You may now call me "Master".

It's official. I can now say that I am:

Natalie Joy Quesnel B.A. M.F.A.

"... and Bamfa was her name-o!"

Sorry... being silly.

Anyway, convocation was as long and boring as I remembered it. The only highlight was Todd Duckworth blowing a kiss to the audience when he got his diploma and me shushing my husband and mother when they yelled their guts out when my name was called. Otherwise, the whole event was blah. The theatre department had a little reception afterwards and my parents organised a little party for me after that... both were lovely. I'm a very lucky girl to have such good friends and family.

Do I feel any different now that I officially have my masters? Not really. Though I definitely have more confidence in myself as a person in general.

Someone asked me recently what I was planning on doing with this degree... I honestly said that I didn't know. Well, that's not quite right. I don't know exactly because I plan on doing it all. Acting, directing, teaching, producing, mothering, wifing (ok... so that's not really a word), dramaturging (also not really a word), administering, etc. My problem is that I don't know where to start. I love too many things and I know that I can't spread myself too thin anymore.... my migraine head just can't take it.

I'm looking forward to November and December. I'm moving into a new place. Prepping to direct two shows. Doing my standard dinner theatre thing. Making Christmas soaps (don't question or judge, please!) Spending time to re-evaluate what I want to do after that. The one thing I remember from the grad ceremony was how much the vice-rector stressed that it's normal for university grads to not know what to do after graduation... and it's because there is usually a multitude of possibilities in front of us. It's all very exciting and scary and fun.

On another note, I'm going to see One Yellow Rabbit's Dream Machine on Thursday with my Algonquin students. I'm looking forward to sitting in a theatre again. It's one of my favorite places to be. I'm also going to see Third Wall's Faustus opening on Thursday. Hey, maybe if I sleep with one of the actors I could get a comp?!