Reverb10 12/3

Reverb10 December 3 – Moment.

Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

(Author: Ali Edwards)

You know what...my moment was recently.  While working.  The thing is, though, that I love what I do.  I get a rush.  I feel alive.  

I recently stage managed a project for the Fifth House Ensemble here in Chicago.  In short, it was a fairy tale set to music (played by the extremely talented members of Fifth House) with actors telling the story using movement only.  The 10 musicians are unbelievably talented, the director was someone who I love and have worked with twice before, and the actors were so friendly, open, and wonderful.

The stage for one of our performances. 

I felt the most alive during our first run through with the musicians and actors together.  We rehearsed in a warehouse, studio space.  The light was relatively dim, and everyone looked silhouetted from the light coming from the huge windows.  The space was either really cold or quite warm.  There were green plants hanging from the rafters.  The space smelled faintly of coffee and donuts, and once we started, music just filled the room.  

As a stage manager, it's my job to facilitate the bringing together of many talented people, and this was truly a goosebump and awe inspiring experience. 

Reverb10 12/2

Today's prompt for Reverb10:

December 2 Writing.
What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?
(Author: Leo Babauta)

Well, I'm not really a writer.  I mean, not that good of one.  I'm a reader.  I know that anyone can be a writer if they try, but I prefer to be the person who reads and appreciates what all of the other talented writers out there create.  But, yes, I blog.  And I blog because I find it a good way to release some energy.  Not necessarily bad energy...just energy.  And for myself...to post pictures of projects I make or things I do that I'm excited about.  

So what keeps me from doing that reading and writing?  Sleep.  I'm a sleeper.  I love to sleep.  And I'm good at it.  I like to sleep til about 11:00am, but then I stay up til at least 1:00 or 2:00am.  I could spend that time doing lots of other, productive things.  But really, I enjoy sleeping.  So, if I didn't sleep, I could spend more time doing the things that I blog about. 

Reverb 10 12/1 (a day late)

After reading some other bloggers who are doing this, I decided to give it a shot too.  I liked doing NaBloPoMo (for funsies), so this should be fun and will motivate me to post something more substantial than a couple of pictures...  This is me participating in Reverb 10.

I'm a day late in starting.  Here is yesterday's prompt:

December 1 One Word.
Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?
(Author: Gwen Bell)

2010:  Next. 

Most of 2010 was about thinking about what comes NEXT.  What's my next step when this 2 year safe job ends?  Where do I go next?  What happens next?  What will I choose next?  Who will I meet next?  

So far, I'm in love with all of the results of what NEXT brought.  It brought Chicago, Victory Gardens, new people, new roommates, new challenges, new shows, etc!

2011:  Success.

In the coming months, I plan on focusing a lot on work and making a successful career for myself here in Chicago.  Success doesn't necessarily mean lots of money.  It just means making a happy life doing what I love and (hopefully) being able to make ends meet.  Success means opening doors and new opportunities.  Here's hoping!