Theatrical Passions

Last night I worked on my graduate school application for a bit, only to re-read the application and see that the admissions deadline s in two freaking days; needless to say, I was pissed. Every other graduate program I've looked at has deadlines in October. So I'm trying to get in touch with an admissions rep. so I can see if there is a late deadline and any possible way I can enroll for Spring still. I still need to get two letters of recommendation, write a letter of intent, get my transcripts, and take the GRE. I could potentially get the letters and transcripts by the 15th, but the GRE is one of those tests you have to study for, so I couldn't just take it without preparing for it.

I laid awake in bed last night for quite awhile, partially because Ozzie was having a rough night in his crate and partially because I couldn't turn my brain off. For some reason, I kept thinking about being a theater teacher, like at the high school level. For the first time in nearly 8 years the idea didn't piss me off. In fact, I starting thinking about how fun it'd be to have rehearsals, to direct again. But I keep going back to the old saying, "Those who can't 'do', teach" and for some reason that bothers me. Like so many others I had dreams of being a performer or a director or, at the very least, to work for a professional theater company in some capacity. And like so many others I've found myself working a string of jobs that I enjoyed but didn't fulfill any of the artistic needs. I also realized a long time ago that having a stable career to support a family was more important to me, and typically theater is anything but stable. But for some reason, last night I found the idea of teaching theater appealing for the first time ever. I can't help but look back at my theater teachers and know how much they affected me.

I think the main issue I'd have, however, is that the arts programs are typically first to go when budgets get tight, so I'd probably end up being an English teacher who does a "theater unit" and directs a couple plays a year... I just don't know if I could do that. English was never a passion; I have a minor in it because it involved taking one more class, and since I had to stay at Truman for 5 years anyway it just made sense to pick up the minor. If I became a teacher I would have to be a theater teacher. I'd want to share my passion for theater with kids, not fake my way through an English class just to get to Shakespeare or Miller or Larson. I'd want to do an entire dramaturgy, just like I had to do for my Musical Theatre class.

And then I start thinking about the last time I talked to Sean at the Sheldon Theatre and he "casually" mentioned that he'd be retiring in a few years and that "someone" would have to take over his position. While I have no desire of living in Red Wing again the idea was incredibly tempting. I'd absolutely love to be an executive director of a theater, to direct a couple shows a year, to coordinate incoming tours, to live and breathe every day at the theater. I just haven't the slightest clue how to get into that type of work, and no idea what I'd have to do to work up that ladder to that position. I wish I had friends at the Denver Center who could fill in this information for me.

I look at this graduate school application and, while I feel like going back to school is the best idea for me right now, I worry that I'll jump into a graduate program that I'm only mildly excited about and waste all kinds of time and money and end up still being unhappy afterward. If I'm going to commit two years to a degree I want to know deep down that it's the right decision.

On the plus side, I have a job interview coming up either tomorrow or Wednesday. I got a call today from a veterinary clinic for a receptionist position. The thing that sucks, at least for now, is that the hours are 3 pm to 7 pm M-F and 8 am to noon on alternating Saturdays. Not a lot of hours, but looking forward to classes starting in the spring (hopefully) it'd be a great schedule. Looking at my unemployment benefits I'm required to report income while I'm filing claims, but I think that I'll still gain unemployment if the job I take isn't paying enough. I'm not sure, though, I suppose I will have to call and do some research. I'd take two part-time jobs, though it might do me in again... working 6 days a week was almost killing me by the time I quit working two jobs, but if I have to do it I will.

And, in other news, my parents will be in town this weekend. I'm really excited about it; I think the last time I saw my parents was at Christmas. I'm bummed because Matt has to work most of the weekend, but I'm sure we'll still have a good time. We're going to the Great American Beer Festival on Saturday... I'm really worried about my diet, because we typically eat at brewpubs and the like, so it's a lot of bad-for-me foods and lots of beer. I've lost 13 pounds in about a month and a half, so I'm trying to stay well-behaved. I'll just have to watch myself and limit as much as I can. We're also going to the New Belgium Brewery on Friday, but other than that I've got few plans for us. I should probably work on that tomorrow. Mom wants to take me to Sam's Club to stock us up on non-perishables, which I appreciate more than I can say. It just makes me feel warm and fuzzy knowing she wants to help us out when things are tough.

Ozzie has a vet appointment tomorrow for some booster shots, but I think I'll try to reschedule it for next week. I feel really bad, but he's got a growth on his lip that needs to be looked at and, very likely, surgically removed. So why am I putting it off? Well, we activated Ozzie's pet insurance a week ago and they have a pretty strict "two-week" policy before any issues are covered. If I reschedule for next Tuesday he'll have missed that two-week period and then, hopefully, the removal will be partially covered by the insurance. I just feel bad for the little man; it has grown so much in the last week! If he can survive another week it'd save us financially... I remember when Mirabelle had a growth on her foot and it got so bad... that was actually the reason we got pet insurance in the first place. Hers wasn't covered by insurance (it was a "pre-existing condition" with her, as we'd had the growth looked at and assessed prior to buying the insurance) and I think we paid about $600!!! If Ozzie's is covered we'd only pay his deductible + 10%, so only about $160. Also, I'm curious if I get the receptionist job at the vet clinic if they'll offer me a discount on services... I can dream!

But that's about all the excitement going on here, for now. I suppose there will be more to say if I have that job interview tomorrow...