A New Discovery

I got home from work this afternoon (with another sugar buzz! haha!) and fell upon this:

This is Renee Fleming's new album...a pop/rock album. I've been listening to clips online; it is very unusual, but I actually really like it. She has this sultry tone almost but still with the richness and warmth of her classical roundness and timbre. It's kind of a comforting sound, if that makes any sense. I think I might just be purchasing this from my itunes...right now. ;)

Gratitude 258
Vanilla, scents and flavors. I decided this week that everything should have a hint of vanilla, because it just makes it happy (and me, too!).  :)  Mint, too (not necessarily together!). That makes things (and me) happy as well.

Sugar Overload.

I'm enjoying this taste-testing business, however, my body is on constant sugar rush. haha! They are insistent that I experience what everything tastes like, which is cool with me, but there's just so much at once! Ah! Nem jo. ;)

Also, I am surprising myself with my resourcefulness lately. I just went grocery shopping tonight because it was desperately needed, but I am rather impressed with the delicious concoctions I have managed to pull out for dinner the past few days while having not much to work with.

Gratitude 257
The woman at the check-out at Kroger was so sweet and kind she just made me smile. :) Actually, everyone I asked for help or talked to at the store this evening was so nice, putting me in even better spirits. (My previous experiences there have not yielded such a similar case.) Amazing what a smile can do. :)


Fun facts for the day: 
According to the Today Show this morning, today is the only Friday the 13th of 2010.

Today just so happens to apparently also be National Left-Handers Day. Happy Day to my fellow creative left-handers. ;) 

Ice Cream! Ice Cream!

Yesterday, I had orientation and today I started training for my new job. At orientation, we got to tour the kitchen...it was like Unwrapped. :)  And today...I got to taste every flavor of ice cream. Um...yum! ;) 
(This could be hazardous...)

Although I am only just starting this job, I feel like I am working for a company that genuinely cares. Everyone I have met thus far has been helpful and kind and sincere. It's like a mini artist's colony, too...just about everyone is an artist of some sort...drawing, painting, sculpting, music, photography, etc.

I have oddly been thoroughly exhausted lately, too...perhaps it's my partial insomnia of not being able to fall asleep (...in addition to my slight addiction to late night tv...). Whatever it is, it's annoying, so it should stop!

Gratitude 256
Puzzles. :)


In other news...my dad and I watch America's Got Talent, mainly for kicks and giggles, and we subsequently text each other back and forth about the ridiculousness appearing on our television screens. (It's like our "bonding" time or something.) I have qualms with that show and what passes as "okay" in that world. It just irks me. In about 90% of the cases, it's someone wanting their "15 minutes of fame" and producers wanting to skyrocket their ratings, and thus, merely an odd form of entertainment for the masses. However, in the real realm of things, thinking about what the winners get at the end of this competition, I wish there was more sense in the judging and choosing of acts. And I am sure by now, everyone's heard of the 10-year old "opera" star. Ew. Seriously, people?

First off, NO 10-year old should be singing opera, let alone studying voice to that extent. TOO young, and the voice is not mature enough to handle that...there's a reason many teachers don't take students younger than 14! She's destroying herself and won't have a voice or career by age 15. (Look at what happened to Charlotte Church, the previous "voice of an angel".) Second, she chose to sing "O mio babbino caro." Super famous piece, sure, but she hasn't a clue what she's singing about. (Of course, I'll give her credit that there are even professionals that don't understand the piece.) Third, she sounds like a female Kermit the Frog, trying to produce big, mature, 40-year old sounds in an unhealthy way. Yes, she may have a good voice, but save it, honey...slow down and sing age-appropriate music! Also, she's already getting quite a big head...like she's "Miss America" or something.

Perhaps, there's some bitterness or something in this because she's 10 and having it all just set in front of her for the taking, and I've got a degree and not sure which direction any of it is taking me. But really people, don't encourage this vocal destruction! Encourage pursuit, patience, letting the voice grow as is natural, and singing what's appropriate at the given time for the specific place your voice is in.

Okay, I'll put my soap box away for now. Good night!

Glory, Hallelujah!

Gratitude 255
This morning, Q dragged me out of bed at dawn because I somehow sentenced myself to help him out by singing for a church he plays piano for. It was a mostly African American congregation, so from the beginning, I knew it wasn't going to be my typical church service.

Such sweet people! From the moment I walked in, people were hugging me like they were my dear old aunt or something, and we'd known each other for years. They cracked me up and made me feel welcome. I'm not exactly a gospel singer, but they were just gracious for the presence of music in their lives. What a lively crowd, too...tambourines, shouts for joy, "Amen! Hallelujahs!", dancing....the Holy Spirit was shinin' through! haha! If only my big gospel friend Jerod had been there... ;)

Then, they had a "picnic" after the last service complete with fried chicken, watermelon, and macaroni. Fabulous! (They kept calling it a picnic, but my friends Bekah and Anthony have informed me on many occasions that, "Black people don't picnic...they barbeque!" That's a direct quote from their mouths, I swear!  haha! Gotta love 'em!)

The Next ABC Family Movie

I just finished reading this book called Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow. Cute story. Not a great creation in the English language and quite predictable but nonetheless an entertaining little book. I guarantee you it will be the next ABC Family movie (and without a doubt including Joey Lawrence as Jay, the Hollywood talent manager...I can already picture who'd play the roles...). The producers just don't know it yet. ;)
(Wonder if I suggest it if I'll get a share of the royalities...hehe!)

This afternoon was my friend Aani's wedding. She looked beautiful, and it was a lovely affair. She and her new husband Kevin graduated two years ago, I believe, so I saw many people I hadn't seen since then. Lunch, homemade cheesecakes, performances, dancing...I'm exhausted!

Gratitude 254
Old movies. :) Ah! They just don't make them like that anymore. Cary Grant (mmm...what a handsome one he was!), Ingrid Bergman, Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Gene Kelly, Fred & Ginger, Judy Garland, Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Humphrey Bogart...the list goes on. The real deal talent.

Last night, I was flipping channels and fell upon Casablanca...such a brilliant film! And so artistically done. Definitely the best piece of cinematography ever made. I'm a fan. Then, Notorious with Cary and Ingrid came on. I didn't get to watch it all because it was late, so I'll have to borrow that one from the library, but I was captured by the presence and artistry of the two. So good! Now, as I write, I'm watching Judy Garland's performance in Meet Me in St. Louis... ♬ Clang clang clang goes the trolley... ♬  ;)

P.S. The other day, I decided to hang white rope lights along the rail of the balcony to add some artsy-ness to it. Loving it! ;) Not sure why it took me a whole year to actually do it

Gratitude 253

I finally have a job! Hallelujah! I will now be the soprano-singing ice cream "connoisseur" at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. I actually think I might just have a little fun with this one. It's quite an artsy place...I'll fit in well. ;) They take gourmet ice cream to a whole new level (and it's delicious!!)...they informed me it is like the wine shop of ice creams. Snazzy. (And I can apparently forget about ever fitting into that pretty gown now...haha!)

They are also a very environmentally-conscious company, like the spoons are made from corn, cups are biodegradable, etc. They know all the cows that they get their milk from, too...and they all have names. haha! Training starts next week for me...and I get to meet the cows. Oh, boy! ;)

Even the dull moments in my life are never dull.

This morning, I awoke to a message that notified me I had an interview...this afternoon. Summary: a three-hour escapade for a ten-minute meeting. A new adventure for my books apparently. ;) It went well, though...they liked me and want me for a second interview AND for the location I want. Yay! Let's hope Monday's interview for the other job goes the same! :)

During the three hours, I had lots of thinking time, which led me to wonder...can one be too independent? And at what point does this happen? And when is independence no longer a good thing? Or is it ever a bad thing? Maybe, my own level of independence has become a semi-startling realization. Just little ramblings from my brain...

Gratitude 252
Thank you, Europe, for training me well for adventures and cities and for heightening my directional aptitude. (Although I have to admit that I had to keep reminding myself today that I needed to speak English. haha! Oh, man!)

Oh, forget about it!

So basically, today there was a new development in my plotting that pretty much makes my previously-stated mission in vain. Perhaps, I'll still work on fitting into the pretty gown, though. ;)

Two, possibly three, job interviews (finally!) coming up in the next week and my friend Aani's wedding on Saturday. Wish me luck!

Gratitude 251
Spending three hours in a big comfy chair at the library reading books and flipping through magazines. :)

I feel like I've been on a very long vacation (except, sadly, not in some exciting, exotic place...and the money reserve is quickly dwindling...). I should enjoy the nothingness, but I've pretty much been bored out of my mind, feeling like I'm leading a very unproductive life, and no one really around to hang out with. Leaves a lot of time for thinking about everything...like what really is our purpose? Still don't know what comes next or how I'm getting there, either...but I guess I'll figure that out along the way...all I know is that I'm wandering along a web of cobblestone streets and will [hopefully] eventually find my way back to the main road, again. ;)


2 hours later... 
While surfing the web this evening, I came across this heartbreaking article. I may not know what I want musically or where it will take me right now, but I am ever-thankful to have it in my life whenever, wherever, whatever, and whyever my heart decides. It'll always be there where I am, and no one can take that away from me like that wretched man has just done to so many innocent, passionate artists. My heart goes out to those poor souls. I can only pray that one day this evil "Burger Meister Meister" will be shown the error of his ways.

Commence "Operation: Lose 15-20 lbs."

Why? Because...perhaps, I'll explain later. My reaction to this wicked idea: Ha! Yeah, right. Day 1, and I just might die. haha!

I was cleaning this afternoon, though, and found the pretty gown that my roommate bought for her recital, hated, couldn't return, and I loved it but can't quite fit it. So...I believe it has now become "Operation: Fit the Pretty Gown!" ;)  Reminds me of the Cary Grant movie Operation Petticoat for some reason. haha! I need to initiate some structure back into my life, too, so maybe this absurd plan will help.

Gratitude 250
Laying on the warm stone platforms bordering the fountains on campus, reading and/or watching the sky, while little kids play in the water. :)


Also...yesterday, I found this, and it totally made my day. haha! Enjoy!

Sometimes, I feel like my life is a movie.

Since graduation, I have this recurring thought that my life is turning into Post Grad (besides the fact that I still have my own apartment, and I'm not dating a creepy, older Peruvian man that lives next door! haha!). However, last night, I think it changed movies.

I couldn't fall asleep, so I turned on Under the Tuscan Sun, thinking that since I've seen it a hundred times, I'll just doze right off. Wrong. I stayed awake till 4:30am watching the whole movie. I'm a crazy person. When I finally fell asleep, I dreamt that the movie had collided with my life. Maybe, I'm just going to end up on a gay tour of Tuscany, impulsively buy a fix-it-upper villa, and learn to speak Italian. haha! How ridiculous!

Gratitude 249
Ella, the sweet, little, old lady who sits in front of me at the church across the street. :)


P.S. Directly after I hit the "Publish Post" button the first time for this, the ad in the sidebar on the next page said "Villas in Tuscany for Sale or Rent". Ha! What is happening in my life?! ;)