So, last week, coming home from watching David Sedaris, I was riding my bike, going MAYBE .2 miles per hour, I stopped, flew over my handlebars and ate dirt. Mmmm. mmmm. Yum.

I didn't hurt anything, bike is fine, pants are fine, face is fine, just a few bruises on my hand and knees. So, all in all, I think it was kinda fun to fly over my handle bars.

I'm trying to plan my holidays. Trying to figure out when I can get 5-6 days off in a row from the theater. So, far, I'm not having any luck because of one evil student matinee on December 21st. If I can get out of that, I might be able to see Kyle and Bek and their two boys for a few days and chill and just relax and enjoy life. I'm hoping, but not really thinking it'll actually happen, that Alex, Char and Elsie will be able to come down and spend some holiday time on the farm. That would be fabulous.

I'm also trying to figure out what I want to do with myself after this year is up. Everyone tells me to relax, something will come up. But, I can't relax. The rest of these interns are from around here, they can afford to relax. If I'm gonna work in the NYC area, I'll have to find an apartment. If not this area, then another. If I'm going to move around the country following directors and basically living like a poor begger woman, I'll have to figure out what to do with my stuff. Storage, ship it home, get rid of everything except one suitcase and a backpack.... These are things that worry me. So, I'm trying to figure out what to do next year.

The safe bet is to find some graduate school and just go for my MFA. But, that's not what I want to do yet. For a variety of reasons. First, I don't know which school or program would be the best fit for me. Second, I don't want to go to a school that won't seriously help my career in the long run. I need a program that has prestige, while still fitting my personal needs as a director. Third, I'm not really clear on what kind of theatrical style I want to focus on. So, for all these reasons, I'm not going to do gradschool next year.

Instead, I really want to work as an assistant director to a variety of directors, who direct in a variety of styles and genres, and just learn by AD'ing. Which means I need to establish some sort of connection with them while I still have a job at McCarter. Observing them in rehearsal for a day or two. Meeting them at official McCarter functions and then follow up with a letter or card. I'm also updating my resume. Working on letters to theaters to inquire about fellowships and AD positions. I really don't want to be caught with my pants down when the end of the year roles around.

One good thing, I know for sure that I want to stay in theater. Film eventually, but definitely theater. I love it.

Whee! Family and friends all around. My friend Tanya came to visit last week. I knew about this visit. We were gonna go to NYC, see a show, and have fun. But Tanya surprised me like crazy. She brought my mother with her. Heh. My whole family knew about this for forever, and they all kept it a secret.

We had a fabulous view from our hotel, corner room, Empire State Building and Chrysler building out one window, and unobstructed view of the city out the other. Gorgeous. We walked like mad-women for two days straight. Saw the Lion King, bought fabulous sneakers. and all in all had a mighty good time.

Now, this coming week, my dad is coming on Wednesday and leaving early Friday morning. We're gonna see two shows at my theater. Last of the Boys, and the new one that is currently taking up all my time, Polk County.

Speaking of Polk County. The cast is friendly, fabulous and damn sexy. BUT, being stuck on-book for 12 hours a day when I've still got about 10 hours of other work to do back in my office is getting tiring. I brought a book with me today so that when they're spending 30 minutes building a light cue or figuring out who's moving which furniture where, I can bide my time in another world. (Currently, I'm biding time with the Rats of NIMH in the third, and not so fabulous book. Which I think I've read before, but I love those NIMH rats, so I read it anyway. And I think trying to wade through Anna Karenina or Camus would be difficult in little snatches in a room that goes dark when you least expect it.)

Got my bicycle out of the shop this week, and have ridden it to work twice. Makes the commute down to the theater take almost less than two minutes. But the commute back up to the house is still about the same time, because its a slight hill and my legs don't do so well, yet, with slight inclines, so I pedal crazily and barely move, and about half to two thirds of the way home, I get off and walk the rest of the way. Eventually, of course, I'll ride the whole hill.

I've got a crush on Colin Firth. But so does the other apartment of female interns. Hee. I rented the entire Pride and Prejudice mini-series from the library and watched it over a weekend. Trying to take as long as possible with the fabulous Mr. Darcy. But, I couldn't stay away, and gobbled the whole thing up way to fast. Mmmmm.... Colin Firth. Also, read both Bridget Jones' Diaries, and watched the yummy Mr. Firth in the movie as well. Now, for those of you familiar with some of my former obsessions, this one is not as full blown as the Russell Crowe love, I'm not printing out pictures and covering my wall. AND, no one will ever be able to replace Russell in my heart. BUT, damn Colin Firth. mmmmm.

I made my third trip into NYC on Tuesday, this one was my first by myself. And I missed the first train I wanted to catch, so that I wouldn't have to run to the reading. I didn't run, but I did make it on time by walking like a regular city girl. I was passing people, and walking across intersections like a pro. I love the city. Love, Love Love it.

Not as much as Russell and Mr. Firth though.