Three Concepts: Emotional Engrossment, Friendship, and Settling Down

A Blog Post by Sally Horton.

It Is Time.

Tomorrow, I begin the next leg of my training as a professional performer. It seems very odd that the little girl, building nests from pine needles, colouring books for hours on end, and decorating our cabinet with crayons, is pursuing such an exposed career. In many ways, I am still that girl, entertaining herself, living more in her head than in reality, wondering about other people rather than interacting with them.

Growing up, performing was never my "dream". It was more inherent; it just was. When you get performing just right, it is one of those moments when you don't realise you're smiling. You are just happy. Sometimes, it's not "happy". Sometimes, you're so engrossed in the moment, that when the show finishes and people congratulate you, you have to "act" once more. You have to say "Thanks for coming!" and "I enjoyed this part the best", etc. etc., when all you really want to do is sit in silence. Sometimes, performing brings you more into your head than you can control.

As every job is demanding, I don't think I've ever been more emotionally moved (positively or negatively) by a great performance. For instance, I watched West Side Story at Wolf Trap, and I was so overwhelmed by the production that I couldn't contain my energy and sprinted away from the stage. I was so appalled with Rose in Gypsy that I was morose and somber for a good 30 minutes after the show. 

The dancer smiles and whirls ignoring her toes aching in pain; the actor stays in the moment, gaining strength the more he loses himself to the moment on stage. We are trained to stay in the moment. To forget ourselves and just do it, dammit. It's hard to let go of the moment - and this drawback of mine is a self-proclaimed weakness.

I hope you will pray for me throughout this endeavour; I may seem certain, and at times I am, but I will always be the little girl engrossed in her solemn imagination.

Friendship, Friendship (Just the Perfect Blendship)

I am inordinately grateful for my flatmates. Yesterday, +Adina Wells arrived in the flat on her birthday! With that news, we all agreed we'd go out for a drink and celebrate the lovely lady's 21st. We have passed the Blackweir Tavern a few times when walking to the City Centre, so we chose this local spot to go and celebrate.

+Laura Platt , Tommy Xu, Xiaofan Feng, and +Adina Wells 

The weather was cold, but the evening was warm. We sat in the pub, sipping our alcohol and pondering silly things, like "Sally, the Housewife" and "Tommy, the Tour Guide". We speculated which European countries we'd venture to see together (Greece and Sweden were top), and talked about Composers and favourite musicals and piercings and age (guess who's the eldest among us?)

These people are TOP! I cannot believe how lucky I am to be living with them. This year will be full of singing and listening, as they all practice in their rooms and have astounding voices. Well, Adina's here doing costume design; haven't heard her let loose yet, but it'll happen.

Okay fine. We have a picture with me in it too.

Caught Red Handed with the Chocolate Cake

I Wanna Settle Down ♬ 

I, per usual, have tried to be as thrifty as possible while settling down into my new apartment. Of course, this incurs using an ex-flatmate's hair dryer, and trying to remake a broken clothes' rack. In my mind, these things seem to work! The rack, which I've posted about before, now doubles as a shoe holder and fits well under my desk.

+Kayleigh OBrien, Spot the Cats!

Rather than buying a bin - like seriously, who spends £3 on something for your rubbish! Actually, most people do. Well… I'm not "most people". I found a cardboard box in our living room, brought a box cutter to open the top, and dressed it up with the paper of a discarded shopping bag. I am wholly impressed with myself.

Floral and So Pretty! Who knew it was a cardboard box for noodles beforehand.

The finishing touches are coming along here in 28.1 (my new room number, take it in). I really feel like I'm home! Right now, a violin and a trumpet are practicing below me. I actually can't contain my eagerness and delight. People, who enjoy making my background music.

Now I just wanted to show you a portion of my desk. Keeping my friends close, no matter how far.

"Good Friends are Like Stars You Don't Always See Them But You Know They're Always There."
+Grace Tatlonghari, +Grace Gilday, +Ann Marie McPherson, +Andrew Elstone,+Aidan Bryant, +Thomas Dobson 

More friends and craftiness: I created this quilt from old +Baskin Robbins uniforms and received the awesome striped sheets from +Adina Wells .

Adipose Courtesy of +Harrison Collins

Off to a beautiful dinner with the girls. Hope you all have your fill tonight too!

Blog Post Completed by Sally Horton. 16:57, Sunday 12/1.