A Date and Easter

I have studied the art of Craig's list personals ads for some time now. The sheer craftiness of enlarging penis size, decreasing waist size and increasing kink acceptance seems to be an ongoing hobby of a lot of guys out there.

If, however, you stumble on a small, but interesting section, you find guys looking for more than one night stands, kinky hobbies and careless practices that even horny sailors would rather stay on the ship than experience. This section features guys commonly looking for an LTR with the right guy. LTR means Long-Term Relationship. Figuring that I'd never find my "the one" through a Craig's List ad, I sometimes answer these ads and often get the same response: nothing.

This changed about a week ago when a guy named Jason responded to an email I sent him. Over the course of several days, we exchanged emails and by the middle of the week we were talking on the phone. As I read his emails I began to take interest in this tall guy who also seemed to be taking an interest in me. We have similar interests, yet there are also differences that offer promise of variety. He insists on calling where I live Hell-vue and I insist that Zac Efron is cute and has a promising career.

We ended up meeting for the first time on Saturday at the Seattle Center. Jason is a bit taller than me at 6'5". He calls himself tall and lanky, but it suits him. My first impression is that he's a guy I can get along with. He has a dark sense of humor that sometimes turns dirty (I love that!). About the only thing that bugged me about him was that sometimes he'd interrupt me. I chalk that up to being nervous, though. I probably did it, too.

I had passes to the science center (and an IMAX movie) so we walked around there for awhile, saw a 3D movie and then went for a late lunch around 2. While walking to the restaurant, I was called to from a car in the road and saw Eric Lane Barnes and his partner on their way to the Seattle Women's Chorus concert. I had wanted to go, but didn't have the money for a ticket, though when he found out about the concert, Jason wondered if we should go. He was hungry, though so we continued to the Chinese restaurant near the Center.

I ordered Mandarin Chicken because it just sounded so good, but was dismayed to discover that it came still on the bone. I HATE eating meet off the bone. It's a lot of work for so little payoff (I stole that from Jason) and it's SO messy - especially on a first date. I struggled through the meal, messy though it was. At least it did taste good. The conversation was great. I don't think either of us had a problem being able to talk to the other.

After the meal, we walked to Pike Place Market and a comic book shop there. It has a lot more than comics, but the general theme of it is such. When I'd gone there with Gavin and his family I had looked for a Buddy Christ figurine (from the movie Dogma) but they had been out. This time, they were in stock and I actually held one in my hand! I came VERY close to buying it, but if I couldn't afford tickets to the SWC concert, I couldn't afford Buddy Christ, so I put it back. It was a challenge to do so, however.

Jason then walked me to my bus stop and we parted ways. On the ride home, I sent him a text that I'd had a great day and hoped we'd do it again. He text back "Does that mean you'd be interested in dating me?" I told him that indeed I would and asked if he felt the same. He does and said that he's interested in pursing a relationship with me.

So I guess that doesn't quite make us boyfriends, but it sure seems to be heading that way. I like Jason and enjoyed the time spent with him. I would expect to be blogging more about him in the future.

On Easter, I had made plans to spend the day with my cousin, Jessica. I went to church that morning at the church of SMC's director, Dennis Coleman. I'd been there once before and liked it, plus it's close to my new apartment. I figured that Dennis would have cooked up a great set of music for the special Church day and he didn't disappoint. I even saw a couple kids who ride my bus! I'm glad I went and I'll be heading back there, I'm sure.

Jessica arrived in the early afternoon and we went to Olive Garden. We both went for the endless salad and breadsticks. AHHHHH, the budget of broke people. We did splurge and get deserts, too. Jessica regaled me with complaints about her roommate (oh so familiar territory with me!). The roommate had been invited along but had flaked at the last minute. Based on what I'd heard about her, I was glad she'd flaked. I had been a little bothered about the roommate coming along anyway. I'd been looking forward to the family time, but when Jessica had asked, of course I told her to bring the roommate. I wasn't about to let someone be alone on Easter, however if that person chooses to be without my doing, I'll gladly reap those benefits.

After dinner, we went back to my place and played board games for several hours. I mostly have Disney games but Jessica likes Disney so we had a lot of fun. We played some DVD games I have for The Price is Right and Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader, too. The day was full of laughter and good times, so I call it a success.

Later than night I sent a text and email to Jason to see how he was doing, but he never responded. I later found out that he'd gotten a migraine and went to bed early, but until finding that out, I'd been afraid that my path to a potential relationship had already ended. I haven't heard from him at all today, either, but I'm planning on calling him later tonight. My night & weekend minutes don't kick in until 9pm and our phone conversations tend to use up many minutes.

The only other thing going on is that we've started rehearsals for the next SMC concert. I am REALLY trying to get into this concert, but I'm finding it difficult! This entire concert is going to be acapella which scares the crap outta me! It is SO difficult to stay on pitch when singing acapella. The songs are beautiful, but difficult to sing. One of them is in German, one in Latin and one in Indian.

At last night's rehearsal we had guests who worked with us on a couple songs. The first worked with us on the German. We tore about the words line by line, sang them over and over. It was laborous! To top it all off, he was adament about proper sitting in the chair - sitting foward and up. I get that this is not only the proper but best way to sing, but it got exhausting after awhile. A couple times, he even went around the room, gently poking people who were slouching. While I was never poked, there was added pressure.

The second guest worked with us on how to find overtones. This was for the Indian piece. It's an Indian Raga that has us, at the beginning, making random vowel sounds. It sounds cool, but after 25 minutes it got tiring.

I began to realize that I wasn't having fun. One thing I love about the chorus is that while we usually do work hard, it's still fun, but this wasn't fun. It was exhausting. As I look over the songs, none of them really strike me as exciting to sing. For the audience, I'm sure they're going to be a blast, but I'm not sure that I'm going to enjoy the process of getting them ready.

We also will be having a guest group singing in the concert with us and it looks like they'll take up significant portions of both acts for the concert (if I'm remembering correctly, it was 40 minutes each Act). That means a lot less involvement from the chorus in the concert. I'm still trying to decide if that's a good thing or not.

I don't want to drop out of the concert, especially since I ended up not singing the Holiday concert. Another factor, not even musically related is my transportation status. Last quarter, I had found rides home, but those saviors don't seem to be singing this concert, leaving me to ride the bus home. While this isn't impossible, it does make my Monday nights later. Also worrying me is how late the buses to our venue for this concert will run. Will I even be able to get home should a tech or dress rehearsal run late?

I am planning on going back at least once more next week and seeing how I feel about that rehearsal. I get that making the kind of amazing concert that we make is a lot of hard work, but even in that hard work we have fun. The work for these songs, though, seem so intense! It almost seems like everything I enjoy about singing with SMC seems to be lacking with this concert. I know the concert will be amazing, though, which makes it hard to just drop out and not sing.

So, I struggle.

One final thing involves the archival DVDs from the Debbie Reynolds concert. I just found out today that SMC was successfully able to negotiate to have Debbie's footage on the DVDs! This is fantastic news! She was such a huge part of the concerts! Thank you, thank you THANK YOU Debbie for allowing it! And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to the SMC powers that be who fought to make that happen. I can't wait to get that DVD. We should get them in early May. Thanks to Mark Schmidt who puts those together. MAN! I so can't wait to see that concert!

My brush with fame

Can you see me in that picture with Debbie Reynolds?

Well, the big Seattle Men's Chorus concert with Debbie Reynolds is done. As usually happens with me, I'm sad that it's all over. I really liked this show. There were some really fun arrangements of some great Hollywood songs. Though I had my doubts at some points during the weekend, we pulled off a really great show, to a couple of sold-out audiences, no less. Yes, SMC is JUST that popular!

Or it might have been our guest star...I guess we'll never really know for sure.

We were introduced to Debbie Reynolds on Thursday at the beginning of tech rehearsal. As I was walking toward the stage, I noticed this well dressed woman nodding to me with a smile as I passed her and it hit me: OMG, that's Debbie Reynolds!

We had a thirty minute Q&A session with her that was more her telling stories than anything. She talked about her husbands (Two were Jewish and one was a Gentile - there's only a small difference) and her daughter Carrie Fisher (Those of you who don't know who I am, you might have seen that little movie Star Wars? Well, I am Princess Leia's mother). She also quite proudly informed us that for a short woman, she is quite stacked (I live in Beverly Hills and my boobs live in San Diego). It was a very fun time!

After that, we ran through the songs we'd be performing with the legend. Can you believe that she's been in show business for 60 years? It quickly became apparent that we were going to have a hard time backing her up. She didn't want any monitors behind her, so it was very difficult for us to hear what she was singing. Still, when that part of rehearsal was all over it hit me: I had just sung on stage with Debbie Reynolds!

I was very worried about my "dance number" that 27 of us did in the show, aka "The Trolley Song". We still hadn't had a whole lot of rehearsal for that sequence, but it somehow came together. Initially, the idea was for us to go back onto the risers with the chorus in our regular places as the song was ending. Then, right at the last note we would take off and hide the red hats we wore for the song. But since Debbie wanted the orchestra behind her, that made getting on and off the risers extremely difficult.

In the end, they changed it so that we just walked off stage. They also told us that we could not get back on the risers from the front. Instead, we had to go up the stairs at the back and work our way through the chorus (FROM BEHIND!!!) to our spots. This meant pushing our way, saying excuse me and getting to our spot before the next number. It was no easy task. Thankfully the guys in the chorus were great about clearing a path for me.

Sometime during rehearsals, an email went out to all the trolley dancers that we should think about developing a "character" during the dance, to connect with the audience. I did a LOT of thinking about my "character" and decided that he should make out with the cute guy who stood next to me at the beginning of the number. Unfortunately, Ben didn't think it would work for his character...

Saturday brought us 1 1/2 concerts. I say "1/2" because before our big opening night, we performed a short, free concert for children with the Seattle Women's Chorus. Also, a reprotory group performed part of their show "The Jungle Book." One of SMC's songs was the Trolley Song. At the end, as we walked off-stage, someone had come up with the idea of having us pair off as though we, too, like the narrator, had hooked up and lost our heart on the trolley. As I was leaving the stage, I saw a guy named Alex and he was walking toward me. I put out my arm for him to take and he put his arm around me instead.

Then was the big opening on Saturday night. The moment the curtain went up, I felt the energy. I love that moment. Suddenly you're on and all that work you've put into the show is right there for the audience to see. Despite some minor snags, the show went off really well. Even the Trolley Song came together. At the end, Alex walked toward me again, this time his arm was hooked for me to take, but I put my arm around him as he had done before. Damn the lack of communication!

After the show, I was standing around the halls waiting for my carpool. While I waited, I noticed that two of the McCaw hall representatives approach our PR guy, Frank. They asked him if Debbie would sign their wall. They have a wall full of autographs of stars who have performed there: BB King, George Carlin...the list goes on and on. It's like a priceless collection of graffiti.

Frank said he thought Debbie could sign the wall before leaving the theater that night and took off down the hall to her dressing room. Moments later, he came out with our star behind him. Star struck, I watched as they came down the hall, stopping mere feet from me. The McCaw Hall reps were gushing as one of them explained to Debbie: "We are SO honored to have you performing here at our theater. We have this tradition where..."

At this point, the nearly 77 year old woman cut to the chase and said in a tired voice, "Yes, I know. Where is it?" To be fair, she was really tired. We all were! Then she looked at me, nodded and said, "Hi." Debbie Reynolds said "Hi" to me!!! It was a very nice end to the day.

Sunday's show went much smoother than Saturday's, but the energy wasn't as popping as the night before. My only real snafu was during the Trolley Song. The row in front of mine didn't get to their spot in time and had to push past me to get to their places. This cause those of us in the back row to get our hats on late. Other than that, everything else seemed to go fine. Alex and I even linked arms as we went off stage. Every time we saw each other before the show we'd remind each other that we were going to link arms.

Debbie did a lot of playing off Kevin, the guy who signs (ASL) our shows. She'd say something a bit on the risque side (usually about an ex husband) and then turn to him and ask how one would sign that. At one point in the show, we actually drove her to tears when she came out on stage after performing a song. She told the audience that we were all her lucky stars (that was the song that Captain Smartypants had just finished). At the end of the concert, Frank brought out a birthday cake and we all sang Happy Birthday to her. What an amazing experience!

After the show, I went out to the lobby to meet up with Claire, a co worker who came to the show. Several people came up to me and thanked me for the wonderful show. Most of them were old fans of Debbie's and now new fans of the Seattle Men's Chorus. It gave me such a warm feeling. I continue to be blessed with my involvement with SMC.

Okay.... I guess I should talk a little bit about a cute guy in the chorus. I'm not going to say his name, though I have no doubt that anyone from the chorus reading this will know exactly who he is. He's the same guy I blogged about before. Anyway, I got the chance to spend a little time with him backstage. We even walked out to the lobby together. I still think he's an awesome guy and I keep hoping that somehow something will happen between us. Lord knows I really want it to. I think I tried a little too hard to impress him, though. I probably flirted a little too much. Still, I can't help but think (or maybe it's just hope) that he enjoyed hanging out with me. The times were fleeting, but they were meaningful... at least for me.

I wish I had the answers for the best way to talk to someone you like. I mean talk in a way that gets him more interested in you. Is that even possible? You can't really MAKE someone take interest in you. I think you just be yourself and hope that they like what they see. Did he like what he saw? I have no idea. I've never been good about picking up clues like that. Hell, I probably have the worst gaydar of anyone you'll ever meet. I'm lucky I was able to figure out Clay Aiken!

One of the more meaningful moments with this guy I like happened on Sunday when he asked me if I'm singing in the next concert (In june, by the way!). I told him that I'm not sure, yet. Of course I really want to (even though the entire show will be acapella and REALLY hard to sing) but it'll all depend on my carpool. Now that I don't have a car, I have to factor in things like bus routes and carpools. The guys that I catch rides home with aren't sure yet if they're going to sing in this concert, so as of yet, neither do I.

When he heard this, the guy I like (ugh, I should just say his name, but what if he reads this????) said "Where do you live? I could probably give you a ride." When I told him and he realized how out of the way it was he smiled (oh yes, he has the most amazing smile!) and said "I love you, but not that much."

Don't worry, I didn't read to much into that four letter word. I know it didn't mean what I want it to mean. What made that transaction of words meaningful was that he was thinking of me enough to give me a ride. And to wonder if I'm singing in the next conert. Yes, I know I'm probably reading too much into it, but it had meaning for me all the same.

I really do like him! I want so badly to call him, or email him, or do any other foolish teenage girl things that (believe me) I know I should never and will never do. I just want him to notice me more and maybe find something about me that he could like. Is that possible, you think? Friends keep telling me it's possible and I wish I could believe them. I wish I could believe that I could be this guy's "Type". Maybe I am, but I keep doubting I am.

Ugh, could this entry BE any more "Dear Diary: OMG I met the cutest guy today!!" Well I guess that's what this is for. I can't get the guy off my mind, so hopefully blogging about him will help me think about other things.

Yeah. Right.

Tonight's the night!

...come to the Life Cafe after Maureen's show!

Sorry, that was the first thing that popped into my head the moment I typed in the title. Rent-heads will understand.

The title is appropriate, though, as tonight is indeed the night that I will be in the presence of Debbie Reynolds. Before the tech rehearsal, we're going to get that Q&A time with her. I've charged my camera's batteries and I am SO ready to snap a million pictures of her. I might even get some video.

Last night I impressed myself (harder to do than you might think) by successfully riding the bus system to the Seattle Center for the dance rehearsal last night. I even had 45 minutes to spare! GO ME! I even had the pleasure of hearing the life story of the guy sitting next to me who apparently is pissed because "that bitch he slept with" is making him pay child support for their daughter when she makes "much mo money" than he does and has "a son of a bitch boyfriend who is a rich guy or something" so why does she need his "hard-earned money!"? I look forward to more wonderful stories like this from the clientele that rides the metro buses of Seattle. I'll probably encounter a great character for a future story!

At any rate, my success at getting where I needed to go with plenty of time to spare is encouraging. I can actually get by without a car and I won't have to pay outrageous parking charges in Seattle. I was worried that I'd have to ride the bus with my very large tux bag over my shoulder, but thankfully the kind chorus member who gives me rides home after rehearsals will be able to drive me to Seattle tomorrow, the day of the dress rehearsal.

My part of the dance rehearsal last night lasted about 35 minutes, which officially made my ride into Seattle on the bus longer than the actual rehearsal! Still, I agree with another chorus member I chatted with last night who said that this is going to be a fantastic show. It really is, and not just because of Debbie Reynolds. We're singing some really fun songs from the era of MGM musicals. We have some fun dance sequences, not the least of which--okay, it might be the least of them, but it's still fun--is the Trolley Song, the dance sequence of which I am a member.

Yesterday, they sent out an email to those of us in the Trolley Song dance number saying that we should start thinking about our "character" that is riding the trolley. Apparently some people have already been doing this and the powers that be love it! So yesterday I was thinking about my "character." I've decided that he's either 1)extremely jealous of the narrator of the song who is "losing his heart" on the trolley to the cute guy or 2) planning to make out with one of the other cute characters on the trolley. I'm leaning more toward 2.

I was tempted to make my character impatient... constantly looking at his watch, pulling out a cell phone to take a call, pushing his way off the trolley... but I think that might be distracting. At the Edmonds concert, it was commented that we all looked a little bit like deer in headlights, but I think that was because we had had SO little actual rehearsal and none of us had any real idea if the routine would even come together. Let's face it... I think my character is going to end up being a guy who is DEATHLY afraid of missing a count in the dance and messing up everyone around him!

Since the move

I have been in my new place almost three weeks now, so of course I am all moved in, unpacked and organized! Yeah. Right.

I did have a plan. I had seen some perfect shelves at Goodwill that I imagined holding all my books that are currently still boxed up. They were $30 each, however, so I decided to wait until Thursday March 19th when they would go 50% off. This waiting, however, ended up being a stupid idea because they were gone when I arrived on Thursday.

So I am still without a place to put books.

I also have some collectible stuff that I'd like to get out of boxes....but without shelves to put them on... Well, you see where this is going.

Last Tuesday I finally donated my car. It was a hard day. Turns out I really did love that car. Of course, I got another bit of news on Thursday. A guy at work had been interested in taking the car, fixing it up and using it himself. He told me that I'd be able to use the car for errands during the day. Of course, by then the car was gone. While I still think my plan is a good one, it was tough walking home at the end of the day and seeing my parking space empty. I donated to a pretty good charity that fixes up cars and gives them to struggling families, so I'd like to think that life will still be gotten from that sweet little car that I once owned.

Last weekend was the big reunion with my college friend Gavin and his family. His parents live in Mount Vernon, north of Seattle, so they planned a Saturday trip to Seattle to hang out with me. The day was a lot of fun. Gavin's daughter Bronte is such a sweetheart! She wasn't sure what to make of me at first, but as the day progressed, she seemed to accept me.

Of course, I had to find a way to contribute to her education and that opportunity came when we showed her the International Fountain at the Seattle Center. Her father started wheeling her up the slanted wall surrounding the fountain. As they flew by me, I raised my hands and yelled "Bronte! Hands up!" She threw her hands up with a huge grin! She even did it later on the monorail. Okay, so I didn't teach her to read, but fearless hands up on a roller coaster is important, too! Oh, I also taught her how to put money in a bank!

It was also so great to see Gavin and Lisa. It's been a good ten years since I last saw them at their wedding. Ten years! It really felt like old times, though. We did a lot of catching up (of what we hadn't done over facebook) and of course, visited Gavin's favorite comic book shop at Pike's Place Market.

They're expecting a second child, this one a boy. Of course I asked them if they had decided on a name. Back in college, Gavin was insistent that when he had a son, the name would be Merlin. Gavin's name means "Hawk of Battle" and Merlin means "Son of Hawk". It really is a great name as far as meanings go, but one wonders how a boy with that name would fare on the playground. I was told that Merlin has been vetoed and they're going to name their next child Brenden. That's a name I absolutely love!

The rest of my time has been devoted to getting ready for the upcoming SMC concert. It's only a week away! We're actually meeting Debbie Reynolds on Thursday! I was dismayed to find out that we won't be able to take any pictures WITH her, though we will be able to take pictures OF her. Also, she has offered to autograph everything we give her as a chorus, so I handed over my special edition of Singing in the Rain for her to sign.

I am really excited about the concert, though there are still several lyrics I don't quite have memorized yet. Tonight is our first big chance to run the show. We have an out of town concert in Edmonds. It feels like we're not quite ready, but that's usually when things come together and we have an amazing concert.

I'm still in the trolley song dance number, though it's been a LONG time since we rehearsed the dance as a group. I'm due in Edmonds at 2pm and we've been promised some rehearsal time. It think I'd better end this blog, however, and run over some more lyrics. I don't want to completely rely on our human teleprompter (aka our director Dennis Coleman)!

Pure Genius

I was looking at video clips on youtube tonight of song and dance routines from various musicals. The Seattle Men's Chorus next concert, with the great Debbie Reynolds, is going to feature songs from that golden era of musicals and one of them is this great song from Summer Stock by Judy Garland. It is one of my favorite Garland songs:



Of course, watching this clip led me to this clip of Gene Kelly building an entire dance routine around a creaky floorboard and a newspaper.



And then that clip led me to this one by Gene Kelly from Cover Girl. Words can't even begin to acurately praise this amazing accomplishment. Just watch it



The man was a genius!

In college my friend Gavin and I went through a period where we rented all those great tap routines from movies. I think I'm having another one of those urges!

Just call me a Dancing Queen...

I just found out that I get to be part of a dance group in the upcoming Seattle Men's Chorus concert with Debbie Reynolds. I just couldn't get enough from dancing as a zombie. It sounds like the dance routine is going to be a lot of fun!