Late Introduction

          Hello, my name is Bailey Steinke. Super cliché opening right? As you get to know, or have gotten to know, me through these blogs, you will find, or have found, that I am super quirky. I am mature, but I am also one of the goofiest people you will ever "meet". I had to mature at a very young age, as my parents got a divorce when I was about 6 years old and was put in the position of being the mommy to my little sister whenever we were at my dad's house. As once again stereotypical as that sounds, I am not saying that my dad isn't a good person. I love my dad to the end of the earth and can't imagine where I would be without him. I like to think that my dad is the more reasonable, practical and disciplinary one of my parents, but everyone has to have one, don't we? My mom is a completely different person than my dad. My mom, whom to others I refer to as Cheryl, is my best friend and I am not afraid to say so. Someday I hope to be as great of a person as my mother is. She has almost single handedly raised my younger sister and I to be who we are. Cheryl is one of the goofiest people on the earth. She is my ultimate role model and I can't describe how much she means to me.

          I am heavily involved in theatre and vocal music. As you may have gathered, performing arts is my niche. I am not exactly sure when I figured out that performing is what I love and live for, but I am glad that I did. I never get nervous when I am on stage. When I perform I let every ounce of energy I have pour into my performance, whether it is singing or acting. I just get such a rush of adrenaline when I am on the spot, being watched intently for the next note or line to come spilling out of my mouth. Theatre is a huge part of my high school life. I have been involved in almost all of the productions in some way during the past two years and because of my dedication, I have become president of the Thespian Society. My favorite thing about theatre is working with new and modern material as well as interpreting classic pieces and adapting them to modern stage. It is really cool to put yourself in your characters shoes and connect the dots of their journey throughout the production and end up creating your own character. At the end of a show you find yourself missing the character, almost, because they have become a part of who you are. I am an avid member of Happiness Inc. as well as Concert Choir and Chamber Choir. I love singing and music in general. My favorite pieces of music are the ones without words, that you listen to and even though there aren't any words you can feel every thought, every tear, every smile or memory that was put into the piece and when it is done, the musician leaves you breathless, with that moment of sheer silence where you are still trying to fathom what just happened, and then you want to applaud. I live for that moment of silence before the applause.

          I love all kinds of books, my current obsession has been autobiographies. My summer reads include; all of Tori Spelling's books (don't judge, I am a not-so-closet fan of Tori's), How You Wear Your Hat, The Pact, Heaven is For Real, and many others. I love to read and I am not embarrassed at all to admit that. I love a challenge and although sometimes I may not like to admit it, I would much rather be challenged, than not have enough work on my plate.

          As far as my future is concerned, I would like to be a Pediatric Oncologist. I love kids and I feel like if families who are in a situation where there child has cancer, have a doctor who can make the situation just a smidgelet better, then it is completely worth it. Making someone's life the tiniest bit better is worth the world to me. I would also like to minor in something arts related so that I can always be involved in that aspect of my life. As far as where I plan to do all of this? I couldn't even tell you. I would absolutely love nothing more than to go to Columbia University in New York City, I am pretty sure that won't be happening. My mom doesn't want me that far away, even though it is where I would love to be. Everyone should have their big city fix, don't you agree? Mine would preferably be in New York City. I love everything about that wonderful city. I don't know how to explain it. Have you ever had that feeling when you go somewhere and you don't feel as far away from home as you actually are, or it feels like you are home? Whenever you talk about this place, you have butterflies doing the polka dance in your stomach and you have to use all of your might to hold back your tears of excitement that may come pouring down your face at any given second if you let your guard down? No? Well this is basically what happens every time I think or talk about going to college in New York. One can dream.

          I feel like I have just told you so much and I don't know any of you readers, if any, at all. It is strange how much you can tell someone through a blog and feel totally comfortable about it.  

Motherly Instinct

          What would I do without my mom? That is the unanswerable question. Cheryl Steinke is one great woman. She is “a saint” in the sense that she could never do a bad thing or cause any amount of hurt to anyone. My mom, whom to others I refer to as Cheryl, and I have a relationship that is different than that of most of my friends' relationships with their moms. We are so close, I tell her everything, and I consider her my best friend. Someday I hope to be as great of a person as my mother is. She has almost single handedly raised my younger sister and I to be who we are. Though she doesn't show it to most people, she is just as goofy and weird as I am. Words cannot even begin to explain how much I love my mom.

          I wonder how you get to be like my mom, or any mom for that matter. My mom always knows when I am not feeling my best or what to say to make me laugh. It is the little things that make me appreciate her. Like the other night I was sitting at the table doing my homework and I was so consumed in my homework that I didn't even realize she had made me a cup of hot cocoa and put the little marshmallows in it, just the way I like it. As I have said, my birthday was recently, and I didn't ask for anything for my birthday. My birthday came and my mom sure enough had a present. I opened it, to find Winnie the Pooh, the movie. I absolutely love Disney and for my mom to be able to know what I would want without even asking, is amazing.

          Someday I hope that I can be an amazing mother like mine. If I turned out like my mom, I would be more than satisfied. She is so accepting and amazing. I admire her and sincerely look up to her, more than anyone in the whole world. One thing that makes her so great is her willingness to listen and then give feedback. As a performer, I am used to hearing positive feedback, but I know that if I want honest feedback, I just go to Cheryl and I know I can get it. I love my mom more than anything and I don't know what I would do with out her. Moms are amazing people. All I ask of you is that once you are done reading this, you go and tell your mom that you love her and she is amazing.  

Play Review: "Crimes of the Heart" Iowa City High School

         The third show of the festival, Crimes of the Heart, by Beth Henley, performed by Iowa City High School, was another phenomenal one. Crimes of the Heart stars three women as three high-strung sisters. Lenny, Meg, and Babe gathered at Lenny's deep-South home for her birthday. Lenny, the oldest, can't seem to sustain a relationship with a man. Meg is an aspiring actress who hasn't progressed beyond commercial voice overs. And Babe is released on bond from jail after shooting her senator husband. Add to this information the fact that the girls' mother killed herself in Lenny's house, and that when Meg offhandedly expresses the wish that grouchy grandfather would slip into a coma, he does, where the sisters, despite every effort to treat the situation with properly, burst into helpless laughter over her "psychic" powers.

         This show once again deserved the standing ovation it received after the end of the show. This was another start cast. Miriam Thoe, senior, is a face that we should all look for in the future. She played the role of Lenny McGrath, the teddy bear of the sisters, and the oldest. She did a phenomenal job, starting out the play with this sweet, yet funny personality. Her quirkiness did nothing, but add to the love the audience developed for her. Sage Behr, senior, did a commendable job as well. She played the role of Rebecca “Babe” Mcgrath, the rebel of the family, who married young and is having an affair with a much younger black boy. Behr played this tomboy character perfectly. She held nothing back and performed admirably.

         The Crimes set was another eye pleasing one. Equipped with running water, a working refrigerator, and a ceiling fan, it was a phenomenal set. City High is lucky to have the production and construction crew that they have. As I watched the show, I forgot that I was watching a high school performance. I am always amazed and appreciative of schools that push the envelop and perform shows that have the content that this show did. I love that and thank City High for the much needed exposure of this literature to the festival. 

Play Review: "The Diary of Anne Frank" Fairfield High School

            The second show of the festival was The Diary of Anne Frank, performed by Fairfield High School. The story concerns the lives of a Jewish family hiding from the German occupying forces in war-torn Amsterdam. To escape the horrors of Nazi persecution, Otto Frank hides with his wife and two daughters in attic rooms above an Amsterdam warehouse for two years. Also hiding with the Franks are four other people - the Van Daans, their son Peter, and a dentist, Mr Dussel. In her diary Anne recorded an account of the trials and tribulations of the people around her, all trying to live a normal life in cramped attic accommodation, whilst under the constant threat of discovery by the Gestapo. This is a story made all the more dramatic because it is based on a true account, and concerns the lives of real people who lived at a time of unspeakable horror for the Jewish population in many European countries.
           I have seen this show a numerous amount of times, so going into this performance I wasn't very thrilled. The cast did a great job portraying the characters. I can't put my hands on the cast list of the show, so I can't name the characters. The student that played Anne Frank, did a great job. She brought this sense of youth to the character that made her more believable and interesting to watch.

          The set was yet again a very interesting one. I applaud the set director for their amazing work. An interesting set draws you in and holds your attention. The detail of the set was so intricate. I always love when there is running water on a set, it adds a sense of reality to the play. Another thing I found interesting, was the costume changes on stage. Instead of remaining in the same costume the whole show, the characters would change their costumes during a scene change, on stage. It was something that I have never seen done before. One of the high lights of the show was Mouschi, the cat. Fairfield used a real cat and I got a kick out of that. The show was great, with a great set. 

Play Review: "Moon Over Buffalo" Tipton High School

          This weekend I attended the Iowa Thespian Festival. At the festival I saw three main stage shows. These next couple of blogs will be my review on them. The first show that I saw was Moon Over Buffalo, by Ken Ludwig, performed by Tipton High School. Moon Over Buffalo centers on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950's. At the moment, they’re playing Private Lives and Cyrano De Bergerac in rep in Buffalo, New York with 5 actors. On the verge of a disastrous split-up caused by George’s affair with one of the younger actresses that resulted in a pregnancy, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra, a huge name in the acting world, is coming to town to see their matinee, and if likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does go wrong, partially caused by a visit from their daughter’s clueless fiancé and hilarious uncertainty about which play they’re actually performing, caused by Charlotte’s deaf old stage-manager mother who hates every bone in George’s body.

          Tipton did an amazing job with this show. It was more than worthy of the standing ovation received after the first act and at the end of the show. All of the cast deserves a round of applause. A more than admirable applause goes to Kyle Rekemeyer, a senior at Tipton, who played the role of George Hay. I have seen Kyle before as Otto Frank in Tipton's performance of The Diary of Anne Frank, a more serious role. I thought that this role fit Kyle perfectly. His over the top personality made this character so fun to watch. His mannerisms seemed so natural and it made watching this show a very fun experience. Another admirable character was Paul, played by Adam Jedlicka, senior. Paul is the stage manager for George's company, and Rosalind Hay's ex-fiancé. He brings George down to earth and back to reality when his crazy personality get the better if him. Adam played this part perfectly adding his quirkiness to the role.

          Brad Goetz and the rest of the Set Crew did a phenomenal job with the set. It was simple, but intricate. My favorite part of the set was the plethora of stills of George and Charlotte from past performances scattered on the walls. The cast's use of the stage and set was also amazing. Tipton always does a great job with their sets.

         I speak on behalf of the entire audience when I say that this performance was the best of the performances at the festival. I didn't want the show to end and found myself saddened after it was over. I once again applaud Tipton for their great interpretation of this show.  

Irrational Fear Number Five: Child Birth

Irrational fear number five: Child Birth

         “It's a girl!” or “It's a boy!”, these are the words that a mother and father hear after the delivery of their new-born baby. I am not so sure that I want to hear these words. Child birth freaks me out. There are so many things that can go wrong during delivery that could end the life of the mother and the child.

          I have definitely not ruled out adoption for myself, because I am terrified of giving birth. I know I am only 17, but still. It is a scary thought. There are so many documentary series on television about pregnancy. I mean, what if I can have kids, so I get a fertility treatment, and then end up the next “Octo-Mom”? I know that c-sections aren't really an option anymore, unless medically needed, but I wish they were. I would rather recover for a week or two and have a scar, than risk dying. I mean what good would my child's life be if they didn't have their mother with them.

         Aside to the pain that comes along with delivery, it is very messy. After birthing your beautiful new baby, you have to birth the placenta. That doesn't even sound good. They have to make sure that none of it is left inside of the mother, because it could be detrimental. Not to mention, you poop yourself when you give birth. What if it gets on the baby? “Hey, honey! Oh, you have pooh on your face. Sorry!” Not exactly a very good first impression, huh?

         I am sure that by the time I am ready to have a family, my ideas will change. For now though, I think my parents are okay with me being afraid of child birth. I am too. So, no worries, you will not be seeing my face on Teen Mom any time soon. 

Irrational Fear Number Four: Spiders

Irrational fear number four: Spiders

         Creepy crawlies. Hairy, disgusting, eight legged freaks. Spiders. I hate spiders. They are so scary. I have killed one spider in my entire life and that is all I plan on killing. They are the most terrifying creature ever. I can handle snakes, sharks, and all of those scary things, but the second you throw a spider into the mix? Nope. Not happening.

         I think my fear of spiders comes from two things. First, my mom, older sisters, grandma, and old baby-sitter are all terribly scared of spiders, so growing up I have gotten used to freaking out when seeing one. Second, I had the scariest experience when I was little with spiders. I was in the fifth grade and I went to day-care during the summer. We were down in the basement, playing pool, and I saw the most ginormous spider crawling across the floor. I screamed, naturally, and told one of the boys to kill it. So, one of the boys took a pool stick and squished it. No big deal right? Wrong. After he hit the spider with the pool stick, is exploded and a tone of tiny spiders started crawling everywhere. It was so disgusting. My friend Mackenzie and I jumped up onto the pool table and just screamed.

         I have come across many spiders since that summer, but have only killed one. One time, I was home alone and saw a spider, huge by the way, crawling across the floor. I got up, got a pot and a big dictionary, took them, put the pot over the spider and the dictionary on top of the pot and waited for my mom to get home to kill it. The spider that I did kill, took me about half an hour to kill. I saw it and went to get a wad of paper towels because everyone was sleeping. I had to tell my self that is was okay and that it would be alright. I counted to three about ten times, getting to three every time and chickening out. This simple task was harder than ripping off a band-aid. Finally I just did it and was disgusted the entire time. I ran to the bathroom, tears of fear running down my face, dropped it into the toilet, and flushed.

         Now, I know that they are remarkable organisms. Making their own webs and such. I will give the spiders that, they do make really pretty webs, but they are still scary. Charlotte's Web and Sophie's Masterpiece make spiders seem like nice, innocent creatures. No. They are scary. I mean look at Spider-Man. What does that movie tell you? Don't get bit by a spider, or you will turn into some weirdo, who climbs walls and shoots silly string out of his wrists. Spiders are just gross.