Happiness is...

Happiness is...

 Riding. 

Happiness is...

Being with Steve. 

Happiness is...

Ukraine.

 Happiness is... 

Knowing that I NEVER have to go back to school. 

{Side note: Happiness is also discovering who I truly am, what my values, ethics and beliefs are, and realizing that social work and me do NOT mix. And with that knowledge comes liberating happiness. I do NOT have to get a job as a social worker just because that is what my degree is in.}

Told ya'll that I hated my degree. I still need to blog more about that.

Happiness is... 

 My Faith.

Happiness is... 

 

The Heritage Center.

And the music of Tony Summerhays and Bongo Tami.  

{I've totally got to blog about this place too.}

Happiness is...    

 Taking care of my body. 

Its such a gift to have a healthy and normally functioning body. It is something I took for granted for 25 years. Once I realized what an amazing gift it is, I no longer want to take it for granted.

Happiness is...

Realizing that my dreams are worth taking the time for. Realizing how to make life wonderful and doing just that.

Linking up to one of my favorites today. The Shine Challenge.

Ticked... And Triple T. (Does that make it quadruple T if I'm ticked too?)

I am ticked that I have missed yet another Tuesday. I created Triple T, making a top ten list for every Tuesday like 6 weeks ago and I think that I have posted only 1 list. I'm ticked because seriously EVERY TUESDAY for the past too many weeks Tuesdays have magically become my busy run-around-with-your-head-cut-off kind of day and I fail to post the list that I made originally for like some Tuesday back in May. DUH! Today I had a few minutes to post (or so I thought) and I just got super busy doing other things. So, I have failed yet again at posting this Top Ten List. But instead of waiting till next Tuesday and making you all think that I forgot about my own invention, I have decided to just break the rules and post it on Wednesday. (Well, it could still be considered Tuesday because its 12:36 am and I am still up blogging. But probably all of you will not see it until Wednesday unless you are like me, reading blogs at one in the morning.

So, here you go, this is one of my favorite lists…

My Top Ten Favorite Musicals.

Some of these are only movies, some of them are only theater productions, some are both… But I decided they can fall into the same list because they are all musicals.

I tried to put these in order of my liking, but I just couldn’t do it. So, in no particular order:

1.       Tarzan

Now, it is critical to note that I am NOT talking about the Disney movie (although it is a pretty good movie.) I am talking about the original Broadway show.

I saw this on Broadway in 2006 and was S.M.I.T.T.E.N.

This is us, totally SMITTEN
It has the most brilliant music, and it had brilliant staging and costumes and I still think about those scenes that I only saw one time 5 long years ago.

Check it.

2.       Newsies 

Of course this is only a movie, but am I not the only one who thinks it is one of the greatest oversights in our UNIVERSE that no one has made it into a Broadway show yet? Hello??? It's destined for greatness. And how yummy is Jack Kelly “you think I'm lyin’?”

It was one of the first musicals I ever saw as a child. I still remember the first time I watched it. I was in 5^th grade, visiting my aunt in Texas, my cousins friend brought it over. Little did I know what I was about to feast my eyes on.

3.       Little Shop of Horrors

Now, I have only seen one stage production of this. Actually it was my first exposure to the show. I'd never even heard of it prior to my junior year of high school. (Don't judge, my parents are not big musical lovers and therefore why would they have introduced me to the magic that is Little Shop?)

My good friend Jessi did a brilliant job at playing Audrey and I still remember how brilliantly she mastered that unforgettable voice.

Besides that play the movie is the only showing I have seen of this play. And holy Rick Moranis is a gem.

And Steve Martin steals my heart, except that he is a sadist wacko. No biggie.

4.       Memphis

I've blogged about this show before. I saw it on Broadway once and a taping of that show two other times. I cried the second and the third time watching it. I can't really say much else about this show other than go to New York right now to see it. It's that good. It's Tony-award-winning-for-best-musical-in-2010-good.

I'm head over heals. 

5.       Wicked

Everyone knows about this show and everyone knows why it is amazing. I saw it on Broadway only once. It's on the bucket list to see at least another time in the big apple before I die.

6.       Thoroughly Modern Millie

This is another one that is both a movie and a stage production. I have seen both and don't really care for the movie, which is surprising because Julie Andrews is one of my favorite actresses.

Sutton Foster one the Tony for her role as Millie the week before I saw her perform the role on Broadway.

She completely and totally lived up to her award. I adore this show.

7.       Sound of Music.

I have also blogged about my love for this musical before. I have never seen a stage production of this (even thought I actually was in one back in 2003) but it’s not my favorite on stage. There is only one song that is different than the movie that I care for. I love Julie Andrews in the film version though, as well as Christopher Plumber and every other cast member.

It's such a gem. It is the first musical I ever remember watching and one of the few that my father loves. He definitely gifted to me that love of this musical.

8.       Singing in the Rain

This is one movie that I could watch over and over and over again and never tire of. Debbie Reynolds is majestic and Gene Kelly is one of my idols. They are so charismatic together. I LOVE THIS FILM.

9.       Aida

I have only seen this show on stage twice. At a little local theatre that did a magnificent production job. You know I love something when I make plans to see it again, this is one such show. I’d actually never even heard of it before I went to the showing. Not knowing what to expect I immediately fell in love with it. The plot, the music. Its magical. So, in my immediate  love affair I went home and bought tickets to go see it again the next night. I have done this several times with shows I love. I have yet to do it in New York but I always wish I had after I am done. I am taking this into consideration for the next trip I take.

And finally # 10.

Footloose. 

I really like the movie version of this show. I mean how yummy is Kevin Bacon?

But my true love for the show is in its theatre production. I've only seen one high schools pathetic version of the show being done as an audience member. I was in the show in high school, but my real love came simply from the original Broadway cast recording soundtrack. It's magical, for lack of a better word. (all of these shows are magical to me in some way)

And there you have my top ten favorite musicals. What are yours?

 
Before signing off though, I have a sort of embarrassing confession to make… It is super duper juvenile but my runner up that barely got cut from the list is Annie. I have only seen the movie and not that new one they came out with just a few years ago. The original from the 80’s. The reason I love it is the freeking talent that it showcases, and actually not Annie herself… she is ok in my opinion but NOT the reason I watch it. Burnadette Peters and Tim Curry blow me away.

And who doesn’t adore Carol Burnette in all her villan-ness.

And Ann Reinking is to die for.

Totally juvenile and embarrassing but I truly love this movie.

As I said when I created Triple T, I did it because it is a way I get to know people in real life. I am always asking people to give me their top ten of something. You can really learn a lot about somebody from their top ten lists. That is what I love about it. I think you all will get to know me better from this lovely and I want you all to participate too. Make your own Top Ten lists and let me know about them. I will get a linky party going someday! 

"All I know is Memphis lives in me."

“There’s a town where I call home. Where all the streets are paved with soul.” –Huey Calhoun

 

Very rarely will a piece of artwork bring me to tears. This weekend alone, Memphis brought me to tears, twice.

I have a deep love for music. Possibly an even deeper love for musicals. Something about the music, the dancing, the raw talent, the entire production of a well done musical just speaks to me. Cheesy as it sounds, I have unique experiences when I watch musicals. It is some kind of spiritual. 

 I first saw Memphis about a year ago on Broadway. It was the twelfth show I’d seen on Broadway and it instantly became one of my favorites. There are only 3 shows that I can say that about. I found out that they had done a recording of a live performance of the original cast {whom I had already seen and fell in love with} and were showing that performance it in movie theatres this weekend only. I instantly bought some tickets. I went to it and instantly fell in love with the show again. I was so moved that I did start to cry in Huey’s final number: “Memphis Lives in Me” My poor date probably thought I was a little bit crazy. {I was not sobbing, just want to clear that up.}

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see it just one more time this weekend so I went the following day. I again was brought to tears with the brilliance that is Chad Kimball. I do not think I have ever believed a performance in my life as strongly as I believed his performance. You could just see it in his eyes. Memphis, Felicia, the music truly did live in his soul. Chad’s soul, not just Huey’s.  

This musical meant so much more to me this time seeing it than it did a year ago. I know it is because of the stage of my life I am in. I saw it in his eyes. It is the most powerful love story I have ever seen. I related to the music of his soul. I related to the unrequited love. There is just something about this particular story of unrequited love that speaks to me. There is no pain quite like unrequited love. Huey and I both get that.

Not only the love he has for her but for the music. I must have been born with different DNA than most people I know because music seems to speak to me deeper than anyone else I have ever met in my life. But I think Huey really has that in common with me. She gave up love for her career. He gave up love for the music. I am not sure that I would ever give up love for the music, but the mere fact that he did says something about the music in his soul.

Musicals are such a surreal part of my life. I find a passion that I was born to have.

The music lives in me too Huey. Memphis lives in me too.

Huckadoo.  

30 Days of Photographs. Day 1

I saw someone else do this 30 days of photographs and I wanted to copy cat it. But I have changed some of the photo requirements to ones I liked better. I wont be posting for 30 days in a row... But for the next little bit look for pictures I have prepared for you to help you get to know me just a little better, and that showcase my life, and things that bring me happiness. 

Day 1: A picture of me accompanied by 10 facts about me.

1. I have never been in a car accident as a driver. And only once as a passenger. This is the picture of my battle wounds. I got in a car accident while in a taxi in Ukraine. My face smashed {hard} into the seat in front of me, as you can see. And somehow, the back seat I was sitting on lifted and my shoe got tangled on a hook underneath the seat and then the seat came back down for us to sit on all within half a second. When I started to gain my bearings I was unaware that the seat had lifted and I was so freekin confused how my foot/shoe got tangled underneath a car’s backseat. It took quite some time to understand that the seat was not secure and could be lifted and we lifted me to freedom. Thank goodness I didn’t smash my ankle under that seat.

2. My 3 favorite places on the planet: Lake Tahoe and Lovers Beach in Cabo San Lucas and of course Disneyland.

3. I will not touch animals and pets of any kind and I would NEVER own one… except for one animal {one that I can't get enough of} Horses. I will be a horse owner someday.
 

4.I miss Russian with all my heart. I wish it was as commonly spoken as Spanish.

5. I don't own a single Apple product, including an iPod. I have an MP3 player that serves just fine. And I don't have to have iTunes to use it. {I really don't like how you have to have everything Apple to use anything Apple}

6. I get annoyed much easier than I get angry but usually when I am annoyed people think I am angry. I display the wrong emotion it seems. I should work on that. What are annoyed emotions supposed to display themselves as I wonder?

7. I am NOT a morning person, I am a night owl. If you talk to me within 15 minutes of me waking up, I will most likely be rude to you. Sorry, I am not thinking very rationally yet.

8. I am a total germophobe and I hate public bathrooms more than anything.

9. I would give anything right now for a Sharma and a box of Cherry Juice from Ukraine.

10. A perfect, and I do mean perfect day for me would consist of sitting in the sunshine at a Marlins game with sunglasses, good friends and all the Shirley Temples I could drink. I will however settle for any baseball game.

Stay tuned for 29 more days of pictures :) 

Dear Future Husband,

Pleeeeeeease make my dreams come true.

Pleeeeeeease say we can live in Cali. Maybe San Diego. Or San Fran. Long Beach, Orange County-- whatev. I just need Cali.

I NEED the beach.
I NEEED the sunshine.
I NEEEED the boardwalk.

I NEEEEED the year round 60-70 degree weather.

I NEEEEEED to be able to wear sandals 365.

I NEEEEEEED to throw away my winter coat and my windshield scraper.

I NEEEEEEEED to become a sailboat racer.

I NEEEEEEEEED to eat crabs at the boardwalk crab shack.

I NEEEEEEEEEED to go fishing off the pier.

I NEEEEEEEEEEED to admire all the local boardwalk artists and always bring something home.

This needs to be me: 

And I need to walk here. 

And swim in this.

And look out my window and see this.

And this.

 

And my toes need to play like this.

Are. You. Kidding. Me.

Why oh why do I live here.

Siiiiigh.

So, it would be great if you could just be really rich so we could just quit our jobs and live riiiiiiight here.

kthanksloveyoubye.


Alright all you tough realistic critics. A girl can dream right? Sue me. 

To Debbbbz. Love Me.

So, I Loooooooooove old movies. (Juile- put that on the list.) Especially old musicals. The dancing and the costumes and the music and the sheer talent that went into those films. They just don't make movies like they used to. I just wanted to give a shout out to one of my all time favorites... Debbie Reynolds. She is smokin. Those feet, that voice, and that beautiful face. She is a wonder and an amazement to behold. I mean just look at her! 

 She is picturesque

I just could not get enough of this woman! She is one of my favorite artists, and remember how much I love art? Everything she does is artistic. Everything she does is inspirational. Her singing, her dancing, even her costume arrangements! I could never tire of watching her be artsy.

Watching her and the dozen of other MGM legends is one of my favorite past times.

If you all have never seen her in Singing in the Rain, first go repent. And then, get it on Netflix. 

Love her. 

Carpe Diem

I know a lot about the Doc. After almost 2 years of basically listening to nothing but her, one is bound to get little snippets and glances into her life. She is a very well rounded person, with more hobbies than most 20 year olds, and at 63, she is vibrant and youthful in said hobbies. She is an avid hiker, she is a sailboat racer, she loves dogs, she takes billiard lessons, she makes jewelry to sell for charity, she knits scarves and sweaters, she has a black belt in martial arts, she owns a Harley and goes on weekend motorcycle trips often, she goes paddle surfing, she is a yoga master, she, well I could go on but you get the picture. The reason I am telling you so much about all these hobbies, is because she inspires me. I have this huge list of hobbies I would like to take up, someday. (Those of you who have seen the film Knight and Day know just how dangerous that word is.) I have always said things like, one day when I have more money I'm going to do this. Or when I finish college I'm going to do that. Or when I get married, I want to have that hobby with my husband. I did that all the time before finding the Doc. But since coming across the Doc, and listening to her tell her listeners about some other hobby that she is taking up, I have been more inspired to Carpe Diem. I have learned from her that life is for the living and as cliché as it sounds, everyday should be lived to its full capacity. I have heard cliché spoken many times before, but never really took it much to heart until I found the Doc. Why? What made her the difference? Well, she never really says much about Carpe Diem-ing. No, not really. She actually just does it. She is always taking up a new hobby or learning how to do something new. It’s because of the example in her own life that I am inspired. She inspires me, through her example, to do more. I have always wanted to take horseback riding lessons. I never had the guts to actually do it, until she inspired me when I learned she takes billiard lessons and she does paddle surfing and sailboat racing. I feel alive on a horse. (I should have been born on a ranch in cowboy boots, but that is another story.) I feel a little sheepish being 25 and taking horseback riding lessons, but at least I am doing something that I love and never thought was possible to do. Traveling is another thing that has always made me feel alive. It’s something that I love to do. It's something that relaxes me and rejuvenates me. It's also something I had a hard time justifying financially until the Doc. Now, I understand the importance of taking time for me, whatever the cost. My ‘me time’ is priceless to me. It’s one of the best ways for me to Carpe Diem. I especially love the beach. I just feel like this woman when I can travel to the beach. 

I am so happy the Doc has encouraged me to get out and see the world and have these amazing experiences whenever I can. There are many other things on my list, but I find myself a little reserved to share more on this blog. Bottom line is that thanks to her, my someday list is rapidly becoming a today list. I am getting so much more out of my life, out of my singlehood, than most others my age. Most I know whine and complain about being single. While that does get tempting from time to time, instead, she has encouraged me to take up new hobbies, stuff that I have always wanted to do before, to fill my life with entertainment and joy that I may not be able to experience as a wife or mother. Each stage of life has its pros and cons. While I am looking forward to the many pros that marriage and motherhood bring, I can't help but feel blessed to look at the many pros that being single brings. I don't intend to waste a moment of it. I don't intend to miss this stage of my life because I was too busy whining about not being in the next stage. I have in fact learned to Carpe Diem each day. And my life is so much more meaningful and rich than it has been over the previous few years. Because in the past previous years I was stagnate. I thought that my youth and opportunities to take up new hobbies had passed me by and I was quite bummed about it.

Thankfully, a 63 year old woman paddle surfing has taught me that you’re never too old to do something that you love, and with that knowledge has come an enriching life and experience. I can't wait to see what my someday list brings me tomorrow.