Eric's Big Move

Yesterday was Eric's last day at Saratoga Springs Resort.  A few weeks ago he was invited for a meet-and-greet with the leadership team another Disney resort.  It went very well and the result of the meeting was his being asked to take a position on their team!  He will have the same title he had at Saratoga, just at a new place.  He's very excited about the move but it was hard for him to leave his team at DSSR.  They made a major fuss about his going away--a big potluck party, a beautiful scrapbook, a plaque for his new office, and a lovely print of the resort that the cast had all signed.  The whole tizzy just reaffirmed what I already knew--that Eric is respected and looked up to because he is excellent at what he does.  One cast member even wrote a sweet poem for him:

Today I write this poem for you,

As our ways do part, a fond "Adieu"

Is what your family wants to state

For a brand new role is on your plate...

New York's the state from which you came

In the town of Herkimer you made your fame

Spent days with residents, supporting their need

You helped them develop, showed rules they should heed.

In the Resource Center is where you worked

Did training and supervising, your job never shirked.

One day you decided to leave all the snow

And move here to Florida joining our show.

In June of '07 at Boardwalk did start

Your Disney career in a concierge part,

You were also a trainer, gave yours and did Ops,

Then Saratoga Springs begame one of your stops...

An "Emerging Leader"--you were our first

Excellent guest service is alays your thirst.

I asked for some input from all of your Cast

Here's some comments they made, from the first to the last:

"You're a positive role model," and "Certainly cute,"

"You're a flashy dresser, in a colorful suit."

"Professional-looking," and "Giving's your knack,"

"He'd give you the shirt right off his back."

"You're a quiet guy" and "You look the part

Of a thoughtful soul with a caring heart."

Your black hair is spiked--you've got brown eyes,

"Your eyebrows are perfect," "You're helpful and wise."

We heard you're in Encore, you sang with Celine,

In a Candlelight robe in the choir you were seen.

You're married to Katie, your wife and your pal,

She's a talented hostess and Kimonos gal.

She plays the music up on Swan's stage,

Where karaoke songs are still the rage...

Someone told me, which must really stink

Is that you didn't have a kitchen sink?!!

Don't know if that's true, but I heard it four ties

So as part of my poem, made it one of my rhymes...

You've been our fine leader for more than two years

You're a wonderful asset to all of your peers.

Now you're heading to Yacht and Beach,

You'll be a Manager, the Basics teach,

Not just by words, but by actions, deeds,

You'll charm new Cast and meet Guests' needs.

It's a perfect fit in a leadership role

'Cause "moving forward" is your Disney goal.

Consensus of opinion..."We think you've been aces!"

That's obvious to see by the look on our faces.

The rev of your Honda as you leave us tonight

Will sadden our hearts as you leave from our sigh.

We'll miss you lots as you leave from our home

But we wish you the best as from us you do roam.

So farewell, Eric Brown, we hope that you're blessed,

From your family at Saratoga and at Old Key West.

What's New with You?

The Time and Music Cabaret, a fund-raiser for Encore, was a major success last weekend.  I got to sing "To Keep My Love Alive," a darkly humorous Rodgers and Hart tune which was an audience favorite.  You may also remember from a previous post that I was cast in a production of Joseph... at the Garden Theatre.  Yesterday at our first rehearsal, I was promoted to the role of Potiphar's Wife!  I will still be singing with the ensemble, but I'll also be featured in the Potiphar scene in addition to my chorus duties. 

As for the house hunt, we decided to put in an offer on the Model Home.  We really liked it and feel it fits our needs best.  The offer has been approved by the seller, but since it's a short sale, we're still waiting on approval from the sellers' bank, which could take up to 90 days.  If we're approved, then we would have 45 days to get our loan and then hopefully we would close! 

Carmen has Carmen gone

Last weekend we opened (and closed) the collaborative production of Carmen with the Orlando Philharmonic and Mad Cow Theatre.  It was a wonderful experience!  My first time visiting the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center was as a performer on the stage--I got a major kick out of that.  It ended up being a really fun venue to perform in.  Exploring the backstage area was a total adventure.  Stage stars had autographed the walls when their shows came through town so I lingered quite a bit gawking at our heroes' signatures. 

The show itself seemed a success and the house looked full on Sunday afternoon and Friday night.  My folks--the very educated and cultured parental unit of three professional musicians--have sat through a lot of boring musical performances in their lifetimes, but they both geniunely enjoyed every moment of a three-plus-hour evening at the opera, even the parts where their kid wasn't onstage.  And the Orlando Sentinel's theatre critic even noticed that we received a pretty lengthy round of applause at the end of the night (read the review).  That could have been the result of the lengthy, non-underscored curtain call, but who knows?  I can say that between my first rehearsal three weeks before opening night and the interminable final bows, I made some invaluable memories, contacts, and friends.

Exciting Stuff, That Opera

Le ciel ouvert, la vie errante,

pour pays, l'univers;

et pour loi, sa volonté,

et surtout la chose enivrante:

La liberté! La liberté!

The open sky, the roaming life,

For a country, the universe;

And for law, one's own free will,

And above all, the intoxicating thing:

Liberty! Liberty!

So go the final sentiments before Carmen's intermission: La liberté!--which we as Americans, in the words of our director, "know a little bit about."  You can bet what I'll be thinking when I sing these words this Friday and Sunday at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in my professional theatre debut.  (Seriously, you can buy your seats on Ticketmaster and everything!)

Eric's Special, Too

As I sit in this delightfully sticky booth enjoying my free wi-fi access and stuffing my pancake-hole with deliciously free breakfast, staring out into a rainy afternoon, I'm thinking of Eric on our regular day off and why I'm having a date with my laptop at Denny's.  Well, Eric is someplace special today--probably in full awareness of the syrupy goodness he's missing and the gloomy precipitation he's not.  He was selected to be a...well, I can't remember exactly what it's called, but there's a big press event going on at Walt Disney World with media luminaries attending from all over creation, and Eric gets to tag along with some of those illustrious personalities for a week.  He is basically in charge of being the liaison-type guy between Disney and the group from a New York City "hot" adult contemporary station.  These on-air folks and various station VIPs have the privilege of hanging out with my hubby during a week full of fun events and activities all over property.  It's an honor because only a few managers from all across the Walt Disney World Resort were chosen, and he's told it's an exciting adventure hobnobbing with all the media and enjoying all the perks.

Aw, shoot.  In my blogging excitement, I accidently dipped my pancakes in ketchup!  Dunking the sausage in syrup would've been a tastier mistake. 

In the meantime, I'll be savoring my breakfast-for-lunch catered with care by my South of the Border server Samuel, slung with a smile and a lonely rat-tail (photo forthcoming--if I'd thought to bring the microSD adapter for my cameraphone, you wouldn't even have to wait to see this truly amazing example of American [?] cosmetology EDIT: see below).  And I waited less than ten minutes!  Don't worry--later Eric will be enjoying my leftover eggs and bakey from the to-go box because on Free Grand Slam Day, there are no substitutions, even for picky eaters.

BONUS: My Thoughts on the Super Bowl

Did anyone else notice...

• the consecutive commercials featuring ladies being tackled (Snickers/Focus on the Family), schlubby dudes in their underwear (Career-Builder/Dockers), and woodland creatures (CarMax/Monster.com)?
• the Stripes theme featured on the Budweiser bridge commercial?
• the commercial announcing free food at Denny's?  Seriously, I only waited like six minutes.  Where is everybody?
• the ironic Super Bowl snapshot (EDIT: see below) circulating the tongue-in-cheek humor blogs yesterday? (Photo forthcoming--because Randall Gay is in the photo, the Denny's server won't let me pull it up.)
• if Baby Brees got an e*trade endorsement deal?
• anything but the commercials?

EDIT: Here are the photos I promised.

The rat-tail is small but effective.  This guy totally got a 100% tip.

Randall Gay sashays by as two Colts share a passionate embrace.

Gigs Galore

Since this new year began, I have been blessed enough to be just about in constant rehearsal for gigs from the start, and there are no signs of my slowing down any time soon!  First was the latest in a collaborative chain of performances for the Orange County Library System.  Last year around this time--when I had just bought my equipment and gotten my act together (literally)--I answered a post on CraigsList seeking musicians for Music in the Library, a celebration of National Music Week, at each of their branches.  I did a set in the study room at the Southwest branch in Dr. Phillips (kind of ironic to have some lady banging on a piano and screaming into a microphone in a library at all, much less a study room, huh?), and then another at the downtown branch on Central Avenue.  Jimi (spelled like Hendrix), the library's incredibly friendly and fun Community Relations liaison, recommended my services to his college roommate, who just happens to be Chef Chris Lacey of Jack's Steakhouse in the posh up-and-coming neighborhood of Baldwin Park.  As a result, I have gotten to play several sets at Jack's, enough, in fact, to cover the cost of my entire system--speakers, stands, mics, table and all!  So anyway, Jimi was nice enough to recruit me for another gig at the library, Dr. Phillips High School's Art Expo.  There were lots of nice comments and even a booking for a Friends of the Library event this December.  Mark your calendars!

Meanwhile, Eric and I were both tapped by Encore to perform in a small group of singers for Transitions Optical's annual international Academy at Disney's Yacht Club Resort.  The performances was for their 2009 Lab of the Year Awards ceremony, with a theme of "Never Lose Sight...of the Possibilities" (Get it?), so we were asked to sing a few inspirational numbers to open and entertain throughout the show: a Queen medley of We Will Rock You and We are the Champions, Power of the Dream from the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies, and a beautiful part-a cappella arrangement of Go the Distance from Hercules.  Our final selection was Defying Gravity from Wicked, and I was so excited to sing a solo!  Transitions Optical was nice enough to provide a costuming and cosmetology team for us, so I had a beautiful costume, amazing updo, and incredible make-up to wear!

Me as Glinda with Beth Neel as Elphaba

Then, just about the day after that event, I received a phone call from Mad Cow Theatre about a callback I had attended in December.  I was on their alternate list for the chorus of Bizet's Carmen.  Someone had dropped out at the last minute so they invited me to join the cast!  The performances will be Friday, February 26 at 8:00pm and Sunday, February 28 at 2:00pm at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, which means I will be learning the entire role in less than three weeks!  I consider the entire experience to be a very exciting challenge, and I am thrilled to have my first theatre contract!

Coming up next will be the second annual cabaret featuring singers from Encore.  Like last year, all the proceeds from this year's show, called Time and Music, will go toward our budget for the summer production.  The goal is to keep making the summer show bigger and better so we can raise more and more funds for our selected charity recipient, which this year is the Make a Wish Foundation of Central and North Florida.  The cabaret starts rehearsal the first of March and goes onstage on March 11, 13, and 14 at the Odyssey Restaurant at Epcot. 

Finally, to keep me booked until May 16, I have just been cast in Garden Theatre's community production of good old Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  Back when I was a big fish in a little pond, I played the Narrator in Ware County High School's production, so it'll be a fresh and new experience this time since I'll be playing one of a few wife-y type chorus members.  Hopefully in the meantime I'll get a chance to be a judge again at East Ridge Idol, the annual fundraiser for my friend Gretchen's chorus program.  I'll have to double check my schedule.

As always, you can get the latest updates about my career by visiting my website.

House Hunting Update

We're well into our house hunt by now and there have been a few updates.  First of all, we've had a hard time remembering which house is House A, House B, and House C, but we've had a few nicknames stick to them throughout the process.  Secondly, we went to see a few more houses today (which would have been Houses D and E) and we have two more to see soon.  So House A has become the Hospital House because of the stark white tile and walls.  House B is now the Red Door House for obvious reasons, and House C is the Toothpaste House because the exterior was recently painted white with mint green accents. 

The Hospital House is still in the running as a more-than-acceptable back-up.  Though the Red Door House is within our price range, for the price it's not as irresistable a value as many of the others in its size range.  House C had been the front runner, but sadly when we went back to take a second look, we discovered that a not-so-well repaired leak in the roof had resprung.  Factoring in the roof replacement, mold removal, and paint and drywall reconstruction--not to mention risking the possibility of the leak re-respringing in the future--at this point it doesn't seem smart to take on the property. 

House D--the Yellow House, that is--has a great big back yard with a pool and it's situated on a quiet cul-de-sac.  There's a nice big dining area and tile throughout.  However, it's a foreclosure property, and the former owners must've been a bit incensed when they left because...it's kind of a mess.  There's also no fridge.  Yep, they must've been pretty mad.  It's also backed right up against the main road, so there's quite a bit of noise. 

House E used to be a model home in our neighborhood, thus its nickname of the Model.  It probably fits our needs better than anything we've seen so far--a comfy price, proximity, size, and condition.  It has high ceilings and even a few furnishings, an open floor plan, and lots of curb appeal.  The back yard is about the same size as our current yard, but it seemed puny compared to the Yellow House's massive yard.  We'd have to provide a washer and dryer, and the wallpaper in the kitchen is seriously hideous.  All of these obstacles can be overcome though, so we'll see what happens next!

House Hunting

Eric and I have decided we'e had enough of the renting lifestyle and we are looking to join the ranks of the homeowners.  We've been saving long enough that we think we can safely make a solid down payment with a nest egg to spare.  We took the first steps by getting pre-approved for a loan at our bank and opening a savings account at Partners, the credit union for Disney cast members. Then today we went out with a realtor to look at a few homes in our area!  Here are the highlights of our favorites so far:

House A is in the neighborhood where we currently rent, so we'd save a lot of miles on the moving truck!  We really enjoy living in this community except that frisbee-ing is not allowed in our park (whose idea was it to make that rule?).  It has a big yard and the pool was recently redone and looks great.  Unfortunately, there's no fence and, though the exterior has just been painted, it's kind of a weird color.  It's pretty roomy with lots of closet space, and there is a neutral color palette so it'll be easy to customize it with our touch. 

House B has a cute red door but also sports an unappealing color combo outside--like rye bread with butter.  Inside, though, it's been recently painted a lovely gold color and you can tell it's been taken care of well.  There's no carpet, only tile, so we could toss out our vacuum and get a Swiffer!  This one also has a large yard and a pool, but it's a little further from where we work.  There also isn't much room for a formal dining area, just a little breakfast nook.

House C sits in the community adjacent to House B but is quite a bit bigger than its neighbor.  Although we were pretty excited at the prospect of 4 bedrooms and both a formal and casual living room, we can't decide if we'd be shooting ourselves in the foot by taking on more square footage to cool and heat.  It's definitely a home we could grow into as we build equity.  There's a pool, hot tub, and fountain, and vaulted ceilings in front.  The carpet needs some work though, and we might have to provide a new fridge, washer, and dryer.  The kitchen is spacious though, with lots of cabinet space, and a grand piano might fit through the double front doors someday! 

We're still trying to figure out the logistics--like the first-time homebuyers' tax credit (since Eric is technically not a first-timer by their definition until June 3)--but hopefully we've gotten the ball rolling enough that by the time our lease is up, we can move in to a house of our very own!

Holiday Season Recap

We have officially survived the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, and we have a few photos to prove it.  My first act during the holidays was to attend a book signing of the new Ridley Pearson-Dave Barry collaboration at Downtown Disney.  It was very exciting to meet these two literary legends, but I couldn't even yet tell the two people who would most share my excitement--my parents--because I asked Dave Barry to sign a book for each of them as a Christmas gift!  Didn't want to ruin the surprise :) The inscriptions (his idea, not mine)?  "To Terry, my idol," and "To Sharon, a goddess."

Here's a photo from the Singing Christmas Trees, featuring my talented friend Rachel Scott as the mother Mary.  Believe it or not, all of those hundreds of "ornaments" on the trees are choir singers! 

Check out our fancy new robes for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot!  They look a little funny up close, but from a distance in a tree-shaped clump, they look pretty spiffy!

Here's a photo I found online from our performance with Celine Dion for the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade.  Can't find us?  Look more closely. 

Okay, I'll give you a hint.

Look how festive our house looks when decorated for the holidays!  We had a little get together to celebrate.

We partied for Eric's birthday, too!  How funny are these cupcakes!

The Young Alpha Chis went on an outing to Kimonos for some sushi and singing!  Rachel and I did a little number together.

We both had to work on Christmas morning, but at least Eric got a chance to wear the new shirt my parents gave him!

It was pretty slow at Saratoga, so he spent the morning making this pretty incredible ballon hat with his cast members.

And here we are, newly arrived home from our respective jobs, ready to open our stockings and read the Christmas story.

The Decade in TV and Film

So, you know I'm into movies and tv and stuff.  And I'm into reading.  So that means I read a lot about movies and tv and stuff, and almost all the stuff I've been reading lately has been lists of the top movies and shows of the decade (even though, since the millenium technically lasted until the end of 2000, I'm guessing the decade probably lasts until the end of 2010, but who's counting?).  So I thought I'd make my own little list, especially since most of their lists (especially the movie lists) are composed of total downers that nobody except movie critics have ever seen.  So anyway, here goes: a list of my favorite films and television from the oughts. 

20 Favorite Films

1. Almost Famous (2000)
2. Amelie (2001)
3. Bruce Almighty (2003)
4. Death at a Funeral (2007)
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
6. High Fidelity (2000)
7. In Bruges (2008)
8. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
9. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
10. Minority Report (2002)
11. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
12. Ocean's Eleven (2001)
13. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
14. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
15. Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
16. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
17. The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
18. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
19. Tropic Thunder (2008)
20. Wall-E (2008)

20 Favorite TV Series and Mini-Series

1. Angels in America (2003)
2. Arrested Development (2003-2006)
3. House, M.D. (2004-present)
4. Monk (2002-2009)
5. Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King (2006)
6. Project Runway (2005-present)
7. Pushing Daisies (2007-2009)
8. The Office (2005-present)
9. Three Sheets (2006-present)
10. Ugly Betty (2006-present)
Honorable Mention: FlashForward (2008-present), too early to tell if it'll define a decade for me or not

5 Favorite TV Series not originating in the oughts

1. Futurama (1999-2003, 2010-present)
2. Inside the Actors Studio (1994-present)
3. Sex and the City (1998-2004)
4. Roswell (1999-2002)
5. The West Wing (1999-2006)
Honorable Mention: The X-Files (1993-2002), even though the seasons that aired in the oughts sucked

Disclaimer! I still haven't seen Sherlock Holmes, Extract, Wonder Boys, Freaks and Geeks, Punch-Drunk Love, The Hurt Locker, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Extras, The Hangover, or Avatar, all of which may have broken the list if I had seen them during the oughts.  But now it's the...teens (?) so I guess they're ineligible.  Along with Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel.  And I know you're asking, "Where're 30 Rock and Lost?" but I don't watch those shows, so... :-P