I fixed it. And when I sat in it, oh man did that feel fantastic. Actually, I'm sitting in it now, and it feels a bit more solid. No weird creaking wood noises. So maybe I fixed it for good? I'd like to hope so, because I'd like to keep this chair around for a while. Wood glue, wood screws (that weren't all that solid, unfortunately), some clamps for the glue process, and voila, it's back to working status.
And I suppose for anyone who is like "don't buy from IKEA!!" they have valid points, but if you're willing to put a little extra work in (in case it breaks, like in my case), I'd say it's worth it. Mostly just because I love rocking chairs though.
Also, I love the fact that mine has a red cushion, rather than black as pictured on the IKEA website. Red is probably my second favorite color, and my house color (Gryffindor, duh), and even though it's supposed to be a power/anger color, I tend to just like it (mostly in smaller doses though). Although, it does make me feel a little empowered.
Moving on from the chair, I spent my week working as a receptionist and rereading Harry Potter (I'm currently about 2/3 through the 3rd book) and then my entire weekend I spent helping a friend with a film project for a class. It felt good to be on a set again, to be doing what I actually want to do with my life. The interesting part was I realized just how much I know, and it's a dangerous amount. I'm not a DP by any stretch, but as a photographer and artist, I understand a lot about making a shot look more dynamic/cinematic. They also at one point started listening to me about how to do the lights, which I thought was a very bad decision on their part considering that I probably know less about lighting than the two guys on the crew (although I do know when the lighting looks right within the shot...). I caught things for them on occasion (oh hey you have this in the shot...) and did some makeup on two of the actors (who I deemed my beautiful beat-up boys). It looked pretty good on camera, and the cast and crew loved it, so it was all good. Last night (after my 3rd late night in a row, following a week of being up early for work), I was so tired I crashed in a chair in the guys' apartment. Ooops.... They woke me up once they'd finished putting all the equipment away and sent me home, which was definitely for the best. Also, on a sort of funny side, I had some fake blood from doing the makeup, and when they were doing a quick pick-up shot, I got sort of bored and dripped the fake blood across the ground in a way that looked like someone had gotten stabbed or a really bloody nose and had walked away, and the guys thought it was so cool and decided they needed a shot of it. Krista and I thought it was hilarious that my goof-off moment turned so cinematic.
Not working today through wednesday, but I work thursday-wednesday (minus the weekend, and people have started asking me if I'm free to help them on films already...). Guess I'm sort of popular? Even if that's not the case, I think I'll believe it is for the time being, because that seems like a better answer than "we just want her around because we want to use her, but we don't actually like her because she's a bit of an insufferable know-it-all".
I'm exhausted, but I'm happy. I met new people this weekend, made new friends (at least that's how I would view them) and honestly just felt like all was right in the world. Although, unfortunately for Juan, I definitely felt my director side coming out. It can't be helped. Stick me on a set and if I know people will listen to my suggestions, I will be making a great deal of suggestions (at least in my head, I tend to tone it down vocally). It's one of my many faults, but it's part of what makes me me.
On a psychological side, I'm still clueless as to how to not be so emotionally distant, unattached. How to stop shutting myself in and others out. I was talking to my mom about it and she said that it was normal for someone who has been hurt to do this, to put up barriers and emotional shields. But I don't think I could explain to her that the extent to which I do it is unnatural. (actually, it's quite natural for me). It's unhealthy, and it's to the point where even when I want to let someone in, more often than not, I can't. There is a massive part of me that remains hidden constantly, and no one ever knows everything. Although, my best friend Nicole comes close to knowing everything. She probably knows me the best, even though we only met in January, and have been apart since the end of April. But we're soul mates, and the distance between us physically hasn't hindered our relationship. I'm blessed to have her in my life, even moreso to be able to call her my best friend.
I miss our froyo dates.
