i like to make resolutions. keeping them is something else, of course, but i think i've actually been pretty good about that, too, if a little late. one of my resolutions of old was to take voice lessons, and i've done that (need to get back to it, especially if i am going to be called upon to perform at work functions), learn to knit (check), and once, notably, to remove a pair of boots from under my desk at work. doesn't sound like a big job, does it? but it took me years to bring them home from under there. they moved cubicles with me and everything.
i read an article by ellen degeneres - she suggests writing resolutions in lemon juice on parchment paper, readable only if you hold a candle up to the paper, so you can feel like a pirate. maybe later. for now, i will just broadcast these resolutions to the world.....
1. Finish the !@&#(#@!** thesis. Be more persistent w/deadbeat advisor and make him be useful to me. It is, after all, his job.
2. Join some kind of gym and work out more than once a week.
3. Spend less time at Starbucks. Otherwise, I will become VERY finnie-esque and that gym membership will be very handy indeed.
4. Follow my own damn bliss. New job? Possibly. More travel? Most likely.
5. Learn to knit more than long rectangles. I can do scarves. But I've only got one head. I'd like to learn how to purl, and how to do more exciting stitches and make some more interesting things.
Yeah, that's all I've got right now.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
memories of 2006
lyric opera internship and brushes with royalty at the wine auction. manon at the met. coffee with alison. meeting mim and iris. backstage at the met in our 'living room'. fourth of july in manhattan. getting diva lessons from my own personal doyennes of fabulosity (you know who you are). sweeney todd in april. and july. and september. sondheim soiree and slumber spectacular. goodbye edge, hello gypsy, and shout out to safe hondas. a get well care package from renee fleming. meeting the patti. heidi's birthday fondue. no more part time slave labor at archiver's. cinnamon dolce lattes. being a commuter. 'graduating' from columbia. front row seats at the closing night of sweeney. bringing my grandmother backstage at ravinia to meet renee. max brenner's chocolate cafe. the grant park south underground parking garage. high level office teasing. scrap manias. sundays in central parkwith friends (and sometimes spills). the renee fleming reality tour. picnics on the lawn at ravinia in 'our spot'. mocha marble macchiatos. my group. knitting. scrapping. writing my thesis (or at least trying to). goodbye gs. gypsy and gypsy and gypsy. making new friends. keeping clients happy. this blog. hot hot summer and mild winter. renee's lyric opera concert. patti's jcc concert. tea and sympathy. patti. audra. bernadette. monday memo mad libs. breathing the same air as stephen sondheim twice. stage door madness. magic in the making. work work and more work. pink razor phone. saying goodbye to uncle tony and diane. pyramid tea bags. singing at the holiday party. white elephant gift exchange. spending time with family. you tube. surfing the net. i am sure there's more....
happy new year.
happy new year.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Hazelnuts Unite!!!!
Tonight.... Sister Hazel at Chicago's House of Blues. I can't recall the last time I was even AT the House of Blues (a little scary), or the last time I saw SH. I do love them, though - it was for them that I went on the Rock Boat 3 times, and this blog is named for a song of theirs off the album "Lift." So it will be fun to see them again. I will have to get back into the rock show mentality - doors: 7:30. Opening act: 9:00. Sister Hazel 10:30. Last night, I was in bed at 10:30.... but anyway....
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Thought for the Day... Watch this Space...
Leave you? Leave you?
How could I leave you?
How could I go it alone?
Could I wave the years away
With a quick goodbye?
How do you wipe tears away
When your eyes are dry?
Oh, leave you? Leave you?
How could I leave you?
Sweetheart, I have to confess:
Could I leave you?
Yes.
Will I leave you?
Will I leave you?
Guess!
(Stephen Sondheim, Follies)
How could I leave you?
How could I go it alone?
Could I wave the years away
With a quick goodbye?
How do you wipe tears away
When your eyes are dry?
Oh, leave you? Leave you?
How could I leave you?
Sweetheart, I have to confess:
Could I leave you?
Yes.
Will I leave you?
Will I leave you?
Guess!
(Stephen Sondheim, Follies)
Sunday, December 24, 2006
merry christmas
i remember when i was growing up, i couldn't wait until christmas. it was always the best time of year. this year, though, it has managed to sneak up on me. though the holiday cards were made around halloween, i didn't manage to send them until last weekend and in some cases, early to mid week last week (i much prefer making the cards to sending them). the same thing happened in our company - but on a larger scale. things happened that took our minds off sending the cards, nobody wanted to sign them, or do anything with them, really, so it was up to me and a few others in the office. they got out on thursday, i think.
i had a few gifts bought, but was still trolling the store aisles as late as yesterday. one of the gifts i'd bought for one friend in particular i found less than inspiring, so i scrapped the whole idea and got her something entirely different (yesterday). and we finished the actual wrapping of the presents yesterday, too (and i know my mom was still wrapping this morning). for whatever reason, the holiday does not mean as much this year as it used to. what's with the holiday apathy??? oh, i really don't know.
holiday shopping isn't even fun any more - for once in my life, i think i am shopped out. there are just people everywhere, and everyone is RUDE, even the store workers themselves. yesterday, i saw this gorgeous shirt in a store window, and went to find it in the shop. i couldn't find it anywhere, so i asked a sales associate if they had it, or if she could get it out of the window for me. she gave me a total hard time about it, and pretty much refused to get it out of the window (something to do with how it was hanging, i guess). so i left. but here's the thing that gets me - she would rather have me leave and lose a sale completely than try and actually like be helpful and I don't know, do her job?? she didn't offer any other kind of help - like offer to check the back, or say something like, that one is sold out, but we've got it in blue (because they did). Nope. Hello? What happened to 'the customer is always right' and 'give the lady what she wants'??? I guess not. So they lost a sale, and now I am going to think things like, well, gosh, there's a bitchy sales chick in the New York & Company in Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, so I don't think I want to shop there any more. i've worked in retail in the holidays, i know what people are like, so i try and be nice when i am a customer and cut them some slack. but i always tried to actually be helpful to people when they were looking for things, or offer alternatives or something, so that they bought something (because i would have bought something).... but i went somewhere else and bought things instead, and nobody really cares any more, anyway. apathy everywhere.
but anyway. there are nicer things to think about, for instance: i finished knitting my first scarf! it is beautiful and i wore it out today. hooray! i have also discovered several cute little knitting stores, and even though i am totally intimidated, and can only do scarves at the moment, i always go in and buy some gorgeous yarn. i've got so much yarn, and so many needles, it's crazy.
AND - tonight i am off with the family to a christmas eve party given by some friends of my parents. that should be fun..... tomorrow it is over the river and thru the woods to grandmother's house for christmas day... tuesday it's after christmas shopping (because i will be DONE with the family togetherness thing) and wednesday it's back to work.
merry christmas, everyone!
i had a few gifts bought, but was still trolling the store aisles as late as yesterday. one of the gifts i'd bought for one friend in particular i found less than inspiring, so i scrapped the whole idea and got her something entirely different (yesterday). and we finished the actual wrapping of the presents yesterday, too (and i know my mom was still wrapping this morning). for whatever reason, the holiday does not mean as much this year as it used to. what's with the holiday apathy??? oh, i really don't know.
holiday shopping isn't even fun any more - for once in my life, i think i am shopped out. there are just people everywhere, and everyone is RUDE, even the store workers themselves. yesterday, i saw this gorgeous shirt in a store window, and went to find it in the shop. i couldn't find it anywhere, so i asked a sales associate if they had it, or if she could get it out of the window for me. she gave me a total hard time about it, and pretty much refused to get it out of the window (something to do with how it was hanging, i guess). so i left. but here's the thing that gets me - she would rather have me leave and lose a sale completely than try and actually like be helpful and I don't know, do her job?? she didn't offer any other kind of help - like offer to check the back, or say something like, that one is sold out, but we've got it in blue (because they did). Nope. Hello? What happened to 'the customer is always right' and 'give the lady what she wants'??? I guess not. So they lost a sale, and now I am going to think things like, well, gosh, there's a bitchy sales chick in the New York & Company in Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, so I don't think I want to shop there any more. i've worked in retail in the holidays, i know what people are like, so i try and be nice when i am a customer and cut them some slack. but i always tried to actually be helpful to people when they were looking for things, or offer alternatives or something, so that they bought something (because i would have bought something).... but i went somewhere else and bought things instead, and nobody really cares any more, anyway. apathy everywhere.
but anyway. there are nicer things to think about, for instance: i finished knitting my first scarf! it is beautiful and i wore it out today. hooray! i have also discovered several cute little knitting stores, and even though i am totally intimidated, and can only do scarves at the moment, i always go in and buy some gorgeous yarn. i've got so much yarn, and so many needles, it's crazy.
AND - tonight i am off with the family to a christmas eve party given by some friends of my parents. that should be fun..... tomorrow it is over the river and thru the woods to grandmother's house for christmas day... tuesday it's after christmas shopping (because i will be DONE with the family togetherness thing) and wednesday it's back to work.
merry christmas, everyone!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Public Embarassment
You didn't think I would forget to post about the holiday party, did you? Ah, enforced jolity with the co-workers, always a good time. We needed the time to bond and unwind together, given certain sudden changes we've been seeing around here.
We had a luncheon, complete with party planning committee. Our party had an agenda. (Item #1 - FUN!) Seriously. Planned activities included a showcase of talent among our staff (mostly the junior staff, interestingly enough...) I was roped into singing. I agreed out of guilt, based primarily on the following conversation:
Colleague - Hey K, do you wanna sing with Coworker?
Me - Ummmm, NO! (running by on the way to the bathroom)
Now, keep in mind, I'd just been on a 2 hour conference call, it was past lunch time, I was starving, needed caffeine and use of the bathroom. I was still in my little depressing conference call world, and thus the response was a bit more sharp than I would have intended it to be. So I went back, massive bottle of soda in hand and said I was sorry, hadn't had caffeine or food, etc etc, was very cranky and did she mean sing NOW? NO, was the response, at the party tomorrow!
I didn't really want to, but I agreed b/c had sounded like such a beeeyotch before. I get so nervous, with people watching me, I just start shaking. Stage fright. Very bad. Did I really want to get up in front of all these people and have them think I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket? Not especially....
We agreed to sing Winter Wonderland and all went well, I guess. No one, and this is important, said anything at the time... Other entertainment included salsa dance lessons and some Irish drumming. We also had a white elephant gift exchange which was fun.... although entirely missing the point of the true white elephant (unlike last year's exchange among my friends, one of whom contributed to the exchange a photo frame with a picture of her ex boyfriend in it.). This was only to our benefit though - who wants crappy gifts?? I got some chocolate and a starbucks card, the perfect gift!
Ok, so fast forward to today - one of my esteemed colleagues took pictures of all this, which she forwarded around to THE WHOLE STAFF. One of the pictures is called 'singing finger' which showed me singing and holding a page with the words on it (helpful, not because i needed the words, but because i could look at them, rather than out at the crowd, all of whom were staring at me. I guess my Inner Diva was out to lunch that day...) - I guess I was holding it weirdly and one of my fingers - guess which one - (Go ahead, guess!) is visible, so it looks like i am flipping off the staff. Good one. Very smooth move. I had no idea I was doing it. I just wanted to get through the !@#$($ song. She sent around some other pictures, too, but not as bad as that. Am hiding in mortification under my desk.
(And, for the record. Yes, there is a picture. No, you don't get to see it).
We had a luncheon, complete with party planning committee. Our party had an agenda. (Item #1 - FUN!) Seriously. Planned activities included a showcase of talent among our staff (mostly the junior staff, interestingly enough...) I was roped into singing. I agreed out of guilt, based primarily on the following conversation:
Colleague - Hey K, do you wanna sing with Coworker?
Me - Ummmm, NO! (running by on the way to the bathroom)
Now, keep in mind, I'd just been on a 2 hour conference call, it was past lunch time, I was starving, needed caffeine and use of the bathroom. I was still in my little depressing conference call world, and thus the response was a bit more sharp than I would have intended it to be. So I went back, massive bottle of soda in hand and said I was sorry, hadn't had caffeine or food, etc etc, was very cranky and did she mean sing NOW? NO, was the response, at the party tomorrow!
I didn't really want to, but I agreed b/c had sounded like such a beeeyotch before. I get so nervous, with people watching me, I just start shaking. Stage fright. Very bad. Did I really want to get up in front of all these people and have them think I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket? Not especially....
We agreed to sing Winter Wonderland and all went well, I guess. No one, and this is important, said anything at the time... Other entertainment included salsa dance lessons and some Irish drumming. We also had a white elephant gift exchange which was fun.... although entirely missing the point of the true white elephant (unlike last year's exchange among my friends, one of whom contributed to the exchange a photo frame with a picture of her ex boyfriend in it.). This was only to our benefit though - who wants crappy gifts?? I got some chocolate and a starbucks card, the perfect gift!
Ok, so fast forward to today - one of my esteemed colleagues took pictures of all this, which she forwarded around to THE WHOLE STAFF. One of the pictures is called 'singing finger' which showed me singing and holding a page with the words on it (helpful, not because i needed the words, but because i could look at them, rather than out at the crowd, all of whom were staring at me. I guess my Inner Diva was out to lunch that day...) - I guess I was holding it weirdly and one of my fingers - guess which one - (Go ahead, guess!) is visible, so it looks like i am flipping off the staff. Good one. Very smooth move. I had no idea I was doing it. I just wanted to get through the !@#$($ song. She sent around some other pictures, too, but not as bad as that. Am hiding in mortification under my desk.
(And, for the record. Yes, there is a picture. No, you don't get to see it).
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Do I Hear A Waltz?
Last night, mom and I went to Lyric to see Die Fledermaus. Now, this is what I've been waiting for them to do all season.
Gorgeous sets? Check.
Amazing ensemble cast of singers and actors? Check! Check! Check!
Crazy talented dancers doing elaborate dance numbers including the famed waltzes? Check.
No parking hassles because I decided to spring for valet?? Check!
From the moment the overture started and those familiar strains started to play, I knew it was going to be great. It was as light and frothy and sparkling as the 'king champagne' they sing about. It was also really funny - the titles helped my understanding, of course since I do not speak deutsch, but the cast was very expressive and funny themselves, in their voices of courses, but also in their body language. Rosalinde was playbed by the talented coloratura Andrea Rost, Gabriel by the hunky Bo Skovhus, and the tenor Bonaventura Bottone (gotta love that name) - but it was the soprano playing the chamber maid, Marlis Petersen, who absolutely stole the show. The opera clocked in at 3 and a half hours, but it flew by like the titular fledermaus. Definitely my favorite of the season so far...
Gorgeous sets? Check.
Amazing ensemble cast of singers and actors? Check! Check! Check!
Crazy talented dancers doing elaborate dance numbers including the famed waltzes? Check.
No parking hassles because I decided to spring for valet?? Check!
From the moment the overture started and those familiar strains started to play, I knew it was going to be great. It was as light and frothy and sparkling as the 'king champagne' they sing about. It was also really funny - the titles helped my understanding, of course since I do not speak deutsch, but the cast was very expressive and funny themselves, in their voices of courses, but also in their body language. Rosalinde was playbed by the talented coloratura Andrea Rost, Gabriel by the hunky Bo Skovhus, and the tenor Bonaventura Bottone (gotta love that name) - but it was the soprano playing the chamber maid, Marlis Petersen, who absolutely stole the show. The opera clocked in at 3 and a half hours, but it flew by like the titular fledermaus. Definitely my favorite of the season so far...
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Happy, Happy Birthday
It's my mom's birthday!
Let's all sing!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Stephanie!
Happy birthday to you!
Here's to many many more!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Christmas Songs...
Today in the Sun Times, there is a poll on the best Christmas song. None of their choices even come close to any of my favorites. Here, in random order are my choices, instead:
-White Christmas (but the version they play in the movie "Home Alone" can't think of the artist right now)
-The Bells of St. Paul (Linda Eder)
-Face of Love (Jewel)
-Baby Please Come Home (U2 - I mean come on! Bono! Christmas carols! YES!)
-Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (the Pretenders. I also really enjoy Patti LuPone's version)
-Rockin'Around the Christmas Tree (the original, by Brenda Lee, not the crappy version by Jessica Simpson)
-Merry Christmas from the Family (The Dixie Chicks. No joke!)
-We Need a Little Christmas Now (from Mame)
-Happy Christmas (War is Over) (John Lennon, my favorite Beatle. Not to be confused with my favorite Beadle, who would be Alex Gemignani. sorry. too much sugar this afternoon)
-River (Renee Fleming)
-White Christmas (but the version they play in the movie "Home Alone" can't think of the artist right now)
-The Bells of St. Paul (Linda Eder)
-Face of Love (Jewel)
-Baby Please Come Home (U2 - I mean come on! Bono! Christmas carols! YES!)
-Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (the Pretenders. I also really enjoy Patti LuPone's version)
-Rockin'Around the Christmas Tree (the original, by Brenda Lee, not the crappy version by Jessica Simpson)
-Merry Christmas from the Family (The Dixie Chicks. No joke!)
-We Need a Little Christmas Now (from Mame)
-Happy Christmas (War is Over) (John Lennon, my favorite Beatle. Not to be confused with my favorite Beadle, who would be Alex Gemignani. sorry. too much sugar this afternoon)
-River (Renee Fleming)
Thursday, December 07, 2006
No More Drama!
Time for a little holiday cheer, Patti style (thanks to the most excellent group of Patti fans I came across on the net... http://community.livejournal.com/the_patti/)
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
sure could use them here right now...
Nobody else here babyNo one here to blame
No one to point the finger
It's just you and me and the rain
Nobody made you do it
Nobody made you do it
No one put words in your mouth
Nobody here taking orders
When love took a train heading south
It's the blind leading the blonde
It's the blind leading the blonde
It's the stuff, it's the stuff of country songs
Hey if God will send his angels
Hey if God will send his angels
And if God will send a sign
And if God will send his angels
Would everything be alright
God has got his phone off the hook
Would he even pick up if he could
It's been a while since we saw that child
Hanging 'round this neighborhood
You see his mother dealing in a doorway
See Father Christmas with a begging bowl
Jesus sister's eyes are a blister
The High Street never looked so low
It's the blind leading the blonde
It's the blind leading the blonde
It's the cops collecting for the cons
So where is the hope and where is the faith
And the love...what's that you say to me
Does love...light up your Christmas tree
The next minute you're blowing a fuse
And the cartoon network turns into the news
If God will send his angels
If God will send his angels
And if God will send a sign
And if God will send his angels
Where do we go
Where do we go
Jesus never let me down
Jesus never let me down
You know Jesus used to show me the score
Then they put Jesus in show business
Now it's hard to get in the door
It's the stuff, it's the stuff of country songs
But I guess it was something to go on
If God will send his angels
If God will send his angels
I sure could use them here right now
Well if God would send his angelsWhere do we go
I don't want to lie(Where do we go)
I don't want to lie(Where do we go)
I don't want to have a feel for the song
And I want to love, and I...(Where do we go)
And I want to feel alone
U2
"If God Will Send His Angels"
Sunday, December 03, 2006
My First Diva...
I've always had opera in my life (with a last name like mine, it's pretty much a given. most likely genetic). When I was younger, my mom would wake me up for school by playing music - many times it would be an album of arias by Luciano Pavarotti. I also remember in grade school, watching Amadeus and Carmen in music class, and going on field trips to Lyric Opera and the CSO. So it isn't altogether surprising that I like opera, am a season subscriber to Lyric Opera (for several years) and have a fan group dedicated to the lovely and fabulous Ms. Renee Fleming.
But my very first soprano, and my first Diva (capital D) was Maria Callas (who would have celebrated her 83rd birthday yesterday). I stumbled across Maria entirely by accident - I'd watched a mini-series about Aristotle Onassis and was facinated by Maria - who was not a major "character" in the series and was never shown singing. I was full of questions about her - firstly, what did she sound like? what happened to her in the course of her own life? I ran out to the library, got some of her vast catalogue of music, and started listening and learning. I was born a year after she died, so I never had the chance to see her on stage. It says something about the power of her voice that I was so hooked just by recordings. Hers is not a pretty voice, but there's something else there - a strength, an edge, a certain power and drama that I just was drawn into. Her story is also compelling - growing up in Greece during the German occupation, her transformation from an awkward chubby girl into a beautiful, thin social Diva, all of it just added to the fascination for me. Maria sang so many of the iconic opera roles, and I listened to (and now own) many of her recordings. She gave me strong foundation into the repertoire and I enthusiastically explored it.
I have since moved on - other singers, other repertoire, and experiencing opera through attending performances (at Lyric, where Maria helped open the fledgling company founded in 1954). But you know, it's true what they say: you never forget your first.
Happy Birthday, Maria.
But my very first soprano, and my first Diva (capital D) was Maria Callas (who would have celebrated her 83rd birthday yesterday). I stumbled across Maria entirely by accident - I'd watched a mini-series about Aristotle Onassis and was facinated by Maria - who was not a major "character" in the series and was never shown singing. I was full of questions about her - firstly, what did she sound like? what happened to her in the course of her own life? I ran out to the library, got some of her vast catalogue of music, and started listening and learning. I was born a year after she died, so I never had the chance to see her on stage. It says something about the power of her voice that I was so hooked just by recordings. Hers is not a pretty voice, but there's something else there - a strength, an edge, a certain power and drama that I just was drawn into. Her story is also compelling - growing up in Greece during the German occupation, her transformation from an awkward chubby girl into a beautiful, thin social Diva, all of it just added to the fascination for me. Maria sang so many of the iconic opera roles, and I listened to (and now own) many of her recordings. She gave me strong foundation into the repertoire and I enthusiastically explored it.
I have since moved on - other singers, other repertoire, and experiencing opera through attending performances (at Lyric, where Maria helped open the fledgling company founded in 1954). But you know, it's true what they say: you never forget your first.
Happy Birthday, Maria.
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