Finally Friday Music Clip(s) of the Day: The "Getting Old" Edition

Because I have just completed and am about to embark upon another trip around the sun, here is a lovely duet by the awesome Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride:



And I swear, this is the last time. But since tomorrow is Washington National Opera's opening night and they're simulcasting Rossini's The Barber of Seville to Nationals Park and I will be there with my friends to continue my birthday celebration, I must include more Barber. Here's the late, great American soprano Beverly Sills singing "Una voce foca pa". And in case you were wondering, this was one of the first opera videos that I saw after returning from the Renee Fleming Denver recital in 2007.

Finally Friday Music Clip(s) of the Day: The "Deuce" Edition

It's the middle weekend of the US Open and I'M GOING!!! I've been a huge tennis fan since high school. I have no idea why, but it's the only sport that I can consistently watch on tv and really get into it. And now I'm finally going to an Open. Two of the roommates are joining me on this super quick trip to NY, and although we will probably be in a bus for more time than we'll actually be at the Open, I don't care! Because it'll be awesome!

So in the spirit of tennis, I found these quirky tunes.
The Tennis Song - Red, White and Green



I'm not really a Roger fan, but this song rhymes "Federer" with "sweaterer" so I couldn't resist.



I am a Rafa fan so this song was going to make the cut anyway, but props to them for rhyming "Mallorca" and "New Yorka" - not a total stretch, but still.

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day: From Rain to Rainbows Edition

Eva Cassidy is a soulful chick. I have her Songbird album and it's awesome. I believe it's the only album she put out, because she passed away really young. Anywho, here she is singing "Wade in the Water." (Just listen to the song, don't necessarily need to watch this video.)



This clip is really short, but upon learning that Reading Rainbow will no longer be featured on PBS, I feel compelled to post the amazingly catchy theme.

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day: The "TGIF" Edition

Technically speaking, I'm now part of the workforce. I commute. I put in 40 hours. I'm over worked and underpaid. I can't wait till 6:00pm Friday rolls around. I am now working for the weekend. But I love what I'm doing! I get to make the dull into delicious!

Loverboy's "Working for the Weekend"


Oh and because I PR things you're going to hear this until I can't PR things anymore: If you're in DC, make your way to Nats Stadium on September 12th at 7:00pm for WNO's opening night simulcast of the Barber of Seville. It's opera, beer, hotdogs, and crackerjacks. And it's FREE! You'd be a fool to miss it.

Thomas Hampson (a very young Thomas Hampson:) singing "Largo al Factotum" from The Barber of Seville.

Best of intentions blah blah blah

I give this excuse so many times. "I really did have the best of intentions to post about what's been going on, but I've been soooooo busy....."

It's true, but that's no excuse. I just need to make the time and get you all up to speed. Here are a few tidbits to entice you for now and hold you over:

I went to NYC the 1st of August and saw probably one of the best plays in my life with two of the best performances given by two equally powerful and strong women. I'm going back this weekend to watch the final show of Mary Stuart.

I'm embarking on a do-it-myself project mosaic-ing (is that a word?) a coffee table. It's been a journey and I don't think I'll actually mosaic it after all.

I start an internship tomorrow. I get to promote opera! I mean, I've already unofficially been doing that since I became a fan of opera, but now I get to do it for reals! Ahhhh. I'm so jazzed! Er make that, I'm so opera'ed!!! Just to set the record straight, it's an internship, not a job.

Julie/Julia is probably one of the best feel-good, make-you-happy movies I've seen in a really long time.

Mel is off on her 11 month mission trip all across the world. DC just got a little less awesome.

La Boheme at Wolf Trap with Jackie was super awesome. I didn't expect to hear singing that good. I mean, we're talking good!

Plans are in the works for a trip to NYC over Labor Day for a little US Open action.

I really do hope to be able to expand upon some of these tomorrow evening.

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day - The Bohemian Edition

Jackie and I are off to see La Boheme out at Wolf Trap this evening. Puccini under the starts – doesn’t get much better.

Ainhoa Arteta singing “Quando men vo” at the Met, 2008


Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Scotto singing “O soave fanciulla” at the Met, 1977

New Representation

Meet my new congress(wo)man (not sure what she goes by). I didn’t vote for her, but alas, here she is in DC representing me. I ran into her a few times when I was back in Arizona working for my congressman and out on the campaign trail campaigning against her. She seems like a nice gal with a good head on her shoulders so I’ll give her a shot, but only until election time...because remember, I’ve sold my soul to the Republican Party (evil Dick Cheney smile appears on my face.)

So here she is, Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ CD-1).

Here’s what she says on her official House page, “I am working to jumpstart our economy and get folks back to work, secure our borders, bring the fiscal discipline of small towns to Washington and pay our eternal debt of gratitude to our Veterans. None of those are Democratic or Republican issues, and we will only make progress on them if we are willing to work across the aisle.”

Oh those freshman members, always so idealistic when they first come to Washington promising to cross party lines. I hope for the sake of Arizona and the nation that she does.

It does seem like she’s looking out for our Veterans and she’s obviously grown up in rural Arizona based on the legislation that she’s introduced in the 111th. Kirkpatrick is currently on the Committees on Homeland Security, Small Business, and Veterans’ Affairs – all three great committees for Arizona.

Cool story. I met Congress(wo)man Kirkpatrick at an Arizona State Society event in late June. We got to talking and I told her I originally hail from Bullhead City. She asked, “Do you know Keith or Joe Heath?” The gears started turning in my head. I think it was Keith who was the director of the Boys and Girls Club, but those weren’t the Heath’s I knew – it was their mother that I had known. I told Kirkpatrick that Jan Heath was my 2nd grade teacher. Turns out Mrs. Heath is Ann’s aunt. Small world I tell you!

Being serious for just a moment - as someone who was the chairman of her campus' College Republican club, volunteered countless hours to the Bush campaign and various other Republican campaigns, and worked for a Republican member of congress, I think Ann Kirkpatrick seems like a pretty sensible person. I don't know where she stands on all the issues, but she seems pretty moderate and like she's truly looking out for the best interest of rural Arizona. If there has to be a Democrat representing me, I'm sure glad it's her and not some ACLU quack like Ellen Simon.

Now I'm walking away to wash my mouth out with soap so I can regain my Republican card.

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day - The School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Edition

In honor of me seeing Harry Potter part the 6, I give you some spell-binding music.

Screamin Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell On You



John Sebastian and NRBQ - Do You Believe In Magic?



GO SEE IT!

Desperately hoping to experience the Divine

I have loved Bette Midler since I was a grade-schooler and saw her in Hocus Pocus. When her Diva Las Vegas concert aired on HBO back in the late 90's, I recorded it to a VHS tape and watched it over and over until I knew the entire two hours by heart. I would wait until everyone in the household was gone, turn up the volume on the television, and sing along with Bette as loud as I could. Her touring schedule has previously evaded me, and even now that she's performing in Vegas just 90 miles away from where I grew up, I am living across the country. But mark my words, I will see her in concert before she is no longer performing. Because I will be devastated if I miss the opportunity to experience the Divine Miss M live.

One of my favorite songs is Bette singing "Stay With Me" from her Diva Las Vegas Concert. It is such an emotionally intense rendition. She lays it all out on the table. THAT is what I'm dying to witness in person - her electric stage presence, her absolute ferocity, and her ability to pull the audience in and give them more than what they were ever hoping to receive. She is a true entertainer in every sense of the word.



See my description of "Stay With Me" - it pretty much applies to Bette singing "When a Man Loves a Woman" from her Kiss my Brass tour.



She can go from bawdy to sultry in 10 seconds flat.



And it isn't a Bette Midler show without the crude Sophie Tucker jokes (not suitable for children or those who blush easily).

The Future (hopefully) - in the shortert of terms

What I hope to do - in the broadest of terms:

Saffie: I'm sorry, mum, but I've never really seen what it is that you actually do.
Eddie: PRrr.
Saffie: Yes, but...
Eddie: PR! I PR things! People! Places! Concepts...
Patsy: ...Lulu.
Eddie: Lulu... I PR them. I make the fabulous... I make the crap into credible. I make the dull into...
Patsy: ...Delicious
Eddie: Delicious. I PR, darling!
(Absolutely Fabulous - series 3, episode 4)

Where I hope to do it - figuratively speaking:
In all seriousness, just submitted my application to the local opera company for an internship position in their PR Department. I would be out of this world excited if I got it. Loved PR in school and love opera now. love + love = dream come true.