Audition

It seems my goal over the past few years has been to do things that take me out of my comfort zone. Today's way of doing that was to attend a "workshop" with a Disney casting director. Actually, it was an audition. Have I ever done an audition before. Once - the one I did to get into the workshop. And that one was pretty informal. This one was informal in a way but also intense. At least it was intense for me. I tend to move around on stage a lot- guess that's from performing for young kids so much. And I was concentrating so hard on singing loud enough to be heard over the piano that I wasn't able to put any emotion into the song. And then I was concentrating on rooting myself to the floor. Bottom line, it was a great learning experience. I just with I could have had the experience before today!

New Year - New Me?

It's 2008. Twenty years ago this coming October my husband and I met. Twenty years ago this summer I moved to San Francisco to be a supervisor in the FBI office there. And twenty years ago I was living in Arlington, Virginia, a media spokesperson at FBI Headquarters, an avid racketball player, and played music for myself and to relax.  Fast forward to now - I'm married, have teenage girls, play music for a living (wish I actually made a living from it), and bike and walk for exercise.  Weigh about the same, I think. Anyway, what's the point of this? It's that twenty year thing. That's a long time. Seemed like a good time to think back. I don't usually like to look back - I like to look forward.  But, given where I am, I can't help but think back.

So, looking back over 2007, I can say I attempted some new things and accomplished a lot. And left some things started but not finished. The biggest thing I accomplished was overcoming fear and not being complacent. I tried things I had never done before and, to some extent, succeeded. I applied for a position as editor of a journal - something I have never done before - and got the job. So, I ended 2007 editing. Didn't finish the issue yet, but will by the end of the week. How do I know that I'll finish by then - because I have to.  I tried co-writing a song long distance via email and phone - came up with a good song, but have to admit that I didn't finish it. The song could be better, but I was writing it for a specific purpose - to perform at a fundraising gala - and once I performed it (which was a biggie for me - to perform for adults in a fancy setting) I didn't push myself to finish. Which means I have now cut off the possibility of co-writing with this person agin. Which is too bad, because I could have learned a lot and we could have come up with stuff i could never do on my own. So, while this may seem unfinished business to some people - to me it is good - I took steps to push myself out of my comfort zone.  And, this year I hope to do that more and to finish some of the projects I started in 2007.

So, time for a fresh start or time to finish what I've started?

Both!

So, happy new year and here's to fresh starts and tying up loose ends.