You don't know beans...

...until you come to Boston. So in the grand tradition of me not following through on tasks I set aside for myself to do, I have been neglecting my poor little blog for sometime now. All I can say is, I'm sorry little blog spot, deeply and truly sorry :(

Sometimes, in this life, all you need to recharge your batteries is a change of scene. Luckily, I have a built in escape plan (namely going back to Boston to see my rents). This trip actually happened quite by accident and ended up being one of the better trips home I've made of late. Between jetting through NYC and catching up with my gays and then spending quality time with both family and friends in Beantown I feel newly energized, if not a little homesick.

I'll leave you with a picture from one of my favorite artists whose work I was able to take in, in person, this week as it is on display at the Boston Athenaeum :) Edward Gorey, you are a genius.

Talking to God

"For a singer, your voice, singing...it's how you speak to God." -John Edwards

No not THE John Edwards...either of them...this quote came from not a former vice-Presidential candidate nor a television spiritualist. It came from my co-worker, massage therapist, future doctor but most importantly actor/singer/dancer: John Edwards. Leave it to a gay man (a theatre practitioner no less!) to so perfectly put into words a feeling that I have felt for years. Why do I sing? Why do I love it so? And why are people so drawn to vocalists?

It's my own personal conversation with the universe. Heavy huh?

Not really...for those of you who know me (I think I've even spoken about this in my blog before) I have an interesting relationship with the big guy upstairs. Namely I don't really believe there is one. HOWEVER, I believe in something...is it a baby in swaddling clothes or an ancient man in a white robe that would make even the purest bride blush? No. It's nothing that concrete. Call it a feeling, an intuition, a dream,fat, a giant purple elephantin the room (how Hindu!)...I don't know but there is something out there driving us all. Just take a minute to watch the tides of the ocean or a particularly beautiful sunset (I very rarely see it rise unless I've been up all night) and you'll feel simultaneously so small and so immense. Thanks mother nature for making me feel so insignificant while so integral in the ebb and flow of the universe. (side note...I also don't know if "god" is a beautiful elven lady wrapped in vines and birds feathers, lithe and birdlike while also strong as the roots of tree...in other words, mother nature? I don't know) I do know when I sing I feel a connection with myself and the world and people around me. I think people are so drawn to those with vocal talent because they can sense the discourse that's happening with the universe. I know it sounds like new-age hooey but I believe that tapping into your voice helps you tap into a universal conversation. It doesn't matter what language or key or style of music, you're part of the discussion and that is beautiful.

Let's face it. My relationship with my voice is one of the longest standing ones that I have (aside from my mumma of course) and like most long term affairs it has at times been so fulfilling and at others more trouble than it was worth. We have loved each other. We have hated each other. We have even LOST each other on occasion. But what can I say? I'm stuck with her and she with me. We had to learn to get along. Let me tell you, my voice has taken me far and wide. It's let me experience things I never would have, led me to some of my most special relationships and my darkest failures. If that's not proof that use of my voice is connected to the universe on a whole, I don't know what is.

So thanks voice...we've been through so much and we've got a long way to go. I can't wait to see what we'll do next...Universe? God?

You better get ready to keep on listening...

Please tip your....singer?

Now I must preface this post by saying that the catalyst for this post was a table full of rowdy drunk business people throwing cash on my bandstand. What better to write about right?! This past wednesday at my weekly gig at the Hilton I nearly doubled my pay for the night with tips. One would think "that seems regular"...hotel, high priced drinks, pretty lounge singer singing popular songs, tips would be a regular occurance. WRONG! In my entire time singing there I have only been tipped twice...TWICE! This got me thinking...why is it that people will automatically tip their waitress or bartender but will neglect to tip their live performers?! Now maybe it's just because I am a working singer but if I see a band or singer with a tip jar I will always contribute. I know that often times these gigs don't pay so well so I feel the need help out my fellow artists. Now I know this may seem like a petty gripe and I know that waitstaff do work hard (I've done the bartending thing) but when I am working my butt off singing requests all night I expect to be compensated. Moral of the story if you request some obscure tune from god knows what decade/artist and we attempt to try and play it...TIP! IF you enjoy the performance and just spent almost $100 on booze, throw the performers a fiver on the way out! If you're in town on business and stop into the hotel lobby to relax and find yourself really relazing to the soothing sounds of life music...give a little!

Thank you wealthy business men and women everywhere :)

BURLESQUE!

OK...run, skip, jump SHANTEE your way to this movie! Had a lovely "nips and soda" date with the wonderful Ms. La-Nai Gabriel and saw this last night and it ha changed my life. Ok...not really BUT this movie WAY exceeded my expectations (I mean I saw both Glitter and Crossroads in the theatre, yikes!) Granted the plot is a little predictable but who the hell cares when you have Cher and X-Tina belting their faces in sequins and pearls. Cher, I love you, you are the closest thing a woman will ever come to being a drag queen and it's fabulous. X, what can I say?! I have always and will always love you. Period. Maybe it's the gay man inside me but I was just all a twitter after this film. It was big, sparkly and fabulous. Such a feel good night!

Moral of the story...if you sing acapella in your underwear reverb will follow! Thanks X!

Stressball, thy name is Leah

Yep, pretty much every aspect of my life is stress producing at the moment. I've literally started breaking out all over my body (am I a 14 year old boy?!..next comes voice cracking! Joy.) I don't really know what the solution to this problem is just yet. However, I know something needs to be done soon. I'm sure my blood pressure is through the roof! Is this the virgo in me? Who knows...Ug.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

If you know me, you know this is my absolute favorite holiday! So although I have been lax on the blogging as of late I had to pay homage to my favorite day of the year! HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! I hope it's a spooky one! P.S. I want to be the Bride of Frankenstein in my next life! Thanks Elsa Lanchester for being such an amazing Halloween icon!

The Mc (what the hell are you thinking?!) Mini

Soooo after a bit of a hiatus from writing I have run across something that begs to be blogged about. The McMini Sandwich at McDonalds.

I will preface the forthcoming rant with this admission. I have not, nor will I, be trying this sandwich. I know it's sounds stubborn but it's purely principle after how much this particular menu item has irked me. You know what I NEVER wanted to see on a McDonald's menu the words, pesto, mango or baguette. Not to mention the words "Thai style" ANYTHING. Now I know what you're probably thinking...WHY are you so peeved by this? It's just McDonalds! Everyone loves a little dirty D's right?! RIGHT! There in lies the problem. I don't want people going into a McDonald's and thinking "wow this pesto is really great...I bet this is what all pesto is supposed to taste like". Wrong. It isn't what all pesto should taste like and shame on you McDonald's for making people think that. While we're on that subject, why the hell are you trying to "class up" your menu in the first place. I don't know many people that think to themselves "Gee I've got a jonesing for Thai food why don't I jont on down to the local Micky D's and have myself a sandwich". You know where people should go for Thai food...A THAI RESTAURANT!!! That would be like Taco Bell serving escargot. Nope, no...noooooooo......Also the advertising for this product is all over the map. It's a hand holding a sandwich which is meant to show how allegedly small this sandwich really is! GASP! You know what you can also fit in the palm of your hand? A REGULAR SANDWICH. Nice work million dollar advertising campaign. Nice work indeed.

Now I will say this sandwich isn't all bad. At least the caloric punch it packs is worthy of it's "mini" name. For the Thai (grrr) grilled option your looking at 260 calories and 9 grams of fat (not too bad for a dirty McDonalds run). Make that Thai (grrr) sandwich crispy and you're looking at another 70 calories so that's 310 cal and 14 grams of fat. The pesto (also grrr) chicken of the grilled variety will run you 280 calories and 13 grams of fat and make it crispy and you're looking at 350 calories and 19 grams of fat. Ug. Guess Thai is the healthier option here folks. Moral of the story and we all know this...if you make something crispy (a nicer name for deep fried) it's going to cost you more in the calorie department. No matter how small the damned thing is.

So ok McDonald's I give up...I don't know why you insist on trying to make your food more upscale but I find it ridiculous and it bothers me everytime I see an advertisement for some new and increasinly exotic ingredient. Thanks for trying but if your attempt was to bring culture to masses it's pretty piss poor in my humble opinion. I don't want people to think a mango is what comes slopped onto one of your fried sandwiches or that pesto should just taste like garlic and salt and not fresh basil! Let's call a spade a spade. McDonald's is crap fast food that is great when you're in the mood for some late night munchies but it is NOT a high class establishment and shouldn't attempt to be one.

There...two cents given...