Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Things along the Eastern seaboard continue to be chaotic post Hurricane Sandy. I have survivor's remorse as I sit working in my apartment with functioning electricity, heat, and gas. You may have noticed that my focus has been somewhat diverted from performing arts of late. I'm slowly but surely trying to return to a baseline level of forward progress in that arena.

Elsewhere in the North East, people are still without homes, food, and warmth. I just learned today that for the first time in history, Doctors without Borders has set up a disaster relief zone within the continental United States to address the needs of those displaced by Hurricane Sandy.

No heat on the Rockaways until Christmas? http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/opinion/nocera-no-heat-till-christmas.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20121110

In that context, it feels woefully self aggrandizing to be frustrated that there are hardly any auditions happening because casting companies are also still recuperating and getting their operations back on track.

Out of necessity, I've shifted my focus a bit to skill building (lots of acting and dance class), life-organizing, and maximizing my students' potential. After meaning to do this for a while, I'm finally taking advantage of this Saturday off to lesson plan and bust out my GRE book.

The recent election roller coaster reminded me how much I miss engaging in discourse about issues and ideas that are either important to me or new to me and therefore provide an opportunity to inhale new information. I can't help but feel grad school looming in my near-ish future, especially considering the omnipresent back pain and dearth of intellectual challenge.

In summary, I want to share with you the president's acceptance speech. We need more politicians who believe that "whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made a difference, you made your voice heard" and that we can actually work together to move this country forward. Barack Obama believes these things, and I do too. 

No matter your party affiliation or lack thereof, you should watch this speech.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/11/06/us/politics/06-obama-election-night-speech.html?ref=politics

To the President, from little kids who care (courtesy of Teach For America)
http://www.teachforamerica.org/blog/dear-mr-president

I only hope that Speaker Boehner can get over himself long enough to actually work with his president to address the fiscal cliff that a Republican majority Congress has constructed for us. (I unabashedly pronounce his name Boner because I am sometimes immature and I just do not like him very much).

In the meantime, I'll be keeping one foot in the dance world, one foot in the education world. I'll also have my first two fingers on the pulse of national progress, if for no other reason than this little girl holding her mini American flag.

Have a safe and healthy weekend!!

All my love,

A Broadway Baby