Ego

It's 3:30 in the morning, and I'm on the front porch listening to the rain. We're having lovely, intermittently torrential rain tonight, and I love it. I've spent the past few hours reading interviews and biographies of some people whose work I admire (specifically Jim Henson and Frank Oz) and catching up on the doings of the Henson company.

I'm having some trepidation about going into the directing program at FSU. Not so much that I won't do it, of course! But those typical "Am I good enough?" "Can I do this?" kinds of thoughts. In the third year, I'll direct a season show. I know that quite a few grad students have an idea of what their Big Final Project will be before they even start. Me? Hell, I haven't even finalized my capstone project for the Storytelling degree... and I really need to have that project ready a year from now. And what about the show at FSU? I trust that my explorations there in the first couple of years will lead me somewhere. But honestly, so far, most of the work I'm proudest of has been brought to me, like, "Oh, Curtis, I think you should do this." So what do I want to do?

Gosh, I don't know. Perhaps those people who have it all planned out are so wonderful and talented because they're so focused on their artistic and philosophical and spiritual and technical and whatever-else goals. Me, I'm scattered. I'm all over the place. I don't think you'll find many people as interested in "The History of Department Stores in Nashville, Tennessee to 1985" as I am, or, I don't know, "Edie Sedgwick as Cultural Marker." My mind moves from one esoteric subject to the next, dragging me along with it. So my final project at FSU? I dunno. Maybe a musical. Maybe not. Maybe something with puppets, or children, or.. hell, I dunno. Do I have the ego to say? We'll see! I'm excited to find out.

Florida

OK, I'm looking for a place to live. If anyone who happens upon this blog can help, please, please comment. I'd like to buy a house for under $100K within a 30 minute drive of Florida State University. 45 minutes if the house or area makes it worthwhile. All I know about the area is what I saw in the 10 hours I was there earlier this month. I'm beginning to freak out! Here's what I wish for the dream home: At least 2 bedrooms. I don't want to hear gunshots. I don't want to worry about leaving the bedroom window open while I sleep. I would really like to have a yard for the dog to play in, though it's not essential. Is that too much to ask?

More kismet

Oh, my GOD, I sold the house. Took all of 8 days, got my full asking price, selling to really good friends so both they and the neighbors will be happy. Wow. Just waiting for their agent to get me the contract. AND they probably won't want to take possession for a couple of months. Wow.

Interest

Selling the house:

I put an ad in the paper- it started on Tuesday. Someone came to see it Tuesday afternoon. I put a sign in the yard. I saw someone stop and write down the number. He and his wife came to see it today, and either they're really good actors or they REALLY like my house. I put an ad on craigslist Tuesday night. 2 people have asked for interior photos. Wish me luck!

So much to do!!!

Anybody wanna buy a house in Johnson City, TN? Asking price $87,500. *read the following out loud in happy lady advertising voice:* "Walking distance from the University and in a very friendly neighborhood! 2 bedrooms and an office or 3 bedrooms. Great for first-time home-buyers or investment property. New interior paint, full basement for extra storage, large fenced yard, and a relaxing front porch, complete with swing! With a spacious eat-in kitchen, welcoming entry parlor, and architectural details like 6-inch ornate baseboards and multiple built-in bookcases, this charming 1930's bungalow is just what you're looking for!"

Gonna put out a For Sale By Owner sign and an ads in the paper and online while we get it ready to sell. Hopefully we'll get some bites during that time. Then, in a couple of weeks, go to an agent if I have to. An agent's commission would probably eat up any profit I might make. I'll have an open house, too, once I get it ready.

IN OTHER NEWS: Eric and I had a mostly wonderful time at Disney World. I shouldn't have spent the money, but I'm still glad I did. We stayed at the All-Star Movies Resort inside Walt Disney World. It's one of their "value" resorts. I really liked it, though Eric wasn't as impressed. I loved the theming- we were in the "Mighty Ducks" section, but he was underwhelmed. The room was small, but comfortable, and housekeeping was darn good and the sheets were not scratchy. I hate scratchy sheets.

Wednesday morning we went to Hollywood Studios, which isn't as good as I'd remembered. Since the Tower of Terror now goes up AND down a random number of times, the first drop is nowhere near as intense as when it was only one 13-story drop. It was disappointing. The Rock-N-Roller Coaster was better than expected, Eric didn't care for Star Tours (though going into "Star Wars Hyperdrive" is more than enough excitement for me). Muppet Vision 3-D was still the best attraction in the park, I think. So we left there around lunchtime and hit Future World at Epcot, and had a great time. Let me tell you, Mission Space (the one the guy died on from intensity) is AMAZING. Easily the best non-coaster ride I've ever done. I mean really, really incredible. Test Track is a lot of fun, too. Eric wished there were more "thrill" portions, but I enjoyed the whole thing. We also went to Animal Kingdom on Wednesday. Since we'd heard that it wasn't that great a park, we only hit the three rides we'd expected to be really good: Expedition Everest is FANTASTIC; Dinosaur is the best dark ride we've ever been on, and the spinning mad mouse was a lot of fun.

Thursday morning we were at the Magic Kingdom at 8 am for the Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan's Flight, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and It's a Small World. I made a mistake with Small World. We did it first. I love love love love love It's a Small World for two reasons: It is the PINNACLE of mid-century graphic design. I think it's visually BEAUTIFUL. AND I love it for its place in Theme Park History and entertainment history, two subjects I love to explore. Eric HATED It's a Small World. I mean HATED. It tainted the rest of the day and neither of us think he'll ever recover. It was enough to make him denounce the entire Walk Disney Company until we were nearly home the next day. After lunch, we went back to Epcot for World Showcase and Soarin'. Our fastpasses for Soarin' gave us 2 and a half hours to kill, so we went to World Showcase. Eric hated it, I got tired and cranky, we snapped at each other for 2 and a half hours, and even though Soarin' was really good, it wasn't worth the misery we went through for it. Eric was sick of Disney enough that he didn't want to go back to the Magic Kingdom for Space Mountain and Tomorrowland and the fireworks, but after a nap, I decided I would go alone. So I went back and as soon as I walked in I found myself in a great spot for the SpectroMagic parade, which rocks (Eric wouldn't care for it) and for the fireworks. The current fireworks show, "Wishing," is amazing, timed perfectly with the audio, and more than made up for the miserable afternoon.

All in all, it was a good vacation. It would have been great if I hadn't fallen into the trap of "IpaidalotofmoneyforthiswehavetoGOGOGO!" I think the best thing to do would be to go every 5 years for 3 days each time. 1st morning, park for 4 hours, then long break, then 4 hours at night, maybe at a different park. 2nd day no parks. 3rd day, 4 hours in the morning, then break, then go back that night if you feel like it. Leisure time should be leisurely.

So, back to the move. On the way out of town, we stopped at IKEA in Orlando for a couple hours. I've never allowed myself to order furniture from their catalog because I was afraid it would be crap. How comfortable can a $150 sofa be? How good can a $30 coffee table look? The answer is VERY comfortable and VERY good. We'd planned to have a yard sale before we left. Comedians have said that IKEA is Swedish for "cheap crap." It IS cheap, but it's NOT crap. And if your $30 bookcase falls apart after 5 years, so what? It was $30 and lasted 3 years longer than the more expensive one from Target or Wal-Mart. Since IKEA is 3.5 or 4 hours from Tallahassee (in Orlando or Atlanta), we're now going to have a HUGE yard sale. Big enough that there will be stuff in the yard, and we'll invite people inside like an estate sale. We're going to sell pretty much everything we own, and use the money to get new stuff at IKEA when we get there. We don't need 75 plates and 30 coffee cups. We don't need a couch and 2 recliners and 3 other chairs. We need one couch and ONE chair. We've decided we're only going to take what we can fit in my car and his truck. No U-Haul this time. SO if there's anything you've seen at my house that you want, come up to Johnson City in a couple of weeks and take it home with you. You're welcome to sleep on the floor (since we'll hopefully sell one of the beds and the sofabed and the air mattresses). Like my recliners? They're YOURS. Though with gas prices what they are, that cool round mirror for $3 might not be a bargain if you live in Cookeville.

That's all from here. I'm absolutely overwhelmed. Enough so that I'm sitting on the porch freaking out with a beer instead of, like, pressure-washing the front of the house. Again, wish us luck. There's a slight chance Eric might be able to wangle a transfer with the company he works for to their Tallahassee office, which would be the best thing in the world. Oh, and did I tell you I got a tuition waiver, an assistantship, AND I get to keep my job? I'm sure I can drop down to 20 or so hours a week for work. Whoo hoo! I got a daruma (look it up) from Mitsukoshi at Epcot- put your wish-making powers into it for me!

The Immediate Future

I got in to Florida State. I will start the MFA Directing program in August. :)

I'm at Disney World. I'm really happy. :)

Huh?

I can't believe I considered, even for a SECOND, the notion that I could move house and not take the angels with me.

Wish List

OK, here's my current wish list. Cross your fingers, pray, do whatever it is the hell that you do.

1. I get in to Florida State.
2. Even though the deadline has passed, they want me enough to give me a Fellowship.<
3. They ALSO give me a GA position.
4. I need either a Fellowship or a GA. If I only get one of the two, the school must to allow me to keep my job on a part time basis.
5. I can sell the house quickly and for a profit.
6. Graduate student housing apartments at FSU aren't already full.
7. IF I can get in, and into student housing, that
   • I can reconcile with the idea of someone fostering my Precious Angel Baby Girl Kitty Wells for a while.
   • Someone worthwhile is willing to do it.

Those are the wishes. Please make them for me!!!

Oh, and I did just fine on the GRE this morning. And I have a new wheel for the car. :) And my applications are in, and transcript requests sent, and letters of rec lined up. I have had a busy, busy week. Now all I have to do is clean the house tomorrow. :P