French Canada-ooh la la

I love French Canada. Why? Because it feels like Europe, they speak French as a first language, the architecture is amazing, and well, poutine.  I finished off the perfect French afternoon with a purchase of a blinged out beret. LA VIE, LA VIE, C'EST BON!!!

The Campbell Nest

Did I mention that I have the greatest husband in the world? Not only does he live up to this title with the various positive human attributes that I gush about daily to anyone who will listen, he is lately uncovering his abilities with a hammer, nails and a fresh coat of paint since the purchase of our condo. Here is the before and after of the main dining/living room. The only reason the "after" pictures look darker is because the room has brightened up so much that I had to pull down the exposure in my iphoto!

He stripped the paint off of the fireplace door that he found in an antiques junkyard to reveal a beautiful Victorian scene etched in metal. It was originally made in 1874 and is very Pride and Prejudice. And we all know how I feel about that.  I can go no longer without saying how ardently I admire and love you fireplace!  I am such a nerd. The rustic coffee table he made for a mere $100 out of planks from the renovated Coney Island boardwalk. I know, I know, he's cool!

I had the BEST time with him in NYC as always. We took a walk to Hoboken along the water and it is just gorgeous. I am falling more in love with this neighborhood the more we explore it!

Here is a picture of me trying to point out my ship from the New Jersey view:

Re-affirming...Again

There was a time when I would look around at my world as a performer: the crazy schedules, the vagabond lifestyle, the constant live out a suitcase-where is my suitcase-how much does it cost to bring a suitcase?, travel ordeals, and high drama, and I would think to myself, is this worth it??? I want more. I need more. More in a way that is less. This is too HARD. I need simplicity, and stability, and this isn’t fulfilling me in the way that I had imagined when I was a dreamy 18 year old musical theater student.  I left the business. I became a full time make up artist, working in sales and worrying about keeping my health insurance and watching a meager 401k build. I became, for lack of a better word, miserable. So I took the plunge back into the cold waters of the NYC audition scene. 


Fast forward four years and three contracts later, I now can officially declare with no hesitation that performing truly is the the thing that brings me the most happiness. Now if and when the little ones come along and I may have to shift back to the white picket fence on a NYC rooftop and a "normal" job, I will be happy with that life too. But it is really gratifying to have reawakened the passion that made me go into this crazy world to begin with. My shows these past couple of weeks were far from perfect in my perfectionist world, but it is beyond satisfying to put that tight grip on “perfect” aside to LIVE, LAUGH, and LOVE on stage to a gracious audience. 


I say gracious because at the end of the cruise I had a guest take my hands, look me in the eyes and tell me I was spectacular. I am truly not saying this to brag...I was honestly completely shocked! I felt like such a fish out of water most of the time that to have this word (normally used to describe the Macy’s Day parade) flattering and humbling. The other biggest compliment I got was from a crew member who told me she was feeling depressed here until recently, and she credited our friendship as one of the main causes for her shift towards happy. (I just made that up. Shift towards HAPPY. Do it. The word is elusive but just shift towards it and see what happens-I dare you.) There are such wonderful people here, and I love getting to know them all every day in such close environment. 

Here are the few costume pics I could shoot quickly before they were torn off for the next number. I am normally used to one or two fast changes per production show. Here, if it’s NOT a quick change, I wonder if I are doing something wrong....and as you can see these are not your average costumes!

Glorious Quebec City

More of the wonderful Quebec City. It is like fairy land. Europe in Canada. Je t'aime Quebec. C'est bon la vie!!!!!

Courage

Well, well, well. Defying Gravity never felt so scary, or satisfying. It was seriously like when I went ziplining for the first time. First terrified, then a major adrenaline rush, then a desire to run back up the mountain to do it all again. It is remarkable when one actually is forced to let go of their inhibitions and stop over analyzing, things just happen.  I was greeted to my cast cheering when I walked out of the dressing room and let me just say, one can perform to a thousand strangers, but when you get the support of your peers, you feel beyond fulfilled.  Talent acknowledging talent is a beautiful thing. I have decided that I have worked hard and I deserve a cheeseburger and fries. I am going to eat now and feel really great about that too. Maybe I deserve a strawberry cheesecake as well? I say yes.

Affirmation

SO many thoughts!

Life here is such a microcosm. You see everyone in a spotlight, under a microscope, and when you observe people from all over the world amidst a floating "Big Brother" environment, it makes for a very colorful day. Sometimes good sometimes bad. But overall I think interacting with people in this way is a blessing because you can get to know people on a deep level very quickly and learn about yourself in the process.

The theater world can be such a narcissistic business. As actors we are consumed with OUR looks, the way WE sound and the way WE are perceived on stage. From your peers, to critics, to directors and audience members we are prone to scrutiny that takes us somewhat naturally to a self involved plane of existence.  I really don’t care for this side of the business.  I shared this thought with one of the personal trainers here because his work is mainly helping people recover from injury and aiding the handicapped. I told him I envied his work as it must be incredibly rewarding always being so "hands on" giving and healing. He said that I have to perceive what I do as absolutely the same. We a giving our audiences joy, music, and hopefully reaffirming the human connection. As much as I thought "yeah sure, right, making someone smile from a time step is JUST like helping someone to walk", it was still nice to hear and have affirmed. Especially by a jock. Obviously it’s the reason we got in this crazy business to begin with (it ain’t for the bread) but it is easy to forget. My dear Jen posted this as her status the other day and I am stealing it:

The more I release, the more open I am to receiving more to give....

Love it. That speaks truth no matter what you believe.

On a lighter note mentally but not physically I have been eating like a Queen the past couple of days. I had caviar for what I believe to be the first time, crab legs, escargot, a “Millionaire’s salad” (yes that’s what it’s called and I’m glad they let me eat it as a starving artist) steak, lobster, fillet mignon. Last night I ate all the sushi I could under the sun. Who knew eel was so delicious. Who said the best things in life aren’t free? To counter the eating I have run a mile every day for three days. Doesn't sound like long, but it’s a good start. I hope if I write it here I will be held accountable to keep going everyday.

I am very very blessed and on top of it all I get to see Jason tomorrow when we dock in in the greatest city in the world!

So much more to say, think, feel but don’t want to go overboard. Pun absolutely intended. ;)

New Local Eats

I love food. Who doesn't? But I do think there is a difference between someone who likes to eat food and a bonafide foodie. Foodies get OFF on food. On combining flavors and ingredients in the kitchen that have never been assembled before. On finding that local restaurant that makes the best pad thai you have ever tasted. On traveling the world and finding the most amazing coffee shop in Colorado, or English breakfast in London, or sushi in Queens, or limoncello in Italy, or cupcake in Soho, or rodizio lamb in Argentina, or Croque Madame in France.

This was not always the case....growing up my diet consisted of noodles with butter and the occasional carrot. I just wouldn't eat anything. Now it's all changed...including my waistline, but we won't focus on that.  iworkout too you know.  I accept the challenge of more yoga and Pilates classes to fuel my intense desire to try anything and everything tasty.

With the new move of course we had to immediately try out the local cuisine!

First we tried out a polish diner that doesn't have a webpage because I think it has been on our block since before the internet existed. I can have Ukraininan food (ok Polish but it's the same deal) consisting of Slavic sausage, Rasberry blinzes, and Pyrohy.

Ok wait I have found the Sava profile on Yelp:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/sava-polish-meat-market-and-deli-jersey-city

She is the #1 rated restaurant in our entire neighborhood! I get it. 5 stars.

 It's run by this sweet, hard working Polish lady who makes everything by hand and from scratch. When asked how she's doing she answers. Tired!!! So Tired...life is hard...

Well thank you Polish baba for working so hard for us. ;)

I am glad I live in a fourth floor walk up to burn off all the calories I will be ingesting in the future.