We're in the Money

money sucks. but boy is it wonderful.

SO. this is the time of year when FAFSAs are being filled out and the world's student population are making choices like:

"Do I live in that fun apartment close to campus and not eat?" or "Do I live with three other roommates so I can afford rent?"
and
"Do I study abroad for a semester?" or "Do I graduate with little to no debt...."
and
"Do I buy those super-stylin boots?" or "Do I get to go out to eat with friends"

these kind of decisions make me SICK. Seriously. I prefer to live by the mentality that if (and i mean IF) you can afford it, you should get it. You shouldn't have to compromise if you seriously LOVE something and other than savings (which I think is highly, highly important) you shouldn't have to budget every single flipping penny. [Obviously I don't think you should choose a hot new dress over grocery money, so you do have to pick your battles once in a while]

But on the other hand...I really do think budgeting is a pretty good idea, and for the most part, I do it....for the most part....Michaella is shaking her head right now....whatever. My mother budgets hard. I mean that women knows how to work a calculator and a pencil. So maybe its part of the whole "i-don't-want-to turn-into-my mother-mentality" that makes me want to say SCREW YOU BUDGETS. But I've come to a crossroads (no Brittany Spears needed, thank you); there is this huge spendy-spendy alter-ego/sister inside of me and that sister (lets call her Caroline) likes things. I know I KNOW - you cant take it with you yadayadayada. But right now? I would very much like to just take it. The trouble is that I'm basically putting myself through my whole college education/experience and so I really can't afford to spend spend spend the way I so desperately want to.

SO here is the dilemma: The Arts. The artists of this world-the people who create and inspire and provoke and create inspiration and make things beautiful (basically, the crowd I'm trying to be in)-are not very "money friendly". In fact, they revel in the prospect of being a 'starving artist'. Weell fuck that. They believe that its pretty normal to have to suffer for your art and for your craft, and that in the end, you'll be a better artist for it. Well cool. Cool.

not

Hold up. I'm sorry. So is it wrong that I would prefer to come to rehearsal with a bottle of Evian over bringing my water in a recycled apple sauce jar? Or that I like to wear Ralph Lauren and have aspirations of one day owning a 'luxury vehicle'? Or that I would prefer an actual bed with a box spring and a mattress and nice sheets over a sleeping bag on the floor of some dirty apartment? Well no, Caroline, its not wrong....you're just in the wrong business. Shit.

(Warning: Honesty box has opened):: Honestly, I recently was waiting for my dad to pick me up with one of my college friends and he asked me what kind of car he drove (so he could keep an eye out for the car) and I literally went, "Oooh Ummm....well..." (clearly avoiding the answer) and he said, "You don't have to be embarrassed!" "Well...its a black Mercedes." It wasn't an issue or anything, and we got in the car no big deal. But its always like I feel like I have to hide it. You know, the things I like, the products I use, the technology I own, my house, the types of events I go to etc, etc. Because I think these new peers (and potentially future colleagues) of mine will look down on me for my "worldliness". And that's shallow thinking on my part, to think that my friends would be unkind to me for such stupid reasons (especially when that reason is my family's success) but hey, its happened in the past, so I've found that its better to just keep things a mystery you know.

So now the challenge is this: How, in world of starving artists, can I be an artist who is by no means starving?

The luxury vehicle I mentioned earlier:


VS. this:


Yeah.

over and out.

Sickness is Catching

- Name that Shakespeare!!!


So I was going to write about the really fun subject of MONEY (a post which has been marinating in my brain for literally, WEEKS). but I got distracted. By what Catherine? By RAGE that's what.

I'm being a little dramatic.

But sometimes I really can hate on females. I know I should be all pro-girl and all that jazz and usually I am, as long as they're not doing the female species harm....You know, there are some girls who just spoil the name "woman" for all of us.

I run into many interesting individuals in my time at the University and throughout Mpls and usually its not the boys, but rather the girls I meet who fascinate me the most. OK grant you, there are those certain boys that are beyond fascinating and make me want to trip them "accidentally" just for a chance to talk to them but alas....

woa.
Anyway.

Do you know what I mean? Like there are those women who just have that thing. That attitude or that style or persona or the walk...that thing about them that makes you want to be their friend or at least creep on them so you can pick up some of their tricks. That girl that you hate because she simply is that fabulous. I check out girls all day long. TRUTH COMES OUT. But seriously I do. Simply for the purpose of copying them later. And I am not ashamed in the least. I check out guys, but not nearly as shamelessly as I check out girls. I will openly creep on a girl in Coffman Union, where as with a boy, I creep from behind my computer or a book....which is in fact, more creepy huh? Oh well. I read a quote once that said "Women do not dress for men, they dress for other women." And I have to say, for me at least, that it is true 85% of the time. Men will notice that you look good, but its women that will take note of your perfectly matched shoe-belt combo and that your earrings match your eyeshadow.

Now, that being said, there are also the girls that think they are fabulous. Basically, they are the same type of girl described above accept they suck. i.e. they are bitchy, or have a bad attitude or are flat out stupid. I have the delight of running into plenty of these ladies. What is the most frustrating for me about them is that because they have the whole HottieMcHottie thing going on, they get lots of attention from our male counterparts. And then the boys don't understand why you don't like the girl.

"Come on! She's so nice!"
"Ummm Yeah. To you!"
"What do you mean? She's the sweetest"
"Yes. Because she wants ON you."


This post has really come full circle because I'm frequently the one saying "Why don't you like him? He's so nice!" just to have my male friends tell me "its because you're a girl" womp womp. Now I can understand their frustrations with my naive girl-ness....

So I think what I've discovered here is that basically, this breed of female is the same as the male "douche bag" (such a gross word. sorry, had to say it)

And they make me angry.

That's all.

I am NOT a HAG!

DISCLAIMER: The term "fag" is offensive to me....it is. I don't like when people say it or use it (unless! you're European and are referring to a cigarette- in that case, please proceed!) and I don't like writing it here. BUT it must be used for this post. So if you're offended, so am I. But just know, I don't use the word! So lets all just get over it for this one little post HUH?


The other day, I was chatting with someone close to me (I wont say who). I was telling a story about a friend (who I wont name) who happens to be gay- it wasn't the point of the story but it was a factor. And this person-who-is-close-to-me says:

"Honey, do you know what a fag hag is?"
"YES I know what a fag hag is .... OH. You don't mean.... I'M NOT A FAG HAG!!!"
"Well you have a lot of gay friends!"
"Yeah well I have a lot of straight friends too! It's the theatre community!! Its not my fault! I have many straight friends too!!"
"That's fine! I believe you...I just wanted you to be aware of that term and what it means..."
"I am NOT a fag hag. In the first place, you have to be a hag to be a fag hag and I am NOT a hag...right?!?"
"No you're not a HAG!"
"I think I spend an even amount of time with gay and straight boys....and girls."
"Ok OK! I understand, I just wanted to check!"

Click Here for Urban Dictionary's Definition of Fag Hag






.....

Needless to say, I had to check....so I asked my straight friend CJ.

"You're not a fag hag...and even if you were, it wouldn't be your fault! It's unavoidable with theatre! (so right, CJ! so right) But you're not!"

yessssss!


Ok. I still have my doubts, but whatever! I am NOT a fag hag! I KNOW some fag hags and I am NOT like them....Now, in the FH's defense, Grace from Will & Grace is considered to be a fag hag and I LOVE Grace....and I love Will...and I love Will & Grace (does that make me more of a fag hag?!) But you know, people have said I'm more of a Karen then a Grace, which in itself is not much better, and I don't know if I really agree, but these are fictional characters so why am I still making this comparison?!?! I'm going to get a gay guy and gay girl opinion and a straight girl opinion tonight! I'll report back.