weekend snapshots

It's been a while, I know. Alas and alack . . . here are some snapshots of recent activities.












Pics top to bottom:

Finishing off Mint Juleps at Citizen Cake; Old time car; Ring of Fire cocktail - has jalepeno-infused vodka and is very spicy; marinated squid; radishes served French style; GGBridge cookie; powdered-beet star; decorating my co-worker's plant; SF Cocktail Week photo.

Brother, brother, there's too many of you cryin'...

It has been such an intense day. I can't believe the murderous rampage which happened at Virginia Tech today - it saddens my heart. How in the world does this happen? Hmm.
------
I can't focus on anything else serious tonight. So here's another meme. It's all I can handle.
From Jennifer:
For this one you set your iTunes playlist on random and whatever songs come up answer the questions--no cheating, no skipping. I have a lot of music (35.5 GB) so we'll see what comes up.

1. Will I get far in life?
"Fly Like an Eagle" by Steve Miller Band--I guess so, then!

2. How do my friends see me?
"Que Manera de Querete" by Gilberto Santa Rosa --- I think this means they love me..hahah

3. When will I get married?
"Trip Through Your Wires" by U2--well, I AM a clutz. Maybe we'll literally crash into each other...?

4. What's my theme song? (should be #3, I'm just saying...)
"El Ultimo Beso" by Marc Anthony. Great.

5. What is the story of my life?
"Bandolera" by Johnny Ray (translation: bandit. HAHAH!)

6. What am I like in bed?
"La Numero Cien" by - and I am not making this up - Klimax.

7. How can I get ahead in life?
"Savor" by Santana

8. What is my best feature?
"Cua cua" by Tito Puente. I *DO* cluck like a chicken very well.

9. How is today going to be?
"Wild Mountain Honey" by Steve Miller Band.

10. What is in store for this weekend?
"Un Real de Hielo" by Orquesta Aragon ... something involving ice?

11. What is my life like at the moment?
"Paloma" by Carbon Leaf

12. What song describes my secrets?
"Una Aventura" by Grupo Niche

13. What is my current lover like?
"Day Tripper" by the Beatles. that's funnnnny.

14. What song will they play at my funeral?
"Kikuchiyo To Mohshimasu" by Pink Martini. ahahahahhahaha.

15. How does the world see me?
"Swing Valse" by Baguette Quintette

16. Will I have a happy life?
"Cerca de Ti" by Chispa & los Complices

17. What do my friends really think of me?
"Soul Sacrifice" by Santana

18. Do people secretly lust after me?
"Let's Take a Ride" by Justin Timberlake, featuring Pharrell Williams. They lust after my car, I think.

19. Will I accomplish my goals in life?
"Mi Soncito" by Celia Cruz - perhaps...i think this means "my little son (type of song)....

20. Will I find true love?
"Sonata in C Minor, No. 8, Op. 13: Pathetique III" by Beethoven.

21. How do I treat others?
"Lo Que Paso Entre Tu y Yo...Paso" by Luis Enrique (=That which happens between us, happens...)

Meme from Blackbird

In the kitchen with...MezzoSF

Variety is the spice of life.
In my cupboard, I have this many spices: too many, for sure
Rack or no rack? a couple of small racks on two shelves
Alphabetize? They used to be at one point, yes.
Which spice do you use most often? Peppercorns (multicolored, and ground)
Which recipe? Hmmm. Well, the LAST recipe I used was for pesto

It's like the pot calling the kettle black.
Coffee or tea? Both.
Do you make coffee at home? Occasionally...but Sibling tells me my coffee making has declined (I make it too strong for him).
If you make tea, loose or in bags? I have a ton of loose leaf and some Traditional Medicinals tea bags. Sibling likes Stash...I'm not a big fan.
How many kinds of tea do you have? A bunch. At least 10.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
I use my stovetop: Yes....
I use my oven: not that often

Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?
Soy or cow? unsweetened soy
Skim or whole? Sibling drinks skim milk
How many gallons a week? Nowhere near a full gallon/week

Three items in my freezer (right now):

1. Frozen peas (for icepack usage)
2. Ice cream
3. Lean Cuisine


Three things in my fridge (right now):

1. Feta cheese
2. Cilantro
3. Artichokes


Item I am most chagrined about: Mystery tuppaware container - not mine...

Item I bet no one else has: the world's biggest bag of spinach. Seriously, it's huge.

Libiamo...!

I LOVE this commercial. It took me a couple times to realize that indeed, the song is Libiamo from La Traviata.

For some reason, I can't get youtube to let me post the actual thing here, so you'll just have to watch it here and laugh. It's sooo wacky!

No Relation

Friday night, one of my friends from college came through SF on a tour of the West Coast. And, even better, our other friend, L who now lives in Sacramento, drove out for the show. L and I were reminiscing, remember funny stories fromSMU and our time in France together (we were
all three there at the same time)...and realized that we have all known each other for 10 years. CRAZY.

Anyways, David Karsten Daniels (no relation) is a brilliant songwriter and musician. On the notes to his new Album, Sharp Teeth, he's credited with the following: vocals,acoustic and electric guitar, bass, piano, organ, drums, tambourine, glockenspiel and cello. And it's true - I've heard him play all of those (just not
at once)!Hahahah.

The gig was at the Hemlock Tavern on the seedy end of Polk street. If you've never been there, Irecommend going sometime. It is the exact opposite of any bar you'll find in the Marina, and is filled with nerdy, alt-emo-loving, tragically hip folks listening music, drinking beer, and
comparing eyeliner. But I mean that in a good way - it was a friendly crowd.

After David's set and when he and the band finished tearing down equipment (he is on tour with three supporting musicians), we walked up Polk in search of food, counting the number of hookers we saw in our 4 block trip back and forth, and laughing a lot.

It was a great night.

because 'I' said so

So, here's a fun new survey from Math Jedi. Basically, he gave me a letter, and I have to list my 10 favorite songs beginning with that letter. My letter is "I". (If you'd like a letter, just leave me a comment, and I'll send one your way!)

Here they are, in random order (well, except for the first one, it really is my favorite song ever):

1. "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. I fell in love with this song as a Freshman in high school - there was a travelling a cappella band from some East coast college who performed this for us during choir class one day. I was hoooooked. Shortly thereafter, I finally rented "Say Anything"...and heck, John Cusack? In the rain? Holding a boombox blasting this song? Yes, yes and yes, please!

2. "I Will Survive" as covered by Cake. I LOVE this song - it's so funky, and singer John McCrae speaks/sings his way through it with so much attitude. I swear this song got me through my sophomore year in college. I listened to it constantly.

3. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2. Brilliant song by my favorite band ever. No other explanation needed.

4. "I've Got You Under My Skin" sung by Frank Sinatra. I love to sing this song!

5. "I Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash. ooooh the Man In Black. Because you're mine...I walk the line! I love me some Johnny Cash, and I would LOVE somebody to tell me that someday.

6. "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye. This song reminds me of family. Well, and the California Raisins. Anyways, my cousin, my brother and I dreamed up an entire lip-sync and dance to this song to perform for our grandmother this one time. I will never forget that!

7. "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady. Another song I enjoy singing and being silly with at any given moment, if there is a piano and people who love musical theater anywhere near me.

8. "In a Little While" by U2. What can I say? I love this band! This is a very chill song...sweet and romantic.

9. "I Need Thee Every Hour" traditional hymn. Just a reminder that, indeed, I need Thee every hour of every day...can't do a darn thing by myself. And when I do, I tend to walk into poles and the like.

10. "In The Mood" by Glen Miller. Big band rocks my world. Again, this reminds me of a few things: dancing around to my grandmother's big band record collection; swing dancing; playing jazz trombone. I have enjoyed swing and big band for a long time, and probably will continue to love it indefinitely!

thinking

I have tried writing a couple times about the various and sundry things going on in my heart and spirit. And, well . . . to no success. Oh well, that's okay. Not bad things, mind you, but just still some nebulous things floating around in the ether. God is good, though, and for that I am grateful!

Grace

There is just no accounting for how on earth I have made it thus far in my adult life, other than the fact that God has a sense of humor, and likes to humble me...?!

Let me tell you a story . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Driving down O'Farrell, not much traffic, window rolled down, Ozomatli blasting from the speakers, our Heroine finds a metered parking space! This is a Big Deal, as it is after 6pm on a Friday night, which all adds up to free parking. She effortlessly backs into the spot - on the left, no less - in one smooth arc. She leaves the car running so she can finish listening to track 9 as she reapplies her lipstick, tosses her hair, and thinks to herself - "damn, self, but ain't you havin' a goooood hair day.
She climbs out of her car, only momentarily getting the door stuck on the sidewalk - oops - in front of Naan 'n Curry, where three young, handsome gentlemen happen to be dining outside in the cool, Spring night. She throws her cd's in the trunk, locks her car and just as she gets ready to make her way the last couple blocks to her destination, she turns to double check that indeed, her meter does not need to be fed. Satisfied with the meter's hours, she steps away and just as she turns . . . TWACK!!! She walks SMACK into a metal pole - which she swears just came out of nowhere - making contact with the left side of her face. It was a 'no parking 2-6am sign, tilted towards her, instead of being perpendicular to the sidewalk. Right in front of the aforementioned table of men, enjoying their Indian food, she can't help herself - "S*&T!" she turns to them, ripping off her chic aviators, "Am I bleeding or anything??!" The men shake their heads solemnly, looks of disbelief slowing being replaced by the guilty looks of schoolboys trying to repress a laugh during church. "This is SO embarassing," she continues, "but, as long as I'm not bleeding, I guess I'll be okay."
She catches the eye of a Nick Lachey lookalike on the other side of the restaurant's window - he and his date are laughing their asses off. She waves at him, acknowledging the humor of the whole situation - but stops herself just short of taking a bow. "Well - you guys have a GREAT night," she says, turning on her heel (clad in very cute, high-heeled, gold wedge sandals), and heads off, again, towards her destination. She stops in at a corner market, quickly locating a bottle of advil and the coldest Diet Coke she can find in the back of the cold drink case. She pays, hastily rips into the ibuprophen, all the while using the soda as a make-shift ice pack. She leans against a parking meter, Coke against her cheek and eye, and watches the people walk by her. Thankfully, at that moment, the Critical Mass bikers start zooming by by the 100s, and she - as well as the other onlookers - have something else to distract them for a while. She can't help but smile to herself, even giggle a little bit, as one of her father's favorite sayings pops into her head. "Well, Grace, what've you done THIS time?" Grace, indeed . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, now I sit, ice pack to head, thinking that come tomorrow, I'll probably have a black eye. I only wish I had some sort of COOL reason for having one. However, after retelling my story to Sibling, (who started crying with laughter), I guess I don't need to come up with a better story; this one is funny enough.

Bottoms up

Color-coded vodka:
Polish (left) and Russian (right). Personally, I enjoyed my shot (and a half?) of Polish vodka. Yum. But I had to drive, so that was plenty for me.

what a whirlwind of two weeks

It's been a crazy two weeks - full of rehearsals culminating in 4 performances, the last of which (and the best) was this Sunday afternoon.

Followed by a crazy-ass cast party. Fun - and vodka - was had by all.

I'll try and get some pictures up.

das vdanya...

Week

This is a crazy week - it's tech week for Onegin, which means I drive to Fairfield and back every night after work (1 - 1.5 hours a leg). BUT, I have a fun carpool which helps. I'm just really tired.
I took a nap over lunch today. My boss is out of town, so I just spread out on her floor and crashed for 30 minutes. Strange, but somewhat restful.

I got to work this morning and realized I had forgotten to brush my teeth. It's just stuff like that happening...I know I'm really tired. Thankfully, one of my coworkers had some toothpaste, and I had an extra toothbrush in my drawer. Whew!

Anyways...I'm sure more and more funny things will happen as the week continues. Stay tuned for the overheard: backstage entries. I've some pretty good ones this round...

Faraway, So Close!

I spent the evening doing laundry. Not the most exciting Friday Night, but I've an insane 10 days coming up, and the laundry could wait no more.

Whilst laundering, I watched one of the better movies I've seen in a long time.

Based on the recommendation of a friend, I rented Wings of Desire and its sequel, Faraway, So Close!, by German director Wim Wenders. They tell the stories of angels walking amongst us everyday, and how two of them wish - and choose - to become human. (The American adaptation from a few years back, City of Angels, is but a pale reflection of the original films).

I watched Wings of Desire last week, and was blown away by its elegance, style and poignancy. Set in postwar Berlin in the autumn, half the film is black and white (the way the angels see the world) and the rest in color (how humans see the world). Berlin in and of itself becomes a character in its own right - a tragic, beautiful, and scarred character. I loved the film. Bruno Ganz (the main angel) has an amazing face capable of portraying the deepest emotion with just his eyes.

This evening, I decided to pop in Faraway, So Close. I think I enjoyed it even more than its predecessor. Again, set in Berlin - but this time just after the fall of the Wall. And, the film is not just strictly in German. It adds Italian, English, French and even Russian to the mix. This second film delves more deeply into the blindness and emptiness of humanity apropos the viewpoint and lack of understanding of heir angelic counterparts. There is also what I took to be a quasi-demonic character named Emit Flesti (read backward Time Itself), played brilliantly by Willem Defoe. And the importance - or lack thereof? - of time and how it's measured is one of the main themes of the film. The story starts off with a quote from the book of Matthew, which set the tone for the evening:

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will by full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22-23

Followed by:

We (the angels) are not the message. We are the messengers and the message is love".

Thoughtful, provocative, bittersweet - and beautiful.

Spoctopus

Team Spoctopus coming in Third Place AND winning Best Small Team. Rock and Roll!!

Here is our glorious victory photo. Hopefully to be repeated this week!?

Google me this . . .

I can't figure out for the life of me why my new website does not pop up as a result when I do a search under my name.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm . . .

Stolen from AZ - hours of fun!!

Are you freaking kidding me?

. . . how the heck am I supposed to get any work done today, when I just found out that a friend of mine from high school is on American Idol...???!?!??! He's in the top 24!

Click here for his audition and acceptance to Hollywood.

Crap. I'm going to have to start watching American Idol on a regular basis. Or, at least start taping it . . .

that's amore

So I went to the grocery store directly after work today to do some shopping, and ran into a VERY busy place, indeed.

It was almost as busy as it is right before the Superbowl! Only, instead of guys walking out with cases of beer and chips, they were crouched over the card displays, roses and chocolates clutched in their arms; bottles of wine thrown in a basket with lobster and spices; balloons and teddy bears held unassumingly waiting in line.

I feel sorry for the poor guys that get off of work late - by the time they get to the store, there will be nothing left!

The whole sight made me chuckle :)

ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

So, I joined a great new small group through my church two weeks ago . . . and I loved it. Come to find out tonight that the leaders, K&C, are actually going to be moving, and no longer involved as of about April 1.
They are taking a year to travel (C has just retired) and figure out their next steps in life. I am super excited for them, albeit selfishly bummed, because I *reallly* was looking forward to getting to know them better.

oh well.

I hope the group keeps going, and I look forward to staying with it...

3-2-1 chilllll

I've been trying to "chill out" this year. Whatever that entails - I
guess, just making some time for myself and not running around like a
mad woman (or, at least after I run around like a mad woman, make sure
I have some chill time). It's hard to say NO...there are too many
things I want to do!

Anyways, I went to salsa class tonight for
the first time in about 3 or 4 months. It was *so* good to see Jaime!
He really is a dear!

I've been listening to a lot of Cesaria Evora lately. She has an amazing voice...kind of the aural equivalent of a molten, bittersweet, dark chocolate souffle . . . she sings traditional Fado (very chill) songs, as well as choro and samba. Anyways, I've just been digging her music over the last week. I might do a French-Portuguese language trade off with a couple people who want to learn French (and want to teach me Portuguese). I'm playing around with the idea. I would LOVE to learn some Portuguese, it's just a matter of scheduling at this point.

peace to the out...I'll leave you with some lyrics....

Beijo Roubado
(Words: Adelino Moreira
Interpreted by Cesaria Evora)

Dizem que beijo roubado
Embora seja de amor

É crime na terra,
No céu é pecado
Faz o homem
Criminoso e pecador

Para mim está tudo errado,
Beijo roubado tem mais calor

Quantos beijos
Eu ganhei do meu amor
Eu não contei,
nem ele contou

Mas nem um beijo foi mais beijo
Que o primeiro beijo
Que eu fingi negar
E ele roubou

(Lyrics gratefully found on this site)

Fergalicious . . .

If I hear Fergie singing anymore about her london bridge or any other geographic/historical landmark, I just might lose control ('just lose control'). I've had "bring sexy back" stuck in my head all day - pretty much in anticipation of going out the hip hop club I just got back from. And, I was not disappointed - mr. tiberlake did, indeed, bring sexy back, mulitiple times, throughout the course of the evening.

so, I went to this place called Suite one8one in pretty much in the tenderloin. I had reconnected with an old friend (V), and he invited me to come to one of his coworker's birthday parties there.

It's funny, because neither V nor I usually frequent these types of places. In fact, standing in line, we were both lamenting the fact that we *could* have been at the Tito Nieve, Grupo Niche, Monchy & Alexandra concert down at the Bill Graham Civic. At 33, and myself and the ripe old age of 27, V and I were definitely older than the many 21, 22 year olds living it up. We were pretty much cracking up a good chunk of the time we were there (note: his coworker was turning 23!).

I had managed to sign up for the guestlist online ahead of time (score!) so I didn't have a cover (read: cheap date!)-which was $20! yikes. Inside was a pretty cool decor which was tres ghetto fabulous. The dance floor was packed (we got a solid chuck of dance time in) but there were additional back rooms (still LOUD) with banks of couches. Sitting on the couches made for the best viewings of the "kids". I must admit though, that some of the music was realllly good. Old school hip hop and rock mashed up. Fun stuff. Or maybe I'm just old school...?

I was amused a lot of the time, but saddened by how many folks I saw literally falling down drunk. Even before midnight! It was crazy! I managed one (1!) beer and some water. Had I fallen, it would have been of my own clutzy accord. Thankfully, I did not. hahaha.

All in all...I'm glad I went! I mean, there is NO WAY I would have gone other than to meet V there. Not my (or his) scene. But it was nice to reconnect, dance a little, cut loose and just have some fun. Added bonus: I shall probably sleep very well tonight.

yay.

Maybe next time I can hit up the salsa concert...

here's your sign

Sleep is a good thing. It's easy to notice when you've not gotten enough. I am feeling the effects to today of a lack of sleep. Here are a couple of my bloopers from today:

-I left the fax machine unplugged from yesterday (long story), thus making my boss crazy trying to send a fax to three different numbers;

-I replyed to the wrong coworker in an email . . . which could have been very bad, but thankfully I had restricted my comments to "HAHAH I forgot about the end…with colin powell and oj…etc…", thus prompting the aforementioned boss to ask me, "I didn't get the joke, what's so funny?"

The problem is, I cannot go to sleep. Last night was the worst this week. I tried to go to bed early (meaning 11pm), and I had gone to the gym, taken a bath with relaxing bath salts AND had my lavendar tea. As soon as I lay down, I started feeling all panicky again. ARGH.

The good news is, the shrink says I am okay...really, he's like "I don't need to see you again, unless things get to the point where you are incapacitated".

I'm starting to wonder. I *do* have some Ativan I can - and I guess, should - take when I get another attack. I have just been hesitant to do so.

Seriously, part the second

Seriously:
We now have rules for our making of popcorn. The folks upstairs seem to not like the smell, so they bought us a new microwave, which we shall keep in our spare office and use under the following conditions ONLY:

1) Under no circumstances may anyone use the microwave in the spare office to cook or heat other food;

2) The microwave may be used no more than once a day for popcorn;

3) The window in the spare office must be left open to air the room in order to lessen the absorption of popcorn odor in the fabric walls;

4) The door to the spare office must be closed when making popcorn.

seriously?

Whomever decided that "Legally Blond" was a good idea for a Musical needs to have all of their musical priviledges taken away.

Just hearing the commercials on the radio sets my teeth on edge.

Am I being unfair? Ummmmmmm.....let me think about that.

---thinking---

Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and say...no. This prejudice is totally warranted.
For the love of eardrums all over the world . . . STOP with the musicals being styled after movies, already!!!

The Lion King is clearly an exception, as it was awesome. And had a really good soundtrack. Which then translated to a good stage soundtrack.

This works vice versa too...only *rarely* does the stage show actually translate well to the screen.
Good movie: Chicago
Bad movie: Phantom of the Opera
Good movie: Cabaret (with Liza, of course)
Bad movie: Les Miserables

I could go on, but I'm done ranting for now.

braindump

tomorrow is my doctor's appointment at the psychiatrist. i had a really fun time playing trivia tonight. and racing crossword puzzles at lunch today. i had a great experience at a new clg, to which i look forward to returning. i like old people. i need to remember to measure my curtin rods, and how high they are off the floor. but, in order to do that, i have to go through some crap stacks. which, i don't really want to do. i'm looking forward to saturday, but am also a little trepidatious. there are some happy hippies on vh1 right now doing yogi and qi gong. whoa. good tea. i should get some bath crystals. joe cocker is totally playing air guitar right now, and looks as though he's smoked one too many. i need to go to bed now. i hope i can fall asleep. hoping this braindump helps me fall asleep, as i shall have gotten everything out of my system.

Es viernes, ya-ba-da-ba-dooooo!**

**actually heard on 98.9 tonight! It made me chuckle!

I just got back from the YMCA's Cuban Salsa class. I've never done the cuban salsa before (rueda) in which everyone dances in a circle, passing the women back and forth. It was a lot of fun! I haven't been salsa dancing in a long time...! I had almost forgotten how much I enjoy it! Yay!

LIVE! from New York it's . . .

Saturday Night American Idol!

DAY 1:

Ian Benardo
"My therapists say I'm a superstar". "I'm wearing chinchilla to show people how rich I can be."
Needless to say, he's not going to Hollywood...

Sara (forgot her last name)
Lied to her parents about trying out for American Idol, but she's going to Hollywood!

Fanta Tsakalakos
She was on Greek American Idol . . .but will not be continuing onto the stateside version...

Ashanti Johnson
She's been to Hollywood twice before . . . but I can't figue out why. She's not going back. And wow, she has a whole monologue diatribe going off on the judges. Very soap opera. She should be on tv. But her voice sucks is better for musical theater.

Amanda Coluccio & Antonella Barba
BFF's and Jersey girls! Amanda's the 'trained' one - and blond. Meh...she gets a go on to Hollywood. Why not.
Antonella's the untrained one - and brunette. Man, I like her voice better - and she has more soul than her bland blond friend. The judges agree! She goes, too!

uh oh...I hear a harmonica! It must be Clifton Little!
He's very funny (dry humor), and there's stomping involved. AND clapping. And lots of yelling...why the heck is he singing ZZ Top? I'm so confused...and more harmonica. Sorry Cliff....no go.

WOW someone in a spacesuit! hahahah. They got 3 seconds on tv!

Kia Thornton sings some ARETHA, yeah!
Lots of soul, looks good and good pipes! Way to go. Just don't oversing.

Where are the men from NYC???

DAY 2:
Starts without Simon? what? he's hungover??

oooh the oh-so-easy on the eyes Jenry Bejarano. And not bad to listen to, either...a little rough around the edges, but a lot of potential (he's only freaking 16!!!) Jailbait! ack! He is going to Hollywood!

Now for someone completely different, Nakia Claiborne. She has TONS of energy! But her voice needs work - it showed on her slow song. She's not going to H'wood & there are lots of tears :(
"Sometimes you get tired of hearing 'no'"

Sarah Goldberg
She reminds me off my wacky theater friends. But not my musical theater friends. She can't sing. And she's ADMITTING that she's at American Idol because her friends make fun of her tone-deafness. Even though she can't sing, she can be the next American Idol, because she can be TAUGHT to sing! What? This is a singing competition, girl!

(HEY here comes Mr. Cowell...finally!)

Holy cow...there's a 47 year old trying out?? What?eh?

Now back to our real auditionees...
Jory Steinberg
Not bad, looks good...but has this weird habit when she breaths of sounding like Michael Jackson (cha!) *insert moonwalk here* She's on her way to LA!

And representing Queens, NYC . . . we have our own rocky here...will she make it?
Porcelana Patino sings some Mary J. Blige for us. Paula thinks she's pretty awesome. She's unique! And she's going through. The training paid off!

Christopher Henry says he's been told he looks like Simon Cowell and George Michael. HAHAHA. Does this give him an edge? He's singing a Kelly Clarkson song. In a VERY high key. Damn. I think he lost that edge.
(Paula just called Simon an asshole bad word!)

Here comes a girl who "goes to school for opera. and if they find out I might get kicked out and lose my scholarship." Her name is Rachel Z..? forgot the last name. But they've asked her for a second song! And now, some opera (which she doesn't sing very well...IMHO). Wow she gets a semi-enthusiastic 'go' to Hollywood.

Christopher Richardson DANG good singer. And has a cool confidence, but yet, humility. Or, maybe it's just his youth...whatever it is, he gets MY vote.

Nicholas Pedro bowed out of American Idol during the competition last year. So, he's back to audition again! Will they give him a second chance? He's singing some ol' blue eyes! And they still love him for a second chance...so don't blow it this time, Nicholas!

I can't even comment on Isadora. Ack.

whew. I'm done blogged out. Yo.

family ties

So, I was talking to my mom earlier today, and she informed me that my cousin, L, on my dad's side also has panic/anxiety attacks. As does her father (my dad's older brother). As did my grandmother (my dad's mom). Hmmmmm. And, interestingly enough, OCD (as exhibited by my father) is characterized as a type of anxiety disorder.

It's all very interesting, in someways. That is, when I'm not in the midst of an actual panic attack. Because really, that sucks.

I spent a good deal of time on Friday trying to find a psychiatrist in my health insurance network, and left a couple of messages. So, here's hoping I'll hear back from one this week, and get something going. I'm also waiting on the results of my lab tests, to determine if there are physical factors (anemia, thyroid, etc) contributing to the attacks. So, we'll see.

In other news, I've had the strangest cold, and am pretty sure I caught it from Will's girlfriend, who had it and was at the house last week. Strange in that it seems to be moving on fairly quickly - I think. I was feeling so-so on Friday night, and by Saturday night, I was not so good. Sunday and today I've spent resting and drinking tons of tea. Thank goodness I didn't have rehearsal this weekend, and an extra day off! I should be all better by Saturday!

red letter day...

I just wacked the bejeezus outta my skull. Ouch. I went to sit in the oh-so-comfy red leather chair when BOOM. Slipped on that luxuoriously slick material and slammed the back of my head into the pointy corner of the lampshade. Which in turn struck the painting behind the chair, which in ITS turn smacked against the wall. Loud enough to send my brother running out to ask what the heck..?

So, ice pack and ibuprofin in hand . . .

I went to see my doctor today. I've been having anxiety attacks over the last month. Three of them, seemingly unprecipitated. Tomorrow morning I'm going to get some blood work done. Sometimes being anemic or having some sort of thyroid issue will be manifested as anxiety. And, just in case it's NOT something physical, but mental, my doctor also wants me to see a shrink I mean, psychiatrist. So, here's to 2007!

But, all is not lost. I can't quite go to sleep yet, so I will watch an episode (or two) of Arrested Development. One of the best. shows. ever. And here's hoping that I don't do anymore damage to myself before I go to bed.

weekend!

I am v. much looking foward to this weekend for many reasons. I get to spend time with my friends (read: no rehearsal) - including AZ, who's been out of town for a bit, and Raina, too. Also, get to meet up with an old friend on Friday, who I've not seen in ages - at least a year and a half - so, that will be fun. And perhaps the reason I'm looking forward to this weekend the most . . . .

drum roll, please

It's a three-day weekend. Oh yeah. Sibling has Monday off, too, so perhaps will shall wreak havoc up and down the coast. Plans t.b.a.
- - - -

Meanwhile...it is getting wicked windy here in SF, and I've been hearing rumors of snow? Now, having spent the better part of the holiday season in Denver, I know about snow. (I should put up my pics...hmmm), so to hear rumors of snow here..? wtf?

Martin Mack's

Just got back from a really fun pub trivia night at Martin Mack's up in the Haight. Our team won! The night was a send-off for Karen, so it was good that we won, I guess!

I shall have to go back and play again!

AND, they have strongbow, which is not terribly easy to find in SF, so that made it even better! hahahah!

yay!

As it - randomly - happens, my cousin, H, is in town. Turns out one of his fraternity brothers from LSU who lives here in SF had H drive out his car to CA from Louisiana. As H is between jobs right now, he made the long haul out to the West coast, and just called us!

I haven't seen him in...oh, probably 2, or 3 years...? I can't really remember. So, I'm really excited. We are going to meet up with him shortly.

Hilarity shall ensue. I'm sure.

'tis the season . . .

I hate making 'resolutions.' For me, the word resolution may as well just be defined as "something to do during the month of January, and then discard February 1".

It's true. I don't know why, but there must be some sort of disconnect in my brain. I know I'm not the only one, I'm just saying.

However, I also know there are other folks who don't necessarily think like that. For some, "resolution" is just that: a strengthening of one's resolve to make a change in one's life. I respect these people a great deal, and admire their tenancity to stick-to-it.

Anyways, I was at lunch with a couple friends one day not too long ago, and one asked "do you have any resolutions for 2007?" Even though my mind can leap to some stock answers - things I know I should resolve to do (lose weight, sleep more, clean out the house, etc), I don't want to classify them as "resolutions" out loud because I just don't think I'll get it done.

2006....my biggest goal for 2006 was to decrap my house. Well. If anything, I did the opposite...got more crap to fill it up. So, whilst this is niggling at the back of my brain, I dare not pronounce it as a carry-over resolution from 2006, or else no progress whatsoever will be made.

Sitting there, thinking to myself, "what can I possibly resolve to do in 2007 that might actually get DONE?" After several minutes, and a few conversation topics later, it hit me:

I shall floss daily.

That may sound tiny, insignificant perhaps. But to me (and my dentist) it's not. I have never been in the daily habit of flossing, and that is no good. And, the best part? I *started* flossing in December. So it was kind of like cheating on my "New Year's Resolution" because I had a head start.

Am I a total nut having to double-talk my way around my own head and my own stubborness? Sometimes...

Deju vu all over again . . .

So, last week, as a result of the blizzard in Denver, hundreds of thousands of holiday travelers were stuck, due to cancelled flights in, out and through DIA. My brother was one of them. He was scheduled to leave Wednesday morning. Cancelled. A new Friday morning flight. Cancelled. Finally, he got a flight for Christmas eve night. Oakland -> Las Vegas -> Denver.

He got here, we had a lovely Christmas, and Will had even changed his return ticket to stay a few extra days in Denver, since he got in so much later than anticipated.

Well. Dad walks in from work, and he has some news. On both the Frontier and United websites (not to mention the weather channel site), there is another winter storm brewing for the Denver Metro area, including (of course) the airport. And, they are suggesting folks get out of town tonight or Thursday morning. Not (of course) Friday, when Will has a ticket. He might get stuck again.

Alas. He has tickets to the Orange Bowl in Miami for Jan. 2. We are trying to get him there!

Denver snowstorm travel advisory
United is currently monitoring a winter storm in the Denver area that may impact future travel. A travel waiver has been issued to enable customers flying in and out of Denver today through Saturday to change their travel plans.
Travel tips:
We encourage all customers flying in, out or through Denver on Thursday and Friday to consider departing Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
If you would like to change your travel plans, consider taking advantage of United’s travel waiver that is in place through December 30, 2006, by contacting your travel agent, united.com or United reservations.
United’s lobby at DIA will open at 2:00 am on Thursday to accommodate a higher volume of customers.
Check your flight status before heading to the airport.
Check in for your flight with EasyCheck-in Online then use united.com BagCheck at the airport.
Please review the ticket waiver information below for a full list of travel
options.

Insomniacal*

List of v.cool things from this afternoon and evening (in random order):

Guitar Hero II for PS2
Lego Star Wars II for PS2
Karaoke
Green Apple Books
Birthdays
Wacky artist/musician types
Siblings
Throat Coat tea
Banana cake with Bittersweet Chocolate Icing
Myspace
Naps
Ninjas (and Pirates)
Italian Slang
Christmas decorations
New friends
Old friends
Whitesnake
Bad jokes
Good books

and last - but not least - being able to finally? fall asleep...

*not quite a real word, but I vote to start using it in my everyday vocabulary, nonetheless

of course . . .

I have a love/hate relationship with the Fedex/Kinko's store closest to my house.

I Love it because:
They have scanners
They have color copiers
They have pretty holiday paper
They are open late
They are open early
They are really close to my house

I hate it because:
Unfriendly people
Copier Jams
Expensive if you need to use the computer to print something off
Murphy's Law of Kinkos - something goes wrong every time I go there.

Yesterday was time for my semi-annual trip to Kinko's. By the time 6-months have come and gone, I usually have forgotten - or buried - my previous traumatic experiences at said copy establishment. So, full of holiday cheer (I was going to print some Christmas letters on pretty paper), I headed out. I *even* found my copy card from 6 months ago!

I get there. And wait. And wait. There was ONE other customer. And TWO staff members.
And it stilllll took me 20 minutes to actually purchase the pretty paper from them. WTF? So, I just opened up my packages and started printing on the paper, and finally one of them asked me if I needed something...um, yhello?

I got about 1/4 done copying, when we had a paper jam. Well, I've spent a good 1/40th of my life unjamming copiers, so no problem. Fixed! Immediately after pressing 'start' again, it jams. I tell the Kinko's lady that this is jam #2 (Wastes 4 sheets of pretty paper each time!). She fixes it.
Press start. Jam. Open to unjam. Bend back thumbnail all the way. Ouch.

Switch copiers. Resume copying.

Leave. Sigh of relief.

Go home, attend to now bleeding thumb.

So, here's looking forward to . . . about next June, when I shall (I'm sure) have more tales from the Kinko's . . .

shifting

so, i don't know about this blogger beta thing yet, hmmmm we'll see how it goes..

anyways. i'm working on a (non-blogging) website - compiling all my materials to make a site for my (semi?)professional singing life.

so, stay tuned. it'll take me a little bit to get it together, but the nice folks over at Voxpage1 are making it possible!

vegas, baby! part the second

Pictures:
1. Eating - inside - at the Venetian.

2. John Travolta over our bathtub!

3. Glass ceiling art in the Bellagio.

4. Oh yeah, and I won, too!




 

vegas, baby

after a truly hellacious day*I am packed and ready to go to Vegas early tomorrow morning. It's my mom's 60th bday, and we are all meeting up in the crazy city for celebrating. I'm just looking forward to a mini-break and family time. and cirque du soleil...

yay.



*my thanks to AZ, my brother and sha-na-na-na for helping to keep me sane

weird weekend

i was so looking foward to this weekend, because there is a TON of stuff going on in SF right now (Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Fleet Week, Italian Heritage Parade, SF Opera Simulcast . . . the list goes on and on).

Instead, I've been not well....but I've no idea what's wrong with me.

I got home Friday afterwork and was so achy/fever-ish feeling, I passed out on the couch fully clothed (including shoes). My wonderful sibling was so kind as to bring me a thermometer & lots of gatorade from the grocery store. At first I thought it might have been related to the tetanus booster I got on Thursday, but after talking to the doc at UCSF, that shouldn't be the cause of my illness.

Saturday morning I slept - still low grade fever - and attempted to make it to my voice lesson in Oakland. I got as far as my car, sat in it for 5 minutes, then got out and went back inside to bed. I spend all day there, until last night when I was determined NOT to miss my Berkeley Opera audition (my throat is fine...it's the rest of my body that's rebelling right now).

The audition went well enough that I have a callback this afternoon. I'm no longer feeling fevered, really, but my stomach kind of hurts. I don't know what's wrong with me! ack! I know I can sometimes be a hypochondriac...but not all of the time.

I'll try and get an appointment for tomorrow, I guess.
*sigh*

Lightning fast

Oh my gosh . . ! It's that time of year again!

In our newly renovated office space, I now have a view, which means I don't have to run into my bosses office to watch those fabulous Blue Angels zoom over Alcatraz.

Yay!

Gmail - RE: what was that song? help!

Lily over at the XM radio Watercolors station...she is my hero!

And this is why:

family files, part 549

Newly added to the vault:

My father is a good man - generous, patient, wise, loving - and pretty much impossible to shop for. (Sorry 'bout that dangling preposition, there...)

Sure, he collects certain things - keychains, postcards, model airplanes & vintage Delta Airlines swag. But, to truly get him something out-of-the-ordinary...something he *really* would like...therein lies the difficulty.

Cue today. I was on the phone with my mom, when dad suddenly pops in and excitedly picks up the phone. He has found something he wants for Christmas (that is not the usual socks or dark chocolate he loves so much). Newishly possesed of XM radio in his vehicle, he has discovered their "Smooth Jazz" station, channel #71 aka 'Watercolors'.
He says to me, "Hey, Miss Priss, I know what I want for Christmas, but it will take some mystery-solving on your part. I heard a song I LOVED on Watercolors, once today and once back in July, and I would love that album if you can find it. It's piano mostly, maybe a little orchestra and sometimes a choir...it's O Happy Day. With a rocketing piano. I don't know what it's called or who sings it or anything, but they played it today around 5:20pm."

He hhehehehe...it just made me laugh, because my dad is pretty easy to please, and when he mentions something so specific as this, well, it's fun. I've commenced my research, signed up for my free 3-day xm trial and have written the Watercolors' DJ with my question. Hopefully I'll get a reply!

rambles

I've not blogged in a while.
I've been trying my best to bask in the glow of my vacation . . .
holding on to the feel of unwindingness in mind, body and spirit.
Looking forward to the SF Greek Festival!

Since I've been back many things have happened in the lives of people I love:

new birth
near deaths
moving
not being able to move
getting hired . . . or not
falling in (and out) of love
reuniting with old friends
making new ones

Wish you were here . . . .

 
 
 
  

ahhhh

if you need me, i'll be on vacation.....

yay!

back in 10 days!!!!!!

Mental pictures

I saw many fun things in my adventures (thus far) today:

SEEN: Older looking-college student (male) bend down to tie his shoelace adjust his velcro shoes.

SEEN: Cars not stopping for red lights - in Bayview, natch. wtf? (I got lost this afternoon)

SEEN: The bay in a beatiful light, while listening to awesome music, dancing and chillin' at The Ramp in China Basin (which is NOT, conveniently enough, located anywhere near Bayview).

SEEN: Woman trying to sneak 7 items into the 6-item-limit dressing room.

SEEN: Movie makers...? A band...? Some random group of quasi-famous hipsters at Cafe lo Cubano.

SEEN: Lawrence & Michael. My fabulously tall and professional dance buddies for the afternoon! yay!

SEEN: Fog.

SEEN: A fabulous red and tan leather bag. Which I left on the shelf. (Thank goodness I didn't have my wallet with me!)

SEEN: Panchito freaking out, and running into the side of his fishbowl. (I promise to post a picture of him asap).

(To be) SEEN: Jaime, Vira and friends tonight for Vira's birthday! yay!

whimsical

I have a new pet Beta Betta fish! My friend J gave him to me as a late birthday gift. Such a whimsical and fun gift. Love it!

His name: Pancho Pescado. He's so cute and reddish in color. I shall post a picture soon.

I just hope I can manage to keep him alive for a while! I haven't had a pet fish - heck a pet anything - probably since middle school!

30.96647% Geek

From Jen . . . take the Geek Test. It's great fun :)

Songs in the key of . . . meme

Reply and I'll give you a letter, and you have to find five songs that start with that letter and post them to your journal. (taken from mathjedi)


1. "Pa' Bravo Yo" (Pupy Santiago): This song is on the first salsa CD I ever owned - bought my junior year of high school (I had to buy a replacement last year). That CD was a big milestone for me...my introduction to what is now some of my favorite music and dance styles.

2. Pink Panther theme (Henry Mancini): What can I say? . . . that sexy, fun saxophone theme is just contagious. And who doesn't love the Pink Panther??

3. PYT (Michael Jackson): Pretty Young Thing! It's a great dance and karaoke song...classic MJ!

4. Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison): Great song and flick. Just a feel good song, always a crowd pleaser. Makes me happy! I love hearing this song when I'm driving.

5. Put Your Head on my Shoulder (Paul Anka): I went through a huge oldies phase growing up - I had this whole set of cassettes I wore down - and I've just always loved this song. It's so sweet and romantic and good for dancing. The recent cover by Michael Buble' is fun, too.

Overheard: backstage edition**

-"Yeah, me and my brother were both born with four nipples! Wanna see my extra two?"

-"Ooh, you have four nipples? I just have the one extra, see?"

-"My husband is the [great?] grandson of China's last warlord. He killed a lot of people [as a warlord]."

-"I have always wanted to smush a cream pie in someone's face."

-"We'll put her puke-bucket off stage right, just in case."

-"mmmm. braiiinnnnssss."

-"We made good decisions as to which people we put in the tight pants. I've had lots of thank you's from the audience."

-"Time to tie me up, old man."


**You just can't make this stuff up, people. Truth is better (and funnier, and stranger) than fiction . . .

Steamin' hot cup of Hoffee

Watch this and laugh your arse off . . . !!!! Small print I have to include: That's right, it's Hofficial... your favourite cult icon wants to take you home! The one and only David Hasselhoff of "Bay Watch" and "Knight Rider" fame returns with a cover of the 1975 classic 'Jump In My Car' and its a doozy. Recorded in Sydney last year with the legendary Harry Vanda (AC/DC, The Angels), the Ted Mulry Gang tune has been re-vamped with full Hoff gusto and this music video promises to rock the socks off all his Hofficial fans. Watch it, enjoy it, share it on Google Video, courtesy of Sony BMG Australia. Want more? Buy the buy the track on iTunes Australia by clicking here: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=155871591&s=143460

48 hours

I am - once again - in that odd place of wired and tired poat-show, but I think I'll be able to sleep in an hour. yay!

4 shows in 48 hours...that is a crazy schedule. After Friday night's show, a handful of us headed out to the St. Regis (conveniently across the street from the theater) for a drink and some laughs (and little wasabi peanuts!). Tonight, though, after two shows...I think we were all wiped and just went home. But tomorrow...post matinee, AH there is a cast party! I'm hoping to go to dinner with my parents and then go to the party.

I'm so grateful that they came out to see the show, along with my aunt. I feel bad because I've barely seen them at all this weekend (and AF leaves tomorrow afternoon), but there wasn't any way around that. Mom's coming in the morning to cook brunch(!) I'm so happy!

For some reason, something made me think about my grandmother earlier tonight backstage (Nana, mom and AF's mother). There are times when I really miss her. I think she would've loved Ruddygore. . . she knew how have a good laugh, that one...

yawn...........

neck is doing better, thank goodness. went to the chiropractor for some adjustments which helped a ton. that and frozen peas.

i am exhausted. i'm still in ''performance'' mode (read: 1am bedtime) despite the fact that I have to get up to work every morning. so, tonight i'm going to attempt to sleep at a reasonable hour, and I think I just might actually be able to do so.

my folks and aunt come in late tomorrow to see the show this weekend. i am so looking forward to performing again this weekend that I get all fluttery inside just thinking about it. it's been a long time since i've felt like this about singing, i think.

i've also done about 5 crosswords today...the SF chronicle and then about 4 nyt's online. (I subscribed to the crossword puzzles for a year, and am working my way through some archived puzzles). I'm working my way up through this weeks, but then have been doing Monday and Tuesday archived puzzles...you know, getting my chops up slowly to start working on Sunday puzzles.

i'm a dork, i know. but it's SO fun...it's some of the only time i have to myself, it seems. which is nice.

oh...we did get a review by SFCV. I'm not personally mentioned (doh!), but it was a very nice review indeed! I am yheppy :)

okay - time to change the laundry.

*

I am sitting on my couch - heating pad on my neck (sore from passing out dead-tired last night and sleeping on it crooked) - I am *just* about off my post-performance adrenaline high. It pretty much takes a solid two-hours to come down off that high. I've been averaging 1am bed time this week.

All that to say -

I am having SO much freaking fun. Working with this company has been such a blessing in many ways - it really is a big family. Amazing director, conductor, A/D, stage manager, cast, crew...I mean, it really does seem a case of the "trickle down" theory: integrity at the top flowing all the way down the chain of command, and into the cast.

I have learned (and am still learning) so much each time we go on. I get to share the stage with people who have been acting and performing for years together, and I feel like a giant sponge soaking it all up.

And, there are the little things, too, like seeing our big poster at the YBCA and getting to go in the "stage door". I feel special! But one of the best things? In the program there is a little asterisk *, denoting my debut! It's such a tiny thing, but it's cool :)

And, I love that we go out in the lobby - still in costume - to greet the audience afterwards...it's a neat tradition.

ah. well, i should get to bed soon, if I can. For tomorrow is a matinee!

crazy

it's been a crazy month. any of you living within a 5 mile radius of me know that!

things, though, are starting to settle down, a little.

we were 5 people in our apartment, which just meant bodies and stuff everywhere. however, one moved out last week, one moved this week, and - we think - the last will move by August 1. If he finds a place. then, sibling can move IN to a room, and off the couch, and we will be able to create some semblance of order.

Ruddygore opens this week. I am SO excited. Click the link and buy tickets for SF or Walnut Creek - it's a freakin' hilarious show. We had our tech rehearsal tonight (first time at the Yerba Buena Center theater) and oooohhh I can't wait!

my name is on the dressing room door (albeit on construction paper) and everything!!!!!! V. exciting. my only concern is the wig situation - haven't quite decided if they want to wig me or not. ack. i'm trying not to 'wig' out about it...hahahahhahahahaaha. ha. well, i hate putting those things off until the last minute.

so. three weekends of shows.

work - we moved. there are still things wrong. pieces of molding hung upside down; no switch to control the garbage disposal; lack of electricty to some outlets. you know. those things which should've been done weeks ago. argh.

on turning 27 last week - hmm. well, i don't really feel all that much different from 26, so far. i'm having an extended birthday month, i think. i don't quite know what that entails, yet. probably dancing of some sort! thanks to all the kind bday calls/emails and such...they were very much appreciated :)

anywho...now i am tired. i think i'll go to bed now - i'm finally winding down enough, i think, to do so.

ciao...

a.h.

I have fallen off the blogosphere as of late....probably because I've not known quite what to do with myself. I've gone from the depths of despair to the thrills of triumph in 24 hours and back and forth again and again.

It is an odd thing when someone you work with dies. I spend most of my time with my coworkers (as probably do 90% of anyone who works). I see them more often than my family, more often than some friends, and certainly more often then my roommates (!). And yet, it is an odd combination of impersonal and personal worlds. I saw AH everyday, we would chat, discuss music or art or weekend plans. I knew the sound of her footfalls, what she liked to drink in the mornings, how she answered the phone or dealt with a sudden crisis. And yet . . . I never met her husband, didn't know what her college major was, or even her favorite color. But still, I feel uprooted and helpless and insignificant - unable to change the past, I try to focus on the present - and that leaves me tender and raw of soul. Feelings of selfishness creep in . . . who am I to feel thusly grieved? I am not a family member, not a close friend or confidante. But I still feel. I feel for her husband, her family. They were trying to start a family of their own, and now that opportunity will never be had. I feel for her friends and students - the people on whom she had so much impact during her brief terrestial stay. Hundreds of lives touched and changed because of her time here. And for that, I am thankful.

Allez les bleus....

Imagine my surprised pleasure when I realised this morning that Il Fornaio (just around the corner) is indeed showing the world cup matches at their bar....(!)

I will go there and watch the second half of France vs. Spain (it is tied up 1-1 at the half).



I am totallllllly obsessed. But I've mentioned that........

Forza Azzurri!

oooh!!!! I went to North Beach this morning to catch the first half of the Italy-Australia match...it was exciting!! Most of the caffes were buzzing with fans. I sat outside at Panta Rei - they have a huge flatscreen set up, so that you can sit on the sidewalk and see it through their glass front! To be there with everyone, cheering for gli Azzurri (with the exception of a handful of yellow aussie fans)....the first half was scoreless, and then I had to leave for work (!) BUT, praise the Lord for internet, because I was able to track the game from work.

Italy won in the very last minute with a penalty kick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

France plays Spain at noon tomorrow....I'm going to try and watch part of that game at Cafe de la Presse again...that was too much fun last week!!!!

I. am. totally. addicted.!!!!!!!!!!!

Interview from AZ

THE QUESTIONS:
1. Is there a book that personifies your life? I recently read The Alchemist, and that really resonated with me. I don't know that it 'personifies' my life, so to speak, but I felt that book deep down.

2. If you were offered an amazing singing opportunity with a vibrant music community in France would you take it, knowing your friends and family would be in the U.S.?
Yes. I think I would. My only hesitancy is that I don't think the style of French living would be condusive for me to be a great singer (wine, late nights, smoke) etc....it would be REAL easy for me to just live there, though!

3. Which opera character do you think would be the hardest to play?
hmmm hardest to play? technically speaking, so many people say Adalgisa from norma--that it's just a killer role to sing. For me, from a characterization/acting standpoint.... right now it would be Dahlila from 'samson et dahlila." I'm so used to being the comic relief, or the old maid aunt/maid/nurse, that to play a character so overtly sensual and seductive would be a challenging shift. But MAN i love her arias and would love to sing her one day.

4. Do you consider yourself more of a risk-taker or someone who plays it safe? oooh. hmmm. I tend to be more cautious - but, as I age, I've found that i take a few more risks than i did while growing up, because I don't really care as much what people think of me. I'm still learning, though, to take more risks on stage as an actor/singer - which then carries over some into real life and vice versa.

5. What do you hope your life looks like in 10 years? Be specific.
In 10 years, I would be almost 37...hmmmmm.
I hope to be singing in some capacity - but not stressed out by all the political crap surrounding the singing world
I hope to be married
I hope to have lived abroad (again) for some significant length of time
I hope to still have both my parents around
I hope to have paid off my student loans (!)
I hope to speak more languages
I hope to have learned how to play some percussive instruments

--Maybe what I should be hoping for is *focus* lolll...the above list is kinda all over the place...***
--------------------

THE GUIDELINES: 1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." However, If that is all you leave in your comment I will completely ignore you when it comes to interview time. 2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions. 3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. 4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. 5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

been a long time.....

been a long time been a long time been a long lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely time.......

(sorry, had one of my 'human jukebox' moments...name that tune anyone?)


what i WAS thinking was, it's been a while since the last post. i've been busy. had a show (went really well) and mom was visiting and now i have a scant few minutes.

i owe az my interview post - that is forthcoming.

i miss salsa - anyone up for dancing??

i read an article (well, okay, i skimmed it) in the chronicle today about how TB is spread. Apparently, it is still alive and kicking in SF. It is can be spread by: sneezing, coughing, spitting, and SINGING.

I never thought about that singing one before, but it makes sense. And, music dork that i am....
it gives a whole new meaning to the end of La Traviata. Violetta is dying of TB, but apparently gets well enough to sing a glorious high C....and then *Splat* she falls over dead. magnificent.

tomorrow: USA vs. Italy. Call me a bad American, but I'll be cheering for gli azzurri....

whirlwind

the last month has been a whirlwind of activity.

i went from a peformance weekend

to a wedding weekend (in minnesota)

to memorial day weekend (in colorado)

and back to sf, finally.

it's been a wonderful time, though. I got to reconnect with some dear women from college - this particular group of the four of us had not all been together since we graduated in 2001. BB got married and both mer and reagan were there to celebrate the occaison. It was a beautiful weekend, somewhat tinged with tears (both BB and Mer's fathers have passed away), but full of love and joy, as well. It made my heart glad to spend time with these folks, as we are now spread out all over the country.

this weekend, memorial day, my brother and i both went home for dad's 60th birthday. it was a tremendous occasion! mom and aunt f had enough food in the house to feed an army - and we did - for three days. We were all up in Grand Lake, CO, and there were at least 20 folks over at the house eating at any given time. As for the actual event (Saturday afternoon and evening), we probably had 60 people! Family and close friends all came up to wish my dad (and his twin sister!) happy birthday. this was more time spent with special people, whom I don't see very often.

I'll post up pictures of the "chocolate decadence" (the bday theme...)

the great streaky wonder

so, in an attempt to give myself a nice fake tan thanks to neutrogena last night, this morning i woke up to a few steaky places (of course)...but in reality, not so bad! just comical right now.

that will all be fixed, though. am going to the bay club (we get free passes!) for a spray tan...yay. i forgot that had that there until i showed allison my streaky arm today and she fell out laughing and asked me 'why the hell didn't you just go downstairs to the bay club?' ummm....

now i won't look like a total striped-freak at bb's wedding :P

speaking of weddings, i got an invitation in the mail for yet ANOTHER wedding...you smu-er's out there: Cindy lou is tying the knot in June.

*another one bites the dust*
heee :)

cyclical

I think last nights' performance went well. There was a rumor that there were reviewers there on Friday night, so who knows? Maybe someone will have something good to say about my singing about the productions.

After the show last night, there was a cast party (only until 12:30 - our hosts had to get up early this morning). I was one of the first to arrive at the party, but I accidentally went to the neighbors house first. With all of my stage make-up on, and my hair all wacky from the pin curls. He was like "You are at the WRONG house". whoops!

I only stayed until 12, then came home and crashed until 10 this morning. I have two rehearsals today, one each for my coming gigs. May is going to be a crazy month! I'm going to Minnesota on Friday, get home Sunday; then leave the following Thursday for Colorado for 6 days.

Crazy times, but fun!

Sister Christian

Greetings! Oh, this is just a preview of the nunsense to come . . . 

twist my arm, whay don'tcha

AZ and I are going to cruise the Greek Isles in September, in celebration of AZ's 30th bday this year! I am soooooooo excited.

We depart from Trieste, Italy and our ports of call include Ancona (It.); Myconos; Santorini; Corfu; Athens; Dubrovnic (Croatia) and return to Trieste.

I get a phone call yesterday saying that, unfortunately, due to a change in schedule, Costa Cruises cannot get us on a flight back to SFO the day we arrive back in Italy at the end of our cruise. However, Costa is pleased to provide hotel accomodations and transportation for an extra night's stay. In Venice. If that is not a problem for us, of course.

so, what you're saying is we get an extra night of our vacation. for free. in one of the most beautiful cities in the world???

!!!!!!!!!!!! um, YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Sign of the apocalypse

(I meant to post this two days ago, but was interrupted by The Rant)

Heard on the radio Monday Morning:

"Kelsey Grammer to appear as THE ANGEL OF DEATH on Nbc's show The Medium."


wha...?


Does that strike anyone else as just being hilariously wrong??!

ARGH rant alert

i need to go to bed, i'm exhausted, but i just need to vent first. i'm soooo freaking pissed off..well, more like just highly annoyed and frustrated (yeah well, probably combined with pms..NOT a good thing)

ack ac afj uifew ;ofjk,uiher ;owh;03

REHERASAL TONIGHT
was just fine and ducky except for the fact that
a) our director is completely nuts
b) because she wants us ALL to like, magically get new shoes? what? i don't think so...not the WEEK of the performance...try giving us a month leeway eh?

ALSO what the HELL are you doing charging freaking 70 bucks a ticket to get in? dude. your company is NOT an alist company...you can't charge that much, especially for two shows which aren't really well known, and are a 'hard sell'......you wonder why you've only sold 25% of the house (25% of 2,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!) baaaad news bears.

not that i really care, except for the fact that i do have a signed contract. and, no, i did not get into opera for the paycheck...lmao. that's hilarious. but, it's the principle of it all.

DON'T call your leads in for an extra, random staging rehearsal and then turn it into voice lessons. i'm sorry...but helllll no. that is SO unprofessional. i'm not an ego maniac about my voice, but, believe you me i am quite aware of what I can and cannot do at this point in my vocal life. this might feed *your* ego to tweak us and give out little quick crutches, but it ultimately does nothing, but make your singers feel insecure and shitty. IF you're concerned about voices carrying in a large hall, hire singers with better technique, NOT 'chorus' singers. duh.


ugly ugly ugly post is what this is, but i just cannot help it, i am almost at my breaking point with these people. and, they are all actually quite nice people, they just have NO idea what the *&#$! they are doing. ack ack akc akc akc alk fjlkj

a couple of you can appreciate

that I am reading this book, Duende, and on one of the first few pages is this:

"Don't worry, be khappy."


Spelled. Just. Like. That.


Me gusta!

je ne chanterai jamais charlotte, mais......

bon..j'ai promis a moi-meme et aussi a lui que je n'ecrirai pas ici sur les choses qui sont pasees entre nous. alors...je dis seulement, (et bien en francias, il ny'en a pas bcp de gens que lisent ce blog qui le parle..donc...ca va ....)
mais comme j'etais entrain de dire...ouais je suis triste..mais surtout parce que avant cette heure,,,,vraiment je n'avias pas eu temps de reflechir sur tous ces choses. la journee, je travaille, et le soir je fais des repetitions. et, hier...ctait horrible, bien sur....tres dur de faire tous que je devais faire. et maintenant, jsuis seule dans ma chambre...il nya pas de bruit...tout est tranquille....et je me trouve la...pour la premiere fois les pleures se tombent. et je sais que tout se passera, mais a ce moment ... c necessaire...et, comme example..les fameux mots de Charlotte, dans l'opera Werther: "va! laisse couler mes larmes....elles font du bien, ma cherie. les larmes qu'on ne pleure pas, dans notre ame retombent, toute. et de leurs patientes goutes, martelent le coeur, triste et las. sa resistance, enfin s'epuise. le coeur se creuse et s'affaiblit. il est trop grand, rien ne s'emplit...et trop fragile tout le brise....tout le brise."

mais. heureusement je n'ai pas de repetitions ce weekend. je peux seulement "etre". toute seule....mais, pas vraiment toute seule. il ya toujours Dieu qui m'aider...Dieu qui me reponds, qui m'embracer, qui comprends tout ce qu'il est necessaire. et bien. tout se passera.....

.......13

Praise the Lord - I am not 13 anymore. Too much drama.

And yet, being an adult sucks sometimes, you know?

That is all. Talk amoungst yourselves...

Wheel in the sky keeps on turning

The title has nothing to do with this post, other than that's the song currently stuck in my head. Don't ask.

It's been a good weekend, but Monday morning - as they are apt to do - came too quickly.

Friday we had the first orchestra rehearsal and the players, they sound great.

Saturday morning, AZ and I had planned on going to the Ferry Building farmer's market, and taking a good walk along the Embarcadero. Cold and cloudy weather, however, kept us from doing this. So, we went to the YMCA, instead. Followed by a quick trip to TJ's. I was home by 11! Feeling so accomplished!

The rest of the afternoon was spent baking brownies for ty's bday; talking to Sandra - who was going to drive up from LA for the weekend; and resting up a little for the party that night. Sandra and Dennis arrived about the same time, as did Ryan and his ..."friend" L...and Ty and his two friends...a houseful of people!

Had dinner at Magnolia (very tasty and good beer - they make their own!) followed by Karaoke madness at the Do Re Mi. At one point, I think we had about 25 people crammed into the VIP room (for 18). But we weren't charged the extra person fee, I think because we started late (not our fault, we were there early!!). It was three hours of loud singing and wacky videos into the wee hours of the morning. Fun but come 2am, I was exhausted. I had been expecting a house full of people (8) to be spending the night, which would have been *tricky*, at best, but we ended up with only 4 of us. Not including my roommate.

Sunday was kinda brutal. Not bad, but, considering the night before, just brutal. Woke up around 9, had breakfast with everyone. Had to be in Marin for 12:15 costume fitting and rehearsal at 1pm. Well, the costume lady arrived at 12:45. The director's car broke down, and she never showed. The conductor arrived around 2. We *started* rehearsal at 3:15. I wasn't too happy about that. Alas. Once we started it was good. But until then, just a big waste of time.

I left Marin and had just enough time to run home, grab some drinks and head to AZ's house for dinner/house concert. Folk singer Miranda and sitar player Chris were the main event. And they were awesome. Sipping hot chai, sinking into the couch and listening to music. That's an evening well spent. Exhausted as I was, I drifed a little in-and-out . . .

Got home, wanted to fall asleep with my shoes on, but had the sense not to do that. Spoke to Dman and found out that he may or may not have seriously injured his wrist in a bicylce-related fall. Ack. The perils of not having insurance rear their ugly head. It sucks. Hopefully, it's not serious enough to warrant a trip to the ER later on today.

I fell asleep and dreamt that a golf-ball sized brown widow spider was crawling over me and settled on top of my right eyeball. It was horrible. And I couldn't move it away, or else it would bite and kill me.

Will tells me that people dream of spiders when they are stressed out.

it's always been my favorite ride at disney world

I stopped at the shell station on my way home from work today, where I traded in an arm and a leg for a tank of gas. I decided to run in and get a bottle of water (spring has sprung here in sf!) and went to pay.

The guy working at the station, Selvin, looked familiar. And, I realized, he was from Cafe Cocomo. I remember meeting him about a year or so ago there, and we'd danced a few times, and he'd asked for my number, but, I wasn't interested, and finally he was contented to receive an email address from me. I ran into him other times at Cafe Cocomo and we would dance a time or two. He is much shorter than me (what? i'm shocked....) but very sweet, and quite a good leader. It wa just really funny to run into him today - in a neighborhood where neither one of us lives, just out of the lights and flash of the club, and in our normal, daily routine.

It really is a small world, afterall.

even more interesting

You scored as Republican. <'Imunimaginative's Deviantart Page'> Green 67% Republican 67% Democrat 67% Anarchism 58% Socialist 50% Communism 50% Fascism 8% Nazi 0% What Political Party Do Your Beliefs Put You In? created with QuizFarm.com

interesting

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 79% Fundamentalist 57% Emergent/Postmodern 54% Neo orthodox 54% Charismatic/Pentecostal 50% Classical Liberal 46% Reformed Evangelical 43% Roman Catholic 36% Modern Liberal 25% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

What, me?

I have to admit, I guess, that some of the tree hugging hippy-ness of San Francisco and the greater bay area has rubbed off on me a little bit.

I'm going to the Goldman Environmental Prize awards ceremony after work today. I went last year, and it is freaking awesome. Yay!

sleepy

it's the last ten seven minutes of the workday, and I am falling asleep at my desk...struggling to keep with it. And the day is far from over. ack! oh well, i'll get my second wind long about 7:30 ish....!

red letter day

it's been a gooood day.

will got a job today. and not just any "my-first-year-out-of-school-just-give-me-something-to-freaking-pay-the-bills" job.

but a gooood job. he officially starts work at the british consulate on monday.

i'm so proud!!!

Elvis said it best

Don't you...step on my bluuuueee suede shoes.



Well, they're not really suede, but you get the point... 

Birthdate meme

...from mathjedi.

The original meme was to look up your birthdate at Wikipedia (minus the date) and list two events which happened on said day in history, two folks who were born and one who died.

However, I couldn't just limit myself to those parameters...so I had to pick a couple more.

JULY 11

Events:
1346 Charles IV of Luxembourg elected emperor of the Holy Roman Emperor
1789 Jacques Necker dismissed as Finance Minister for France for sparking the storming of the Bastille
1848 The Waterloo railway station in London opens
1859 "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens is published
1940 WWII: Vichy France regime formally established

Births:
1274 Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland
1925 Nicolai Gedda, Swedish Tenor
1934 Giorgio Armani, Italian fashion designer
1959 Richie Sambora, American guitarist (Bon Jovi)
1975 Lil' Kim, Rapper

Deaths:
1688 Narai, king of Siam
1937 George Gershwin, American composer
1989 Sir Laurence Olivier, English actor

---Free slurpees at 7-11 (most locations!)---

Tag, You're it!

Ok so the rules are, once you've been tagged, you have to write a blog with 6 weird facts/things/habits about yourself. At the end you need to pick 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says " you've been tagged" & tell them to read your blog.

AZ tagged me!

1. I do a great chicken impression. The Opera Chicken, we'll call her.

2. I don't speak much Spanish yet, but I CAN speak it with a Scots accent.

3. I used to play trombone in a jazz band.

4. I really love old people. They make me smile.

5. At work, my paperclips are obsessively divided and kept in separate containers: one for the small ones; one for the large ones; and a tin for the binder clips. I can't work if they are mixed in together.

6. I am in love with all things related to The Godfather.

TAGGING: Dennis, Sally, Jessica, Kenny O, Chris, and Sarah.

arse-kickers (as the brits might say . . . )

Seems that Ryan and I are notorious for getting strange boxes in the mail at our place. For example, Mom sent a vaccuum cleaner once (heavy!) and Ryan gets a beer-of-the-month case (Christmas present from his sister). Our building manager thinks we're nuts, I'm sure, as he's the one collecting the packages for us (and showing his ID for the beer each month).

Yesterday was no different.

Two boxes: one a small, outdoor George Foreman electric grill. (Said building manager: "You're mom didn't actually send you a grill in the mail did she?") and a bankers' box labeled "Katy's shoes" in black magic marker all over the place.

The grill was put immediately to use, for chicken fajitas and all the fixin's.

The box of shoes was opened with great curiosity. These were shoes I had not seen since the summer of 1999. They had been hiding, deep in the basement storeroom somewhere, ever since I left to study abroad and couldn't take them with me.

I had searched high and low for this particular box, but never found it. Until it arrived on my doorstep yesterday. The explanation? Dad has been cleaning out the storeroom, and now Mom is sending us our stuff. Alas, I am attempting to de-crap the house, but there is more stuff arriving from Mom, attempting to de-crap her house. LOL.

Anyways. Today I am wearing a pair of those shoes. Boots, rather, for which I have been looking for years!

It's a pair of royal blue doc martin boots I bought in London, the first time I ever voyaged to those fair, British isles. Our family went with Aunt Fran and her church choir on their tour of England and Scotland during the summer of 1998. Will and I sang with the choir; Mom and Dad were just along for the ride.

The boots are soooo comfy. :) I'll put a picture up, later.

correction

mom found her rings! in a bag of stuff somewhere. yay!

oh, sally d ...

I was talking to my mom earlier this afternoon, and she was stressing out because she couldn't find her rings. She wears her mother's wedding ring and an anniversary ring from my dad on her right hand. Lately, they have become really loose, and have a tendency to just fall off.

Well, she was cleaning out a lot of things today (files, boxes and such) and was - as of a few hours ago - going through them again, looking for any sign of the rings. She went through the trash and the bedclothes and anyplace else she could think of.

Will just got off the phone with her, and she now thinks that they fell in the toilet when she was cleaning it, and were subsequently flushed.

I know she's upset about it, because, for example, her mom's wedding ring..that's just irreplaceable. It's not the monetary value of the piece of jewelry, but the sentimental and heirloom value.

herbs

I went to cook dinner, and was looking forward to some yummy cilantro and lime chicken...but alas.

I had bought italian parsley, instead.

oh well.

I had some nice italian parsley and lime chicken. Not quite the same, but still tasted pretty good.