Obsession Song of the Week: Week Eight

I'm just getting started on digesting the full album, but I haven't been this Muse smitten since Muscle Museum. Thanks to NAK for doing an a cappella arrangement of this last week, which excited my interest in it!

Let me tell you a secret...

I tried out for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" the other day. I did. I went to take the test on a whim (and my grandmother's urging, not to let her down) and found myself in line behind a gentleman who regaled me with tales from each of the multiple past times he had tried out. I then sat next to a sweet older woman who divulged the fact that she had flown in from Maine that morning and was flying back that night. Just for the test. First gentleman then told me the procedure and how only four people had passed the night before. Because he had been there the night before.

Our whole table became buds and wished each other luck, picked up our scantrons and were off. I went in thinking, "I'm really not a trivia buff, and whether that guy was trying to psych me out or not, it worked. Though I do have confidence in my intelligence, I will not pass this." And then I did!!!

I couldn't celebrate with my new found besties, who I could tell pre-test underestimated my ability, for they were no longer my bosom buddies. I was so oddly proud of myself that this didn't much matter. I inwardly squealed and headed over to the second round interviews.

What will happen beyond that day, we'll see... But now I can say it: I passed the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" test!!! They made it seem impossible and intimidating, but heyo... Even if I don't get picked, I will still be oddly proud of this and can giggle to myself over the entire experience.

**Alex was more impressed and amused by this and is making me post it:

I was once on Cash Cab. It's true. People seem to find that show cooler than "Millionaire" for some reason. I don't know why. ? I was once at a party and met a guy who had been on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" that day, I consequently, and I think understandably, freaked out, as did surrounding others, but upon my "I was once on Cash Cab," the freaking out was much more intense and resounding. I felt disillusioned.

But yeah, my two guy friends wanted to go for the double or nothing question. I did NOT. (You can see me hesitating, no, begging them not to. On television). Shocking: we ended up not with the double, but with t shirts. (Still love you Ian and Philip).

I hope that this wouldn't disqualify me from appearing on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." So does my grandma. It was years ago, so I really hope not. Again, we'll see... :)

*** I love Regis Philban. So much. I know that he's no longer the host. I just needed to say it.

Great Site and Cool Band

http://www.myspace.com/lordclassic

I met their bassist the other day on the Bolt Bus to DC. Very cool chill guy and subsequent introduction to this band.

I like his whole Medieval vibe, lyrics like "come back to my lair," and the song title "Pleather." Who wouldn't be intrigued by a title like Pleather?

Also notable: http://www.baeblemusic.com/ - Great site that posts "just in case you missed them" concerts from various venues in NY


Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

Hilarious Parody Video

For anyone that can't tell at first look and knows him, because I would not have been able to recognize him if he hadn't sent it to me himself, this is Noam. For anyone that is not fortunate enough to know him, he is a brilliant, talented, and hilarious actor friend of mine.

*If anyone doesn't know the original video that this one is parodying, though this is rare (aka mom), I have posted it below!

I am officially a dorky alumna

... But at least I admit it, right?

I promise that I struggled to avoid this. I used to think alumni who returned to their old haunts were huge dorks. I'm not gonna lie, I judged. But now that I am one, I see the charm and understand that yes, though I am a cool person living in the real world, living "downtown" away from campus and all that, and I could spent my time going to "cooler" things downtown, there's nothing like coming home.

I went to see my old a cappella group perform last night. Yes, I was in a collegiate a cappella group. What up. And trust me, I get brutally mocked for it by every straighter than straight guy that I date.

As a singer applying to colleges, you inevitably get constantly and annoyingly asked by adults whether or not you will audition for an a cappella group. Of course you are. I was decidedly not that type of singer. I never saw myself bobbing and snapping and "doot dooing" in a group. Until I walked into one group's audition room in the very last five minutes of their auditions on a whim my sophomore year and found myself do wopping with the best of them. It never ceases to amaze me (and terrify me) how small decisions can shape your life in amazing and shocking ways, and I thank my fateful stars that that fearless whim did just that. I don't know where I would be without the experiences and memories that that incredible group of people and performing in that capacity provided for me, and I certainly don't want to know.

Congrats to everyone on last night's concert. You made me nostalgic, proud, and so very elated. Love love love.

Last year's group videos (I am not in these, but wish I was) :

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Seven

Yes Giantess- Tuff N Stuff

Great great band. Check them out. I won't lie to you and say that my friend from high school isn't a member, because I am so freakishly grandma buttons bursting style proud of him, that I just won't. Great group of guys and great music. I also won't say that I don't have a crush on the lead singer. Because I do.

I have had this song and others of theirs in my head all week!!! And I'm lovin' it

http://www.myspace.com/yesgiantess

Went to see them play at the Delancey the other night, fun, great music and lineup, great performance despite technical issues. It's all how you handle it and they did so admirably (aka Karl conducting). Great energy and great night. I feel like this venue needs an angled floor or more of a raised stage downstairs though, because I was stuck in the back at points and wished I could see more of the action!

Also incredible and check out worthy: Bear Hands

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Six

Say Hey by Michael Franti & Spearhead. What up awesome. I first heard a cover version of this song on none other but "Dancing With the Stars." Yes I do watch this with my grandma. But that's a whole other blog post. Couldn't find the song for months until hearing it on the radio in Jersey recently en route to a songwriting session with Alex. Kizmet? Oh hey. Great beat, fun song. I love it, I love it, I love it!

Birthdays for 1 Year Olds are really for Adults...

But are still SO GREAT. We went to Chuck E. Cheese all day and basically just had a blast. The five of us (plus one year old Jax) morphed into hyper sugar high adolescents and found ourselves running back and forth like banshees to and from our favorite games. I loved this day. At one point, I suddenly heard my grandpa exclaim "SKEEBALL!!!" to which we all flocked to the machines, scrambling for tokens and trying to one up each other in our awesome ability at this childrens' game. I wonder where my grandma is, and look over to find her quizzing a seven year old about where he got so many tickets. Like a true seasoned gambler, she observes his tactics and moves in on the electronic monopoly game when he moves on. I then round a corner to see my mom and dad giggling over their competing in a basketball game. I find myself trying to help my mom out, aka cheating, but actually hindering her efforts to beat him, because I'm inept at even sports games designed for children. At least I beat my grandma at Mario Kart. I can still hold my head high. No? What? Oh.

And where was Jax this whole time you wonder? After posing for pictures with "Chuck E." and each ride, for every time we attempted to put him on a moving anything he screamed uncontrollably, he contentedly chewed on his hand from the safety of our arms as we took turns romping and playing. He preferred to watch the jumbo TV screens to anything else in the place. One year old and easy to please. Angel baby.

(Pictures from visiting the pumpkin patch on my mom's birthday the week before. From carnival games and candy apples at the pumpkin patch to Chuck E. Cheese unleashing all of our inner children, I love my family :) )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAX!!!!

My little brother turns one today!!!! This is so weird for so many reasons. A year has gone by far too quickly. This time last year he was 4 lbs, 14 oz and so fragile. Now he pushes my face away every time I try to kiss him. I love him more than anything in the world. Happy Birthday Jax!!!

Addendum

Also... Who knew a little girl with a lisp and a thick Buffalo accent could make a living in voiceover? To overcoming middle school bully's cruel expectations. Cheers.

How have I not blogged about this until now?

I'm not sure!! So somehow I have managed to leave a huge part of my life out of this blog until now! My voice-over work!! In light of the job that I just got cast in, it seems like the perfect timing to elucidate this yet uncharted topic, something that I am a little bit obsessed with!

Around the time when one of my shows (musical- Booth!) ended this summer it was also the year anniversary of having graduated from school, which caused me to evaluate and reevaluate how the past year has gone. I knew that I felt some changes needed to be made and realized that I wanted to focus on my voice more than anything. Singing has always been more of a focus and more important to me, but somehow almost got lost in a year when I tried to gain experience in film and television work. I realized that using my voice, singing and speaking, was what I really wanted to do in life and what made me happier than anything. And why else are we alive, really, if not to find happiness? (Oh hey, New Age philosophy). Once I realized this, it suddenly felt as is everything was falling into place. I landed my voice-over agent, work that I have always dreamed of doing (one dream of mine is to voice a singing Disney character. Come on now, who doesn't want to be Belle?!) Right around that time, I auditioned for and met with Alex for the first time, and recording has taken off this this incredible direction since then. Odd coincidence? I think not. I won't say I haven't read and loved "The Secret."

Getting a voice-over agent has been one of my major accomplishments in my first year out of college, a year that I gave myself to learn about the real worlds of auditioning and music, make mistakes, and find my footing. Somehow I managed to find one that I am so thrilled over that every time I visit their recording studio for an audition or job, I am floating when I leave! Check out my demo at http://www.studiocenter.com/voice-over-talent/caley-rose.aspx. Most of my recent work is not on the demo yet. I am working on updating and obtaining copies of past jobs (A poodle, the voice of an acne ridden teen...) to posted on there as well.

Impromptu Book Review

I didn't expect to do this, but this author is so remarkable that I feel it necessary to spread the word about his works!

I just got over the internal paradox of dreading to finish a great book while simultaneously eagerly desiring to find out what happens at the end. Luckily, it is the third in the brilliant "Thursday Next" series by Jasper Fforde, and I will reprise this feeling soon enough. I highly recommend the entire series, and I am about to continue on reading this author's other works, which I assume I will be able to rave about immediately after.

I find that somehow no one knows about Jasper Fforde, and yet, everyone needs to. I began with the Eyre Affair, which interested me solely due to the fact that Jane Eyre is my favorite book and I figured that a plot that involved it would hopefully interest me. What I discovered was an incredible intelligent Harry Potter-type series for well read adults. It's brilliant.

If you are not a Harry Potter fan, do not immediately discount that form of praise, for I only mean it in the way that Fforde creates an entirely new ficitonal world. His is far more creative and brilliant, however, in that it is birthed from literature: English, American, the Classics, Science Fiction, the whole gamut. He takes the reader behind the scenes of reading! He invents a realm within our reality that is composed of the books themselves and links the different pieces of literature by the exploits of his detective protagonist, Thursday Next.

It's full of humor and a very meta concept, which is especially timely in what often seems like an uber (sometimes excessively and exhaustively) meta age. The works are also somewhat ostentatious, for Fforde flaunts his skill with constant literary allusions and by writing for some of literature's most celebrated and interesting characters. He assumes the role of the greats by writing in the voices of (and thus informing the characterizations of and expanding what we as readers know and think of) celebrated figures such as Heathcliff and Catherine, Edward Rochester, Uriah Hope, and so many more. He even emulates the Shaksepearean language of Falstaff, Benedict, Beatrice, and other favorites. You don't mind Fforde's self aggrandizement, however, because you are too busy delighting in the world he invents and the expansion of the familiar faces within it. The details of his works are so intricate and complex, you can only sit back and gaze around in awe of what he has created.

It's the kind of book and entire series that will keep you home and antisocial for weeks, as I know my friend agree certain others can certainly boast of (*cough cough Twilight cough cough Harry Potter*). I intend on suggesting that our book club reads some of his works in the future. Yes, I am in a book club. What up.

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Five

How about a few "Oldies but Goodies"? !







...All straight off of the throwback mix CD that I compiled for my mom's bday. Love 'em. "Lately" was originally and brilliantly done (of course) by Stevie Wonder, but I love this MTV unplugged version. (So incredible!- Check it out http://www.mtv.com/music/unplugged/) Classic late 80's/ early 90's childhood nostalgia music. This is so me and my mom cruising suburban streets or me idolizing her while watching her put makeup on and get ready for work. Shoulder pads, overly teased hair, and ice blue eye shadow, baby. As these trends come back this year, whether we agree with them or not (I can't do it. I just can't. Except for maybe a lil volume), these songs need to be re-heralded as well.

Blogging from the Fort

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

After one too many slices of too many different varieties of cake and one too many games of poker tonight, all I can say is, I love my family, I love my mom, and my mom is truly superwoman.

She is the strongest and most admirable woman that I have ever known, and just when I think I couldn't love her or be impressed by her any more, she does something so generous or creative or mindblowing (baby at 44? Why not?), that you realize that half of your incredulous appreciation lies in the fact that she still maintains mystique and can surprise you to no end. (Which includes her shocking penchant for Howard Stern and once claiming "Old School" was her new favorite movie. Probably while wearing Chanel.) She is my best friend in life and the only person I can spend days on end with and somehow it is never enough. She gave me the joie de vivre and carpe diem attitude that I am proud to exhibit each and every day, not just because of the life that she built for us and opportunities that she provided for me, but because she exhibits that admirable attitude each and every day. I strive to be half the woman that she is and to emulate her strength, compassion, and integrity. I respect her more than anyone alive. Even Obama con Nobel. She made such an incredible life for us both by working her way up from the worst high school in Buffalo to where she is today and provided me with every opportunity I could ever dream of and more than I ever even knew to imagine.

Thank you mom, happy birthday!! I love you more than I can express in a blog.

Blogging from Buffalo

My grandpa is out of the hospital!!!! Thanks for helping. That's enough of that. Focusing on the joys of being in my hometown:

Buffalo is a highly underrated city. Which explains why the economy isn't exactly thriving. And hasn't been since the dear Erie Canal days.

First fun thing:

Whenever I visit my grandparent's house now, even though my mom and I lived with them for about 15 years and each had our own bedroom, I sleep in a fort. I love forts. They are truly one of the greatest and most fun things in life. Never too old. Never. I even made one with a boy I had a crush on sophomore year in my dorm room. It led to kissing. Forts are great.

The fort is also preferable to sleeping in what my old bedroom has been converted to: my grandpa's pirate room. See photo, because you would not believe it if I only verbally described it. And the photo doesn't even do it justice. Believe it. My grandpa also likes to drink rum and coke in honor of pirates. I love this man.

My grandfather is in the hospital.

Please say prayers, think kind thoughts, and anything else.
Home to Buffalo for the weekend.

Is this some girl's online food journal?

NO. But I do find sharing some favorite spots in NY can be fun and informative, so I will consequently divulge tales of what I ate today. For a girl who usually lamely attempts to cook and settles for her George Foreman, I am allowed to get jazzed about my nights out. Let's call them mini and only favorable reviews.

The Smith - oh hey, delightful. Great decor and ambiance, while still maintaining a fun atmosphere. Great drink selection of cocktails, wine, and beer, and their daily specials made my friends and I vow to return on a Wednesday... and a Sunday... Try the beer batter string beans with a seemingly housemade ranch dip (and share for way more guilt free enjoyment) as well as the burgers. My friend is obsessed with their Mediterranean salad. Also good for dates, for conveniently located in walking distance from three different move theaters. Always a good experience, and they have a photo booth on the lower level near the restrooms!

Eskimix!!!!! - This is by far one of my favorite NY spots. It's almost still unknown except to locals and West Village tourists who happen to wander in because it's appropriately and cutely shaped like an igloo, but my delightful British friend and his brother own it, so it doesn't hurt to spread the word. We actually became acquainted though many a trip to his business with my friends, which attests to its greatness. I'm a big frozen yogurt lover. Pinkberry, Red Mango, 16 handles, love it all, but truth be told, I walked in here twice and chickened out, because the variety of possibility was overwhelming. It was just too much to handle. It took the company of a friend and a write up in US weekly (yes I do enjoy Us weekly on the elliptical every once and a while) that attested to Jennifer Aniston's love of the place to get me to actually buckle down and try it. Hence the subsequent daily visits.

Go there. Get the frozen yogurt artic swirl-style amazingness, and your happy frequent buyer card will get you a free treat someday soon too.

Oh, Whitney.

And then I found this. I can go to sleep happy now. If only she could always exist like this. If only in my mind :)

Just found this video while researching riffs... yes I research riffs...

I have never respected Beyonce more than right now in this moment

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Four

Is it really the beginning of week four? My timing might have gotten a bit off, or I may have been overzealous in my song of the "week" posts... Nope. One whole month of blogging. Happy Anniversary to me.

And so I post one of my all time favorite obsession songs (can you have a favorite of the favorites? I think I just did!) by one of my newest favorite artists: James Morrison, no not Jim Morrison, though he is incredible. This is my latest "I could make love to his voice" artist and I love love LOVE this composition. I need to call it a composition, because to me, it is that epic. "You Give Me Something" The instrumentation, the moods, his vocals, everything about them embodies an incredible musical piece to me. Especially the instrumentation. I could go into greater detail, but I won't. :) "You Give Me Something" strongly contends for my favorite song of all time. If it didn't have the line "this could be nothing" in it, it would surely be my future wedding song, I feel so strongly about it.



And! As an added bonus a second love off of his newer album, "If You Don't Wanna Love Me." Delightful. Enjoy :)

Rooftops, Wash Square P, and YDM

Three things to love in NY- in the summer, on the weekends, and all the time.

Rooftops- Love 'em. Love 'em Love 'em Love 'em. Every single one, no matter how limiting or incredibly expansive the view. The lights, the sites, the NY quality atmosphere that it adds to every party. It's just magical. On endless summer nights, on summer nights as they come to an end, on the rare warm fall night that was last Saturday, and bundled up on winter nights. There's something in the air up there, and I'm convinced that this roof culture only exists in Manhattan. If that's grossly untrue, I won't believe it. I won't even say that they're romantic. It's just the personal awe that I am constantly in over being up there and my inability to hold someone's glance as my eyes are constantly fluttering about the scene. (Although I did have to film a scene once on a rooftop where my best guy friend and I just had to kiss for a while, but that was art... :) )

Washington Square Park- Finally no longer in construction, it has been the site of many post Murray's Bagels lazy summer day lounges, often punctuated by a quick cool-down romp in the fountain. If it's hot enough, no one cares that we're splashing in there along with the tots. It's just small enough to make its occupants feel special, the arch frames the scene with a European flare, and I won't say that I've never played chess or swung on the swings with the best of them. I also once witnessed a group light saber war. Still wondering about that one.

The Young Designers' Market- 268 Mulberry Street (between Houston and Prince). There are actually two of these that I really love, the other is on Bleeker between Lafayette and Broadway. Both are fun to meander about and discover pieces that you didn't even know that you wanted. You can find unique accessories, clothes, and even these really cool journals that I want from up and coming designers. Even if they're not one of a kind pieces, they always feel like they are. Sometimes you may back away from a table in surprise, for some designers' pieces are a little overpriced for not being featured in major spaces, but always a fun afternoon with the girls, as long as you don't find yourselves fighting over the same thrilling wardrobe addition.

Cameos... but not.

Did anyone else know that Kate Hudson, James Marsden, Ryder Strong, and Ben Savage were all once on Party of Five!? I've recently been rediscovering the love for my favorite childhood show, though it never truly went away, and was shocked to see so many current big names in a "before they were stars" melange!

I found a ton of the episodes by a user "Lorisek" and then Season 3 in the Channels > Shows section. Classic

Also recently found Amy Adams in an Office rerun.. so fun! Have I been watching too much television lately...? I'll update what else I've been up to soon enough!

Jax Update

Cutest things that Jax is doing in addition to playing his toy pianos : growling and other dog-like activities (does he think that Topher and Maggie are actually his siblings?) including racing (via crawl) to their big dog bed and rolling around in it, preferring their toys, and racing to put his hand in their water bowls, continuing to make the "ay" and "eh" sounds while adding "Nehs" and "Nees" to his repertoire! He is a much faster crawler, too fast, and has started to take steps while holding on to furniture or toys. I am his older sister by 22 years, which makes me feel more like an aunt or third proud parents than the conventional sisterly role, and no, as some have wondered, he is neither my own secret offspring nor is he the result of my birth father + too young stepmother's. My mom is incredible, and had me at twenty-two, and then Jax twenty two years later! A modern day super woman, truly. All I know is, for something I never imagined needing or wanting in my life, this is the most incredible love I have ever known. I only wonder how I'll feel about my own kids, because this love and pride and joy over him is all too intense and wonderful :)

Floating

I had my own song in my head today!!!!! Yep!! That's right!! I was playing with my little brother at the playground (his first time ever at a playground! A monumental occasion) and there was the melody that Alex and I had come up with on Wednesday, while messing around with some lyrics to a song inspired by running into an ex and feeling completely fine about it. Right there, stuck and refusing to budge in my head. A very good start! This confirms that the "see where my voice wants to go" method is preferable, and I'm really proud of what I came up with! He played some chords, I sang what felt right, and apparently it felt so right that it stuck!! For days!!! I am floating.

I really need to buy a keyboard though... the garage band on screen keyboard is nice to have and amazing that it exists... but clicking a mouse is often erroneous and always annoying. Missing my old upright.. no way for that in a cramped NY apartment.