Arbitrary News

Made my pledge today in support of Illinois senator Barack Obama. Visit his website before September 30th to make your pledge, too! He is such a wonderful person with imaginative and thoughtful ideas for our piss-poor government. Sure I think Hilary would be a great president, too. But there is just something about Obama.

The theatre company is now incorporated! YAHOO!!!! Next week, I apply for tax exempt status, otherwise known as 501(c)(3).

Have a good weekend, ya'll!

*Ugh*

After Monday's unpleasantness, I received an outcry of support from my fellow bloggers and friends. I am a person who hates conflict, arguments, or anything toxic such as the posts I received from these Anonymous writers. I am a good person who sees only the best in people, and is never quick to judge anyone. I don't want to say anything more on the subject except this: I have changed my security settings on both my blog and my myspace page, so that only those close to me may comment. Even then, I will moderate all comments to see fit that which makes it onto my blog is only positive and unabusive in nature. This is MY little corner of blogdom, and if I feel like practically making love to myself on each and every entry, then yes, by God, I will. Because it is MINE. Whoever this Anonymous person(s) is must be pretty bored, hateful and have such a small opinion of themselves that they feel the need to attack a person they barely know to make themselves feel bigger and stronger. But from now on, that won't be me.

Enough of that.

The big news! Tomorrow, I head to the state capital and incorporate the theatre company! YES! It is finally happening! After I do this, then I can apply for 501(c)(3), which means non-profit status so the company can apply for grants. Wish me luck!

Drivel

I received this little turd in my comment box this morning.

"Anonymous said...
Is it possible for one person to be as pretentious and full of themselves as you are? Good god, do you actually read the stuff you write? It's bloody awful. You should spend some time talking about how unbelievably insecure you are and how you try to hide it with a bunch of psuedo self confidence that no one buys into. Now that would be interesting. For such a fantastic singer/performer you seem to spend quite a bit of time with the rest of the no-talent hacks at your favourite karaoke venues."


Hmmmm.....

At first, I was taken aback. Then I became angry. And finally, amused.

Let me first say that this comment was left in a "Week in Review" post a few weeks back, where I vented my frustrations at the fact that "everyone knows an opera singer", and I was tired of having to explain myself to every Tom, Dick and Harry who wanted to know if I taught particular kinds of vocal rep.

I am quite sure that Anonymous doesn't know me, or for that matter, has read my blog in its entirety. If they did, they would realize that I DO NOT take myself all that seriously. And I'm sure that Anonymous doesn't know what a blog is used as. For me, my blog is a sounding board. It has taken the place of countless journals over the years, and allows me to vent frustrations, joys, heartbreaks, and the like, as well as keep in touch with friends new as well as old. I have never said that I was a good writer. Quite honestly, I could give two fucks whether or not I am a good writer. That shouldn't be the primary reason a blogger blogs. I blog when I want to get stuff out on the table, or communicate with friends. Or quite possibly, to vent my frustrations on the world's musicians WHO DO take themselves too seriously (did you even READ the post, Anonymous? If you did, maybe you might agree with me).

As far as insecurities go, as a woman, or a person for that matter, of course I am insecure. I never claimed that I wasn't. I'm insecure about the way I look in a black dress. The size of my thighs. Will I be a good mother? Are my students getting all they can out of lessons? Will my theatre company find it's place and audience? Who isn't insecure, Anonymous? For the people that read this blog, which means close friends and family, they know me. And they know who and what I am. They know that with all the insecurities I do have, that there is one thing I am sure of. Want to know what that is, Anonymous? It is that I am a GREAT SINGER. I'm taking it that we have never met before. Or that you have heard me sing. Because if you HAD heard me sing, you'd be eating a giant slice of humble pie.


I posted this earlier, with an endcap of something my husband had said in response to Anonymous' post this morning. But, after receiving another nasty post from another (the same?) Anonymous, I felt the need to clear some stuff up.

1. I have deleted said post that Anonymous is referring to, as I felt it prudent. If you had read the post immediately following, I took back most of the things I said in my impatience and haste, and apologized to many of my legit friends if I had upset them with my ranting and raving. When I wrote this post, I was in a horrible state of mind, tired and in a bad mood.

2. Let's try to understand something- a blog is an online diary. IT SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN SO SERIOUSLY. A blog is the perfect forum to say outlandish things that you wouldn't ordinarily say in a public setting. My blog isn't an advertisement for my career, or for anything else. Which is why my blog address is not included in my business cards, or attached to personal email. I only give out my blog address to close friends and family. In turn, my blog is not for public consumption. If you have read other peoples' blogs, you would realize that all bloggers talk about themselves, their jobs, their passions and their lovelives. Why should mine be any different? And of course it's self-aggrandizement: MOST people are the prinicpal characters in their own diaries. And a blog isn't for your use to blatantly criticize a person you don't know for venting frustrations that have nothing to do with you.

3. Or do my frustations have something to do with you? Who are you??? Why do you feel the need to be so nasty to me? You seem to know me well enough to know what my husband does for a living. Have we met? If so, have I offended you? Obviously you must know me somehow. If I upset you by saying that I have extensive knowledge about vocal pedagogy, why don't we talk about it? Let's start a dialogue. Because this hiding behind the "Anonymous" name is petty and in your words, class-less.

O.T.I.S.

Sticking with the realm of oddities and the like (i.e. Supernatural), I stumbled across my new favorite blogger today. While he doesn't give a name, he simply calls his site O.T.I.S., which stands for Odd Things I've Seen. In his picture, he looks strikingly like my dear pal Jason (so, of course, he's gorgeous), and writes so beautifully and with intelligence, I wait longingly for his next post. Be sure you check it out.

Week in Review

(My boys Jared and Jensen of Supernatural)
I wasn't sleeping much this week. But after I realized it's because I was watching scary shit right before bed, that changed a few things. Season 2 of Supernatural is now out on DVD, and I, the dutiful fan that I am, went right out and bought it. Since I didn't get into the show until this summer, I spent the majority of 8 days watching Season 1, and am now onto Season 2. Season 3 begins October 4, and you better bet that I will be ready. In November, there is a HUGE CW convention in Chicago, where fans of Smallville, Supernatural and other shows can meet the creators and stars of the show. Obsessed much? Yah. I'm trying to figure out how I can make it there without breaking the bank.

It's been a beautiful week here, with sunshine and cool temperatures. Although this week it is supposed to be in the 90's. WTF? Where is autumn? However, it was a beautiful day on Saturday, and we had been invited to head down to Brew HaHa with some of Rob's work colleagues. Beer tasting, all day long? How could we pass that up? Jemmie and Christine Robertson are also new faculty in the music department at Augie, and are some very fun folks. Jemmie teaches trombone, and Christine is also a singer! She and Jemmie just had 10-week old James, so Christine stays home most the time, and teaches part-time at Augie. She is quite versed in the world of musical theatre, and it was great to meet another young woman with similar experiences to mine. By the end of the day, she had volunteered to be a board member for RTC (my theatre company) and offered her administrative services. Yahoo!


(Christine, Jemmie and baby James)



(Jemmie and Rob)



(Jemmie and the little guy)


In other news, my dearie dear Chuck is in the hospital. Hopefully he will be back to normal soon, but is fighting a case of Guillain Barre syndrome, which he was fighting during their trip here a few weeks ago. Get well soon, baby!

Battle of the Bulge

I have to admit. I am way fatter than I was when we left California. Not by much. Looking at me, you would probably never notice. But I do. I feel it when I get dressed in the morning. I've put on some weight.

I've tried about every diet in the last five years to battle those 15-20 pounds I'd like to take off. E-diets. The Bob Greene Diet. Organic food. I was just left hungry. But Weight Watchers was the star of them all, allowing me to lose 25 pounds and not feel hungry... EVER. So, Rob and I are back on it. We're actually going to the meetings again, which is what I think helped us way back then.

I won't give any excuses, just facts, as to why I put on the pounds. The stress of moving and starting up TWO businesses is enough for anyone to overeat. I didn't exercise as much. I ate too many Whitey's malts (Jayzus, hep me lawd!). But we've both been counting our points for 4 days now, as well as exercising every day, and already I'm feeling a little less...bloated. Why couldn't I just keep the same metabolism I had at 21? I was a skinny little bitch then.

In other news, I've been watching my boys, Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) kicking some ass of those evil bad dudes in Supernatural, with season 2 now on DVD. Just can't get enough of my boy Jensen. Damn, that boy is hot.

Week in Review

The past week has really sort of flown by. It is now fall in the QC - warm 60 degree days, breezy, the leaves are beginning to fall a bit. I really missed this!

This weekend, Chuck and Jonathan came up from Nati. It was a nice relaxing couple of days together. On Saturday, we took them down to the John Deere Commons, where you can view the history of John Deere and his products, as well as sit in some of the large machines built by the company.



We dined at Arthur's for lunch, then I took Chuck and Jonathan on a drive through town, showing them my favorite parts of the city. Next stop, Ben Butterworth Parkway, where we all pulled out our cameras and shot some photos of the bridge and river.



I cooked my amazing pot roast for dinner, then we treated the boys to Whitey's, which you must do when you are in town. After brunch on Sunday morning, they headed back to the Nati, as Chuck had been battling some weird virus and wasn't feeling well most of the weekend. Thanks for coming, boys!

In other news, I've been asked to direct for New Ground Theatre's Reading Series for this coming winter. I'll be directing the staged reading of Richard Greenberg's play Take Me Out about a young baseball player announcing he is gay. I've already gotten two actors commitment, but the script is for 11 MEN! Yikes! But since I've been making connections with local theatre folk, it's been going quite well. The show will be in January, so I think I have plenty of time to find all those guys!

I've also scheduled my first solo recital in nearly 9 years, and I am thrilled. If you're in the area (or plan to be) it is Sunday, November 25 at 3pm. It will be all contemporary musical theatre and jazz, so lots of fun! Let me know if you are planning to be there, and I'll give you more info.

The studio is coming along... slowly. So far, I have four students! I felt sort of like I was hurrying up to wait, but most teachers find it takes a year to establish a studio. I'm working on my patience.

Both Grandma and Grandpa Thomas (my step-dad's folks) have fallen in the past two weeks. Grandpa was okay, but Grandma broke her hip. So it was surgery for her this past Friday. Both of them are doing fine, and Grandma gets to go back to Ridgecrest today from the hospital (Ridgecrest is an assisted-living community here in town).

Ta for now!

The Last Four Years

9-6-03

Very much unlike Cathy and Jamie's relationship in The Last Five Years, I have stayed married to my husband, four years today. Happy Anniversary, my love.



We celebrated at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse, where we had our reception four years ago today. Look at this divine dish I had, called Chanel No. 5. Lobster, shrimp, artichokes, prosciutto and cheese ravioli. And yes, it was as good as it sounds.




On a totally unrelated note, my dearest friend Chuck and his boyfriend Jonathan will be visiting for the weekend. Expect pics and stories galore after their departure. I can't wait!


(Me and Chuck)

Day of Laboring

Let me please apologize out there to all the real opera singers for my rant the other day. In my haste to vent my frustrations on all the idiots out there, I probably pissed off a few actual legit singers, and that was not my intent. What I meant to say was that there are many folks out there, clueless about what it takes to be a professional singer, claiming to be "opera singers". It's these people you see on America's Got Talent and bullshit of the like, who've "never had a voice lesson" in their whole lives! WOW! Aren't you great! Again, severe apologies to my dear friends out there.

Speaking of dear friends who are legit, my dear old college pal Megan came to the QC for a much awaited visit on Saturday from dear ol' Dubuque. The last time we saw her was our wedding (which, by the way, will be 4 years on Thursday), and that was way too long to go without seeing friend. We dined at Blue Cat Brew Pub on some delicious nosh, then onto Whitey's Ice Cream for a sundae and a malt. After, we came back and finished off a bottle of Cab from our stint in CA. It was great to see her again, and we're planning our visit to see her in DBQ soon.


(Meg and I)


Mom and Bert came by last night for a BBQ, which was quite relaxing and nice. We drank on our newly decorated deck and talked late into the night. This morning, with much begging from my husband, I promised to do no work today. I have become a bit of a workaholic as of late, working from home and getting the studio up and running. It's been nightmarish. With my only free time spent watching my boys on Supernatural, Rob has been begging "Can I have my wife back?". So we headed out to the Dog Park this morning and gave Miss B a good run with a lot of pups. She had a blast, and so did we, watching her run again!


(Dolly the dog, who likes to rub herself in the dirt)



(My little guy)




(Nap after the DP)