Things in My Foreseeable Future

Hello blog universe, it's been a dreadfully long while since my last post (if I had a nickel for each time I've acknowledged this at the top of a blog post...). My friend Sammi posted a link to her new blog today and after thoroughly reading each of her posts, I was inspired to revitalize my blog efforts. Also, there's some very big and talk-worthy events on my horizon this Spring, which will be excellent blog fodder.

So here is a list of things in my foreseeable future:

• "Moses Man"-- Very few of you know that I've been working on an original musical that two local artists have been writing over the last year. I first became involved in the project last Spring (specifically, last June), when the director/writer called me and asked me to record a few of the songs they had written. Over the course of the summer, I laid down 2 solo tracks and a duet (with an ex-boyfriend from a highly dramatic relationship that ended very badly... so yeah... that was... fun). From there, I was asked to perform these pieces in front of a few small audiences in various parlors and living rooms around town, in an effort to drum up some local funding. In September, we performed the three pieces onstage at the JCC for a larger group of their major donors. I'm pleased to say that the project has since received some major funding and support, and that we're doing a workshop production of the show (or at least what's been written of it- and there's a lot) at the JCC this March/April. I will continue in my role and will be joined by a slammin' cast of artists (including Scott Scaffidi, one of my best friends and the actor who played opposite me in nearly every show I did in college). I've never worked on an original show of this magnitude and am looking forward to originating a role in a musical! Not only that, but this show is based on a true story, and the woman I am playing will be in the audience- I have met her several times and have performed these pieces for her before, but it's an entirely new experience to portray someone onstage and actually see the person sitting in the audience watching you be them. Very strange indeed!

• "Steel Magnolias"-- I am THRILLED to have been cast as Shelby in Blackfriars Theatre's production of Steel Magnolias, running May 17th - June 2nd. I played Truvy in Naz's production in the Fall of my senior year and it was such a wonderful experience-- I can't wait to delve into it again, this time from a different perspective. This is the first time I'll be doing a show I've already done before and I'm excited to see how the two experiences differ, and what remains constant between the two. I think the greatest thing about this show is the amazing relationship between the 6 characters. Each woman is absolutely unique and all of them are equally juicy and the way they interact with eachother throughout the ups and the downs of the story reveals such depth, honesty and heart. The writing is so good. It's just a really, REALLY good show- one of my all time favorites- and I'm honored to be one of the 6 women that gets to tell this story this Spring. I'm very much looking forward to sitting in a room with these 5 other awesome woman and bringing this world to life.

• I'm getting married-- did I mention this yet? Jeff and I are getting married! Specifically, Jeff and I are getting married on Sunday, July 7th. That's this July. So we're currently knee-deep in the planning process with only 4 months to go. I am pleased to report that I have kicked ass in the wedding planning arena, with all of the following things already checked off of my to-do list: set a date, book the venue, book the caterer, finalize the menu, book the music (in our case, an awesome live band that we LOVE), book the photographer, finalize the guest list, buy a wedding dress, buy wedding shoes, buy Jeff's wedding outfit, create a wedding registry, plan a honeymoon, reserve blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests, create a wedding website with wedding info, book hair/makeup appointments, design wedding invitation, order paper goods for printing invites, get an officiant, book the florist, etc. I kick ass at planning events. Next up on the agenda: meet with florist to determine floral details, buy wedding accessories (bitches need jewels), print invites and address envelopes for mailing, find a tie for Jeff, order ice cream truck (yes, there will be an ice cream truck), finish writing ceremony outline, schedule rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, purchase wedding bands, bridal shower details, mega wedding playlist, buy a shit-ton of booze, various DIY projects (card box, seating assignment crap, etc) and finalizing day-of schedule. I got this. 129 days left!!!

• Get yo' fitness on -- I got a year-long membership to RAC for Women, which is a great gym in Pittsford. I had won a 6-month membership there last year and really liked it (specifically, I really liked the steam room). So I asked Santa for a year-long membership this year and I got it! I've been quite a few times since then, but I've been sick as HELL for the last 2 weeks and haven't been able to exert any physical energy whatsoever. I'm eager to get back on the horse (or in this case, Spin bike/Elliptical) so I can hopefully trim down and tone up for the summer. Yes, part of this motivation is wedding-related (I would really rather not look like a lumpy bride in all my photos from the day), but mostly it's coming from a "God damn it, you are 28 years old-- you should be in the best shape of your life right now, while you are still young! Do you want to get diabetes? No! Do you want to be able to rock a swimsuit and frolic on the beach with your boyfriend/husband? Yes! Do you want to be worried about jiggly arms? No! Do you want to be comfortable in a pair of shorts and wear all the cute things you see on Pinterest? Yes! Do you want to wake up a year from now and think 'I should have started a year ago'? No! Do you want to walk around your house in your underwear and not worry about collecting girl scout cookie crumbs in that roll under your gut? YES!" So I'm challenging myself to lose the 30 pounds I've gained in the last 3 years (yes, just so we're all clear- I'm aware that this has happened, folks) by making trips to the gym a regular part of my life, and by considering the shit I put in my mouth before I put it there. Case in point, guess who gave up soda for Lent? This moi! It has been 2 weeks, but it has felt like 5 years. But I don't care-- that, coupled with the fact that I've been too sick over the last 2 weeks to really eat anything, has contributed to me droppin' a few extra lbs since Ash Wednesday. I'll take it!