Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in brotex's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, July 7th, 2005
11:10 pm	Northwestern Day 12 July 7, 2005 11:00 PM O.K. The reason that I haven’t updated in a few days is because I have strep throat!!! It really sucks!!! I’ve made out with so many people I don’t know where it came from. JKJKJKJKJKJKJKJKJKJK. O.K. I’m gonna try to recap the highlights of the past few days. On Tuesday, we saw a one man show by one of the teachers here. It was one of the best works of theatre that I have ever seen. It’s a very complicated story about his life, but I’ll try to give a short run down. This guy was born, his father had to leave at two so that his mother and him could live with her parents for financial support. In his thirties, he decides to contact his father and finds out that he is African-American. The guy, Michael, doesn’t look black at all, so he found it as a shock. That’s kinda the overarching story, but it has soooo much more. I want to try and get him as part of the Helm Series at SSS. It was amazing. Yesterday, I was in bed all day sick. At night, I had to go and work on a thing called “Design Challenge”. What it is is they gave us a poem and we had three hours to design lights, sound, costumes, and set for it, creating a tableau. Oh, and we had to build all of the lights, sound, costumes, and set. Our poem (my group of 4) went something like this: “Crow Flies Away. In the setting sun; a leafless tree sways.” And Go! We linked it to Nazism and WWII. It was so much fun. We presented our designs tonight. O.K. That’s kind of the last 3 days in a nutshell, and I must go to bed for I am exhausted. Tootles. P.S. Please keep the victims of the bombings in the U.K. in your prayers. Current Mood: tired Current Music: Billie Holiday (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, July 4th, 2005
11:15 pm	Northwestern Day 9 July 4, 2005 Happy Independence Day!!! Today was wonderful and it was kinda like the other days so I won’t go into too much detail and I’m really tired. I have, however, started a business. I am charging 25 cents a minute for internet access and I am making a small fortune. It’s fabulous!!!! OK that’s it…I love all of you! Current Mood: amused Current Music: Witches of Eastwick (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, July 3rd, 2005
11:01 pm	Northwestern Day 8 July 3, 2005 10:08 PM Today was another wonderful day. I was awakened by my friend John saying he was hungry and wanted to go to breakfast. So along with another one of my friends, we went and had Cajun food. It was really good…and I had the best grits that I have ever had in my life. Than we went to Whole Foods and got some junk that we wanted…like Orangina. I am so happy. After that we came back and went to “College Day” where they talked about our college future. It was basically the same talk that Mr. Valdes has given us a thousand times, so I zoned out. After that, I came back to the dorm and watched “Angels in America” with some of my friends. It was great…as usual. Than we went to an outdoor July 4 celebration (on the 3rd). Finally we went to a show at a tiny theatre called “The House” in a bad part of Chicago. We saw the show “Dave Davinci Saves The Universe”. It was wonderful. It was sci-fi meets proof meets “a beautiful mind”. It was wonderful. So that is kind of my day, except for laughing my ass of on the bus back with my friends Aila and Sean. They are so funny!!! Well, I need to do some work before tomorrow, so that’s it. Happy Independence Day!!! Current Mood: busy Current Music: Witches of Eastwick (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, July 2nd, 2005
10:47 pm	Northwestern Day 7 (my lucky number) July 2,2005 10:36 PM Today was a crazy amazing day!!! I got up at 8:30 am and went into Evanston with one of my friend, to pick up some money that was wired to me. My wallet was stolen and so I had no cash!!! So we went to the western union and got the money and we were really hungry. So we were walking around Evanston and then we stumbled on this Greek Restaurant. So we went in and I had the best meal I have ever had in my life. I had a glass of Fresh Squeezed (at the table) Orange Juice, a Spinach, lamb, and Feta omelet and amazing hash browns. The best meal of my life and it was $4.95 plus tax and tip. It was HUGE!!! I haven’t eaten since then and I’m still full (9:30 am). So that was amazing…We are going there for lunch tomorrow. Heaven. Than we went to this amazing eclectic bookstore in an alley and it was amazing. They had thousands of books It was so amazing…they had an entire Disney section, but I didn’t get anything because it was too expensive…Another day. Than, being the consumer whore I am, went to Barnes and Nobel to buy a magazine…My friend bought an “Advocate” and I bought a “Newsmax” (go figure)! So than we came back and I had classes all afternoon which was wonderful. And than came rehearsal. I had to tape down the set on the floor with spike tape. The ground plan that they gave me was in 1/8 scale and I measured the ground plan in ¼ scale, so I had to redo the whole thing. It was fun though, but my butt hurts from crawling on it. Tonight I am going to watch “Angels in America” because I can while many of the other campers have the 1st of many dances. The room it is in is tinny and I honestly am exhausted. Oh…and by the way, most of the campers here now know the K.C. Sparkles Tommorowland thing!!!! It is amazing. I walk on campus and we don’t say hi to each other, we do the motion. Ok. That’s all…Oh and I have the morning off tomorrow, so call me if you want to talk!! Current Mood: indescribable Current Music: Fireworks (3 Comments |Comment on this)
12:46 am	Northwestern Day 6 July 1, 2005 It’s July!!! Today was wonderful…the only real change was that the director of my show let us out at 9 instead of 10 and we all went and got ice cream…I am so tired and I have to get up and go into town tomorrow. Later… Current Mood: tired (Comment on this)
Thursday, June 30th, 2005
11:25 pm	Northwestern Day 5 June 30, 2005 11:23pm I’m gonna be really short today because I’m tired. I did basically everything as yesterday. That’s kinda it…but it was even more amazing!!!! That’s all. Current Mood: tired Current Music: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 29th, 2005
11:22 pm	Northwestern Day 4 (I think) June 29, 2005 11:04pm Today, quite possibly was the best day of my life. My first core was voice and movement which was wonderful. We did lots of breathing exercise and an incredible yoga warm up. The next class, acting, is what did it for me. We did and exercise that is really hard to explain, but I will try. You pick a partner and you have to remain in physical contact with them at all times, but moving about the space. You can touch them (and they you) with your hands or back or head or whatever. My first two partners were great, but it was the second that, honestly, changed my life. I have never felt more connected to a human being and to myself more than when doing the exercise with my partner, Brendan. We did the exercise (lasting about 10 min) and we touched each other everywhere and remained passionately connected through touch and breath. Their were no limits and I felt more comfortable in his arms (head, back, legs, ect…)than I have ever been in my life. You know that feeling that people often talk about, the feeling of home; well, for the first time in my life, I has home. The best way to describe the experience was sensual and erotic (but not sexually). We talked later, and talked, and talked…we have a very good connection and I hope to continue our friendship. And, he lives in San Antonio!!! OK, moving on…Next we did an exercise with the same rules as the previous, but everyone in the class (all 17 of us) were participating. We always had to have human contact. It was amazing how comfortable I am with my core group now that we did this exercise. Moving on, lunch was the usual…Salad and Grilled Cheese. I have had that for every meal except for the one breakfast I had this morning here. I love it…I guess I’m subconsciously going vegetarian. Than we had our afternoon classes. The first was Text analysis where we discussed this gem of a question, “What is text”. I won’t go any further than saying it got a little heated. Than I went to Design Process, my drafting and design class. It was amazing. We discussed THIS gem of a question…”What is Design”. Than they gave us a word, and in 45 min, we had to create a visual representation of that word. My word was cocoon. I’ll bring my work back home…it’s better than Van Gogh. Than dinner where I got bitched out by the cafeteria staff from taking a regular plate to get a salad, because there were no more salad bowls. Go figure. The food, by the way, is wonderful!!! Than we had rehearsal which was great and boring to all who aren’t stage managers. And now I’m here and about to go to bed. Ok, to borrow a borrowed phrase…That’s all Folks. P.S. My birthday is on July 22 (my 18th) and I am expecting lots of gifts…so to get them to me (or to write me a pretty snail mail letter) please send it to this address…Travis Brendle/Theatre Arts Division…National High School Ins Current Mood: loved Current Music: My Fan Because my AC still isnt fixed (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 28th, 2005
11:17 pm	Northwestern Day 3 June 28, 2005 11:00pm Today was wonderful…I just don’t know how much better it is going to get!!! We started at 8:00am with Voice and Diction. It involved a lot of moving about the space and breath control…We also did a lot of Yoga which is always amazing. We also did some other exercises that focused on Laban work. Than I went to my Acting class where we took the first half hr. (The two morning core classes are an hr. and 20 min) exploring the space of the black box and focusing on exploring the space using every center of energy at every level in the space. It was exhausting, yet exhilarating. I am with a bunch of Musical Theatre Geeks in my core classes so I feel right at home. We also played a “name game” where we visualized the stage as a map of the U.S. and we said our name and stood on the “map where we were from”. There were variations such as we had to move where our first vacation was, or our first day of kindergarten. Than we had a boring meeting…blah blah blah. Than Lunch. Than the day really took off for me. First I had a Performance Theory class with my R.A (dorm parent) and the director of my show, Richard…who is uber amazing. We talked a lot and it was brilliant. Than we talked about Aristotle’s foundations of the theatre…uber exciting. Than I had a stage management class which was kind of boring, because they had to go over the basics for some of the D/T (Design/Tech) students that hadn’t stage managed before. Than it got wonderful when they started handing out stuff. We got stuff ranging from Stop Watches to post it notes. It was Christmas. Than I had my 2 hr. Lighting Crew Class. We went over some of the basic stuff about lighting, than it got exciting. I was taught how to work a fly-rail system which is amazing. Because at SSS, we have an automated fly, I was never taught how to use it…now I know. Than we went to the top of the theatre to what they called the “grid”. If you are on a stage and look up, you will see a sort of grid system of steel bars and slits in them all the way at the top of the theatre. Yea…we went above that and were 60 ft. up standing on thin pieces of steel with 2 inch gaps between them. It was amazing. After Dinner, I had my first rehearsal for my show, “Salome”. It was a typical rehearsal, except we did lots of trust exercises that I participated in…my favorite was you had one person lie on the floor and everyone in the case (15 of us) pick them up and lift them over our heads. Than the person yells out their name three times with everyone saying that persons name. A little complicated…but I feel so connected to my cast. I think this will make my job easer. Ok…I am really tired and I skipped breakfast this morning…which I won’t do again…so I have to get up earlier. And…Scene. Current Mood: determined Current Music: My Fan because my AC went out (Comment on this)
Monday, June 27th, 2005
11:53 pm	Northwestern Day 2 June 27, 2005 11:43 PM What a day!!! I had to get up at 6:30 AM to get ready for out day long monologue extravaganza. Everyone in the camp (all 162) had to do a 90 second monologue so we could be placed in the appropriate acting class. I feel really good about mine (the infamous Joe Monologue from The Shadow Box) and the rest of the SSS gang represented well. At 1pm, the tech students (all 10 of us) got to have a meeting with the entire tech department (all 16 of them). It was amazing. I am in such awe of these people, for their talent and professionalism. They were all very nice and I can’t wait to get to know them more as the next five weeks unfold. I was surprised though, that I was right up there at the top with the students in terms of experience in Technical Theatre. The Lighting Designer for Princess Cruise Line (who is teaching and teaching at the camp) told me that my performance background gives me an edge over all of the other Tech students. I was happy!!! After that, the SSS gang, as well as some newly found Amigos went out to eat at a Cajun restaurant. Oh…and the A/C in my room doesn’t work right so they are going to get someone to fix it. I also went to CVS and bought a fan because it is steamy in here!!! Oh, and tonight we got our show assignments. I am Stage Managing a show called “Salome” by Oscar Wilde. The director is fantastic and I can’t wait to work with him. One of his credits that jumped out at me was directing the musical “Blood Brothers”. I am looking to direct that show as my senior directing project so I will have to ask him about it!!! Well there is more to tell, but my brain has stopped so I will go to bed. Current Mood: accomplished Current Music: The Blowing of My Fan (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, June 26th, 2005
11:42 pm	Northwestern Day One I am going to try to update as much as possible when I am up here. Here's my first "journal entry" Oh by the way...if you didn't know, I am at the National High School Institute Theatre Arts Technical Theatre Concentration "Camp", or as we call it "Cherub". June 26, 2005 11:30 PM WOW. That is all I can say about this place. The people are amazingly friendly and professional, and campus is beautiful! I am in a single dorm room which is very, very nice. I don’t have to worry about getting around my room everything is on top of everything else…It’s a wonderful home, in all sincerity, and I am happy about spending the next 6 weeks here. All of my friends that are here (John, Matthew, Audrey, and Caroline) have a roommate, so I am very lucky. I also have wireless internet access which is great!!! I am presently listening to the Disney Extravaganza “On the Record”. It makes me very happy. Today, when we got to campus, we got about 45 min to unpack and get situated. Than we went to dinner (at 4:30!!!!). The food is, to be honest, amazing…I was so worried that it would suck, but they proved me wrong. Kudos to the dining hall staff. Than we got about 10 min off and then went to the main (and gorgeous) theater. There we met all of the incredible staff…such as Lynn Baber, who is the director of the whole program…She looks and sounds exactly like Joan Cusack. Oh…at dinner, I sat next to the principal set designer Chris. He is amazing…another wonderful Chris. After all of the booring meeting details that I will skip, we played an improv/break the ice game. We were broken into groups of 17 and had to create a scene, given certain things…such as…The Who (Superheroes), The Where (A Box), and the ending line (That’s crazy). It was fun. Oh did I mention how incredible everyone is…I have met like a bazillion people since I got here. People from all over, “Jersey” (as she put it), Sweden, Boston, LA, NYC, lots of other people…I am in awe of the talent and professionalism of these people. O.K. I’m really tired, and we have to do monologues all day tomorrow and I need a good night sleep. Oh P.S., If anyone wants to send me anything (reminder my 18th b-day is july 22), here is the address... Travis Brendle/Theatre Arts Division National High School Instutite 617 Noyes St. Evanston, Il 60208 Have a magical day, Travis Current Mood: anxious Current Music: On the Record (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, March 4th, 2005
10:43 pm	Thoughts... So it’s been a really rough few months. I feel the need to type all of this out so it is off my chest. I've had to deal with a lot of really life impairing sickness which has been a mixed blessing. First off, I have found that I have the immune system of an 85 year old woman who has been smoking since birth. Second, I have really had the time and the circumstance to really examine my life and discover things I never thought existed. I've had the chance to reexamine friendships, new and old, and also I have discovered the path my life was headed. I really didn't like that part. So I've decided to take my life in a new direction...a direction that I am proud to head in. First off, I am going to stop sucking up to everyone and start saying NO for once. All of my life I have tried to appease people at my own emotional expense and, frankly, I am sick of it. I am going to honor the commitments that I have already made, and after that, I am starting fresh. I am really proud of my self to finally start listing to what I want to do and not automatically obey whatever someone else tells me to do. I have been able to put on a very convincing facade on a crumbling building. For example, this summer, I am going to do K.C.'s workshop as I said that I would and I am than going to go to Northwestern University for their Cherubs program (if I get in). I am transitioning from commitments that I couldn't say no to to doing what I feel will better suit my life goals. I have set major priorities for myself for the first time in my life and I WILL attain them, no matter what it takes. Finally, if over the next few months my mood changes rapidly, or I get suddenly very ill, please excuse that. I apologize for my actions in advance because I have very little control over that. Thank you all very much for listing; I really needed to just get this into writing. I love you all, Travis Current Mood: grateful Current Music: Silence (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, February 17th, 2005
8:20 pm	hi (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, August 28th, 2004
11:18 pm	Leadin' Playas Pt. 1 So we had rehearsal today and it was a lot of fun, as usual. I got to give the cast homework. I'm soooo doing it more often. I think that it is a good way to make sure that the cast is still focused on the company. Also, during Senior Playas, we had a chat about basic policy and the like. It was uber exciting... :-/ I love Mrs. Gehring very much. She is like a second mother to all of us. I really respect her and her love of all of the cast of the Leading/Senior/Stage 3/Whatever Players. I am grateful that she she has kept involved with us. After that, I went home and talked on the phone to Meg B. and Sean while they were shopping. I also found out that Sean can't multitask, yet Meg defiantly can. I see why everyone says that Men have a one track mind. They can only concentrate on one thing at a time, so why not make it something worth it. Than I listned to "Wishes, A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams" the most incredible fireworks show that I cryed at. It is moving!!!!! Ok. Thats it, im tired of talking. BYE BYE NOW. Useless Disney Fact of the day --> The original plan for the Enchanted Tiki Room was to have it as a Polynesian-style restaurant, and not an attraction. When he was planning the original attraction for Disneyland, Walt Disney's concept was to possibly have a Chinese restaurant that featured a Confucius-like character offering words of wisdom to dining guests. The idea of a restaurant was quickly scrapped after Walt Disney didn't believe it would be practical. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, August 22nd, 2004
9:52 pm	Fun Fun Fun Today was great. I went to Sean's B-Day Party at the Union, it was a lot of fun!!! Then I went to a meaing for a charity group I am with, Austeens. It's part of assistance league of austin. And thats about it. More updating regularly later. TTFN, Travis Useless Disney Trivia Time --> Spaceship Earth's (at EPCOT Center) estimated weight is 16 million pounds - more than three times that of a Space Shuttle fully fueled and ready for launch! (Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 17th, 2004
6:23 pm	Payne nomination I got a B. Iden Payne Award nomination for Best Youth Performer in Guys and Dolls!!!!!!!! I'm really excited and really honored. I'm especially honored to be nominated against two good friends of mine, Chase Renouf and Taylor McPhail! Congrats guys. Ok. Thats it. Travis P.S. YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO P.P.S. Useless Disney Trivia time --> Space Mountain was the first roller coaster to open in Walt Disney World, when it opened on January 15, 1975. It took 10 years to develop and more than two years to actually construct. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, August 16th, 2004
12:11 am	Another Test Current Mood: bitchy (2 Comments |Comment on this)
12:08 am	just a test (Comment on this)
Sunday, August 15th, 2004
11:45 pm	It's sure been a while OK. It has been a long time since I updated, but things happen. I went to Alaska (it was sooooo much fun). Than I did K.C.'s summer camp at DW and had a BLAST!!!!! If you didn't come to the show than, YOUR FIRED!!!!! And thats about it. Today I went to Kelli's going away party. It was lots of fun, especially b/c I got to see lots of people I haven't seen in a while. So, I hope everyone has a great first day of school tomorrow (or the next day). Ok. Thats kinda it Travis P.S. I'm really sad the Dr. McKelvey is leaving SSS. He is like one of my best friends and I wont have the pleasure to see him every day as it was before. I hope the lady that they hired (Carol someone) is nice and will let me help her out with stuff. P.P.S. Useless Disney Trivia - There has been a long-standing (but false) rumor that comedian Steve Martin was once a "skipper" on the Jungle Cruise in Disneyland. However, although he was never a Jungle Cruise skipper, he in fact worked in a magic shop in Disneyland. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, July 14th, 2004
11:08 pm	Today in the life of me..... O.K. I had an incredible day!!!! I went out to lunch with my friend who was in Japan for a year. She is one of my best friends and we had a lot of catching up to do. Trying to tell her about my year in like half an hour was really hard. I think that the hardest thing to talk about was the Broadway Texas/AMT collapse. There were moments that I actually started to tear up, because I've never really talked at nauseum about the subject. It was hard!!! So then after that I went up to the JCAA and "helped" with Joseph. It's really gonna be a great show. I wish I was gonna be in town for it....So that was kinda it! Oh!! Julia, the costumer for the show rocks my world!!!! Just to let u know! Ok thats it. And now for the useless Disney Trivia (this goes out to Sean who was just at Disney's California Adventure....bitch...jkjkjk) --> The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is 199 feet tall. While it was being built, it was struck by lightning!!! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 13th, 2004
11:25 pm	My Day...... :? So. Today was pretty uneventful. Went to Joseph...At Joseph, I found out that Sean went to Disneyland (well Disney's California Adventure) today. He saw Stuart at the Tower of Terror!!!! Well I am super jealous and its not fair. After all its been so long since I've been back to DL...Well just over a month. But still!!!!!!! O.K. Thats it Have A Magical Day!!! Useless Disney Factoid --> The former WDW attraction "Alien Encounter" includes a cast of celebrities. Chairman Clench is played by Ferris Beuller's Jeffery Jones, the late Phil Hartman is the voice of the robotic S.I.R., and Tim Curry and Kevin Pollack can also be seen in this attraction. (Tim Curry replaced the late Phil Hartman as the voice of "S.I.R." in the pre-show). (Comment on this)