Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Tuesday

Oh. My. Goodness. I have a headache. Last night was tooooo fun. Stu and I just had the best time at musical theater night. Well, I did. I'm not sure, but Stu may have been really embarrassed when I belted out the high C in "Tonight."

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Monday

I found a real Czech to help me with my Czech!! Sweet Ms. T, a faculty member here at school. She has set aside a little time to help me and I am so grateful.

It was a weekend full of going places, DC, Alexandria, Annapolis. And I'm pretty sure tonight I'm going with Stu to musical theater karaoke night at a bar somewhere outside the city. Which, I 'm sure will prove to be quite humiliating. But hey, if you drink enough, you don't even know you should be embarrassed.

I can't believe I am actually doing this, but I am joining a gym, people. I've really been holding out, because, besides your average walking I absolutely despise exercising. I mean really hate it. I hate sweating, I hate showering and getting dressed in public places, and it's just generally annoying. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and I need to look like a model to be a successful singer, apparently. So, here I come elliptical machines. At least I will have a chance to really catch up on my magazine reading.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Tuesday

I'm home, and every time I come back, I realize how much I love being here. Why would I ever want to leave? Every time we go to NYC, we talk about moving there, but then I come back to darling little Balto, and it all just feels right. For right now, at any rate.

My children (cats) missed me very much.

When I was on the way home, I got the call from a company I sang (well) for a few weeks ago, offering me a small role in a Verdi opera. It was a really good feeling, I have to say. It's a small part, but a showy one, and I am kind of flattered to have gotten it, never having known the artistic director, or worked for the company before. Maybe I am doing something right? Maybe?

In other news, I am way too excited to go to the grocery tonight and get back to cooking. It's a dorky thing to say, but I am delighted nonetheless. I'm thinking asiago-encrusted pork chops, grilled asparagus, and a big salad. It's time for horrific West Virginia food detox. Definitely.

As for West Virginia, our hotel was very nice, and family non-dramatic, though slightly irritating. Only a little. :) The food, however. Well, they need to work on that. But Aaron and Matt made up for it last night when we got back and they took us out for a delish tapas meal at Pazo.

Love to all you bloggles!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Monday

Wow. What a weekend. So many fun things to do, that I'm afraid I need some recovery time. :)

Today, I have kind of promised myself that I will get down to business really learning some of my new pieces, but I can't seem to motivate myself. Usually, I can do anything thing if I say that after I have learned 10 or so pages I can have a grape vodka with club soda. But today even that is not working.

Wednesday and Thursday, we are in New York, and it will be a fun get away, except that I am really hoping we don't talk about piano the whole time, as I will be with a bunch of pianists the whole time. That could only end in me feeling rather dumb. Perhaps I can run away with Brent for a little while.

In other news, I am not quite sure how it happened, but I have accidentally bought a couple of pretty bags on E-bay lately, and am kind of addicted. This can be quite deadly for a girl who really needs to spend all her extra money on vocal development. I can't stop myself from opening up my favorite searches and looking through bag after bag, barely able to ward off the temptation to click on "place a bid." Because they are such wonderful deals, and such wonderful arm candy, and I am very good at rationalizing any number of things and why I most certainly deserve to have them. But being broke helps keep you from doing dumb things.

It's almost time for lunch!

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Tuesday

I twittered that I think I might need to lay off red wine pretty much forever, as depressing as that is. Last night, as I sat around the kitchen table with the girls, it just tasted SO good! But it always makes me mean and groggy the next day...so be forewarned. :)

The concert Friday was so much fun, and my audition Saturday went well, but now here am in a place I haven't been in a while-- wondering what to work on next. I should get an early start on Mimi, but I'd like to take a break from Boheme for a month or so. So, my teacher, ever the intuitive listener, great confidant, and ultimate encourager, who knows me so well, suggested I look at Rusalka. If you had asked me about that a year ago, I would have said it's crazy to sing that if you're not Renee Fleming-- and I'm not. Obviously. But listening to it, it's just too heavenly to refuse. God knows where I'm going to find someone to teach me the Czech, but in the face of that gorgeous music, it seems like only a minor detail. (Insert Czech people throwing shoes at my head) Gotta love Dvorak melody.

In other news, I applied for an audition in New York that, upon doing some research, I'm pretty sure is a scam. Thank god I hadn't bought a train ticket or anything, or spent hundreds of dollars. I suppose we singers (sopranos, for sure) are easy targets. Thanks for exploiting us and our dedication to our calling, jerks. **this is the red wine talking** But I figured it out before I paid you the $40 fee...so that's one trap I didn't fall into. I missed the Preakness for a lame audition experience, and you can bet I won't ruin a trip to New York for one.

Happy Tuesday!

Friday, June 05, 2009

Friday

It's been a miserable couple of days out there, but in here, I have to say I've been having fun! I really enjoyed rehearsing for the concert tonight with a tenor friend and Joe, and there is a lot of joking and loud singing. Which I love so very much. There is only so much choral music and anthem singing one can take when one is supposed to be learning how to sing over an orchestra.

I am dutifully at my desk right now, but where I would love to be is at home with the BBC's Pride and Prejudice. Why? I don't know, and I don't even have my hands on a copy, but it seems like such a great way to spend this icky weather day, and put me in the right mood to sing some Countess.

Tomorrow, an audition for a new company, who really isn't doing any rep in which I could see myself a viable lead-- but there are plenty of secondary roles for voices like mine, so we will drive out there tomorrow and knock them dead. Ahhh comprimario singing...all the fun and none of the stress.