they really, really like me...

Today is my last day with The A Team. It's sad, and it's weird. My desk is totally clean and empty. My personal effects and mountains of crap have been cleared off or taken home. There are no extraneous pairs of shoes under my desk anymore and, ONE email in my in box. This never happens.

Since my move has some political undertones, I was not expecting them to throw me a party. But I got one. Cake, and a card and people hugging me and telling me how much they will miss me. I will miss them, too.

I always feel like I am not very memorable. I mean, come on, in high school, people always called me "Nicole" because I looked kinda like a friend of mine - we're both petite, blonde, and wore glasses. That's about all. But I got cut slips when she was absent. Our counselor did it. Our homeroom teacher did it. The man saw us for four years! And she never got called by my name, I was always called by hers. It's enough to give a person a complex. (and THEN, when I get emails from candidates with their resumes, they call me 'Karen.' Lovely name. It's just not MY name. And it blows my mind because the respond to name is RIGHT ON THE ADVERTISEMENT. And yet. Dear Karen.... Where is the attention to detail? HUH? Definite points off there.... But I appear to be rambling. ANYWAY).

And then something like this happens, where I don't think people think much about me at all, and it turns out that they DO, and some of them think pretty nice things, too! It's weird. I've had 5 and a half good years here, but I'm ready to keep going.

Happy Birthday, Patti!

Today is The Patti's Birthday!

(I will have a few cold ones in her honor....)

Ravinia Tickets!

Ravinia tickets went on sale today. Either they've finally worked the bugs out of their system, or it pays to shop online at 8:00 in the morning - I got my tickets right away.

Patti in "To Hell and Back" on June 6 (the Martin - so will not have to pick locusts out of my picnic on the lawn) and Patti with Audra in August.


Woohoo!!! Looks like there will be a Pattipalooza 2007 this summer. Now all I need to do is find some performances of Renee's to get to.... otherwise I won't be seeing her until January.... and that just will not do!

The A Team By the Numbers

My time here with "The A Team" - (current employer, name changed to protect the "innocent") is drawing to a close. I am starting a new job next week!

5 1/2 years...
2 offices
4 cubicles (one in skokie, 3 in evanston)
4 regional managers
2 presidents
2 CEOs
2 cars to get to work (sniff! edge, RIP!)
nearly 100 clients served
1 company name change
3 titles
over 1 million words written
1 assistant
3 "moms"
2 retreats off site
0 "kumbaya moments" around a campfire (thank god!)

This was my first job out of college. I interviewed for a summer internship. I was offered a full time position. Since I had not been able to find a teaching job, and the idea of subbing 2nd grade gym did not at all appeal, I took it. I knew nothing about the field The A Team does business in - but I learned. I was in awe of Mr. A our founder, who started the company over 20 years ago from the trunk of his car. I had the chance to learn from the best, from people who feel called to help others, who are genuinely good. For all the issues we've had, it really feels like a family here. Leaving was not an easy decision for me to make, but I really feel it's the best move for me to make at this time. I'm ready. I'm sad to go, but excited for this new opportunity - it's in the arts, with a HUGELY prestigious organization in this city. It's a big chance and I had to take it. (Aside from that, my grandmother threatened to kick my ass if I didn't take the job! Seriously!)

So goodbye, A Team. I'll miss your wit & wisdom & professionalism. Keep on keeping on, and I will make you all proud.

Happy Pattiversary! (tomorrow!)

After vacations,it is always rather hard for me to return to reality. Especially after I took the Rock Boat cruises, it was always like What? I have to work now? But I want to be able to roll out of bed and laze by the pool/go to a rockin' concert/eat lots of lovely lovely food and not have to pay.... etc. When I'm back, I like to play "at this time last week I was..." and relive the fun times, until people tell me to shut the !@*#($* up already.

Well, I was going through some photographs on my camera, and I realized that at this time last year, I was in New York City. Not only did I go to the Met and see Renee the Magnificent in Manon and hang around with my group members whom I love like family, including Mims and Iris from London, two incredibly fabulous people brought me to Sweeney Todd for the first (and not the last) time. It was my first (and not the last) time seeing The Patti. I don't know what it is about her, but she's fierce (in a good, and kind of scary way). I don't think my lovely friends knew they'd create such a monster, but alas, it is so. I have A Second Diva.

Thanks, guys!!! I will have a Pattiversary cupcake in your honor (or maybe a Pattiversary cocktail... or two... or six?)

I wonder where I will be at this time.... next year....

i wasn't done...

Blogger was being cranky. More pics. Enjoy.

Old West street

Goofy self-portraits, the mark of the lone traveler....

my brain is full.....

Wisteria Lane!

Wow, you can trade your child up for a better model at Universal!!

Shrek Stuff!!

Can't think any more. Here are some more pictures from my trip to sunny CA (WAHHH! It is SNOWING here today! Where's spring??) & my day at Universal...

Slow News Day?

Dude. My parents TOTALLY missed the boat by not naming ME 'Metallica'

Couple fights to name baby 'Metallica' (from Yahoo! News)

Metallica may be a cool name for a heavy metal band, but a Swedish couple is struggling to convince officials it is also suitable for a baby girl.
Michael and Karolina Tomaro are locked in a court battle with Swedish authorities, which rejected their application to name their six-month-old child after the legendary rock band.
"It suits her," Karolina Tomaro, 27, said Tuesday of the name. "She's decisive and she knows what she wants."
Although little Metallica has already been baptized, the Swedish National Tax Board refused to register the name, saying it was associated with both the rock group and the word "metal."
Tomaro said the official handling the case also called the name "ugly."
The couple was backed by the County Administrative Court in Goteborg, which ruled on March 13 that there was no reason to block the name. It also noted that there already is a woman in Sweden with Metallica as a middle name.
The tax agency appealed to a higher court, frustrating the family's foreign travel plans.
"We've had to cancel trips and can't get anywhere because we can't get her a passport without an approved name," Tomaro said.

when did my life become an episode of 'the office'?

"culture audits" and "value awards" gee whiz, can "diversity day" and camp fire kumbayas be far behind?

So much for "Everyone here is extremely gruntled."

For Your Viewing Pleasure...

Some pics from my LA Trip...

Yes, MAM

I always kind of thought "writing a thesis" was one of those things that happened to other people - kind of like winning the lottery, getting a speeding ticket, catching the plague, etc. In my head, the writing of such a scholarly document was done by geeky students in turtlenecks, slaving away at all hours, on their LIFE WORK, hunched over a computer in Starbucks, with a constant flow of caffeine being fed to them with an iv tube.

But now.... it's ME. I am officially "Writing My Thesis" after much research, some interviews and much sending of drafts to an advisor on sabbatical. I am spending most of my weekends getting the thing done. Oye. I love to write, but this is not so much writing as it is TORTURE. I had built it up so much in my head (with the geeky turtleneck, Life Work, hunched over a computer scenario) that it got to feel pretty scary. Now that I am writing it, it's not so bad. I really want it done. I mean REALLY. The original goal I quoted by advisor last year was June. My first concept was much larger in scope, and it's really changed a lot from my original idea. We are going to try and stay on that timeline, so I am slaving away this weekend to have some more material to send off to the advisor (last time, it took 3 emails before he responded from the beach or whereever he is taking sabbatical). Hopefully, by next week I can do some analyzing and concluding, than lots and lots of revising and tweaking.

Wish me luck. Support is always welcome (in the form of chocolate, encouragement, rah rahs or cash.) If you don't hear from me in a few days, call in the National Guard, as I may have passed out from my caffeine drip....

Time to Play....

Ever wonder what you would look like as a chocolate candy? Go here and turn yourself into an M&M!

Hold Yer Hats and Hallelujah....

I got my Gypsy tickets!!!

(and I think it's gonna be a L.O.N.G. 5 months...)

cosi fan tutte...

Friday night was the last opera of the season for me, and it was Cosi. Mom & I got all dolled up and headed down to Lyric. It was a fun one to see, with beautiful music (if not as memorable as some of Mozart's other operas) but there were some recognizeable pieces and beautiful, beautiful duets and ensembles. Ahhhh, Mozart.

The cast was not "big name" but it was quality: Ryan Center (GAHHH!! It sounded SO MUCH BETTER to call it "Lyric Opera Center of American Artists"!) alums Erin Wall and Lauren McNese as Fiordiligi and Dorabella, Eric Cutler and Opera Hunk Extraordinary, Nathan Gunn as the boys, Nuccia Focile as Despina and Sir Thomas Allen as Don Alfonso. All of them solid. Good actors. Sounded like a dream when they all sang together.

The production was updated tp a resort in 1914. That made for a pretty, modern, set design scheme (at one point, a sheer curtain at the back of the stage swept aside to reveal a beachscape - lots of brightly colored umbrellas clustered around. the supernumeraries were kept busy bustling around in the background in crisp red uniforms, and in two cases, old fashioned striped bathing costumes) and stunning period costumes. It did make it kind of hard to believe that 20th century people would fall for the lame plot twists. As Despina says "These girls are so stupid!" and they were. I mean, honestly. "Let's put on false moustaches - they'll NEVER recognize us then!" Not even clever Despina saw through the boys' disguises. So the plot was one of the more goofy ones in the operatic repertoire, but really, it hardly mattered. Everything was put together so well, love more or less conquered all, and the curtain went down on another great season at Lyric.

Already have my subscription for next year sorted out - Renee in Traviata!!! YES! Oh, and some other stuff, too.....

Happy Feet

I've finally made good on my threat to take up tap dancing. With my snazzy new shoes from Bloch NY, I have been tapping away every Tuesday night. I've had three classes so far and I guess I am doing pretty good for never having strapped on tap shoes before in my entire adult life.* I have not fallen down or made a total fool of myself (good thing, too, because the studio has closed circuit tv in the rehearsal rooms so that the people in the lobby can watch what's going on... yikes!) It takes me a while to get everything from my brain down to my feet, and to remember the steps.... In actuality, I think I am the tap dancing equivalent of Billy Ray Cyrus on Dancing with the Stars last night.... So I guess we will see how long this goes on...but for now I am having fun!

* My mom claims I had lessons when I was really litttle, like 4. She remembers more about them than I do, so I don't think they really count.

Gypsy!!!

Sweet fancy moses.... I got in this morning and was innocently checking my email, when I see these GREAT HEADLINES. Looks like I am New York bound again.... In July!

Opera Hunkaliciousness...

Tonight: Nathan Gunn in Cosi Fan Tutte at Lyric Opera of Chicago!

Lost in the Spiderweb...

Actually, I'm still in shock after coming home to 28 degrees and snow after having been in sunny and glorious LA where it was in the 80s all weekend. I was wearing a t-shirt! No coat! In March! Didja ever????

Okay, so here goes. With visions of polar bears (from the Lyric production I'd seen almost 10 years ago) dancing in my head, I took off for LA with mild trepidation. I hadn't originally planned on going out there at all, thinking it would be too close to my NY trip to Onegin. I didn't know if I could afford it, get the time off, etc. but workplace insanity and the chill of Chicago in February, along with the need for anoter Diva Fix, made me change my mind and book tickets to Mahagonny.

I saw it Thursday night and was in the 3rd row, left side. (Sunday I was in the 5th row, on the right side) Perfect stage views both times. Thursday I somehow ended up in the middle of a couple (no idea how that happened, but they were quite rude about it and the female half of the couple kept turning her head and hitting me with her hair! the guy told off someone unwrapping candy too loudly - in the middle of the opera - he turned and went, "Are you KIDDING me?" out loud to her. Making more noise than the candy wrapper, but you know, whatever.).

Anyway. I went with, as I say, mild trepidation and low expectations. I went to watch Patti and Audra and they did not disappoint me. I thought both of them looked completely divine and sounded wonderful. This was my first time seeing Audra in a non-concert setting, and she was tremendous. She so fully inhabited the role, and had some of the best music (most notably, "Alabama Song"). Patti had some really entertaining stage business (god, is she funny) and I thought she did well with the music, although at times, I could tell when she was putting in the effort to get to the notes - the music sits high in her range. It wasn't Sweeney, obviously, where she was just able to throw herself into the character. But as I said, they were both the reason I had gone to see Mahagonny, and in that way I was not disappointed.

It is a hard piece to engage in - Weil and Brecht really wanted to get the audience thinking about the piece - so the messages are very very very strong ("the freedom i found with money is not freedom," reveals Jimmy). at the end of the first act, the whole cast is on stage nazi saluting, and playing in the background is one of the hitler rallies with everyone yelling sieg heil, etc. as the lights came up, the whole audience was kind of like, what the ---?? on sunday, i think everyone was a little more into it. at the end, as mahagonny is collapsing in on itself under the weight of its own lawlessness and corruption, they all stand on a bare stage and sing "nothing you can do can help a dead man..." one of them holds a triangular folded American flag and the last line is "nothing can help him or you or us now..." Made me feel like going and starting a revolution, or something.

I could talk about Mahagonny for ever, just different things I observed, etc, but that's the over all impression. Without Patti, I would not have voluntarily gone to see it (which proves, I will see my divas do just about anything!) but I am glad I made the trip.

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 - 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.

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.