Audish

So we're back in NY, and we don't have jobs, which means we're on the audition bandwagon. I sang at my first audish back in the city this morning, and I felt pretty good about it, all things considered. It's approximately hurricane weather outside, which always makes things difficult (especially when you're supposed to look your fiercest)(fiercest?...sure, it's a word), but my little 100 yen Japanese umbrella and I did just fine.

But here's the thing about auditions. They're more a mindgame than anything. You know, there are the monitors who are really nice, but like to toy with the auditioners by making sassy little comments. There are the lines and the waiting, which, even though far better than the non-eq waiting game, are a little demeaning and just give you time to psych yourself out. There are the primpers, who never stop looking at the mirror; the warmer-uppers, who feel comfortable with fully vocalizing in a room full of other singers refraining from doing the same; the loud-talkers, who want you to know all their business and their entire resume. It's gnarly.

But for me, the sanity-keepers are the one or two other "normal" girls who are usually there too, whose eyes you accidentally catch when one of the weirdos does something wierd, and who share a secret little grin with you before going back to being strangers.

It's a crazy life.

xoxo

Keep it Positive.

So rather than go on a rant about how ridiculous, incompetent, untrustworthy, and out-of-touch with reality this company that I'm working for is (didja see how I slipped those in there anyway?), I'm going to make a list of things that I'm looking forward to when we return to the States in 2 weeks. Because our show is closing.

-my Blackberry
-tap water
-ice
-English
-nice people who smile and don't spit everywhere
-Mexican food
-family
-air that doesn't pollute your body and make you feel like you're dying
-a lack of MSG
-being able to trust people
-Christmas
-normal, un-censored internet
-root beer
-being able to cross a street without risking my life
-Starbucks chai
-a large fluffy couch
-a soft bed
-moving on with life!

xoxo

"Experts."

One of the things highest on my list of pet peeves (perhaps second only to eating with your mouth open) is a self-proclaimed expert. These days, I feel surrounded by numerous people who feel that their opinion and information on just about any topic under the sun is the be-all, end-all. And I just can't deal with that.

Need to know how to cook an egg? Ask the expert. Need to know how to do a double pirouette? Ask the expert. Need to know how to solve world hunger and create world peace? Ask the expert. The SAME expert for all of these issues, mind you, because people these days are "experts" on stinkin' EVERYTHING! I mean, surely you are not telling me the answer to a question that I asked the person next to you, who actually knows something about the topic of my inquiry? But time and time again, I'm proved wrong. The expert always likes to show you that they know. Whether they're right or wrong.

Maybe that's the answer. Maybe the "expert" doesn't care if he's right or wrong. Maybe he just wants to talk. Just to hear himself and prove to himself that he's still there. Just to reaffirm that he's important enough to know something about everything.

Well, here's what I say to that: BE AS YOU ARE. It's good enough. It's smart enough. And it doesn't annoy or offend people. If everyone was just as they are, people would be so much more comfortable. We wouldn't have to smash people down to build ourselves up. We wouldn't have to hurt other people in an effort to feel important. And we wouldn't have to run our mouths on topics with which we're only vaguely familiar, so that we can feel like we're needed and intelligent.

Dudes. Know what you know. Learn what you can learn. Don't force it on anyone. And just be as you are.

xoxo

In My Experience...

...I have found that there are too many people who tell you to stand up for yourself and do what you believe in, but then recoil and renege when you actually do.

...I have found that so many want you to listen to and respect their cause, belief, or lifestyle, but refuse to offer you the same courtesy.

...I have found time and again people who say they enjoy letting others be happy and live as they wish to live, but who can't follow those words with according actions.

Curiouser and curiouser.

The Gal in 2A

I woke up this morning to a sound that I love -- raindrops. Which was odd, seeing as how the forecast said nothing about rain. Still, I took it as a weatherman fluke and got up to brush my teeth. Made my way into the bathroom, where I found out that it was indeed raining. Inside my apartment.

There was water gushing from the light fixture, water trickling down the heating pipe, water dripping from the ceiling. And not just any old water. No, we're talkin' browny-yellowy-rusty-been-in-the-pipes-for-a-while water. I froze for a hot second, freaked out internally, then yelled for Nick to come witness the carnage. We grabbed bowls and towels and tried our best, but meanwhile water started dripping in my room and in the hallway as well. Ryan called our trusty Super, who took his sweet time getting here. Back at the ranch, I ran upstairs to ask 2A if their tub or toilet were overflowing. After a long pause at the door (during which I assume she was wondering if this was all a big trick and I was actually a murderer), she opened the door and calmly assured me that she had used the tub earlier, but nothing was running now. So, not wanting to shove my way into her apartment, and hoping that there wasn't something lost in translation, I trusted the teeny-tiny lady in the apron who seemed to just want me to go away.

I came back, we emptied bowl after bowl of water, and a little later the leaking slowed a bit. By this time, our Super showed up, and let us know that the nice little lady in 2A had, in fact, left her tub running after she began to fill it to clean the bathroom. Mentirosa!!! Dude, I mean, at least tell me the truth after you ruin my beautiful paint job... (And by the way, could you please tell your children to quit screaming and running back and forth all day long? Gets a little loud down here.)

Never a dull moment here in 1A! Good thing I'm in the Christmas spirit, or this could have really put a damper on my day. :)

**Update! The mentirosa in 2A knocked on our door and apologized during today's aftermath. Just sayin'.