One of the Challenges of Being Engaged to an Opera Singer

There are definitely some challenges related to being engaged to an opera singer, or really a performer of any kind.  During rehearsals and performances of a show, they are rarely available, most evenings are taken up with the performance, etc.  But really, those types of "time together" challenges can be an issue for any engaged couple.  However, today I ran into a challenge that is quite unique to being the significant other of an opera singer.

J is a performer who is very willing to change his appearance for a show.  In the time that we have been together, he has sported quite a few different facial hair looks, almost all for different shows.  A trimmed beard, a bushy beard, a weird Edwardian Goatee, a Handlebar mustache, a 70s pornstache (ew!), and even some clean-shaven times.  Though, the clean-shaven time is generally to get rid of whatever strange facial hair look he was sporting in a prior show.

It's kind of funny how my view on facial hair has changed since I started dating J.  From high school through college and beyond, I was pretty much against any guy having facial hair (any of my college friend readers remember when we painted mascara beards on our faces to protest the facial hair growout of our guy friends?)  However, as I stated above, J has had some facial hair for almost all of the time we've been together.  He even met my parents for the first time sporting the Handlebar mustache!  After we had been dating for about 6 months, he had some time without a show on the horizon and asked me what he should do with his facial hair.  I told him I wanted to see him clean shaven.  So he did.  And you know what?  I really wasn't a fan.  I'd become so used to him with facial hair, that he didn't look like J without it.  Crazy, huh?  For some reason, when he is clean-shaven, it looks like he is trying too hard to be presentable!  My favorite J look is a nicely trimmed beard.  Presentable, but still my J.  Which is what I hope he will be sporting for the wedding!

Anyway, for his current role as Monostatos in the Magic Flute, the director has the vision of Monostatos as a former gang-banger ex con Hispanic chaffeur.  Yeah.  Go figure that one...it's going to be an interesting performance, complete with a hispanic accent.  I haven't seen J since he shaved his beard into these odd L-shaped sideburns.  And then this morning, he sent me a picture of his self-tanned face.  Which in the picture looked rather orange.  Normally, I'd just shrug and say, "Oh well, he'll be back to normal J in a few weeks".  The problem?  We were supposed to shoot our Engagement Photos next Tuesday, in the midst of this Magic Flute run.  I had been so concerned with figuring out what I was going to wear to look most myself (as you are supposed to for Engagement pics), how I was going to do my hair, make-up, etc....that I forgot about J's appearance!

Luckily, we have a very flexible photographer who was able to reschedule for us!  I just want to be able to look back at the pictures and look like "us"...not..."Oh, right, J was in that show where he had wacko sideburns and was orange." :)  So ladies, a warning...if you find yourselves engaged to a stage performer, be sure not to schedule photo-ops while they are in the middle of a show!

Decade in Review

Apparently, a lame blog year in review is not enough...seeing that I have now been reminded by countless "Decade in Review" stories on TV and the internet that we are closing out a decade.  Is it the 0s?  How do you say that...the "ohs"?  Or the two thousands?  Are we going to the tens?  Anyway, here is my very brief Decade in Review.  Too bad I don't have a picture to post from each year...that would be great!  But would have required a scanner and me remembering before today that we are closing out a decade.  Oh well.  Maybe next decade...

2000:  Y2k happens.  Or doesn't happen...depending on whether you thought the world would end or not.  I spend 2.5 months of the summer in Mexico with Campus Outreach.  Don't want to leave, but must finish college.

2001: I graduate from college, barely squeaking out a Cum Laude honor.  By .01 of a grade point.  I go 6 months without a real job.  September 11th occurs, further dashing my hopes of a real job.  In November, I begin what turns out to be a dead-end-for-me job at a bank.

2002: Turns out to be the hardest year of my life so far that I have learned the most from.  Heart gets broken by a boy, job is slow and not challenging, I am bored.  Life in the "real world" outside of college is hard.  Come to know God more for it, but somehow become bitter, too.

2003:  I discover that I need both athletic and musical outlets in my life, even though I am out of college.  Join a chorus and train for a half marathon.  Two decisions that have made huge differences in my life, even today.

2004:  Heart is broken again, but this time I leave dead-end depressing job at bank and SC (my home for 25 years)...and move my life to Annapolis, MD.  Best decision yet!

2005:  I am a little bit lonely, but am slowly making friends and adjusting to life in Maryland.

2006:  I go on last minute Bulgarian Carmina Burana tour to Florida with the chorale.  Make what I feel sure will (even today) be lifelong friends.  Spend too much money going out to eat and drink with said friends.  Move into Home for Wayward Chorus Girls to save money.  Another great decision.

2007: Run first marathon.  Get new, more likable, better paying, shorter commute job.

2008: Make off-the-cuff decision to sing in the chorus with operetta company in Baltimore.  Meet J.  Start dating J.

2009:  I turn 30 and buy my first diamonds, a pair of earrings.  Spend birthday in New York City.  Fall in love with J.  Train for Goofy Challenge.  Go to the opera a lot.

So that's it!  My Decade in Review...boy has my life changed!  Not quite as drastically as my friends who now are married with 3 or 4 kids, but I am in a different geographic location!  That should count for something.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Downtime is Delectable...

I have to say, this weekend was quite lovely.  For me, it was the perfect mix of busyness and downtime.  I spent some time with J, got 2 training runs in, had my planned early Thanksgiving dinner with friends, sang a few Christmas carols, and spent Sunday on the sofa watching football, continuing to acquaint myself with my MacBook, and reading.

Even though cooking my early Thanksgiving meal was work, it was very enjoyable.  Friday night, I went to the grocery store and cleaned the house from top to bottom.  Saturday, I went for a 5 mile run in the AM, had grits casserole with J and watched College Gameday.  My turkey went in around 11, and then I started working on the dressing and broccoli spinach casserole.  It was a lovely fall day outside, which added to the enjoyment of cooking inside for some reason.  My Linner companions came over around 2, and the food was on the table by 2:30.  It was certainly a modest Thanksgiving meal...3 dishes and no sweet potato anything, but it was tasty, and I didn't need to have tons and tons of food leftover!  A friend brought a yummy pumpkin mousse pie (that I am still enjoying out of the fridge!), and after an enjoyable afternoon, we headed out to sing Christmas Carols at a holiday lighting ceremony.

Once the carols were sung, I headed up to Baltimore to hear a concert version of Donizetti's Don Pasquale.  It was a good performance, and I even managed to be home in bed by midnight!  Unfortunately, Marcello seems to be suffering from an ear infection (I took him to the vet yesterday), so he was restless and waking me up all night shaking his head and scratching his ears.  I was worried about him, and didn't sleep very well.  I was up at 6:30 AM anyway to run the Cold Turkey 10K race.  It was a fun race...so fun, in fact, that we decided to run it again when we were done!  Ok, ok, we did have 12 miles on our schedule for Sunday. :)

After I got home from the run, I ate some leftovers, took a nice hot shower, and crawled into bed for some football and a nap.  Di-vine, I tell you!  I managed to rouse myself about 3 PM, blow-dry my hair, and head downstairs to veg on the couch in front of football.  I haven't had an afternoon like that in a long time.  Everything that needed to be done was taken care of, and I just relaxed.  I did make turkey tetrazzini with the leftovers to stick in the freezer, and got to finish up listening to Pat Conroy's South of Broad in the process.  Since I didn't sleep well the night before, I was in bed by 10 PM.  All in all...a great weekend!

Tomorrow, I head to SC for a Homeland Thanksgiving.  As I've mentioned, we are headed to Charleston on Thanksgiving Day.  We'll start off with the South of Broad walking tour, and then have our Thanksgiving meal at Magnolia's.  Sounds like a great day to me! Let's all say a quick prayer that my flight tomorrow night is not cancelled and is relatively on time!  I'm bringing my MacBook, so look for some blogs from the Homeland.

Lots and Lots of Music...

My roommate and I have season tickets to Washington National Opera.  We got a sweet deal through their Generation O program for folks under 35.  I was on the fence all summer about subscribing for the season, and then got the email with the ticket prices for Gen O...and immediately got tickets for every opera of the season.  We saw Barber of Seville back in September, had tickets for Falstaff in late October (my stomach buggy self had to give my ticket to a friend), and then managed to schedule a Thursday Ariadne Auf Naxos closely followed by a Saturday performance of Wagner's Gotterdammerung.  I didn't notice the proximity of those two until a few weeks ago.

Ariadne was....meh.  I was entertained, and I enjoyed the opera...but I wasn't blown away.  And the tenor who sang Bacchus...was...well....bad.  Like... Maureen and I kept looking at each other and rolling our eyes bad.  I know they had some tenor disasters...this was the 3rd person scheduled to sing the role, but still.  I could have listened to Irene Theorin sing their duets by herself and been happy.  So on to Saturday...

To be honest, I was not looking forward to Gotterdammerung.  I knew the back story of the Ring cycle, Wagner, why it was being presented in concert instead of a full production, etc.  The performance was scheduled for 5 hours.  5 hours of opera in concert...I wasn't sure if I'd make it!  My ADD roommate figured she couldn't sit still through it, so she gave her ticket to a friend of ours who is a singer.  Honestly, if J wasn't singing in the chorus...I probably wouldn't have gone.  What a huge mistake that would have been!

Wow.  The music, the singing, the power...it was just amazing.  I did get tired of sitting, but I could have listened to that music and almost all of those singers for 5 more hours!  Wagner operas seem to be a polarizing force...people either love them or hate them.  I wasn't sure which I'd be...until the orchestral interludes in Act I grabbed me and took a firm hold on my emotions!   It really felt like being transported into another world.  The singers were so animated without real staging, that I really forgot it was just a concert version of the opera.  I enjoyed Irene Theorin' voice in Ariadne, but she was phenomenal in Gotterdammerung.  I also loved her dress...black and sparkly, and yet, understated.

Anyway, it was a great night.  Since there were 2 intermissions, I had champagne twice. :)

**In other news, this weekend, we have our own Chorale concert...with a little opera thrown in, so I've been in rehearsals all week.  I'll also be embarking on a 19 mile running tour of DC on Sunday.  Stay tuned for a report on that one...

Fall Nesting and Perspectives on Life

Something about cool Fall weather brings out my nesting instinct full force. Perhaps it is knowing that I will soon be hunkering down to survive the cold winter (relatively cold...at least for my thin SC blood!). In any case, I have this strong desire to clean, to organize my closet and drawers, to cook comfort food, to drink apple cider, and to snuggle with the kitty cat on the couch with a blanket and football. Sounds idyllic, huh? October is my favorite month, but this year I have not had time to indulge my nesting instinct. I did manage to get my fall/winter bedding on the bed, but that is about it. In the past I have had a few completely free October weekends to get my space/life "winter ready", but I have missed that this year. Between football, singing, and spending time with my boyfriend, I haven't had a chance to bring order to that area of my world. But for once, that's ok. I've been breaking my tasks up into little chunks I can complete each night that I'm home, and I think I'm making progress!

This Saturday could have been a perfect nesting day, but instead I declared a "do nothing" day for J and I. He was staying with us for the weekend since he performed in one of the Chorale's performances on Friday and Saturday night. We watched football, went to a wine tasting, began the process of making "lime-on-cello", and hung out. It was really relaxing. Saturday night, I went to his performance.

**I don't talk about my relationship with J on here very much...mostly because I think it's the type of thing best discussed in person. But, I'm going to break my rule here just a bit...**

It's so interesting for me to go to J's performances and hear people talk about how great he sounds, his lovely singing, etc. To be honest, sometimes I forget he is really a singer. We don't talk about it all that often (though it is part of his profession). I mean, we talk about music, but not in terms of his career in music. I don't get to go to his performances as often as I would like, so it is a treat for me. To be completely honest, the fact that he sings well was one of the first things that attracted me (I mean come one...anyone who knows me should not be surprised by that!). But it was more of a novel thing like, "Hey, I've gone on a couple of dates with an opera singer!". Or, "Hey, see that guy up there singing on the Jumbotron at Nationals Park? I was on a date with him last night". I must admit, that was pretty fun. :)

But now? Now he is not an opera singer to me...he's just J. A generous and compassionate man who for some reason decided to fight hard for me and not let me run away like I tried to do after our first couple of dates. A man who has seen so many of my insecurities and hasn't run away yet. Someone who, without trying, points me back to where I need to be spiritually on a regular basis. Having someone like him in my life is so much more valuable than the novelty of dating an opera singer. When we do talk about his singing, etc, I have a phrase I use in a bit of a sarcastic manner. "Poor, untalented J." I think I coined the phrase when we were organizing his opera scores and I ran across a few inscribed by Placido Domingo when J sang some solo roles in Washington. Sometimes I think he thinks I am being a little catty, but I really am in awe of his talent and the hard work he has put in to sing well.

Anyway, pardon my mushiness, but I've just been thinking about the interesting nature of that recently. I won't get to do any fall nesting activities this weekend, but I will get to spend time with J. And that is certainly more valuable than having a "winter ready" house!

Back Again!

Whew! Things have been busy around the Home for Wayward Chorus Girls the past few weeks! Maureen and I had a fabulous trip to Maine that included all of the things a trip to Maine should...eating lobstah, relaxing, reading, watching football, sailing on the Penobscot Bay, enjoying wine by the lake, bonfires by the lake, waterskiing, boat rides, good food, good friends, and good conversation. All in all, it was exactly the vacation I needed!

After we got back, work got busy, and last weekend was the busiest I've had in awhile! I guess that means fall is certainly upon us! Last weekend, I relaxed on Friday night while moving iTunes music files to an external hard drive (quite the task!). Saturday, I ran 5 miles, headed off to Rosh Hashanah rehearsal, came home to breathe for a minute, and then drove into DC to see Washington National Opera's Barber of Seville at Nationals Stadium for their Opera in the Outfield production. It was a fun, fun time! Doesn't get much better than eating a hot dog, drinking a beer, and watching opera! Sunday, I ran 10 miles in the morning and then went up to Baltimore for Baltimore Concert Opera's production of Faust. That was another great opera. Then, I had the pleasure of a quick dinner date with my recently somewhat elusive boyfriend (quite the busy man, as well). This week has been filled with work, rehearsing, and running. Last night, Maureen and I saw Barber of Seville round 2 at the Kennedy Center. I was amazed at how different the production is onstage vs. the simulcast! Not better or worse, we just saw different things onstage that we missed during the simulcast. However, the simulcast is great because you can really watch the performer's expressions.

This weekend? 2 Rosh Hashanah services to sing, 16 miles to run (in 2 separate sessions), some chores to be completed, a Navy game to be enjoyed on TV at the Ramshead Tavern...and hopefully a tasty Sunday dinner to cook! I will hopefully get some downtime at the house as well. Unfortunately, this weekend doesn't include a date...but one is planned for Tuesday!

Ideally, you all now feel caught up on my life the past few weeks! I may have pictures to post soon...but we'll just have to see!

Opera Etiquette

As my faithful blog readers know, I'm a big opera fan. This year, I've had the privilege of attending a few operas at larger houses - Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center Opera House and the Met (on my birthday, no less!). In those performances, I've experienced some odd interactions with other opera-goers such as the sniffer.

On Sunday, Maureen, Sharon and I went to see WNO's production of Peter Grimes (which was fabulous....kudos to the chorus!). We had great seats in the first tier. Great...except for the people around us. Granted, it was the Sunday matinee, but I expected people to be a little more polite at the opera. During Act II, the man to my left (who was sort of cuddling with his wife) kept leaning into me. I couldn't actually sit back in my seat because my shoulders wouldn't fit! I mean, my shoulders are broad, but not broader than a chair! I do have a bit of a personal space issue...but still! Sharon was wondering why I kept leaning towards her...she guessed that I must miss J and wanted to cuddle. I did miss J...although we were watching him onstage. But my real reason was the strange man who was invading my personal space. :)

Also, the man in front of us kept putting his arm around the woman next to him behind the seat. There wasn't a whole lot of leg room anyway, and his arm took away 4 inches of space. He kept almost feeling my leg throughout the whole performance. Eww.

And then, an older lady on the end of our row wouldn't get up during the intermission when we left to head to the ladies room. As soon as we crawled over her, she got up and followed us to the ladies room!

I also would like to say that a Sunday matinee is not an evening opera...so please don't wear your sparkly evening dress and rhinestone studded heels! I am not a snob when it comes to what one should wear to the opera or how one should behave (although I myself enjoy dressing up and drinking champagne when I go), but there are some rules that just shouldn't be broken.

Also, Peter Grimes is the first tragic opera that didn't make me cry. I think it's because the main characters are a bit static...the opera is primarily about the people of the town (the Borough) and their predujices in a sense. Next up for me? Turandot. Although I haven't seen it, I imagine that one will make me sob...

Lucrezia Borgia...Again

But this time with a different Soprano in the lead. Vastly different, but still fabulous. I said her voice seemed a little brighter than Renee Fleming's...everyone else disagreed and said it was darker. Definitely not quite as smooth, but she had a lot of power. All in all, it was another really great performance, and I'm glad I got to see it again. A drink afterwards made it a late night (you know...in bed around 1:30 AM), but a very enjoyable one.

Tomorrow, I'll post pictures of my activities today...

Hmmmm

Well, THAT kind of Monday turned into THAT kind of week. The week wasn't without high points, but having to meet a deadline at work made things slightly stressful yesterday and today. Add in the fact that it's concert week...and I'm so looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow!

High points of the week:

1. Tuesday night I went to the Kennedy Center to hear a dress rehearsal of Lucrezia Borgia with Renee Fleming. And, oh my goodness, was she wonderful! I know all of the "haters" out there (I can't believe I just used that word...) think she's overrated, but wow. Such a beautiful voice...rich tone, supported, steady high notes, amazing control...yeah. I walked out feeling kinda floaty.

2. Wednesday I had a Drs appt, so I "scheduled" a sick day. Meaning, since I had a Drs. appt my boss approved me taking the whole day. It also kind of doubled as a mental health day. I took a nap, laid on the couch, ate McDonald's, read a trashy magazine, and took a bath at 3:00 in the afternoon just because I was cold. I wish I could be "sick" every day...

And now, I'm looking forward to a fun weekend filled with concerts, a Navy game, and hanging out.

Tomorrow, National Blog Posting Month begins, so I'm really going to do my best to post something every day. Wish me luck!

Sniffing Symphony At the Opera

***Not a review of the performance...just some anecdotes from my evening!***

When we went to Nationals Stadium to see La Traviata last month, Washington National Opera was offering Buy One Get One Free tickets for a weeknight performance of The Pearl Fishers. Since that's an opera neither of us have seen, Maureen and I decided to get tickets. With the BOGOF offer, we were able to score pretty decent Orchestra seats for a decent price.

Really, this was both my first time at the Kennedy Center as well as my first time seeing an opera at a "significant" Opera house. (Sorry Annapolis Opera and various companies in SC...you don't count as "significant"). I thought the performance as a whole was fantastic...a few tiny, tiny musical glitches here and there...but as we all know that happens in live performance. I was blown away by the sets and the costumes...lots of bright colors and excellent lighting. The singing was pretty darn good, as well. I did fall in love with the Tenor/Baritone Duet during the first Act...as predicted by many folks. And, as usual, I got teary at the end. I'm on a quest to find a tragic opera that doesn't make me cry...

In addition to a lovely evening of listening to opera, there were quite a few funny moments that occurred. The first happened when I looked down at my top and noticed that it seemed to be falling down (thankfully, I had a wrap on, as well). Apparently, the strap had broken and I was 2 seconds away from flashing everyone in the immediate area. Oops. Wardrobe Malfunction #2 occurred as I was walking out of the Ladies room during Intermission. As I walked past the mirror, I realized that the back of my skirt was tucked into my undies. Now that would have been embarrassing! The woman behind me as I was walking out got a kick out of me quickly pulling it down and making fun of myself. All in all, not a great wardrobe evening!

There were also some very odd people seated in the House around us. During the opening of Act III, there was a man behind us who kept sniffing. It wasn't like a sniff every now and then, but 3 sniffs in a row EVERY 10 seconds. During the quiet moments in the Baritone's aria. Then, the man next to me kept breathing in and sighing. Maureen and I could barely hold it together we were laughing so hard! It was literally like their own "sniffing symphony"! Thankfully, as the music got louder, we couldn't hear them as much anymore.

This was the second installment of my quest to get out and see more live performances this year. I still have a jazz show to attend (Yay, Chris Botti!), and another opera. Hopefully, the Sniffing Symphony was a one-night only performance!

Music Reviewers (Critics)

The software my company produces has a media monitoring component that pulls news clips from various media outlets. In the demo system I use for training, I track music groups in the Baltimore/DC area. Part of my daily organization of the software requires me to look at the clips, so I read A LOT of concert/performance reviews. When I read a review of a show/concert that I was a part of, I tend to take the reviewer's comments as fact, since my perception of the performance is skewed by where I stood on stage, the fact I'm in it, etc. There are times that I disagree with the review (both good ones and bad ones), but since I wasn't part of the audience I don't feel like my opinion or perception has much weight. I never really take reviews to heart, but it is interesting to read them.

However, I feel a bit differently about reviews of performances that I attend as an audience member. I think I have a fairly discerning ear- based on my musical experience as both a choral singer, horn player, and countless hours of listening to classical music. I have been to performances that I have not enjoyed, and I used to wish that God hadn't provided me with such a musical ear because it can make the music I hear sometimes at church painful (as much as I love my church they don't seem to understand that just because someone wants to sing doesn't mean they should...). So when I go to a show, enjoy it, and think that quality of the music was top-notch, I'm often shocked to read negative reviews from big name publications.

Take Washington National Opera's production of La Traviata for example. I attended the simulcast and thought the peformance was fantastic. The Washington Post review used adjectives like "adequate" and "thin" to describe the performance and the lead performers. I did hear a few issues here and there, but OVERALL I thought the performance was splendid. Granted, my ears were at a bit of a disadvantage with the stadium sound system instead of hearing the music live...but still. Shouldn't a reviewer present an overall impression instead of picking apart tiny issues here and there? Did people enjoy the opera? Was it moving? Were the singers great OVERALL? How about the sets and the staging? Were they visually pleasing? I guess I think negative reviews should be reserved for really terrible productions and singing...not performances that were excellent overall, with a few minor issues here and there...but nothing that detracted from the overall performance.

In a day where interest in the arts is waning, I think it's imperative that people be encouraged to attend musical performances. When a negative review is written for what was overall a good production, it might prevent people from attending that production....or even attending another production by the same company/music group. Reviewers should realize that the lack of interest in the arts puts their jobs in jeopardy as well.

Now don't get me wrong... a poor performance deserves a negative review. I've been to some performances that were terrible...and was stunned to read a rave review later (usually in small community publications). It's just that, especially in the Post, I read very few positive reviews. A lot of the groups in the DC area are world-class....so I can't imagine that they put on that many poor performances! So, if you happen to read a picky/negative review of a performance...don't let that stop you from attending! It could be that the reviewer is just a bit caught up in their own musical knowledge and can't enjoy a performance for what it is!

Opera in the Outfield

Last night, a few friends and I drove into DC for Washington National Opera's simulcast of their opening night of La Traviata. The simulcast was at Nationals Park on the gorgeous new Jumbotron. It was my first time in the new stadium...and it's really nice. While it felt a little odd to be drinking beer and eating hot dogs while watching opera, I enjoyed every minute of it! The production was fantastic...and both Violetta and Alfredo have tremendous voices.

We knew a few folks in the production, so that was fun as well. I was amazed at the clarity of the picture on the jumbotron. The sound wasn't half-bad either...we were a little concerned about how the music would translate, but it really worked well. It wasn't what we would have experienced in the opera house itself, but for a free simulcast it was pretty good. They said there were around 15,000 people there...seemed more like 7 or 8,000 to me, but then it is hard to judge crowd size in such a large stadium.

As usual, during the dying scene in Act III I got pretty teary...but I've learned that's my usual response to tragic operas. I first watched Aida on DVD on a Friday night at my house last year and was sobbing through the whole last scene!

Here are a few photos from the evening:



Lauren and I waiting on the performance to begin

Our whole group waiting
The beautiful HD JumbotronVioletta during "Libiamo"
Violetta and Alfredo
The moon over the stadium
Creative short intermission title
Opera is better with gelato!
Violetta dying in Act III

Piano Bar

After a 1 month hiatus, it's time for Piano Bar at the Home For Wayward Chorus Girls again. I realized that a lot of my readers don't know about Piano Bar...so here is the long, short story.

A couple of years ago, my roommate Maureen was given her mom's Baby grand piano. To commemorate the occasion, she decided to host a party with a few piano-playing and singing friends. Since the party was all about the piano, she called it piano bar. A bunch of us were into drinking martinis at the time, so she decided to serve those at the "piano bar" as well. A few folks brought some show tune books along...and dramatic singing chaos ensued! Piano Bar became a staple at the HFWCG.

We try to have a Piano Bar party every month....but sometimes schedules prevent that. There is a core group of regulars...and other attendees come and go. It's now affectionately known as "Mo's Piano Bar". Some evenings we'll have 20 people...other times only 6 or so. Some nights we have a "late shift" of theater performers, and other nights it's a mix of lowly chorus members and non-singers. But whether it's a crazy, chatty piano bar, or an intimate sing-along...we always have fun! Mo has even gotten into trying out new martini recipes...which makes for some interesting drinks. My favorite time of the evening is always when Mario pulls out the "100 greatest love songs" book and we rock out to 80s ballads. :) A Disney song or two often find their way into the mix, as well.

Tonight seems as if it will be on the very small and intimate side...which is fine. That means I'll actually get to sing a few numbers without having an audience. When it's a big crowd, I prefer that the audience watch my interpretive dance skills instead of listen to me sing. It also means more time for "100 greatest love songs" and I won't feel as if I need to flit from group to group chatting with everyone.

If you're in the area and want an invite to any Piano Bar...let me know. If you're a singer....you'll love it! It's really just a bunch of people who love to sing getting together and having fun. If you're not a singer...you'll still love it! Come hear some very talented folks, enjoy a martini, and have great conversation.

July 4th, A Sleepy Weekend, and What Feels Like Nonstop Rehearsals!

In the midst of a crazy week, I thought I'd take a moment to breathe and step into blogland. My July 4th was great...fun and relaxing all at the same time! Some dear friends had a few of us over for a Yoga brunch- a 1 hour yoga session with my friend Alicia and then what turned into a 3 hour (longer for some) brunch. I went home and slept for 2 hours. After my much-needed nap, some friends came over for an impromptu cookout, which turned into a cook-in. No matter. A lively game of charades ensued. Quote of the evening: "Sounds like amputee!" (I'm still laughing at that one...). Saturday involved a swim, watching the Wimbledon Ladies' Final, a shopping trip, and another nap. Sunday was dominated by rehearsal...and that has set the tone for this week!

The invited dress rehearsal for the show is this evening...and then only performances from here on out! It's always nice when the rehearsals are over...

So that is an update from me. Sorry that I have no coherent and interesting thoughts to present...that would require sleep- which seems to be in short supply in my world!

A quick aside: I saw a sign in a shop window the other day that said, "I'm lost in my own little world...but it's ok, they know me here!". That is definitely how I feel sometimes!

Evolution of a Blog

The other day, I was thinking about how my blog has changed over the 3.5 years I've been posting on it. After I moved to Annapolis, I started blogging on xanga as a daily webjournal type of thing to keep my friends and family updated in lieu of mass emails. I posted almost daily on what I had been up to, etc. Over the next 2 years, as I discovered that more and more people were reading my blog, I became blog-prideful and starting writing insightful and deep blogs of my thoughts and opinions. That only lasted a little while...my thoughts and opinions don't change too often so I never had anything new to write! I also had a lot of free time at work to blog...until March of 2007 when I started my current job. My blog posting fell off at that point, and hasn't really picked up much since. In October of '07, I switched my blogging platform to Blogger, which I like much better.

I think I'm writing this just to explain to my readers (and myself) why I don't blog too often. I'm hoping to change that- I realized that I haven't been blogging much about what I've been doing recently...even though it's all very interesting and very fun! I'd like to take this blog back to its roots a bit and post about the things I am doing in my life...and less about my thoughts on life. I think those will come along for the ride too...but sometimes I feel so pressured to blog about something significant and meaningful. Also, since I am the Google-Stalking queen, I know how easy it is to find people you know through googling organizations and activities. So, few names will be listed here.

What has been taking up most of my evening time recently is rehearsing for a Gilbert & Sullivan opera up in Baltimore. I am having a great time with most of the music and with the people. I feel a bit like a "real" singer since we actually have to memorize the music. I've been wandering around during the day with my cheat sheets mumbling words. I'm sure my co-workers are a bit confused! Really though, memorization comes very easily to me, so I dont' expect it to be a problem.

The drive to Baltimore gets a bit old, but thankfully my friend SP is singing too, so we carpool together. It's made for some fun conversations and A LOT of debriefing after rehearsals. But, since that's what we do best (debriefing), it's to be expected. There is a bit of dance involved in this show, as well as a big heavy costume. I went out and bought a pair of character shoes last weekend- since this is the second time I've needed a pair I decided to bite the bullet and buy some. Thankfully, they are very comfy. We begin staging the opera on Friday, so I'll be interested to see how that works. The whole experience is a learning one for me, and I'm enjoying myself immensely so far.

My other major commitment of the summer is triathlon training. I've mentioned it before...but I really didn't know quite the commitment that this training involves! I've joined a swim class, I bike twice a week, and run one or twice a week. If I follow my plan properly, I'm exercising 5 days a week! This has involved some lunchtime treadmill or bike time which I don't love...but I've got to get something in even on days that I have rehearsal. I write more about exercise on my running blog, so you can go there for more info.

I have managed to squeeze in a little hang-out time with friends...but I'm sure some feel like I've abandoned them! I promise I'll be back around soon...

Yuppie, Yuppie

As I was riding into DC on the metro the other day to meet some old friends for dinner...it suddenly occurred to me...I'm a yuppie. Yep. When I was in high school and college, I always pictured yuppies as young people who lived in old bungalow houses with babies. But, as most of you know, the definition is "Young Professional". Somehow I've gotten there. It hit me as I was looking at a young woman in a suit listening to her iPod. I thought- "Now there's a Yuppie...". Then I looked at myself. While not in a suit, I was dressed nicely...and I was listening to Podcasts on my iPod (granted...it was a podcast about opera...which makes me more of a geek than a Yuppie...but you get the picture!)

I do Yuppie-type things...go to martini bars, drink wine, drop way too much on a dinner out, bike, ride the metro, drink expensive coffee, go to shows....yeah. I'm so there. It's quite frightening to me that I've hit that stage. I suppose I've been in it for awhile...but I have always considered myself more geek than Yuppie.

Anyway, I also noticed that the marketing in Metro stations is interesting. On the Orange Line, from Eastern Market in, all of the adds are for tech type things...iPods, gadgets, trendy alcohol, etc. Basically, it's marketing targeting Yuppies like me. :) But, as the demographics change from Eastern Market out into Prince George's county...the ads change. Almost every Ad from Stadium-Armory out to New Carrollton was "How to get the most out of your Medicaid". Interesting to say the least.

Aida comes to Annapolis

Ok, so I haven't made a shameless plug for any of the concerts we've had recently. But, with the one coming up this weekend, I couldn't resist! The chorus I sing with is performing a semi-staged concert version of the opera Aida. The soloists are fantastic, the chorus will be great, the orchestra is wonderful...

If you've been to an opera and get tired of sitting through the slow recitatives...come Friday night for the interactive concert that will demonstrate how the opera is put together. Only the "big" scenes will be performed...and you'll get an inside look at what goes on.

If you're an opera fan and want to experience the whole thing, come Saturday night for the entire opera. I know most of my small readership is not in the Annapolis area, but for those of you who are...you should come. I know the tickets are expensive-ish...blah blah blah....but I really think the experience will be worth it. Don't believe me? Read this article in last weekend's Capital. Still not convinced? Well, purchase a ticket and come....if the show doesn't blow you away, I'll pay for your ticket. Deal? Click here to buy a ticket....

See you all this weekend...look for me in the chorus onstage! Thankfully, I will not be wearing a costume; just normal concert dress.

Ciao!

Odds and Ends

Just a few thoughts that have been rattling around in my head:

-I'm so annoyed by drivers who drive in the middle lane at 5 mph under the speed limit! Really, if you aren't passing some one, get over! This has caused me much angst in the past few weeks during my commute. Seems like I need to find something else to think about as I am driving to and from work before I experience full-on road rage...

-I discovered the identity of an anonymous opera-blogger today. I've been trying to figure out who she is for the longest time...googling her based on hints and particular roles she mentions...but today I found her out based on an innocent fact she mentioned on her blog! Not that it matters...I will probably never see her perform or meet her in person. However, finally figuring out her identity did validate my google-stalker skills.

-I am learning how to add habits to my life one teensy habit at a time. I have a tendency to want to change my routine and my habits in one fell swoop. However, the habits I tend to stick with seem to be small ones that I add to my life gradually. My current "baby-step" habit is eating healthier- more fruits and veggies. So far, I've been doing well for about 5 days. I managed to tamp down the Chick fil A craving that arose this afternoon...but I'll probably let myself have it this weekend. I don't stick to rigid eating plans too well...

-Allergies are taking over my life. I keep taking medicine, but they still are bothering me. They are worse when I am at work....leading me to believe there might be mold growing in the vents. Maybe once everyone starts calling in sick they will check the vents...

That's about all for now. Sorry that I'm not more interesting, but my head is filled with goo.