tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189678292009-06-11T14:29:22.053-05:00My Opera LifeA glimpse of my life, backstage.Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-86200717075375363152009-05-15T21:23:00.007-05:002009-05-15T22:01:17.481-05:00Tireless Theatre<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wow. I just read my last post that was published before the Kennedy Administration. The good news is, is I think I'm "back" in the theatre world. Since doing the Sound of Music, I finished a run of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seussical">Seussical</a> the other weekend. It was fantastic! I met so many <a href="http://www.teachnet.ie/fwilliams/2006/images/Gandhi1.jpg">amazing people</a> and I love the theatre company. I had an extremely positive experience and will audition for that company in the future. I also have had an audition and decline my first role. I felt bad, but I had to stick to my guns. My next project is to audition for a Gilbert and Sullivan production. *crosses fingers* I think that I have given up on my Minnesota Opera ambition. I love doing musical theatre, and if I can get some legit roles, that's where I'd like to stay. So that's what I've been doing every night and weekend since my last post. (Okay okay, there was a break in between performances, but shhh, I had to catch up on sleep and other obligations.)<br /><br />So, I'm going to bust out the ol' blog and give it some use. I will admit that after my last post, I joined <a href="http://www.funnyemployeeawards.com/certificates/images-600/facebook-award.jpg">Facebook</a> and that has consumed my life and free-time. But who says I can't have another vice? Plus, on my blog I can write more than a sentence.<br /><br />That's all for now, I don't want to <a href="http://webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/fainting-goats.jpg">overwhelm</a> the viewers who might not believe their eyes when this new post appears on my blog. I'm sure they've left this screen up on their computer since last August and clicking refresh every 10 seconds. You're computer doesn't have a virus, I'm really posting again. *gasp*<br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-8620071707537536315?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-27091490076524501752008-08-27T09:53:00.003-05:002009-05-15T21:41:36.529-05:00Yay!<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">So, I am not Baroness Elsa Schraeder in the Sound of Music (which is the part I was called back for), but I am Sister Sophia. I accepted the role last night. Yay!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Now that my 4-year ice breaker audition is done and went well, I feel like more auditions are in my future and they seem far less daunting. I'm excited to get back into the theatre world. :-)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Stay tuned for more about the Sound of Music and it's director Bob Neu.</span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-2709149007652450175?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-26205572621639593072008-08-23T12:43:00.003-05:002009-05-15T21:41:23.637-05:00No Nunsense<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Well, I had my first musical theatre audition this week since college. It went very mediocre I thought, but I have rarely felt awesome about an audition. Then I was asked for callbacks. So, yay! Since there were 3 days of auditions, and I was asked in the audition to come back, I thought that there was going to be about 100 people at callbacks. It turns out there was only between 2-4 for each lead. So I was very excited. I don't think that I'll get the part because my callbacks didn't go spectacularly, but it was a good chance to get back in the saddle again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I auditioned at the Phipps for the Sound of Music. The director is Bob Neu and he's fabulous. He was so nice and made the audition-ers feel at ease. I suspect that maybe I'll get a nun role. I was called back for the role of the Baroness Elsa Schraeder. In the stage productions she is a complex character and has 2 songs. She and the Captain also decide not to wed because Elsa becomes a Nazi supporter, unlike in the movie where she leaves because he falls in love with Maria. I'm not sure how well a brown lady, such as myself, could convince an audience that she's a Nazi supporter, but we'll see.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The callbacks went by short and sweet. After waiting for over an hour and a half in the arctic lobby area, I went in for a quick sing and a short read that lasted about 5 minutes. Then I was dismissed along with a couple of other people. And that was that. It goes by so quickly it's hard to remember what happened in there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">At least it's done, and maybe I can get something to fill the resume gap after college for stage performances.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I find out the verdict within the week. So, hopefully I'll get a phone call! Until then, it's just waiting and waiting.</span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-2620557262163959307?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-62237802171024074352008-07-29T21:11:00.003-05:002009-05-15T21:42:58.543-05:00Bankrupt Bennigan's<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-size:85%;" >So word just came out that the Bennigan's all over Minnesota are closing. I really don't know where to turn.<br /><br />I think that they have about 0.01 ounces of alcohol in their drinks and the waitresses are more moody than a teenage girl with acne. BUT, I still love to go there because of 2 items they have on their menu. Their <a href="http://www.bennigans.com/images/food_popups/pic_soup_potato.jpg">baked potato soup</a> makes me cry a little into it because it's so good. It's creamy and never has that old soup taste (even though I'm sure they just save the vat and re-use it everyday) and the topping that joyfully sit atop the delicious dish are perfect in every way. I would literally eat that soup for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and second dinner... and second lunch. I know, I'm like a <a href="http://www.costumzee.com/view/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/hobbit.jpg">Hobbit</a>, I like to eat about 5 meals a day.<br /><br />I always get the Ultimate Baked Potato Soup to start things off right, but then I order the ultimate entree. It's obscene and huge and has about 6871384849 grams of fat, but I don't care. It's the only dish that leaves me writhing in pain for literally 2 days afterwards. My husband tries to talk me out of it every time we go because he has to listen to the moans of agony for 48 straight hours, but it's all worth it. It is the only dish that I will endure a whole weekend of gut-busting pain for. I love it. It's the <a href="http://www.bennigansbahamas.com/images/popups/PopUP_monte_cristo.jpg">Monte Cristo</a>. I know that there are plenty of other Monte Cristo's available out there, but never has any even shed a light to the Bennigan's Monte Cristo. My mouth is watering and my stomach is trying to make a break for it as I type about it. It's a triple decker stuffed full with ham and cheese then dipped in batter and deep fried. It's served with raspberry sauce and sprinkled in powdered sugar. Yum! It scared me a little the first time I ordered it, but once I had that first bite, I knew I could never order anything else again.<br /><br />I would say that you all should try the soup and sandwich and let me know after the pain passes how it was, but now they're closing. :-( Actually, I heard that there's an independent Bennigan's that's still going to be open in Coon Rapids. I'm not sure how far that is, but a road trip might be in order. Times are tough my friends. Make the best of the last one standing. And if you can eat both the soup and sandwich in one sitting, let me know! I have yet to accomplish such a feat. But I do recommend an oven for the re-heat of the sandwich, otherwise it's just all mushy and spongey. I love it!!!<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-6223780217102407435?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-36821518576120677062008-06-25T15:31:00.002-05:002009-05-15T21:46:32.976-05:00Mr. Coffee's Demise<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#c0c0c0;">Mr. Coffee 4-cup brew master is no longer with us. He was a loyal friend and rarely treated me poorly. There were only a few times where he vomited scalding coffee on my legs, but I'm sure I deserved it. He has been my trustee side-kick on my various desks over the past 3 years. I demanded much from him. Sometimes I yelled that he wasn't brewing quick enough, but he never said a word. He would just continue on percolating happily by my side.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#c0c0c0;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#c0c0c0;">He started showing signs of giving out not more than Monday. I just thought he had a case of the Monday's. So I excused the cold coffee that he produced... because hey... it was still coffee. And I will say that the first cup was fairly warm.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#c0c0c0;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#c0c0c0;">Then yesterday he was not his usual bubbly self. :-( So, I gave him his first day off in 3 years thinking he just needed a rest. Alas, this morning, his condition was no better. He did not brew, he did not even cough out a little coffee.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#c0c0c0;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#c0c0c0;">It's a dark time for me now without Mr. Coffee by my side.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-3682151857612067706?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-27809331310890768682008-06-19T10:56:00.003-05:002009-05-15T21:42:18.256-05:00Woo-Hoo!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff00;">We won!! We crushed them! The curse has been lifted! I feel like a zillion pounds have left my aura. Weee! Granted Washington was pretty lousy, but I will admit that it was pretty tense there in the beginning. I thought I might have to step out from the game a few times, but we did it!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff00;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff00;">HUZZAH!!!</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-2780933131089076868?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-63579042540753206482008-06-18T09:08:00.002-05:002009-05-15T21:42:18.256-05:00Rejection & Ejection<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;">Tonight I am off to another Twins game! I am revved up and I have my jersey laid out on the bed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;">We're taking our father's as a continuation to the father's day festivities. The Twins had a win last night (thanks Mor...yes) and I'm hoping that they can win again. I haven't been to a winning Twins game since the very beginning of the season. Maybe it's me. They have to win tonight or I might never go to a game again because I cause them to lose. It happened that way last year too, I took my dad for his birthday and it was just a massacre on the field. This year I think the first game I went to of the season we won... but not since then. Lose-lose-lose-lose-lose. Hmmm maybe I better get a new jersey or bring salt and a rabbit foot. I don't know if I can handle another live loss. It's bad enough when they lose on TV, but I feel far less invested without paying hundreds to watch them. I can angrily turn off the TV and stomp off to bed and feel fine about it. A live game loss just hurts.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;">We have amazing seats and we're playing Washington. I've never seen Washington play live before, so that's exciting. Plus Guuuuuuuuuzman plays with them so that'll be fun to see. I think Guuuzy and Cargo (Gomez) should run bases together. Just for fun. Just to see. :-)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;">I have a rule about going to games though. I don't understand why people would leave early... erm.. hm.. Hubby. I have never left a game early. There's been some game ending tears as I watch our team being scraped off the field, but I stick it out. But tonight the pressure to leave early will be at least 70% amidst the crowd. The significant other likes to "beat traffic" and so does his father. My dad is a people pleaser, so I'm sure he wouldn't be adverse to going. And I will stand there among the spilled beer, shattered peanut and with cotton candy in my hair from the little devils (that will no doubtfully sit behind us) until the last out. I can't do it. I can't leave early. Beat traffic? I know a way. Maybe you all aren't as lame as I am, but I think that the post-game coverage is hilarious. I watch and laugh at it often. My favorite is when Burt and Anthony and "Coom" all re-enact a play. It can't get much better than watching an old pitching star not be able to hit somewhere on the baggie that's about the size of Minneapolis. Or watching a large man in a suit with a windbreaker pullover (because that makes him look sportier... hehe) try to field a mis-thrown ball. It's just quality enjoyment. If we stayed to watch all of that hoopla, we'd definitely miss traffic. I think that's why the fans all jump up and run out after the game. Nobody wants to see that sight.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;">Well, off to start my Summoning a Win Dance.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-6357904254075320648?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-25379623052232786082008-06-11T16:40:00.003-05:002008-06-11T16:59:02.605-05:00I'm An MPR Mooch<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">So MPR is doing their "annual drive". I say "annual" because I swear they just had one like a month ago. And I am an avid MPR listener. All day everyday. That's me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">I've been listening all week to their plugs for why you should be a member and give them money. It's starting to get to me. I can feel </span><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/about/people/mpr_people_display.php?aut_id=96"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">John Birge</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">, </span><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/about/people/mpr_people_display.php?aut_id=30152"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">Jeff Esworthy</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">, </span><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/about/people/mpr_people_display.php?aut_id=103"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">Brian Newhouse</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">, </span><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/about/people/mpr_people_display.php?aut_id=105"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">Mindy Ratner</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">, and </span><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/about/people/mpr_people_display.php?aut_id=30142"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">Steve Staruch</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;"> fingers all pointing right out of the radio at me. You're not a member! You're a mooch! Listening, and dare I say, <em>enjoying</em> public radio without giving us your first born child. Shame to you and your household!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">Well, how would they like it if I just stopped listening all together?! Huh?! Would they prefer that? I think not! I just can't contribute. Then I'm funding something for which I have no control. What would I do if they switched to an all Copland station?! Blech. I know, I know, everyone loves Copland.... everyone but me. Blah blah, heard it all. I still say boo. I don't know, I'm too selfish and poor. Those combinations and not being </span><a href="http://www.michaeljournal.org/images/MTeresa.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">Mother Theresa </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">pretty much sums up why I'm not a "</span><a href="http://albums.mouseplanet.com/ContributedProcessed/3b_kiskamp.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">member</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">".</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">I feel their wrath of guilt laying it on me! Help!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-2537962305223278608?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-74811172466186199282008-04-30T08:47:00.003-05:002009-05-15T21:42:58.543-05:00Cookie Monster<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ffff;">So it's been over a month since I've posted. What motivates me enough to grease up the old blog? Cookies. Yes, cookies. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">looooove</span> me some good cookies. Lately I've been loving them more due to a recent mediocre audition. I'll write more about that later.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ffff;">I love love LOVE cookies. Cake? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Blech</span>. I didn't even have a bite of cake at my own wedding, but if we would have had cookies.... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ooooo</span>.....</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ffff;">So, I went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kowalski's</span> (for the 3rd time in 4 days) to pick up some cookies. They have an amazing M&M cookie. Normally not so fond of M&M cookies because they're usually hard and the M&M's are usually old and kind of gross and it's mostly just a sugar cookie with like 3 M&M's. Well folks! These cookies are the best. They're soft <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">in between</span> the zillions of M&M's that are fresh and jammed so close together it's really just a pile of M&M connected by delightful cookie. Oh, and they're like the size of my head. *sigh* It pains me to think about it because when I went in there last night, I couldn't find them. They only have a table of cookies and they had 2 packages of half crushed chocolate chip cookies that looked hard and they were broken. Everybody knows that broken cookies taste different than whole ones. All I see are the same kind of cookies swarming this table. So I catch a glimmer of false coloring in one of them and my hope goes up. I pick it up thinking it would be a lame substitute, but it's called "Trail Cookie". What the heck? It looks like something you'd find on a playground after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">fiestata</span> lunch day. What are we, hiking through the mountains munching on our gorp and our "Trail Cookies"? Lame. I don't eat cookies to be healthy, I eat it for the sugar and the pound of butter in every cookie. So I settled on the sugar cookies. They're pretty awesome... but they'd be better with 6 cups of M&M's in them. ;-)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ffff;">I've had a chronic stomach ache for the past 4 days, but it's worth it. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">definitely</span> would not go through the pain if it were from gorp cookies. I think I have to bake today. :-)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-7481117246618619928?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-24293906882319815042008-03-12T08:46:00.003-05:002009-05-15T21:47:00.709-05:00Spring Is In The Air!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">Finally some warm weather! This feels like a heat wave compared to what it was just days ago. I love the snow and I love winter, but now that I've had a taste of spring, I really want the sunny days and warm breezes back. But instead I predict about 3 more months of half melted brown dirty snow and frigid mornings and warm beautiful days while I'm working and then frigid evenings when I leave work. :-(</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">It makes me want to retire. Do people do that at 25? I suppose they do if they're worth 8 figures, not -5 figures. Well, actually I can't say that I'm -5, because I am debt free now, so I'm riding high at an even $0 and I'm happy!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">When we were out walking our too-cute-for-words-and-I'm-not-just-saying-that-because-she's-mine dog yesterday, it felt like spring all over. A young teen was playing basketball in his shorts and T and other people were out standing and chatting without jackets, and the true sign of warm weather, we smelled dinner being cooked on grills. Yum!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">Well, even if I can't be out to enjoy it, at least I have windows I can look out of. That's a first for me at a place of employment! :-D</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-2429390688231981504?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-54867214296242946402008-02-25T13:54:00.002-06:002009-05-15T21:45:46.579-05:00A Gem<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">Solveig's Song is on the radio. What a great piece. It's from Peer Gynt. YouTube it, if you haven't heard it. *sigh* It touches the soul. Just thought I'd share.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-5486721429624294640?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-89758388145513489642008-02-25T13:38:00.002-06:002009-05-15T21:46:32.976-05:00I've Hit A New Low<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">My caffeine addiction has hit a new low. Now it's just not the entire pot of </span><a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/pomerantz/blog/uploads/caffeine.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">morning coffee </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">with a </span><a href="http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/3205523.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=C037F202D99E30993E5FE7EA53D8A903A55A1E4F32AD3138"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">pick-me-up </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">Dew at lunch. Or the massive headaches that immediately start an hour after I've been awake if I haven't downed a good 4 </span><a href="http://www.technologytranslated.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/bigmug.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">mugs </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">of joe.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">Last night at about 11pm I was feeling sleepy and winding down before bed by playing a little rock and roll on Guitar Hero. I went upstairs to get a water from the fridge, when my right arm independently moved from my body to grasp a beloved </span><a href="http://ugly-christmas-trees.com/trees/mountain-dew/mountain-dew-tree.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">Mountain Dew</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#99ff99;">. I watched in horror as my single arm tried to open the can for a guzzle-fest. I would not have it. If I had a Dew at 11, no doubt it would kick in about 11:30am and I would be up scrubbing the grout in our guest bath or re-trimming the carpet. Not like I've done a weird thing like that before... but now that you mention it... Regardless it took all my effort (along with the help of my left arm) to turn my head away and put back the dew. Then I had to sit against the fridge and cry a little because I really wanted that dew. But I got over it and went to bed. However, I was up half the night thinking about the little dew can in the fridge taunting me. So maybe it wouldn't have been that bad to have a little before bed. hehehehe</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-8975838814551348964?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-6880062909333761102008-02-21T09:43:00.005-06:002008-02-21T09:54:50.875-06:00Puppy Love<div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">Exciting news! We're going to be parents! Not of actual children, but of a very cute little Shih Tzu. We were on the list to adopt a puppy from this dog, but after a big long whoo-haw, turns out she wasn't "with puppy".</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">A big disappointment at first for us because after our beloved fish Kipu passed, there has been a void and we were excited for a little mongrel to fill it. Then even better news came. Because the situation was full of a big case of the crazies, they offered us first say on the "mom" not-mom. She is incredibly cute. She's just over 10 pounds and she's all black with a very cute face. Doesn't she look like a little fiesty Ewok?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169461603588864114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/R72d8IHveHI/AAAAAAAAAE0/aCALxklr0TE/s320/Ebony.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">I am so excited!! She's coming a couple months earlier than we anticipated getting a floor mop, but we couldn't be happier. Now come the preperations, because she arrives in just over a week!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-688006290933376110?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-42833477498010419212008-01-30T20:58:00.000-06:002009-05-15T21:47:12.765-05:0024<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It has been a day since Santana was traded. I'm still sad. I miss him.</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-4283347749801041921?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-28517879667467772032008-01-29T09:19:00.000-06:002009-05-15T21:47:00.709-05:00Bonjour mon ami!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">Well, since I've been posting daily since I started this blog you must have missed my short absence. What? You didn't notice? Oh right, because I'm about as regular as an </span><a href="http://www.tjc.edu/Theatre/images/scrooge/scrooge.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">old man </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">who lacks fiber. But I'm back and ready to wow you with my exciting life.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">The holidays were a sea of crazy this year. The stars aligned this year and every friend, family, and foe was in town and wanted to get together. Why is it that everyone is always in town for only 2 days around the holidays? It makes it very difficult to plan. But nevertheless I got out my 27x34 </span><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/ena0119l.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">flip chart </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">and my laser pointer and set to work diagramming the holidays. Fortunately it all worked out. I saw every family member and friend and rescheduled all the foes for the day after never.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">Amidst the hustle and bustle of spreading holiday cheer I was still taking lessons with my new instructor. And as of late, I have decided to throw myself to the mercy of the MN Opera directors. Yes folks, I am auditioning this spring and receiving a rejection letter in the summer. I can hardly contain myself. Now just to decide which aria to sing. Oh and how to convince them that I would be a great mezzo for them while singing Bester Jungling or Batti, batti. Ha! *sigh* If only sopranos were slightly less common than a dandelion in spring. *cue violins*</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">I'm still working and trucking along and gearing up for my best friends wedding. Speaking of, I better start working on my toast!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-2851787966746777203?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-64100686765136949602007-12-04T09:33:00.000-06:002009-05-15T21:45:46.580-05:00Busy Times!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">I have finally decided on a voice teacher!! Woo! I had my first lesson with her on Saturday. We didn't sing a stitch, but rather peeled through my book collection for potential pieces. It's still overwhelming to pick from 50, but it's a little less daunting than thousands. The question now, is how many, which language, variety or submersion and still figuring out which fits my </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fach"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">fach</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">. Too much! Do I go <em>all</em> French and immerse myself to really delve into French literature? Or do I have a variety of languages to get back in the groove of things? I'm like a kid in a candy store.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">Yes, you're probably right, I should just do a variety of languages that I'm more familiar with to get my chricothyroid and cricoarytenoids </span><a href="http://www.hot.ee/operafan/Singing.gif"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">stretched and strengthened</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">. OK, so a variety it is... hmmm now back to the piles of books to decide which.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">Oooo! And I got a fun new gadget for my lessons. I used to drag out the old tape </span><a href="http://images1.comstock.com/Imagewarehouse/TS/SITECS/NLWMCompingVersions/D0008/D0008689/D0008689.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">cassettes </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">to record my lesson, but what a pain that is! So, I recently invested in a mini-microphone that plugs into my iPod. So, now to I can save them on my computer and they're all digital and ready to go. I'm so excited! I love technology.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-6410068676513694960?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-24618416228472400092007-11-13T08:40:00.000-06:002009-05-15T21:45:46.580-05:00This Is My Quest<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">... Only without the whole man of La Mancha part.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">I am on a quest to find a new voice instructor. Now that life has settled down to a dull roar, I really am feeling the bug to get back to performing. I have thought about long and hard what I wanted to do. I have sung in choirs after college and have even applied for graduate school. At the end of last years' season, I really knew that I wanted to get back on the stage singing and dancing my little heart out. I guess I always knew it, but was more scared and lost about where to start.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">I was fresh out of college and bright eyed and bushy tailed and had music in my heart. So I audition for the 2 heavy hitting choirs of MN. Woo! Got into both of them... of course that meant rehearsals over in Minneapolis at least 3 times a week, and when there were performances it was a non-stop commute-sing 'til your voice box drops right out on the floor-drive home at an ungodly hour-and get up and work. *repeat daily* I cut back here and there with one of the choirs and it seemed to be okay, and then the wedding planning was in full swing and my sanity was in limbo. So, last spring was my ending for a spell. Then this summer was filled with wedding planning and a new job. Now the honeymoon is over and life is peachy.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">So the past couple of weeks I have contacted a few voice instructors. Now I'm in the midst of interviewing them. Then my goal will be to study and get into some auditions and get shot down 99% of the time, but hopefully get into an occasional something here and there. If I start studying now, I think I will bug the MN opera again. My past auditions have been horrible with them... well, I guess just one out of 2 was horrible. It was right after I graduated and I was bed ridden for about 5 days and felt like I had 83 heads and they were all congested. I pulled myself out of bed and showered for the first time in eons and trucked it over to my audition. Blech. I kept sniffling during the interludes and when I sang my head was so congested that it rang around in there and I wanted to grab my head and cry and nap on the floor. The second time I hadn't been studying, but I had been singing and I just wasn't ready. They also probably remembered my monstrous self from last year and thought I was Jekyll and Hyde. Or, probably more just like Hyde.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">So off I go into the scary world of rejection, divas, divos, and long commutes. I'll keep you posted.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-2461841622847240009?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-81484529141148652672007-11-07T08:48:00.000-06:002009-05-15T21:52:52.798-05:00Morning Coffee<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;">There's nothing else than a hot pot of coffee to wake you up. It just wouldn't be a good day unless I guzzled down at least 4 cups. Since I go through it at a mind blowing rate, I thought I better look into some cheap, but passable, coffee. So I came out of the grocery the other day with a drum of dark roast called Black Silk hoping to up my caffeine intake a bit.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ffff99;">So I'm sitting here, eyes half closed, listening to the lovely </span><a href="http://www.dccoffeeproducts.com/inc/Axiom_3Lower.jpg"><span style="color:#ffff99;">brewing sounds </span></a><span style="color:#ffff99;">of my coffee with my mug of sugar in hand waiting for the coffee to stop. I'm looking forward to getting a nice pick me up by switching to a darker roast. It's finally done. As I pouring my beloved coffee, things are in a sudden chaotic state, I must have poured too fast, there's coffee spewing out all sides, and about half the pot ends up on my leg. Nothing wakes you up faster than 3rd degree coffee burns on your thigh in the morning. I </span><a href="http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PTGPOD/286100~Portrait-of-Baby-Crying-Posters.jpg"><span style="color:#ffff99;">nearly cried</span></a><span style="color:#ffff99;">. Not because of the burns, but because of all the wasted coffee.</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-8148452914114865267?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-12114860059757186322007-10-25T22:37:00.000-05:002007-10-24T22:58:12.918-05:00Pure Evil<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">I have been a pumpkin carving machine. I carved a pumpkin last night that was tedious, but was satisfying because I didn't lop off a necessary chunk like I usually do. Here's the pumpkin that made my fingers feel like I was 94. I gotta up my Aleve all day strong all day long dosage.</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyAQYNSptLI/AAAAAAAAADs/ZK7mQBIFOVo/s1600-h/DSC00211.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyAQYNSptLI/AAAAAAAAADs/ZK7mQBIFOVo/s320/DSC00211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125114384018420914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Tonight I carved 3 pumpkins. My fingers are gnarled, but at least I still have all of them intact. Giant knives can be dangerous when carving a thick mass of vegetable.</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyARLNSptMI/AAAAAAAAAD0/RCPsw2Szwf4/s1600-h/DSC00233.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyARLNSptMI/AAAAAAAAAD0/RCPsw2Szwf4/s320/DSC00233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125115260191749314" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyAR_NSptOI/AAAAAAAAAEA/2RH5PWA8LMI/s1600-h/DSC00232.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyAR_NSptOI/AAAAAAAAAEA/2RH5PWA8LMI/s320/DSC00232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125116153544946914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">No you have to imagine this next one with guts coming out of his head. Right now they're in a baggie in the fridge keeping nice and fresh and gooey until Halloween night.</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyASwNSptQI/AAAAAAAAAEU/tUr9CzcDiAY/s1600-h/DSC00235.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyASwNSptQI/AAAAAAAAAEU/tUr9CzcDiAY/s320/DSC00235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125116995358536962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">All of these fit into our little pumpkin hunter/killer display on the front stoop.</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyAThNSptRI/AAAAAAAAAEc/-8dHZlH0nIw/s1600-h/DSC00234.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyAThNSptRI/AAAAAAAAAEc/-8dHZlH0nIw/s320/DSC00234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125117837172126994" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyAUBNSptTI/AAAAAAAAAEs/uK2pLo4cZiU/s1600-h/DSC00226.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_gMQxpYoakbY/RyAUBNSptTI/AAAAAAAAAEs/uK2pLo4cZiU/s400/DSC00226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125118386927940914" border="0" /></a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-1211486005975718632?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-48809402750278732122007-10-23T11:03:00.000-05:002007-10-24T08:28:48.309-05:00Testing Testing 1-2-3<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccffff;">Is this thing on? Hellooo? I'm baaaack. I know, it's been a long time. Shame on me for not pondering more jerkwater (word of the day) topics for your enjo... er... read. I like to think this blog is mostly like warm milk. If you're up and in a spell of insomnia, tune into my blog and you'll be out in no time. I write because I do. Is it changing the world? Probably. Is it a stream of gabble-de-gook? Most definitely.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccffff;">Now, let's see... what's happened since I blogged last? I have celebrated my 189th birthday. Jokes! It was my 213th. I got married, had a honeymoon, 2 more friends got engaged, got a rather severe burn from carving the pumpkin. Well, not from the carving part, the burn I think I might have had more to do with the lighter and match that were exploding with flames under it. Oh yes, and my first hair dryer went kaput. Girls, you know the one I'm talking about. The one that isn't that great, but you love it because it's survived 13 years of hair styles. And now I am using one about 1/8 of its size and a lot more powerful. Who knew they were inventing all these new and updated gadgets the last decade?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccffff;">Well, I don't want to spoil all the fun all at once. I'm sure I'll be back.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-4880940275027873212?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-70530917412563055942007-08-31T08:12:00.001-05:002007-08-31T08:39:20.298-05:00O Little Town<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">I live in a beautiful city. It has extremely cute shops, restaurants, sights, a gondola and pretty much everything is antiqued and lovely. When we first moved out here,<em> </em>I was so excited because this is the city you come to every weekend in the summer to walk around and I have many fond memories of doing just that. Living here is another story. I still love it, and believe me, when the tourists leave (I won't get started on them, that's a whole 'nother post) I love spending time out and about in my town. The people that live here are extremely different than the people that visit here.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">The people that visit clog up main street and eat at all the cute restaurants and go antiquing. The people that live here eat at Applebee's and shop at Wal-Mart. Not to say there is anything wrong with that. Now that I live here, I understand why and I find that a super Wal-Mart has a lot to offer. A lot of people that live here are down home folks that like to have a good time. Our first indication was that there were 3 stumps with a bunch of nails in them in the driveway of our new house. If you don't know what they were used for, you won't understand. It was just very classic for our city. Lots of drinking and partying and hanging out with all the other people who's entire family tree grew up here.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ccccff;">So I was driving home from work one day and I turn down a residential street and am looking around at the beautiful day when I see something so classic of our city, I laughed so hard I almost hit a lumberjack. Out in the driveway (not sure why everything is out front here) there are about 9 mis-matched folding lawn chairs of varying decomposition, from a few remaining plastic fibers on a tin frame to shredded and holey, all situated around an entirely rusted-over metal standing fire pit. I'm assuming that's what it was. It was burnt orange and basin-like. Or maybe it was the top of an old grill that got converted. Then the kicker that made this so classic of my town is the full-size refrigerator/freezer in the middle of the driveway. Not in the garage, in the center of the driveway. It was placed like another guest around the fire circle. Classic.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-7053091741256305594?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-81521589494460361852007-08-23T09:14:00.000-05:002007-08-23T09:55:48.937-05:00Wedding Bells<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">I got married this Saturday!! It was so much fun. The food was awesome and I couldn't have been more pleased with the reception venue. Huge props to the Saint Paul Hotel for being so flawless in taste, service, and dinner. I had a blast and it appeared that everyone else was in high spirits too. It was a good time had by all. The liquor flowed freely and so did the love.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">It's funny to think that I now have this whole other side of family. I couldn't have asked for better people. But what do I call them? <em>Uncle</em> Buck? Hmmm. Well by joining families I now have the name of a famous British actress, so that's kind of fun. (Well, after all the paperwork is through.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">Now that it's all over, there is still much to do. I nearly cried when I faced the mountains of laundry that threatened to bury me alive. (On a side note, they should really correspond drying and washing time so that they're equal. It's a pain to have clean clothes that sit in the washer for an hour while the dryer is still drying.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">I feel like my brain is still recovering. About Thursday of last week I couldn't have told you my name because my head was so packed full of information. This week it still feels a little mushy, but at least I can tell you where I am and who I am at any given time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">I had so much fun seeing all of my friends and family who live so far away. But all of my new in-laws are in state, so I now have lots of family here. It reminds me that I need to see everyone more than just at weddings and funerals. They mean the world to me, and I should go out of my way to show it.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-8152158949446036185?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-21453098853338594032007-07-19T13:11:00.000-05:002007-07-20T10:52:50.516-05:00All's Well That Ends Well<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">The time has come to depart with my dearly beloved palm pilot. Not because it's failed any of its functions, but because of my leaky brain. With all the wedding planning and a new job and my increasing OCD and leaky brain, my little ZZ just hasn't been what I need. I've turned back to the old paper calendar. That way I can write little notes to myself, like my name and where I am and who my true friends are. Jokes! I have no friends. For scheduling and tasks and reminders, I would be all for Z, but I just can't hang on to him and my thoughts simultaneously. So, one of them has to go. It's like Harry Potters prophecy "neither can live while the other survives" and I figure I better give my memory a leg up, it needs all the help it can get!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-2145309885333859403?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-64565711440421607802007-07-18T13:26:00.000-05:002007-07-18T13:28:06.300-05:00*sigh*<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">Dear me, it's only Wednesday...</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-6456571144042160780?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18967829.post-21116156077803888512007-07-16T13:21:00.000-05:002007-07-16T13:39:17.173-05:00Drawn Out Departure<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">Man, it seems like I put my 2 weeks in about 4 years ago. The time will just not pass. I really have no urgent things to do.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">I would give anything to put my head down and take a little snoozer. I don't want to end up with </span><a href="http://www.deadprogrammer.com/photos/stuff-on-my-keyboard.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">keyboard face </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">though... or </span><a href="http://clipart.usscouts.org/library/WOSM/Canada/Aquatics/raft.gif"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">drool </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">all over my desk. I guess I'll sit here and think of all the things I could be doing if I weren't here...</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18967829-2111615607780388851?l=myoperalife.blogspot.com'/></div>Rachel Irenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07666191883801664576noreply@blogger.com0