Sunday, December 31, 2006

Ciao ciao, 2006

This morning my husband woke up and said "It's the last day of 2006" and I shrug with one shoulder.
I think I didn't like this past year so much, it's been a year of hardship. It felt to me like all the work I've been doing, was not only not paying off, but actually making ME pay, and I am angry. But I do realize that at the same time, this year something unusual happened; Something which doesn't happen so often, and especially not at my age anymore: This past year, I met new friends; Lots and lots of new, good friends. And some of them have become BEST friends, soul mates, people who feel like we have known each other forever and will remain with me for a long long time. So I can be as angry as I want to be at my "career", but what I have gained this past year, is (whether I chose to accept it or not) much more valuable to me than lonely fame. I wish you all a wonderful 2007, and at least one great friend to make it even better!

Monday, December 25, 2006

"...Et boire du Manzanilla..."


Finally, I got to taste the famous "Manzanilla" Carmen keeps singing about in her Seguidilla Aria. You'd think I would know by now what it actually tastes like, but it was here, and only yesterday, (at our local neighborhood wine store), where I encountered a beautiful bottle labeled "La Gitana" (The Gypsy) and the word I usually sing, not drink: Manzanilla.
A toast to my eternal gypsy! Cheers!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

But not for me (well, alright, let me try)


Ah, the perks of being back home; cook (pretty badly) and bake (it looks like a disaster, but c'mon,taste it first...); I made a cheesecake for my husband. (and I will force him to share it with guests!)
I followed the recipe on the Philly cream cheese pack, more or less, and poof, there appeared a cheesecake. I can't believe how fatty creamcheese cakes really are. If you knew what's in them, you probably wouldn't even dare to touch... ok, I'll tell: 5 packs of cheese (72 grams of fat per pack!), an entire butter stick, 4 eggs, butter biscuits, sugar, what not. Who's the fatso who came up with that recipe? Santa?

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Singing Rin

Hey, what a nice and strange surprise I got this morning (early, Jet lag...) when I followed a Japanese search which led to my blog.
Look what I found:
http://www.sion-inc.com/products_e/singingrin_e.html

Saturday, December 16, 2006

From Rome to Homesweethome.

I have the habit of trying to sum up what I have just finished, but I was generally so tired over the past few weeks,(what are those damn new bags, not even "Gucci", under my eyes?!) that I just can't bother summing up anything anymore.
Only over the past couple of performances, I made friends with a few of the dancers from the show (all classically trained) and so I found my self at a private party with them, celebrating the end of the run.
Dancers, like actors, are a completely different breed of creatures from my usual opera- singer crowds and our entourage);
This evening, I found the ultimately perfect company for a last good bye from Rome.
There was a dish of rice (I guess there wasn't enough pasta to be found...) in tomato sauce they put together really quickly for that always -winning 2 in the morning hunger; there was dancing involved ( I danced a little too, but was more than happy to quench my eyes with their flexible creative improve), and among the smoke and the Italian; confetti of sung words and sounds, and the good nerverending wine, I felt sorry to have to leave, right at the very first conceiving of possible new friendships. But that's how it always is. And sometimes, you can even grab on to that little beginning and watch it grow over the years ( if both parts care to soil and water it, that is).
I almost had to witness the feared "Sciopero" Italians are known for: a sudden strike which shuts down the entire city, public transport, AND airlines. I was getting ready to have to be stranded in Rome (sounds great to you guys, but NOT to this tired, pissed off gal). Luckily the strike was postponed and after 9 and a half hours of sleepless awaiting, I finally landed at my JFK and was greeted with (what always will remain a sweet song to my ex-foreigner ears): "Welcome back home" from the immigration officer. (This one even managed a smile!)
I am home, at last. There in the corner, there's a big pine tree and a menora, waiting to justify their true reason: collect presents from us to us at their feet. Happy holidays!

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Learn from your computer

Yup, I have deleted two posts here.
Isn't it great; delete, refresh. All's good !
My husband who is visiting here , gave me some shit for pathetically posting something like: "I sang great but I didn't feel like I got enough clapping". He is right. After the whole Alagna thing ( Alagna:" I sang great but they still booed me") I shouldn't be complaining at all, in fact; not even commenting on it.
I am in Italy, and that's how things happen here. I'll take the clapping, thanks. Delete the entire thing and let's start again:
My husband is here, my old folks are here, I got a little head cold but I will be fine for my last 2 shows, strangled by a Siciliano.
PS I want to buy my last act dress; It gives me a most fantastic cleavage.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

OK, I HAD to share this:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 5) - It is considered polite to light a match after passing gas. Not while on a plane.

An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday morning after a passenger lit a match to disguise the scent of flatulence, authorities said.

The Dallas-bound flight was diverted to Nashville after several passengers reported smelling burning sulfur from the matches, said Lynne Lowrance, spokeswoman for the Nashville International Airport Authority. All 99 passengers and five crew members were taken off and screened while the plane was searched and luggage was screened.


The FBI questioned a passenger who admitted she struck the matches in an attempt to conceal a "body odor," Lowrance said. She had an unspecified medical condition, authorities said.

"It's humorous in a way but you feel sorry for the individual, as well," she said. "It's unusual that someone would go to those measures to cover it up."

The flight took off again, but the woman was not allowed back on the plane. The woman, who was not identified, was not charged in the incident.

12/05/06 21:07 EST

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Breathe in


To cheer myself up, I got me a 5 inch little fragrant "Blue jacket Hyacinth" flower and put it by my bed side.