It's Gonna Be A Happy New Year

So it's been exactly two months since I wrote anything on here. I guess my goal to keep this fairly up to date didn't work haha, but now it's a new year, and this is a perfect time to try and keep more on top of this. Since starting this blog I already do feel more open and free towards people, and I really am starting to appreciate myself for who I am.

Today I thought about what I would like my resolutions to be. One is the classic, get my ass to the gym haha. I think I say this every year and I've been consistent in making it not happen haha. We'll see how this year goes :p My other one is that I want to try and be less ambivalent about things, especially when it comes to music directing. I find that with many things, in group situations, I never want to make the final decision. I'll help to narrow it down to two or three things, but then just say I'm content with either one and let someone else choose. I think a lot of that stems from the idea that I want to make everyone happy and not be disagreeable. But I think in order to be successful at my job I need to stand up more for what I want and for what I want the decisions to be. Of course I always believe in being collaborative and listening to all sides, but it's time for me to step up and make the final call.

Most recently in my life I've met this amazing guy who I am totally head over heels for. We met online over a month ago, and since meeting we have talked pretty much every day. I have plans to visit him at his school this coming Thursday, and I cannot wait. I just really made a connection with him, and we are very similar people in many ways, which is so refreshing. What's also nice is that I'm pretty sure he feels the same way, and is just as excited to see me as I am to see him. I can really see this going somewhere, and it would be absolutely amazing if we could make something work. I feel like the timing just happened to work out perfectly, and as I always say I think things happen for a reason.

This is a scary time in my life because my life could go in so many different directions right now, so I'm never sure exactly what is going to happen. But I believe as long as I keep my end goals in sight and not lose track of who I am, everything should play out well in the end :) My inspirational message from the Universe for new years:

1. Give thanks that life is... just as it is (and that it's been... just as it's been). Because of it, you're now "READY." 

2. Define what you want in terms of the end result. Don't worry about the hows, or even the course. KNOW that what you want is ALREADY yours in spirit, by divine LAW, just focus on the certainty of this ownership, understand it, claim it, and "it will be on earth, as it is in heaven (spirit)." 

3. LET THE UNIVERSE show you the way via your impulses and instincts that appear as you take inspired action. Don't worry that your first steps seem silly or futile. And if you don't know what to do, do anything! Go! Get busy! Do not insist on intermediary successes, only upon the end result. 

P.S. About four months after getting Kaleidoscope Heart I still find I listen to it every day and it inspires me more and more each time I listen to it.

This is Halloween!

Oh man so once again it's been a while since I posted. Let's see what's happened since last time I posted. Well I made a surprise visit to my uncle at Siena college. It was nice to get to see him for a little bit and he gave me a quick tour of the campus which is really pretty. Then Wednesday night I went home and I went to my sister's concert on Thursday. I got to see Sean and Jaime and Kim which was great because I haven't seen them in a long time, especially Sean, and he is starting his job at Hershey, but I'll see him and everyone at Thanksgiving hopefully so that's good.

I realized that the more into real life we get the more effort that we all have to make to stay connected and see each other. It's not easy to do, especially because everyone's schedules get more and more diverse.

Anyway so Friday night we all dressed up and went out downtown and had a blast. We went to Suds, Empire Brewing Company, and Daisy Dukes, followed by Dennys haha. Jo met us out and it was nice to see her too. The only thing that sucked is that I went to be around 3am and then had to get up at 6:30am to drive to Albany at 7am for an eight hour rehearsals from 10-6pm, so Saturday was a long day to say the least haha. After rehearsal I took a long nap and then me and Gilli and Shana and Kim went out to downtown Albany and I had a really great time with them too.

So Joseph opens this Thursday. Hopefully it will all come together soon. I had my first rehearsal with the pit yesterday and that went well so I feel confident about that. It's going to be a little tricky balancing the voices with the mics with the pit so we will see how that goes.

Brr it's cold in my apartment...

Well I should probably start my day haha. I think I'm going to do something kind of crazy today and I don't know how it will pan out but we'll see haha. You only live once right?

Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Today

OMG I can't believe it's been about a week since I updated! Wow a lot has happened in a week, let's see...

Well we had our final weekend of Hairspray. It went really well and all three shows were great. I got to hang out with everyone one last time Sunday night and Monday everyone left. I really liked everyone in the cast and it was sad to see them go. I'm definitely gonna try and stay in touch with them.

On Friday after the show I met up with Josh Smith at Rocks since he was in town to play auditions for Cabaret at SUNY Albany. It was really great to see him and catch up and we had a great time! Also we saw Darius (aka Todd) from the summer! So weird and random haha.

After the show on Sunday I drove Chloe and Emily's brother and boyfriend to the bus station. But the show went longer than expected and we ended up leaving about 15 minutes before the scheduled departing time, and it's about 15 minutes away. It was such a great car ride, my adrenaline was pumping haha. But I got them to the bus and everything was fine.

After that whoever was left all hung out Sunday night and we had a great time. I went back to their house the next morning to say goodbye to everyone, and then Emily, who wasn't leaving until 4, and I got breakfast at Brueggers. I then came back to the apartment and cleaned it some more.

Oh that's right, all last week I cleaned the apartment, and when I say cleaned, I mean CLEANED. I did one room at a time and moved out all the furniture so I could sweep and mop each room. It looks a lot better in here than it did before haha. All I have left to clean is the bathroom.

Since Hairspray closed we've been in rehearsals for Joseph and it's going ok so far, we just keep pluggin along. I helped Kim make part of Joseph's coat, and on Monday night Gilly, Kim, Shana, Paul, Tom and I had a game night at Gilly's apartment. We played scattegories and cranium and had a great time. One of the best parts of the night: "Gilly, what wrong?" "I'm sad because Kim thinks I can't spell" lol.

Recently I've been meeting a lot of people online, trying to meet people in the area and make new friends and potentially more than friends. So far it's actually been going pretty good and I've been talking to a few potential candidates. It's kind of weird to think about going on dates but that's what people do and I feel like I am ready to start doing that. To find someone whom I feel comfortable talking to, and that conversation just happens organically. I don't want to feel like I have to try and force conversation or probe around for something to talk about. One of the questions on one of the dating sites I joined was would you rather complete the other person or would you rather them be complete and the two of you be complete together. I think I need someone who is already complete. I think I'm drawn to the guys who aren't complete without me because I can feel wanted and useful and helpful to them, but I think in a relationship that's bad for me. I tried that once and it didn't work out so well. I think I need someone who is independent and can lead their own life and his happy, and find someone who can be happy with me.

I'm starting to get disappointed with my blog. I think it's because since I don't update it enough I mostly just type what happened in my life rather than my thoughts or opinions, and I find I haven't been inspired a lot recently. The one inspiration I do now have though is that it was recommended to me I should read Hero and Leander by Marlowe, so when I get some free time, I'm going to give it a read. If anyone else has any reading suggestions, please let me know. It's been a while since I've read a good book and I want to get back into it.

P.S. I LOVE the music to A Christmas Carol and I'm really excited to start working on it :)

World Spins Madly On

Wow it's been a while since I updated. Ok well we had this past weekend of shows and they went really well, until Saturday afternoon. For the Saturday matinee we had a sub drummer. He watched the show the last two nights and I got to the theatre early to review a bunch of the songs with him. So the show starts, and act one went totally fine. Intermission came and went, and when it was time to start act two, he was NO WHERE to be found. I mean we stalled for like ten minutes looking for him and nothing. So we started the act with no drums, just me on TAMBOURINE and also playing the keyboard with my free hand. Then, suddenly, a man from the audience gets up AND STARTS PLAYING THE DRUMS! And he was good! He read the music and everything. So we play most of the act and then the other drummer comes back for the last number of the show. Where was he? Oh, apparently he left and went to dinner. HE WENT TO DINNER! Firstly, how could you possibly think the show is over when I ran multiple songs with him earlier that day and he saw the show twice. Also, wouldn't you think the show wasn't done when you haven't played half of the music in the book yet? Secondly, DID HE NOT REALIZE NO ONE ELSE LEFT?? Anyway it was like the craziest thing ever and a story for the books. So Mary came back for the night show and everything went fine. Oh, and the sub drummer STAYED AND WATCHED THE NIGHT SHOW BECAUSE HE HAD PEOPLE THERE! Awkward...

Anyway so on Sunday after the show me and a bunch of the cast went on a haunted hay ride. We had a blast and there was also a haunted house and a couple other things. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Afterwards we drove back and we all chilled at the Johnston apartment. We played kings and president/a-hole and celebrity and it was such a fun night, until about 4am when one of the craziest/weirdest things happened that I'm not going to talk about because it isn't worth talking about. Let's just say that I didn't get to bed until about 5:30am and I got up at 7:45am to get ready to drive to Boston.

So Monday morning I got up early and drove to Boston. It's a really easy drive and I was fine until I tried to take the stupid mapquest directions and got lost. So I called Leora and she directed me to where I needed to go. So I finally got there and I got to see Leora and Brian and I ran into Babs on total accident! So I got to have coffee with her and catch up which was great. I had a lot of time to myself because they had class which was fine, so I got to walk around the area a lot and do some shopping (which is great because there is no sales tax on clothes!) I really like Boston a lot actually. The city is really nice and the buildings are great and there is tons to do. It actually kind of reminded me of London, I'm not sure why exactly. The only thing that sucks is driving and trying to park. Next time I go I probably will take a train or bus, it will just be easier.

So I got back yesterday in the evening and I spent about 3 hours cleaning the kitchen. Today I got up and went to the gym then cleaned the dining room. All I have left is the living room and the bathroom before Friday. Tomorrow I'm going to go see Young Frankenstein at Proctor's since I know some of the musicians so that will be fun. Until then, I got Joseph rehearsal tonight and then maybe I'll see a movie or something haha.

Here are some pictures of the places I saw:

Boston Conservatory

The Cactus Club where we got margaritas

The HUGE Apple store on Boylston Street

Really good ice cream, I got coconut almond chip

I think it's a scientology church, but it's pretty haha

Some of the shops on Newbury Street

Inside the Prudential Center

Got dinner here near Brian's apartment

The Sweetest Sounds

So after getting back from New York my week has been pretty uneventful. I went out Tuesday with Kenney and a couple people from the cast and we had a blast, even though I had a little bit too much to drink (oops!) but so did everyone so it's all good haha.

Wednesday I went to the Harmony Market Cafe with Kim the wig designer and it was really good. I had Italian Wedding Soup with a Bulkie roll and an egg salad sandwich. Both were huge and too much food and delicious haha. I then had Joseph rehearsal and that was fine, and then I went out with Kenney and Kim and Thomas and Mike to karaoke. I only had one drink that night haha and we had a lot of fun singing all night. Oh yes I then came home and made a lasagna lol. It actually came out really well.

Yesterday I went to the gym and just chilled all day until the brush-up rehearsal for Hairspray. Danny Carroll came to the show and it was so good to see him. We went to the Black Cat afterwards and we got to catch up a little bit and chill with everyone. Then some of the cast came over and I fed them the lasagna I made haha. It was great having people over to the company and I completely turned into my party host self which I really love doing. I love hosting parties and having friends over to hang and chill and talk and make everyone feel at home. I don't know what it is, but I think it runs in the family haha.

Today I went and got sushi with Kim, Shana, Emily and Chloe and it was really good. I had really been craving sushi for a while so it was nice to go out. I then went to Chloe and Emily's house and we watched Reefer Madness haha. Hannah came to the show and it was nice to see her, I'll have to go visit her at Siena sometime soon.  Then I came home and made some dinner and here I am, writing in my blog on a Friday night, actually feeling exhausted from the week. I guess it was more eventful than I thought haha.

P.S. I am in love with Disney's Cinderella with Brandy and I need to get that DVD sometime soon. I am currently listening to the soundtrack haha

New York, New York

So late last night I got back from my trip to NYC. This is what we did:

Amelia and Julia met me here in Cohoes Sunday evening and we drove down to the city. It wasn't a bad drive but we hit MAJOR traffic on 87 which really sucked, but after trying for 20 minutes to try and find a place to park in Washington Heights we finally got to Karla and Kelly's apartment. Their apartment is GORGEOUS and is just so homey. It really is a wonderful apartment in a great location. We staying up chatting and then went to sleep.

The next day we got up and we headed down to midtown to check out tkts just for the heck of it. Well it didn't open until 3pm, so we kind of gave up on that idea, but we met up with Kevin and then had lunch and Junior's, which was really good. Then we walked to Columbus Circle (appropriate for Columbus Day) and went into Central Park where we met up with Stef, Brett and Aaron. We sat in the lawn and talked for a while, then we met up with Karla and we walked back up to midtown to visit John at work. Then we texted Cori and she said she was in line at the lottery for Next to Normal right next door, so we saw Cori and Bob and then went over to Blockheads for dinner, where Colleen and Hannah met up with us. Cori and Bob won the lottery and then met us there too.

I got a quesadilla and it was really good. I also got a couple margaritas, and while they were really cheapt ($3 for a frozen) they weren't really that good. Then Mike and Dan showed up to say hi to Cori and I talked to them for a little bit. Turns out that Mike was playing guitar for PopArt the musical, which I had heard about on facebook since Aaron McCallister wrote the music for it, who had graduated from Geneseo and whom I had contacted last year about grad schools. So after dinner at Blockheads, we said goodbye to everyone and at that point Julia and her friend had met back up with us. We stayed longer to have a drink with them and it started to rain. Not just rain, POUR. We were out under an umbrella which was ok for a little bit but then it really started pouring buckets and the umbrella was dropping puddles of water on us so we ran inside. Needless to say it was quite hilarious and I enjoyed it thoroughly haha. After drinks we quickly went to the theatre and watched the show. The music was really fun and the pit sounded fantastic. After the show we said goodbye to Dan and Mike and drove back home.

I loved being back in the city and it made me really want to move down there. Just the atmosphere and the people and the ability to more easily find work is so appealing. I'm considering maybe moving in January just until the summer where maybe I can look for jobs and then will hopefully get something lined up for the summer. The more that job opportunities keep coming up, the more I'm thinking that grad school is kind of silly for me to do right now while I am still young and have the ability to travel a lot and not be tied down anywhere. I know that I can always go to grad school whenever, but jobs come and go, and I think what I need to keep doing is keep trying to land jobs and keep meeting people. Networking really is key, and if I can meet some people who can get me in to some of the big gigs, it would really help my career.

This was my note from the universe today, and it really is a good reminder for me, especially right now. Once again, thank you universe.

By the way, dear Chris, the world doesn't need fixing. Neither do you. And dreaming for more, bigger, and zippier, doesn't mean you can't be happy today. Tallyho,     The Universe

Breathe Again

Hello blog journal, how have you been? Long time no see.

So since last time I was on here, we opened Hairspray. The opening went really well on Thursday and the audience loved the show. It's a lot of fun to play in the pit and the music is great, but I really wish we could jam out. It sometimes seems the show lacks the energy that it could have, but oh well, maybe that will change with time. Also, Gail is back! She wrote a review for Hairspray and it was a good review, and she is up to her old antics as usual haha.

So the director left and I had been planning to move into his room ever since the beginning. Well last night I started moving my stuff out, and I had to stop. I was second guessing making the switch, and kind of didn't want to. I had gotten so used to my little room and I was kind of sad to leave it, I was having like weird separation anxiety which I've never had happen before. I guess I really do take a place and kind of transform it to make it my own, so when I had to move out of it, it was tough, especially because I didn't feel ready to leave. Well after distracting myself for a couple hours I finally moved everything in to the new room, and I'm starting to get used to it. The one thing  I miss is the window that faces the main street with lots of light. Now my window looks at the brick wall in the alley.

Today I got up and a couple of us went to the Italian Festival in Washington Park. We were only there for like a half hour but it was nice to walk outside on the gorgeous day (thank GOD it has stopped raining!) and it was nice to hang out with some of the cast.

My parents and sister came yesterday and I spent the day hanging out with them and then they saw the show that night which was awesome. We ate at Smith's which was delicious and did a wine tasting at the wine store and bought some chocolate apples that are AMAZING.

Well we have two shows today, and then a matinee tomorrow and then I'm going into the city! I'm really excited to visit people and just to be there again and especially to see Amelia and Julia. It's going to be a lot of fun. Gotta run, time for the show!