survey stolen.

Our opening night was rather successful! It was a fairly full house, though not completely sold out, but lots of energy. I spent act one going over my lines, as I'm not in it. In act two I blanked about partway thought, but remembered the gist of the line and said that *L0L* The kiss, I have to say, was rather awesome Though act three has a mystery...

You see, there was some faint music playing from the beginning of act three until about halfway through. At first we thought there was a cell phone going off, then we thought someone was playing the piano downstairs rather loudly, then we realized it was music and thought it may have been accidentally left on from intermission. I still think it is the latter, but the sound-booth people say that neither cd player was running, though the music could be heard over the stage manager's headset that is connected to the backstage stage assistant manager's headset. The final consensus is that it was the theatre ghost, Helen. (Mum researched the ghost and there is one nicknamed Ophelia and a dead janitor, but neither have been known to play music during a show). 

Just before the show, the director gave us each a rose. Everyone else got a red rose, but I got a pink one. In the play Cecily is told "...because you are like a pink rose" (which Kodie thinks is the creepiest stalker-like rapist line in the entire play *L0L*). I think that is utterly sweet of him to do that for us! After the show as a reception that had finger foods and wine. It wasn't all that entertaining as no one from the audience came to talk to me except one girl to tell me that I reminded her of Bernadette from Big Bang Theory. I did chat for a while with a couple college students who were talking to other cast members. When everyone left, some cast and crew went to the pub for some more drinks. 

 The review for our performance that night came out a couple of days later, and it was a rather good one. I mean, who could diss us when we were so fantastic?! Basically it said how awesome we were, then went on to say that I talk too fast at times and Rev Chasuble doesn't have any sort of accent at all. Mum thinks that the writer was picking on me because I wrote him to let him know of the errors he made in a previous article (under the assumption that the online article would be corrected). You can see it here: http://www.intelligencer.ca/2012/10/12/an-earnest-offering

Our second night was not nearly so great. I was, for some odd reason, even more nervous than our opening night! Everyone was simply exhausted having used up all our energy the night prior, so it was a little difficult to be excited. The audience also wasn't giving us anything, normally we can feel their enjoyment and get a lot of laughter, but not this night. Oddly enough, as jittery and tired as I was, I didn't mess up any of my lines... though other people did!

The third night we had a much better audience with a lot of laughter. I was freezing all freaking night, and some eejit propped the friggen door open downstairs in the green room  which didn't help me any. Unfortunately Gwen's knee went out between the second and third act, but she managed to get through the last scenes anyways --possibly because she sits mostly. After the show we went out to the pub again. We had been planning to go to karaoke, but it was at a slightly sketchy bar and Jack wanted food more than singing so we went to the Winchester instead. While there Prism told the most hilarious stories of the worst ever plays, and one had us laughing so hard we were crying!

I also learned that Algy was accused of toying with a girl's affections on a previous play. Apparently the girl he had to kiss in that production thought it meant more, a real connection between them... *wince* note to self: don't think Algy's kissing onstage means more than a stage direction! I do know that to be honest, but I allow myself to have a bit of a crush and some hope anyways because it makes for good chemistry between our characters. Apparently it is so believable that a friend who came to the show asked if we were dating in real life! Now I know how rumors of dating costars happen with hollywood celebs *L0L*

While at the pub I was occasionally texting with Buttercup who was at work --he does nightshift on the weekends and when he's not in school. He said he was tired and really needed a hug, so after dropping Jon off I swung by Buttercup's work for a short visit. I hadn't seen him in a couple weeks, as he had that dang cold that was going around, so it was nice to have a few moments. He also plans to come see the show soon

 Today's show was a matinee, which meant no church for me... not that I've managed to wake up on time to go for a couple weeks now anyways. It was sort of a cross between a lazy-day pace and a mad rush because we've not done such an early show before. I think we were all having troubles with the time today, forgetting it was afternoon rather than evening. In fact, Merriman kept opening the door to check outside! *L0L*

I think the best part of this last show was the set change between act two and three. Downstairs, Prism was staring at the tv feed of the stage and yelling at it that the couch was in the wrong position. To get it corrected before the beginning of the next act, the housekeeper and the two butlers (lane and merriman) went out and Nancy scolded the men and had them adjust the furniture. OME it was hilarious! And apparently, Jon nearly took off my hand again with his faux sword during the Cecily dream sequence. Man that hurts when it happens, so thankfully he missed this time! 

My Gramma and aunt came to this show, though I didn't know that until towards the end of act two when I happened to be in a spot near to where they were sitting and the light wasn't in my eyes. Thankfully Algy only gave me a quick kiss today rather than the usual longer one! That would have been embarrassing otherwise... 

Now my family is having our thanksgiving dinner. We didn't have one earlier for various reasons... namely that my dad hadn't been feeling well and he is responsible for cooking big meals (stresses mum out too much). We have just discovered that dad forgot to buy broccoli or asparagus, so it is going to be peas and mashed potatoes and roast beef with cheese sauce, and apple pie for dessert. *yum*

SUMR

Tonight was the unofficial start of the play, also known as the open dress rehearsal. People are allowed to come see our rehearsal, so that we get the practice before an audience and they get in for five bucks.  

I arrived shortly after 6pm --two hours before curtain-- to do hair and make-up. I do my own make-up because the lady who is supposed to be doing it is absolute wretched at it and gets very easily confused. Thankfully Gwen curled my hair for me as it took an entire hour! Everyone else in the cast was in and out by the time my regime was finished. 

I don't actually go onstage until 45 minutes into the play, so in that time I was going over my lines to warm up and practice my accent. I noticed the other night that I kept dropping it and didn't want to do so in front of an actual audience. My first scene is a little skit with a damsel in distress and a knight in shining armor... only the knight accidentally whacked my hand really hard with his sword *cries* Apparently people were very impressed by my lack of reaction to the extreme pain of it since they could actually hear the contact of the wood upon my poor appendage. 

Algy and I are still having trouble with our one scene. I really think we should practice it a few times together, but it seems he has no time in which to do so. We messed up our lines again --though we're not quite sure who was at fault *L0L*-- and the blocking was screwed up (Algy forgot the new change that was made and did old blocking). My mother was far from impressed by Algy kissing me --though we kept it really short and quick tonight!-- and threatened to shoot the poor guy *L0L*

Otherwise, everything went quite well! We got sooo many laughs, even in places we were not expecting any  My family thought Jack's facial expressions and mannerism were absolutely hilarious, and that Lady Bracknell's lines were quite funny. Gwen and Algy looked very debonaire and town-ish. Miss Prism was wonderful, and Rev Chasuble was funnily bumbling about. I apparently looked like Cinderella, and played my part marvelously as a young daydreamy girl all sweet and innocent.

I did not find out until after I got home that not only did my parents come (which I knew), but my best-friend Dawlz, her grandmother Nanny K, and our friend Leigh; my step-grandmother Donna; my Nana and her two sisters, Joan and Pat; plus a couple from my church. Even though they all got tickets at different times, my family members were all sitting together in the same row... I can only say I'm grateful that Donna and Nana were not beside each other, because that would have been rather horrible and awkward. I am sorry I missed seeing everyone, but the director had to give us notes for what to fix for opening night. 

I am quite pleased with how things turned out and can only hope that they get even better!

SUMR

I have been bad this holiday weekend (it is our thanksgiving for all y'all non-Canadians), and did not do a single thing that I should. I could have been doing my content editing, looking into a freelance job I might get offered, even practicing my lines in non-rehearsal times... but I didn't. Instead I spent much of the weekend watching the two seasons of Joan of Arcadia. 

I always loved the show, even though it didn't last very long. It was about an average girl whom God asked to do things that made no sense at first, but you generally got to see the result of that action. I like the idea of each of us having a purpose in life and that the things we do matter. And doesn't that get you thinking? Do you ever wonder about the butterfly effect of your actions? How some small insignificant instance on your part could lead to good or bad consequence? 

This play has absolutely taken over my life, so I begin to wonder why. What the things I'm doing, the relationships I'm creating with these people, what does it all mean in the long run? Will the friendships last or, even if they don't, will something I've said have a long-range result? I just don't know and wish I did. But I guess we can never know, never get the answer or see the results all the time. I can only hope that in some small way I will make a difference in someone's life for the good. I don't want there to be bad ripples in someone's life because of me. 

Isn't that what we should all aspire to, doing the best we can and helping others when we can? I don't want to be that selfish and self-centered girl who can only see the things that matter in her own life. I want to be able to see when others are in need and try to be there for them when they need the support. I want to make difference, if only a small one, even if it goes unnoticed. 

I just want to be able to like who I am. 

SUMR

Algernon and I were supposed to meet early to work on our scenes, then I found out he asked the same of Jack which makes no sense because he can't practice with both of us at once because we're not all in the same scenes. Then it turns out that Algy can't make it to half the actual rehearsal, let alone an early practice, because he couldn't catch a train back to town (his work sent him to Toronto for the day). I hope to heck the luvey can get together tomorrow! 

Then I had to be at a hair salon for consultation at 5pm to meet the lady contemplating volunteering her time to do our hair for the show. I was the first there and it turns out that she can only do it for two of the five shows per week and in the afternoon --four hours before the show-- leaving me with three days to figure it out for myself. Plus she said that when I came to her, she would show me how to do my own hair while she supervised and that I would have to buy my own hair rollers, too. I thought the whole point of going to a hairdresser is for her to do it with her supplies! It felt like a giant waste of time, and Gwen did my hair in ringlets before the rehearsal without much trouble at all. 

Algy made it  on time for the second act, but for some reason I was having such a hard time remembering my lines! I kept hesitating throughout the whole act and --worse yet-- I managed to skip at least a half a page's worth during my first scene with him. During our second scene Algy didn't go in for his kiss the same so it ended up being moved until after my line (as it is in the script), and I didn't do the blocking the way I wanted to try it because I was just so thrown off. I did much better in the third act even though I'm still not sure of the blocking for it, but at least I have very few lines! 

Oh man, if anyone had walked into the green room between acts or after rehearsal they should have thought twice. There are so many people running around and most of us are half-clothed! I had on my short crinolines and bustier with ankle boots; Gwen was in her long crinolines, corset, and bra; most of the boys were in boxers and tshirts, though Lady B (played by a man) was wearing only a skirt and wig without a shirt on. 

Since it was Jack's and Kodie's birthdays I brought in cookies to the rehearsal, and everyone was invited to come out for drinks after rehearsal. Since it was nearly midnight most turned it down but Jack, Algy, Jon, Gwen, the Director, the Costumer, and myself all went to the pub.  It was so much fun! We talked theatre and movies mostly, but what can you expect? Jack is going to be directing a play next season and wants Gwen to be assistant director; Algy thinks there should be a repertoire group to do something with high school students even though his work wont allow him to run it; Jon and I both want to take the script writing workshop that is apparently going to be held sometime this year... Oh, how I love these people! 

I also think they are also getting more used to my affectionate personality. Tim gave me a hug today, Jon kissed my head when I leaned against him at the pub, and Mike does not hesitate to lean on me or beg for a massage or steal my munchies. Gwen has known me for years and our old friendship is slowly coming back, so she already knows me pretty well. In fact, most people tend to comment on how well we get along not even realizing we'd been friends years ago! *L0L*

Even with all of the disasters, I have to say it was a truly fabulous night. 

SUMR

Yesterday was a "special scenes" rehearsal, a day put aside to work on the specific parts that require extra time to perfect them... basically the entire second act. I had sent an email to my director a couple days prior to beg him to do the scenes I am in a bunch of times in a row until I get my lines and blocking right, because I was seriously freaking out. I mean, Algy can hardly make rehearsals and Gwen hadn't learned all her lines yet, so we needed it! 

I was so emphatic about getting this rehearsal that I picked up Algy from work just so he would make it on time. He was running a little later than expected, but I was so busy texting with friends that I barely even touched my ereader which I brought for that purpose. We made it just on time for rehearsal and that is all that matters. 

The director started with notes from the previous night's rehearsal; he didn't go over them before because there were so many! One of his notes were for me to ensure I run my hand through Algy's hair during our embrace. I told the director that I would have remembered had I not been in total shock! He figured that had been the cause, and thought it quite funny that Algy didn't let me know in advance that he was going to kiss me. Algy said he thought my eyes were going to roll back in my head in surprise 

Both Algernon and I expected that we would focus on each scene, running through it a few times, then moving on to the next one. Yet for some unknown reason the director decided to just run through the entire second act and only stop when something terrible happened. That wasn't what I needed at all, though I have to say that it did calm my nerves slightly.

I will note that the kiss was much improved, partially because I knew it would happen and in part due to my remembering my blocking for during the kiss. I still think the blocking on that needs a bit of work --I sure don't mind practicing that a few times more -- if only because I'm forced to say my line to the back of the stage rather than towards the audience. I'll have to figure out a way to slightly turn my head from Algy without making it seem unromantic. Hmmm... 

Tonight's rehearsal started badly and it only got worse as the night progressed. First Algy got stuck at work and found out he couldn't make it until after 10pm (we start at 730), two of the major players were about a half-hour late, and two minor characters didn't even bother showing up! The majority of the set was shoddily put together: one of the wall-panels fell down, the window wouldn't hook properly and was therefore crooked, the chaise lounge gave slivers to anyone attempting to sit on it, the step stool is dangerous to climb, and more! More of my blocking had to be changed due to how utterly rickety that stair-stepper is. 

While I did have trouble with my diction (most of my lines have same-letter or consonant-and-vowel endings/starts so my words tend to slur together if I'm not careful), I only messed up on one line! I completely forgot the words to a really simple sentence, though I remembered the gist, and had to make up something. I'm still not sure what it was supposed to be! 

Because Algy only made it on time for the third act, I stayed a little later with him to run lines for the second act. We both have a little trouble remembering when the other person's line is finished, and we really have to nail them so they flow properly. Blocking couldn't be done at this time due to the stage being set for act three still, and we didn't want to haul furniture around. We're possibly getting together tomorrow, but definitely on Friday. We'll work on our lines and blocking of act two for about an hour prior to our normal rehearsal time, so that we'll --hopefully-- have it down for the run through. *fingers crossed!*

SUMR

Tonight I had my first kiss.

Well, not the first ever, but my first stage kiss. Yesterday in rehearsal I overheard the director asking Algernon “When are you going to work on the kiss?” I was surprised since I knew nothing of a kiss. I mean, when we first got the script I saw there was kissing throughout, but the director changed them to a cheek or the forehead or even got rid of the kiss completely…  And now there is apparently to be at least one kiss. Since Algernon said “next week, after she’s no longer sick” I took that to mean that he and I would get together in a few days to talk about it, and perhaps even practice.

Okay, I can imagine there being some jokes about practicing kissing, but stage kisses are a little different. They are more meticulous about timing and angle and positioning of the embrace and all of that because it has to look good for the audience rather than just be enjoyable for the couple. 

Tonight we had our first dress rehearsal, so I finally had a costume… Sort of. My dress wasn’t quite finished and so I kept tripping on the hem —it was too long—plus my boot kept getting caught in my crinolines (of which I had six layers). After nearly doing more than one face plant my skirt was finally pinned up, and after my boot getting stuck in the underskirts several times --thus leaving me standing on one foot while attempting to detangle myself-- I was permitted to rid myself the two longer layers of petticoat.

I don’t come on until Act Two, and we start it with this awesome Victorian melodrama skit that I absolutely adore. Tonight we had a couple of problems, because my knight accidentally whacked me with his sword and then he kneeled too far from my perch so that I nearly fell off when reaching for him

The new blocking is messing me over completely. The director keeps changing things so I don’t realize a problem until I’m already onstage and don’t have the props I need.  I freaked out poor Miss P when I got up during one of her long speeches to cross the stage so that I might grab the things I require. We have it figured out now, so I only hope I can remember the latest changes! 

Then came my scenes with Algy. Our first scene together he got rather confused with the blocking and ended up interrupting my line to sit when he shouldn't have. Our second scene was abysmal for all that we blocked it the day prior. The guy still seems a bit reticent to touch me; He said the other night he was a bit unnerved by the fact that I’m so little compared to himself. Even though I’m short, I’m no delicate flower! I don’t see why it worries him in the least.  Whenever he’s to put his arms around me in some sort of embrace, the best he can do is his hands on my waist; his arms and chest don’t touch me at all. What kind of hug is that I ask you?!?

Oddly enough, this is when the kiss comes in. I wasn’t expecting it in the least, and not just because we hadn’t talked about it, but because it wasn’t even at the right time in the script! I had absolutely no warning, he just said his line and then swooped in to kiss me. I daresay I was in complete shock! 

It was a decent kiss I suppose. Slightly below centre and over fairly quickly, so much so that there wasn’t the chance to participate by kissing him back or getting my arms around his neck. Nor did I have any time to enjoy it, as I had to use all my concentration not to be flustered and therefore carry on with the play. I don’t know whether to be upset by his guerilla tactics and thus the potential of startling me to the point that I was completely thrown of kilter, or thanking him for not giving me any time to fret about it before hand!

But now that rehearsal is over and I’m home again, I’ve now the chance to completely freak out about the kiss. I don’t know if it is a good spaz or a bad one, but I know there is a hope that the kissing goes a lot better in future rehearsals. I daresay with a little practice it will be enjoyable for both myself and the audience 

SUMR

A little over a week ago I went out shopping with a friend of mine and finally --finally!-- got something I've been wanting for years. This little something is expensive (to me) and thus I had it on my birthday-christmas list for about three years in the hope that my family members might chip in to get it for me, but no go. Now that I'm done school and have a job, albeit part-time, I felt I could splurge for this little beauty as it was on sale. 

The store didn't have the colour I wanted, so technically it was ordered through the kiosk. This was lamentable due to the fact that by the time it came in a week or so later, I wasn't nearly as excited about it. In fact, the day before my little lovely arrived my aunt called to ask if I wanted her old Kobo as she just bought a tablet. Yep, my aunt had picked one up about a year ago because it was so "inexpensive" and she wanted to "try one out" --wouldn't it be nice to have that kind of funds? *le sigh* I wish I had known about my aunt doing this prior as I could have put the money I spent towards my Ireland trip, but c'est la vie. 

 I still love books and still plan to buy them, but only the ones that I want to collect. Such as the series I have already started, or author's that I adore, and the covers that are truly stunning. Other books that have embarrassing covers or new authors I've not yet read or books that are only in eBook or library books  can all be on my eReader. In fact, I have put most of the books I have done editing for on my reader already. 

So now that I have this technological gorgeousness I need to purchase some protective covering for it, but am unsure which method I prefer: The flip or the slide.  So what do y'all think, shall I go for the purple book-style covering or the pink wallet-style?

Do any of y'all have an ereader and how do you like it? Is it better than physical books, on par, or not nearly as likable? How often do you use your ereader? If you don't have an ereader, do you ever intend to get one? 

SUMR

I am using this as a form of procrastination as I still have about a dozen pages left to edit before I was supposed to take a break, but Karo texted me about her new post and I was only able to resist for nine pages before going to check it out. After reading her lamentable history with the opposite gender, I decided to answer Karoline1982's question at the end of her post and share my dating history. 

Unlike Karo, I think I would like to have a significant other at this stage in my life. I have finally graduated from school, have a job I enjoy (okay, I have two jobs which would be perfect if I could combine them into one with only the good parts of the positions), and am in a place emotionally that I finally feel ready to try for something lasting. My biggest problem with this is that the guys my age, say 25-35, never look at me twice as they think I'm just a kid. 

I have always been a bit too scared to date much and tend to just have crushes, so I don't have an extensive dating history. In fact, I don't have an extensive history with dealing with guys in general and have decided that I shall include boyfriends, dates, friends, and current relationships of unknown status.  

So here is the Boys of Sumr:

1) Country Boy: At first I thought this guy was really sweet and caring, but I soon learned that he just liked young and naive. I should have known better than to date him since I met him through my brother (whom I have not gotten along with since I was three), but I was fooled by his charm. I had never so much as been on a date before, and he was constantly trying to get in my clothes. I never let him cross the line... which is probably why he cheated on me. I also learned he wasn't the brightest when I overheard a girl in my class talking about the new guy in her life and even happened to see them together. While she and I were not friends, we did go to the same school and were in the same grade! I dumped the eejit, and his next actual girlfriend (as opposed to the FWB) ended up dropping out of school because she got preggers. 

2) Choir Boy: With my next boyfriend, I went in the complete opposite direction. Instead of a guy a few years older than myself, this one was actually a couple years younger (which I did not know at first), as well as being more on the quiet and shy side than outgoing charmer. Things were going all right until we realized that the only time we got to see each other was at church/youth group since neither of us had our license, plus he failed to realize how psycho my mum could be and ended up getting me grounded for three weeks just for calling me.  I obviously didn't want to be dating a guy whom I never got to see and failed to actually listen to me. 

3) Fly Boy: Now this guy was not actually a boyfriend, but rather more of a complex friendship. We would flirt and hang out, but I refused to date him when he asked over the first year of our friendship. He was cute and sweet, but no sparks. Whenever we were both back home from uni visiting our respective parents, we would hang out... and I guess one summer he decided that wasn't enough for him. He kissed me, and I let him. This kept up for the rest of the summer and I guess I was trying to be attracted to him because he was such a great guy, but still nothing. For pity's sake we were such good friends I knew who he lost his virginity to! I found out that the reason that some of my friends disliked him was because he apparently "acts like a horn-dog" whenever he wasn't around me, so I guess I brought out the best in him *shrug* 

4) Family Boy: This boyfriend started as a set up by a couple friends, and he was a cross between an adult and a child. He had a full-time job and was looking for a serious relationship, but he was a bit on the immature and nerdy side... and still lived with his parents. He was in a band (great guitarist, questionable singer), always wanted us to pay dutch (though he had a job and I was a student), and never actually put the effort into planning a date before asking (ie, going to see a movie that was no longer playing in a theatre that didn't have any matinees that day).  He also wanted me to convert to his denomination, transfer to a school closer to him, and had our kids names picked before we even reached three months. 

5) Crush Boy: We are friends and have never been anything more, but I used to have a serious crush on him. This guy is an absolute darling who tells it like it is, never hesitates to gives hugs, is incredibly generous, and loves to read. The downside is that he smokes and his faith is somewhat in question, which are two things I would never tolerate in a boyfriend and that might be how I got over my crush on him. Nevertheless, I hope we'll always be good friends. 

6) E-Boy: During my post-grad I discovered a few of my friends and relatives were trying online dating AND every time people heard I did not have a bf they asked if I'd tried any dating sites, so I decided to give it a go. I ended up emailing dozens of guys, but the majority of them have very little patience since I refused to actually meet anyone until I knew a bit about them first. I actually only met one guy (others were in the running, but I ended up moving). He was sweet and we spent hours chatting at a bookshop, but though he said he wanted to get together again, we never did. I wish he was willing to stay in touch as he was interesting to talk to, but he didn't put any effort into it and so I gave up. 

7) Cast Boy: This guy is a member of the play I am in and he is my love interest in the script, so I'm not entirely sure if we are actually interested in each other or just allowing ourselves to think we are in order to build chemistry for the performance --not that I'm sure he is interested in me at all. We kind of flirt a wee bit, and he tries to talk me into giving him a shoulder-massage whenever he can. He walked me to my car when I didn't want to go to the parking lot alone in the dark, we stopped for ice cream after rehearsal one night (his treat!), and he asked who the guy on my cell phone wallpaper is (me, the stanley cup, and a hockey player). He's a bit intense and works a lot, leaving barely enough time to make half the rehearsals let alone having time to date, but I hope we at least stay in touch and become friends if nothing else comes of it.  

8) Baby Boy: This was somewhat unexpected in regards to another cast mate who fills in for Cast Boy when he can't make rehearsals. The guy is a good seven or eight years younger than me, and seemed so incredibly shy that I kind of took him under my wing even though I'm not exactly a veteran. He sent me an email thanking me for helping to make his first experience with the theatre more comfortable, and asked if I wanted to get together for coffee sometime to run lines and chat. He doesn't exactly have any lines since he's technically just an extra, but wanted to help me practice my lines (he learned it was my first major role and was terrified of screwing up). How sweet is that?! During the past few weeks of rehearsal we learned we both have an interest in scriptwriting and directing, so I think I actually will meet up with him even though I wouldn't count it as a date. 

So there you have it, my three boyfriends, two of my friends, two cast mates, and one date... from the past fifteen years. Is this pathetic, average, or more than the usual/expected? Is there a pattern to my choices I should be aware of? Is there someone in particular you think I should give a second chance to? Any other commentary about the contenders? 

What is your dating history? 

SUMR

I was going to write about what has been going on in my life lately, but I'll do that another day. Today instead I will do a photo blog about the many shades of me! My hair isn't really something that is easily definable. People have actually debated about the exact shade of my hair: is it brown or is it blonde? Personally I think it is that icky mouse-colour that is between the two shades, but it is technically a combination of brown and blond with a touch of red. You can't get much more natural-coloured than when you're in primary school, but it did eventually darken to a nearly brown by the time I reached high school. (The last photo is taken at dusk with flash, so the lighting makes my hair look a bit darker than it was). 

Oh, sure, sometimes I would play around with highlights. I usually went for blond, but occasionally I tried a strawberry shade and even blue too! Blond lasted the longest, as the blue washes out quickly and the red fades fast. Plus, there was the little saying of "blondes have more fun" and I grew up hearing that blondes were always prettier than everyone else, so I tended to go that route.  

Then, as you all know, last year I decided to finally dye my hair red. I had never dyed ALL of my hair prior this, but years ago I was told I would make a lovely redhead and I needed a change. I was living away from my family and friends, nor did I become close to anyone while at college, so I needed something to give my life a bit of a boost. I couldn't afford to travel anywhere exotic, and I'm not athletic or brave enough to do something utterly crazy, so I hoofed it to the local pharmacy for a $15 box of Copper-Red. I liked it enough that six months later I re-dyed my hair in the same shade (though I have to say, the only photos I have of me with red hair kinda suck *L0L*) 

Eventually the colour faded to something that was a bit of a strawberry-blond people actually complimented me on and thought was my natural shade. Then two of my dearest friends were getting married *yAy* but my hair simply would not do as a bridesmaid going to be in photos. I didn't really want to go red again since the wedding colours were black and green, so I thought blond would be the best way to go... except it did kind of look still a bit reddish at first. Nevertheless, I absolutely loved it! It did fade to a more golden-blond later on, which was still nice but not nearly as awesome. I was often told I looked like Bernadette from Big Bang Theory at that point.      

I planned to just grow my hair out, but then I was cast as Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest. The director talked to a couple of us about our hair, and I was informed I would need to dye my hair again. Only the director didn't want me to be a blonde like Gwendolyn, nor a redhead either (possibly because the understudy for Gwen has naturally red hair). He wanted me to become a brunette, which was something I have been trying to avoid my entire life *sigh* So with the help of a consultant, a medium brown was chosen... which didn't quite end up like it was supposed to either. Go figure. 

Indoors my hair looks quite dark, rather similar to the pencil crayon called "chestnut", but once out of doors it is sort of this golden reddish brown. It is a wee bit darker than my natural colour -which is what I was hoping to get back to- and the director better be pleased with it as I am not going to dye my hair again! 

So what do you think? Do you like my brown hair or do you think another colour looks better? And which hair colour makes me look closer to my actual age? Please share whether you like me best as a redhead, a blonde, a brunette, or my natural colour!  

  SUMR