Don't Play Koi With Me, You Macaroon!

New things we have seen / tried so far this summer

Take 1:

Macaroons =

We like!

Koi fish  = "Can we pet them?"asks the monkey.

Hurray for all things new! And for hand sanitizer (just kidding)!

Hugs, 

Melissa

Fly Me to the Moon!

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Yesterday, I blogged about my utter lack of any audition know how.  In a nutshell, I want to audition for a play / musical. So, I found a local theatre company, signed up for an audition, researched what to prepare for said audition, and found a comedic monologue that made me laugh out loud.

Today, let's talk about THE SONG.

Remember, these instructions?

"Actors over the age of 17 that wish to be considered for a musical should prepare one song (16 bars) with/without sheet music. An accompanist and a CD player is provided for all auditions. "

Well, I pondered and researched and sweated buckets.  Not counting night time sing alongs with the monkeys, and congregational worship in church, I have not formally sang since I was in Mrs. Bass's  9th grade all girls choral ensemble. Yikes!

However, I need not fear, because Music Man lives here!  Pete helped me find just the right song in the right key for me.  He has been coaching me (in between fits of shared laughter) and I must say that I am feeling more comfortable with those 16 bars of musical mayhem each day.  Pete is even going to record an accompaniment track for me on the piano. You rock, Music Man!

Oh, you may be wondering what I choose as THE SONG?

One of my all time favorites...

"Fly Me to the Moon!" by Sinatra


Hugs,

Melissa

Starting at the Beginning

Having the desire to be in a theatrical production is one thing.  Having the skills is something entirely different.  I have the desire, but what about the skills?  I mean, I have not been in a production since, gulp, junior high school.  With no formal acting or voice lessons under my belt, what I am thinking?

Well, the way I see it, you never know if you can or can't do something until you try, right?  So, I am embarking on this little acting adventure one step at a time.  My goal is just to do the best that I can to prepare for an audition, but how do I prepare?

First, I did some research and found out the name of our local community theatre.  It just so happens that the theatre is holding general auditions for the 2012-2013 season this summer.  I contacted the theatre and secured an audition slot.

Second, I do not know the first thing about the audition process, so I made sure to study the audition guidelines.

It read:


•  All actors should prepare one comic monologue. Actors over the age of 17 that wish to be considered for a musical should prepare one song (16 bars) with/without sheet music. An accompanist and a CD player is provided for all auditions.  Actors are given 3 minutes total to perform both the monologue and song; actors are stopped after 3 minutes.

•  All actors must provide two sets of headshot and resume.

All that I could think was, "Wow! Where in the world should I start in my preparations?" I do not even know where to find a comic monologue. I have not sang formally in years. Headshots? A resume (yikes)!

So, I started at the beginning.  I googled "comic monologues" and I found a roller coaster monologue that made me laugh out loud.  I can really relate to the character in the monologue because I HATE roller coasters, and well, who hasn't experienced or witnessed an awkward breakup at least once in their life?

I have been practicing the monologue for several weeks now and I almost have it where I want it.  It is challenging because I really want to make the audience believe that I am on a roller coaster.  I have to bump up and down when I am talking, scream on the "hills" and "turns" and try not to laugh.  I mean really, what kind of a girl would laugh in the middle of breaking up with their boyfriend on a roller coaster?  How insensitive!

Preparing the monologue has been really fun and challenging, but it has not been the biggest challenge.

I will tell you more tomorrow...

Hugs,

Melissa

Fancy Pants Water

Tired of plain old, ordinary water? Need something more exciting to wet your whistle?  Search no more my friends, search no more!

To stay hip and hydrated this summer, just cut up a cucumber, gather together some mint leaves (I "borrowed" some from my friend's garden.  Thanks, Rikki!)

Pop the cukes and mint in a drink container with ice and water and there you have it!  

Fancy Pants Water

This water reminds me of something that would be served at some fancy pants country club where two friends, Buffy and Muffy are meeting up for lunch.  

Buffy - "Kiss, kiss!" Muffy!

Muffy - "Kiss, kiss! Buffy!"

Buffy - "Let's order a tall pitcher of fancy pants water because we are so fancy!"

Muffy - "Yes, let's!"

Kiss, kiss,

Melissa

Want to Have an Adventure With Me?

I am doing something that I have dreamed of doing for a really long time. 

I'm pursuing an old love...

Whoa now!  Don't jump to any conclusions!  

This guy is the love of my life.

I am auditioning for a play.  

Would you like to come along on the journey?  I would love to share every detail with you.  

Stay tuned...

Hugs, 

Melissa

Dreamy Places

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With the onset of summer here in Florida (yes, it turns into a 90 plus degree sweltering summer here much earlier than the rest of the universe), we are spending tons of time outside and in the pool.  I find that my energy is absolutely zapped by the mid-afternoon.  I find myself longing for a nap around 3 PM.  Then I imagine all the awesome places one could find to take a nap....

Like here...

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here...

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Oh, this one is nice...

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So is this...

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And this is just amazing...

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I imagine dozing off with a gentle breeze caressing my skin. Soft billowy clouds over head.  The sound of rushing water tickling my ears.  The air is fragrant with...with...

Wait! Is that a poopy diaper that I smell?  Okay, back to reality.

Dreaming, 

Melissa

K-Town Experience

I am an adventurer at heart.  I love meeting new people and having unique experiences.  So, last month Pete and I went to LA for work, we decided to mix a little pleasure with business and get our adventure on.

The first stop we made after leaving the airport was to Park's Korean BBQ in K-Town.  The food was fantastic.  The service was even better.  We enjoyed chatting with the staff and they were so helpful since we had never tried Korean-style barbecue.

The Korean Pancake was my favorite.  It is a savory dish that combines a yam based flour with egg and kimchee (fermented spicy cabbage).  So, so good!

The bbq is served up family style with lots of little veggie side dishes like kimchee, pumpkin mash,  sprout salad, and seaweed salad.

I am not a big fan of ribs, but these were crazy good.  The fun part is that we cooked them at our  table.

After lunch, Pete and I decided to have another adventure.  We went to Century Sports Club and Spa to have a scrub and massage.  My friend, Joanna, had told me that going to a Korean spa was a wonderfully unique experience.  The Korean spa philosophy is that you sweat out the impurities in your body by bathing in hot baths and sitting in steam rooms / hot saunas.  You can alternate between hot and cold by dipping in the icy cold pool or sitting in the cold sauna. It is a cleansing, peaceful experience.  The only catch is...you are naked.  Yep, the spa attire is pretty simple, your birthday suit is all that is required.  Of course, there are separate facilities for men and women and the co-ed areas (lobby, pool, juice bar) require clothing.  It was a little strange at first to be sans clothing, but I got over it very quickly.  

When Pete and I first arrived at the spa, we checked in and were given robes, towels and a locker key.  We were shown to our separate locker rooms.  I changed out of my clothing and slipped into the shower, where I scrubbed down.  Showering before entering the steaming tea pool or hot mineral bath is a must.  After showering, I spent about 15 minutes alternating between the hot and cold baths until it was time for my scrub and massage.  

I felt so uncomfortable when I entered the treatment room and was greeted by my massage therapist.  Even though she was a professional, I still felt awkward standing naked in front of a complete stranger.  Any reservations that I had quickly melted away as soon as the therapist began exfoliating my skin.  I felt like layers of stress were being scrubbed away.  Worries were sloughed off.  The jasmine oil massage, milk bath and cucumber facial that followed were equally as therapeutic.  And then, the icing on the cake, was that she washed my hair!  

After we finished our separate spa times, Pete and I met upstairs in the co-ed area of the spa.  We rested on the heated tatami mats and spent some time in the hot salt room, the ice room and the juice bar.

We decided that we will make the Korean spa a "must" each time business takes us to LA.  The price is right - $70 per person for all of those services and use of the spa facilities (including the pool and gym).  It is such a nice way to de-stress and de-tox.  

Hugs, 

Melissa