Indiana hyoid bones

I just finished a 5 day Voice Intensive with one of the master voice teachers (in the world people). It was great! I learned a lot and had some wonderful creative experiences. It wore me out! We worked non-stop each day from 10-5:30 and last night I slept 10 hours. I guess needed it. Some notable things I got out of it, that probably won't make sense to most readers, include, manipulating my hyoid bone, just let me know and I'll manipulate yours, opening up the lower part of my rib cage, ribs-belly-belly-ribs, and doing an amazing contact improv (with text!) with my fantastic Finnish partner, who was working in Finnish, so I received only pure energy. To top it off, last night I had to go straight from the last day of the workshop to a 2 hour discussion time with one Mr. Wade (mentioned in previous posts), again, another Voice master. Good times, but the house is a mess.
In other perhaps more sensical news, I will hopefully be seeing Indy 4 tomorrow with some of my favorite people in the world. I have had the release date in my planner since I bought my planner late in 2007. Unfortunately I have been so busy that I have had to wait to see it, but that's fine. I've been rewatching the first three to get prepped for in jokes that Spielberg will doubtlessly throw in. Plus I just want to get excited for the new (please let it be the last) one.
Back to the intensive. Some areas I am interested in self educating in to be a stronger teacher: grammar, anatomy (of breath/voice), acoustics and poetry. These will be the next few focuses, perhaps even this summer. Incidentally, if you ever have questions about what I do, or questions about your own voice or anything like that, I am always more than happy to dialogue to the best of my ability about such things.

Cooper needs some brows

I saw Anderson Cooper on the street today.  My boss saw him earlier in the day.  We both noted his lack of eyebrows.  I mean, I know they look whispy on tv and photos, but in real life, they're non-existent.  

Visit Our Showroom

Because I was so swamped during the recent Fall semester, I managed to completely miss the "Speechless" campaign which was used by the WGA to support their cause. There are a lot of these, and they can all be found on the you of tube. This one, with Patricia Clarkson and Amy Ryan was one I particularly enjoyed. Another really funny one has Laura Linney in it. Check them out!

Cabin fever

It seems I am already starting to get antsy. This is one of the many activities I did today to help relieve myself of antsiness.

Adventureoscopy

So I am trying to stay productive and enjoy myself during my time off. Yesterday I made my way down to Battery Park where I explored Castle Clinton. There I got to enjoy standing with a cannon, a colonial era wall and three dioramas! Then off to the National Museum of the American Indian where I bought a postcard. It was lovely. Today I had an endoscopy which was great. I thank you Touchos for sending me in the direction of an awesome doctor. My tummy doctor's office was really close to the Roosevelt Island Tram. I had never seen it before so that was cool. Right before I went under (yeah I had to "go under") my doctor said, "Well Madame, are you ready for an adventure?" Then I woke up. As a bonus he took a picture of my vocal folds and gave them to me. Pretty sweet. Thanks pbf for being in supportive attendance and thanks everybody else for your prayers!

110 in the Lampshade

It's official. Somebebe doesn't like wearing a lampshade collar. Here are some phone pictures of her looking very depressed.

*update*

I just walked into the dark kitchen to find the dog just sitting in the middle of the room, stock still. She doesn't know what to do with her lampshade collar on.

the end is near

I have 1 week left in one class and 2 weeks left in another... so close!  Also, I helped co-curate the senior gallery this year at work and we installed the show yesterday and today... We light it tomorrow and then it's done!  Woot!  The gallery opening is next wednesday night along with the students portfolio night... Summer will be here soon! and then over before it starts... 

Stress

So, as usual I am stressed. The good news is that I am much less stressed than I was a few months ago. My dear friend and blogger posted this interesting Life Change Scale. Score your Life Change Scale for the past 6 months alone. According to psychological research, persons who total 200 points or more on the following scale within a 12-month period are more prone to physical and psychological stress-related illness than those who score less. To see where you stand, simply total the number of stress points you have accumulated in the last year. Note that both pleasant and unpleasant "life events" can cause stress. Thank you for this Nomad! As I sit here typing this I am at 210. Nice. What is your Life Change Scale number?


THE SOCIAL READJUSTMENT RATING SCALE
(Life Change Scale)

LIFE EVENT MEAN VALUE

Death of spouse 100
Divorce 73
Marital separation 65
Jail term 63
Death of close family member 63
Personal injury or illness 53
Marriage 50
Fired at work 47
Marital reconciliation 45
Retirement 45
Change of health in family member 44
Pregnancy 40
Sex difficulties 39
Gain of new family member (birth, adoption, older adult moving in) 39
Business readjustment 39
Change in financial state (much worse or much better) 39
Death of close friend 37
Change to different line of work 36
Change in number of arguments with spouse (more or less) 35
Loan of over $10,000 31
Foreclosure of mortgage or loan 30
Change in responsibilities at work (promotion, demotion, transfer) 29
Child leaving home (marriage, attending college) 29
Trouble with in-laws 29
Outstanding personal achievement 28
Spouse begins or stops work 26
Begin or end of school 26
Change in living conditions (remodeling, deterioration of neighborhood) 25
Revision of habits (dress, manners, associations) 24
Trouble with boss 23
Change in work conditions 20
Change in residence 20
Change in schools 20
Change in church activities 19
Change in recreation 19
Change in social activities 18
Loan less than $10,000 17
Change in sleeping habits 16
Change in number of family get-togethers 15
Change in eating habits 15
Vacation 13
Christmas 12
Minor violations of the law (eg traffic ticket) 11

Public art and me

I was recently in the midst of public/performance art as it was being documented... so far I've not found myself in the background of photos online.

I rode the train with these ladies on Saturday.

Two days ago I was walking by a giraffe as it was being filmed. (not the giraffe but... a bear.)

space dance

Tonight we saw a Brazilian dance company, Grupo Corpo, at BAM and we also ate Space Ice Cream (while watching Star Wars) that we bought in D.C. Guess which one was amazing and which one was a disappointment.

Adieu McMus

You will be missed.

Back a day late

We're back home! Our flight was canceled last night so we had to stay at a hotel near the airport last night and take a flight this morning... To kill our time last night we walked around a strip mall in Chantilly, VA (is this where they make the lace?). There was a game store... that is to say, there was a board game store where there were lots of people sitting around tables playing games that i'd never seen. You know the type, Dungeons and Dragons and the such. There was a rather large british guy that made fun of the wife's Ohio sweatshirt...

Hopefully more about our whole trip to come, but for now, here's a video to tide you over... we just happened upon this fun moment on the back side of the Air and Space museum.

We're heeeere

I liked your answers to D.C.=?

I'm trying to get the wife up and moving early... she's doing it but not the happiest about it.

Hi there!

So we've not been blogging... we've been busy... you know. (As in neglecting the blog, Abbi.)

But the good news is vacation is nigh!!! We depart Friday morning for 5 nights, 6 days of glorious time away! But perhaps it won't be away from our glorious readers... Perhaps we'll find some time to blog on vacation! Or at least blog about vacation when we get back. And perhaps I shouldn't say this in the event that it doesn't happen, but I'm hoping for another Wife and Man youtube video!!

In the meantime... let's think of the many things D.C. could stand for!

Dear Children
Deer Children (Doe! {D'oh!})
Dead Cow
Damp Cork
Dog Chicken
Dung Camp
Dog Corn (reverse that)
Dairy Cheese

your turn!

Neglect

*neglect, neglect, neglect*

micro-crazy

We were watching a documentary the other night and Steve Ballmer of Microsoft was on it.
That reminded me of this:




which in turn reminded me of this:




But then all that reminded me of THE GRAND FINALE!!!




Wasn't that a fun trot down Viral memory lane? Perhaps Steve Ballmer invented Viral videos for microsoft...?

We need a vacation

So we're taking one!

After years of talking about doing it, we're going to D.C. 5 nights, 6 days of our Nation's capital. We're nerds, so we're excited to see history come to life, our politicians at work, our tax dollars spent on archiving and culture. Perhaps good dining, shows at the Kennedy center and a moonlight tour of the buildings.

Help us plan our itinerary... What would you do?!

Let's make a BFD

You know what's the most frustrating of Deal or No Deall? How the family and friends are always like "She's gone through so many struggles and beaten so many obstacles in her life. She can do this!" (or some form of that)
Seriously? What does having 4 kids, being behind in car payments, fighting your way back from cancer, and saving a man's life on the subway tracks have to do with your ability to pick out a friggin' case?!!!

So turn it off! Well, I've not faced enough obstacles in life to have the power to do that.

Hectic

Once again my schedule is crazy! I set boundaries and then those get pushed. Ho hum. I just received a phone call that I am going to be a mid semester replacement for a teacher friend of mine. It's nice they thought of me and I have to take it but it's going to make my Mondays 9am-10:30pm days. Not so fun. If you thought we were going to get to hangout this semester we will have to wait until the summer. Your prayers would be appreciated! Thanks...

Urine Trouble

I had my annual physical a few days ago. It's been two years since my last one so I guess it is my alternating year physical. Unrine samples have always given me trouble. I was one of those kids who had lots of trouble using public restrooms. Thankfully, most of that bladder anxiety is gone in my adulthood but every so often it will creep back in, like when my doctor needs a urine specimen. At my last exam I was not capable of...producing. This time I planned ahead. I filled my 32 ounce nalgene and started pushing the fluids on the train. But to no avail, well, a little avail, but I don't think it was enough.

In other news, yesterday was my first day back at work and it was great! At some point I get bored over my break and miss my job so it was very nice to be back. We had to watch all the freshman do Shakespeare monologues. They had been instructed to present them as though they were auditioning, so no one had seen them before. To make it really cruel, the kids don't start their Shakespeare training until this semester so they are basically flying blind. It's a lot of pressure on the kids. It's the first time they have performed in from of their whole class and all of the faculty are there, but it's fun.
One notable performance was a girl doing a Lady Anne monologue from Richard III. She had set up blocks to represent her dead husband's body and she put a shroud over it. At one point she is kneeling next to the "body" and she pulls off the shroud and in a very unconvincing manner, faints. Freshman! Why do they make such crazy and unfounded acting choices. After a full 10 seconds all 100 of us realize simultaneously that she has actully fainted! Only at acting school can something like this happen. The paramedics came, she had to go to the hospital, it was very involved. At one point one of my colleagues was telling the paramedic, "We just thought it was part of her scene!"