Christmas Is Over??? Devastating.

okay y'all.  i'm just going to admit that i'm watching avalon high (the disney channel movie) and it is seriously good.  am i lame for enjoying this??  i don't care.

so christmas is officially over (unless you are going by the 12 days of christmas in which case it apparently goes until the 6th? ).  its always kind of depressing b/c all the warm fuzzies that just bounced around in the air all month suddenly dissipate and life goes back to normal.  lame.  also, i really love christmas decorations.  why can't we have fun decorations like that all the time?  why can't we always have giant lit up and ornamented trees in our houses??? speaking of which, my resident starbucks guy was telling me all about the FOUR christmas trees he has in his house.  showed me pics of them today...they are intense. BEAUTIFUL. belong in magazines. and intense. it took him 9 HOURS just to put the LIGHTS on one of them.  insanity.

all in all though, i had a lovely christmas this year!  got to spend about 5 days at home with the fam and it was a grand time.  here are few pics to commemorate and quickly sum it all up:

before heading to washington (ga) to visit grandpa, we realized we accidentally
dressed in coordinating christmas colors.  typical.

GRAMPS!

did some double cartwheels.  a childhood favesie.

jordan decided to restrain me like a child with a behavior disorder and mental disability.  rude. 

so i retaliated by frolicking. and blocking her face.

punched haley. just cause.

godwin family christmas tree! so cozy :)

then it SNOWED on CHRISTMAS DAY!! amazing. 

so there ya go. you're welcome. i know you enjoyed those pics.

and i'm sure everyone is just dying to know what all i got and what was my favorite present, etc etc (cause that's what people always ask right?).  well, i know this makes me an old lady but i was SO excited to get a food processor (a REALLY nice one too) and a fondue set that i wanted.  like...you don't understand how excited i get about those things. i wanted a fondue set so badly that i may or may not have gone out and bought the necessary ingredients for a killer cheese fondue BEFORE christmas and BEFORE i knew i was getting it....way before.

ANYWHO. i have to say the most hilarious present i got was a particular ring. hahaha. okay, if you follow my blog at all and watched my video blog from a couple weeks ago (the one in front of the christmas tree) you will remember that i have always had an infatuation with prince william.  it was especially intense in my early teenage years and so with this whole engagement thing i was a bit devastated.  regardless, i knew all the deets and knew that the ring he gave her was actually princess diana's wedding/engagement ring.  you know it...the GIANT sapphire surrounded by diamonds?  well. my mother knows me ALL too well, knew that i would know exactly what that ring was and so she and dad got me an exact replica (not of real sapphire and diamonds OBVIOUSLY, but not costume jewelry either).  HAHAH! how amazing is that? i am obsessed with it.

BOOM BABY.  just call me princess courtney.

THEN,  i came back to ATL and had a lovely reunion with a very special someone from A LONG time ago.  uga freshman orientation in fact.  lonnnng story, but it was a wonderful evening.  i'm very much looking forward to seeing where this goes and am definitely looking forward to a repeat. :)

and the next day i got to see him again, meet a friend of his, AND see chase off on his last night in ATL before he went back to new york!  it wasn't even planned that way, but we ended up right next door to where chase was (at a sports bar "watching the falcons game"...haha)!  DESTINY.  so we stopped by there for a bit to hang out.  it was seriously such a fun night with great company and i was so, so, SO happy to have that time with chasey.  he is my heart :)

SPEAKING OF CHASE.  hahahahahah. he is going to kill me for this, but i have got to share a video he made for me.  i got this in an email at work and literally was covering my mouth as i laughed OUT LOUD at his complete foolishness.  the body of the email read "As I move back to NYC, my thoughts are best expressed by the one and only, Céline Dion...."  brace yourselves.  i love this boy so much i can hardly stand it.  and here is why:

and with that, i will conclude this blog post.  lots of exciting things happening in my life at the moment, but i will explore those more in later posts :)

love to you all!

Thankful for My Twinsie

i just had the BEST night with the best friend a girl could ask for.  chase and i really do have this insane bond that i can't even completely describe, but it is never more apparent than on nights like tonight.  all we did was go eat (at an amazing restaurant called flip burger), nothing special.  but i don't think we stopped talking for more than 15 seconds!  we really talked about some soul searching stuff too...stuff that just reminded me that that boy knows me.  i mean, REALLY knows me.  it's so comforting knowing that i don't have to put up any kind of defenses around him.  it's just safe.  that's the best word to describe it.

not many people other than my family know this, but that fact is especially meaningful to me given my friendship history, particularly with one person who is no longer in my life.  i've recently realized that they really did a number on me.  they were extremely manipulative and destructive and i have to constantly remind myself that not everyone is like that.  not everyone is going to react to things the way they did and treat me the way i was treated.  even knowing this though, i still find myself bracing for impact.  i have pretty significant anxiety issues centering around approval and people being upset with me (or me thinking they are upset with me) and i would go so far to say that they are probably almost completely a result of that friendship.  so anyway, all this to say, that with friendships like chase's (and several others that are so special to me), i am reminded over and over again and blessed i am to have a true, honest friendship that is not going to turn on me in an instant.

WOW, SERIOUS BLOG. sorry....haha. didn't mean for THAT to happen.  i should probably say something funny now.

OH, how bout i tell a story that had me and chase ROLLING tonight.  we were reminiscing on a particular evening this past summer....chase, myself and our friend caitlin were carpooling on our way back from a rehearsal and we were well into a very serious conversation about a topic we were rather heated about at the moment (not heated at each other, just heated in general).  anyway, i was in the backseat, passionately talking about my thoughts on the subject and at one point meant to say "i mean, it's a DIFFERENT CITY," but instead of city, i was thinking "town" in my head and it literally came out "i mean, it's a DIFFERENT TITTY."

hahahaha.  yeah, we waited about a nanosecond before ERUPTING in laughter.  part of it was that chase knows how much i hate that word and never say it, so the fact that it came out of MY mouth was hysterical.  like, chase literally turned around (as he was driving) and pointed at me going "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHOHOHOHHAHAHAOHOHO!"

interpret that as you will.  try to say it out loud if you want to even.

well that is a much better note to end this blog on i think.  i'm laughing to myself now just thinking about that moment....hahaha. such good memories :)

Dreams

okay, so i have had some WEIRD dreams lately people.   so weird that i feel the need to describe them to you...or at least attempt to.  we all know how dreams are sometimes impossible to recount, mainly because they usually make no sense once you go to speak it out loud.  but i will do my best.  and i welcome any savvy dream interpreters to tell me what the heck these things MEAN!

okay.

dream # 1 - there is a scary guy popping up out of nowhere when i'm out and about trying to stick me with this needle/syringe and inject me with something. for some reason i can never get away from him and he always gets to me....which is very upsetting b/c normally my dreams involve just narrowly escaping things.  and then at one point i think i'm safe in my car, but this man has hired some kid to do his dirty work and they pop out of my backseat and stick me with whatever is in the syringe.  how terrifying is that???

dream #2 -   my sisters and i are coming down some kind of weird....stairwell?....tower??....something with many many stories is the best way i can describe it....anyway, we are having to climb down this piping in order to safely get to the next level down, and then at one point there is no level to step down to, but instead its just a MASSIVE drop down to the bottom.  so we're hanging with both hands on this pipe and its literally like a 60 foot drop.  well, haley lets go and lands, no problem. then jordan lets go and lands, no problem (b/c it's dreamland and they can survive such jumps).  they're both like "come on courtney, just let go, it's not a big deal! you can do it!" and i'm like...."guys...i'm gonna die. i can't do it."  finally i realize there's no other option and i let go.  to my amazement i not only land, but land really gracefully and they both are so surprised and impressed.  the end.  what the???? 

what does it all MEAN???  i need to know what my subconscious is telling me!  i've had lots of others, but those are the two most recent that i thought were just BIZARRE.  

welp, time to go to bed.  crossies scary man doesn't come chasing me around with that syringe again. 

Bye Bye 42nd Street

backstage with becky and lizzie.  heart these girls BIG TIME.

well....i can't actually believe it, but 42nd Street is officially over.  we had our closing performance this afternoon and just like that, it is a thing of the past.  theatre is a strange profession.  you spend every waking moment of about 7 weeks with a group of people, living and breathing the show you are in and then suddenly, with the final performance, BAM. it is no more.  you all go your separate ways and move on to the next project.  for a person who likes to stay busy like me (that is probably an understatement haha) being catapulted out of such a routine is kind of depressing.  post-show depression you might call it.  i don't have too much time to be depressed about this one though considering i'm launching right into a new show called The Marvelous Wonderettes (with the Legacy Theatre).  in fact, i had rehearsals all this weekend ON TOP of all the shows for 42nd Street.  insanity, i know. but it's going to be super cute and i'm working with three very talented ladies :)

so basically, without getting too sappy (because i don't feel like letting my heart ache tonight), i had SO much fun doing this show.  not only was it an absolutely blast to get to tap again like that, but i met and got closer to some very wonderful people.  i know i say this about every show i do, but it's truly one of the joys of being an actor.  every job brings new people and friendships into your life that you wouldn't have had otherwise. 

and with that, here is a little backstage video becky took with my camera.  the set up:  our orchestra conductor had received marching orders to push the tempos of the songs in the show the previous night (a little trick used to help keep the energy up) and let me tell you....they were FAST. hahaha. it totally worked, but it was pretty hilarious trying to keep up with some of the tapping....so in the start of the video you will see bill (love him) reenacting the opening number from the previous night.  it still makes me laugh SO hard!

also, i made a video blog after a show the other night, but i realized after i started that i didn't actually have anything to say.  so it's basically the most boring video blog you've ever seen.  but i will post it anyway b/c i do talk about my awesome night with Chasey :)  i will be writing all about his visit here soon, but he deserves a totally separate post i think.  

so here it is, boringness and all - video blog number THREE.

i was gonna write all about these CRAZY dreams i've been having, but it's late and i'm insanely tired, so i will save it for another post. 

good night world! sweet dreams. sleep tight. don't let the bed bugs bite......ew....bed bugs.  

Christmas Time is Heeeerreeee

Video Blog Numero DOS.



also, can we just reminisce for a second on nsync and this video (this is still my favorite christmas cd by the way. bar none. don't hate, it is GOOD).  particularly the hair styles and the homeless people. nsync is so charitable.



ps - if you don't know this about me, i will tell you - i was IN LOVE with justin timberlake in the nsync days. seriously thought he was going to meet me somehow, fall in love with me (obviously) and that i would marry him.  that is not an exaggeration at all.  so needless to say, this video brings up all kinds of emotions. haha.  i wish i were kidding.

ALRIGHT Y'ALL. bedtime for little girls.  gotta get up early to hit up that gym!

First Video Blog!

so i'm changing it up y'all.  trying a little something new, mainly cause....well for no real reason.  i just wanted to.  and you might ask yourself why i didn't take the time to make myself look presentable for my first video blog, but a) i'm lazy, b) you should love me for me and that is definitely me and c) that would have ruined the "spontaneous blogging" thing i was going for.  it's all about the realness. i was laying on my couch, recovering from a rather intense workout that left me feeling like i was going to die, for about an hour or so and just sat up and decided to make the video.  maybe next time you will catch me on a pretty day when i'm fresh as a daisy, but today was not that day.  so HERE WE GO - vlog numero uno.

got home well after 2am btw from the webinar.  it was so weird being at CDC after midnight.  anyway, i made the giant mistake of drinking a giant cup of coffee to get me through it and now i'm paying the price.  i just wanna go to SLEEP!  ugh.  alright, good night world!

Just Because

okay, so sometimes when i'm writing a gigantic paper that is due tomorrow i have to do something to distract myself here and there so my brain doesn't explode.  i will get it done though, don't worry.  i know you were worried.

i just thought i would post some videos for your enjoyment:

video #1 - this is of my sister haley's boyfriend, tyler.  they've been together for quite some time so he is practically family at this point and i therefore like to brag about him like he is my brother.  this was his solo from the most recent a cappella concert i went to at UGA and it was just SO GOOD i can't help but post it!  and those boys got moves.  ps - the group is called The Accidentals.



video #2 - i'm posting this one purely because it makes me so happy.  i laugh SO hard every time! we are fools.  especially jordan....haha. you seriously need to take a moment watch her air guitar section and haley's air drum section.  you will pee yourself.  i heart my sisters :)



a little behind the scenes fact for that one...my computera's camera kept stopping mid song every time we tried to record it, but we would never know until we got to the end so we literally did it like 10 times.  not kidding you when i say that all of our necks were sore the next day. haha.

video #3 - CUTENESS OVERDOSE.  i can't even handle it...i want that kitty in my lap right now.



and with that, i will conclude this post. back to the paper. hope you enjoyed the vids and there are PLENTY more where that came from.

Opening Weekend!

opening weekend has been a SO GREAT.  considering the massiveness of this show and the space we are working in (the Strand stage is soooo small and the wing space is non existent) it is a minor miracle we can even do this show!  i am enjoying it so much, but can i just say how much i am looking forward to having three days off?  my feet are thanking me already.  anyway, here's a little preview video of the opening number our director took from the orchestra pit.  all i can say is, how hot do i look in those pink shorts?  i know, i know.... extremely hot.

and that one part where it looks like i messed up, well that was totes on purpose (lie).  it's an audition so it is just really good acting to be slightly imperfect every once in awhile (lie).  i never REALLY mess up (big fat lie).

oh and here's a pretty picture of all the girls in our fancy costumes for the champagne toast after opening :) that would be me workin' the pink.

ALRIGHT! i gotta get my stuff together and head out to our sunday matinee performance.  happy sunday!

Wo' out as a lady can GIT

opening night is soooo close!  i am very excited about it and think this show is going to be really really wonderful.  there are some terrifying aspects of it, yes....particularly my trek down the scariest staircase EVER (so steep its practically a ladder y'all)...but the show itself is just a musical theatre gem.  the music alone is pure magic and then add the costumes, set, KILLER orchestra and stunning performances by some extremely talented people and why would anyone NOT want to see this?!  and don't be mistaken like i was prior to familiarizing myself with this show and assume that since it is an old musical it is all cheese, because it is not.  there are some very sincere, honest performances coming off that stage and even in rehearsals half the cast was crying!  i think it's because the show itself is about what we do and who we are as theatre performers.  it just touches a subject that means a lot to all of us.

speaking of theatre....watch this. it is funny. and it is the conversation that i think every theatre performer has had. probably more times than they count haha.

i'm so, so tired.  i think i've been getting about 5 ish hours of sleep a night, which for some people might be enough, but not for me.  i need about 8-9 hours to feel rested so this has been rough.  but i i see a light at the end of the tunnel and it is called SATURDAY MORNING! the show will be open and i will be able to sleep in to my heart's content.  and i really need to considering my boss told me to get some rest yesterday because i was looking "pretty tired." yikes. haha. i know i looked rough, but dang.  to put a positive spin on things, i could probably go snag a stagger on role as a zombie in AMC's The Walking Dead right now with very little makeup required.

and let's just talk about the weather for a second, and not because i have nothing else to say, but because it has REALLY been ridiculous.  today is nice, but the past two days were absolutely digusting.  tornados, torrential downpours, flooding interstates, CRAZY fog.  this was my view on the way to my workout one of those mornings (my gym is on my rooftop):

it is important to note that that is supposed to be my city skyline view...like i said...CRAZY fog.

but this morning, i have to say that although it is FREEZING, the sunrise was breathtaking.  if i hadn't been on my way to a 7am workout i wouldn't have even seen it!

God is quite the artist y'all.  alright dear people, i'm out.  final tech tonight!!! i'm PRAYING it all goes smoothly so we can feel confident going into our opening.  gonna need some serious caffeine though that is for SURE. haha.

XOXO!