I'd been looking forward to last Saturday night for many many months. I'd bought my ticket the moment they went on sale, and booked my ill-fated JetBlue (JetPoo!) flight in October. It's been a long, Diva-less winter, and I was excited to see Renée on stage, performing a role.
God, I love the Met. There is really no other place like it - the plushy red velvet seats, the gold gilt interior, the large majestic stage, the sparkling chandeliers (I still get a thrill watching them rise up to the heavens before the performance starts.) And it was beyond cool to maybe take a stroll to the ladies' lounge and exchange a hug and air kiss with someone I knew - and scan the audience and see friends sitting there - in the front few rows....
It was my first Russian opera - the music was gorgeous, the staging gorgeous, and the incomparable Ms. Renée was simply breathtaking. The sets were spare - but it worked - highlighting the drama, and the story, and the principal singers. Highlights for me were - well, anytime Renée was on stage, the pretty (if lengthy) aria by Ramon Vargas.... and I'll be honest, the scene where Dmitri takes off his shirt. You could hear sharp intakes of breath all around the auditorium.
Contrary to what some people (Nosy Tom) happen to think, going backstage after a performance, to greet the Diva, is INCREDIBLY cool. All of the assembled TBV groupies met backstage and waited in eager anticipation. We chatted, we snapped photos, we talked about the opera, and suddenly.... there she was. As many times as I have met her, I still find myself at a loss for words. She makes it so easy to talk to her though, and I am a lot less shy around her than I used to be. She spent time with each person, signing and taking pictures. She is sweet and gracious and so generous with her time. She is a very very classy lady.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Onegin at The Met....
I'd been looking forward to last Saturday night for many many months. I'd bought my ticket the moment they went on sale, and booked my ill-fated JetBlue (JetPoo!) flight in October. It's been a long, Diva-less winter, and I was excited to see Renée on stage, performing a role.
God, I love the Met. There is really no other place like it - the plushy red velvet seats, the gold gilt interior, the large majestic stage, the sparkling chandeliers (I still get a thrill watching them rise up to the heavens before the performance starts.) And it was beyond cool to maybe take a stroll to the ladies' lounge and exchange a hug and air kiss with someone I knew - and scan the audience and see friends sitting there.
It was my first Russian opera - the music was gorgeous, the staging gorgeous, and the incomparable Ms. Renée was simply breathtaking. The sets were spare - but it worked - highlighting the drama, and the story, and the principal singers. Highlights for me were - well, anytime Renée was on stage, the pretty (if lengthy) aria by Ramon Vargas.... and I'll be honest, the scene where Dmitri takes off his shirt. You could hear sharp intakes of breath all around the auditorium.
God, I love the Met. There is really no other place like it - the plushy red velvet seats, the gold gilt interior, the large majestic stage, the sparkling chandeliers (I still get a thrill watching them rise up to the heavens before the performance starts.) And it was beyond cool to maybe take a stroll to the ladies' lounge and exchange a hug and air kiss with someone I knew - and scan the audience and see friends sitting there.
It was my first Russian opera - the music was gorgeous, the staging gorgeous, and the incomparable Ms. Renée was simply breathtaking. The sets were spare - but it worked - highlighting the drama, and the story, and the principal singers. Highlights for me were - well, anytime Renée was on stage, the pretty (if lengthy) aria by Ramon Vargas.... and I'll be honest, the scene where Dmitri takes off his shirt. You could hear sharp intakes of breath all around the auditorium.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
sorry~grateful
Why does the weekend have to be so short?? I think there needs to be a vacation buffer zone to help get back into reality after such a good time with friends. It was so great, as always, to see the group - it is amazing to me how such a diverse group of people from different backgrounds and ages and everything else can get together and have it seem like they've known each other forever. Every TBV member I've met I've liked. I'm happy we were all able to spend some time together, even if it was just a few days (in some cases, and only a few hours in others!)
More to come when I have a minute to catch my breath. In the meantime, enjoy this shot, taken in the green room by my friend Wanda. I will post mine later on (I promise!)
Monday, February 19, 2007
You Could Drive a Person Crazy...
New York City trip post #1
Quick review:
#times thru O'Hare Security: 2
#O'Hare Terminals visited: 2
#flights booked: 2 (number of flights that actually took off? 1)
#cups of Starbucks: 1
Winter Headgear when departed from home: 1
Winter Headgear when arrived in NYC: 1 (am notorious for losing hats, so this is quite the accomplishment!)
There is so much packed into this weekend, I have to take it one day at a time....
Friday morning, I was up at 5:30, already bouncing off the walls and going "New York City? Time to go to New York City? Let's go to New York City!" etc., doing an inner excited happy dance, like Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (minus the screaming).
Finally off to the airport with plenty of time - flight was scheduled to depart at 9:25. I got there somewhere around 7:30. I'd never been in Terminal 2 before, and it was really like the Land Time Forgot. Kind of creepy and dingy and unkempt. This should have been my first clue. Got to the JetBlue check in counter and saw my flight was going to be delayed until about 11:30. I was not happy, but headed to the gate anyway, stopping first, naturally, for a big cup of cinnamon dolce coffee. I can do anything if I've got my coffee. And I needed it. I arrived at the gate to find people camping out there - from the flight that should have left at 6:00 AM! I was not sure what was going on, but the gist of it seemed to be that there were no crews about to legally make the flights happen. So passengers headed to NYC and Long Beach were backed up. Nothing was leaving until about 12:00. I decided not to wait around for them (good thing, too!) got my bag back and started over. As I was walking to baggage claim, I noticed I'd missed a call from sarah - aka my Cruise Director - who helped me book a new flight (and got me signed up for mileage plus!) THANKS, SARAH!
Because I'd had a rough morning, I upgraded my seat when I checked in - an aisle! Woohoo! Also treated myself to some McBreakfast in the terminal. Honestly, what a morning! But the flight, once I got on it, was nice and uneventful. I made a few friends on board who were curious about my knitting project (what else? another scarf!)
Finally, finally, finally, arrived in NYC and hooked up with litwit, my fabulous hostess. Next up??? Dinner with the gang and Grey Gardens.
Stay tuned....
Quick review:
#times thru O'Hare Security: 2
#O'Hare Terminals visited: 2
#flights booked: 2 (number of flights that actually took off? 1)
#cups of Starbucks: 1
Winter Headgear when departed from home: 1
Winter Headgear when arrived in NYC: 1 (am notorious for losing hats, so this is quite the accomplishment!)
There is so much packed into this weekend, I have to take it one day at a time....
Friday morning, I was up at 5:30, already bouncing off the walls and going "New York City? Time to go to New York City? Let's go to New York City!" etc., doing an inner excited happy dance, like Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (minus the screaming).
Finally off to the airport with plenty of time - flight was scheduled to depart at 9:25. I got there somewhere around 7:30. I'd never been in Terminal 2 before, and it was really like the Land Time Forgot. Kind of creepy and dingy and unkempt. This should have been my first clue. Got to the JetBlue check in counter and saw my flight was going to be delayed until about 11:30. I was not happy, but headed to the gate anyway, stopping first, naturally, for a big cup of cinnamon dolce coffee. I can do anything if I've got my coffee. And I needed it. I arrived at the gate to find people camping out there - from the flight that should have left at 6:00 AM! I was not sure what was going on, but the gist of it seemed to be that there were no crews about to legally make the flights happen. So passengers headed to NYC and Long Beach were backed up. Nothing was leaving until about 12:00. I decided not to wait around for them (good thing, too!) got my bag back and started over. As I was walking to baggage claim, I noticed I'd missed a call from sarah - aka my Cruise Director - who helped me book a new flight (and got me signed up for mileage plus!) THANKS, SARAH!
Because I'd had a rough morning, I upgraded my seat when I checked in - an aisle! Woohoo! Also treated myself to some McBreakfast in the terminal. Honestly, what a morning! But the flight, once I got on it, was nice and uneventful. I made a few friends on board who were curious about my knitting project (what else? another scarf!)
Finally, finally, finally, arrived in NYC and hooked up with litwit, my fabulous hostess. Next up??? Dinner with the gang and Grey Gardens.
Stay tuned....
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Doh!
What a bonehead I am.... I just now discovered all the comments from people have been moderated and not showing up. I have to tinker with my settings, I just thought people didn't love me and weren't commenting....
So I'm sorry. I wasn't ignoring all of you lovely people who make comments. I just kind of lost you. Sigh.
So I'm sorry. I wasn't ignoring all of you lovely people who make comments. I just kind of lost you. Sigh.
Start Spreading the News....
I'm leaving, well, okay, tomorrow, for New York City! Woohoo! Certainly a weekend with friends & opera & shows & fun is just what the doctor ordered (can I pick that up at the pharmacy, please?)
Am looking forward to seeing my peeps, my Diva, Grey Gardens and Company. Oooh, can't wait to get home and start packing!!
Am looking forward to seeing my peeps, my Diva, Grey Gardens and Company. Oooh, can't wait to get home and start packing!!
Tag!
Sarahb has tagged me.... she said.... pick up the nearest book, turn to page 123, and copy the 5th, 6th and 7th sentences.
Here goes - from the first book I found here on my desk at the office...
"Before his first in person interview, Aaron found out as much as he could about the company. He scoured the company's website, reviewed its annual report and searched for recent news articles. Because this company was a direct competitor of his current employer, he knew a bit about some of the market and manufacturing challenges it was facing, and he prepared questions about how the company intended to address these challenges."
-"How to Choose the Right Person for the Right Job Every Time" - Lori Davila and Louise Kursmark.
Hmmmm. I tag April, Simone and Emily.
Here goes - from the first book I found here on my desk at the office...
"Before his first in person interview, Aaron found out as much as he could about the company. He scoured the company's website, reviewed its annual report and searched for recent news articles. Because this company was a direct competitor of his current employer, he knew a bit about some of the market and manufacturing challenges it was facing, and he prepared questions about how the company intended to address these challenges."
-"How to Choose the Right Person for the Right Job Every Time" - Lori Davila and Louise Kursmark.
Hmmmm. I tag April, Simone and Emily.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Random Thoughts
#1 - 200 million roses are going to be purchased and exchanged today. How is it possible that NONE of them will be given to me?
#2 - Michael Braverman, creator of Life Goes On is also the brainchild behind Armed and Famous (the now defunct CBS show that put LaToya Jackson on the Muncie IN police force)
#2 - Michael Braverman, creator of Life Goes On is also the brainchild behind Armed and Famous (the now defunct CBS show that put LaToya Jackson on the Muncie IN police force)
Thursday, February 08, 2007
ohoh, mandy...
Since I've been stuck with this never-ending plague/sinus infection/tmj whatever, I've been spending a lot of time on the couch with an ice pack in the evenings, watching tv. One of my new favorites is . Last night there were 2 episodes - the one that followed the Super Bowl, which honestly, was on at like 1:00 am here because of all the Bears post mortem. I was asleep, so I missed it. It was quite good, and in addition to the regular cast, featured James van der Beek as this crazed psycho killer. He's come a long way from the Creek, boy.
Anyway. Criminal Minds. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.
Anyway. Criminal Minds. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.
Friday, February 02, 2007
broadway bears!
Okay, how cute is this Mrs. Lovett Bear? She can be yours, if you place a bid with
the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Broadway Bears auction. Signed by Ms. Patti LuPone herself!
Anyone want to place a bid for me?? Come on, you know you want to... and
** Update: so, my link isn't working. It's www.broadwaycares.org. Go. Bid. There are LOTS of cute bears, signed by all kinds of broadway royalty!
I promise, this will be my last post dealing with 'bears' in any way, shape, or form... (unless they win on Sunday...)
she made a hat...
My mom has made great progress in her knitting. I am still on rectangles, but she made a hat!
It is on the NiWeHi mascot, the wolf, in celebration of Da Bears (yours truly knitted the orange scarf you see adorning his neck!)
Thursday, February 01, 2007
ill wind, blow away....
I.Hate.Being.Sick.
Went to the doctor yesterday - waited a long time. Foolishly had not brought my own reading material and read an interesting assortment of waiting room periodicals - Jane, American Baby (it was on the chair next to me) Time, and Cottage Living.
Still have a sinus infection, and the doctor provided me with some lovely pharmaceutical products. I'm on them for 2 weeks and then I hope it's better.
Got Marian Keyes' newsletter for January. She was sick with a similar malady. Between our hypochondriac drama queen tendencies and shared interest in shoes and bags, it's like we were seperated at birth, or something.
Went to the doctor yesterday - waited a long time. Foolishly had not brought my own reading material and read an interesting assortment of waiting room periodicals - Jane, American Baby (it was on the chair next to me) Time, and Cottage Living.
Still have a sinus infection, and the doctor provided me with some lovely pharmaceutical products. I'm on them for 2 weeks and then I hope it's better.
Got Marian Keyes' newsletter for January. She was sick with a similar malady. Between our hypochondriac drama queen tendencies and shared interest in shoes and bags, it's like we were seperated at birth, or something.
Read All About It... July 21st!
News from Gryffindor Tower..... The 7th installment of the Harry Potter series is being published July 21st
Gotta go and start reading the others again so I can wrack up more points in those Scholastic Harry Potter quizzes....
Gotta go and start reading the others again so I can wrack up more points in those Scholastic Harry Potter quizzes....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)