Apologies for the lack of postage since the Big Trip to the Big Apple. It was lovely.
I arrived kinda dizzy with tiredness in Long Island, which was calf-deep in snow and a little dark and gloomy, but that all changed once I got to my cousins' house and they looked after me wonderfully. It was so comfortable to have their place as a base of operations.... Thursday, as the jetlag wore off, I pottered around with Catherine, went to the mall with her, and then to see my great-aunt in Garden City. It was lovely to see her.
Friday was my orientation day, of sorts, so I packed up early and made my way into the city, and found my way up to Columbia and met Antoine for lunch. We found each other in Barnes & Noble, and then went to a cool diner and had hamburgers. The chat flowed and flowed (as it is wont) and soon we found it was 7pm (we'd met at 11.30!) so I headed off and met MyLinh to go and see
Blasted by Sarah Kane, a piece by one of the graduating directors from Columbia. It was fun to look at the crowd and try to figure out who else there mighta been a directing auditionee.
The weekend itself was extremely intense - we were there from 8.30am on Saturday until all hours that night (after which I had to go looking for red paper in Manhattan, along with a Hawaiian who was looking for wrapping paper and chalk...) and then I went back to MyLinh's for donuts and much-needed sleep. Sunday was equally intense - we were all regrouped at 10am and continued until lunchtime. I must say it was an amazing experience to spend a weekend with 24 other such talented, exciting, interesting individuals. The calibre of all involved was such that I think we can all agree that whoever is chosen more than deserves their place, and there SHOULD be no hard feelings. Of course my standing on this might change if/when I hear I'm not in... :P
After we finished on Sunday we went for very much needed nourishment and margaritas at a Mexican restaurant close to Columbia. To Matt, James, Yaelle, Henning and Lara, thank you for the best unwinding possible!!
Sunday evening, I went back to MyLinh's for a snooze, and then we headed out to try to find the others at an Irish bar on Bleeker St - we failed miserably, but did pass Sushi Samba again on the way to Joe's Pizza, which was too full so we went to have Indian food instead - perfect antidote to the absolutely horrendous cold in Manhattan. Thereafter we went to a very funky moviehouse to see Transamerica, which was excellent. And a completely different movie than the one I was expecting. Felicity Huffman is boundlessly talented.
Back at the mans, M and I ended up watching Flavor of Love, the tackiest and most spectacularly trashy show in the history of time. Much respect to New York (aka Tiffany Robertson) for keeping it real and being the most fabulous lady I've ever seen on Reality TV. Maybe apart from Nadia on BBUK. I crashed, but M continued watching Entourage, Marky Mark's show about making it in Hollywood. It was fun, but I seem to know it far better than I should for having watched only 1 episode. I guess osmosis works!!
The following day we woke late, and I went to meet the lovely Tokyo transplants for coffee which became dinner at a cool pizza house near Astor Place. I then trekked back to Long Island, while they all headed to see a show. I would liked to have gone, but this crushed flower was seriously wilting from fatigue...
Tuesday morning I headed back into the city to attempt to meet Ginny and Ryan Joyce, but she was sick and SHE was a total flake and didn't answer his phone. So grrr to him, but hopefully I'll see them soon.
Back in Tokyo - after an upgraded flight! Woohoo! - I was knocked for six by weird jetlag and was all over the place for most of the past week. I did manage, however, to get a new iPod, which I absolutely love. It's already filled with more divas and screamers than you could shake a stick at.
And that's pretty much all the news. More as soon as it happens.
