Irony's a bitch

Please, before you continue reading, scroll down to October 17th's post and read number 4 on "Unicorn's List of Underrated Things!"

Great. Now, I can tell you how irony came and made a complete ass of me today:

I got hit by a car on the way to school this morning, while riding my bike.

I'm OK, though. Shockingly fine actually...I don't even have a bruise to speak of. And, no, I am not mad at the car or the driver, who ironically, is an ex-sorority sister of mine...yeah, awkward.

The only thing I could think to do as I re-assembled my books and purse into my bike basket, surrounded by concerned construction workers who had seen the whole fiasco occur from across the street, looking at the purely horrified facial expression of the poor girl who had just hit me, was laugh.

Then, cry. Then, call my mom. Then, laugh more.

And you have to wonder, how could there not be a higher power, at least some universal forces conspiring, when things like that happen in life? Oh irony...you bitch.

Epiphany

Tonight was one of the all-time worst, turned all-time best nights of my life. 
Let me explain:




The past month or so, I have been feeling completely insecure. I feel like I have been clawing for blades of grass to keep from falling over the edge of a cliff. Those blades are the people I once considered my closest friends here. And the cliff, loneliness. Anyway, it all came to the surface tonight...


I was having a horribly frustrating night, until about thirty minutes ago. On top of the four and a half hours of life-sucking backstage grunge work, I went to a rehearsal at which I felt completely drained, apathetic, and uninspired. I rushed out of the building feeling unaccomplished and lonely, admittedly having quarantined myself away from the group.


For the first time, I thought: What am I doing here? Why go through all of this work only to feel like a failure at the end of the day? 
The alluringly forbidden thought crept into my head: I could drop out of college altogether and move on with my life, free of all the social drama and the stress and the homework.
I could beat the college system by simply saying, I don't need your stupid diploma! I'll move to L.A. and get famous and make beautiful, inspiring art all on my own!


I jumped on my bike, nearly hyperventilating as I pedaled speedily through campus. As I rode, my mind was racing, and then it hit me: Rather than leave school to get away from these feelings of insecurity and unhappiness, why can't I just omit the things and people in my life that are making me unhappy? I shouldn't have to give up everything I've worked for--that is, my education and my art--to be happy. Especially when the cause is as silly as high school drama.

So it took one really icky night to make me realize: Life is not about popularity. It's about truth and beauty. It's about feeling instead of doing. It's about the people and things that make you happy, that bring out the best in you. And you know, that's all I'm really interested in.

Underrated things!

Unicorn's Top 5 Underrated Things:

1.Stretching 

           Stretching hurts, which is why most people (myself 

included) avoid it as much as possible. However, I've made an effort to stretch before bed every night, and after a few days, I already feel much less tense and ready to start the day!

2.Black Coffee

         Almost all of my friends who drink coffee have never even tried it black. I thought I would hate drinking it the "manly" way, but actually I love how it wakes me right up in the morning. Don't knock it till ya try it.

3.Cooking 

         In America, we put such value on eating out. My first job was at a local Italian place, and I can tell you, it's not nearly as glamorous as it's made out to be. In fact, most of the food is crap, and behind the scenes, things get a bit disgusting. Cooking for yourself is the best way to ensure that you're getting high-quality, delicious food. Plus, you save money, and you can adjust recipes to fit your tastes. For instance, this Sunday morning: wheat french toast with banana and peanut butter filling. Easy, cheap, and (holy shit!) amazinggg. For recipe ideas, might I suggest: www.allrecipes.com

4.Bicycles

        I just started riding a bike now that I'm living off-campus, and I've gotta say: it's the way to go. I have command of the road and the sidewalk! Traffic? Not a chance.

5.Elderly People

        I cannot understand why we as Americans devalue the people in our society who have the most life experience. Older people have accumulated such an array of information, and they retain effortless grace in dealing with even the messiest situations. I am fortunate enough to still have two grandparents alive. My grandma, Betty, is one of the ladies whose strength and grace have constantly pushed me to be a better person. Also, I work with several older ladies in the theater's costume shop whose skill amazes me and whose whose wit sends me into hysterics on a daily basis. They are inspiring, fabulous ladies. 

Well, that's it for me! 

I hope that you'll give these five sadly overlooked things a second chance. And remember, if you ever really need advice, ask an old person..because your friends are probably just as confused as you are. 

Success

Since about my junior year of high school, my father and I have almost solely related with one another through practical, business terms: we are smart, hard-working, arrogant people, and we operate with the motive of proving ourselves and attaining success. So whenever I would visit my dad, the visit was always planned and usually related to business in some way: looking at a car problem, recording a voice-over, or dropping something by.


Yesterday I spoke with my dad on the phone from Tennessee, and at the end of the conversation, he told me just how proud he is of me and my progress, even if I haven't chosen the most lucrative profession. This compliment seemed a bit back-handed to me...is theater not good enough? At this point, I felt like my dad was discretely expressing some disappointment in my choice.

But then I remembered: my dad left pre-law in college to be a radio DJ.

So what does success really mean to my dad and I, when we put the pretenses of society aside? 
It means putting all of our various talents into practice and enjoying every minute of our work. For him, it's radio. For me, it's theater.

In American society and overwhelmingly at SMU, "success" comes down to money.

We are under a constant pressure to attain more and better stuff.

But at the end of the day, what does success mean to you? 
     Because to me it sure as hell doesn't mean sitting at a desk all day.

Bring on the cold!

   As October begins, 
the air nibbles on my nose just enough to get me giddy for fall.




Layering clothes.
   The hot coffee
 Colorful leaves!
   (missin Tennessee)
  Football Saturdays
The calm feel in the air.
(&No more sweating to class)

This is from photographer Glen Luchford,for AnOther Magazine. 

And wow, the fierce fashion.

Bring on the cold? Yes, please.