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Friday, March 30th, 2012
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4:58 pm - The Essex Park "Park One"
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I thought I was going to write about the Essex Bed today. But I was distracted this morning by Chinese phone conversations and have completely forgotten my Essex bed experience.
After lazing around for a while and watching a combination of Big, The View, and Frasier in an attempt to get My Chinese Roommate out of a Chinese Mindset, we decided to go out for lunch. Andrew Kingathy and Charles Stoop had just auditioned for How to Succeed in Business (and by that I mean Catch Me If You Can, How to Succeed was just the first title that came into my head) so they met up with us at Matt's Grill on 55th and 8th. I chose this place because it was cheaper than the Chinese place My Chinese Roommate wanted to patron.
It was fine, my food was good, and we exchanged some very classy fart anecdotes. We then parted ways, and Andy, Charlie and I met our friend Meghan in Columbus Circle. She was babysitting our manager's little baby. The baby is pretty cool. I held her and talked to her. I feel a little awkward around babies. But the baby and I really bonded when we went to the bathroom at the Columbus Circle Mall. There, I brought the baby to the mirror to teach her about mirrors. However, the Columbus Circle Mall wants to teach all of us more than just about mirrors when we go to the bathroom, so they installed tvs that show the news. In the mirror. Not sticking out of the mirror, it's a part of the mirror. It's super weird. Anyhow, Maggie (the baby) loves this whole mirror concept. We looked at each other, then the mirror, then at each other in the mirror. Then we learned that Mitt Romney falls way behind Obama in national polls. We said, "yaaaaaay!" at that. The mirror taught us a lot.
Then the four of us (the five of us. I guess a baby is a person. Also Charlie is now replaced with a guy from work named Mike.) went into the park. We went via a path I'd never been down before. And it was beautiful. It's spring, and everything is blooming. It was a little chilly and windy earlier in the morning, but now it was sunny and warm and delightful. Very romantic when you have a boy with you. Lots of fun animals who have no fear of humans. Ducks are hilarious. Small bodies of water are glorious. We walked around the south east side of the park for a while, ending up at this huge rock formation more toward the south central part. Andy and I climbed this huge rock formation and had a nice sit atop while Meghan and Mike played parents to the child at the bottom. From the rock I could see my apartment. How crazy that I could see my apartment as I looked south from this rock in Central Park?
Pretty crazy, is the answer. However, I'm seemingly just accepting it. My Chinese Roommate talks to us about having lunch with Robert De Niro, I live on the 16th floor of a hotel that overlooks Central park. Right now I'm sitting at a window, listening to John Lennon and looking at the apartment where he lived when he wrote these songs. Outstanding.
Anyhow, I'm going to be productive today. Even though it feels like I'm on vacation, I'm not, and if I ever want to live in a place that even resembles the awesomeness of this experience, I need to start working hard and being really motivated. So let's do that.
But for now,
Taylor
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12:17 am - The Essex Shower
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I have been living in New York City for a year and a half now. While here, I've lived in two apartments: One in Harlem and one in Washington Heights. Before that I lived in Morgantown, West Virginia in two houses: both in South Park. Both relatively falling apart. Before my houses I lived in a dorm that used to be an old folk's home. Great. All have had pretty crappy showers. The one exception I'd say was my dorm at WVU. It had a plus, which was a bar in the shower. To prevent the ever-looming fall that ends most old folks' lives. Even growing up I didn't have the BEST showers. Not the best water pressure. Always vulnerable to the whims of toilets - hot/cold/hot/cold. Not to mention the tubs themselves! Old showers were they - no amount of cleaning that I didn't do anyway would have gotten the yellow hue out of those showers. This is my shower-history. Knowing this, it's amazing my hair is as full and luscious as it is.
My refuge would always be hotels. Oh, the water pressure! Oh, the unlimited heat! But those weren't even perfect. I'd struggle against the chlorine laced water by putting as much conditioner in my hair as possible - but it was never enough, obviously, considering the conditioner they supplied was approximately an ounce. Give or take an ounce. But all that has changed.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I've found it. The shower I've needed all my life. The shower that makes me want to wash my hair (maybe I should establish that I don't wash my hair ever.) That shower is: The Essex Shower.
It's unassuming. You don't think it's going to be anything extraordinary. You turn the water on. It comes out full blast, delighting you despite yourself. Then you realize something wonderful. The water gets hotter the further away from "off" the knob goes. This just makes SENSE. I've been burned too many times (pun unintended because it kinda doesn't make sense as a pun) by showers that have the water get hotter the CLOSER to "off" you get - because then by the time it gets to the level of heat I desire, the water is dribbling out. Sure, it's hot, but where's the delightful pressure? To get the desired pressure, you have to sacrifice the heat! It's all too much, it's all too much. But not with this shower. Oh, no. This shower understands me, man.
The understanding of me goes beyond just the delightful combination of heat and water pressure, though. That's just the beginning. The shower knows that, like Frank Costanza, all I want when I'm in the shower is serenity. Now. I doubted I could get this. I mean, I'd just started the dryer, which happens to be in a closet in the bathroom. Sure, the shower has a glass door and glass walls, but there's no way the sound of a dryer would be stopped by a humble glass door.
That's where I was wrong. It was stopped. Not only was it stopped, but all sound was stopped. Gone was the white noise. Gone was the slight din of Sarah Lee's Chinese television series playing in the next room. Gone, even, was the noise of air moving round my ears. It was silent. It was just me in a glass box (with a slight air vent that somehow let steam out, but kept silence in) with my high pressured hot water, my Olay body wash, and my green loofa. Could life get better?
I asked you a question.
Yes, it could. Because after I got out of my shower, ran a wide toothed comb through my non-chlorine filled hair, and got dressed, I came out of the shower to a lovely Asian and an even lovelier night time view of Central Park. I said goodnight to John Lennon's Dakota. I said goodnight to my friend (and pupil) Barbara over on 79th and 5th. I said goodnight to the Met museum. I then crawled into bed, got under the covers...and wrote this for a good half hour. But now I'm going to delightfully fall asleep on my Essex Bed for the first of many times. The question remains: will I make my bed in the morning? Well, you'll just have to tune in to find out.
Other questions to consider:
-Does having an amazing shower go on my priorities list for when I become a real adult and can buy some things.
-Will my hair be healthier and wealthier from this new shower treatment?
-What kind of groundbreaking thoughts will I experience in this silent meditative shower o' mine?
All will be answered in time.
But for now,
Taylor
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| Thursday, March 29th, 2012
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11:45 am - The Essex House
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Ok, I need to document the next couple of months. I don't need to document when I'm in a show or when I go to open mics or when I begin making youtube videos or when I start dating a boy, but for this, documentation is necessary. Last night was my last night in my Washington Heights apartment. In a half hour I'll be leaving and heading to the Essex House on Central Park South to live with Sarah Lee for a few months. Forgive me if my thoughts are scattered. I'm listening to "Whatta Man" to pump me up. And maybe to help me remember my roots once I live in the lap of luxury. Don't be fooled by the rocks I got.
Sarah Lee's real name is not Sarah Lee. She is a Chinese woman about my age who was chosen by some Chinese billionaires as the best actress and person in China and so they're funding her career - in America, in China, the world. Right now, she's based in NYC and is studying with Joan Rosenfels, my acting teacher. Her old roommate, Suri, was booted out of the apartment for not speaking English with Sarah Lee. They wanted Sarah to live with someone who speaks English. So Joan thought of me, because I speak it almost fluently.
So now I'm moving from my Washington Heights apartment to the Essex House. I'm getting a sublet for my room, so I'll be living rent free for two months. So I should make some goals, right? Monetary goals? Life goals? I'll have more time, because I wont have to work as much. I'll also be closer to everything. And free access to a good fitness center. And, oh by the way, will be living with a girl who is about to start work on a couple of movies and is working on a cd.
Goals. Goals goals I haven't sat down with goals yet, so this is a rough draft.
- Start cooking at home more.
If I cook at home more, I'll save more money. I'm right near a Whole Foods, so shopping shouldn't be too hard. I could have people over for dinner and it would still be a pretty cool dining experience. Then when I move out of the lap of luxury, I'll be able to save money.
- Write a new song a week.
With my extra time, I should be able to have a nice block of time every week to write. That plus the new muse of my Chinese roommate and Central Park outside my window may be able to help.
- Go to one open mic a week.
Same idea. More time should mean more time doing stuff I want to be doing in this city. Also Sarah Lee can come and hang out with other people who speak English practically fluently.
- Go to the gym. All the time.
Or, you know, like, four times a week. I'm not crazy. Also, Central Park is right there, and I can always use that for exercise. I can walk to Barbara's when I tutor her. I also can walk to work.
- Ok. Money. Save. How much?
Not sure. Because I wont be working as much. But I'll probably be working three days a week. And tutoring Barbara. So let's say I should save at least $350 a week? If I work three days, plus tutor Barbara (oh, by the way, I tutor a French theater STAR three times a week, I'll talk more on that at some point.) three times...yeah. At least 350 a week. If not more. We'll see after the first week or two.
I'll make more goals later, maybe involving getting gigs for the minor fours, going to one-on-one classes now that I have more money, buying a new guitar, maybe some other things I never buy for myself because I don't have money - shoes, or nice perfume - stuff rich people have but I don't because I'd rather spend that money going to the movies or going out to eat. Goals relating to buying things for yourself? That's the way we live at the Essex House.
Also. I saw the view for the first time at night last night. It was absolutely stunning. I need my parents to see it. It's ridiculous.
Ok, beloved Livejournal. That's all for now. Goodbye.
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| Monday, November 22nd, 2010
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1:34 am - Has it been over a year? Or just a year?
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I want to update before the end of the year.
I'm watching Soap, and there was a murder. A bumbling cop announced everyone who was a suspect, which was everyone in the Tate and Campbell family, one at a time. He announced that Benson, the butler, was a suspect and gave the reasons as, "well, one, he's black," to which Benson replied "That's fair." I lolled.
I live in NYC now. Just finished my first (terrible) show. Second one opens and closes next week. I have a few potential auditions this week, if I can get out of work. I work at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company as a hostess. And I pass out flyers at TKTS and around Times Square promoting Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (so good) and A Life in the Theatre (not so good.) I live with Brian, who's visiting WV for Thanksgiving because he has a life. We're both in an acting class with Joan Rosenfels, which I love.
This week I spent absolutely too much money. Starting tomorrow I'm going to stop spending so much on food. I need to live within my means, because I think I'll be able to support myself completely if I work at budgeting. But yawn, budgeting, amirite?
Trying to learn how to live my life.
Missing John Lennon.
Taylor
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| Friday, November 27th, 2009
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1:33 am
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Remember LiveJournal?
Thanksgiving break has been odd. Very nostalgic. Kinda weird. Pretty sad at times. Happy, too, though. I didn't have much friend-time, besides with Joe. I don't know what I want to say about it. It's weird to get away from school. It's so easy at school to forget about everything else and to seclude yourself into a little world - in fact, it's nearly impossible not to do so. So I guess coming home and not having to work every day all day (granted, I should be doing more work than I have...) allows me to reflect - sometimes on things I don't want to reflect on. It even just allows me to think on things I don't think I want to think on. I think. It allows me to remember how things were a few years ago and makes me wonder where some friendships have gone. It makes me wonder if I've made right decisions or if things I feel are really how I feel. It's got me allllll mixed up and I don't like it much. But it also allows me to have fun with family. And seeing Joe was a lot of fun. I guess I should be grateful for the life I've lived and experienced. For the friendships I've had. I should be thankful for them and how they've shaped who I am, yeah? Things in life are just so transient. It moves so fast and you have to make such quick decisions that change your life more than you know. And my frontal lobe isn't even fully developed yet. I shouldn't be allowed to make decisions of such magnitude. But every decision is of such magnitude - just make decisions for me. It's almost my birthday.
I love my friends. I love the ones I have now. I love the ones I've had before. I love the ones who I had before and still have now. What would I do without them? Find new ones, probably, and still be happy. It's something I learned this summer: we can go anywhere, in any situation, and find people to be happy with. We can go somewhere for six weeks, and leave with new best friends. It's heartbreaking in a way, though, because everything is so transient. It's happy, too, though, because happiness has been brought into your life. I just wish I could live twenty different lives - devote each one to a different group of people, a different way of living, a different location, a different occupation. But I can't. So how do I reconcile this with having one life?
That's that. I'm not going to talk about too sad things. Remember Livejournal?
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| Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
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1:42 am - Thessalonians
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| Tuesday, February 10th, 2009
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12:37 am - For to Taylor's Choice:
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For to Taylor's Choice:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Cool Hand Luke
JFK
Annie Hall
When Harry Met Sally
It's a Wonderful Life
Forrest Gump
Godfather
A Hard Day's Night
Shawshank Redemption
Rear Window
American History X
The Sting
The Graduate
Gone with The Wind
the Hustler
Little Miss Sunshine
All the President's Men
American Graffiti
The Royal Tenanbaums
Rushmore
Waiting for Guffman
Field of Dreams
Life is Beautiful
Capote
League of Their Own
For to Taylor's Choice
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| Thursday, February 5th, 2009
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12:10 am
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| Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
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11:51 pm
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Happy 2009!!!!!!!
You thought 2009 was going to be livejournal-free, didn't you, Maggie_Mae128. Wrong-o.
Let's see. This semester's fun so far. But I'm sickies. Matt comes home in two months and four days. 22 months ago he entered the MTC. Weeeeeird. That's all I ever say about it. Semester's busy. Auditions in Birmingham, auditions in North Carolina, Urinetown the Musical, studio scenes and monologues...but so fun! I hope this sick crap goes away, though.
Today I walked back inside the CAC after saying hi and goodbye to Geoffrey Insch, who's going on a mission to JAPAN! Crazy. Phil came out and I said, "hello, Phil." and he glared back at me and said, "hello, Taylor, how are you?" and I said, "well, I was fine until you gave me that stink eye!" which made Dreamboat laugh. Then he looked at me (yes, he looked at me!) and said, "don't worry, it's just his computer." Siiiiiiiigh. I told Brittany I was going to write it in my diary, and this is the closest thing, at the moment.
What else do I want to remember right now? I write songs a lot! With my friends, Matt (Webster) and Brian. I'm so excited for Matt (Boy-of-Choice) to come home and come visit and play music with us. I think that will be the best thing ever. I hope he visits me.
"Life can be painless, provided that there is sufficient peacefulness for a dozen or so rituals to be repeated simply endlessly."
- Kurt Vonnegut
And that is what my life is! Same classes, same friends, same social activities, same sayings: For to, you knew, I'm mad, oup, OMP, The Home Alones, Al Sharpton, My father always told me..., Concessor talks, sip sip, ject ject, Dove Under-Arm Unscented Body Spray (It's basically water - but we'll throw it in for free - as long as you buy the bottle...), Into the Woods game, coloring game, and so on...
And then I come home to a wonderful house full of wonderful people who I wonderfully love. I'll miss it. Because I don't feel overwhelmed - I have my room. And if I'm lonely - I have downstairs which always has at least Texas, you know? And Emma's bed. I'm going to go steal a blanket.
Ok. See, it's worth it to have a livejournal still. Right?
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| Thursday, December 11th, 2008
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11:02 am
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I had a funny dream last night about Matt. I guess somehow I had a time machine but instead of traveling through time it just traveled. But it was a time machine because I had to do the thing with the lightning and the clock tower. Anyhow, I went to Argentina with a few other people - Leah Zeller, Matt's mom, My mom, and a few others I think. We all went our own ways. I met Matt and we'd talk but we'd keep in mind all the rules and try to follow them. We tried not to be alone together - I don't know, it was just really funny. But really nice, even though we had to be very careful. I talked to him. And just hearing his voice talk only to me was the strangest and most wonderful experience ever! And I told him that and he said, "oh, I probably shouldn't be talking only to you." or something. Ha. Oh well.
Anyhow, I get to talk to him on Christmas!!!! That's two weeks! Yay. And I got into Urinetown: The Musical, and that goes up April 17th or so, and guess who'll be back then? You guessed right, if you guessed at all, and correctly. Matt! And I get to go to Florida later this month. And I get to do a play in a day in January. And I get to go to Birmingham, AL for SETC auditions in March and have an entire rehearsal process with a bunch of my best friends and - these months are going to fly by, even if I don't want them to. And then Matt will be back and then things will get really really scary. And I'm open for whatever will happen, and I've loved the past almost two years, but I'm still excited to be out of this state of limbo.
Joy, though. Joy.
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| Thursday, October 9th, 2008
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12:49 am
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| Sunday, September 28th, 2008
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3:20 am
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So today I went to my step dad's dad's house for his b-day dinner. He's now 78. That's the same age as Paul Newman. Paul Newman doesn't look a day over 65, I think. Awww, it's sweet, I've known Paul Newman since he was 77. sigh.. we go way back.
-12/15/2003
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| Saturday, September 27th, 2008
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2:29 pm
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| Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
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1:37 am
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I tried to give my car a hug while I was driving it. It didn't go as planned. Though there wasn't a plan. I tried to hug my car, but I turned on a bunch of signals and such - I sent my car the wrong signals. We're just friends. I tried to hug my car? and I just ended up hugging part of the dashboard. You know, the part that curves up around the wheel? It was nice. I love the Foc' I am so glad I have it back.
I'm off to bed, finally. Stupid real-classes with your stupid real-homework...
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| Sunday, August 24th, 2008
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11:51 pm
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I should quit being judgmental. Ok?
I got in a play, that's good. It's going to be in the Clay, which I'm also excited about. I'm excited about this semester in general. The work's all going to be really good and fun and...yeah. Good.
Still miss Disney lots. But it's getting better and I'm seeing things more clearly now, too - church today was awesome. Really. Thankfully.
Still miss Joe lots. I'm glad I get to talk to him. I don't get to talk to him every day like I used to, but at least I always have the opportunity, as long as it's after 5 or the weekend.
Still miss Matt lots. But I'm not as good at writing as I used to be. But just a little over seven months, man. I'm nervous. People change lots in two years. Have I changed? Hey, tell me how I've changed since April '07.
That's all. Oh. And just be happy, please? Ok, THAT'S all.
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| Thursday, August 21st, 2008
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10:36 pm
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Oh my GOODNESS I missed Rory so much!
And I highly appreciate a friend who remembers all the random inside jokes from summer '05. You don't find that often.
I hope he really visits this time.
Auditions = fun, actually. Callbacks = also fun. Hopefully successful, as well. We'll see.
I miss Disney like no other. Withdrawal like crazy. Kristina actually listened to most of my spiel, which was nice of her.
I dropped my phone in the toilet today. Ees ok now.
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| Friday, July 11th, 2008
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2:12 am
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New story!
Tonight I went to Pleasure Island to Adventurer's Club and the comedy warehouse or whatever it's called with some friends from work because I'd never been. And while we were at the Adventurer's Club there was this guy in front of us talking with this woman. Then he started talking to us, so the woman turned around and when she saw me she stared at me and then gasped and said, "WE RODE YOUR BOAT!" And she turned to her friends/family and said, "guys, look, it's Taylor!!" and she gave me a hug and they talked about how great I was. I'm famous.
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| Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
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7:24 pm
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Work work work. Work was fun. I like work. Today at work? Huge rain storms. We went 101 while I was out on the river, so when I came back in, I let my people go, then I drove the boat back into maintenance and had to put tarp things up and do a bunch of stuff so I got sooooooaked. Then we played Disney Trivia with the people stuck waiting in line. My morning boats were really really good. I drove my first boat 6 times before getting out - that's over an hour of just doing boat trips. But it's so FUN. If only I could stop losing my voice?
It feels so good to be able to talk to Joe all the time now.
I am going to see a movie with Bobby. Bye!
Also.
I'll try to remember the creepy things people say to me. Or do. Or the funny ones. I really should write them down.
-ok I was at merge and this five year old just walked past me and calmly threw his mickey toy in the river. So deliberately. It was funny.
-umm an older woman said her name was Taylor so we must be related. She told her husband and he said I was beautiful so I must be related to him. Then he went on telling me how pretty I was and asked if I was thirty. I gasped and said I was only 20 and he said, "Well I thought it would take at least 30 years to get that beautiful!"
I can't remember any other specifics right now. But they're all wild. Also, who commented? Show yourself.
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| Monday, June 30th, 2008
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11:11 pm
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BlehBlahBleeBloop.
I went with Dad to the ESPN club today. While in the area, I went to MGM, rode a few rides (Tower of Terror twice) then went to Epcot and saw the British Invasion. That's about it, but it was fun. I don't have much to write about. I miss Joe soooo much. I missed four calls on Saturday because my phone was dead. That's so ridiculously upsetting, but whatever. I'll be able to talk to him next weekend, hopefully. I'm happy because I work tomorrow. Ummm, and that's about it? Robbie called me today, because it's been fifteen minutes since he called last week. Oh, and today was the first time I went on Tower of Terror since SPRING BREAK OH SIX!!! Ok, bed. Sorry this was lame-uh.
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| Sunday, June 29th, 2008
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5:46 pm
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Sometimes I get into a terrible terrible mood and can't get out. And I feel such guilt for making other people deal with me which just makes things worse. Then I don't know how to get out of those moods. Or, if I do, I don't do it because either I'm lazy or it's too daunting or some other excuse, and I don't. And it seems that nothing is going my way. And it feels like I'll never get out of that mood and I want to be self destructive and think maybe everything I think is wrong and maybe nothing's right.
But I need to realize that I have so many blessings. And more than two people to talk to. I talked to my parents today about a lot of stuff. And it was really really neat. I'm glad I did and it helped a lot. I get to work at Disney, even if it's not as much as I want. I get to spend time with family. I get to go to California. And hey, next year? I'm going to visit Jorday in New York, ok? And have fun, ok? And I have my whole life ahead of me? And I shouldn't get so freaked out over things.
And I'll be able to talk to Joe next weekend.
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