Sprinkle Brigade & (Xavier Rudd)

You have got to be joking?


www.sprinklebrigade.com

HAHAHAHAHA

---------------------------------------------------
Check out Xavier Rudd if you are interested in some good shit!!!! Nothing to do with the above site hahaha!

"Ursus Horribilis" by Katerina Lanfranco (& Holly Brook)

On Saturday September 9th I was invited to attend a gallery opening called "Ursus Horribilis" by Katerina Lanfranco. Katerina and I met through at work during an art exhibit held in the Gallery of my work building a few months ago. Unfortunately, that was the weekend before my big move into Manhattan and I was busy playing with friends and packing.



I went to the gallery yesterday to show my support and view her art. I must say that I was really impressed. I feel that it was a very interesting interpretation of nature and the relationship between vegetation and animals. I loved the fantasy touches that she added and it just felt like a nice light trip between each painting. They were calming, soothing yet loud in their message. What the message was, I am not sure but they spoke loudly to me in a sense that they represented something to her and how her mind saw real life wrapped around the idea of myths.

Her fascination with bears or Grizzlies in particular was very personal. Her lust and interpretation of them was very personal. I say that to mean that I am unaware of other artists that focus on the life and fantasy of a single animal. I am sure you true artists and art majors out there can point out a million but I am not one for hanging art but rather architecture so I do not know much about this type of art.

I do not have a camera now that Kelli and I no longer live together. I will have a digital camera of my very own within the next month but I am shopping for the right one so bare (no pun intended haha) with me. (How would you spell that bear/bare anyway?)

http://www.nancyhoffmangallery.com/lanfranco/2006/exh.html

.......................................................................................................

And an extention of my entries I am going to include a single artist who has inspired me for the week. By artist I mean musician. Right now I am listening to the soulful piano-tuned lyrics of Holly Brook. She is light and airy and her harmony is pretty – to be simplistic haha. She is simplicity in singing and music at its best. http://www.hollybrookmusic.com/

David Hare's "Stuff Happens"

On September 1, 2006, I got two tickets for the one-night only reading of David Hare's Stuff Happens. The reading took place at Central Park's Delacorte Theater on Sept. 6.

I can tell you that it was pretty much ok but I was bored, tired and not really that interested after 40 minutes of the reading. It basically chronicled the Bush administration's run-up to the war in Iraq.

Jay O. Sanders as President George W. Bush

I actually got pretty good seats so I was able to see Jay O. Saunders and Gloria Reuben up close and that was awesome. You are not allowed to take pictures inside the theater so I have gotten a few from the Internet.

Here is some info from the internet!

The Public Theater produced the reading. Hare's critically acclaimed historical drama about the United States' path to war in Iraq ended its oft-extended run at The Public (Theater) downtown on June 25, 2006. I was not aware of this and did not attend, however after learning I could get free reserved tickets for the reading I snatched them up. The sad thing is that no one else wanted to go with me. The war in Iraq is not something anyone is interested in spending time learning about after a hard days work I guess.

Gloria Reuben as Condoleezza Rice

The reading featured much of the original cast, including:

Jay O. Sanders as President George W. Bush
George Bartenieff as Hans Blix and Jack Straw
Glenn Fleshler as George Tenet
Zach Grenier as Dick Cheney
Lameece Issaq as a Palestinian Academic
Peter Francis James as Colin Powell
Ken Marks as David Manning and Michael Gerson
David Pittu as Paul Wolfowitz and Sir Richard Dearlove
Gloria Reuben as Condoleezza Rice
Thomas Schall as Alastair Campbell and Jeremy Greenstock
Robert Sella as an Angry Journalist and Dominique De Villepin
Brenda Wehle as a New Labour Politician and Laura Bush
Waleed F. Zuaiter as an Iraqi Exile and Trevor Mac.

Zach Grenier as Dick Cheney

Also in the cast were:

Reed Birney as Prime Minister Tony Blair
Larry Pine as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Tony Carlin as Jonathan Powell and Robin Cook

The show officially opened at the Public Theater April 13, 2006, after previews from March 28, 2006, to some of the best reviews of the season. Before the opening, the play extended its run by four weeks to May 28. The initial run sold out. A further extension took it to June 25, making the production one of the most successful Off-Broadway ventures of the 2005-06 season.

David Pittu as Paul Wolfowitz and Sir Richard Dearlove

The show's entire ensemble was awarded Drama Desk Awards, and stars Byron Jennings and Peter Francis James received Obie Awards.

The title is taken from a phrase used by Donald Rumsfeld when grilled by reporters about the widespread public violence that overtook Iraq following the American invasion in 2003. At the same press conference, he said "Freedom's untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things."

All Moved In!!!

Well, I am all moved into my new Manhattan Apartment. I can’t believe I am really here. We got the u-haul at 7am Saturday morning and used it until 6:45pm that evening. The process was insane.

First we packed it full of my things and took them over to Manhattan and then packed up the couch that was in the place to give to Kelli. Then we drove back to our Jersey place, loaded up Kelli’s things and took them to her place to unpack. Then we drove back to the Jersey place and loaded up our furniture that we were giving away to our friend Pat and took it to his house and then drive the U-Haul back to Saddlebrook, NJ. They locked the doors about 3 minutes after we got in the building. If we had arrived after 7 I would have had to pay an extra day. UGH. So Close!!!

Kelli is now living in Guttenberg, NJ. Her new place is only 11 minutes from our old place and she actually lives almost directly behind the lady who rented me her place in Manhattan. Yes, she moved to Edgewater to live with her fiancée.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new place. Jamba Juice is right down the block and on Sunday, the guys and I went looking for food and one block away was a street fair that is apparently held every Sunday on Lexington. It appeared to go from 85th to 87th. Not large but had tons of food and vendors with artists things like purses, jewelry and stuff like that. The Pet Co. is right up the block so my bunnies will be well taken care of haha. Also, the supermarket is one block away so I don’t have to walk far to get food. I will be doing all kinds of cooking so I can’t wait to set up my kitchen.

The nice thing about my place is that I am the only one with a balcony on the entire street. I have a few camping chairs and an old table out there right now. Chris said I need to get things that match as not to be tacky. Thanks babe hahaha! I think I will continue to be tacky until I move to VA. I’m not going to buy new furniture that birds can shit on. That means I would have to store my chairs and table and I am not going to do that.

The first night, I had a bottle of champagne and we were outside toasting to my new place and a pigeon actually shit on Chris. It was hysterical.



I have joined the JMU Alumni Book Club. The first meeting was the Monday after I moved, September 18. I couldn’t make it because I needed to unpack but the next one is on October 19 and I plan on attending. The new book we have to read is Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett. It's a non-fiction story and sounds like a middle of the road read (not too heavy but not too light either). It was published in 2005. If anyone has read it please let me know what you think!



Well, enough for today. I have just a few more boxes to unpack in the kitchen area and I will be completely unpacked and the apartment decorated!!!

My Dream Realized!

This may seem familiar to many of you since I sent it to most of you personally, however, here is the news about my place in manhattan for those of you who didn't get the email!
____________________________________________________________________________________

This was the e-mail I wrote in June 2006 upon hering the good news! But this time you get some pictures!
____________________________________________________________________________________

As many of you know for the past 3 years I have been up here for one reason and one reason alone….to become a Manhattan-ite!!!! For many reasons, Kelli and I decided that this year we would separate and I would finally take the leap to the city.

Many of you know that I was planning on finding a place with a good friend/co-worker of mine. Unfortunately, a few months ago he decided that he really wanted to try his hand at living alone and we decided we wouldn’t live together. This of course scared me to death but I took the change as a welcome thrill and adventure.

For weeks, I have been posting entries on myspace, craigslist and other various sites. The responses I received were not far from frightening with burlesque dancers, gay nightclub dancers, and devil worshippers. Let’s just say I sent a few myspace profiles to mom and she was not very thrilled. This is no joke and I definitely didn’t shun any of these responses. I enbrace all walks of life as you all know haha. I even wrote a few of the questionable people back. I did receive a few hits from people whom I knew I could live with comfortably but their rents were too high. Upwards to $2000 a month FOR A ROOM!

For the past month I have been doing my best to make my dream a reality and attempting to give everyone and everything a chance because one of these people or places might just work out. Then about a week ago, a co-worker offered me one of her places for 2/3rd of its original rent. I will only be paying a bit more then what I pay now and she will be paying the $600 difference JUST TO HELP ME OUT. She had to close a few loops holes and let me know today that I would be the proud inhabitant of an junior one-bedroom apartment on EIGHTY SIXTH AND MADISON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attached are a few pictures of the place with Christine’s furniture in it still. It is a perfect size for just me but as Aladdin’s genie might say, with an " ITTY BITTY LIVING SPACE". However, the location is to die for. As well, I AM GOING TO LIVE IN MAHATTAN so I don’t care if it’s a shoe box!!!! WITH NO ROOMATES!!!!!

I will be located right smack in the middle of Museum Mile and will be residing right next to the Guggenheim Museum. Also, I am only 15 MINUTES from work as opposed to my 1 hour commute right now. UPPER EAST SIDE BABY. For 2/3rd of the rent. I can’t express how awesome this is. I will be taking a 5th avenue bus two stops and getting off right in front of my work which is at 64th and 5th. I will be within walking distance of pet stores, awesome clothing stores, food stores and everything else I need to survive without a car.

The apartment building is a very old pre-war with about 7 apartments located inside. There is a washing machine and dryer down stairs….WOOHOO!!! I am on the second floor! I know nothing about parking yet but street parking is available. There are two all-girl boarding schools and 7 different door men who have view of MY PLACE so the safety is unquestionable. In terms of safety, the Upper East Side is the safest place to live and safety was another thing that really was high on my list. Harlem would have been an option two years ago but even my female African American boss said I should look else where as I like the nightlife and would be coming home late at night alone.

The ceilings are 14 feet high. Christine had a Queen-sized loft built by a professional which I will be using as my bed. Because the ceilings are so tall, the loft still has 5 feet of space above you once you are in the bed. As well, she has built shelves and space for books and lighting up there. I am hoping I can get my tiny tv in the cornor up by my feet but I actually never took a look at the top of the loft when I went to visit her place. soo..... we shall see what happens!

And ……Yes, of course, I started to BAWL as soon as she told me and had to leave the office for about half and hour. I am now back here writing you all with tears totally running down my face. I may sound like such mush but this has been the whole purpose in my life for the past…what?…..ten years maybe? Since stepping foot off Walsingham's choir tour bus back in 9th grade in 1995 in the middle of Times Square where I vowed to one day try to live in Manhattan. Not Queens, not the Bronx, not Staten Island…..MANHATTAN!!!!

So, I really don’t know anything else EXCEPT – one of the conditions for me moving into her place with muted rent was that I have to, or rather have the privilege to, take care of her TWO BUNNIES!!!!!!!! How random is that. She knew I had a bunny and had asked me a few months ago if I knew anyone who might want to adopt them and we knew Olive wouldn’t have that since Christine has a boy and girl bunny who were already mated to each other.

So, a few weeks ago I was like "Ok, if she is moving I should ask her where she is moving from and this is how it all started :) So, not only do I have a sweet apartment, but Kelli gets to keep and love Olive and I get to love and care for two new bunnies. One of them has the head tilt disease but she looks just like Olive and her name is Georgia. The other is a white floppy eared male who cares for Georgia and his name is Simon!! AHHHHHHHHH. So, it just gets better. I have attached a few pictures of my new roommates J Please don’t tease Georgia cause she can’t help her head tilit heehee!!!

For those f you who have the big places and the homes, I totally envy your space and can’t wait to get back to VA to have room for a family. However, for the next two years I get to have my very own junior one bedroom for a sickening price located at 86th and MADISON!!!!!!!!

Here is a link to the location!!!
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=E%2086th%20St%20%26%20Madison%20Ave&city=New%20York&state=NY&zipcode=10028&country=US&geodiff=1

The Metropolitan Opera in Central Park (Park Concert Series)

On August 23, 2006, I was privileged enough to see the Metropolitan Opera perform Rigoletto in Central Park. This is one of those entries that is specifically for my memories alone due to the fact that it can’t be described in words as I feel music never can because feelings can not be described in words. It was captivating, beautiful, glorious and a gorgeous night to boot.

Lesley (my boss), Richard (my co-worker) and myself brought a picnic dinner, wine and a bottle of rum (mainly for Richard) to enjoy the evening. It is always a pleasure to set up a picnic dinner on a comfortable blanket looking at a huge stage of performers with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline all around you. It is a captivating experience that I know I will miss when I can no longer attend.

Verdi's Rigoletto was performed on the Great Lawn in Central Park, Manhattan.

Rigoletto is a moving musical portrait of a hunchback court jester who loses his beloved daughter in an ironic twist of fate.

For those of you who think they know nothing of the Opera, there is a famous song titled “La donna è mobile” which everyone would probably recognize. The highlight of the opera was Roberto Aronica taking the high note at the end of “È il sol dell’anima” (I beleive this was the song. Its been over a week since I saw it). Regardless, I was told by Richard at the end of the song that it was very rare for the tenor to reach and hit that note and hold it for as long as he did. I remember the sound vividly in my mind and I one day hope to see Roberto Aronica again as his voice was intoxicating.

The cast included soprano Norah Amsellem as Gilda, mezzo-soprano Nancy Fabiola Herrera as Maddalena, tenor Roberto Aronica as the Duke of Mantua, baritone Mark Delavan as Rigoletto, and bass Raymond Aceto as Sparafucile. As well, Yvonne Gonzales Redman (Countess Ceprano), Kathryn Day (Giovanna), James Courtney (Monterone), Eduardo Valdes (Borsa), Sebastian Catana (Marullo), Jordan Bisch (Ceprano), Deborah Saverance (Page), and Robert Maher (Guard) and conducted by Joseph Colaneri.

CAST

Rigoletto, the Duke's jester - Baritone
Gilda, his daughter - Soprano
Duke of Mantua - Tenor
Sparafucile, an assassin - Bass
Maddalena, his sister - Mezzo-Soprano
Giovanna, Gilda's Nurse - Mezzo-Soprano
Count Ceprano - Bass
Countess Ceprano, his wife - Mezzo-Soprano
Matteo Borsa, a courtier - Tenor
Count Monterone - Baritone

ARIAS

Della mia bellaincognita borghese (Duca-Borsa)
Questa o quella -- This or that (Duca)
Pari siamo! -- We are equals! (Rigoletto)
Caro nome -- Dear name (Gilda)
Possente Amor Mi Chiama -- A great love beckons (Duca)
Parmi verdi la lagrime -- I can almost see her tears (Duca)
Cortigiani, vil razza dannata -- Courtiers, that damned race (Rigoletto)
Tutte le feste al tempio -- On all the blessed days (duet, Rigoletto & Gilda)
La donna è mobile -- Woman is fickle (Duca)
Bella figlia dell'amore -- Beautiful daughter of love (Duca, Rigoletto, Gilda, and Maddalena) - this is also called the Rigoletto Quartet
Lassu in cielo -- Up there in heaven (duet, Rigoletto & Gilda)

This is the composer: Giuseppe Verdi

The following is the story behind this beautiful but scandelous Opera:

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

ACT I.

Scene 1. In his palace, the Duke of Mantua boasts of his way with women (“Questa o quella”). He dances with the Countess Ceprano, and then leads her away. His hunchbacked jester, Rigoletto, mocks the Countess’s enraged but helpless husband. The courtier Marullo bursts in with the latest gossip: Rigoletto is suspected of keeping a young mistress in his home! The jester shortly returns with the Duke and, sure of his master’s protection, continues to taunt Ceprano, who plots with the others to punish him. Monterone, an elderly nobleman, forces his way into the crowd to denounce the Duke for seducing his daughter, and is viciously ridiculed by Rigoletto. Monterone is arrested and pronounces a father’s curse on Rigoletto.

Scene 2. Rigoletto hurries home, still brooding over Monterone’s curse. He encounters Sparafucile, a professional assassin, who offers his services. The jester reflects that his own tongue is as sharp as the murderer’s dagger (“Pari siamo!”). Rigoletto enters his house and warmly greets his daughter, Gilda, who questions him about her long-dead mother. He describes the departed woman as an angel and adds that Gilda is all he has left. Afraid for the girl’s safety, he warns her nurse, Giovanna, not to let anyone into the house (“Ah! veglia, o donna”). When the jester leaves, the Duke appears and tosses a bag of coins to Giovanna, who allows him to slip into the garden. He declares his love for Gilda (“È il sol dell’anima”), who has secretly admired him at church, and tells her he is a poor student named Gualtier Maldè. After he leaves, she tenderly repeats his name (“Caro nome”) and goes up to bed. The courtiers gather outside the garden intending to abduct Rigoletto’s “mistress.” Meeting Rigoletto outside the house, they change their story and instead ask his help in abducting Ceprano’s wife, who lives nearby. The jester is duped into wearing a blindfold and holding a ladder against his own garden wall. Laughing at the trick they have played on him, the courtiers break into the house and carry off Gilda. Rigoletto tears off the blindfold and rushes into the house. He realizes Gilda is gone and collapses as he remembers Monterone’s curse.

ACT II.

In his palace, the Duke complains about the abduction of Gilda, whom he imagines alone and miserable (“Parmi veder le lagrime”). When the courtiers return and tell him the story of how they took the girl from Rigoletto’s house and left her in the Duke’s chamber (“Scorrendo uniti”), the Duke hurries off to the conquest. Rigoletto enters, looking for Gilda. The courtiers are astonished to find out that she is his daughter rather than his mistress, but block him from storming into the Duke’s chamber. The jester lashes out at their depravity (“Cortigiani, vil razza dannata”) but ends his tirade as a plea for compassion. Gilda appears from the Duke’s room and runs in shame to her father, who orders the others to leave. Alone with Rigoletto, Gilda tells of the Duke’s courtship, then of her abduction (“Tutte le feste al tempio”). When Monterone passes by on his way to execution, the jester swears that both he and the old man will be avenged and Gilda begs her father to forgive the Duke (“Sì, vendetta”).

ACT III.

Rigoletto and Gilda arrive at an inn on the outskirts of Mantua where Sparafucile and his sister Maddalena live. Inside, the Duke laughs at the fickleness of women (“La donna è mobile”). From the outside, Gilda and Rigoletto watch as the Duke amuses himself with Maddalena (“Bella figlia dell’amore”). The jester sends Gilda off to Verona disguised as a boy and pays Sparafucile to murder the Duke. A storm gathers. Gilda returns to overhear Maddalena urge her brother to spare the handsome stranger and kill the hunchback instead. Sparafucile refuses but agrees to kill the next stranger who comes to the inn so that Rigoletto will receive a dead body—even though it is not the one he has paid for. Gilda decides to sacrifice herself for the Duke. She knocks at the door and is stabbed. When the storm subsides, Rigoletto returns to claim the body, which he assumes is the Duke’s. As he gloats over the sack Sparafucile has given him, he hears his supposed victim singing in the distance. He opens the sack frantically and finds his daughter, who dies asking his forgiveness (“Lassù in cielo”). In anguish, Rigoletto remembers Monterone’s curse, “la maledizione!”