two months later...

So I realize that my last post was back in November...Thanksgiving time...but there's a good reason my last post was so far back. We moved to a new house the 28th of November and have not gotten internet until today...the 27th of January. Ridiculous, I know. I was actually thinking we'd never get it, but I'm glad I was wrong!

So there's some pretty big news in my world right about now. I'm moving back to South Korea in less than a month. I got a job offer from an elementary school in Ilsan (where I know two of the former teachers) and I get to move back to my fav. city in Korea. I have some reservations about it, but know that it's for the best. With summer finally showing up here in New Zealand, I've actually fallen in love with this country and don't really want to leave. But as Laura said, she's not really sad I'm going, because she knows I'll be back...and she's right. I will likely end up here again. It's lovely, the people here are really kind and I'm becoming adjusted to a slower pace of living. However, it's for the best that I go back to South Korea for a time to sort things out financially and get back into education. I have been thinking a lot lately about that. Education, that is. I've been wondering if I'm just supposed to be teaching, and not trying to make it professionally in theatre. This marks my second attempt at professional theatre and honestly, it's not going the way I had planned it. I worked at the Indie and then it closed, there's nothing else really in town that I could do theatre full-time at and thus this year has been a struggle, both financially and morally as I've struggled to keep my morale high while unemployed. It doesn't mean I won't continue to try theatre work and do it wherever I can, but maybe it means I am supposed to be teaching and working with kids and do theatre through that somehow. It is, after all, how I got started in theatre. So over the next few months I'm going to look into graduate education programs and see what I can learn and if I can start working on a masters online in education. I've always known that I've wanted to work with kids and I do love teaching them, maybe it's about time I grow up and just do what I'm supposed to do. I'll keep you posted on this journey.

yeah, it's been awhile...

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last wrote...well, actually I can believe it. It's been so busy lately that I rarely have time to sit down, let alone take time to write a blog. So here's the breakdown of why I've been so busy. Lend Me A Tenor- Laura and I are producing our first show under our production company, Standing Room Only, and this show has consumed my life. I'm the production manager and have been working tirelessly on this show for over a month. It's going to be a great show, but there's so much to do before it opens in 15 days. I don't sleep well at night because my head is full of things I need to get done for the show.

We're moving house this weekend. Luke and Laura bought a house just outside of town a few weeks ago and we've been in the process of packing up and cleaning the current house in order to be able to move out this weekend. As I sit in my room writing this, there are boxes of books, empty suitcases ready to be filled with my clothes, and a closet packed full of already packed bags/boxes. Moving is nutty when I won't be able to help with it! I've got to work all weekend so I won't be able to help pack up the trailer and move house this weekend. Sorry guys!

In a new development regarding life after New Zealand- I've received an offer for work at an elementary school in Ilsan, South Korea. Looks like I'm moving back in February! Still have to sort out the contract and get the visa, but it looks promising. New Zealand has been an interesting year to say the least, but I need to take care of some things financially before I can go live like this again. I'm 26 years old and shouldn't be this concerned about money, so I need to take care of that problem and then I can go live wherever and however I want. Even if that means living in a yurt in New Caledonia (not that I'm planning on that...but you never know).

Well, the sun is shining and summer is a promise away so I'm off now, to start my day and get some things accomplished while the day is still mine! Below are some pictures from my weekend trip to see my first co-teacher in Korea, Kowoon. We had a great time just hanging out and it was a pleasant surprise to find an old friend living in New Zealand when I moved here. It's just nice.

I had to explain why the store name was so funny to me. In SK, Costco is where you go for foreign food. In New Zealand though, well Kosco is where you go for asian food, mostly korean food. How terribly ironic.

finally able to breathe

So something big happened this week. Sorry I've not written about it before now, because it's been in the works for about two weeks now. I've ended my internship at the Independent Theatre here in Nelson. I'm not going to go into details, but I will say that I'm glad to be finished there. It's been a long six months and I've done so much there and learned some too, but I'm glad it's done.

The Lorax was my final project at the Indie and it went wonderfully. We had three sold-out shows and had a great review in the paper as well. I couldn't have asked for anything better. So what will I do with all my free time now that I'm not working 25-30 hours a week at the theatre? Well, I'm working 15 hours a week right now at a pizza place in town and the rest of the time I'm able to focus on my clothing designs again and get stuff ready for the market next weekend. I'm hoping to get back there every other saturday from here out in order to sell my stuff as the weather continues to improve.

BTW- I got a sunburn yesterday!!! First one in oh, two years! Yah!!!

I recently learned how to shirr fabric. Did you know that shirred dresses and shirts are my favorite kind out of all other kinds of clothing? I recall my mom telling me why I had the exact same dress on in numerous pictures when I was a child of six or seven. Well, apparently I owned this one shirred dress with tie-up straps that I chose to wear multiple days a week. Seriously if I were to look through this old photo album my parents have, most of the pictures I'm wearing this dress. So it's stuck since childhood, this love of shirred clothing. Why did it take me until I was 26 years old to learn how to do this? It's really easy and doesn't take long at all. So I've got a massive amount of cotton prints/solids to cut and shirr so I can make some money at the market (and improve my own summer wardrobe- no shopping for me! I'll just make it all!).

I think that just about takes care of all the updates. There's just been so much going on the last few weeks that I feel like I've barely been able to breathe, let alone take the time to blog. But things are looking better and I'm able to relax some. Thank the stars for that. Because I needed it!

Until next time...

overwhelmed...again.

I know...I'm supposed to blog every week about the new project I've done, but guess what, my wallet was such a hit that I've had friends requesting them, so I've been working on more of those recently, instead of a new project.

Ok, so it's not like I haven't been working on projects- I just keep getting new things thrown my way that I didn't plan on doing and have thus being limited, extremely limited, in what I can do with my time. Currently on my plate I have production work for The Lorax opening in 3.5 weeks which includes a lorax costume made of orange furry fabric, two pairs of green hairy gloves, two brown bear suits to track down (and if I can't track them down, then I need to make them), and a green outfit of some sort for the Once-ler. Two pairs of fisherman pants to make, a papason chair cushion to create, two wallet orders to fill, two dresses to be made, a jacket for myself (which I'm really looking forward too, if I get around to it sometime!), two costume pieces for a show that opens the week after the Lorax show- I need to make pleather hot shorts and a pleather bolero jacket...and I'm shaking my head at this as I see what I've written. It's true though.

So as you can see, I am quite swamped at the moment, and that's not all I have to do! That's just the sewing work I have. We won't even go into the large amount of work at the theatre I have to do, the ongoing work of finding a second job to pay bills, and the attempt to have some sort of social life.

I will try to get some pictures up of projects as I get them done...next on my list today are the wallets (because I can press away while Elijah sleeps) and helping Laura prep food for Elijah's second birthday party tomorrow. It's going to be a crazy animal party with a Lion cake and fish cupcakes...hilarious. This morning I made chocolate chip cookies for it and used cookie cutters to cut out animals of them- cute but messy and I nearly burned down the house in the process (dropped cookie dough into the oven and had enough smoke in the kitchen that my eyes were burning). Good times. I'll try to get some pictures up of something soon.

purpose and determination...

I feel like I am an extraordinary lazy person. I really think that most days. I do what I need to and then after that I just veg out with a book or a film. That's what I do. But being like this is just hugely depressing, so I decided to refocus my free time and give myself a purpose with my blog. It was all Laura's thoughts really that has brought this about. Laura recently canceled her blog in order to figure out what she should focus on with her writing, and well, that got me thinking.

So I want to continue sewing and I spend a lot of time doing that anyway, but I don't really challenge myself with it. I do what I know how to do and just do what's easy. Not anymore. I know I am better than a simple shift dress or a skirt. I know I am, because I've done it before. So each week I'll take on a new project and then my blog will share the results of that project and what I've learned from it or ya know, whatever I feel like writing about it!

This week's challenge was a wallet. I spent several hours online looking for patterns and instructions to attempt a wallet construction. I found a great tutorial from That*Darn*Cat (another blog) and decided that was the one I wanted to do. Below you can see the finished product. I do like my wallet quite a bit even though the pockets are a bit crooked and the snap isn't quite centered...it's my first and it's my own, so it's ok!

I'm sorry...

For those of you who do read this blog, I should apologize. See, I have this problem. I forget to blog. It's a hassle really. There are weeks that I go without thinking about recording what's been going on, sharing my troubles, venting to the universe (a therapy I highly recommend, otherwise one may sink into despair and burst out in tears for no apparent reason), or just sharing something interesting. So I'm sorry...to my what, three readers? ;-)

It's early August now, winter is fading away and I can't wait until I don't have to wear a jacket at the theatre for work. Speaking of the theatre, that's where most of my news is at. I recently started being paid a stipend (read it: less than 30 USD a week) for the work I do there. I really do keep the theatre running so it's a small step...and who knows maybe sometime they might actually be able to pay me hourly. HA. I started teaching a class at the Indie with Laura, though with Laura's commitment to direct a show in October, I will be doing the brunt of the work for this class. I'm ok with that though. We are writing up an adaptation of Dr. Seuss's The Lorax for a production in early October for our class to perform. The last week has been pretty shaky in regards to the course, but I think we've got our feet sorted and are ready to start walking with it. We, Laura and I, also decided that the show we're directing in December will be Lend Me A Tenor...seeing as it's a 6-door farce (literally needs 6 doors) and the Indie stage is smaller than the Factory Theatre stage at GC, this should be interesting! We may have bitten off more than we can chew with this one, but ce la vie! It's the show we picked, and so we gotta finish what we started.

The last three weeks I have been watching Elijah full-time while Laura is working a winter camp for a visiting group of Japanese students. There are days when I wonder who has the raw end of the stick....nevermind, I'm certain it's not me! While yes, it is more difficult having Elijah all day long and still trying to get my own work done, it's not nearly as bad as the stories Laura has shared with me! I know she'd rather be home with Elijah all day instead, but she's nearly done with it. Elijah and I got off to a rough start when Laura and Luke went back to work. He decided it was completely ok to hit me all the time, and only me. Took us over a week, but it's fixed now. He doesn't hit me nearly as much and as soon as he does and I reprimand him, he's prostrate with embarrasment. Seriously. He goes down on the floor and hides his face for a bit. Then he gets up and says sorry by kissing me. Ohhhh, that one's trouble, I'm telling you now!

My goal of selling my clothing and jewelry has hit a stalemate...I haven't been at the market since my first try, but I think it'll be better to try in the spring and summer instead. Here's hoping. Otherwise, I'll just be sending a bunch of pieces of clothing home that I've made. I'd like to list more on etsy, but I really don't have the funds for it right now.

There's a coffee house opening soon in town, I'm keeping my eye on it, so as soon as I see some movement (well, once the brown paper comes off the windows) I'm going to drop in and talk about some work. It's in downtown and coffee-making is my back-up plan in life apparently. Haha. I'm hoping to make it the rest of this year here (until April) and I would like to make it without the financial support of my family, but I know they are there and have always been willing to help me out when needed. It just happens to be a lot more often recently that my needs have been greater. I love them for it and know that I will repay them someday for this. It's what families do for each other. I guess it's just a good thing I have a lot of family! haha.

I think I'll leave you with that, and don't be sad if it takes me yet another month to post on here!

reflections

I guess I do this every year around my birthday. I sit and contemplate over the last year and where I'm at, etc. This year is no different.

I need to make some changes in my life, I know this. Last year around this time I had a physical while in Korea and was informed that I need to take better care of myself. I changed my eating habits for a good amount of time, but like always, slipped back into my bad habits. I don't want to be ten years down the road and have even more problems than I already do! If I don't set down good habits in my 20s, then when will I? Never is the more likely answer.

I'm tired of eating what I like and feeling A- guilty and B- sick afterwards. Yesterday is a prime example of this. I had a great tasting lunch...full of fat and starches...and was ill for the next two hours because of it.

I want to be content with where I'm at in life, and I know that taking care of myself will help that actually happen. I feel fat, lethargic and ugly most of the time...I catch sight of myself in the mirror at an unattractive angle and sigh. Well, I'm SICK OF SIGHING! It hasn't helped having two winters in a row, since winter is the worst time for me. Winter is a time to stay warm and lazy indoors as it's cold outdoors. I want to be happy with what I look like in the mirror and in photos. I want to have energy and feel better about what I eat. I will give myself this much though- I do eat a good breakfast everyday. Oatmeal and a cup of juice every day for over a year now. Good for my heart and good energy to start the day.

So I make a commitment to myself today. I have to take better care of my body, it's the only one I have after all! So send your words of encouragement as I start this change, because I know I will need it.