Saving myself...

I'm going to make this a makeshift blog about my desire to travel and the money I need to save.  So...let's try this:

The average cost, if I wanted to book now for May would be approximately $1500.
That's a round trip ticket.  I could totally do a one-way for about $500 each way, but the travel time is murderous.

The plan is, to get there, and stay for at least 3 weeks.  So, I'd have to have at least $3000 saved up for this trip to occur at all.

So.  I'm selling my instruments, I have a Craigslist ad online for my services as a vocalist, I will be turning to the Mortuaries very soon, and start making some cash.

I am chasing my dream.  I am sans office job, on unemployment, and making my dreams real.
It's no easy task.  But I'm up to it.

I won't have to worry about sleeping arrangements as I have the "friends who know friends" option available, and have been confirmed.  Coincidentally, this person is also a singer in France so...you know, I'll get a first hand look.

This is my first foray into traveling abroad by myself.  I think it is very much needed.

Yay!

House cleaning...

So, I've decided to clean house.

I've decided to keep my nose clean...at least on this blog.
Gonna keep it clean, and start over with another  blog set exactly for the purposes upon which I deem.

So, here we go.

yeah.
ok.

Me-me-me-meme...

Who Am I?

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

The Universe is a wonderful thing...

....and so it is.

The Choral Project had an amazing weekend of concerts. They went very very well.
I have an opportunity in front of me that I am focusing all my good thoughts upon.

I really don't know what else to say, other than it's swimming season.
I think I'm gonna get on that.

I guess I'm blessed

I think I may downplay how many people are touched when I sing.
I get the "You were great's" and all that, and it's wonderful. I love me some compliments. But last night, I performed with the Santa Teresa High School Jazz Band I (they have 3 levels of jazz band), and first off, lemme say what talented people they are, how much fun they have and how much they blow....seriously. They totally blow! They are awesome, and I will sing with them again, any day. OK, that said, after the show last night, a woman came up to me telling me how her mother used to sing for the USO during WWII. She came up to me brimming with tears, and told me how much I reminded her of her mother.

I think it hit me last night amongst all the "you were great's" and "you have a beautiful voice's" that I realize I am blessed with this absolutely wonderful instrument and for me to deny this is pretty silly. Not that I've tried to deny it, but I think I just need share more.

I need more gigs!!

CA Govenor is polling the overturning of ban on Gay Marriage, please call.

Please call, then pass this along, if you have a chance...

The office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is polling reaction to the
California Supreme Court decision overturning the ban on gay marriage.
Most
of the response they are getting is in OPPOSITION to the court action.

To vote in support of the Supreme Court's decision on LGBT marriage:

1. call 1-916-445-2841

2. press 1, 5, 1, 1 (these really are the prompts to push)

After you've done this, please send it on to all supporters you know.

Memorial Day...I think I get it now...

Ok, y'all know me, right?
You know, I'm not about the Labor Day, Memorial Day thing outside of it means I get to enjoy a day off. I guess I never made a big deal about it because my father never made a big deal about it.

Well, this Memorial Day, that all changes...FOR GOOD!!
As I've bragged proudly before on these blogospheres, my father was a Tuskegee Airman. During his life, he was always very quiet about his time in the air over Italy during WWII (again, my father's story, is pretty freakin' great), and was very humble when being given awards and the like. It wasn't until just a few years before he passed that I realized he earned an Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. My mother and I also collected his Congressional Medal of Honor which was bestowed only last year to all Tuskegee Airmen. I mean...wow, you know??

Well, since my father's passing, my mother has stepped up to accept all kinds of awards, plaques and accolades given to my father in thanks for his service in escorting our bombers safely during WWII. Well, this weekend she continues to honor my father and all other servicemen. My mother has just landed in Washington D.C. where she has been asked to lay wreaths at 3 memorials on the National Mall.

These three...
The World War II Memorial (She was asked to attend the opening of this memorial, BTW)


The Air Force Memorial

The Tomb of the Unknowns

After she does this, an announcement of a Scholarship Award in my father's name will be announced.
And THEN she's going to be in a parade.

Seriously. My mother, 83 years young, has been bestowed an honor not given to many folks.

I'm not only very proud, I'm just nonplussed, and like giddy! I, of course, did not accompany her, but thanks to her giving birth to 8 children, there's enough of us Harrises to go around, and the East Coast contingent (brother, sister, nieces) are all waiting to be with her.

So, for the first time EVER, I actually am going to honor Memorial Day for what it is, and not just wake up and go, "Yay! Monday off!"
A time to remember my father and the generations of men before and after him, who've done their time taking care of business.

Ok...

I JUST talked to the casting director, at Theater Works and they JUST got done casting the show except one part and they're still trying to contact people. They WERE in NYC doing casting. Last thing she said was "...So, you'll still be available for anything right??"

I'm leaving it there...
Fingers MAJORLY crossed....

4 f-ing months. Unbelievable...

Enough, already!!

Scene from Caroline or Change
I was asked to audition for the moon...




So, I just sent out a letter to someone who can possibly tell me if I have a part or not. I find myself in a position where my decision to audition for this show has caused some ripples. It's very possible that I may have to cancel a gig to benefit the choir which I'm not so happy about, but may work itself out somehow...But yes, kids. I'm STILL waiting!

Hippo New Deer!!

Who else remembers Boynton??

So...
New year, new things, new outlook, new beliefs,
new roving, new diary, new purse, new attitude,
new desires, new work ethics, new dishtowels,
new love of life, new chances for love,
new dry erase boards, new respect, new toenails
(really need a pedi), new opportunities, new dreams to come true.

2008? Watch your back!!

What I'm going to do on my X-mas Vacation...

For the first time in years, I will NOT be working the 2 weeks of X-mas and New Years. I simply don't know what to do. I'm kind of giddy about it, actually. I'm thinking I might actually try something I've always wanted to try. My mother has one of those Craft-matic beds. Now. If you've never been in a craft-matic bed, my suggestion is that if you ever get the opportunity to lay in one, run screaming in the opposite direction. These are by far the. most. comfortable beds on the planet. I sleep as I usually do, flat, but if I have the time and feeling uber lazy, what I do is get the control in hand and prop up the bed for my legs and back so I can properly watch TV. What I've learned, is when your body gets in a comfortable, and ergonomic position like this, it don't wanna move. Ever. For any reason. Period. And if there's a TV in the room? Fucking Fuggitaboudit. God forbid you find a movie. Just call in any appointments for the day. Anyway, I want to try to see how long I can stay in bed. Becuase, you know, I can. How about staying in bed for another oh...4 hours? I'm sure I could goof around and find enough crap to watch, and do (it's perfect knitting conditions). So let's make it 6. 13 hours in bed. I wonder if I can do it?? Heh.

Best Lightshow Evar!!

Wallet Whoa's!!

So Tuesday morning, I had remembered that I meant to empty my wallet of it's change. So, I took it out of my purse, brought it to my room and started depositing change into the Industrial sized Bombay Sapphire gin bottle that I use to collect coins. Yes, I did have some part in emptying the bottle. Nevertheless, when I was done putting the coins in the bottle, for some reason, I didn't put my wallet back in my purse...so...I went to go get some coffee and breakfast at work that morning...and I didn't have my wallet. I knew exactly where it was and when I didn't see it in my purse, I kinda did one of those 'Scrubs'-like-flashbacks where I pictured my lonely wallet, atop my yarn storage box. Sigh. Since I get coffee often, they gave me what I wanted on an IOU. Thankfully, I brought my lunch. Good enough.

So, Wednesday, with wallet. All good. I did extract my wallet from my purse to purchase another refill on my coffee. Why I didn't just get out a dollar, I'll never know. I keep my purse under my desk, and when I went to put my wallet away, apparently, I kind of just placed it on top of my purse. So, when I grabbed it at the end of the day, the wallet just kind of...you know...popped off. I didn't notice it was missing until I was at the Post Office wanting to know why a package never got delivered...and they couldn't help me without my ID. Great. Yet, again, I had another of those 'Scrubs'-like moments, and knew exactly where it was...I consider myself VERY fortunate, to be able to actually KNOW where my wallet was, but also wonder if such carelessness on my behalf actually means something...perhaps this is an omen...a GOOD omen. I'd like to think it means there will soon be a time where I won't have to worry about my money. Perhaps I'm full of shit. But I doubt it. :)

I am thankful for...

...My higher power
...my friends and family
...my body...that it's intact
...my talent...that it's appreciated and that I actually have it
...my apartment
...my car
...my job
...my hair (best hairdo. evar.)
...the ability to love and be loved
...my education
...my trio
...my choir
...quitting smoking
...the air
...trees and all flora and/or fauna
...too many other things to name, but you get the idea...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The Fight for your Right to be Entertained...

I'm on my way to getting into the big scary world of entertainment. Cliffs will be jumped, abysses (abyss-i) will be leaped, etc. etc. I haven't written a song in a damn long while, but that's beside the point. I just signed the petition for the WGA.

I knew about the strike. I said: "Good for them!" and went about my business. I have now seen at least 10 YouTube vid blogs from the writers themselves this afternoon, (pre-Thanksgiving slump @ work) and am simply appalled. I have heard that it was bad, but I had NO idea exactly how bad. Well, I think y'all should know how bad. They get it worse than new musicians under their big conglomerate companies. And recording artists make shit! I've done my homework on the music side, but if you looked into what the WGA is going through, you couldn't NOT sign up in support. The writers, after all, make the shows what they are. The brilliance of Heroes, The Office, BSG, untold movies, Colbert, Daily Show and others are only brilliant because of the writers. In fact, watch this:
Here's the writers of the "Daily Show" telling you what's what, if you were in withdrawal.



And a great explanation of what's really going on. Almost all of you are in the arts...you can tell me to go violate myself or whatever, but I'm taking a stand. Regardless if I become a mega awesome singer bitch or not (not that I'm not already :) I support the people who give me intelligent entertainment, and even the ones who don't. Because even morons need to laugh.

Exactly 1 week ago, I was in Marin with my mother having some gnosh. We were at Marin College and my mother was accepting my father's Congressional Medal of Honor. The San Francisco Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen held their ceremonies on November 11, 2007 to honor the all Black 322nd company for their service to a country who wouldn't even let them sit at the front of the bus. I hate to say it, but I have a big "It's about time" attitude for this honor. Now that that's over, when my mother was onstage accepting the honor, I wept. Hard.


It was an emotionally draining day.
That's all I have to say about that...

In complete contrast, I had the opportunity to sing here last night:

onstage at Herbst Theater. I have been singing backup for Pasquale Esposito. A Bocelli-like artist who has been gracious enough to have me on this "mini-tour" of the Bay Area. We did the Montgomery in San Jose in early October, Modesto 3 weeks ago, and last night in S.F. There are talks of a larger national tour and I have been tapped for the CD. They want to tap me for the tour as well...During the break after sound check I took one of the other singers to dinner to Citizen Cake which I parked kitty corner from getting to the Theater. I remembered that Mr. Binty had recommended this place and now I know why. If y'all are going to a show in S.F., stop there first. Very nice place...though I looked like a homeless person. I tend to REALLY dress down before a show. Ah well...our waitress and our hostess were very awesome though...A great meal was had by all. I had to pass on the Creme Brulee...dammit...next time, for sure!!

Yeah, still haven't heard from Theater Works...so...there that is.

All in all, things are going very very well.
Now for laundry :)

Whee, this is fun!!

Now we're on CD Baby too!

They got clips if you wanna sample...(hint, hint)

:)

Blahblahblah...{sigh}

I'm feeling sort of...well...out of sorts.
I've got nothing to be ashamed of, lots of exciting stuff going on, and yet, I feel a bout of the "blues" coming on, and I don't have a gig anytime soon to release this. Well..I have one next week, but that's the last Italian dude gig. Either way. I know everybody gets this way every now and again, and I guess it's just my turn. I just think it's sucky. I didn't show to some events I was invited to this past weekend, and I just chilled out at the house. I flipped through channels, and relaxed. It was SOOOOOO nice. That's another thing, I wasn't sad, or depressed, though I did have some big things on my mind, but...I just....stopped. I don't do that very often, and again...I guess it was just my turn.
I think it's the "it's getting darker sooner" bit.
I do kinda hate that.

CD!! Whee!!

So, I have an album now.
It's available on Amazon!!
Soon to be on CD Baby, and iTunes!
Dude.
Can you say surreal??

Nothing like skin on skin...

Ah, massages...
I'm treating myself to a 1 1/2 hour massage every freaking month from here on out.
Totally.
Unfortunately, I'm at work, and had to wake up early but the effects of a massage are not so easily dismissed. I'm actually feeling kind of "otherworldly" for lack of a better word...floating's a good one though.

So, go. Don't delay. Make an appointmnet (or for some of us, buy a table and make a room) and get a massage. Make sure it's a 1 1/2 hour massage. Anything less is nice, but not quite enough...

No, I haven't heard from TheaterWorks yet. This makes it 2 weeks. {{sigh}}