I woke up on Saturday morning and looked out my window. F***... Snow. Lots of it. The joys of living in Upstate New York. I knew there was no way we were going to drive to Maryland in this weather. I was sort of upset but at the same time, I felt sort of happy to have one last day to get everything ready and snuggle in my bed, and drink tea... I took the time to enjoy my day, something I've never really mastered. Even on my rare days off, I had the hardest time relaxing. My "Snow Day" was just what I needed before I left for Maryland.
I didn't allow myself to get stressed until about 7 pm. That was when I had to weigh my suitcases, pack the things I still needed to back, print out some important information that of course had to wait to the very last minute (Welcome to the Zehner's!) and get a hair cut from my sister, Christie, who is a licenced cosmologist. It was good to get all of my dead ends cut off and vent to her. I think they taught her that at Cos school; How to make people tell you there deepest, most personal thoughts while washing there hair...
After I shoved a copy of Howel's Moving Castle into my carry-on (Thanks Jackie!), I decide to take a much needed break and what better way to enjoy my last Snowed in Saturday Night by having a Sex and the City Night with Christie; A tradition that we had started in 2009 when HBO on Demand came into our lives. We both owned our own Complete Sex and the City Series Box Set that I will have to, sadly, leave behind. We watched the first six episodes of season 1. I was going to miss this. If it wasn't Christie and I's Sex and the City Night, it was Hannah and I's Twilight Movie Marathon (Don't judge!). I was going to miss both of my sisters and our crazy traditions deeply. The only way I was going to talk to them now was via Skype or Facebook. It was sad. I never knew how much I connected with then.
After Christie and I swore to make "Team Aidan" (Me) and "Team Big" (Christie) shirts for when I cam back, we knew it was time to go to bed. I laid in my bed for hours trying to sleep, but I just couldn't my stomach was all in knots and I just couldn't get my racing thoughts to stay a ease. I must of fallen asleep because I found myself startled awake by my Mom calling me. It was 6:45 am but I felt so awake. It borderline mania how excited I was. I skipped around the house getting ready. I woke up my sisters singing: "I'm leaving for London. Get up!". I even told my Mother I looked very "Jackie O." in my new read coat... When did I become a WASP? We all got into the car at 7:30 am. The roads were horrible! We were sliding all over the place but I felt so happy to leave.
Goodbye House! Goodbye Jordan, NY! Goodbye Upstate New York!
We stopped at Denny's in Camillus. Hannah talked about how she loved how much I was in my blog and I should mention her more (Shout out to Hannah... I guess). He had to eat quickly. I had two pancakes, hash browns and an ice tea. Yum!
Right after breakfast, we headed off to Maryland. The roads got better and better. It got to the point were there was no snow at all. I fell asleep in the car for a little while. I woke up to this pain in my mouth. I was biting my own tongue. Dumb me. The trip to Grandma's house seemed to go by fast. I listened to Matilda the Musical, my new Ramin Karimioo album and my Josh Groban Playlist. By 2 pm, we were about 20 minutes aways, but starving. We stopped at this very nice Grill and Bar. I ate this Flatbread Pizza and fries. I also had some of Mom's Nachos and more ice tea. Mom had taken some of her pain meds for her back and started to dance to the music in the bathroom. Embarrassing.
When we got to Grandma's, Dad got ready for a Redskins Football Game he got tickets to thanks to and old friend from high school, Mom took a nap, Christie and Hannah goofed around and I got on Facebook and talked to my SCT/ School friend, Val and my Mexican BFF, Jeovany. Since Jeo has gone through being an exchange student (he studied at Potsdam this semester) he's been great at keeping me calm, motivated and has inspired me to be great in London (Love ya, Jeo!).
After I got off Facebook, Grandma made dinner for Me, Hannah and Christie. I didn't eat dinner but we had a great talk about politics, movies, journals, and my Uncle Matthew who died a few years ago. Grandma got triey-eyed.
After dinner, Mom got up and me, Mom, Christie and Hannah went to go see Sliver Lining Playbook at this beautiful, old movie theatre. It took forever to find a parking spot and it took forever to get the right order at the Candy Counter. The movie was amazing. It really hit close to home. It didn't hit me until we left the theatre and I began to cry...
... And that's when it hit me. "Holy s***! I'm going to London tomorrow! I really am going!"
As I sit here at my Grandma's computer, listening to mys siters' making funny videos on my Mom's iPad, I'm starting to get a little freaked out. I'm not going to be in my safe box anymore. I'm going to be out of my safety net and in the real world. I'm shaking right now. My chest is so heavy. My body is freezing.
I had this kick ass student director named Becca, who told me that whenever she is stressed, she listed to the song "Breathe (2 am)" by Anna Nalick. "Breathe, Just Breathe."... It's going to be on repeat tonight. Everything will workout.
One more thing, I always make the same wish every New Years Eve: "This year, I'm going to Defy Gravity." Funny how I'm going to be on a plane when the clock strikes 12 on New Years Eve...
Wish Me Well!!
Defy Gravity
Melanie
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Last Friday Night in the States, Ya'll!
I woke up with an email from one of my professors from Potsdam wishing me well. It was nice to hear from him before I left. He was also one of the professors who wrote me a recommendation so the email seem even more touching.
I feel like I should be more stressed or worried, but I feel completely calm and cool. It hasn't hit me that this is my last night in my house in Jordan, NY. But clearly, everyone else does.
My Mother has been crying on and off for the last few days. Today, she took me out for one final "Mommy and Melanie Day." We first went to Chilies. I'm not the biggest fan of the restaurant chain but nothing says American like ordering to much imitation Mexican food. We kept on talking about London; how I was going to love it and how I can't forget my passion. She's afraid I'll fall in love and never come back home. Oh Mom...
We then went to one of my favourite places on earth: Barnes and Noble. To me, one of the greatest joys in the world is buying a hot chocolate and browsing the stacks of books, DVDs, CDs and hot nerds. I'd received a $100 gift card for Christmas and was excited to spend it. Mom tagged along with me for a little while but went n her own way after a half hour. I ended up getting the Complete 1980's Beauty and the Beast TV Series (I'm obsessed with it. The reboot does not give it justice.), a copy of Interview with the Vampire: Claudia's Story ("I Want More"... tehe... Claudia could kick Bella's ass...), Ramin Karimloo's CD (Look up "Till I Hear You Sing" from Love Never Dies or the 25th Anniversary Concerts of both Les Miz and Phantom) and a 2013 planner. I can't take the DVDs or CDs to London but they'll be a nice treat for when I return.
After, Mom and I headed over to Great Northern Mall to get some last minute things. The mall was packed with people returning ugly Christmas gifts and using up gift cards. I wanted to shop quickly because Mom was getting tired and I didn't want her to feel overwhelmed. By the end of our shopping trip, I got a new red coat, socks, jeans and some sweaters.
Driving home, I began to make plans with my sisters about going out to dinner tonight after we packed a little. Hannah wanted to go to Tully's but Mom said no because it would be crowded on a Friday night, Christie then said Chilies but that was out of the question because I had eaten their earlier today. Christie and I then thought Denny's wound be perfect but Hannah was against it ("I'M NOT GOING TO DENNY'S! NOT AGAIN!"). We finally decided to go to Applebee's.
When I got home we started to pack. Are plan is to leave tomorrow morning and head to Washington DC and I fly out on December 31st, New Years Eve.(Dad says it's cheaper to fly out of DC on New Years Eve, even though flying out of NYC would have been the easiest.). Christie and Hannah had a blast making fun of my underwear and criticized my lack of fashion (T-Shirts are not hip, apparently...). We had to roll all of the clothing so it could fit into the two suitcases (Great tip from Bethany, one of the heads at the Study Abroad Office at Potsdam.).
After an hour, Christie, Hannah and I drove the the Applebee's in Auburn. We talked and joked the whole way there and was excited to find a DJ at the restaurant playing some really fun music. Hannah and Christie danced in the booth while I tried to dance with them, an epic fail on my part.
The worst par of the night was our waitress. She was very rude and disrespectful to us. Because we are our Uncles had worked in he restaurant business most of their lives, we always knew to NEVER be nothing but nice to the service. The horror stories of what our Uncles told us about what they did to rude customers goes far beyond just spitting in their food...
Halfway through our meal, I saw a sign on the table that said that if the server did not tell us about gift cards, we'd get free boneless wings. Since I ordered boneless wings and our waitress never mentioned the gift cards, I told Christie to tell our waitress that I had the right to free boneless wings (Free Fatty Food: Another American Tradition). Christie told a waiter who came to fill our drinks. He obviously told our waitress because she came storming over, slammed her hands on the table and muttered about something about gift cards. Hannah was angry, saying that if we were charged for the boneless wings, she would turn into our Mother, meaning all hell would break lose.
So of course, when the bill came, we were charged. Hannah demanded we see a manager. Christie and I just started at each other. This wasn't going to be pretty. It took 20 minutes for the manager to finally see us and by that time, Hannah was ready to let him have it. After telling him it was the worst service she was ever dealt with, the manger gave us a coupon for free boneless wings the next time we came in ("Like I'll ever come here again!"- Hannah), offered us some drinks (yes, serve some alcohol to my underage sisters) and stay for the dance party. We declined and after he walked away and we got our change, Hannah got up to leave.
"Ugh... Hannah. You forgot to give her a tip." For some reason, my parents had given Hannah the money for dinner.
"No way is she getting a tip! You better not leave her anything!" And walked out.
Me and Christie looked at each other for a second, looked at out table with the dirty dishes and bolted for the door before our waitress came back. As we got into the car, we saw through the window our waitress at our booth, screaming at the manager. It felt good to be a rebel on my last Friday Night... :)
On the way home, Hannah played some Flo Rida, Taylor Swift and "Gandam Style." All three of us belted and tried to harmonize with the music. We passed my old high school on the way home. I looked at the building full of memories good and bad. Dreams were dreamt and created there. A lot of the kids in my graduating class planned on either staying home or going off to college to pursue a 9 to 5 job that was guaranteed to give them a comfortable lifestyle. But not me. My plans for life were going to doing what I love to do, no matter how successful (or unsuccessful) I became. Going on this journey to London in hopes that my dreams will become realities.
When we got home I finished up my packing and now, after thinking about for a little while, it is really hitting me. I'll enjoy my final night in my bed, with it's jean comforter and memory foam topper. I know not much will change in this house, this town, this area, but I know I will.
This Friday Night, I'm a Central New Yorker. But I'll be a Londoner next Friday night...
Defy Gravity
Melanie
Christie Helping Me Pack.
I feel like I should be more stressed or worried, but I feel completely calm and cool. It hasn't hit me that this is my last night in my house in Jordan, NY. But clearly, everyone else does.
My Mother has been crying on and off for the last few days. Today, she took me out for one final "Mommy and Melanie Day." We first went to Chilies. I'm not the biggest fan of the restaurant chain but nothing says American like ordering to much imitation Mexican food. We kept on talking about London; how I was going to love it and how I can't forget my passion. She's afraid I'll fall in love and never come back home. Oh Mom...
We then went to one of my favourite places on earth: Barnes and Noble. To me, one of the greatest joys in the world is buying a hot chocolate and browsing the stacks of books, DVDs, CDs and hot nerds. I'd received a $100 gift card for Christmas and was excited to spend it. Mom tagged along with me for a little while but went n her own way after a half hour. I ended up getting the Complete 1980's Beauty and the Beast TV Series (I'm obsessed with it. The reboot does not give it justice.), a copy of Interview with the Vampire: Claudia's Story ("I Want More"... tehe... Claudia could kick Bella's ass...), Ramin Karimloo's CD (Look up "Till I Hear You Sing" from Love Never Dies or the 25th Anniversary Concerts of both Les Miz and Phantom) and a 2013 planner. I can't take the DVDs or CDs to London but they'll be a nice treat for when I return.
After, Mom and I headed over to Great Northern Mall to get some last minute things. The mall was packed with people returning ugly Christmas gifts and using up gift cards. I wanted to shop quickly because Mom was getting tired and I didn't want her to feel overwhelmed. By the end of our shopping trip, I got a new red coat, socks, jeans and some sweaters.
Driving home, I began to make plans with my sisters about going out to dinner tonight after we packed a little. Hannah wanted to go to Tully's but Mom said no because it would be crowded on a Friday night, Christie then said Chilies but that was out of the question because I had eaten their earlier today. Christie and I then thought Denny's wound be perfect but Hannah was against it ("I'M NOT GOING TO DENNY'S! NOT AGAIN!"). We finally decided to go to Applebee's.
When I got home we started to pack. Are plan is to leave tomorrow morning and head to Washington DC and I fly out on December 31st, New Years Eve.(Dad says it's cheaper to fly out of DC on New Years Eve, even though flying out of NYC would have been the easiest.). Christie and Hannah had a blast making fun of my underwear and criticized my lack of fashion (T-Shirts are not hip, apparently...). We had to roll all of the clothing so it could fit into the two suitcases (Great tip from Bethany, one of the heads at the Study Abroad Office at Potsdam.).
After an hour, Christie, Hannah and I drove the the Applebee's in Auburn. We talked and joked the whole way there and was excited to find a DJ at the restaurant playing some really fun music. Hannah and Christie danced in the booth while I tried to dance with them, an epic fail on my part.
The worst par of the night was our waitress. She was very rude and disrespectful to us. Because we are our Uncles had worked in he restaurant business most of their lives, we always knew to NEVER be nothing but nice to the service. The horror stories of what our Uncles told us about what they did to rude customers goes far beyond just spitting in their food...
Halfway through our meal, I saw a sign on the table that said that if the server did not tell us about gift cards, we'd get free boneless wings. Since I ordered boneless wings and our waitress never mentioned the gift cards, I told Christie to tell our waitress that I had the right to free boneless wings (Free Fatty Food: Another American Tradition). Christie told a waiter who came to fill our drinks. He obviously told our waitress because she came storming over, slammed her hands on the table and muttered about something about gift cards. Hannah was angry, saying that if we were charged for the boneless wings, she would turn into our Mother, meaning all hell would break lose.
So of course, when the bill came, we were charged. Hannah demanded we see a manager. Christie and I just started at each other. This wasn't going to be pretty. It took 20 minutes for the manager to finally see us and by that time, Hannah was ready to let him have it. After telling him it was the worst service she was ever dealt with, the manger gave us a coupon for free boneless wings the next time we came in ("Like I'll ever come here again!"- Hannah), offered us some drinks (yes, serve some alcohol to my underage sisters) and stay for the dance party. We declined and after he walked away and we got our change, Hannah got up to leave.
"Ugh... Hannah. You forgot to give her a tip." For some reason, my parents had given Hannah the money for dinner.
"No way is she getting a tip! You better not leave her anything!" And walked out.
Me and Christie looked at each other for a second, looked at out table with the dirty dishes and bolted for the door before our waitress came back. As we got into the car, we saw through the window our waitress at our booth, screaming at the manager. It felt good to be a rebel on my last Friday Night... :)
On the way home, Hannah played some Flo Rida, Taylor Swift and "Gandam Style." All three of us belted and tried to harmonize with the music. We passed my old high school on the way home. I looked at the building full of memories good and bad. Dreams were dreamt and created there. A lot of the kids in my graduating class planned on either staying home or going off to college to pursue a 9 to 5 job that was guaranteed to give them a comfortable lifestyle. But not me. My plans for life were going to doing what I love to do, no matter how successful (or unsuccessful) I became. Going on this journey to London in hopes that my dreams will become realities.
When we got home I finished up my packing and now, after thinking about for a little while, it is really hitting me. I'll enjoy my final night in my bed, with it's jean comforter and memory foam topper. I know not much will change in this house, this town, this area, but I know I will.
This Friday Night, I'm a Central New Yorker. But I'll be a Londoner next Friday night...
Defy Gravity
Melanie
Christie Helping Me Pack.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Before I Fly, I'll Blog!
On October 16th, 2012, I got an email that made me break down in tears in the middle of Crumb Library at SUNY Potsdam. It was from SUNY Brockport and it said that I was accepted into their Study Abroad program at Roehampton University. I was going to go to study Theatre in London, England in the Spring of 2013.
Since then, my life has been a world-wind of paper work, phone calls, emails and research. It all seemed to be to good to be true. It still hasn't really sunk in yet. It feels like I'm going to wake up from this crazy dream. In a few short days, I will be on a plane flying to a new city, a new country and in some ways, a new world.
I'm doing this for so many reasons. One is to study my true love and passion: theatre. Also, to prove others wrong. I've been told by a lot of people that "You Can't." Because of something I was born with, people gave me this label that came with these invisible limits. Not only did people tell me I could never study abroad, but not even go to college. In fact, some people believed that I should of worked on getting my GED, lived on disability and MAYBE get a part time job. But that wasn't what I wanted in my life. As Pippin said: "Don't you see I want my life to be something more then long?"
I like to tell people that I am "Defying Gravity Everyday" because I like to prove people wrong. I am literally going to be "Defying Gravity" on January 31st. I'll be in the air going on a new adventure that will be life changing.
But why start a blog? I want everyone to know what I am up on my outrageous adventures in London. I promise a lot of theatre, Harry Potter, London history, new friends and maybe even a new Melanie.
I don't know how often I will be updating this blog but it will be updated whenever I'm not busy discovering something new. Check back every so often.
Defy Gravity
Melanie
Since then, my life has been a world-wind of paper work, phone calls, emails and research. It all seemed to be to good to be true. It still hasn't really sunk in yet. It feels like I'm going to wake up from this crazy dream. In a few short days, I will be on a plane flying to a new city, a new country and in some ways, a new world.
I'm doing this for so many reasons. One is to study my true love and passion: theatre. Also, to prove others wrong. I've been told by a lot of people that "You Can't." Because of something I was born with, people gave me this label that came with these invisible limits. Not only did people tell me I could never study abroad, but not even go to college. In fact, some people believed that I should of worked on getting my GED, lived on disability and MAYBE get a part time job. But that wasn't what I wanted in my life. As Pippin said: "Don't you see I want my life to be something more then long?"
I like to tell people that I am "Defying Gravity Everyday" because I like to prove people wrong. I am literally going to be "Defying Gravity" on January 31st. I'll be in the air going on a new adventure that will be life changing.
But why start a blog? I want everyone to know what I am up on my outrageous adventures in London. I promise a lot of theatre, Harry Potter, London history, new friends and maybe even a new Melanie.
I don't know how often I will be updating this blog but it will be updated whenever I'm not busy discovering something new. Check back every so often.
Defy Gravity
Melanie
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