job, your home, everything that you think you are.

I had decided I was going to Rollins - they were very generous to me and I knew where to continue dance training in Orlando, plus I could work once in a while. I decided an academic degree worked better for me than a BFA. The dance programs I had visited just didn't seem like good matches for me.

However, as time passed, college seemed to fit me less and less. Something was not right.

I spent many weeks trying to figure out where I belong. Too young to audition, no work right now in the arts, school wasn't quite right. What to do?

I went to a Broadway workshop in June, with Michael Balderrama, Michelle Kittrell, Jason Marquette, and more. I LOVED being in class again. I take ballet class almost every day, but this was theater - my favorite style. I hadn't been in a theater in a long time. I was soon overwhelmed with knowing this is where I belong. School is important, but if I have any chance of working in theater, I have to start now. I can't wait four years.

(Note: for my friends in musical theater and contemporary dance, I know 4 years of college training can be important. But as I observed class after class in BFA programs, I felt there was almost nowhere for me to grow. )

I determined to put everything I have into dance. Along the way, I found some excellent online degree programs, in finance and economics, the field I want to study, so I realized I can get my degree at my own pace, which is how I work best.

I decided I would go back to work in Orlando, at Disney, Universal, wherever I could get hours, and save the money for a Broadway Dance Center internship in the winter. It's something I have always wanted to do, and it seemed like the best choice for the last bit of professional training before beginning to audition. I'm a little young for the fall program, or so I thought.

Then about two weeks ago, it hit me. I should ask BDC if they would consider me for the fall. It wouldn't hurt to ask, and the timing would be perfect, since there are a lot of auditions in the spring, and you can't audition while interning.

So, I called right away. I had missed the fall deadline, but they said if I got my materials in that very day, they would consider me. THANKFULLY, I had that audition solo on youtube, and Jason Marquette immediately called to give me a recommendation. I finished the application, wrote the essay, and I was done.

I only had to wait two days. I was in!

Housing was the next hurdle. Where could I stay, at my age, that was in my budget and not already full? I only had two weeks. After a LOT of research, I found two places, applied, waited, and then was accepted to live at a women's residence in Hell's Kitchen. From the Magic Kingdom to Hell's Kitchen. That's a long way. :)

I leave in only 10 days. I won't believe I am going until I am there. I'm afraid something is going to happen and it will all go away.

But, I do believe that God brought me to the point where I had no more ideas of my own. I did not know what to do. I had to wait for Him to show me. I had to learn to trust. And He surprised me!

I feel so lucky. I know there is no work for dancers right now, so who knows what I will do next? Actually, God knows. At least I have this wonderful opportunity.

Please, if you can come to the city, come see me. I will hope to be back in Florida in January, because I will be dying to see you all, but will hope to see some of you before then.

Much love.

NASA Moon Pies!

2009-07-21T14:09:00.007-04:00

Monday was the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, and NASA celebrated with moon pies! On the left, Jerry Carr, CAPCOM for Apollo 8 and Apollo 12, cuts pie at Kennedy Space Center. The other moon pie is at the Neil Armstrong museum in Ohio. So much fun!

I Have a Dream

2009-07-21T01:19:00.006-04:00

Everyone has a dream.

But did you know that only one in ten people takes a step toward that dream?

Go for it.

Story of My Life

2009-07-17T14:34:00.005-04:00

Me: Do you have a vegetarian sandwich?

Server: No.

Me: Um, do you have bread?
Server: Yes.

Me: Do you have cheese?

Server: Yes.

Me: Do you have lettuce?

Server: Yes.

Me: Can you put that all together?

Server: No.

Me: Okay. Bye.

The Future of our Health Care?

2009-07-13T21:12:00.005-04:00

Steven Crowder goes undercover to see what government run (single payer) health care is like for our neighbors in Canada. It's kind of long, so if you want a shortcut, skip to about 7:00 and watch a few segments - especially his conversation with the lady whose mother has (had) circulatory problems. Pretty shocking stuff.

Way Back Into Love

2009-07-12T23:17:00.007-04:00

Have you seen Music and Lyrics? Such a cute movie - and don't you love this song? It's amazing how many experiences we all share, even if we don't realize it at first and think we're the only ones. We're never alone in what we feel.

I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need em again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

I think I've turned a corner, though. I'll keep you posted. And thanks for listening. :)

Which state are you?

2009-07-09T21:18:00.005-04:00

I took this little quiz (I know I have better things to do, but I do love procrastinating) and the results are suprisingly accurate. I was actually born in South Carolina!
Which state are you? South Carolina

Everything from your attire to your meal choices are refined and classy. Your ideal home has blue shutters, a white picket fence, and a quaint little garden of petunias. Your typical Sunday entails sitting on your porch with a good book, breathing in the beautiful, fresh air, and sipping lemonade with your husband, knowing your loyal labrador retriever is just a whistle away. You find beauty in the simple things and it doesn't take elaborate gestures and or expensive gifts to woo you, but rather, a poem or some picked flowers will make your heart melt. Family means the world to you, and once you find that special someone, you will have a love that will last a lifetime.
Wanna try? Go to http://roflquiz.com/what-us-state-do-you-belong-in/q/30/

Picture Worth a Thousand Words

2009-07-06T22:08:00.002-04:00

Breathtaking, isn't it?

From Smart Girl Politics, posted by Captain Slackchain: http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/profiles/blogs/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand

The Dragonfly

2009-06-29T20:54:00.002-04:00

I was at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton on Sunday afternoon - it is my favorite beach in Florida. When you leave the beach, you walk through a tunnel, then through a pine forest to get to the parking lot. As we walked, a dragonfly passed right in front of me. A longleaf pine needle was attached to it - it looked like the dragonfly was carrying the pine needle, but it was too heavy, and kept pulling the dragonfly down.

The dragonfly lighted on a branch, right in front of me, and I took a closer look. That's when I realized it wasn't carrying the pine needle; it was completely impaled on the needle. In other words, the 8-inch needle pierced right through the center of the insect's body, just below where the wings are attached. I stood for a minute wondering if I should try to help. (How I wish I had thought to take a picture, because I would never have believed this if I hadn't seen it).

I tried to pull gently on the needle, to see if it would come out easily. It didn't, and the dragonfly's back half, or tail, was limp, and I realized that it was paralyzed. Then I thought, the least I could do would be to break off part of the needle, so it wasn't as heavy. When I touched it carefully, the dragonfly flew away to a higher branch, where I could not reach it. I could no longer help it, and it killed me to stand there and watch it, without being able to do anything since it was out of my reach. It was like God was saying, "you think you can help this, but you can't. Only I can."

The dragonfly reminded me of a friend of mine - one who cried out for help, and then, when I tried to help, they pushed me away. It kills me to see them suffering and not being able to help because they are out of my reach. All I can do is pray that someone else will give them the help that they need. I think I can help this person by myself, but I can't even help a dragonfly.

When people have a serious trauma in their lives, like this dragonfly had the pine needle through its body, do you think it's better to try to help, or is it better for them to live with the pain? If you pull the needle out, it will hurt, but then it will be gone, and the wound can heal, but what if pulling it out makes it worse? Maybe if you leave it there, the body heals around it? What do you think?

Either way, I know with God all things are possible, and only He can truly heal someone. I can only pray, but I know that God answers prayers.

Jump, Jump, Jump, Everybody Jump

2009-06-29T20:07:00.004-04:00

I'm finally home. I had to "jump" 4 times to get here. It started in Orlando, when the car wouldn't start after work. The Disney security guys came to the rescue with their "magic box." We went directly to walmart to have the battery replaced, while we sat on the curb for an hour and a half. That done around 8:30, we headed to Miami. Somehow, as many times as I have made that trip, we got lost looking for the turnpike. A wasted hour later, we were back to Kissimmee and headed to Miami...

It was a short night, then a great audition, and then a few hours at the beach, then...the car would not start. A very nice park ranger jumped it for us and we were on the way, though we were told not to turn the car off until we were at the hotel for that night. (I think I was very lucky the car started that morning so I could get to the audition, even though it didn't start the time before or after that.)

We drove all the way to Daytona, then had to turn the car off to get gas. Guess what? It wouldn't start. Once again, for the third time, God had put us in the right place at the right time. A guy on a Harley, with tattoos all over, asked if we needed help. He said, "I'm a member of Christian Motorcyclists." At the same time, a lovely family who had been on a 2 week mission trip in Orlando (without going to Disney!) pulled up. They all got the car to start again. It took a little while since the battery was very drained, but there we were, standing at a gas station, in Daytona, sharing our stories.

We drove over to Home Depot to get our own "magic box." The store manager kept the store open an extra 5 minutes so we could buy it. Once again, right place, right time. We drove on to Darien, Georgia for the night. We had to charge the magic box, but it did not come with a cord, so the disabled lady who was working at the desk, hunted down an extension cord for us.

Meanwhile, we met a lady named Janet. She was using the hotel computer, and I had kind of rolled my eyes at her because I wanted to get on facebook. Oh, well. Lesson learned. When she heard we were having car trouble, she said to come find her in the morning and her husband would help us get it started. Thank goodness she was there, because we sure needed them.

Next morning, magic box charged, we tried to start the car. No go. Magic box useless. After a few tries, here come Janet and her husband, John, who just happened to have the room right behind where we had parked the car, and had seen us working on it. John drove to Fred's to buy us some jumper cables. Meanwhile, we went inside and I looked at facebook. We had not eaten, and the hotel breakfast was over. But - the breakfast lady walked by and said, "you all weren't at breakfast." We said no, we were having car issues. She said, "Would you like me to get you some yogurt?" We said yes and thank you very much. How in the world did she know we had not been at breakfast?

John came back with the cables, and we tried for an hour to start the car. There we were again, sharing our stories with strangers in a little town in Georgia. That's when I realized several things. (While we were waiting, a dragonfly landed on the car. I will tell you that story in another blog.)

Why do I think I can plan out my own life? I can't even start a car or drive down the interstate without relying on God to put compassionate people in a position to help.

Four different people from different walks of life helped us. Without them, we would not have made it home.

Why do I think I can run my life all by myself? I realized that I need other people in my life, to support and help me along, and to give their wisdom because I can't know everything.

I also need to trust God and not worry about what I'm going to do with my life. I have to do my best and lean on God to carry me home. If he can make sure I get home safely, he will make sure I'm where I'm supposed to be in my life.

"Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds." Matthew 6:26

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Matthew 6:34

"For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I had a dream...

2009-06-29T19:48:00.005-04:00

Did you ever not want to go to sleep, because you were afraid you were going to have a bad dream?

I do not like to fall asleep these days, because I have the same dream every time, whether it's at night in my own room, or if I fall asleep in the car, or anywhere else. The thing is, it's a good dream, one that had actually come true. The problem is that dream has ended. When I wake up and realize it was only a dream, and it's over now, then I'm very sad.

p.s. this is my very cute apartment in celebration. i miss it very much.

Summer in the South

2009-06-22T21:59:00.011-04:00

I love summer.

Here at home, summer means going to the Peach Stand and getting

fresh peaches, berries, melons, tomatoes.

It means going to the Soda Shop to split a

milkshake with my brother, who is also my best friend. It also means sitting on the

back porch at night watching fireflies and

listening to the crickets.

Summer is also going to the beach and seeing a dolphin and her baby surfacing

out in the ocean. In the Carolinas, it's going to beach music concerts and shag dancing. It's staying out in the sun all day on the lake, and taking the boat to Midtown Sundries for dinner

and to watch the sun go down.

It's wonderful. :)

Perspective

2009-06-16T00:08:00.010-04:00

You know, I'm so caught up in my own life, but I am truly blessed. In spite of pain I am dealing with, I have so many wonderful things happening to me - wonderful friends, kind people at work who just make my day, and amazing dance and work opportunities. I don't have a thing in the world to complain about, and I'm sorry if last night's post was self-absorbed. (See below if you dare). When we focus on ourselves and our own little world, our problems look huge, but they are nothing compared to most people's problems.

Just look at the story coming out of Iran. It's not been reported too much by the media, but a revolution is taking place in Iran, and it's taking place on twitter. It's incredible. Though the Iranian government has cut news broadcasts and cell phones, they didn't think about twitter. So, Iranians are posting the story directly, along with amazing and horrifying photos. It's the first major event ever not to be covered by the media, but reported by regular people on the scene.

It's a privilege to speak directly, through tweets, to Iranians on the street - to hear what they are going through and to give them encouragement. How often can that happen? Just now, someone posted, directly from Tehran:

"my dorms are being raided again-plain clothes are coming with guns and threats.pray please"

How scary is that? Last night the police stormed into the University of Tehran dorms, beating and seizing students and smashing their computers and everything else. I guess it's happening again tonight.

For some incredible pictures, you must look at http://picfog.com/search/IranElection.

These are real time pictures being posted by Iranians. Some are graphic. Some are wonderful. They're taking the pictures with cell phones and posting them to twitter. Remarkable. We are watching a revolution in front of our eyes. But the people of Iran are in grave danger. There are horrible videos of them being beaten and shot. I saw one video on youtube of a young boy who was shot. Not much of a country, but the people are fighting to get one.

So, I cried on my way home tonight. I had a vivid reminder of the wonderful thing that used to be and it pierced my heart, but I was also tired and things hurt more when you're worn down. But I really have no reason to cry. I live in a country where I can say and do whatever I choose. Looking at these pictures and reading these tweets, though, I cry for the people of Iran. They have a long way to go before they can sleep in peace. And that's a reason to cry.

Update:the next morning, the first tweet from Iran that I saw was: "10-15 dead in the dorm.the floors are covered in blood."

Please Help Me Understand

2009-06-14T16:39:00.013-04:00

My friend, Justin, got me thinking about gossip, not that I wasn't already thinking about it, because I'm dealing with it so often at work. He said we have to be careful because laughing at something we hear about another person is really laughing at that person's pain...and he's right.

People love to find out embarrassing information and spread it around. I guess it makes them feel better about themselves. If they only knew that it really makes them look worse.

It always shocks me to learn that someone has spread something about myself. It makes you wonder who you can really trust, and that's sad. I try very hard to be kind to everyone, though I know I fail, but I don't get outright meanness. I really don't want to hurt anyone, though I do sometimes wish consequences would make people stop being so mean. A former friend started telling something derogatory about me last summer, and I heard it repeated to my face again yesterday. I was shocked! He's still saying that? What makes a person do that?

The thing that's worse than gossip, though, is when someone deliberately tries to hurt you, or tries to take something that you have. Some people think they are amazingly great, but their greatness really depends on whether anyone else has anything good. If someone else has something good, they have to take that (or belittle it) to keep their higher position.

This happened to me, too. I had something wonderful happen in my life, and some people set out to destroy it. At first, I was able to fight them, but eventually, circumstances made it possible for them to ruin my chance. And here I am hurting, while these people waste the opportunity and use the people involved in it, and laugh at how they deceived me. (They think I don't know, but I'm much smarter than they realize.)

Sure, that opportunity may have been lost anyway, without their help, and considering how easily they were able to ruin it, it probably would have been. But, they went after it, and for now, they win.

I guess my question is, why do people take pleasure in hurting others? I was hurt in this deal, but so were some other people, whom they supposedly care about. I guess they care for others only if it doesn't get in the way of their greed. Damage was done, and it is permanent.

It's also amazing how some people must be the center of attention and are extremely rude to everyone around them: manipulating, using, looking down on...all for their own benefit. Why do people not see when they are being used? Maybe I don't see it either. We so want to trust people and believe they like us; maybe we don't see it when it happens to us.

But why do we allow mean people so much power? Some people have to have others flocking around them, like groupies, who try to bask in the reflected glory, or to have a little cast-off glitter fall on them. It's embarrassing, but they keep doing it. Don't you want your own life instead of living off someone else's crumbs?

Even though they have their "hangers-on", these people still treat the rest of us like an audience, adoring fans, or even servants, even if we don't bow down willingly.

I've asked a lot of questions, and I'd love any insight you guys have. I'm certainly not perfect, and Justin caused me to think about what I say to and about people. We have to be so careful. I wish we could all stand up against the bad ones, and protect innocent people from getting hurt. I guess in the end, it will all even out. Mean people will die unhappy. I just wish I could prevent the damage to others.

In Lord of the Rings, Sam says to Frodo: "There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for."

We have to keep standing up for what is right, and protecting people, but it sure gets hard and discouraging sometimes, when you see people being hurt in ways that will affect them forever.

You might need to save me

2009-05-10T21:44:00.004-04:00

I always thought I might like to go into medicine someday. However, I am taking lifeguard certification, and today we did CPR and first aid. It's not even like being a doctor or a paramedic, but being a lifeguard includes a lot of responsibilities I wasn't expecting. You have to be able to care for someone who stops breathing, someone whose heart stops beating (technically that means someone is dead, so you have to bring them back to life), someone who severs their spine (if you move them even 1/4 of an inch you risk putting them in a wheelchair for the rest of their life), or someone who just had a pencil shoved in their eye.

That's a lot of pressure. You're their lifesaver, basically. In the case of someone unconscious, every minute that goes by their chance of survival decreases by 10 percent. While I would do everything I could to save someone, I'm kind of scared I wouldn't be able to. That would be devastating. I'm just hoping no one gets hurt in my pool (or any other pool) this summer.

You always look at lifeguards as being so cool and tan and laid-back, but really, they're prepared to save a life at a moment's notice. I'm excited to be a lifeguard and I hope I do a good job, but I don't think I could handle the pressure of being a doctor. I wish I could, and I admire people who can. Maybe I will change, but it must take a very special person to do such a tough job.

Please ask me to the prom!

2009-05-03T14:58:00.023-04:00

All of my "normal" friends have been going to prom the last few weeks. I've seen lots of pretty pictures of beautiful girls in gorgeous dresses with handsome boys at their sides. It looks like fun! I would have liked to have gone to a normal prom. I would love to wear a gorgeous dress like this, even for just one night. My prom "dress" has been an oversized funky shirt and red shorts. But....no one could have had better prom dates than I have had! I love them all and I am the luckiest girl! It's what you wear from ear to ear, and not from head to toe, that matters! Right? You bet.

Thank you, Drew, Justin, Jason, Josh, Bry, Tuan, Dusty, Sean and Jeremy (and all the rest of you wonderful east high boys) for being the best dates a girl could have. <3

This is America

2009-04-29T23:22:00.002-04:00

Nothing arrogant here. Just pure loyalty, honor, caring, strength and love.

Are we backward, or what?

2009-04-29T20:26:00.003-04:00

Could someone please explain to me how a method of interrogation which scares terrorists who are planning to murder thousands of people into giving information to prevent that - a method which our soldiers undergo as part of their training - can be called torture, when ripping apart a newborn baby's body in order to kill it can be legal? I know we have become so open minded that our brains have truly fallen out, but this is not open-mindedness; this is so horrific I can barely even think about it.

I've heard a number of people who would have been killed in the LA bombing express their gratefulness for the waterboarding of two men who would cut off any of our heads with a dull knife, given half a chance.

I also know some people whose mothers did not want them, but somehow their lives were spared, express their gratefulness at being alive. What is wrong with us? We have truly succumbed to evil when we choose the comfort of a mass murderer over the life of a child.

Mainstream Media (MSM) is done. End of story.

2009-04-19T13:55:00.003-04:00

If you happened to watch any tea party coverage on Wednesday, do you know if you got the facts? I never realized that the msm was really this biased. I just thought reporters reported. It has been made clear to all of us that this is no longer the case. I was at a tea party, and I saw how it was reported on my local station (lies). This happened over and over across the country. Over 1 million Americans protested on Wednesday, and the msm reduced it to a vulgar joke. This is why no one watches cnn or msnbc or any other mainstream news anymore. (FYI - Fox is beating all of these stations 3-1 in the ratings. Now I understand why.)

Americans have realized what is going on, and are now getting news directly from the sources - from the people who were there - on twitter, on pajamas tv, on facebook, etc. The "people's media" (thanks for the term, Andrew Klavan) has replaced the so-called mainstream media.

I'm pretty disillusioned, because I always think the best of people, that they are really trying to do the right thing. But when you cover up the truth and mock and insult decent people to draw attention away from the issues, then you're done.

We cannot let them influence us anymore, because they are no longer presenting facts.

BTW, CNN forced youtube to take down Susan Roesgen's on-camera rant toward a tea party attender who was trying to answer her question. Why? It was broadcast all over the world. Everyone saw it. Why take it down? And..Susan is on vacation.

And the winner is....

2009-04-16T16:59:00.007-04:00

ROLLINS!
Why? One of the main reasons I have committed to Rollins is they have offered me a wonderful scholarship package. Plus, it is on Park Avenue AND on a lake! Seriously, I decided to go for an academic degree at a place where I can continue professional dance training. It is just not a good time to go to New York (or to be a dancer, for that matter). I will still be able to work for Disney and see my friends who live in Orlando! Plus, I will be able to study and prepare for whatever other career I choose. It's a good fit for me. I'm very blessed and very happy. Things change over the course of a year, and we change, too. I've been waiting on this day for a long time. Now that it's here, I feel relieved and excited, though I'm a little scared about managing the workload. At least I'm used to hard work! But, I have to tell you, the last time I was in Winter Park, a few weeks ago, we drove past Rollins and I thought, this place is gorgeous! How can I possibly turn this down? You guys, please come visit me!

Wake Up Call

2009-04-14T16:08:00.004-04:00

If you haven't seen this, you should. Over 3 million have watched it on youtube in the last 3 days. It's incredible and heartwarming - one of the best moments I've ever seen. It won't let me embed, so here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

This is a wake up call for all of us, as Amanda Holden said. We should NEVER judge on looks, age, experience, lack of opportunity, or anything else. We need to give people every chance and look for the good in them, rather than mocking the superficial.

Thank you, Susan, for your courage! You're an inspiration!

I Love the DMV!

2009-04-07T13:16:00.005-04:00

I'm all grown up today, at least on paper, thanks to the DMV and my new friends! I had to exchange my Florida license for a North Carolina one, and after waiting only 3 hours, I got more than I had hoped for!

First of all, I need to tell you how nice North Carolinians are. The waiting room was packed, and everyone was talking to each other and laughing. I made several new friends. People even cheered when other's numbers were called.

This is my fourth license in a year and a half. There were a lot of technical issues to work around, like the fact that according to the computer, because I'd had my NC license for less than a year, I was going to have to go back to driving only before 9 pm. That was NOT going to work for me, and if I had been in any other location, I would have had no choice. Instead, thanks to wonderful Nikki and Sherry, I got a full license with no restrictions, AND registered to vote!! Now I don't have to go back to the DMV for three years! I can drive whenever, wherever, and with whomever I want.

When I got my original NC license at 16, I started to smile for my picture. The officer told me that I could not smile. I said "What?", and he snapped the picture. So on my 16 year old, very first license, I had a confused-face picture. This time the nice lady said, "Smile if you like, honey," and I said "Cheese!" =D

When I Grow Up

2009-03-31T23:53:00.020-04:00

So, I have always planned to be a dancer and a chemist. However, times are a changin'. I may not even be able to afford to go to school, much less go to New York City without a job. So...here are some possible solutions: First of all, I'm glad they came out with the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, because I can no longer afford the Longer one.

My first option is to take this exam and become...a postal worker. The men and women who work at my post office are wonderful - always gracious and helpful. I understand, though, that it can be a rough job.

Or, I can take the GED or the Firefighter Exam. I never pictured myself fighting fires - I think it's a pretty tough job, and I understand the exam is brutal. But, we can't be too choosy anymore.

If all else fails, there is the Border Patrol Exam. I've always admired the Border Patrol. I'd love to be able to stand up for myself and not let people cross my lines.

All of these are good options; I've just never really considered them before. I've always thought I would choose a career based on my talents and skills and interests. But now that everyone is going to be working for the government anyway, why not make it official?

LAME - without "ME", you can't spell it!

2009-03-31T23:35:00.006-04:00

I need help! How am I supposed to keep up with blogging, facebook, twitter, texting, blogforum, youtube along with everything in my real life? Thank goodness I deleted myspace, or I'd really be in trouble!

Twitter is the hardest, because you constantly have to keep updatng it, and the people who read it are like Switchfoot and Newt Gingrich and Danny Bogue - people who are doing big things in this world, like recording new albums, writing books and being former speaker of the house, and traveling to Pixar Studios.

Sample updates:

Vanessa Hudgens: Just finished recording my new album; now I'm headed to Zac's!

Switchfoot: Concert in Honolulu tonight - be there! So excited!

Miranda Bengtson: Doing homework, going to dance, going to work. Lame. Sigh. ;)

It's a Small World!

2009-03-23T18:08:00.006-04:00

I just got back from Pittsburgh where I auditioned for another college program. I got to see three awesome friends who go to school there, and I got to see Jasmine again! It was great to have a friend in the class. This time we were able to talk a little more, since MTV didn't go on this trip, and I got to visit with her mom a little. We actually have a lot in common - mostly that we want to go to the same school, and we are both very serious and intense about our dancing. It's neat when you meet someone from somewhere so different, and yet you are so much alike.

Did you watch the first episode of her show, Taking the Stage? It's on Thursday nights for 10 weeks, and the Miami episode will come up a little later. It's interesting - a good way for kids to see what is involved in trying to follow your dream of performing.

My stress level is so high right now I can hardly concentrate on anything. Just waiting for acceptance letters and trying to make decisions is really getting to me. I've been waiting a long time since I did all of my applications in August, but now it's down to just one more week. I've got two good options, but am waiting on some others. I run to the mailbox every day, and check my email about 20 times a day.

There's more involved in my decision now than there was when I started this process: the economy has changed (big one), and I've learned some new things about myself, my abilities and my goals.

Only God knows what is going to happen. And I guess that's all I need to know.

MTV surprise!

2009-03-07T13:55:00.005-05:00

MTV Shows

When I went to a college dance audition last weekend in Miami, I was surprised to be met with a camera in my face as I walked in the door. An MTV crew was there, filming for their reality show, Taking the Stage. They are following Jasmine, a girl from a performing arts school in Cincinnati, as she auditions for college dance programs. Jasmine is a really beautiful, sweet girl, and a wonderful dancer. We got to talk a little - I feel for her because I can't imagine how stressful it must be to have your auditions filmed for everyone to see. She's brave.

The audition was great - I loved everything about it - the teachers, the atmosphere, the class. I hope I get it!

Taking the Stage begins March 19.

Finished!

2009-03-04T23:37:00.001-05:00

Hi Guys! I finished my dance and finally retaped it:

http://miranda-mavieenrose.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-work-in-progress.html

NYC Highlights

2009-02-21T14:06:00.010-05:00

I want to write about my trip to New York before I forget what happened! Plus, I want to share in case any of you might be going soon! ;)

I left right after my last day of regular work at Disney, so the timing was good because it helped me to not be so sad and to realize I have new adventures to look forward to.

Here are the highlights:

1. Germaine Salsberg’s tap class at Broadway Dance Center – she is one of the best teachers anywhere and I love her and I have missed tapping so much.

2. Joan Peters’ Dunham class at Ailey – this is one of the hardest classes I have ever taken because I worked muscles I never knew I had! I was scared because Ms. Peters not only danced with Katherine Dunham, but she uses a big stick to count out rhythms! But this is what I need. I love going to the Ailey School because the professionals are all in class or rehearsal, too, and they are the strongest, most beautiful dancers in the world, so it reminds you why you are there.

3. David Marquez’ theater dance class at BDC – I have waited several years to take this class, and I LOVED it! It was one of the best I have EVER taken! My new friend, Laura, came to class with me, too, which was so much fun! David’s style is Fosse with a new twist, and we did “Too Darn Hot.” That style suits me better than anything, and I had a ball. I cannot wait to go back. David even complimented me on picking up the choreo quickly, and he doesn’t give compliments very often. I felt I had really reached a milestone.

4.Manhattan Diner – we stayed at the Belleclaire, at Broadway and 77th, and the Diner is right across the street. The food is great, it’s homey, and the people are warm and friendly. I usually have some big whole grain pancakes for breakfast, a fantastic grilled cheese for lunch, and some great homemade soup (potato leek is my favorite) for dinner. I love it there – it is not touristy at all.

5. Angelo’s Pizza -(West 57th Street and 7th Ave), my favorite pizza place in the entire world. You have to let them know you are not a tourist, and then they treat you like family. Jack Wagner was the one who first told us about Angelo’s, about 10 years ago, and when someone like that gives you a recommendation, take it! Angelo’s has fantastic brick oven pizza, and the atmosphere is warm and cozy.

6. Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive Audition - I’ve been to the intensive several times, so I wasn’t nervous at all – just excited!! I’m so at home there – Radio City is completely professional, and the Rockettes are as professional and gracious and elegant as you can possibly imagine. And, of course, everyone is tall, so I don’t have to hear any comments about that! I loved the audition – their choreo suits me so well, and I enjoyed seeing people I had met other summers. They are just incredible people and I had so much fun.

7. Browsing Rockefeller Center – I bought Eloise à Paris (in French) at Librairie Francaise, cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, and some gorgeous valentines at Papyrus.

8. The snow in the park! It was beautiful!

Most everything that happened on this trip was good. There were a couple of disappointments, though:

1. NYU – a big disappointment. The focus of the program is not at all what I am looking for, so while I was disappointed, it was good to find out that it is not a good fit for me. I did make a great new friend, though!

2. I lost almost all of my earrings. They were taken from my bag in the hotel –and some of them were very special to me – like ones I had gotten when I turned 16, and ones I had bought on a special trip. I know I shouldn’t have taken them, but, after all, it was New York, and I wanted to wear my pretty things. It hurts my feelings that someone would just take my things out of my bag.

3. Walking around in the freezing cold!

I had a lot of fun, and at least I made a little progress toward my future. I can’t wait to find out what it will be!

We learned to fly, together side by side

2009-02-09T23:32:00.054-05:00

"Be our guest, be our guest! Put our service to the test!" The forks and spoons danced with Belle and Beast in a swirl of color during the Magic Kingdom afternoon parade. "Pick me! Pick me, please!" I whispered, as the dancers invited children to join in the fun. From the moment I first saw those dancers, I wanted to be one of them, wearing a beautiful costume and waltzing with a prince.

Years later, as a young teenager, I would watch High School Musical over and over, learning the dances and singing the songs. “One day I will perform this choreography,” I told myself.

When I turned sixteen, I went to a Disney open call, not expecting to be offered a job due to my age. Six hours later, I had made it through every cut, plus an interview. At the end of my interview, the casting director said “Miranda, welcome to the Disney family.” Tears welled up in my eyes. I could not believe it.

A few months later, I had moved to Orlando and was performing in High School Musical at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It was a dream come true. During my first performance, I got goose bumps as we danced “We’re all in this together”. I looked into the crowd of guests, and saw children dancing along with us. They knew the moves by heart and they all had huge smiles on their faces. Then it was time for the audience participation part of the show. A rush of adrenaline shot through my body as I remembered how I used to sit in awe of the dancers and hope that they would pick me to come up and dance with them. I spotted a little girl dressed in an East High cheerleader outfit, and I asked her to join me. A smile spread across her face and she beamed for the rest of the show. I realized then that my job was making dreams come true for our guests, and in that process, my dreams came true.

It has been an incredible ride. The magic, the music, the choreography, the wonderful guests, the special events, and most of all, my fellow cast members. If I never do another fun thing in my life, I have had enough fun to last forever. I’ve had more amazing experiences than I could have dreamed of. Who would ever have believed that I would actually waltz with my own prince in front of a beautiful castle on a warm spring night? Or that I would dance with my friends in our own High School Musical, or share a float with Sheriff Woody? It’s the stuff dreams are made of.

But the most important part of this year has been the people. What a blessing it is to know and work with so very many talented, beautiful, kind and special people. The memories we have made I could never forget. You special people will always be a part of my life. I only wish we didn’t have to be apart. Why can’t we always stay in the same place with everyone we love? I know that some of us will keep in touch all of our lives. It breaks my heart, though, not to be able to share the stage with you every day, with all of our special added touches and moments in the shows. It breaks my heart, too, that I will never see some of you again. How can that be?

It’s so hard to give this up. I know I will have a few more chances in the next couple of months, but it will never be the same. It never would have been the same, anyway, because casting changes our lives no matter what we want, and separates us from the family we have formed and love.

To my gorgeous friends – don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do, or that you are not awesome and amazing! Don’t let anyone take away your joy. Know that you are great, no matter what kind of criticism you get. People tear you down when you have something they want. Don’t let them do it.

Know how much you mean to me. You’re my family, the people I look up to, the people I learn from, the people who inspire me. I wish you knew what you mean to me, and how much you have changed me.I’ve grown up and become such a better person because of you. If you can't find a friend in the world, you've got one now. If you ever feel like no one in the world loves you, remember me. I love you. FOREVER.

The Boys are Back!

2009-01-29T18:35:00.018-05:00

I am going to be bold with this blog. I have learned a lot of things lately that I want to share. It’s about dating and relationships.

In general, girls tend to act like boys are slow and relationally inept. They say boys need “help”, and that they don’t know how to ask a girl out. Girls think that if you want to go out with a boy, you should text them first, and try to give hints, and invite them places, because they are not capable of doing that on their own. Having no relationship experience, I didn’t know better, and assumed this was correct.
I was wrong.

I have learned lately from some of my close guy friends that boys (men) are incredibly smart. They notice details, they are good judges of character, and they know exactly what to do. Here are a few specifics.

A boy’s brain is very different from a girl’s. We can be thinking about 10 things at one time, but a guy’s brain usually focuses on one thing at a time, or rather, is compartmentalized. It’s not a fault. It is just how they were created. Neither way is better. However, whatever they are thinking about, they are giving 100% of their attention. If they are thinking about their Mustang, don't try to force them to think about you. Let them think 100% percent about the car, and when they are ready, they will think 100% about you.

Guys have different time frames than we do. To us, one day without a text from a guy is like eternity. We start to freak out and think he doesn't like us anymore, when in reality, maybe he just had a busy day, and so all of his brain was already consumed. We need to be more patient.

Guys know pretty quickly if they want to get to know someone better, and if they do, they will. I have learned that boys don't like girls to text them first. I know how hard it is to wait for a boy to text you and to ask you out. But you have to. Guys usually move more slowly (deliberately) than we do. We see a boy we like and we start picking out a wedding dress. Guys want to build friendships first; that way, when they do decide to go out with you, they know you well enough to feel comfortable getting to know you in a special way. Also, if their relationship with you doesn't work out, they will still have you as a friend. Being friends with a guy is so much fun. You can learn a lot. It’s really the only way that works. Either you then decide you want to be friends in a special way, or you have another good friend.

Trust and respect are huge with guys. It is very hard for a guy to learn to trust you. When they see how girls treat one another, and how silly we are, and how pushy, it’s no wonder they’re in no hurry to get involved with us. Men are logical thinkers, and girls are emotional. Thus, if a guy starts telling you about his feelings, don't interrupt, and realize that this is HUGE for him. Be proud that you have earned his TRUST, and RESPECT him while he talks.

In the past two days, three different guys have said to me that they just wish girls would be themselves. They like girls for who they are and they don't want them to try to be someone they are not. Why do we feel we have to try to be something we are not to be impressive to a guy?

Take my hand, and Take the Lead

Guys are meant to be leaders and protectors. If we do all the initiating in the relationship, we are stifling their leadership, and that is not a healthy thing. If they offer to carry something, let them show their strength. If they want to carry you over a puddle in the rain, let them be your hero.

Every girl wants a guy to be her hero, and you can have just that, but you have to let them do it.

We all need to remember that relationships are “relating” to someone. It is not always easy. Love really means sacrificing for and committing to another person, because you care about what is best for them, not just for what is best for us. It’s hard work. This is why friendship is the best foundation for a relationship. You have to like each other first. Then, you can decide to love each other.

I think it’s okay for girls to do some of the “asking.” If you’re just friends, of course it’s expected. It’s just that, if we’re interested in being more than “just friends” with a guy, I think we should let them take the lead. It doesn't mean we have to be passive.

To all of my wonderful guy friends, I am sorry for the way you have been underestimated and misjudged. I hope you meet the girl (or boy) of your dreams and who lets you be their hero. Please let me know if I am completely wrong. I have gotten all of my information either directly from a guy or from an expert, and I have done a lot of watching, listening and thinking. I know there are exceptions to these examples. In general, though, I believe guys deserve much more respect and admiration than they have been getting.

Girls, we just need to be ourselves, and respect each other, and respect men, and we can be in for some pretty awesome relationships. We just need to give men a little more credit. They really are incredible. :-)

P.S. I don’t mean to exclude my gay friends; I don’t know how it works from your perspective, but I hope you get something out of my ideas anyway. ;)

It's a Wonderful Town!

2009-01-24T16:16:00.012-05:00

The biggest thing on my mind right now is school. (Well, maybe there is one other thing ;) )Where will I be accepted? How am I going to afford it? Can I survive living in NYC? I have been to New York a number of times, for dance and theatre programs and for fun. I love NYC. Everyone does, right? But when I think of the city these are the first images that come to my mind...

1. Being evacuated out of the Port Authority bus terminal by a swat team armed with M-16 machine guns.
2. Being selected for the special security search at JFK while a lady in a head covering brings in several mysterious looking cardboard boxes and leaves them unattended.
3. The Starbucks barista telling me I have to wait 2 minutes for the store to officially open before I can order my drink.
4. My pretty dress being covered in bus exhaust while walking to the theater.
5. Leaving my purse in a taxi.
6. Getting dripped on by some mysterious liquid running in the pipes overhead in the subway. (This reminds me of the tunnels at work!)
7. Being spat on by a homeless person.
8. Being so jam packed with other people on the street that the person behind me steps on and breaks my sandal.
9. Hell's Kitchen: no other words needed
10. Being the only one in the entire city wearing a color other than black. (Guess what color I was wearing?)
11. Not being able to wash my hands at Starbucks because someone is taking a bath in the sink.
12. Watching someone get their wallet stolen when I’m 12 stories up and can’t do a thing about it.
13. Being chased down the street by a little Italian man after leaving his restaurant due to lack of service (“Why you embarrass me in this way?” as he shakes his fist.)
14. Sitting in traffic in Lincoln Tunnel, wondering how much oxygen is left in there, and whether the river ever leaks into it just a little.

So, I start to wonder why everyone likes New York City so much. Why do we all like this filthy, loud, smelly, but shining center of the World? Why do I want to go to school there?

1. It has anything you could possibly want to buy, or see, or experience.
2. 42nd Street and the Theatre District, Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes
3. Amazing classes at Broadway Dance Center
4. Gorgeous Central Park
5. Opportunities of all kinds (to be spat on, sat on, or to try a new hat on)
6. Incredible food (I’ll tell you more about this another time)
7. Beautiful historic buildings
8. Never having to walk more than one block to get a coffee
9. It is beautiful in the snow…and in the fall, and in the spring, and in the summer.
10. Views from your hotel window (or from the Empire State, or Top of the Rock)
11. It is the center of the world - financially, artistically, culturally and (maybe) intellectually.
12. There are a lot of genuinely lovely people.
13. If you want to be the best (dancer, actor, singer) this is where you need to be!
14. Laughing about all of the things on my first list!
15. Every where you turn, there are people who need a human touch or a little love. I think that's the best reason of all. <3

A little smile

2009-01-09T21:38:00.011-05:00

Some of you have asked about the piece I have been working on. I love it. I love the music and the choreography. It reminds me of Fosse's "Cool Hand Luke", which Ann Reinking staged on a few of us in Santa Fe. Like "Bye, Bye Blackbird" (see blog below) this is one of the memories I will keep forever. In case you are not familiar with the music, "Cool Hand Luke" is quiet Spanish guitar. In the choreography, the dancer is a paradox. The upper half of your body represents the rider, and the lower half represents the horse. The style is all Fosse, with classic extensions and isolations. Both the music and choreography are beautiful, and it is wonderful to dance.

My new piece has some elements of "Cool Hand Luke" both in the music and in the choreography, so it reminds me of that wonderful experience, while still being a completely new piece. It's also perfectly suited to my strengths and is in the style I like to dance, so I really enjoy every moment of it.

UPDATE: here is the finished piece. March 2009

Caution: Unsocialized Homeschoolers Ahead

2009-01-08T16:51:00.012-05:00

As most of you know, I was homeschooled. When people refer to unsocialized homeschoolers, I think my brother and I must be what they have in mind. We used to play outside all the time after we had finished our schoolwork. I am home again for a couple of days, and we got to relive our childhood play days! My dad is an engineer, so he always has interesting tools around, like furniture dollies, spare wheels, ropes and things. We used to make harnesses so we could hang from the trees (some of you know that story!). When I broke my foot, we made a little reclining cart, so he could pull me around the neighborhood (we spent weeks making it, but he refused to take me out after the first time because he said it was too embarrassing!) Most of our games involved wheels and speed and spinning.

Today, we decided to start with the street surfer and

unicycle. I tried to learn to ride the unicycle, but it didn’t work out too well. One time Miles was riding his unicycle in the front yard, when a school bus stopped. A kid threw a piece of paper at him and yelled, “Hey! Are you in the circus?” Then he started singing circus music. Miles was highly offended because he is an “off-road” unicyclist, which is apparently very different from a circus performer.

After surfing and cycling, we pulled out a dolly and put a sled atop it. We tied the ski handle to it, and... TA-DA - we had a centrifuge! We had fun spinning and spinning. (We are NASA geeks). A neighbor came by, stopped the car, and rolled down his window, then took a closer look and sped off. Once, a few years ago, we were spinning with the lawn chair on the dolly, and a neighbor stopped and said, “What are you doing?” We said we were just playing. She said, “Well, don’t do that.” We said okay, then got back on.

I know we look like dorks when hanging from trees or spinning in lawn chairs (while wearing helmets), but it sure is a lot of fun! Sometimes I miss the old days, being young, having time to play, and being at home with my family.

Contemporary Broadway

2009-01-06T19:47:00.009-05:00

Here is a video by one of Broadway's leading choreographers - David Marquez. He teaches at the Alvin Ailey School, and at Broadway Dance Center, and has choreographed widely. This clip is from a show he created based on routines he had developed for his classes over the years. The second part of the video is his "Bye, Bye Blackbird," so fast forward to 1:50 if you don't want to watch the whole thing:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=20406618

David's class at BDC is considered one of the most challenging available. When I first observed it, from outside the window when I was about 14, dancers come out of his class and collapsed on the floor. I've never been old enough to take it, but now I am and I will be attempting it next month. I'm going to stand in the back corner (by the door in case something happens and I need to slip out unnoticed) and try not to stand out for the wrong reasons! I'm quite excited, but pretty nervous!

I love how this video is classic Fosse, but with a contemporary twist. Part of the piece is Fosse's own choreography, while David Marquez added some new movements. Broadway continues to amaze me as it keeps moving forward. And the dancers get better and better.

"Bye, Bye Blackbird" is close to my heart, as some amazing friends and I got to learn it from Ann Reinking, forever the ultimate Fosse dancer. This picture is from that performance. It's something I will never forget. I hope you enjoy the video.

Postcards from Home

2009-01-01T21:14:00.016-05:00

I wanted to tell you about the beautiful winter pictures which I just added to my blog title. I love them! They are from the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina, about an hour from where I live in Davidson. I have spent a lot of time in the NC mountains, and I love them. The ridges really are blue, and they just unfold before you as far as you can see! The mountains are beautiful in all seasons, but in the winter, with snow on the ground, it's so quiet and calm that it seems like you could hear someone talking from across the valley. There are lots of Christmas tree farms, too, so you can see rows and rows of trees in all sizes along the hillsides, from baby trees to huge ones ready for the White House!

In case you've never been to the Blue Ridge Parkway, it's a scenic road several hundred miles long, with no road signs or highway development, but with lots of beautiful stone bridges and stone walls, and scenic overlooks along the way, so you can look across the valleys, lakes and streams. On a clear day, you can even see the city of Charlotte, 60 miles away, from Grandfather Mountain!

Play that Funky Song

2008-12-24T00:11:00.005-05:00

I just discovered this new artist, B. Reith. I think he is really cool, and
I thought I would share a couple of his new videos. I hope you like them!

A Dancer's Life

2008-12-18T23:49:00.009-05:00

“Spotlight!” the stage director said to the dancer before her very first star entrance. “Oh, no!” the dancer said, terrified. She was afraid she would be no good, and that she would not fulfill the audience's expectations. Nonetheless, she stepped on to the stage elevator and rose up on stage for that first show, many years ago. From that day on, her star kept rising until she became one of the greatest dancers and actresses of our time. Her name is Chita Rivera.

Two years ago I saw Chita's show, “A Dancer's Life”. It was the day after Christmas. I had previously worked with one of the choreographers, and was waiting for her outside the stage door. Chita walked out, and since I was the only one standing there, she began talking to me. She immediately knew I was a dancer, and asked me how long I had been dancing, what were my plans and so forth. What a gracious and lovely lady she is, and how kindly she treated me! Among her encouraging remarks was one which I will never forget. She said, “You have the perfect Balanchine body. One could hate you for what you have. In fact they probably already do. But you know what? They hated me, too. But I didn't give them the chance to stop me. Don't you, either.”

Somehow, she guessed that I had dealt with discouragers all of my life, especially in dance. I wish you knew how many self-centered, small-town divas, who teach ballet because they can't perform, have told me I would never be a dancer. I was always “too tall, too thin, too weak”, and so on. While that hurt, I would never stay with a teacher who didn't think I could be a good dancer. I always moved on.

And on this night after Christmas, in Cincinnati, Ohio, here was one of the greatest of all dancers telling me I could do it. And I did. By that spring I was in a professional company, and by the fall, I was hired by Disney.

I have admired Chita's hard work, and held her up as a role model, not just as a dancer, but as a person. Tonight I went to the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. Chita was the narrator. The show was wonderful! Chita could not stand still through all of the singing. While the hundreds of choir members stood still all around her, she just had to move to the music. She even had to dance to the Hallelujah Chorus! (I understand this because I cannot stand still, either, when listening to music. When I was in 9th grade, I was in a choir, and I could not help myself dancing at least with my feet. Everyone laughed at me!) Chita is a joyful person who lights up the stage. I want to be like her - in my confidence, my dancing, my work ethic, and my character. I never want to discourage someone's dream. Don't ever let anyone discourage yours.

(By the way, I've learned that good teachers (and managers and friends) want you to achieve your highest potential. Poor teachers can't allow anyone to succeed beyond what they have done.)

Before the last show tonight, as she was on her platform, the director said “Spotlight!” This time, Chita knew she could do it. Her audiences and the theatre community had grown to love her, and she knew it. As she climbed up the stairs to her elevated spot on the stage, she said with one of her big smiles, “Good!”.

Reaching for the stars...literally

2008-12-18T22:51:00.009-05:00

While I was at home last week, I had the pleasure of watching one of my brother's lessons- flying lessons. Yes, my brother who received his learner's permit just one month ago, is learning to fly a plane. This should not surprise me, as he was a certified boater in two states at the age of 14. He wants to be an aerospace engineer, so flying has always been on his to-do list.

We went to Concord Regional Airport, just a few miles from my home, and about a mile from Lowe's Motor Speedway. I walked out to the tarmac and waited in the observation area while he did the pre-flight check on the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. He climbed into the pilot's seat, and, with the instructor at his side, taxied down the runway. The small plane started accelerating, then it was up, up, and away. I walked back into the small airport lobby, where business people and pilots were waiting to take off or just arriving. You have to picture how small this airport is – you can talk to just about anyone in the building without raising your voice. While I waited, in walked Jeff Burton.

For those of you who did not grow up in the south, North Carolina is the home and heart of NASCAR (stock car racing – in case you are really far away). My house is 2 miles from Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Dale Earnhardt's (senior) home. At the ballet company where I used to take class, our upstairs studio overlooked the giant statue of Dale which was dedicated after his death. Anyway, Jeff Burton is a famous driver. Concord is the airport NASCAR people use when going in and out of town, because it is close to all of the race shops and most people affiliated with NASCAR live in the area. As famous as he is, when Jeff walked in, everyone yelled, “Hey, Jeff,” and went on with their work. Jeff spoke to everyone there. This is the kind of sport NASCAR is – just ordinary people from ordinary towns who like cars. They just happen to be very successful at making them go fast!

As I was leaving the airport, we passed Roush Racing - Jack Roush is a team owner. Outside, the pit crew was going through their exercises, stepping in and out of tires, just like a football team. Cool.

I think it is so cool that my brother is learning to fly, that he flies out of a very nice airport, and that he is part of a very sophisticated community, who just act like country folk. He's more impressed with the million dollar airplanes going in and out than with all of the celebrities who come and go. I am very proud of him and wanted to share. It's amazing to me how different our lives are. He lives in the country, but there are at least as many movers and shakers in his world as there are in mine, if not more. They just happen to be more quiet about it than we are!

However, that is not the point. The point is that there are many different things you can do with your life, and they are all important. I think we forget that. You don't have to be in show business to work with cool people and have neat opportunities and have a lot of fun. You can do that with any job.

By the way, the other lesson he had that day was fencing, but that is another blog. I'll give you one sentence about it – give two boys each a sword and let them have at it! You can imagine.

If I Could Talk to the Animals...

2008-12-10T22:31:00.015-05:00

I'm at home for a few days, and I had forgotten how much fun it is living with two cats and a dog! These are Luna, Marie and Stella. Luna is a border collie from Flat Rock, North Carolina. She's 3 years old and she's brilliant. You can tell her to go outside and jump in the car, and she will do it. She will also go wake up someone in the morning if you ask her. That can be fun. She will jump 4 or 5 feet in the air to catch a frisbee. Marie is my cat. I got her for Christmas when I was 8 years old and had just moved to NC. She has spent many hours sitting with me while I study, and especially loves to sit with you when you are sad or not feeling well. Stella is Miles's cat. We found her in the woods in upstate New York, nearly starved and with a broken tail, and she insisted we bring her home. She's the sweetest thing in the world and never makes a sound except for purring. She even purrs at the vet's office when they give her a shot.

When you have a pet, you can have a sweet kitty come cuddle up to you, or a cold, wet dog come in and shake the rain off on you (that just happened to me). There is so much more fun to be had - you can play tug of war, throw frisbees, have someone to keep you company while you read or watch a movie, not to mention keeping you warm through a cold night. Pets are satisfied with simple things - a tennis ball, a bit of turkey or cheese, a walk outside, or just sitting together. Most of all, though, it is nice to have someone who is always happy to see you, always meets you at the door, never forgets you, and always loves you, even if you forget to feed them or if you scold them for tracking dirt into the house. I wish people were more like this. I'm going to try to be - I'm going to try to love people unconditionally even when they make mistakes. Wish me luck.

I'm going to play tug of war now!

Stars, Fairies, Sweet Dreams and Wishes

2008-11-20T16:53:00.023-05:00

"I'm not surprised that the Wizard moved here to the Village. After all, it is the second happiest place on earth," said Kyle's mom, about the newest character resident at Give Kids the World Village.

"What's the first happiest place?" asked Kyle.

"Disney World, of course," answered his mom.

"No, it's not. Home is the happiest place on earth. Home."

This is a conversation I heard today while volunteering at GKTW. It's hard for me to believe that home is really the happiest place for Kyle, because at home, he is constantly dealing with his doctor visits, treatments, diagnoses and pain. However, he loves his family so much that the love counteracts all of the bad things in his life which result from his terminal illness.

My job today was to help the Star Fairy, who puts a star on the castle ceiling for each Wish Child who comes to the village. The ceiling is so full of stars that they are running out of room - more than 80,000 families have stayed at GKTW so far. A child's star will stay up forever, as a remembrance of them. Here is part of the ceiling covered in stars, and the treasure box where the kids put their stars for the Star Fairy to find them:

I also helped kids and their siblings to create a special pillow in the pillow machine. They put lots of sweet dreams, wishes and extra fluff into the pillows.

"Report any loose chickens!"

I've been so worried lately about making the right decisions for my future, but today I was reminded of how lucky I am to have a future and to have to make those decisions. Most of these kids won't have to make decisions about their futures. I had a lot of fun today and I wanted to share Kyle's optimism with you guys. Here are a few more pictures from the Village. It's a really cute and fun place, kind of like Candyland!

At least I would have been nice to you

2008-11-19T14:08:00.014-05:00

Why are people so rude? It gets discouraging.

There seems to be such a shortage of manners these days, that I am truly surprised when someone opens the car door for me, holds a door for me, pulls out my chair, pours my water, and sweet things like that. I assure you, though, that there are still some gentle people around, and they are truly special. I hope you have some of them in your life, too. I hope I can be one of them.

I love Christmas...and you!

2008-11-18T17:53:00.009-05:00

I took a sip of the sweet iced tea, set the glass down, and thought about the empty seat across from me. Glancing around, I saw that all of the tables seemed to be filled with happy couples and families. Children were laughing and telling of the wonderful days they had had. Faces shone with joy as a little boy laughed at how his sister was afraid when the t-rex appeared on the Dinosaur ride. The grandmother took deep breaths, still trying to recover from her day at the theme park. What a wonderful time of year, I thought, gazing out at the Christmas lights all around the lake. I paid my bill, stood up and walked across the street to the Christmas tree towering above over-sized presents. On the street were more happy couples, strolling hand in hand. It's hard to imagine what it will be like when I meet someone who is right for me. I have plenty of time, and am in no rush, but, still, you wonder what they will be like. When I got in the car, as usual, my radio gave me some encouragement:

Oh I wonder what God was thinking

when He created you.

I wonder if He knew everything I would need,

'cause He made all my dreams come true.

When God made you, He must have been thinking about me.

You know what is cool? I could have already met the person who will be right for me! Or, maybe I will meet them years for now. It doesn't matter, because somewhere, there is someone wondering and waiting for me, too.

Fun at the Department of Motor Vehicles

2008-11-13T22:09:00.017-05:00

My younger brother just received his learner's permit. He was telling me about his horrible experience, and it reminded of my own struggles with the DMV. Here are a few examples:

North Carolina
Officer (deep south accent): Are you legally blaahhhnd?
Me: Yes, I am.
Mom: No, you are not legally blind!
Me: OH - I thought you said legally blonde. I wondered if that meant I couldn't get a license.
Officer: Cold, stony silence

Officer: Would you like to donate your organs?
Me: That's...AFTER...I'm dead, right? (I wasn't taking chances).
Officer: More cold, stony silence

Florida
Officer: Why are you living in Florida?
Me: I came down here to work for Disney World.
Officer: Why in the world would you want to do that?
Me: Because it's fun!

Officer: Cold, stony silence

America's Air Force: No One Comes Close

2008-11-09T22:58:00.007-05:00

Yesterday I went to an air show - something I had never done before. I was expecting to see just a bunch of planes, but I got much more than that. I got a fascinating history lesson, and I was inspired to better understand and appreciate my freedom.

The technology of these planes is incredible. As they fly overhead, you see a sleek mass of silver, and then a few seconds later, their roar is deafening.

These Blue Angels are FA-18 Hornets.
They fly 18 inches apart at 300-500 miles per hour. Any fighter pilot in the Air Force is capable of flying these maneuvers, like inversions, formations, and accelerating vertically. It was so cool to see them just fly straight up out of sight and into the clouds.

These two planes are making a "heritage flight," which is dedicated to all of the people who have lost their lives protecting our freedom. There is a modern F-16 and a 50-year-old F-4 Phantom. Seeing them fly together was really cool.

This is a F-105 Starfighter. It's pretty and blue, and it is one of the loudest planes because it is one of the earlier airplanes to have afterburners.

It suprised me how patriotic everyone there was. I have never really thought much about military airplanes, and I don't really like war, but what I learned was that without these planes and the people who are willing to fly them, we would not have been able to defend ourselves, and others who need our help, all of these years. We have the most advanced technology in the world, and that is why we can be secure in our own country. There was a young man next to me who is in the Air Force. When we were watching the Heritage Flight and the announcer was talking about how many men and women willingly went out to serve, knowing they probably wouldn't come back, he had tears in his eyes. I felt proud to be watching the show with people like that, and grateful to those willing to risk their lives so that we are free.

I heard something at the show which I wanted to share with you:

"It is the Marine who serves under the flag, and whose coffin is draped in the flag, who gives us the freedom to burn the flag."