Currently Happenstance By Rachael Yamagata see related

The Birds and the Bees

At long last, the beauty and joy of spring has begun to peak out over the Blue Ridge Mountains and grace this mountain town with its love.  It feels like morning - constantly.  As if these sleepy, dark mountains are beginning to stir and stretch and yawn and finally rise up and greet the world.

It's been a cold one, folks.

And oh how I wish I could be outdoors, frolicking and enjoying this burst of sunshine and warmth.  But, alas, I have yet again strained everything from the waist down and will henceforth (once more) be called Gladys.  Let it be known that if one has not attempted a toe-touch in a good seven years or so, it would behove one to stretch intensely before giving it a shot.  Especially if one is in the midst of a six-hour dance rehearsal for what is, essentially, a teen musical.  And, of course, by "one" I mean "me."  I am sore in places that I never thought could feel this way.  I need a literal butt rub.  For real real.  Not for play play.  And certainly not in a sexy way.

But, damn, it felt good to be dancing again yesterday!  And it felt good to feel good about something - with no doubts at all in my ability and complete and total confidence in myself.  Perhaps I am such a skilled dancer because it brings me such bliss.  I am happiest when I am dancing - for everyone, for no one, for myself, for my cat.  For whatever or whomever will sit still long enough to catch a glimpse.  Yesterday served the ultimate purpose of finally making me excited about doing this show.  And reaffirming my faith in my talent and ability. 

"Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is not mere translation or abstraction from life; it is life itself."  ~Havelock Ellis

And then, my amazing boyfriend and I drove around our lovely mountaintops for a good hour or so, welcoming Spring and rejoicing with each other that we've come this far.  We've made it through the bitter-cold winter (in so many ways) and here we are, arriving on the other side of the frost to a true awakening.  With each other.

Currently Let It Die By Feist see related

Mushaboom

I am a girl who's pretty big on "favorites."  Perhaps I should rephrase that to read "I am a girl who has strong opinions."  I'm always honestly baffled when I ask somebody what they're favorite (fill in the blank here) is and they respond along the lines of "I don't have a favorite;" or "I can't pick just one, that's too hard."  My best friend is the WORST at that - he is undoubtedly the most indecisive person I know.  Just try completing a simple task with him like picking out a movie to rent for the evening - ain't happening with his input, at least not for a solid hour.

But enough about that, the point (and there is one, believe it or not) is that I've been spending some significant brain power thinking about my favorite song lately.  That's right, I have a favorite song.  This is not to say that it won't change in another year or so.  But it has been holding steady as my numero uno tune of choice for almost two years now.  And I'm beginning to understand why - it's pretty much a biographical account of my present life and my relationship with a fairly phenomenal individual. 

I give you "Mushaboom" by Feist:

Helping the kids out of their coats
but wait, the babies haven't been born...
Unpacking the bags and setting up
And planting lilacs and buttercups

But in the meantime we've got it hard
second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day
my dreams will match up with my pay

I got a man to stick it out
and make a home from a rented house
and we'll collect the moments one by one
I guess that's how the future's done

How many acres, how much light
tucked in the woods and out of sight
Talk to the neighbors and tip my cap
on a little road barely on the map

Old dirt road
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
knee deep snow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
watching the fire as we grow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
........old........

Old dirt road
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
rambling rose
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
watching the fire as we grow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
well, I'm sold...

Currently Heart - Greatest Hits: 1985-1995 By Heart see related

These Dreams...

Lovely day. 

Although, perhaps I only feel that way because there is a medium-sized bouquet of daffodils staring me in the face.  They're my favs.  Ever since I saw The Muppets Frog Prince when I was itty-bitty.  In that amazing musical-version of the classic fairy tale, Princess Lenora sings a beautiful (okay, muppet-beautiful) love song while holding a daffodil during the opening credits.  I guess I've always associated daffodils with princesses since that.

I had a freaktastic dream last night / this morning.  I didn't have to be at work until 4:30 today so I slept in until about 11 this morning - hence, I'm not sure if I dreamt this today or yesterday.  Whatever day, it was crazy weird.  I dreamt I had a baby, not my baby, but I had either adopted it or taken it in.  However, (just like in real life) I only had about 50 bucks in my bank account in my dream I was freaking out about having to buy formula and diapers and wipes and baby stuff.  And, from what I can recall about said dream, I don't think I was a very good mother.  I remember putting a diaper on it and then leaving it alone for like hours at a time.  Not that I wasn't into the child; I loved this baby and being it's caregiver - I just wasn't very good at it.  And for a brief moment after I woke up, I associated my cat with this dream-concocted baby. 

I think I've been spending too much time doing nursery duty at the ski mtn.

Other than these awesomely awkward dreams I've been having, life is swell.  Besides waiting with baited breath for a phone call/job offer.  That just sucks.  And the longer I go without hearing from anyone, the more anxious I get.  It's silly, really.  As a professional who's often on the other side of these joyous auditions, I should understand better than most actors the time that it takes to cast a professional production.  And I've only had to play a small role in the casting of three to five actors; most of these people are choosing casts of twenty or more.  I still ultimately agree with Mr. Petty:  "The waiting IS the hardest part."

Luckily, instead of focussing on the craptastic act of waiting, I can direct my attention towards a multitude of activities that I'm currently involved in.  Like High School Musical II rehearsals, or choreographing Diamond Lil's.  I continue to live in a state of gratitude for the many performances that I've been blessed to have been a part of this year.  Actually, I live in a state of gratitude for lots of things that happened this year.

Namely, Freddy Lynn.

There will undoubtedly be more to blog about later, as boredom sets in here at the slopes.

Until then...

Currently Oklahoma! Broadway (1979 Broadway Revival Cast) By Oscar Hammerstein II, Christine Andreas, Laurence Guittard see related

Call Me

Soooo . . . I just got back from Institute of Outdoor Drama auditions in Chapel Hill, NC.  It went smashingly!  Probably the best audition experience I've ever had (yet).  But that's also due to the fact that I spent about two months perfecting my song and monologue - as opposed to my standard practice of putting one together about a week before go time.  Suffice it to say, I rocked and got four (okay, three) awesome call-backs.  The Lost Colony, Texas the Musical, Theatre W. VA, and Snowcamp (alright, so I don't really count them) were all interested in A to the K enough to want to see her strut her stuff again.

So now comes the hard part: the waiting.  Waiting for someone to call me and offer me a job.  And concocting all sorts of fantastic scenarios in my curl-coated head.  "Lost Colony wants me to play Ado Annie in "Oklahoma" or Mary Magdalene in "Jesus Christ, Superstar." Or, "Theatre W. VA wants me for Mayzie LaBird in "Seussical" and Sharpay in "High School Musical."  Or, more realistically, "I'm gonna be an ensemble member at Colony this summer."

I hate this.  I have checked my voicemail and email approximately 200 times today.

Sigh.

My Secret of the Week...