Let's catch up.

So, what have I been up to lately? Grab a cup of coffee and let's chat.

Theatre

Yes, that's me with the beard.
No, I have no idea why I'm often cast as men.
Photo courtesy Tim Motley

I've mentioned before that Kyle and I are involved with a theatre company,along with some of our friends from GVSU. In February, we performed with them again as part of the month-long Lake Effect Fringe Festival at Dog Story Theater downtown. Our company put up two comedic one-acts, written by local playwrights. I played a woman (poorly) disguised as a man, who also happened to be a marijuana-dealing friar. Because obviously. 

Kyle and I are among the founding members of this theatre company, The University Wits. We've been working on the board since November, and helped produce the night of one-acts I mentioned. Our next show is a murder mystery farce and goes up in May. Stayed tuned for more details! (And if you feel so inclined, like our Facebook page!)

Music

Photo effects via PicMonkey

I've played the violin for almost as long as I can remember. It was always a struggle to get me to practice as a kid, and as a result I never felt very good. I stopped playing almost entirely when I graduated from high school, and nearly never looked back. Then on a bit of a whim in January, I decided to join a small string orchestra. We meet once a week at St. Cecilia's Music Society downtown and play anything ranging from Mozart to Gaelic Storm. There are about 20 of us, all at varying skill levels and ages. 

You guys, I love it. It's honestly the best part of my week. When I'm up on the stage, turning all of my focus to the notes on the page and my fingers on the strings, the stress and frustrations of the week just seem to melt away. I. Love. It. I didn't realize how much I missed the violin, how much it was a part of me, until I started playing again. I'm so, so grateful that music is a part of my life again. It has brought me so much happiness. 

Books

Images courtesy of Goodreads

Thanks to Spilled Ink, an adult reading program at the public library, I've been reading up a storm this winter. While I've basically been on a non-fiction/memoir kick since I graduated from college, I've been all about the fiction recently. (Although, my current read would probably fall in the memoir category.) I'm considering writing short reviews of the books that I read. Any suggestions which one I should start with? 

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Lately, if I haven't been doing one of these things or working you can most likely find me watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on Netflix; talking to my dog like he's a person; drinking coffee from Tim Horton's; obsessing over Beasts of the Southern Wild; and finding excuses  to drink wine with my friends. Oh, what a glamorous life I lead. 

But enough about me. What have you been up to? I've missed you and I'm dying to know!