Dear break,

I'm home! And I've been home for a few days, but I was reveling in being home.  And before that was exams and goodbyes and we all know what that is like.  Exams and goodbyes. 

All of that said, I don't plan on posting over Winter Break with any kind of regularity.  And definitely not with music.  I just don't have the energy.  And because of my January travel, there won't be anything substantial on here until January 21ish. 

Instead today I give you a video.  (Click the title) She's a friend and a very talented musician, and I really like her cover here. 

I hope that everyone has fantastic peace and rest into the New Year, makes it safely to their final destinations. 

14 days until travel.  32 days until reunion. 


love,
hannah

Dear leggings,

I have spent so much of the last three days slothing around in you. You! Who I swear is evil.  But you are not quite so evil when it is just the two of us sitting in my room all day long.  You and I writing away American Studies.  We're gonna write so much Am Studs there won't be nothin' left. 

Today we watched Pride and Prejudice clips and almost completely finished one class.  We're so close babe.  (Yes, I refer to my leggings as "babe." We're a little delirious, alright?)

So many things: Commencing, Ophelias, BLIZZARD, and then add in finals and it has been a busy weekend.  Where to now my friends?

ON TO WINTER BREAK

Forgive my musical absence
Jonsi: Go Do
Phantom Planet: Winter Wonderland
Koop: Come To Me
Joshua Radin: Vegetable
The Feeling: Love It When You Call
Many artists!: Auld Lang Syne
Earth Wind and Fire: Sing a Song
Lady Gaga: Christmas Tree*
Florence And The Machine: Last Christmas
Kevin Devine: People Are So Fickle

*This one is nuts, guys.  Prepare yourselves. 

We have now approached major countdown mode: 2 days and 20 hours till home and 38 days until reunion with the C's!


love,
hannah

Dear Ophelia,

I get to be one of you! Twelve, five, six, the exact number and meaning is unclear, but I am one of many Ophelias.  It's pretty exciting.  The casting is actually perfect, and they're some of my favorite people in the world. 

As a result I have done less work than I intended today.  But, for me classes effectively ended today, so I can begin in earnest on final projects.  There are two papers, (research prosepectives, which means I don't have to have any answers.  Awesome!) one danger exam from LDN, one forum on my classroom/internship experience, and I should really rewrite that paper from a couple of weeks ago... It wasn't too good.  Boo. 

Lara was so sweet in class today.  She almost cried when we gave her a book of her weirdest quotes.  For all the misery that she's brought me this semester she's one of my favorite professors outside of class.  Really incredible.  In class however, I am often staring daggers at her.  Also, she didn't leave the room while we did evaluations.  Doesn't she know the protocol? Ah well, we made her fall in love with living again. 

Damn. 

That's profound LDN. 



mussssssssic.  with a theme of the artistic s.  
Sam Sparro: Black and Gold
Stevie Wonder and India Arie: The Christmas Song
Starfucker: Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second
Maria Callas: Ave Maria

I figured you deserved a non-whacked out version of Ave Maria. 

The biggest news of all: Commencing is really gonna happen! We have dates and everything! I will report back later. 


love,
hannah

Dear Castle,

The Bones fan world is sad these days.  They are just not happy and they don't provide enough internet chatter to keep me entertained.  Therefore I must turn to the lesser Bones, also known as Castle.  At least there's enough unresolved sexual tension there to keep me happy.

And today shall go down in history as the day that horny little Macalester discovered the internet.  Or at least, likealittle.  Thanks forever, Mansalsa.  I don't know if there's another school in the country that cares as much about that website as we do right now. 

today today today:
Elizabeth & The Catapult: Momma's Boy
The Puppini Sisters: Last Christmas


love,
hannah

Dear farts,

Yesterday I bought this fart book.

 

Not for myself, but as a gift for someone else.  They are going to like it very much.  It has different fart noises for every page.  They are really going to like it.  

Just like you're going to like today's music:

Coldplay: Christmas Lights

Jamie Lidell: Multiply

Elizabeth and the Catapult: Christmas with the Jews

Asa: Why Can't We

I like the busy days where I feel busy and content.  They are especially good when I spend large amounts of time on the theater couches.  Today was one of those days.  

love,

hannah

Dear auditions,

I understand that you are a necessary part of the theatrical process, but you drive me nuts.  I mean all kinds of crazy.  (Which is at least partially responsible for my silence over the last two days.)  Also, it's basically finals, and I'm not prepared.  Or rather, I know exactly what I need to do, but none of it is scary enough for me to really get down to it now. 

However, that does mean that I have skimped on music for the last few days. 
Nickel Creek: Anthony
John Legend and the Roots: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free
Sufjan Stevens: The Winter Solstice
Heino: Ave Maria (Bonus: album artwork included.  Take a look.)
Catherine Feeney: The Christmas Song

Also, here are the best pictures so far of what our ceiling of perpetual snowfall looks like.  (Even they do not do it justice.)  Last night we tried to make a video for the folks (read person) in Amsterdam, but it was not to our liking.  These photos will have to suffice.  

I will do better in upcoming days with photos and music.  Everyone needs an extra something to get through this time of year. 


love,
hannah

Dear Loch Lommond,

Why don't they play you? Why don't they sing you? Why not all the time? You are a beautiful song and were missing from tonight's concert. 

So much snow!

Other music for you:
Macalester Concert Choir: Loch Lommond
Bing Crosby: Let It Snow!

Dear candlelight service,

Again, you chose a horrible hymn.  Is that a tradition as well? It's not a very good one.

48 days till reunion.

I'm really into covers at the moment, especially this one.
Today: the second of December:
John Legend and the Roots: Wake Up (Arcade Fire Cover)
Ben Kweller: Rock of Ages

I know that now it is technically the third of December.


love,
hannah

Dear bone folder,

For those that don't know what a bone folder is, this is what they look like:

This is what a bone folder looks like.  They are used in bookbinding.  When you need a really good crease or fold, it's helpful to have one of these.  Otherwise, your nails and finger start to hurt after a while.  Thus, winter can be hard on my nails, especially after as many snowflakes as I make.  

Today I sat up while cutting a snowflake a yelled out, "Bone folder!" I remembered that I had stolen one from work at the end of the summer.  (It wasn't really stolen, I asked if I could take it.) I enjoyed the bone folding class at camp, and since there probably wasn't going to be another, I thought it wouldn't hurt anyone if I took a bone folder.  And it is extremely helpful! Yesterday I started making snowflakes that had been folded four times, and they are hard to fold and cut.  Great success! I have a bone folder!

The songs for today:

KT Tunstall: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Barenaked Ladies: Hanukkah Blessings

Michael Bublé: Let It Snow

Dane with KT Tunstall, dedicated to all of you crazy cats on other continents.  It snowed today! Happy first night of Hanukkah! And if you're my gentile cousin in Missouri, I hope you enjoy getting the Skype date version of Hanukkah with my family.  

love,

hannah

Dear Mr. Wolfe,

I wrote you a letter for class on Sunday night.  It was an assignment for Schools and Prisons, and it's a letter that you will probably never see.  Either way, I owe you an enormous thank you and wish that I could ask you all the questions buzzing around in my head today.  Your class was a large part of how I ended up where I am today. 


love,
hannah

Dear December,

Only three hours and forty minutes until you get here.  I can't wait! I've come to love December.  For a long time I tried to fight the onslaught of Christmas decorations and ribbons and lights and everything else that you entail.  However, I found that it was easier to embrace you wholeheartedly and go a little nuts.  I celebrate Christmas in perhaps the most secular way possible, which is to say I only celebrate with gifts and decorations. 

I do a lot of decorating.  Especially since coming to college.  It has increased exponentially.  But I refuse anything that is directly Christmas-y, so it's mostly snowflakes and winter things.  It's a frustrated sort of Christmas decorating for the Jewish girl raised in an interfaith house.  (At home we have a lot of blue and white winter and Hanukkah decorations, but at school all I have is articles that I printed and never read.  There is always enough paper.)

This year we have already covered the windows of our common room with snowflakes.  It took no time at all.  Now we have moved on to the ceiling, which is something I have always wanted to do. 

We are going to live in perpetual snowfall.  It's beautiful. 

Another great thing about December is music because as soon as Thanksgiving is over you can play Christmas music and not be embarrassed about it.  (I'm not into Christmas decorations, but really into Christmas music.) That said, I'm going to be sharing more music through the month of December.  It's going to be an odd mix of music. 

Today:
Adele: Rolling In The Deep
Shakira: She Wolf
Ingrid Michaelson: Snowfall
Frank Sinatra: Jingle Bells

Now it's three hours and twenty-seven minutes till December.  See you all there. 


love,
hannah

Dear Pushing Daises,

You are a super cute show.  I mean you make me squeal.  How did I avoid you for this long?

But of course we had to find each other right as I enter finals time.  Of course.  Damn.


love,
hannah

Dear Burlesque,

YOU WERE EVERYTHING I WANTED YOU TO BE. 

Thank you. 


love,
hannah

Dear Good Old War,

You were AMAZING last night.  I can't remember the last time I was that excited to hear someone play live.  And you were not even the group I went to go see.  An amazing experience of live music. 

Thanks.  Check them out everybody. 


love,
hannah

Dear 2 in the morning,

I thought you were just going to be the beginning.  I thought I would be up much much later.  Magically, through a connection between my life and dear Edwin Piscator, I was able to write you in basically two hours.  TAKE THAT LDN.  (What if I wrote your full name on this every time I spoke about you? What then? Then your theater studies colleagues would Google you, and get me talking about what an insane professor you are.  It's a possibility.)

I have two pages and citations left in the morning, but that actually seems manageable... I will not be writing this paper up until the minute I get on the plane tomorrow.

...today.  I GET TO GO HOME TODAY.  Which probably means radio silence until next Monday. 

So I leave you with these thoughs: LDN if you sign another writing assignment before finals, be ready.  I will be radicalized.  I will become an anarchist.  I will have no patience for you or your prompts. 

(Oddly, I'm very pleased right now.)


love,
hannah

Dear ice,

You make things a challenge.  Especially when a thin sheet of you covers everything.  And I mean everything. 

I'm going home.  so.  soon. 

All that's left is you lara.  Lara! LDN! Why did you do this to us?

Two days and two papers.  Nothing ever changes. 


love,
hannah

Dear Chuck and Blair,

You are so so good.  I mean truly.  I love you. 

The rest of the show is only okay, but you two make it worth it. 


love,
hannah

Dear Tuesday,

Happen now.  Not that I didn't love my night of three back to back rehearsals, but you're a little much.  Two performances, one that almost died because of a mess today, and two lara papers away from home. 

You couldn't come any faster, could you? That would be nice darling.


love,
hannah

Dear Craig Ferguson,

You are genius. You are plain genius. 

Also, I just came across this video.  This just may be the strangest fan video ever.  And the best. 
5 days till home.
28 days till end of semester.
64 days till reunion. 


love,
hannah

Dear light blue pen,

You once were lost.  But now you are found.  I can write in light blue ink again. 


love,
hannah

Dear energy,

Some days I feel it and some days I don't.  I felt it all today.  In ways I had not anticipated.  Conversations I had considered, imagined... I actually had them today.  More than I had imagined.  Today was everything. 

On an entirely different note, I think, don't hold me to this, that if I was only able to listen to one musician for the rest of my life it would be Ella Fitzgerald.  Don't hold me to that. 


love,
hannah

Dear At Last,

It may not be entirely coincidental that I'm playing you right now.  I came home from the last hours of Cabaret exhausted (and angry, but that's often how I left Cabaret) and now, in my relief I play Etta.  (Etta James, At Last= my whole life.)

AT LAST.

Cabaret is over.  That hectic phase of my life is done.  I can return to my normal procrastination and craft making.  Friends! I can have real friends again! We have entered that part of the semester where there is just so so much going on, but I'm going to cram everything in.  EVERYTHING. 

I'm celebrating my release.  Returning to my studies with a hopefully renewed vigor.  Commencing can commence! I can again talk with friends who are abroad! And my roommate! And eat meals at a leisurely pace! And wear my rings! (Oh how I await the moment I put my rings on again.) I'm making plans folks.

Thirty one days until I'm home for winter break...


love,
hannah

Dear snow,

The first snow at Mac is always magical.  Always.  It is beautiful, chilling, and calming.  I woke up to this text this morning, "SNOW!!! It's so beautiful out :)"And it is. 

Soon, the snow will not be as exciting and it will all be the same, but for now, it's everything. 

And you know what this means, don't you?

I CAN START MAKING SNOWFLAKES.  Here comes my creative procrastination in full force.  (Shout out to those in Europe who would normally be making snowflakes with me.  You will play in the snow with me upon your return.)

But not yet, because I've got a ton of work to do in just three hours.  Curse you strike!

Except, today is beautiful.  Now time for work.


love,
hannah

Dear Mall of America,

I visited you for the first time ever today.  But I came to visit the school that lives inside of you.  I win.  I managed to go to school here for more than two years without visiting you. 

Why do people on crime shows always say "Oh, and get a hold of this..."?


love,
hannah

Dear spiral staircase,

We are reunited.  Today, after calling places, I noticed that the orchestra was not tuning and the audience was silent, so I ran up you to get back to the TelEx.  I banged me knee.  Real bad. 

I know that you are space efficient and whatever, but you suck in the dark. 


love,
hannah

Dear Project Runway,

I hate how inconsistent your judges are.  Really.  It pisses me off. 

I like color.  And youth.  And patterns.  And apparently you don't. 

That's all.


love,
hannah

Dear November,

It's not that I don't like you per say, it's just that you fall between October (Birthday! Halloween! Leaves!) and December (Hanukah! Christmas! Snow!) Do you see the pattern? Two holidays and some weather.

So I made a mix this morning.  I could not even tell you the last time I made a mix.  I think of November as a bridge between October and December, sweet, chilly, and sometimes haunting, but with suprises sprinkled in.  An entire month of Sundays.  So I made a mix this morning.  Not all of this music is new to me, but it will probably make my November.

There's a little early Christmas present for you.  Just click through.  It's a zip file, cause that's easy.  Enjoy!

To make it through november
1. Hello Dolly: Louis Armstrong
2. True: Susan Tedeschi
3. 22: Lily Allen
4. Fuck You: Cee-Lo Green
5. Cry Baby: Dukes of Danville
6. Me and You: She & Him
7. Lovers' Carvings: Bibio
8. Cold December: Matt Costa
9. I Got Plenty o' Nuttin: Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
10. Petite Soeur: Ben l'Oncle Soul
11. If This Ain't Love: Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators
12. Cold War (Nice Clean Fight): The Morning Benders
13. A Sunday Kind of Love: Etta James
14. Boogie Shoes: KC and the Sunshine Band
15. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You: Kate Nash
16. Sister Winter: Sufjan Stevens
17. Hold You In My Arms: Ray LaMontagne
18. Cosmic Love: Florence and the Machine
19. Cold Shoulder: Adele
20. The Perpetual Self...: Sufjan Stevens
21. All I Want For Christmas Is You: Mariah Carey


love,
hannah

Dear Shakespeare spam,

You don't fool me.  Just cause you have lines of Shakespeare written in the body of your email doesn't mean that I will open you. 

No one sends me just lines of Shakespeare through email.

Nice try. 


love,
hannah

Dear Sunday,

I feel as though I have been waiting my whole life for a lazy Sunday.  I think such a thing cannot exist when you are involved in school.  (Perhaps a perk of joining the work force?)

Today I came close.  Well, perhaps not at all.  I started with rehearsal, and then brunch with a waffle, a walk in the gorgeous sun, some (not enough) reading, television, dinner and then a musical.  No, actually I didn't even come close to a lazy Sunday. 

It's been a very busy Sunday, but a very fulfilling Sunday. 

Back to the work week.


love,
hannah

Dear boots,

I wore you yesterday.  I was really sick of wearing the same thing every day.  And no jewelry! It's been hard. 

Now my feet hurt. 

Thanks.  This one is my fault. 


love,
hannah

Dear dude,

Really? Living on a Prayer? At this time of night?

Okay.


love,
hannah

Dear banners,

At the moment, you're all anyone can talk about. 

So, no, you didn't come down when you were supposed to.  Especially not when I pulled really hard.  Or when Tom pulled really hard.  (And then I had to make sure that you we're swinging so hard that you hit the chandelier.  Problem!)

Later all of the actors were like, "Hey.... what's up with those banners?" Dunno kids.  We'll see tomorrow. 

Cause let's face it, it will make this little Jewish girl so happy to bring in some giant ass Nazi banners. 


love.,
hannah

Dear election night,

Two years ago, you were one of the most exciting things ever to happen in my life.  I think there are many young people that agree with me. 

But this year, you pass almost unnoticed.  I voted, in Illinois, two, three weeks ago? I can't remember.  And given the fact that I was in the theater building until 11:45 tonight, I wasn't giving it much attention. 

From what I can tell from Facebook statuses, tonight didn't go so well. 

Hmmm.  Here we go..


love,
hannah

Dear musicals,

You are joyous joyous things.  I had forgotten.  I couldn't tell you the last musical I was backstage for.  Yamo? Junior year of high school? That may not even count. 

I dance up in my little home.  I dance all the time.

And no one ever sees me!


love,
hannah

Dear hands,

You hurt.  There's a knuckle on my right index finger that feels a little raw.  Also, the nail on my left thumb feels strange.  I'm learning new things from this pain.  The lessons I have learned so far:
-It's better not to wear my glasses so that the headset doesn't press too hard
-Same with earrings
-Though it was hard at the beginning, it is better to wear the gloves all the time, less pain in my fingers and palms
-Clip the telex box onto the belt, not my back pocket
-Stand with a wide base and bend at the knees once the rope is unlocked
-It takes about twice as long to pull a piece of scenery up as it does to bring it down
-It is very lonely up there
-Ten hours is a long time

What was going on in my life before I started Cabaret?

I can't remember.


love,
hannah

Dear Ponyo,

Okay, you are downright cool.  And super cute.  I squealed at you, a lot. 

You make me want to go swimming.  With jellyfish, which, when you consider that I'm terrified of jellyfish, is a big deal. 

You're a fairy tale! A joyous one! With a challenge that is not so hard to complete.  Will you promise to love Ponyo forever,  no matter what form she is? OR COURSE YOU WILL.  If I could pull myself together, I would want to be Ponyo for Halloween... But that's too much to hope for. 

Like this, but bigger. 

I'm not really celebrating Halloween this year.  No costume, very little candy, and next to no free time.  It's okay, it's  letdown holiday, right everyone? We're just gonna have to make our own little parties with costumes instead of the usual Halloween.  Maybe next year...


love,
hannah

Dear China,

Who is reading this from China? Hello! Also, Canada? Hello to you too. 

Of course, big hellos to Scotland and the Netherlands and Argentina.  

I'm off to sit in the dark for four hours.  Here's hoping something happens!

Also, last night's party was excellent.  I love this kind of night's where it's just people sitting around talking, some games, some drinks, and a lot of laughs. 

Also, big hellos to Denver, even if it is only temporary. 


love,
hannah

Dear Cabaret,

I am now a part of you! Not something that I thought was going to happen given my night classes.  But they are so so desperate.  They could not find anyone.  So I magically stepped in to save the day, which is kind of fun.  And now they owe me a lot.  I'm not sure what they owe me necessarily, but I'm missing a whole week of class, so... they owe me.  Big time. 


love,
hannah

Dear Fall Break,

You are here! Hooray! And you will go away just as quickly as you have come.  (But then we are that much closer to Thanksgiving!)

Perhaps the greatest moment of today was my professor leaving the classroom, and every single student saying that they hadn't read the article.  So then we scrambled to try and make-up answers, but he was like, "Did you guys not get to this reading? No? Okay, then it's not helpful for us to talk about it anymore."  It was wonderful, and sad.  That is fall break for you. 


love,
hannah

Dear the interwebs,

Oh, interwebs, you let me not do so many things.  Especially today. 

Thank you


love,
hannah

Dear Babies,

I think I might like you better the second time.  You're so simple.  You're so cute. 

The Mongolian baby is still my favorite though. 

Ann and I put up lights in our room this weekend.  It looks pretty good, though we have three different colors and several different lengths.  What it means however, is that we can now have a pretty well-lit room without having to turn the big light on.  And that my friends, is super good news because it makes a horrible buzzing sound that annoys me particularly when I'm doing homework.  Now we have more than enough light. 

Here's to the beginning of a great week.  So many things to look forward to, most of all, fall break.  A chance to take a breath.  But that's a total lie because I just don't want to do my work any more, so I've been taking lots of breaths. 

Lots of deep breaths friends.


love,
hannah

Dear Mondo,

I really really hope that you win Project Runway.  Because I really like your clothes.  A lot.  They are so colorful! And full of energy!

So, this is me just saying that if you don't win next week, I'm gonna be real upset. 

But, you are going to win, so it's all going to be okay. 


love,
hannah

Dear birthday,

You're almost over! I'm 20! Look at the cupcake that Ann brought me.  With a camel no less! So many exclamation points!

So many of my friends are all across the globe, I got many many virtual birthday greetings, at all different times.  But sadly, that meant that a lot of the people that I would have really wanted to see or talk to were too far away.  Ah well, next year they will all be closer again.  And it will be my golden birthday.  (Turning 21 on the 21st.)

Today was just a really nice simple day.  And I got to spend a lot of it talking to people I love, and spent a lot of time on the THDA couches.  (Like, somewhere around five hours.)  People keep asking me if I feel different, and I don't feel any different yet.  That said, there's been a lot of difference recently, so I've felt different, but not today.  Today was a nice normal day. 

Thanks to Karin's silly mix-up I don't have class until Tuesday.  Which is wild.  I should really do something of value... I just don't want to!

We're actually going to celebrate my birthday next weekend, cause the next seven days are just funky.  But very soon is fall break, something to look forward to. 

In the mean time, I'm finally 20! It feels like I've been waiting to be 20 for a long time. 

I forgot that I should shower tonight so that I can get up in time for tomorrow.  Boo.

goodnight.


love,
hannah

Dear doodles,

You're back! In a big way.  Way too much like high school.  Three hours of class at one time is too much. 

Later, I will show you what I achieved tonight.

I'm almost 20!


love,
hannah

Dear Amy Pond,

I emulated your look today. 

It was a tad uncomfortable. 

Back to school.  So sad.  Now I will eat a pear. 


love,
hannah

Dear busy day,

When I have a busy day, I don't spend any time in my room from 9 am to 6 pm.  And then I go somewhere else at 7. 

Busy busy day. 

I'm going home tomorrow! So (I think) there won't be any words from me on here until Sunday.  Only two days of radio silence from me. 

I need to pack. 

See you when Monday is looming,


love,
hannah

Dear home,

Please come soon.  I know that you are close.  Less than two days away.  Two classes.  Two meetings.  Several readings I'm going to skip.  One flight.  Two states away. 

I really cannot wait to be home this weekend.  And yet there is still a little part of me that is still filled with dread.  Here's hoping that the dread disappears the minute I step off the plane and that my sickness knows not to cross the border into Illinois. 

Cause seriously, if I am sick this weekend, it will not be okay. 


love,
hannah

Dear French,

You were never my choice language, Spanish had that honor.  But more and more I'm wishing that I had some ability to converse in French.  Or fake it.  Or be able to understand something more than "oui."


French soul, food, music... It's catching my attention more than ever.  Too bad I am only any good in Spanish.

We're headed for a post on Paris soon anyway, but I think it's still necessary...

Until I come up with that post


love,
hannah

Dear Strong Female Character,

I spend a lot of time thinking about you.  Not in a creepy sort of way, but in the sense that I really care about you, and how you are portrayed.  I critique you often.  And sometimes, I will even come up with better ideas for you.  How to make you better!

In my avoidance of writing the first big lara paper, I came across some important pieces.  Important for me, I can't promise that they will be important to you.  But I am going to share them with you because I think they are relevant to everyone. 

Strong Female Characters
AND

The Female Character Flowchart
 -Take the time to peruse the flowchart, it's worth you time.

And with that, I should go back to writing about Sleep Deprivation Chamber.  I am not getting enough sleep.


love,
hannah

Dear Ben l'Oncle Soul,

You are my new love.  My one true soul love, no doubt.  I was blown away from the beginning.  However, to be fair, it's only been an hour. 

Today has been a good day.  Have I done as much as I should have? No.  Did I find some genius things on the internet? Yes.  Should I get off my computer? Yes Has the weather been gorgeous? Yes.  Did Performing Histories meet today? Yes.  Did we make big plans? Yes. 

Am I going home this weekend? HELL YES.  I can't wait.  I wasn't all that excited before, but suddenly I cannot wait to go home.  It's going to be an excellent weekend.

Now I just have to get there.

Three papers in three days? Yes.  Is that a big bummer? Yes.

Should you listen to this song immediately? yes.  Yes.  YES. 

Do it, it will make this whole mess of a week billions of times better. 


love,
hannah

Dear Rompers,

Just because the weather is suddenly gorgeous does not mean that you should come out.  Please go back into hiding. 

Thanks.


love,
hannah

Dear Gossip Girl,

Watching you on the weekend with Madeline is a highlight of my week.  You should know that.  You're so bad.  And yet, so good.  What are you making Serena wear?

This week has been long.  Additionally, I love bread pudding.


love,
hannah

Dear typography,

You're so cool.  And you're helping me not to write this paper. 

Taylor Mali This is a brilliant poem, but the typography is just as good.
Who's On First  So that you can see how good this piece is.  Really. 
Zoolander Just for fun. 

There, now you two can not do your work. 

I swear, this paper probably isn't all that hard, I just can't get into it.  It's all about me and writing about my experience of seeing this play.  And what that means on a grander scale, and yadda yadda. 

It probably doesn't help that I'm writing this sitting on my bed. 


love,
hannah

Dear Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,

I think that you are a very important album to me. 

I think I love you.


love,
hannah

Dear Sleep Deprivation Chamber,

Last night was a strange experience.  I did fall asleep in the play, and as usual, the person I was with found watching me fall asleep very entertaining.  But don't despair! Usually I fall asleep in something really quickly, but I made it four whole weeks into the school year without falling asleep at any event.  You should be proud.  We went to a play for class, and it was bad.  Really bad.  There were just many things about this play that just plain bad. 

Lights.  Sound.  Acting. 

And there weren't even any giant risks that flopped. 

The entire class, and our professor, was disappointed and agreed it was bad. 

And then I was just talking to a different professor who saw the play earlier in the day, and although he didn't comment on the play itself, he seemed to have a much different experience. 

We shall see... I'm going to have to discuss this play for the next two days.  And then write a paper on it.  So much Sleep Deprivation Chamber.  Hopefully I won't lose any sleep over it. 


love,
hannah

Dear Ligretto,

You are a great game.  It's been a long time since I have played, and last night was great.  Talking with a drunk Caitlyn was fun too. 

But sadly that means I have to get some work done. 

poo.


love,
hannah

Dear October,

You are a beautiful month.  Yes, you hold my birthday, but I love you for other reasons.  The weather, the leaves, the clothes, the fall, Halloween.  And now you're here!

I love you. 

Okay, just watched Valentine's Day.  Who can guess which scene made me cry? (It was just one.)

It may be irresponsible to stay up this late, but I don't care.

...yet


love,
hannah

Dear theater building,

You, or rather HWJ, may want me to leave, but I won't.  Because you make for great fun.  Your couches? Genius.  Really comfy, and really not conducive to doing work.  But that's okay, because you make for great times.  Like jumping on the couches tonight.  After everyone had left... it was amazing.  We tried to get the attention of the music building monitors, but they weren't having any of it. 

So, I just wanted to say that I love you.  And your couches most of all. 


love,
hannah

Dear this evening,

This class is gonna have to get better, or there's going to be a weekly feature on here of letters I write on Wednesday nights.  There's more. 

And then there was a master doodle, I'm talking three-quarters of the page, and an experiment in how well I can write with my left hand. 

I'm going to have to find something to keep my attention in that class. 


love,
hannah

Dear Anarchy,

I was told today that if our generation does not take up anarchy, then we are truly screwed.  And, at the time I might have written it off as the sort of leftist utopian blah that can happen around here.  But this evening, I am finding anarchy quite invigorating. 

I don't know if I wrote the email in the most effective manner possible, but it has just become overwhelming. THDA students spend much of their free time together talking about how frustrated they are by the department and requirements that don't make sense. 

There might be some good that comes by THDA...

Here's hoping that it all goes well. 


love,
hannah

Dear Creon of Thebes,

I'm really sick of your ass.  Tonight, instead of talking about you, I was reduced to giggles.  Get out of my life.  This is what Myriah had to make of you. 

I'm sick of you.  Get out.  Antigone? I banish you from my life.  Three times is too many!


love,
hannah

Dear neighbors,

I apologize that I am playing the same three songs over and over.  They're not even really that good.  Except that they are that good.  They are that good.  In their own special way.

First there's Boogie Shoes which I associate with television.  Obviously for So You Think You Can Dance, but I'm also pretty sure that there's a Sports Night episode that this song is in.  I've been craving some Sorkin recently.

Then, there's September.  Somehow, I always remember that this song exists when September is almost over and it feels too late.  Caitlyn knows this all too well.  I wish that it was about October, cause then it would fit perfectly into my life.  It's one of my favorite songs ever, and it would be that much better if it was about my birthday.  (23 days until my birthday by the way.)

Finally, there's Cooler Than Me, which doesn't quite hearken back to disco the way the first two do.  This song reminds me of this summer.  Mostly Ben and Casey singing along as drove away from the show every week.  And, believe me, we all knew when the "shhh" came.

There are all so danceable! Can you tell I'd rather be dancing than working?


um, yes. 


love,
hannah

Dear Eclipsed,

You are an incredible, incredible play.  Beautifully written, built, sculpted, loved.  You are beautiful. 

Go see it if you're in the Twin Cities.  Eclipsed at Frank

If you're not in the Twin Cities, hello.  I miss you.  And wait to hear from you. 

As for Eclipsed, I don't think I'll have a huge problem writing a big old paper about you. 

It's actually Monday, so here goes the end of my Sunday. 

Ann's playing Neutral Milk Hotel on her uke everybody.  True love. 


love,
hannah

Dear Glee,

I kind of can't stand you anymore.  Like it's painful to watch.  Because, let's face it, the only reason I watch you anymore is because you're such a part of pop culture right now.  But if you weren't? I don't think I could take it.  You're offensive, but try to play it off as an in-joke, your plots are frustrating and more often than not, your characters get lost in them.  You've lost so much of the character you started out with. 

You suck.

And you make me want to throw a slushie at my computer.  If only your music wasn't so damn catchy. 

Shut that Rachel Berry girl up!


love,
hannah

Dear Lalaine

You were in Easy A! Good for you.  Granted, you were only in it for like three seconds, but you were very recognizable.  Go you Lalaine. 

And go Easy A, for making this a perfect Friday night.

Yes. 


love,
hannah

Dear Undercovers,

Your theme song sucks. 

Otherwise you aren't bad.  You are a spy show, so I'm sorta gonna like you no matter what. 

It rained all day long today.  I mean it, all day long.  And so there were worms on the ground everywhere.  And I thought of walking to the campus center from Dupre with Claire and pointing out every worm on the walk. 

So many worms!


love,
hannah

Dear friend,

Dear Inside the Actor's Studio,

You are one weird piece of television.  I was wasting some time on YouTube, and came across an interview from your show, and I was once again struck by how weird you are.  Who thought that you would make good television? Who came up with that stupid questionnaire? Why does James Lipton talk like that? Is every movie you talk about a gem to be treasured forever?


love,
hannah

Dear Alejandro,

What did you do to Gaga?

Are you the one that keeps calling her?

What did Lara teach Gaga?

There was another fire alarm this morning.  This time, thankfully, after my alarm has already gone off.  But really, it's three in like, seven or eight days now.  A crummy way to live.  Hopefully, it will pass.

Who cares about the chorus?

I don't.  I've never understood the appeal of the chorus as an actor or as an audience member.  I also don't watch a lot of Greek theater. 

I really need to finish this essay, but I just can't get into it.  I keep using the word "embody" in the hopes that I will somehow embody a student who actually understands this. 

Enough ranting, time for page three to magically appear!


love,
hannah

Dear performance,

I used to like you.  Now I am not so sure.  You see, you've shown up a lot today, and not in ways that are that enjoyable.  I'm not saying that you should hide yourself from me, but I would appreciate it if you would look for ways for us to meet that are more agreeable. 

I don't like debating with you, but some engaging will do.

Consider this my performance of procrastination and an engagement with the texts forced upon through school.  Which may or may not be a social construct.

I don't really care. 

My schedule is baffling. 


love,
hannah

Dear second fire alarm,

Not cool.  Neighbors? Just keep the door open while showering so that the steam can vent! Otherwise we will not get the chance to actually live in our rooms.  Damn. 

Also? I was so startled, again that I left my music on and dropped my pen.  My ink pen. On to my sheets.  My pink sheets.  So now there's a giant blue spot where my pen leaked onto my sheets. 

We will always remember this fire alarm. 


love,
hannah

Dear Dumbass Club,

You might just save my life this semester.  Otherwise I'm not sure how I could understand what "performative outlook" meant.  Or means, because I still don't really know.  To write vague or specific? To write about the text, a mere skeleton, or about a performance that may not actually exist? To write with any sort of serious intention, or to write quickly and without thought and see how things turn out? To care, or not to care?

No matter what happens, the Contest has been put into place, and Tuesday's phrase is, "and that will take place."  A most excellent phrase. 

I might just love the Dumbass Club, and it is happening almost as I predicted it. This may be my least favorite class, but the Dumbass Club will make it better.

Even if we have no idea what's going on. 


love,
hannah

Dear Kagin dance parties,

Sometimes you suck.  But when you don't suck, you are so so good.  And you make me sweaty.  And wish that I spoke Serbian. 


love,
hannah

Dear Maria Callas,

I've been listening to you all day in an attempt to get real work done.  It has been my hope that your dramatic voice and lack of lyrics in English will help me to focus on the thousands of words I have to read before Monday.  And the hundreds of words I have to write, more than I anticipated this weekend.  I have much more time than I did last weekend, but much more work.  For the most part Maria, you're a nice Saturday afternoon homework companion.  You make it seem less like I am sitting in my room wishing that the college would turn the heat on already.  Maria, I do hope that you are not too loud for our neighbors, because you might be called into action more often now. 

Some of the things I'm working on are even interesting, but I'm much more interested in the wine and cheeses, and Jesus camp planned for this evening.  So much better, right?

Yes, I know Maria, wine and cheeses and Jesus camp has nothing to do with school desegregation, but a girl's gotta have something to work for, right?

Exactly Maria, exactly. 


love,
hannah

Dear couple in front of me,

Tonight, at Kol Nidre services, you were sitting two rows in front of us.  You were a most adorable couple.  During the Hebrew I couldn't understand I would just watch you two.  You would whisper to each other, and lean on each other.  And then, when you fell asleep on each others shoulders during the sermon? It was so cute.  I want to be like you two someday. 


love,
hannah

Dear fire alarm,

Thank you for happening today at 7:30 in the morning.  I understand, it had to happen, when the door to our bathrooms is closed, the steam builds up and that causes the alarm to go off. 

It was crazy, mostly because I went into total auto-pilot.  I jumped up, put on my glasses, slippers, and a jacket, without even thinking about it.  Amazing! Without even thinking about it at all, I was out the door in less than a minute.  It didn't last all that long, but it was an unfortunate way to start the morning. 

It was hard to go back to sleep. 

It was unfortunate.  Oh well. 


love,
hannah

Dear next door neighbors,

I don't really appreciate your music with a really strong beat at 12:30. 


love,
hannah

Dear fellow ITS students,

We are going to survive this class.  We are.  Because I have a new plan, I would like to introduce you to "The Contest."

Click the title of this entry and start listening at about 45 minutes.  This will elaborate and entertainment. 

A new phrase every day perhaps?

Something to help me pay attention. 


love,
hannah

Dear Haribo gummi bears,

I think that we are going to spend a lot of time together this semester.  We're going to go through a lot together.  I just think that you should know that we are going to have a very intentional friendship, albeit a little one-sided.  And then there's the fact that I'm going to eat you. 

I'm surviving my excess of night classes, I just don't feel like I'll get used to them.  It makes the reading so much chunkier.  "Read this whole book for next week.  See you then!" And they go so late! Tonight Prof K was telling us about her night class experiences, and how she would always stay late.  "I'm not trying to brag about my nerdom...I'm just telling you." She makes that class worth it. 

Waiting for everything to be put into place.  I'm so close now, just waiting for my internship. 

In other really exciting news, Commencing has taken a new step forward.  I'm really looking forward to everything that experience could be. 

Please please happen. 


love,
hannah

Dear syrup,

You are awesome.  It's really too bad that you don't taste good on your own.  Or rather, you do, but it is not socially acceptable, or wise, to sit and just eat syrup.  It would also be very messy.  I enjoy you so so much.  You make so many things taste better, and most of them taste pretty good to begin with. 

It should be known that I did not have breakfast at Sunday dinner, even though it is an option.  Just this morning, which was wonderful. 

This weekend was amazing.  And thankfully I got just enough work done to be free, but here we are at Sunday night, and there are probably other things to do.  I'll only do a little bit more before collapsing for a while. 

Good luck to those traveling. 

Here's hoping my mouse stops doing weird things.


love,
hannah

Dear slam poetry,

You blow my mind. You get cooler and cooler every time.

I maybe want to give you a try...?

We'll see.


love,
hannah

Dear Jewish New Year,

I love that you come right at the beginning of school. Really. Because just as I am trying to start over, here comes the perfect opportunity. A time to make Jewish New Year resolutions. It's perfect. Although, this year I think the goals were stated before I got to school...

I just think the timing is perfect.

The Jewish calendar aligns quite well with school.


love,
hannah

Dear Friday,

I have nothing to do for you! Really, no plans until 8 tomorrow. And lunch. I can always get started on work for the weekend or for next week. Cause really, I already gotta get started.

I'm going to miss the first week of class, cause I don't have anything to do yet, and there are weird events all the time. Ice cream today, water bottles, theater department meetings that aren't all that important. I get to spend a lot of time on the theater department couches. Talked with some interesting people...

What am I going to do with you Friday? Probably finish season 5 of Doctor Who.

In other news, the boys next door to me really like music. And I might have to speak spanish for my internship. My mom will be very happy with that. It makes me a little nervous, but I'm so (s0) ready.


love,
hannah

Dear night class,

I survived you! The time has finally come for me to take not one, but two night classes. Oy. And I was worried, especially after gaining a reputation for falling asleep in every class freshman year. And maybe sophomore year as well. However, I made it through the first class without even yawning.

The initial wave of stress from syllabi has begun, but that brings new reasons to hole punch and collate things. Which makes it all go away.

Many adventures today, my first trip on my bike in the Twin Cities, and most of an afternoon wasted on a bench and on the couches in the Theater building. I'll say, a day well spent.

And night that didn't end too bad either.

Oh, and the consensus from this evening's class? The most important film of our lifetime is Lion King. Sadly, the only line I could instantly recall from the movie was, "I killed Mufasa!" Which didn't feel like something I wanted to share with the class.


love,
hannah

Dear wall in front of my desk,

In the span of just five days, and only one day of class, I have gathered five post-it notes on you. Five. Some have easy tasks which can be done in five minutes, but others are going to require more thought. Like a new adviser. Which really just requires the guts. I have to no reason not to.

I think you are going to be home to a lot of post-it notes this year.

I am surprised by how many people I actually know.


And overwhelmed by how many new faces there are.


love,
hannah