Normandy Was Fine and Fair but Paris Changed My Life. ~~~bLeSsEd BeRrY sUmMeR vAcAtIoN 2o13~~~~~*~

Hi friends,

I’m safely back on US soil! After 8 days of mostly terrible food, I came home last night and ate the most American meal I could think of – pizza.

Anyway – Where were we when we last spoke?

Oh, right. Paris left me jaw-dropped.

Some people leave their hearts in San Francisco, but I left my jaw in Paris.

We saw the National Opera, which was a dream of mine ever since I knew what an opera house was. To see the set renderings, the costume designs (and in some cases costumes dating back to the 1930s), and the freaking gorgeous beyond-compare perfect auditorium and its famous ceiling brought a tear or two to my eye. My right eye. I can only cry from my right eye unless I’m sad. In which case I can only cry from my nose. #blessed

We saw the Louvre, which proved inspiring.

We saw Monet’s original Water Lilies, at Musee de l’Orangerie, which proved more inspiring.

We saw Musee D’Orsay, which proved even more inspiring.

I saw, alone, Dynamo, a temporary exhibition at La Grand Palais, which changed my life. Positively changed my life. The visuals of the exhibit, which was all about warping the senses, were so daring and well-thought-out.

I had a minor freakout at the top of Notre Dame because it was claustrophobic and nerve-wracking for some reason to be up there with all those strangers. I climbed alone, the family was tired.

Normandy was fine. The chateau we stayed at was literally Downton Abbey. I was hardcore waiting for Rob James-Collier to lurk around the corner. Instead, it was the lovely concierge who spoke such an interesting Anglicized French. I loved it.

While in Normandy, we went to Le Mont-St-Michel, which proved to be a stunning mirage a kilometer out on the water, or while we were there, a strange tidal plain. Incredible.

The war beaches were fine. The American and British cemeteries were very moving and I cried. But other than that, it was windy and cold and I wasn’t about that life.

But Paris, I can’t even. I loved everything about it. My parents and sisters have a lot of complaints, but besides the food, the city did no wrongs in my book.

I feel like I’m missing something.

I finished typing up the first draft of my play while there. I got a lot of reading done.

A lot of pictures too.

Oh. The Monet Garden and House were also lovely. In Giverny, halfway between Paris and the chateau.

This has been sort of a ramble because I have so many thoughts from the trip.

Measure in Love,

Kev

« HAHA I’M IN PARIS

HAHA I’M IN PARIS

Hi friends!

Bonjour!

So I’m in Paris??? Yeah, it’s casual.

I went to my sister’s graduation on Saturday morning and wept gently because I was proud of her.

I went to work after lunch.

I went to my internship on Sunday.

I went to bed Sunday night.

I woke up Monday morning and packed.

Last night, Monday night, I boarded a 777 frok JFK to CDG.

This city is beautiful.

The people.

The architecture.

The cheese.

The wine.

Even the few homeless people I’ve seen.

Beautiful.

I can’t wait to see

The Ville-Lumiere -

In real life -

Lit up.

But seriously. This place. I don’t have words yet.

We’re resting before dinner. Everyone is napping, especially my sister.

She’s a sleepy nugget.

She got her hair keratin-treated.

So she can’t shower for six weeks of something.

P-U.

Tour all day tomorrow.

The Louvre and D’Orsay and others on Thursday and Friday.

Mwa.

Measure in Love,

Kev

Normandy Was Fine and Fair but Paris Changed My Life. ~~~bLeSsEd BeRrY sUmMeR vAcAtIoN 2o13~~~~~*~ »« What Time Is It? Summertime. Ugh. High School Musical Reference

What Time Is It? Summertime. Ugh. High School Musical Reference

Hi friends!

What a week. I’ve been working my tuchus off, sort of. And then the past two days I was in the city for my internship and for a few theatre performances.

1. I got my old job back, which is nice. I start today at 3pm!

2. My sister has prom tonight. They grow up and get tan so quickly. #spraytan

3. I’m so tired from the past few days. It was a blast -

Here’s how it went down: On Tuesday morning, after a big Memorial Day extravaganza at the country club, I awoke at 4:45am to be on a 5:33 train to New York City. Once I got to Penn, I took the uptown C to 81st and Central Park West, where I waited online from around 6am until 12 noon when I was given two free tickets to the first performance of the Shakespeare in the Park production of The Comedy of Errors, starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Hamish Linklater. Then it started to pour. I went to Starbucks, where as a result of violently pulling on a push door, I threw my first caramel macchiato across the place and made a big mess. #blessed. They made me another and I got on the downtown C to go to my dad’s office in FiDi. We got lunch at Ryan Maguire’s, the place we always go, I love it. After that, I headed back uptown for some writing at the same Starbucks I tossed my drink in, and hung out there until 6:30pm or so when I met my friend Emma for dinner at this pizza place where the slices are enormous. Then we saw the show, and our friend Zazie was also there, I told her to come on a whim. And the rain held off. 6 years in a row of threatening rainclouds hovering over the stage every time I’m at the Delacorte in Central Park, 6 years the Shakespeare Deities have held the rain off for me. #blessed. Then we got Shake Shack and headed back to Emma’s where I slept over, in the same building that Bernadette Peters lives in. Emma lives in the same building as a Broadway goddess. The next day, we woke up, had breakfast, and then I headed to rehearsal for the show I’m assistant stage managing as a part of my internship, and then I headed downtown to another Starbucks, where I wrote, and then met my friend Julia and her sister Kat, also my friend, for dinner at Hummus Place. Then I saw Jessica Dickey’s new play at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. It was gorgeous. I wept a little bit. Very powerful. After the show, I spoke to Jessica (who I’ve become close with since directing a production of her The Amish Project in freshman year of college) and the director, who I love. And after that (It’s only 9pm Wednesday or so at this point) I meet my friend Duncan, who transferred to NYU, and we go to a fun improv show down in Alphabet City, a place I had never been. It was a cool neighborhood. And if that’s not enough for you, I got home to Long Island around 12:45am and had to walk the two miles from the train station to my house and my feet were killing me so I took my shoes off and walked in the smooth asphalt road. And the one time I had to get out of the road for a car, I stepped onto the sidewalk in my bare feet and…stepped on a dead bird. The worst things in life really do come free to us. I screamed so loudly.

This morning I woke up and had a text from my boss asking me to come into werk today. So I’m gonna do that.

Mwa.

Measure in Love,

Kev

HAHA I’M IN PARIS »« Quick Update

Quick Update

Hi friends!

Just got home from my internship. Sleepy as pie.

1. Hot yoga is going well. Back in the swing of things.

2. I really missed great NYC pizza. I found this GREAT place on 76th and Lex.

3. Internship going well.

4. Got a job running food at a restaurant at the beach.

5. I need an iPod.

6. My play is coming along very nicely.

Measure in Love,

Kev

What Time Is It? Summertime. Ugh. High School Musical Reference »« Well, That’s That

Well, That’s That

Hi friends,

What a year it’s been.

I wish I could say more.

I’ve grown more this year than I ever expected to.

And I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

And sadder than ever to be leaving the Skid.

I’m all packed.

Tomorrow at 10am.

I’m gone.

But it’s not like we’re saying goodbye for the summer.

I’m still going to be writing once or twice a week and keeping y’all filled in.

Later Skids.

Measure in Love,

Kev

Quick Update »« A Week Later, Life is Good

A Week Later, Life is Good

Hi friends!

Happy Senior Week! Hope you’re all doing fine, or even better than fine. Despite having a non-contagious form of pink eye, I sure am. I’m frikkin fantastic! It’s senior week! It’s like I’m at camp except it’s very quiet during the day and I get to sleep in my own bed and don’t have to share a bathroom with strangers anymore. Now, it’s just be and Jon Lemay sharing the bathroom. Out of the 40 or so people who lived on my floor this year, only about 6 of us are left. It’s so nice.

Finals went well, I think. I finished all of my work two days earlier than expected because I am an absolute tank when it comes to time management and working well under pressure and under the influence of 6 cups of coffee over the course of two hours. So I finished everything early and was able to hang out and start senior week a little bit early. Which is nice.

Senior Week is the week that comes after finals week. It’s mainly a week of celebration for the seniors. It begins with a senior week kickoff barbecue and ends with Graduation and real life. Over the course of the week, there are a ton of events. Today is the High Tea at the Surrey, an old inn on campus, across Broadway. What is High Tea? No idea, mang. No idea. Yesterday was Senior Fun Day, which despite the rain, was  a total blast. There was a dunk tank, a water slide, free food, a foam pit, and bouncy castles across the South Green and inside Case Center. It was great, but we got pretty tired pretty early and went to Alexia’s and watch The Truman Show (my first time – what a film!) and then played Apples to Apples. Fun times. After that, I headed home to get into appropriate clothing for a bonfire. And by appropriate clothing I mean Skidmore sweatpants and a navy Ralph Lauren sweater. #comfortable. The bonfire was at my friend Emma’s house, so chill. We all just sat around and toasted marshmallows and someone had a guitar and we sang a tiny bit, but mostly we just laughed about the  memories of the past year. It’s nights like last night that make me never want to leave Skidmore. Tonight, the event I’m going to is a secret theater tradition that only theater people here know about or understand. It’s not a party. It’s not hazing. It’s just 100% secret. It’s going to be a blast. Tomorrow is theater people kickball, which is going to be fun. On Tuesday, I’m going to start packing/reminiscing/crying while I pack/et cetera.

I’m excited for this summer. I am! I’m going to be working at the same country club as last summer, lose some more weight, and – OH I’M ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGING AN OFF-BROADWAY SHOW I CAN’T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW EXCITED I AM OH MY JEEBUS OH MY JEEBUS. I’ll give more details as the gig approaches.

I’m Über-excited for my classed this fall. I’m taking a bunch. By a bunch I mean 7.

1. Theater Production

2. Theater Design

3. Funky Plays

4. Dance Production

5. Born in America: Vaginal Birth and the Masculinization of Obstetrics (yum!)

6. Suzuki Acting

and 7. Production Seminar – BECAUSE I AM ASSISTANT DIRECTING THE BLACKBOX PRODUCTION FOR THE THEATER DEPARTMENT IN THE FALL I CAN’T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW EXCITED I AM OH MY JEEBUS OH MY JEEBUS. I’ll give more details as the gig approaches. HEHE.

Okay. I’ll write a few more times before I go.

Everything’s coming up roses for me these days.

So excited.

So hopeful.

So impassioned.

So blessed.

Measure in Love,

Kev

P.S.: Here are some pictures of my progression through finals week up to and including right now.

day 1 in the li

I made this during a study session on Cinco de Mayo during which I really wanted Mexican food. I am good at photoshop.

more library. slowly went insane.

This isn’t from Finals or Senior Week exactly. The top picture was taken at the very beginning of freshman year and the second picture was taken at the end of this year. It’s of my family on campus: Gab is Ma, Jon is Dad, Gina is Sister and I am Son. We call ourselves the family.

Lily and I said goodbye to Sophie two days ago. We got really emotional

WHOA WHAT A WATER SLIDE

A good friend helps you get up when you fall. But your best friends kick you when you’re down. Something like that, right?

No comment.

Shine bright like a diamond.

This picture sums up how happy I currently am. Taken the other night after I handed in my last paper. Me and my friend Will. At the time this post was published, this pic had 30 likes on Facebook. It’s hard being handsome and popular.

Love you all. Talk to you before the week is out.

Well, That’s That »« FINALS WEEK SILLINESS

FINALS WEEK SILLINESS

Hi friends,

How are you? I’m well. I can’t talk for long since it’s Cinco de Mayo and I want to knock out some research for my thesis papers for the two remaining classes I have left – Feminist Theory (the paper is on the stereotypical construction of the intersection and race and gender in the second act of Bruce Norris’ Tony- and Pulitzer-winning play Clybourne Park) and Women of China (the paper is on how arranged marriage was affected in 1930s China when Ibsen’s play A Doll House made its debut and sent men and women alike into a frenzy of analyzing what it meant to be married).

So I’ll be quick here. Life is good. I’m just breathing and balancing sleep with work with doing fun things for myself like going downtown or playing Roller Coaster Tycoon. I spent 6 hours in the library yesterday writing a synthesis paper on Radio City Music Hall and its perfect acoustics.

Tomorrow are physics presentations, then writing writing writing until the papers get done, midnight at Wednesday is the goal.

I bought myself a script to a play I’ve been looking forward to reading as a gift for making it through the sophomore slump.

Okay -

TO RESEARCH!

Measure in Love,

Kev

A Week Later, Life is Good »« Hey There Hi End of Classes Tomorrow

Hey There Hi End of Classes Tomorrow

Hi friends!

So it’s the end of classes already! Feels like just yesterday I was opening Christmas gifts! Weird how time moves forward even though we are more still, or so we think, than we’ve ever been before. Right? Deep. Deep.

I think I’ve grown up since coming to college. I won’t get sentimental or whatever here yet. That’s my end of the school year post. This is just the end of classes. And with finals and senior week approaching, there’s still so much between now and summer. The Great Work Begins.

After classes end tomorrow, I have no more tests. I just have 3 small-medium sized papers to write. I can do it. Just have to believe in myself and not be a wet noodle about life and not be lazy and apply myself. Because Senior Week is the time to be lazy and have fun with my seniors before they become real people.

So here are some things I learned in each of my class. 5 words per class. Whether that’s a 5 word sentence, or 5 separate words.

SOUND AND MUSIC (Physics)

I can do science. Wow.

INTERMEDIATE ACTING

Bring it all with you.

INTERMEDIATE DIRECTING

Light, sound, space, fabric, collaboration.

FEMINIST THEORY AND METHODOLOGY

Integrate theory and praxis, please.

HOLDING UP HALF THE SKY (Women of China)

China is very different. Mei.

I learned a lot this semester. I’m happy with that.

Measure in Love,

Kev

FINALS WEEK SILLINESS »« Well, That’s That

Well, That’s That

Hi friends!

Long time no talk!

Sitting in the class room in the theater lobby listening to the Austrian cast recording of Spring Awakening in German! Interesting hearing the musical sung in the language of the nation where the story takes place.

Anyway, we just had our final cast meeting for Sweeney Todd. It was really nice and I had a good cry (the third in 2 days) because I’m just so sad to see this production go. I would perform this role for the next two years if I could. It was such a mostly positive and incredible experience, which is to say that there were parts where I was frustrated by the challenge of the role and sustaining such a massive show, but I overcame the challenges to stand atop the mountain of the show at the end (even if my character is slashed off in Act II).

So now what, you ask. I tell you, I think the same thing every day. Or have been all day. I’ve had no free time this semester, due to the show. So to have a night where I have nothing to do after 7pm is a strange feeling. You’d think that I would know what to do since this semester was my first time in a seminar production and I’ve had other semesters where I’ve had free time after 7pm. Nope. I’ve been conditioned this semester to write papers late at night and in between classes and stuff. Now to have so much free time. WHAT DO I DO HELP ME.

I guess I can work on essays and Physics homework?

Mwa.

Measure in Love,

Kev

Hey There Hi End of Classes Tomorrow »« Okay So It’s Been A Long Time

Okay So It’s Been A Long Time

Hi friends!

It’s good to be back, even it is 11:30 or so on a Monday night.

In the past 2 weeks, my life entirely has been consumed by Sweeney. Class, quick dinner, Sweeney, homework. Repeat. No sleeping.

Other things that happened in the past week? It’s been too long for me to even do a day-by-day type post here. I’ve given some tours, given a bunch of presentations, taken an extremely terribly tough exam, rehearsed for Sweeney, and gotten back a test I thought I brutally failed but in fact got 3 points above the average passing grade and 8 points above the median. It’s for my Physics class, which I’m taking pass/fail. So that’s nice.

My parents and sister were here for the show on Saturday night. If you didn’t know, Bridget turns 18 tomorrow. Adult. She can now vote, buy a monkey, play lotto, all that good stuff.

So. Sweeney opening weekend was insane. I’m exhausted from the marathon of a week before opening. I can give you a basic rundown of that week:

Sunday: 12 hours of rehearsal. Cue to cue technical stuff.

Monday: We got through the first act and part of the second act. First night with full costume and makeup.

Tuesday: We finished the show and started over. Got through most of the show.

Wednesday: First full runthrough.

Thursday: Dress rehearsal. We had a small audience of about 30 people. Well-received.

Friday: Friday was opening night. I skipped everything on Friday to rest. I got coverage for tour guiding and used one of my skips for Physics. I didn’t do a thing except take care of my voice. Then we went on. Talk about an adrenaline rush. At the end of the show, after the final blackout of the play, the air was shaking with cheers. I’ve never heard noise like that in any theater. Ever. Not even on Broadway. The smile that was plastered across my face at the curtain call still hasn’t come off. Neither has some of my scar makeup.

Saturday: A restful day. Before my family got here, then they came, said hi quickly, and then had dinner reservations. Bridget was happy because I dedicate my performance each night to her because she’s a good gal. Show went well. Then Bridget and I hung out with my friends and went to sleep.

Sunday: Woke up early for breakfast with the fam. Then did a successful performance. Then, got into bed at 5pm and woke up the next morning at 9.

Tonight, we had off. I had nothing to do. At all. Tomorrow and Wednesday we rehearse. Thursday we revive.

Measure in Love,

Kev

Well, That’s That »« POST250

POST250

Hi friends,

Brief.

Still alive.

Busy.

Tired.

Awake.

Coffee.

Sweeney.

2 days.

Measure in Love,

Kev

Okay So It’s Been A Long Time »« Sweeney Pondered and Sweeney Planned

Sweeney Pondered and Sweeney Planned

Hi friends!

Happy Saturday!

I think it’s pretty apparent that my life in the past week was taken over by Sweeney Todd, both rehearsals and tech crew. And also schoolwork and work for admissions.

Okay, I just took a nap that was 2 and a half hours long. I got on my bed to answer a text from my friend/take a quick writing break and fell asleep for 2 hours. Oops. I guess it goes to show you how tiring and busy April is as a month. Sun is setting, morale is high.

So there’s not much new to report. I’ve just been busy. Busy busy busy. I bought replacement sunglasses last night. Then Alexia and I went to Druthers, where we shared a delicious meal before going to the Ballet at school.

This weekend is The Ballet Russe, a collaboration between the music and dance departments. It was a very lovely evening of three very different ballets. I don’t know enough about ballet to talk too much about it, but it was very pleasing to the eye? I really am not capable of talking about this without sounding like a buffoon.

My stomach is growling. 10 hour long rehearsal for Sweeney tomorrow.

Measure in Love,

Kev

POST250 »« Life So Busy Life So Fun Life So Fine

Life So Busy Life So Fun Life So Fine

Hi friends,

Sorry for the super quickie post. At rehearsal. Will post a full one on Saturday. Need to focus all of my SS2S work on adding the Class of 2017 to our new Facebook page. A lot harder than it sounds. I’ll have a lot to discuss on Saturday.

Measure in Love,

Kev

Sweeney Pondered and Sweeney Planned »« Well, Happy April, Everyone

Well, Happy April, Everyone

Hi friends,

Last year, at this point, I was skipping classes at least once a week because I had too much to do and was freaking out always. Sorry Dad.

This year, at this point, I’m not skipping classes, but I am keeping a to-do list so that I am less disorganized and calmer than ever. It’s all about time management, friends. Except I’ve been too busy to really work out lately.

Anyway, we last spoke on Thursday. I was just going out for a run, which ended up being a fine run, I guess.

Since then, I’ve been busy with Sweeney and schoolwork. Nothing else at all really.

Emily and I went downtown on Saturday to get delicious coffee at Uncommon Grounds and to get embroidery floss for Emily at The Stitchin’ Post. This tiny little old lady runs the store and for some reason I left the store because she was so cute it made me sad and Emily left freaked out because the elderly freak her out.

On that note, I’m being called to stage. Talk to you on Thursday.

Measure in Love,

Kev

Life So Busy Life So Fun Life So Fine »« My Horoscope Told Me To Breathe

My Horoscope Told Me To Breathe

Hi friends,

My horoscope told me to breathe this week. And that’s what I’ve been doing. It’s been a good week, too, as a result.

On Monday, I had a really great advising meeting with Beck, my gender studies advisor. We picked my classes for next semester and caught up after not seeing each other ONCE for four entire months. Crae. She’s so funny. She liked the mustache. The great meeting came after a great afternoon of classes which followed a morning of giving a great tour. I felt really confident on my tour, and the families were really sweet, and a prospective student and her mother stayed to chat for about half an hour after my tour. I gave them my perspective as a member of the LQBTQ+ community, and I think that really helped the prospective out with her choice. Monday night, after rehearsal, I watched an episode of Homeland. Have I told you I’m watching that now? It’s like Downton Abbey + Lost but with the CIA rather than upper-class Brits and a tropical island, it’s about terrorism and lust. Very similar. And also, Monday afternoon, between the tour class, I had a meeting with my #blogboss Daniella, and it was determined that I will officially become the Skidmore Facebook page student “ambassador,” like Sarah and Emmeline before me and Joe Yanks before them. I strive to be Joe Yanks. JK. I’m myself. But that’s exciting!

On Tuesday, I did my laundry and watched Homeland after rehearsal. Tuesday was a good Tuesday.

On Wednesday, I had a great morning and afternoon of classes. I love learning. I ran outside for the first time since September. Just once around Perimeter Road and I wanted to die. So hard. My thighs forgot what it’s like to run up and down hills. Rehearsal was strange. It just felt low-energy and pretty tedious, for some reason. No reason really, other than that we were doing the nitty-grittiest work we’ve done yet, really getting down and dirty with each moment of the play. I guess in a way, that’s where the most exciting work is done. I don’t know.

Today, I went to Health Services. Okay. This is quite a story. So. Last Friday, before going to give my tour, I was shaving my thick, manly facial hair so that I would have smooth skin like the butt of a newborn. I sneezed in media res. The left side of my chin was sliced wide open. I ultimately ended up seeing it as role research for when (SPOILER ALERT) my character in Sweeney has his neck slit, that’s how much blood there was. I thought I was going to die. So there was a big cut on my face. Friday night, I went to a get-together where the theme involved face paint. I was too sleepy when I got home to wash it off. Saturday, I woke up a little late, and had to rush to get my act together, so I scrubbed the paint off my face pretty aggressively, and a small section of my right cheek became almost raw. So left chin cut, right cheek raw. I felt like Mickey Rourke in that wrestling movie, The Wrestler. Anyway, sometime between then and last night, the cut became infected and it spread to the raw spot and parts of the rest of my face and I have a temporary condition called impetigo, which I found out about today at Health Services. I’m on meds now. MEDZ. Not fun. Itchy. And then I went to directing class, where my group’s piece disturbed and upset a lot of people. Acting class was swell also. I’m going to go for a run outside after I finish this post. Meaning right now.

Today’s Morning Thought: Is a bird in the hand really worth two in the bush? There are a number of terms to be taken into consideration here. First off, the bird: Is it simply a small, wingéd creature or rather a metaphor for margins of identity of difference? And this hand, this hand this hand this hand. Is it just the end of a limb? Or rather a metaphor for oppression. I see the bush as something more like a fern. So maybe, the phrase should be: A margin of identity of difference in the oppression is worth two in the fern. What do you think? Quite a ponder piece.

Measure in Love,

Kev

Well, Happy April, Everyone »« A Raisin in Dat Sun

A Raisin in Dat Sun

Hi friends,

I’m at rehearsal right now, and can’t chat for too long, but I just wanted to fill you in on what I did this weekend.

This past Saturday, at 11:30am, I climbed aboard a bus for a free trip to Boston. After a long trip filled with reading a novel, we landed in Boston with a few hours to kill before the event that night. So I sat in Starbucks, and read my way through a caramel macchiato and cool lime refresher. After that, the event:

A Raisin in the Sun at the Huntington Theatre Company.

I’ve haven’t seen a play in a long time, where I was shaking sobbing so hard. It was powerful, enthralling, vivid, incredible, all of those words.

I’ll do a longer post tomorrow.

Measure in Love,

Kev

My Horoscope Told Me To Breathe »« Thirsty Thursday Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hydrate Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey You

Thirsty Thursday Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hydrate Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey You

Hi friends,

How are you? I am well. Thank you for asking. I got all of your adoring fanmail and I appreciate it very much – this is real this is me I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, right?

This week has been overwhelming and stressful and underwhelming and stressfree. I got myself all worked up over nothing when it came to my school work and then today realized nothing is or was wrong. Last night I watched the first episode of Homeland online and it was intense.

I’m sitting in rehearsal now. This week is just a boring week, I guess the week after an exciting vacation is always boring in comparison. I got an e-mail from my stepmom today telling us (my sister and me) that we’re going out to Wyoming for vacation this summer with her side of the family! We’re going to see all sorts of Grand Tetons and National Parks. WYOMING.

Nada mas to say. Just goin’ through the motions. And I’m happy.

Measure in Love,

Kev

A Raisin in Dat Sun »« What a Week It Was

What a Week It Was

Hi friends!

Long time no chat, am I right?

When we last significantly spoke, I had just arrived in California and was ready to head to San Fran to see the gayborhood and eat food.

Well, we did that. First, we shopped around on Haight and Ashbury, where I got a really cool new t-shirt with a boat-neck collar. It’s so comfortable. Castro, the historically gay neighborhood, was fantastic. We ate lunch at a tiny little pizzeria/restaurant, where to get a table, you write your name on a chalkboard and they cross your name off as you come in. I wrote “Kev” on the board, and they pronounced it “Keev” because in San Francisco why go mainstream when you can go hipster pronunciation am I right? After that, we walked down Market St/Rd/Ave and shopped a bit. And after that…Dinner. Dinner dinner dinner dinner. Oh my God.

We ate at a restaurant called Zuni Cafe. It’s one of the best restaurants in the city, and to get the table, we had to use Gab’s dad (remember he’s a huge NYC restauranteur) as a way in. And it was well worth it. I died and went to food heaven for the first of two times on this trip that night. Here’s what we ate: First of all, crazy delicious bread. If a restaurant has good bread, I know I’ll not leave disappointed. Then, appetizers: Brianne had a Caesar salad that brought tears to my eyes when I tasted it, Emmeline and I had mind-blowing polenta, each with separate types of cheese on top (she had parmagiano-reggiano and I had mascarpone), and Gab had oysters. Then the main course: Brianne had gnocchi, Emmeline had mahi-mahi that was beyond delicious (my first bite of seafood, yo) and Gab and I split a $50 roasted chicken and savory bread salad that I yelped when I tried for the first time because it was way too goodly and godly. I can’t even describe how perfect this chicken was. One of the best meals of my life, for sure.

That night, we went home and slept. Because we were tired. The next day was a fun fiasco, complete with one of the group (wasn’t me, but I won’t say who) vomiting in the car in Santa Cruz. I went on a roller coaster with Bri, we saw some sea lions, ate delicious ice cream, and then went home and were simply exhausted. Emmeline and I watched Chicago that night, since I had, believe it or not, never seen it. I liked it a lot. On Sunday we slept in and sat around at Santa Clara.

Monday: Gab and I lay out on the Mission quad, their equivalent to our Case Green. I got tan. Gab turned into a tomato. Monday night, we drove to Santana Row, a really nice outdoor mall. There, we ate at a restaurant called The Counter. There is a Counter in New York City that I LOVE, so this was exciting to have. Great burgers and fries, yo.

Tuesday: Gab wore sunscreen. We got more color. We read.

Wednesday: Gab and I spend a day by ourselves in San Francisco. It was a very long day filled with two long train rides to the city, two long walks to Fishermans’ Wharf and back, and AlCaTrAz. I loved Alcatraz, it made me want to commit a heinous crime so I could go to a scary super-max prison. Just kidding, I’d only want to be in Alcatraz for like a day, which we were, so it was perfect. But seriously, the place was huge and scary and inspiring and eerie and jaw-dropping. Scary stuff happened there. It wasn’t a death row prison, it was just a place where, if you escaped, you would die. It’s like that, just because the water around the island is so cold and difficult to swim. And also, the sea lions would definitely eat you. They’re scary. I ate my first full seafood meal ever too, fish tacos. Delicioso. Then we made our way back to Santa Clara and rested up for Thursday.

On Thursday, we chilled all day. Straight-up posted on the grass all day. I think we shopped for Santa Clara merch that day, I don’t know. I know I had a soft-shell crab sandwich for dinner, which made me feel sick because it seemed like it was quadruple deep fried. Yuck/yum.

On Friday, we left.

On Saturday, we got home. I went to the city for an interview, and met up with my best friend Jon, and he came from New Hampshire to see my sister in her final high school show. She was surprised.

Today, Sunday, Jon, Gab, and I headed back to Skidmore.

A restful spring break, an exciting spring break, a tear-filled spring break.

Indeed.

Measure in Love,

Kev

Thirsty Thursday Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hydrate Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey You »« still alive in cali.

still alive in cali.

a little tan.

a little sleepy.

a little rested.

not yet arrested.

happy.

measure in love,

kev.

What a Week It Was »« FEISTY FRIDAY BECAUSE I COULDN’T POST FROM 36,000 FEET LAST NIGHT also a three-hour time difference

FEISTY FRIDAY BECAUSE I COULDN’T POST FROM 36,000 FEET LAST NIGHT also a three-hour time difference

Hi friends~~~~~~~~~~~~~!

Happy Friday from California! That’s right! I’m here! In California! In Santa Clara! Meow! We got here last night.

Okay, so when we last spoke, it was Sunday night and what a weekend it had been! Basically, Monday and Tuesday were just days where I packed a lot and anticipated a lot and cried a lot and then Wednesday came. The final performance of Orlando came and went, and the set strike for it came and went. Then Gab and I got into her car late at night and drove south to Ridgewood, New Jersey, to her home where we stayed for the night. Thursday morning, yesterday morning, we awoke, pumped ourselves with coffee, the life force of the college student, and went to Whole Foods. At 2:30, Gab’s dad’s driver (her dad is a very prominent and successful restauranteur in New York City) picked us up and took us to JFK airport in Queens. And we went through security, where I was frisked thoroughly, probably because of the mustache, and then to our gate where we ate dinner and laughed until we cried until we laughed again and then got darkly quiet. Then we got on the plane, and flew through the blizzard to a starry sky miles above the rest of the world and the problems it has. Gab and I were seated next to the grumpiest man ever. EVER. Nearly 7 hours or one whole eternity later  (literally, such a productive flight. I read three plays and wrote 20 pages of my new play oh yeah oh yeah) we landed in San Jose. We claimed our luggage, met up with Emmeline and Brianne, and immediately went to In-N-Out Burger, which was delicioso. After that, we headed to Santa Clara University and went to sleep, after a long day of travel and laughter and silence. I’m staying in Emmeline’s room and Gab at Brianne’s off-campus house. Today, we’re off to San Francisco to see Castro, the historic gayborhood, which will be cool to see, since I’m gay and have never really seen any of the gay history places except the Stonewall in NYC. And tonight we’re eating at Zuni Cafe, one of the top restaurants in San Francisco. Excitement!

this is just me and gab casually in the airport it’s not a big deal my hair is messy but keep in mind that a large tsa agent just frisked me

I’ll keep you updated on the trip!

Measure in Love and Vitamin D and Flip-Flops Because It’s Warm Here,

Kev

still alive in cali. »« One of Those Amish Weekends, You Know?