An Interesting Life

You know, I've been thinking, and I lead an interesting life. Of course in some cultures this is the ultimate "backwards compliment", kind of like "may you live in interesting times".....obviously, "interesting" can cut both ways. But in the past two weeks I've watched someone die and I've held a newborn. Not your usual circumstances.

The death was that of a gentleman at my work, UNC, who died after three surgeries on three successive days. By the end, I'm sure death was a release for both him and his family. The new baby arrived in the home of my sweet next-door neighbors: it's a girl, Annabelle, and it's their first. By the end of the pregnancy, I'm sure the birth was a release for both her and her family!

These events, and so many others, combine to give me a perspective on life that, I think, is not available to many. I'd like to imagine that I appreciate things more, savor life, pay attention to more nuances. I'd like to think it informs my singing and my interpretation of lyrics. Impossible to know, I guess. However--I am grateful for the opportunities and the inspirations, good and bad, positive and negative, sweet and painful.

Blah week so far

I don't know, I'm very blabby (as Johnny Carson used to say) this week. Just out of sorts, a little grouchy, a little tired, unfocused. Can't explain why. It would be easy to explain everything away using PMS but that doesn't seem to fit. I'm kind of aggravated that Diana is back with Griffin, I know that. I still have to work on the taxes and that's a looming responsibility that won't go away. I feel at a standstill with my working out at the gym, plus my new sneakers gave me a monster heel blister and I can't even use the elliptical or the treadmill until it heals. Work's been crazy, with management obsessing over every "wasted" minute plus all the crapola about overtime. Nobody will tell me--or anyone, for that matter--about raises.

At least the weather is nice!

Just stuff....

Of course I have singing on my mind. When do I not? Yesterday I went to the station of WCOM in Carrboro and was a guest DJ on the "Tom Arnel Show". I talked a bit about myself & my singing, and played tracks by Ella, Jo Stafford, Rosemary Clooney, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Nancy LaMott, and ME! ("I Happen To Like New York"). It was great fun and one of the other regular DJs, a guy named Rocco, asked me to be a guest on HIS show, too. It may turn into something semi-regular, who knows? Anyway, they all said I sounded good on the radio, which was nice.

I'm working hard on my upcoming performances, which will feature music by "W" composers such as Warren, Weill, Wilder, Waits, etc. I'm so enjoying going through the Kurt Weill stuff, he worked with so many lyricists, and the music is just gorgeous. I think I was born to sing "I'm A Stranger Here Myself"!

Kinda late, that's all for now. More later!