My 21st Year!: The Vagina Monologues Retreat and PICTURES!!!

So, I've been cast in the non-UCI associated production of The Vagina Monologues and it's actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be!

I auditioned kind of because I was getting upset that I'm at this new school and things are supposed to be different; better, but I still hadn't been cast in a show! And then I was a little bummed when I found out rehearsals are at the same time as an Opera Workshop that I was sooo excited to take and worked so hard to get into!

Then this weekend, we "retreated" together for Saturday and a sleepover. First, we met up at the UCI flagpoles and randomly formed teams for a scavenger hunt that took us across campus numerous times, but it was so much fun! We took pictures of the things we needed to find and I took video of the things that were movement oriented. We ended winning! But whomever won didn't really matter. I will share some of the video/pictures I took.

Lizz, Marlyn, JoJo, Christine, Meghan

Jojo and Lizz in front of the Bren Events Center

with Peter the Anteater

(UCI mascot)

One of the tasks was to reenact how we think an Engineering Major

would react to the word, "vagina."

Jojo IS an Engineering Major.

Here's what happened.

Peter the Anteater is our mascot, but this is a female version

so we named her

Petrova, the Maneater

Then we went to one of the director's homes and decorated t-shirts for when we advertise for the show on Ring Road or around campus ("tabling" is what they call it). We watched a movie, then we talked. About the show, our lives, everything. It was great. Everyone is so open and so encouraging and non-intimidating and non-threatening, even the guys who stayed to help out (they are in the crew).

V-Day is the version of the Vagina Monologues

that we will be performing.

And I had everyone sign the bottom.

Oh man, though.... when we were playing games, there was one game where four girls would stand up next to each other in front of everyone else and anyone could ask the person next to you a yes or no question about you. This is The Vagina Monologues, so a lot of the girls/women are really comfortable talking about sex and guys and love and everything so a lot of the questions were kind of sexual questions. I'm a pretty open person; if you ask I will probably tell you, with a disclaimer saying, "Don't ask if you don't want to know" but I was terrified of getting some random question about ... I can't even think of what. They all know I'm a virgin and I'm going to wait for my husband to be my first (and hopefully only, God-willing). But I was still nervous about all the different kinds of questions that were being asked. But I always love hearing about others' experiences and opinions; I'm strange that way.

-Keep in mind, that what was said on our retreat, stays in our retreat, except that this I have a right to recount because it is about me. I would never blog about one of the other girls' questions.-

So, when it came to my turn, my neighbor was asked if they think that Lizz is the mothering type in a relationship, or likes to be mothered. My neighbor answered that I would be the mother-er because of all that I've helped everyone with in just the few hours we've all been together. ... Apparently, I was the one who gave someone a hair-tie, I had offered help to people who were struggling carrying things, mine was the car that held the luggage while we scavenged for clues around campus and I was one of the drivers to the actual location, so I had garnered this motherly reputation already. But I told them I've yet to be in a relationship, but it's true; when I'm in a relationship, I will probably treat my guy like a King, but of course I would prefer to be treated like his Queen. I told them, though, that so far in my relationships with friends, I tend to be the one who just gives all the time and never gets back - I have a few friends in mind - so I'm hoping that it will be a compromise, as I think it should be. But we shall see.

And that's when the question came up that made my day. A new friend of mine in the cast asked my neighbor if they thought I am waiting for that guy to come along, or desperately searching for him. She said probably waiting but not worried if he doesn't show up just yet because she knows it'll happen in it's own time. She got it right on the money, but I added somet extra.

I said, "I'm desperately trying to wait and not search for him." And JoJo - I love you, Jojo! - said, "Lizz, I think he's desperately waiting for you too." And I HAD to hug her. It made my day and it was kind of affirmation that where I am is okay, and it will happen, but not to go looking for it. In God's Timing. it was great.

Also, here are some pictures of from Cambria Pines Resort, where Kelly got married this Wednesday.