It finally won. The mild cold that I've been fighting for a couple of weeks has overcome my system and I officially have a very bad cold. The worse thing is, everytime I get a bad cold, it's like my system goes on overdrive and goes wild churning out histamines to fight off anything that it thinks might be an enemy. Thus, I get the double-whammy, cold and allergy. That, plus hormones that are going crazy and you get one tangled mess of female nerves.
Today at work, it boiled over and I found myself sobbing over something I would normally shrug off. I surprised even myself at how weepy I was over something that I usually shake off like water off a duck's back. I made a conscious effort to pull myself together. I called Hubby to help me do just that and he had me chuckling with him after a few minutes.
I used to think that PMS was a very convenient way for women to act like brats and bi-atches. I do not suffer from extreme moodswings too often. I consider myself fortunate. I'm sure hubby feels the same way too!
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Getting My Feet Wet
A local theatre group was auditioning for their next musical slated for February. So I decided to swallow all the fear and apprehension I have had, snap out of my lazy stupor and 'get my feet wet' in the New England theatre scene. I could not make the regular audition as I was on a trip to Florida so I inquired about doing a late audition. They asked me to send in my photo and resumé and I was informed that if they failed to cast the roles during the first set of auditions, they would give me a call. On my last day in Florida, I got a call from the show's Director and she invited me to audition the following Tuesday.
Tuesday came and I was wired. I was also a bit feverish and it was probably due to the cold I had been fighting. Either that or, it was my fear manifesting itself. It's been years since I set foot in a theatre to do a vocal and dance audition. I didn't know if I still had it in me. I decided to toss all those feelings heavenward and just go. I am always in the opinion that things will always turn out as they should when you leave it in God's hands. What matters is I do my best with what I had been given at that moment.
Hubby and I arrived at the place and found it to be a charming little 200-seat playhouse that resembled a small lodge. It was very cozy and intimate and we immediately felt comfortable. I filled out a form and did the vocal auditions not long after. I was asked to sing my two audition songs and a song from the show itself. I could see by the look on Hubby's face that I was doing well despite my cold and lack of practice. We were then asked to move to the theatre proper to do the dance audition. The butterflies in my stomach started dancing long before I did and I tried to work them off by doing warm-ups. My muscles were as stiff as a starched dress shirt. Not only did I think that I was rusty in this area, I thought my jazz skills were pretty corroded. Having to memorize eight 8's of a dance routine in a snap is something I haven't done in a long while. Thank God that the Dance Captain was so nice and patient. By some miracle, I managed to pull it off. Again, the huge smile Hubby was giving me told me that it went well. M has never seen me do a dance audition and he admitted to being pleasantly surprised at what he saw. He's never seen me dance except in a goofy way or when I'm aping someone who can't dance. Yes, we've hit the dance floor in some parties, but that really can't be used as an indication at all.
Before we left the theatre, I was formally invited to join the cast. I was thrilled! M and I discussed it overnight and I accepted the next day. 'Getting my feet wet' during winter might not be the best idea but I have put this off long enough. It's definitely going to be a gruelling four months but very well worth the experience, I'm sure. I just pray for a mild winter season!
Tuesday came and I was wired. I was also a bit feverish and it was probably due to the cold I had been fighting. Either that or, it was my fear manifesting itself. It's been years since I set foot in a theatre to do a vocal and dance audition. I didn't know if I still had it in me. I decided to toss all those feelings heavenward and just go. I am always in the opinion that things will always turn out as they should when you leave it in God's hands. What matters is I do my best with what I had been given at that moment.
Hubby and I arrived at the place and found it to be a charming little 200-seat playhouse that resembled a small lodge. It was very cozy and intimate and we immediately felt comfortable. I filled out a form and did the vocal auditions not long after. I was asked to sing my two audition songs and a song from the show itself. I could see by the look on Hubby's face that I was doing well despite my cold and lack of practice. We were then asked to move to the theatre proper to do the dance audition. The butterflies in my stomach started dancing long before I did and I tried to work them off by doing warm-ups. My muscles were as stiff as a starched dress shirt. Not only did I think that I was rusty in this area, I thought my jazz skills were pretty corroded. Having to memorize eight 8's of a dance routine in a snap is something I haven't done in a long while. Thank God that the Dance Captain was so nice and patient. By some miracle, I managed to pull it off. Again, the huge smile Hubby was giving me told me that it went well. M has never seen me do a dance audition and he admitted to being pleasantly surprised at what he saw. He's never seen me dance except in a goofy way or when I'm aping someone who can't dance. Yes, we've hit the dance floor in some parties, but that really can't be used as an indication at all.
Before we left the theatre, I was formally invited to join the cast. I was thrilled! M and I discussed it overnight and I accepted the next day. 'Getting my feet wet' during winter might not be the best idea but I have put this off long enough. It's definitely going to be a gruelling four months but very well worth the experience, I'm sure. I just pray for a mild winter season!
Sunday, November 14, 2004
The Long Weekend in Orlando
Hubby and I just spent a long, warm, and fun weekend in Orlando. We thankfully left as the temperatures in Boston dropped to freezing. As usual with all our travels, our schedule was so crazy, it was tighter than Joan River's face. We went from seeing family, to getting ready for my cousin Jessica's wedding rehearsal, to the wedding itself, to trying to squeeze in some time to spend the day in the Disney parks to see the newer attractions, and to see M's niece play the role of Jasmine in the show, 'Fantasmic!'
I flew to Orlando a day ahead of M because I needed to rehearse with the pianist the songs I was going to sing in the ceremony. In the plane, I happened to sit in a row with an old snoot of a lady who refused to even acknowledge my presence. I usually get a smile or a nod from the person with whom I share a row, especially if we're both travelling alone. She was sitting by the window and I was by the aisle while the middle seat remained empty. When the flight attendant came to get our used cups, I offered to reach for her cup in order to give it to the flight attendant. She ignored me completely and raised her hand higher to avoid my hand. Later during the flight, I sneezed once and covered my face completely when I did. She quickly covered her nose and mouth, and a few seconds later, reached inside her bag and took out a surgical mask and wore it for the rest of the flight! She even bumped me out of the way with no apologies while I was reaching for my bag in the overhead compartment. I chalked it up to her probably having a bad day but on our way out of the plane, she chirped pleasantries to the flight crew. I guess it was me she did not like. Despite my 'Boston' look of blouse, short wool skirt, tights and knee high boots, she probably saw me as the short-lived stereotype of a diseased, SARS-infested Asian. It was all quite amusing. I was so tempted to fake a sneeze again while we were waiting in the aisle for everyone to disembark just to see her squirm. However, I decided I didn't want to waste my energy even for the pleasure of being mean to someone who is totally rude.
The wedding was beautiful. The only snafu for me was that the pianist played a higher key of 'Ave Maria' than we had rehearsed, and I was already singing a high Celine Dion version. I was caught a bit off-guard and didn't do as well as I hoped. I was thankful that the great acoustics in the St. James Cathedral and the pipe organ mostly hid the strain that I knew my vocal chords were experiencing. The second song 'Grow Old With Me' went much better. The reception afterwards was as well-planned as the ceremony and was a lot of fun. I have been to countless weddings as I have been invited either as a guest or to sing. They ranged from the nice and simple ones to the most lavish. I would rank this one high on my list of favorites. It was well-thought out, simple and classy, quite lavish yet not excessive or gaudy. The family went all-out and spared no expense. The food was nothing short of the best, the filet mignon was cooked, or should I say, undercooked to perfection and the champagne and wine flowed freely. Their only daughter was getting married and she deserved no less, not because she was one of those spoiled brats, but simply because she is this genuinely nice, warm, very wise and pleasant human being, and she was marrying this equally nice boy who was her high school sweetheart and passed all the criteria of my Aunt and Uncle, that is, Filipino, of good family, Catholic and Republican. :) Congratulations Jessica and Joe!
We spent our last day hitting the Disney Parks. We hopped from Animal Kingdom, to Epcot to try Mission Space, and finally to Disney-MGM Studios to watch 'Fantasmic!'. I waxed nostalgic and remembered my days as one of the Mouse's workerbees in the International Exchange Program. I've been to many theme parks and there is no other park that really does it the way Disney does - the cleanliness, the guest service and the way they make everyone's experience as fun and memorable as possible. Just spending the day there made me want to move back to Florida and work for the Mouse again.
I flew to Orlando a day ahead of M because I needed to rehearse with the pianist the songs I was going to sing in the ceremony. In the plane, I happened to sit in a row with an old snoot of a lady who refused to even acknowledge my presence. I usually get a smile or a nod from the person with whom I share a row, especially if we're both travelling alone. She was sitting by the window and I was by the aisle while the middle seat remained empty. When the flight attendant came to get our used cups, I offered to reach for her cup in order to give it to the flight attendant. She ignored me completely and raised her hand higher to avoid my hand. Later during the flight, I sneezed once and covered my face completely when I did. She quickly covered her nose and mouth, and a few seconds later, reached inside her bag and took out a surgical mask and wore it for the rest of the flight! She even bumped me out of the way with no apologies while I was reaching for my bag in the overhead compartment. I chalked it up to her probably having a bad day but on our way out of the plane, she chirped pleasantries to the flight crew. I guess it was me she did not like. Despite my 'Boston' look of blouse, short wool skirt, tights and knee high boots, she probably saw me as the short-lived stereotype of a diseased, SARS-infested Asian. It was all quite amusing. I was so tempted to fake a sneeze again while we were waiting in the aisle for everyone to disembark just to see her squirm. However, I decided I didn't want to waste my energy even for the pleasure of being mean to someone who is totally rude.
The wedding was beautiful. The only snafu for me was that the pianist played a higher key of 'Ave Maria' than we had rehearsed, and I was already singing a high Celine Dion version. I was caught a bit off-guard and didn't do as well as I hoped. I was thankful that the great acoustics in the St. James Cathedral and the pipe organ mostly hid the strain that I knew my vocal chords were experiencing. The second song 'Grow Old With Me' went much better. The reception afterwards was as well-planned as the ceremony and was a lot of fun. I have been to countless weddings as I have been invited either as a guest or to sing. They ranged from the nice and simple ones to the most lavish. I would rank this one high on my list of favorites. It was well-thought out, simple and classy, quite lavish yet not excessive or gaudy. The family went all-out and spared no expense. The food was nothing short of the best, the filet mignon was cooked, or should I say, undercooked to perfection and the champagne and wine flowed freely. Their only daughter was getting married and she deserved no less, not because she was one of those spoiled brats, but simply because she is this genuinely nice, warm, very wise and pleasant human being, and she was marrying this equally nice boy who was her high school sweetheart and passed all the criteria of my Aunt and Uncle, that is, Filipino, of good family, Catholic and Republican. :) Congratulations Jessica and Joe!
We spent our last day hitting the Disney Parks. We hopped from Animal Kingdom, to Epcot to try Mission Space, and finally to Disney-MGM Studios to watch 'Fantasmic!'. I waxed nostalgic and remembered my days as one of the Mouse's workerbees in the International Exchange Program. I've been to many theme parks and there is no other park that really does it the way Disney does - the cleanliness, the guest service and the way they make everyone's experience as fun and memorable as possible. Just spending the day there made me want to move back to Florida and work for the Mouse again.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Lazy Saturday
Blog-Hopping
Today was pretty much another lazy day. After hubby brought my usual Saturday breakfast-in-bed, I went online and just started blog hopping, while hubby read his PC World beside me on his computer. While he perused geek stuff, I played voyeur, looking through a keyhole into other people's lives.
How varied and different people's views on the world are! And if you read on, you may find a clue or two on how those views were shaped by the circumstances and influences in their lives. You find blogs that are funny or serious commentaries on current events, story-telling, life journals that can match any soap operas or telenovelas, you will find ones that drip with so much hate and anger that it leaves a sick feeling in your stomach, and ones that obviously cry for help it makes you tear up.
It evoked so many kinds of emotions that it left me a bit tired by midday. And I hadn't even stepped out of my bedroom!
Vocal Stress
I also spent the afternoon bugging my poor neighbors and rehearsing my songs for my cousin's wedding on Friday. I have been honored with the invitation to sing in her wedding ceremony at the St. James Cathedral in Orlando. I have long neglected to do my vocal exercises since I no longer am an active performing artist, and now my vocal chords are exhausted! What's worse is, I have this mild cold that might just turn worse. I used to have extremely sturdy vocal chords. I never needed much warm up before any concert or musical, and still have my voice intact after a couple of hours of performance. I never followed the "no cold drinks" rule and survived unscathed. Now, I can really feel the stress after a couple of hours of rehearsing, and I feel wary enough to shun anything too hot or too cold for fear of damaging my voice before Friday. With some precautions and a lot of prayers, I hope to be able to render my songs without embarrassing myself.
Habichat
Justin from Habitat for Humanity stumbled across my blog about my volunteer experience. A couple of weeks ago, he emailed me to ask if they could reprint my article in their newsletter. It's a 2-4 page publication that is circulated to their offices in the US and worldwide. I was happy to have the privilege to share my thoughts to help a great cause. Yesterday, they printed it and sent me a copy of their newsletter. :)
PINOYexpats
Soon, the next issue of PINOYexpats will go live. We've cooked up something sumptuous so don't forget to visit the site to check it out!
Bon weekend to all!
Today was pretty much another lazy day. After hubby brought my usual Saturday breakfast-in-bed, I went online and just started blog hopping, while hubby read his PC World beside me on his computer. While he perused geek stuff, I played voyeur, looking through a keyhole into other people's lives.
How varied and different people's views on the world are! And if you read on, you may find a clue or two on how those views were shaped by the circumstances and influences in their lives. You find blogs that are funny or serious commentaries on current events, story-telling, life journals that can match any soap operas or telenovelas, you will find ones that drip with so much hate and anger that it leaves a sick feeling in your stomach, and ones that obviously cry for help it makes you tear up.
It evoked so many kinds of emotions that it left me a bit tired by midday. And I hadn't even stepped out of my bedroom!
Vocal Stress
I also spent the afternoon bugging my poor neighbors and rehearsing my songs for my cousin's wedding on Friday. I have been honored with the invitation to sing in her wedding ceremony at the St. James Cathedral in Orlando. I have long neglected to do my vocal exercises since I no longer am an active performing artist, and now my vocal chords are exhausted! What's worse is, I have this mild cold that might just turn worse. I used to have extremely sturdy vocal chords. I never needed much warm up before any concert or musical, and still have my voice intact after a couple of hours of performance. I never followed the "no cold drinks" rule and survived unscathed. Now, I can really feel the stress after a couple of hours of rehearsing, and I feel wary enough to shun anything too hot or too cold for fear of damaging my voice before Friday. With some precautions and a lot of prayers, I hope to be able to render my songs without embarrassing myself.
Habichat
Justin from Habitat for Humanity stumbled across my blog about my volunteer experience. A couple of weeks ago, he emailed me to ask if they could reprint my article in their newsletter. It's a 2-4 page publication that is circulated to their offices in the US and worldwide. I was happy to have the privilege to share my thoughts to help a great cause. Yesterday, they printed it and sent me a copy of their newsletter. :)
PINOYexpats
Soon, the next issue of PINOYexpats will go live. We've cooked up something sumptuous so don't forget to visit the site to check it out!
Bon weekend to all!
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Long Nights
The clock fell back an hour on Sunday. I was quite happy to gain an hour but my body clock is still on old time. This, combined with the ALCS and World Series late nights and now the election, I probably have a sleep debt of two days. I've been needing that caffeine kick the past three mornings just to rev me up. It must also be because the nights are now much longer, and that has a way of affecting our psyche.
I'm sure John Kerry, George Bush and their cronies have had a long night too. The final results have been slow to materialize these past two elections. This is new to the United States since they usually have the results of the election by the end of election day with one candidate conceding and another giving a magnanimous and reconciliatory victory speech. I've always found that amazing. Where I come from, the final election results takes weeks to a month. That's because everything is counted manually after everyone has put in their votes in padlocked ballot boxes, which are only to be opened after voting is officially over and the official count starts.
Anyway, both the Democrats and the Republicans were ready to hold their victory or concession rallies last night. People here in Boston had gathered in Copley Square on what was to be John Kerry's Victory Rally. Morning came but the results did not. At around mid-day, Kerry called Bush to concede. The trends assured Bush of the win, by both popular and electoral votes.
I'm glad the election is over. I can only take so much mud-slinging, political arguments and lies...
...which they call 'spin' these days. Oh, and liars are now 'spin-doctors'...
*Sigh*
A spin is a lie and spin-doctors are liars. We should go back to calling something by its name, rather than using a more 'politically correct' word. Our world will be so much better if we stopped lying to ourselves so much.
Hmmm, must be the caffeine kicking in. :)
I'm sure John Kerry, George Bush and their cronies have had a long night too. The final results have been slow to materialize these past two elections. This is new to the United States since they usually have the results of the election by the end of election day with one candidate conceding and another giving a magnanimous and reconciliatory victory speech. I've always found that amazing. Where I come from, the final election results takes weeks to a month. That's because everything is counted manually after everyone has put in their votes in padlocked ballot boxes, which are only to be opened after voting is officially over and the official count starts.
Crowds gather for what they hoped to be a Kerry Victory Rally in Copley Square on election night. (AP Photo)
Anyway, both the Democrats and the Republicans were ready to hold their victory or concession rallies last night. People here in Boston had gathered in Copley Square on what was to be John Kerry's Victory Rally. Morning came but the results did not. At around mid-day, Kerry called Bush to concede. The trends assured Bush of the win, by both popular and electoral votes.
I'm glad the election is over. I can only take so much mud-slinging, political arguments and lies...
...which they call 'spin' these days. Oh, and liars are now 'spin-doctors'...
*Sigh*
A spin is a lie and spin-doctors are liars. We should go back to calling something by its name, rather than using a more 'politically correct' word. Our world will be so much better if we stopped lying to ourselves so much.
Hmmm, must be the caffeine kicking in. :)
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