Did I mention I had a stalker? I did? Well, let me say it again. I have a stalker. And I like it.

---

Auditions today. Six hours straight in Ida. Exhausting, but a little exhilarating as well. We are doing our winter show in January. The first half is original contemporary choreography to Duke Ellington's The Nutcracker Suite. I am not choreographing anything, because I don't trust myself with jazz, but I got cast as Arabian!! Well, "Arabesque Cookie" actually, according to Ellington.

They divided up Arabian into two parts, and I am the connector, which means I am in all five fucking minutes of it. (For non ballet people, that's a lot of time to be dancing seriously in a row.) I get to be seductive and show off my flexibility and stuff. This means a lot to me. See, I quit ballet right after I got cast as the Arabian solo for my company at home. Arabian has always been my dream, and it was so painful to watch someone else do it after I knew it could have been me.

But now, I get a chance to redeem myself, and I am so psyched.

I also got cast in Sur la Glace, which is our classical half of the show. It's a really fun little ice skating themed ballet. Sounds strange, but it's really cute. I am staging like crazy for this. I'm co-staging (along with my double Katy O) the "glaces," which is the pointe corps of six intermediate level dancers, and the chilling ice queen. I don't think I'm actually supposed to say who got cast as the ice queen yet (the glaces are her cronies, they are supposed to be a blizzard that comes and kicks people off the ice rink), but I AM SO EXCITED. Additionally I'm staging the ice skating competition, which starts with two boys making a fool of themselves, before some of my glaces come out and show them how a real dancer does it. It should be a pretty amusing scene.

I got cast in Sur la Glace also. I'm part of a little ice skating pair on pointe. It's a super cute part. We get to fake slip and fall on the ice and stuff. It's adorable. The thing is, it's definitely an advanced role, and I still feel like I'm an intermediate student. I'm worried that they cast me there because I was too pushy, and not because I actually deserved it. I'm not going to whine about it though. I think Ilana would have shot me the hell down if she didn't think I could do it.

Yay for only four hours of rehearsal a week! Well, besides all the ones I'm running. And besides the one class a week I'm teaching.

So yeah, ballet is amazing.

---

Also, yay for stalkers.

Labels: ballet, boys

I have a stalker.
Just thought I'd share.

I'd challenge him to a stalk off, but a google search suggests I'm much more stalkable than he is. Damn. My two last names thing can only get me so far.

Having a stalker suddenly brings to my attention how horribly nerdy I am. I just read through my site trying to look at it objectively, and holy shit, I'm such a nerd.
Seriously.
It's a problem.

Not that I'm going to change anything. But at least now I'm aware of how nerdy I come off. I'm no longer deluded into thinking I'm slightly cooler than the rest of the freaks here.

Maybe someday I'll learn to embrace it, but it might take a while. Right now I'm mourning the loss of any dignity I once had.

Labels: boys, nattily

My damn cat has stolen my deodorant. He is horrible. He is just spiteful, that's all. How will I ever flirt with cute boy in French class if I am smelly?

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I totally got my knitpicks options set yesterday. I haven't had a chance to use them yet (so much homework), but they feel nice, and the cords are great.

---

I could really use some deodorant.

Labels: animals, boys, knitting

God damn it.

Who watches Grey's Anatomy when they could be watching the one hour special season premier of The Office when Jim and Pam finally (potentially) get together?

My roommates. That's who.

Otherwise, they are very wonderful people, but in this way, they are simply flawed.

Labels: tv

For Tuesday, September 25th (no classes on Tuesdays, and no rehearsals yet) -

• figure out SASI, student insurance plan (done - kind of, I emailed the lady)
  
• purchase French 202 packet from Walker (done - $10)
  
• purchase Economics 200 lecture notes from Social Sciences (done - $17)
• read "Time, Work-Discipline, and Industrial Capitalism" (Thompson) by tomorrow
• faire la première lecture de français 202
• huge amazon.com order for SOSC and econ texts (done - $196.22)
• make flash cards for film vocab for French
• buy a real French dictionary (postponed - the co-op was packed like nobody's business, and they didn't even have the one I wanted)
• finish The Brothers Karamazov (okay, I don't actually expect to finish tonight, but I don't have that much left, so I need to get on it)
• make appointments at SCRS and SCC (I'm really good at putting this off)
• meet with Katy O to discuss pointe corps for winter show and theatrical movement audition ideas
• deposit money from my dearest father (done - you can bet this was #1 priority)
• quick stop by Hyde Park produce (done - $8.47)
• finish small purse, line both
  
• download and watch last night's episode of Weeds (done - this might have been higher priority than the deposit)
• fully prepare myself for the glory of the House premiere tonight!!!

Oh boy. For a day off, I'm pretty busy. I think now the most important thing to do is get ready for House.

...Okay, actually I should do my reading. Damn it.

Labels: chicago, daily grind, tv

My new favorite quote:

"Soldier's curiosity was hot:
Do girls love me? Do they not?

"But the soldier was rejected with contempt -

"Soldier will be rough and blunt,
Always chasing after cunt."

Labels: amusing, books

All women really want is to be called on a semi-regular but still mostly random basis to hear a man's voice say, "Hey name-of-woman, I was just thinking about you and wanted to say hi. You know, I always love talking to you and being with you. I just can't help thinking about you when we're not together."

Ta-da.

So, gather up a bunch of college guys with moderately sexy voices and collect a subscription fee from interested females. I'm thinking $5 a month for somewhere between 5 to 10 calls per month. (It has to be random, remember.) If they want the premium package they can pay $10 to have the guy ask how her day is going, and throw in an "Oh that's so funny!" "Wow, I wish I could have been there," or "That must have really hurt you. I'm sorry you had to go through that," every now and then.

Excellent.

Labels: amusing

The feelings of lameness are setting in. This is a little more personal than I would usually post online, but whatever. That's the kind of mood I'm in.

I was supposed to meet up with some friends and go to a party tonight. I got the facebook invite and everything. I got all pretty and ready to go, even checked to confirmation list to see who else might be there. Then I realize, even though I know the birthday girl through ballet, the roommate who is throwing the part I know through Matt, and of course Matt is VIP. So, out of courtesy to him, I gave him a call to see if the invite was still in the air (not like it was really his call, but whatever) and he said it would "not be a very good idea" if I came.

This frustrates me. Why does he get all the fun? Yes, he's super close with party-girl, but I just feel like him leaving me for no reason should not bump me off the social radar completely. If anything, shouldn't it be the other way around? Plus, he keeps trying to "be friends." Last night he made it clear that more than that would be interested in more. I however, have a little self-respect, and choose not to put myself back in that position after he was so cruel. I told him (honestly) that I have forgiven him and that I'd love to be friends, and he seemed to agree. Then why, Matt, can we not go to the same party?

So where does this leave me? All dolled up and looking gorgeous with nowhere to go. Sitting at my computer about to embark on mindless (and somewhat unnecessary) site maintenance to keep my mind off things.

I'm upset. I just have to admit that. I'm upset. I feel completely rejected. I mean, I don't really care about the Matt thing. If he doesn't want to see me, whatever. He is a little confused, but really I don't care about that. What I do care about is that I am left with nothing, and that I don't have any friends who would rescue me from my dejection.

I'm just lonely, I guess. And I keep being reminded of someone I can't even try to talk to.

Labels: boys, chicago

Have you ever gotten a splinter underneath your fingernail? I have. Ow. I would be happy if that never happened to me again. Ever. Ow ow ow. I managed to get it all out (about a centimeter long!) and it's not bleeding anymore, but it still hurts a lot. Boo.

Also, I'm in Chicago. Yay! I wish Olivia was here, though. It doesn't feel right. Still, Ilana is living directly above me, which is totally sweet.

Also, I want to watch Weeds from Monday and ANTM tonight. I'm a loser, but whatever.

God damn it my finger hurts.

Labels: chicago, friends, tv

I'm leaving tomorrow. Yes. I will be in Chicago tomorrow afternoon. Yes. It's true. I am ready for fun fun times with ballet girls and lots of other things, too.

I will miss Gabe. Gabe, you are fucking amazing.
I will also miss my puppy. He is pretty fucking cool, too.

I need to pack now.

Labels: chicago, vero beach

Ilana just got back from Iran.
Sara and Olivia have both studied abroad in Paris.
Dianna is just starting a full year in Lyon.
David plans on doing his mission in Russia.
Sreya goes to India every few years.
Emily spent a semester in the Netherlands.
My mom spent a year at The University of Aix en Provence.

I want to go, too!

I'm looking at ways to spend as much of my third year as possible in Paris. Not terribly adventuresome, I admit, but hey, I'm French. And Paris is the only French-speaking option for study abroad through the university. So here are my options:

Fall Quarter:
Civilization Requirement (classes in French)
Images Program (Parisian Culture and Advanced Level French)

Winter Quarter:
Intensive French Language (Upper-Intermediate Level)
Economics and the Social Sciences

Spring Quarter:
Civilization Requirement (classes in English)
Astrophysics (fulfills a requirement if I were to major in math)
Advanced Mathematics

Summer Quarter:
Advanced French Language

There are other options in Paris, but these are the courses that would satisfy requirements for the core, or a major (or minor) in Econ, French, or Math, depending on what I want later.

Alternatively, I could opt for the academic year program where I spend a year at a French university. Um, way awesome. I (obviously) need to be completely fluent in French by that point then.

Labels: paris, school

So, despite the fact that when you Google it the number two result is the "Commercials I Hate" forum, I am absolutely in love with the new Snickers Feast! commercial series. I love it. The one with the feasting horn and the sad sound just cracks me up every time.

Also, a bug just flew up my nose as I was typing that. What the fuck?

I want a Snickers.
So, yeah, effective advertising.

...because, you know...they're filling. Like a feast. 'Cause of the peanuts. And stuff.



...



FEAST!

Labels: amusing, tv

Despite waking up at 2pm today, now, at 9:28pm, seven and a half hours later, I am completely exhausted. I have spent all damn day making nattily.org v8.0.

So...you like it??

Let me know if you hit any bugs.

Labels: nattily

Hey Natalie, how much did you knit today?
None! I didn't knit at all!!

Hey Natalie, how much did you code today?
So so so much! UBallet is fully prepped and nattily.org is under serious renovation! Soon, wonderful popcorn layout will only exist in our memories, and also probably a few screenshots.

Labels: ballet, knitting, nattily

Yuck. I just went through and categorized all my old blog entries. I also turned off comments for everything more than a year old, because I was getting some serious comment spam.

I think I'm going to do a nattily.org overhaul. Get rid of themes, just make it clean cut and professional looking. I love the orange popcorn theme, it will be sad to see it go, but maybe it's time.

Before I do anything though, I need to fix UB's site. It's looking pretty good, but I need to make it supercool. And get the B--------e photos down!! How have I not done that yet??

Labels: ballet, nattily

Maybe you've gone a little overboard with the knitting? Maybe? We only say this because we care. We worry that you've reached crazy old lady status at age 19, and we are concerned. And by we, we mean you, because who the hell else would be blogging? We've gone and confused yourself.

I have, however, made some pretty wonderful pieces for myself. Allow me to slow your page loading time with a demonstration!

We begin with the hat and scarf set, made with yarn so cheap and crappy I could not even guess the make or brand:



Then we progress to the great camisole that started the buzz, the beautiful Honeymoon Cami:

Beautiful!

Then we took a short break before moving on to bigger and better (and chunkier) things, like the Tuxedo Jacket from Twinkle's Big City Knits -



You see the huge cable on that mother??

And then, oh and then, there was the INCREDIBLE SKIRT (aptly named) also from Big City Knits. I adapted this one a little to accomodate a different length and more colors, and I am so so so so pleased with the result. It is...incredible:


But you see, Natalie. We are worried. Because this is what you look like now:

And that is pretty horrific.

So please, I know you are excited about starting your own design for a shell in those wonderful acrylics you found on sale at Michaels:

But for your own sanity and safety, please stop.

Go read The Brothers Karamazov like you've been trying to do for a while. Go veg out in front of America's Next Top Model marathons on MTV. But don't watch ANTM and knit a bookmark for your Dostoevsky while you're doing it.

Also, here is a picture of Gabe and Magnolia because it was on our/your/my camera:


They are looking at you as if to call you a lunatic.

Labels: knitting