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Jan. 23rd, 2007 03:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theatokosI've mentioned that I'm busy. It's a little overwhelming, mostly because I've had one weekend at home out of the last four. But I love everything I'm doing. I'm having fun and doing the things that really get me fired up. Which makes me a little resentful about my job sometimes. Like today. It's not that I dislike where I work, who I work with or what I do, it's that I have 7.5 hours fewer in the day to sing or study or cook or read or do yoga. I'm exceedingly spoiled in the flexibility I have in this job. In any other job I would not be able to set the hours I have and just wander off for lunch whenever I felt like it. My job makes possible voice lessons on Fridays, classes at the GTU, and weekend trips to LA.
Speaking of which, last Friday was my first voice lesson in five years. My teacher is much like me: similar build, similar voice type (Soubrette, coloratura), friendly. Turns out she went to grad school with a woman I sang with in college. (Is this what I might sound like if I hadn't been dithering about all these years?) It's a bit of a reality check to both realize how capable I am and how capable I've always been. It's like being given ears for the first time. I am learning to hear myself anew. This is tricky. I've always known that my biggest obstacle was myself and my anxiety. I am trying diligently not to beat myself up for what I perceive as time wasted. Anyway, I am feeling hopeful and a little excited about my voice and lessons for the first time in a long, long time.
And also speaking of which, Adam and I spent the weekend in LA. I always have a great time in LA. What a fascinating place, so fascinating that I don't think I can succinctly capture what it is that I like so much (to visit, only). Good friends help. As does brunch at Dough Boys, where we saw Topher Grace. He was just hanging out waiting for a table like the rest of us. He was not nearly as glamorous as many of the other patrons. That was neat. We also saw Pan's Labyrinth, my second viewing. I liked it even more the second time through and I cried even more at the end, despite knowing what was coming. The elements of obedience, sacrifice and belief move me without fail. I had heard some discussion from friends that the characters were not fully developed, but I disagree. I think that they were developed in ways other than exposition or back story. What is most important to them is made clear in ways that propel the film forward. It is very intelligent directing. If you've not seen it, I highly recommend it. Its difficulty makes the story more powerful - and by difficulty I don't mean the subtitles, I mean the dark hardness of it, violence and all.
The impetus for the trip though was the St. Catherine of Sinai Icon exhibit at the Getty. I love going to the Getty. The architecture, the view.... it makes me want to live in LA. Then of course I come down from the hillside and immediately change my mind. The icons were beautiful and ancient. Many of them were unlike any others I had seen: a square glow of transfiguration rather than a mandorla, Elijah being led by a raven, early icons that look modern to my modern eye in contrast with the flat two dimensional style icons went on to develop, the effects of burnished gold in depicting halos or rays of divine light. I wish I could describe these things in any meaningful way.
Speaking of which, last Friday was my first voice lesson in five years. My teacher is much like me: similar build, similar voice type (Soubrette, coloratura), friendly. Turns out she went to grad school with a woman I sang with in college. (Is this what I might sound like if I hadn't been dithering about all these years?) It's a bit of a reality check to both realize how capable I am and how capable I've always been. It's like being given ears for the first time. I am learning to hear myself anew. This is tricky. I've always known that my biggest obstacle was myself and my anxiety. I am trying diligently not to beat myself up for what I perceive as time wasted. Anyway, I am feeling hopeful and a little excited about my voice and lessons for the first time in a long, long time.
And also speaking of which, Adam and I spent the weekend in LA. I always have a great time in LA. What a fascinating place, so fascinating that I don't think I can succinctly capture what it is that I like so much (to visit, only). Good friends help. As does brunch at Dough Boys, where we saw Topher Grace. He was just hanging out waiting for a table like the rest of us. He was not nearly as glamorous as many of the other patrons. That was neat. We also saw Pan's Labyrinth, my second viewing. I liked it even more the second time through and I cried even more at the end, despite knowing what was coming. The elements of obedience, sacrifice and belief move me without fail. I had heard some discussion from friends that the characters were not fully developed, but I disagree. I think that they were developed in ways other than exposition or back story. What is most important to them is made clear in ways that propel the film forward. It is very intelligent directing. If you've not seen it, I highly recommend it. Its difficulty makes the story more powerful - and by difficulty I don't mean the subtitles, I mean the dark hardness of it, violence and all.
The impetus for the trip though was the St. Catherine of Sinai Icon exhibit at the Getty. I love going to the Getty. The architecture, the view.... it makes me want to live in LA. Then of course I come down from the hillside and immediately change my mind. The icons were beautiful and ancient. Many of them were unlike any others I had seen: a square glow of transfiguration rather than a mandorla, Elijah being led by a raven, early icons that look modern to my modern eye in contrast with the flat two dimensional style icons went on to develop, the effects of burnished gold in depicting halos or rays of divine light. I wish I could describe these things in any meaningful way.