We're Jammin'

I've come to the realization that I'm really bad at this posting thing. My updating skillz need a little sharpening. Since it's been a while I will outline my week for you.

Friday-Saturday
I spent the better half of my weekend in Tolland, CT with my cousin,Ali, her husband, Jeff, and their two adorable kiddos. I learned a few things about myself while staying with them: 1) I definitely want to have kids some day 2) It will NOT be anytime soon. Their three year old is a whirlwind of energy and really enjoyed playing mind games with me. One second he'd be hugging you, so thankful that we were spending time with him and next he'd slap you across the face and laugh maniacally just because he could. God, it must be nice to be three.

Sunday
Spent the day with Grandma Dianne (also known fondly as "Grianne"). We went to see a concert at Carnegie Hall. A family friend, Marc, was in the orchestra so that was crazy cool and we happened to run into another good friend of ours who magically had the seats right next to ours. Couldn't have planned it if we tried. Anyways, after the concert we went to say hi to Marc and his family. His wife, Terry, is one of my favorite people in the world. She called me "Bubbi" and totally made my day. Then her son, Adam, who just happens to be associate producer of the Colbert Report asked me if I wanted to see a taping. To which I replied, "Hell to the Yes".

Monday
Had the greatest performance of my life. I have never sung that well or that passionately. Sang the trio, "At the Ballet" and a solo "I will be loved tonight". I'll upload the videos when I can.

Tuesday
COLBERT REPORT!!!! V.I.P. tickets and a hilarious show. After the taping Adam gave us a tour and got to pose in front of the desk. EPIC WIN. Afterwards my peep, Joanna, and I dropped about forty bucks each on a bottle of wine, a tappas platter and two different types of fondue. Worth every freaking penny.

And now we're back to today. Got to meet an old friend for lunch which was wunderbar and am headed to little Italy tonight for a birthday celebration. Little Italy lives up to its name these days as it is only a block long . China town just keeps growing and is eating little Italy alive. What are you gonna do?

Peace, Love and Melty Cheese,

Geni

Time flies

So last Tuesday I went to visit NYU for their social work program and also did some research on some CUNY schools. I think the programs at NYU and Columbia are pretty much on par with each other. They both seem to allow for the same level of experience and opportunity within the field. So I guess the only option is to apply for both and see who wants me :)

I haven't gotten to see any shows this week but I will be making up for it starting Tuesday. Next week is the last week of the voice program and I want to cram as much in as I can before I leave. It is a definite guarantee that I will be coming back but it won't be until after I graduate next May (well I guess technically next July since the semesters in Italy are a tad bit different).

Not much else to update on. No crazy dreams. No spectacular shows. A few interesting construction workers, however. Oh and if you haven't tried Pinkberry...you haven't lived. I'm salivating just thinking about it. http://www.pinkberry.com/

Peace, Love and Pavlov,

Geni

I am what I am

There is nothing like a going to a Broadway show and having a man in drag make you cry like a baby, because the words he is singing shoot directly into your heart and cause it explode in glitter and sunshine. I saw "La Cage Aux Folles" yesterday with Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge and it was probably the best $30 I ever spent (besides the $30 I spent on Jersey Boys last Thursday). And it was a good thing I saw it yesterday because it won three Tonys last night. No one will be able to get tickets now!

There is one particular song that has just stuck with me and I've been singing it all day, "I am what I am". While it is sung by a gay man in drag I think its applicable to anyone, especially if they are trying to stand up for what they believe in or who they are. Lyrics below...

I am what I am

I am my own special creation.

So come take a look,

Give me the hook or the ovation.

It's my world that I want to take a little pride in,

My world, and it's not a place I have to hide in.

Life's not worth a damn,

'Til you can say, "Hey world, I am what I am."

I am what I am,

I don't want praise, I don't want pity.

I bang my own drum,

Some think it's noise, I think it's pretty.

And so what, if I love each feather and each spangle,

Why not try to see things from a diff'rent angle?

Your life is a sham 'til you can shout out loud

I am what I am!

I am what I am

And what I am needs no excuses.

I deal my own deck

Sometimes the ace, sometimes the deuces.

There's one life, and there's no return and no deposit;

One life, so it's time to open up your closet.

Life's not worth a damn 'til you can say,

"Hey world, I am what I am!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4VMudwlVEU&feature=related

In other news, i went to Columbia on Friday to look at their Master's of Social Work program. Now that I know what I want to get my degree in, I just have to apply to schools and be accepted :). Since I'm basically obsessed with this city, I'm sticking to schools in the Manhattan area. The program at Columbia looked very promising and I'm taking a trip down to NYU tomorrow to look at their Silver School of Social Work.

I'm very excited about pursuing a career in social work. VERY EXCITED. I feel like I will be able to have a certain level of freedom and flexibility and also be able to help multiple groups of people. With a degree in social work I can work at an adoption agency, I can work at a hospital, I can work at a rehab center...you name it. It may not make me much money but it's a career I can be passionate about.

Peace, Love and Glitter,

Geni

The length we go for ladies night

How far will 6 fabulous female voice students travel for free, unlimited wine and authentic Italian pizza? From 122nd and Broadway to 12th and University. That's how far. It took three separate trains and some walking in the rain but ,man, it was more delicious than Taylor Lautner's abs. Downtown ain't too bad either. While walking back to the subway, we serenaded other pedestrians with "Singin' in the Rain" and ON the subway we performed various arrangements of "O mio babbino caro" with some slight accompaniment from a man walking through the subway trains playing guitar. I love it here.

That's all. Stop thinking about Taylor Lautner's abs, you perv.

Peace, Love and Werewolves,

Geni

My psyche is trying to kill me

Do you ever have dreams where your unconscious is at war with itself? The side of you that wants to live in lala land feeds you fantasies while your more rational side is trying to take down lala land with a machete. Meanwhile you're trying to psychoanalyze yourself and what this dream means when all of a sudden the first dream disappears and you're being slapped across the face by a Thai woman who thinks you're trying to steal her clothing line by stuffing dresses into a pillow case.

Just something to think about.

Peace, Love and Carl Jung,

Geni

Sangria, Bridget Jones and a brand new pair of lungs!

My computer battery is completely dead, hence the five days between posts. J'excuse!

The past few days have been a complete whirlwind. "Lend Me a Tenor"n on Friday was absolutely fabulous. The seats were so close to the stage that we got spit on by Tony Shaloub (Monk). Funny, funny, funny especially if you like Opera humor or anything to do with screaming Italians. Saturday, I spent the day sleeping and got myself a fancy schmancy (and surprisingly cheap) pedicure and then headed to the NY philharmonic for the evening. Filled with culture and beautiful music I ended my weekend by spending my Sunday with family in New Jersey. Now here's the best part. My cousin, who has (had) cystic fibrosis, has been waiting for a new pair of lungs for eons. I was just about to head back to my dorm in NYC when he got THE call. While he was headed out the door, my cousin turned to me and said, "Well, Gen, you're either good luck or bad luck. We'll see". I'm hoping that I'm good luck. Surgery went well and today his breathing tube was taken out so he was able to breathe from his new lungs for the first time!

In other news, I had some delicious sangria with dinner this evening at the most wonderful Cuban restaurant. Note to self: while vegetarian paella is delicious, meat and seafood is always a better decision. Also, Bridget Jones marathon + friends + popcorn = one happy lady.

More updates to come. Working on a scene from "Chorus Line" for acting class. Check out the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cPBWzsQ5zo . I play Maggie, the third woman to sing. Enjoy :)

Peace, Love and Paella,

Geni

Polka, anyone?

The Polka is the greatest dance ever. Lots of hopping and knee lifting. At one point I asked my dance partner, "Our we supposed to be hitting our knees together?" which resulted in laughter on both of our parts and lots more knee knocking. I may not be the most graceful dance partner but I'm definitely a kick in the pants...or patella.

This morning I woke up early to make a trip to mid town. If you wait at the box office of the show you want to see you can get crazy cheap rush tickets. I got a tickets that usually go for $112 each for $26. Pretty sweet, huh? "Lend Me A Tenor" is supposed to be fantastic and I'm pretty thrilled to be seeing it tonight. After we bought tickets we decided to eat breakfast in Times Square because...why not??

Is the humane society a scam?

What did you get to look at while you were eating breakfast this morning?

"Nom nom nom"

Feeding people like the good Italian that I am

Guess what show I'm seein' next???? OBSESSED!

Peace, Love and Broadway,

Geni

Hello, Voice! Nice to meet you!

Currently I am under strict orders not to talk for the next 30 minutes. Probably one of the most difficult tasks I will ever have to accomplish. You'd think being alone would make it easier not to talk. No cigar. I talk to myself, out loud, all the time so this is quite challenging. Why am I not supposed to talk right now? In the past five days my voice has grown so much and I have worked so diligently that I need to take it easy. Take a break while I'm ahead. Work hard, rest harder.

The reason I haven't updated in forever is because I have been so busy with classes, practicing and study that by the time I get back to my room all I want to do is sleep. But it's not exhaustion. It's working as much as it is playing. I am bettering myself as a vocalist, an actress, a dancer (who knew?) and because of that I am bettering myself as a human being.

In my voice lessons I'm opening up my chest and my throat so that sound can travel more freely, but its allowing my spirit to travel more freely as well. In coaching, I'm commanding my songs and pieces so that I can convey my message to my audience which also allows me to convey my message to the world. In acting, I'm relating music and scenes to my personal life and adding raw human emotion to my pieces. This is also allowing me to be more honest and true when interacting with my fellow men and women. Finally, in dance I am carrying myself with grace so I can walk across a stage with ease but I am also being shown how to treat my body with respect and to everyday carry it like the miracle that it is.

The first day of acting class, after I sang "I Will Be Loved Tonight" (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) my teacher gave me one of the greatest compliments I have ever received. She said, "Girl, you've got FIRE in you". I think that's something I will carry with me always. I do have fire in me, and I refuse to apologize for it. I've realized that I have been blessed with passion and I am so thankful for that. I'm am thankful to be able to wake up in the morning, excited for my day. I'm thankful that I can find something to be hopeful for even on the shitiest of days.

In other, not so crunchy granola news, I went to go see a FREE concert given by the New York Philharmonic at St. John the Divine on Monday. When you put the words "free" and "concert" together in New York City, you better be ready for a loooooooong ass line. The line to get in stretched from the entrance on Amsterdam, all the way around 110th, and around the corner again to Morningside. Insanity but well worth the wait.

Alright peeps. I solemnly swear to update sooner and to post photos.

Peace, Love and Fuego,

Geni