Please don't be alarmed. Alaina and I are still going strong. Rather, I am breaking up with this blog... just for awhile.
You see, we just need to take some time off. I know that I've had to do this before. Between all of the commotion going on this month - musical, track, homework, scholarships, and random film projects - I'm having trouble finding the time to blog. And blog about things that are actually interesting.
The last performance of McCort's Bye Bye Birdie is on April 3rd. So on April 4th, I promise I'll be back.
Until then, I am going to try to get some work done. Spring is pretty much here, and a lot of exciting things are going on. Next month will be a big month for me. In less than two months, my college decision will be complete. Scary.
All you seniors out there, get it together. See you soon!
The second semester at Bishop McCort High School began a week ago. For the first time in five months, I didn't spend the start of my day in Acting class. Instead I'm designing fliers in Microsoft Word. It feels like some sort of strange torture.
Luckily, I still see Adam Voegthly everyday. Yes Adam, I am once again writing about you on the Internet without your permission. I know. You're going to cut me.
The Voeghtly Show is still lingering in everyone's mind. I finally have some footage from the final episode. Maybe I'll just watch this video before I go to school everyday.
Today McCort hosted the second (and hopefully last) blood drive of the year. While it was fun to help work at, we had to be at school at 5:30 - a little too early after a long week. After school, we had musical practice for Bye Bye Birdie which, needless to say, needs a lot more work.
However, I have only one more day of mid-terms left. Tonight, I am watching movies and sleeping. And tomorrow I can't wait to join my friends for a fancy "let's get together and cook dinner" night.
In the meantime, I love Sofia Coppola. I don't know if I've said that before. But she's a girl who can easily fight the guys, and that's sexy. There's something about her movies that just makes them gorgeous.
Alright. I wanted to blog last night, but I was exhausted. So as the snow falls outside and yet another possible snow day looms, I sit and type.
My fourth and final Winter Formal was last weekend. Alaina wore a crazy Black Swan-like dress, and I wore my new suit. Out of all four years, this one was my favorite. I had a lot of fun mainly due to my small, tight group of awesome friends for whom I'm super thankful for.
However, another school dance once again brought to my attention a major epidemic that is sweeping the nation (I think). Grinding.
For those of you who live in a cave or are home schooled, grinding is the latest dance craze - if you want to call it dancing.
I was going to use an Urban Dictionary definition, but they were all kind of vulgar. Basically, grinding involves a guy rubbing his junk all over a girl's rear end. Grinding really doesn't involve any dance skill. You just have to be able to move your hips. Let's not kid ourselves - grinding is pretty much sex on the dance floor.
I've included some beautiful, hand-drawn sketches to illustrate the various grinding positions.
Now while engaging in said grinding, one has a few options.
A girl can...
Close her eyes.
Work her body up and down.
Rub her hands through the boy's hair.
Play with the boy's tie.
Gasp.
Moan.
Etc.
A boy can...
Turn into a robot drained of all emotion.
Stare into space and think about things such as flowers and baseball in order to avoid becoming too "excited."
I don't know if it's like this at every school, but no one dances at McCort dances. Everyone grinds. And I mean EVERYONE - jocks, cheerleaders, drama geeks, nerds, goths, religious zealots, the people that don't know where the heck they belong, and the people who you would never expect to see grinding.
You look around, and everyone's going at it with concentration only matched by a roomful of tired teenagers taking the SATs. And they grind to every song. My favorite grind is the "awkward grind." This occurs when a non-rap song begins to play, and everyone tries to adjust their rubbing. They always find a way - even on country songs and pop ballads.
Then these people will try to talk to you. Do they realize they're getting it on while trying to talk to me about the weather outside?
The scariest part is that no one is safe. You don't need permission to grind. Girls will come up to you and just stop rubbing on your crotch without warning. It's like you need to walk around with a sign on your neck. "Please don't grind me."
And all of this leads to the question of the night. I do everything in my power to keep this blog to a PG rating, so please know that I chose the wording of the next sentence with great care.
I don't care if you have the self-control of Ghandi, no guy can handle all that rubbing for an extended period of time without getting a visit from his "special friend".
I asked some anonymous girls at lunch, and they reported that guys have gotten visits from their "special friends" while grinding with them. They further stated, "It was kind of awkward and uncomfortable, but at the same time it was like, wow, I'm really turning him on."
So then what? Are there hundreds of "special friends" out on the dance floor? When did this become socially acceptable? I'm not a prude, but as a beloved french teacher stated, "Why would you want to do that in public?" What memories are you going to take away from that night?
If you must bump and grind, why not later in a dark basement or in the back of a car where no one can see you? And why not with someone special? I personally prefer not to rub my junk all over some stranger.
I'm not telling people what they can and cannot do. But take a step back and look at it. It's sort of awkward, funny, and weird. Dances are becoming chances for teens to let out all of their stored up sexual angst. It should be called Winter Orgy.
Whatever. I'm a nerd and a hopeless romantic. I'm more of the "old fashioned, black and white, kiss me in the rain" type than the "we met in da club and went back to my place" type.
I have not blogged in forever. In fact, I've forgotten what this feels like.
I want to start by apologizing. I've been very busy lately. Most of my college applications are due on December 1st. So is my research paper... I'm writing about interracial couples. And I'm in A Christmas Carol, which will be performed on December 2nd and 3rd. Come December, I will be a free man!
Until then, I probably won't have much blogging time. But I wanted to stop in and think about what I've been doing.
First of all, I am officially applied to Florida State University. It feels good. Now, I'm working on Chapman. I have to make a two minute video describing me, but I can't be in. Brainstorming time.
I've also spent the last two weeks of my life sitting in front of this computer, editing the short film. I'm happy to report that it is finished (sort of). I'm still not sure of the name. Right now, it's A Dance in Time. Any ideas? Somebody please!
Bishop McCort is having a scholarship luncheon on Friday, and the movie will be shown there. Dealing with the administration has given me a taste of what directors have to face when dealing with studio executives. I'm also sending it to the YoungArts Scholarship program and a couple festivals. We'll see what happens. More on this later.
And today was the LHAC Conference Crosss Country meet. I was scared and nervous because this season has been sort of weird. But everyone ran well, and I managed to somehow pull ahead for the win at the end. We still have work to do. Districts is 10 days away. But I said early on that one of my goals was to achieve Cross Country success, and showtime is approaching.
As stressful as things have been, I'm having fun. I can't help but be excited.
Before I head to bed, I wanted to share this article I came across the other day. It talks about movie soundtracks. It also highlights Cameron Crowe and Almost Famous.
While I was in LA, the trio of Brad, Danielle, and Erica was shocked that I hadn't seen Almost Famous. I watched it, and it has since become one of my favorites. Kate Hudson may be the only blonde I ever love. And I like Cameron Crowe. He writes and directs from the heart.
And I was thinking about this movie the other day. I've been waiting for its release in America for a long time.
Last week quickly transformed into crunch time as I rushed around like a mad man trying to get my short film actually filmed. Luckily, I have a great crew of supporters and friends. Together, we gathered equipment, went costume shopping, and created shot lists. I drafted my brother Ryan to act in the film. He hesitantly agreed. (I eventually made him dye his hair and even kiss a girl... gasp!). Finally, the one thing that hanged in the balance was a location.
Originally, I had always planned to film on Main Street by Central Park in downtown Johnstown. I wrote a nice letter of request and delivered it to the city manager like I was instructed to do. However, the city manager chick never called me back. For two days, my mom and I pounded her with phone calls and messages.
On Friday - shooting day - Ryan and I marched to city hall and waited outside her office until she returned from lunch... only she never did. She must have taken a four hour lunch break. And she still didn't call me back.
I was pretty ticked. I love Johnstown most of the time, and I can't understand why my city wouldn't help me out. Dear City Manager, why do you have to be such a rude biznatch?
Never willing to give up, I called my high school - Bishop McCort Catholic High School. We were allowed to film in the courtyard for three nights. The first night was hectic, but Saturday and Sunday went beautifully.
I couldn't have asked for better actors. Staring at the viewfinder, I was awestruck because I knew I was a part of something special.
I want to thank everyone... for everything. I had a great crew who went without sleep for three nights. Yesterday, we filmed the last little intro scene. Now all that's left to do is edit. In the next month, I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'll also try to share some pics and videos.
In other news, school started. Ahhhhhhhhh!
After filming Sunday night, Ryan and I jumped awake at six in the morning. He had to go to school for Freshman Orientation, and I had to help out because I'm on student council.
The rest of the week was weird. It feels like summer break was only a short weekend. Every time I walked down the halls, I could hear the Jaws theme song playing in the back of my head. Dun dun dun.
Still, it's senior year! Whatever that means. I'm going to have fun.
No doubt, things are going to get crazy as I attempt to juggle cross country (first meet on Wednesday), college applications (I started my application for FSU), homework, and this short film.
I'll write about the new adventures coming my way, but I still have some stuff to say about the summer.
Until then, good luck to everyone going back to school. Take art classes! Bye.
