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Showing posts from June 19, 2011

Magical Moment 506, "Eating My Words For Dinner"

http://www.bernardsinn.com/ Remember a  few days ago , when I was feeling completely dejected and deflated from an audition gone bad? It was for a steady gig that paid well and I would be  perfect  for. But I didn't have that confident feeling when I left, like everything went perfect and they would call me immediately,  begging  me to take the position. I went home and thought,  I shouda done this. If only I had played that. Oh, I'll NEVER get the job now! Well I got the job. And now I must eat my words. I wonder if they'd be good sauteed in butter? When will I ever learn? Don't make automatic  bad  assumptions about myself! Positive thinking, uplifting thoughts, not self-loathing and putting down! Hello?! Isn't that what I try and write about every day? Why can't I take a piece of my own advice? So I have a new opportunity to do just that. My first day is Wednesday. I will be prepared, practiced, and confident. The job is exactly what I...

Magical Moment 505, "Howlin at the Moon"

My husband and I drove an hour and a half west to the  Lakota Wolf Preserve  in Warren County, NJ. Whenever we both have a day off at the same time (about once every 2 weeks!), we try and do something out of the ordinary and special. Eddie found this Wolf Preserve on the internet and we booked a Wolf Watch Tour. How cool is that?! The Lakota Wolf Preserve cares for dozens of wolves, who for whatever reason, could not survive in the wild. They have Arctic, Timber, and Tundra wolves in an open habitat with plenty of space to be healthy and happy. On our wolf watch tour, we saw many of these animals, separated into their different packs by reinforced, double chain-linked fences. Since many of these were raised here since pups, they were not afraid to approach the humans on the other side of the fence. I have to admit, when I first saw these legendary, intimidating creatures walk towards us in a pack of 4 or 5, I tensed slightly.  This preserve also conducts photography tou...

Magical Moment 504, "Take it and Be Blessed"

A priceless and necessary summer memory for all to possess, is a dusky, humid evening spent chasing lightning bugs. The chiggers nibbling on your ankles as you race through the freshly mowed grass, eyes fixed on the luminescent spec that fades in and out before your eyes, while arms flail haphazardly through the invisible air to snatch it in your palms. Imagine my shock and sorrow, when my husband commented that he had never done so. A crime which I felt must immediately be remedied. I don't own brilliant diamonds, or the luxurious glitter of gold. But once, my grandpa made me a ring to adorn my childishly small fingers, of a lightning bug and twist tie. Twas a piece of jewelry that lasted for only a moment on my hand, but has remained in my beloved thoughts for a lifetime.  And so, Eddie, you must accept this specially created piece. A lighting fixture, fit for all styles of decor, made of a glass jar, paper towel, and rubber band. The designer is God Himself, with only me as t...

Magical Moment 503, "Pop Up Pianos"

I can't believe it, but it's been exactly one year since Eddie's and mine's adventure of the  Play Me, I'm Yours  pianos. Last summer, our very first summer living just outside of New York York City, a charity organization called  Sing for Hope  placed 60 pianos all over the city. On a more or less "whim" I decided I wanted to play each one and drug my husband all over creation to help me complete the goal.  We spent about a week exploring the outer boroughs of NYC for the first time, and discovering parts of Manhattan we would probably never see otherwise. It was quite a feeling of triumph when we crossed off the 60th piano from our list. Tired, exhausted, and hot, we now felt like true New Yorkers who had seen it all!  Sing for Hope is repeating the program this summer, calling it Pop Up Pianos. As a Donor Artist for Sing for Hope, I had the honor of taking part in meetings to help plan the project. This time, there 88 rather than 60 pianos. Eddie and...

Magical Moment 502, "Longest Day"

It began before sunrise, when I awoke in a nervous fret. I often awake in nervous fret, for as soon as my brain wakes up, it begins to list all the things I need to do that day. The next day. In the next 5 years. What are my long term goals for life?! What about my future?!?! Seriously, I think about all this within the first few minutes I'm conscious while still lying in bed. It gets to be a problem sometimes. But on this particular day, I had an important audition to worry about. One that I had been preparing for and hoping would go smoothly. Every minute until the scheduled appointment seemed to tick by in slow motion as I anticipated all it would entail. And then suddenly, for as long as I've dreaded today's audition, it was over in a matter of minutes. Or what seemed like mere seconds.  Instead of relief though, I felt like a deflated balloon. It didn't go bad, it just didn't go great. I was hoping for raving reviews and a job offer...or at least a word or t...

Magical Moment 501, "Hear's to IMAX"

I sat through 2 hours of ear-piercing thuds and ground-vibrating explosions. Not in war zone, but in the safety and comfort of our local IMAX Theatre, Skittles and popcorn in hand. I had  never  been to one before, when Eddie took me a few nights ago on a date. I suppose the images were sharper than a regular movie screen. It was certainly larger. But what really shocked me was how loud it was! We were still sitting through the previews when I slapped my hands over both of my ears and gave Eddie a terrified glance. Like a child sitting through fireworks, trying to enjoy the magnificent display but in painful discomfort.  I soon discovered that Eddie's shoulder was the optimum level at which to lean my head on. After all, that is the best way to watch a movie with someone. Eddie could feel when I tensed, winced, or jerked in reaction to a sudden booming sound. Only one ear drum found protection, pressed against his shoulder. And so with his hand, he reached around t...

Magical Moment 500, "Fathers"

My dad comes up quite a bit in this blog. In fact, he was in the  very first  of these 500 (wow, time flies) consecutive posts. I suppose it's a testament to the good father he's been throughout my life, supporting every crazy thing I've done from jumping out of airplanes to moving to New York. As much as he may  hate  that I've been away from home for so long chasing my ambitions, he knows that he has only himself to blame. For he taught me to always follow my passion. And I learned that by his example. I always remember my grandpa today as well. We lost him when I was 16, but thankfully have a lifetime of memories to carry with me. I remember him standing at the grill as the family gathered outside, enjoying a summer afternoon. I remember his collection of Energizer Bunnies, and the way he sat side by side with my grandma in their rockers with his dog, Sam on his lap. When I  think of him , I think of a man who survived more obstacles in his life than probabl...