You know you're in Florida when.....It's the middle of December and you hear the repetitive "It's a Small World After All" as the the ice cream truck comes down your street.
You know you're on your period when....There just doesn't seem to be enough chocolate in you chocolate bagel so you break up chunks of Hershey's dark chocolate and put it on top...you also decide to put hot chocolate in your coffee and enjoy a ghetto mocha:)
I just finished catching up on everyones blog this morning. It was nice because in a way it was like I got to talk to you guys. I've been kind of lonely, which is stupid because I'm surrounded by people at work, surrounded by people at opera rehearsals, surrounded by people when I perform, surrounded by my friends who live here, surrounded by my family and sisters who just got home...so why do I feel lonely? I think part of it is that for as long as I can remember the time leading up to Christmas was one of glee and excitement, midterms, Christmas parties, decorating my dorm, flying home, being able to goof off after classes finally end....while this year it seemed a little anticlimactic... I didn't get excited when my mom got all the decorations out to decorate the house, I had no will to help her put them up, I didn't get excited when I saw decorations pop up around town or in my restaurant, I wasn't even very moved when I listened to Josh Groban's Christmas CD "Noel"...what is my problem? (Okay, I was moved a little, because "Little Drummer Boy" is pretty much the best thing ever!)
If I were to self diagnose myself I'd say it has a lot to do with the fact that I'm unhappy living at home. My parents and I do not get along for many reasons and I've found my only defense it to just shut them out in a way, which only makes them and me more unhappy. They just don't understand! graga;sd;lfkjds;kjsdf!!!! I've toyed with moving out many times but there just always seemed to be more benefit staying, as I don't have to pay rent here and have the use of a car, but I'm starting to think otherwise. Those things seem minuscule to the happiness I'd feel living in a house full of people around my age on my own! It's almost like I'm stuck half in the real world and half in parent protected world and this feeling of limbo is driving me insane!! This is my life damn it and I should be able to do with it as I please. I feel like I'm in a cage and not reaching my full potential....and I'm sick of telling myself this is just temporary and must be endured to reach the next phase in my life...bullshit. This is here and now and I'm unhappy and I'm going to do something about it! Woah...that felt good.
Well, I'm not sure where to go after that emotional outburst. I will say that my performance at the University Club Dec. 19th went really well. My voice just flowed and I felt so in control and I just performed the shit out of the songs while simultaneously being petrified I'd forget the words to these classics that every blue hair in the room probably had memorized since puberty. After the performance a man who used to be a singer for 45 years came up and told me I had an incredible gift and a wonderful career ahead of me. I don't know though, I just felt sad, being around all these people who probably didn't have anymore then 15 years left in their life all decked out in there red and green eating salmon and rice sitting 8 to a table. Were they happy? Were they bitter? Did they feel like they'd lived a full life? Were they prepared to die tomorrow? Did they still love their equally old spouse sitting next to them the same way they loved them when they met?
I proceeded to a party afterwards decked out in my new express outfit and feeling sexy. I didn't know anyone at the party except Josh and his girlfriend Tiffany, but that of course changed once I had a bottle of White Zinfandel inside me. One guy was clearly looking for some action, a 20 year old with a good body, who called me Handcock all night because apparently I look like the girl from the movie, who turned out to be Charlize Theron. I told him I was 24 and that he was too young for me. A group of us then spent a good portion of the night playing "Big Booty" which is astoundingly fun when you're drunk. I then passed out listening to a couple girls who work at the front desk of the Hilton gossip about hooking up with their manager and fellow employees.
Up next, I'll be singing "O Holy Night" at the midnight service Christmas Eve at St. Lukes Cathedral in downtown Orlando. I really can't believe Christmas is right around the corner, but somehow I find myself looking forward to the New Year and all the new possibilities it will bring! I already have confirmed auditions for Cincinnati Conservatory and Florida State University, and I will be singing the novice in Suor Angelica with the Orlando Opera Company in April!
I probably won't be able to write in here until after the Holidays with all the Hub bub so I just want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and a very Merry Christmas! I hope your season is full of peace, health, relaxation and love!
ps. It's a little on the nippy side in Florida today....60 degreees!:)
oaotimetogogetchristmasgiftsformysisterso, Caitlyn
Monday, December 22, 2008
Tis the Season...
Sunday, December 7, 2008
November Revisited
Nov. 7th. My Birthday! Jenna and Nick fly down and Giana drives up. During the day I got a message, chocolate pedicure, and a facial, all of which I've never had done before! And at night I hit Taverna Opa at Point Orlando with friends were there was a lot of table dancing, greek food, napkin throwing, and making out with random Irish dude. I think 23 is going to be a lot of fun:)
Nov. 14, 16, & 18. Il Trovatore: The Opera! Paul Mitchell does the hair and make-up and I get a sweet ass brown wig. I Get to know the girls in the chorus, all older late 20's to mid 30's with really interesting lives and (gasp!) husbands...Weird. I felt like the young wild child with a new guy every week..
.haha, kidding...almost:P Enjoyed my 10 minutes on stage being a nun and a gypsy, but most importantly enjoyed reading Stephanie Meyers book "The Host" in the dressing room in between my scenes:)
Nov. 20-23. Surprise Jenna in Cincinnati! It was the perfect surprise, I hid in the bathroom and when her and Nick arrived I approached the table pretending to take their order...Jenna's look of surprise is forever etched in my mind...priceless:) The trip was a complete blast, and I saw Cincinnati through new eyes, it really is a cute little city with a lot of charm! Visited Ab
by and Morgan briefly and had a coaching at Cincinnati Conservatory! They both seemed so happy and gushed about how amazing the program is, so I'm very excited to audition there in the beginning of the year...if I get an audition (crossed fingers!) I did get my application in on-time:P
Nov.27 Turkey Day! The whole family was home, but I was working so much I didn't get to hang out a lot except on that actual day:( I did get in a good family game of scrabble while trying to write my personal statements though. I'm really looking forward to Christmas for some ultimate family and relaxation time.
Dec. 7. My throat hurts dang it...and I'm hoping I'm not coming down with anything because I have to sing Dec. 19th for a benefit. My mom just got done stomping around the house with laryngitis...so I'm optimistic! Tomorrow I have to go to a coaches meeting for the Ale House from 10-4...needless to say I'm not really looking forward to it and regretting I ever put my name on that list. My plan is not to work at Ale House for more then a year...but don't tell them that:P I just went on a random shopping spree online at Victoria Secret a couple days ago and have been eating healthy and working out as much as possible so that when my purchases arrive on Dec 17th. I'm ready to go:) It helps me to have short term goals like this.
Hope everyone is staying warm...Hanging out in hot tubs with a bonfire burning nearby is a popular activity down here...esp nice when it gets down to 30.
oaenjoyingwatchinghollywoodaccessrightnowo, Caitlyn
Friday, December 5, 2008
Twilight....the movie.
Nov. 29th I went and saw the movie "Twilight" with Nisha...I cried like a baby through a good portion of it. The following is what I wrote in my diary when I got home that night....hopefully some of you can relate.
This is one of those moments in time that if I were a painter I'd try to brush this feeling on canvas, if I were a song writer I'd try to get this feeling into each aching note, if I were a poet I would try to evoke this feeling be stringing together the perfect words. All I can do is stare and feel, my brain is a fuzzy heavy object upon my shoulders, my body...is craving love, not so much a physical need as a need of the heart...my heart, my heart is crying & aching & confused & lost & hopeless...hopelessly waiting. I know it's a feeling that will pass and I'll be able to function as if nothing happened tomorrow...but for know I'm wallowing, being enveloped in this thick squeezing longing haze...where is my Edward, my Mr. Darcy, my Romeo?
Monday, October 27, 2008
I Am Alive!
So clearly I suck at blogging....
It's been a month...uh...here is a short version to bring you up to date.
September 24: Halloween Horror Nights with Jonathan McFadden. Employee free preview night. Drank lots of beer and took shots so everything wasn't so scarey. Had the time of my life and ended dancing and singing Karaoke at the live bar at City Walk with the 5 new friends we made that night.
September 30 - October 3: Aaron Visit's! Pretty much have the time of my life. Surprise Paul An with wine and cheese in the house he's renting while singing with the Orlando Opera, seriously he lives like 15 min. away from me. Go Downtown and par
ty like rock stars, conversing with homeless men, me running away for a short stint, watching a lady shake her naked ass on a swing. (And this was just the first day!) Day 2 went to Wet n' Wild, ending at downtown Disney, then went karaokeing with Paul at Big Daddy's (Another Redonkulously long day) Day 3 Go to Islands of Adventure and end partying downtown with Paul and then at the gay club here in Florida known as "The Parliment House", it was latin night!!!! HOT!!! A lesbian asked to take a picture with me...I guess I look like a typical exotic Florida girl:P Aaron missed his plane the next morning that left at 7am...oops! For a more indepth version of the trip see my facebook album!
October 3: Planning on staying in this night but Jon and Nisha drag me to the winewarehouse for wine tasting...turns out to be a blast...and yes...for the 4th day in a row I 
get drunk! I invited new friends back to my parentless house (they were up visiting Kels and Kerri in Maryland) and proceed to eat pizza and drink delicious wine while having deep philosophical convos.
October 8: Go see Eagle Eye with Nisha! So in love with Shia Laboeuf it hurts! Gah! We're ment to be together I swearrrrr. CLAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!
October 9 - 14: Work my face off. Late nights and late mornings, but make big Mulla!
October 15 - 17: Sleepover at Nisha's. She forces me to start Graduate Applications. Thanks Nisha:) We also have a crazy movie marathon and literally sit on out asses all day! It was bliss! No school! No School! la la la la!
October 19: Go to my Uncle's after work to Celebrate my Grandpa's birthda
y! End up hanging out and getting drunk with my cousin, his friend, my uncle, and his friend. haha! The Tampa Bay Rays win and are going to the World Series, since I'm drunk this is very exciting to me at the time. Watch Iron Man and crazy little kids on YouTube and sober up (Blood and Sparkle Wiggles). When I wake up the next morning I find a flock of birds or perhaps just one with very sparatic bowel movements has covered my car with shit. Laugh the whole way home and get crazy looks from passerbyers:P
Okay, now you should all be caught up and I can get to the good stuff:P
oaeveryonelistentoLADYGAGA,sherulesmyworldo, Caitlyn
Friday, September 19, 2008
Plantar Fasciitis
I'm back after a short hiatus! Where was I might you ask? Sitting...sitting...and more sitting. I couldn't walk for the past 5 days...and let me tell you not being able to walk can really give you a case of the blues...it's almost as bad as not being able to sing! The condition is called "Plantar Fasciitis" and it is a reoccuring condition if you don't take care of your feet properly and do special exersices...as I have learned. I first got it last summer when I abused my feet dancing in "40 Second Street" 7 shows in a row, in improper tap shoes. I think you all remember me limping around last semester, my short stint on crutches, not sure what exactly was wrong with me, but unable to put weight on my foot, sitting out in dance. I know you all thought I was making this strange ailment up for whatever reason, so let me enlighten you, much of this stuff I didn't even know until I finally admitted I have a problem I'm going to have to live with and take care of the rest of my life.
For me the throbbing started about 2 weeks ago and then last Saturday night when I was on an 8 hour shift, it got progressively worse, until I could no longer put any pressure on my foot, and hobbled lamely from the restaurant. The next day I went to the Urgent Care Health center and was diagnosed and given a doctors order to exuse me from work for the next three days. Losing my mobility and not being able to make money has been a tough pill to swallow and I've felt very useless. To pass the time I've been scrapbooking, working on my novel, working on a video, and reading my favorite vampire series by Stephanie Meyer, while icing my foot for 20 minutes every hour. I've also been calling people to catch up, but I know I haven't made it to everyone yet, so expect a call soon!!! Ed kidnapped me Tuesday night when I told him i couldn't walk, so we rode around in his car looking at houses for rent and Nisha distracted me with a movie night Wednesday! Tonight is the big night though, when I will try out my new shoe inserts and see if I can work an 8 hour shift without hurting to badly. I'm very nervous!!!! I feel like I could be fired at any minute for my lamness!
On the good news front I'm proud to annouce my mom is selling her pottery at the Butterfly Art Festival this weekend, and I wish her the best of luck, her pieces are beautiful. Also, my voice lessons are going very well and my voice teacher is happy with my progress. I got my high C's back baby! I can't belive Aaron already has his applications filled out for more then half of the colleges he's applying too. Loser!:P I will get started on it soon...I swear, maybe seeing it in writing here will give me the jump start I need. I'm ready to take the colleges by storm this time! Bring it On! oh god and I hope I get to visit as many people as possible, the missingness really sucks!....and with those determined words I'll close so I can go shower before work!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Jenna's Visit! a.k.a Kali Mojo's 2008
Jenna came to visit me in Sunny Orlando, FL for Labor Day weekend and we had a blast! She was seeking a relaxing weekend far away from work in Cinncinati, so playing the gracious hostess I tried my best to show her a good time:)
The next day after a slow start indulging in coffee and one of my moms home made blueberry scones we headed to the Millenium Mall for a Shopping Spree! Now I haven't allowed myself the pleasure of shopping for most of the summer so this was a big deal! We combed stores like Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, and Victoria Secret, and Jenna kept me from making countless Fashion fopas...I tried to return the favor with mixed results:P Exhausted from shopping we headed to Pannullo's Restaurant on Park Ave to indulge our craving for Italian Food! We sat out on the patio in the humid but still beautiful night and drank a crisp pinot noir while listening to the sounds of a soulful saxaphone drift down the peaceful lane. After a quick wordrobe change we met my friend Jonathan downtown for drinks and she got a good dose of the Orlando night scene which was stangely popping for a Sunday night (See picture to the right.)Monday morning we headed to the BEACH! On the way we stopped and got stuff for one of our favorite drinks and consiquently the name of the trip, Kali Mojo's (not spelled like this though). A Kali Mojo is where you mix coke and red wine, an odd combo you might think but absolutely delicious! It was cloudly but the sun was still beating through and it turned out to be a perfect day for the beach, which was quite crowded. We sipped our drinks, ate Publix subs, and played in the water until we had to head out around 3 so she could catch her 5:50 flight. There may or may not have been some Dairy Queen Blizzards thrown in there:) It was a marvelous trip and a wonderful time...at least I hope so. Jenna?:)
Okay who's coming to Florida next!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Fake Glasses & Cigars
I wore my fake glasses to work yesterday and despite the perks about them (they give me that sexy librarian look, I don't have to put on eye make up, and in a way they make me feel a little more vulnerable and delicate)...uh ya...anyway, despite these perks, they really hurt my eyes after a couple hours of hunting around on a computer to punch in peoples orders, so I'm not sure I'll try that again.
My little stay at Grandma and Grandpa's is coming to an end and I'm a little sad. I've loved staying here this past week of primarily stormy weather and in a way I feel like I've been able to hide out and take a little breather from life. I've been doing a lot of TV watching and just curling up on the sofa with a good book, escaping into fantasy worlds and finding the parellels between them and my real life:P I was in the real world for a little bit on Thursday night when I went to the new Karaoke Bar at Universal Studios where you can sing with a live band...it's not really as cool as it sounds, I prefer your old run of the mill dive bar Karaoke.
So I have a confession to make....I love cigars. It's true, hate me if you must but I think they taste delightful with a hint of sex, esp. the flavored ones. I've only had 3 all summer and only when I'm drinking but well there it is for those of you that don't know. You don't inhale so I'm thinking they're not too bad for the voice but I will admit I haven't done the proper research so I could be talking like a big uninformed idiot.
Thoughts: It feels very weird not to be starting school this time of year (I'm a big kid now:P). I'm very excited for my favorite television shows to start. I would really love to be dating/heavily petting/sleeping with/ making out with/ losing my virginity too/or just holding hands with someone of the opposite sex right now. And finally, I miss my class, all of us causing mischief, going out to dinner, going to the movies...the list is endless, this was always one of my favorite times of the year in the Burgh.
To end on an upbeat note, I'm thrilled beyond belief that Jenna is flying to visit me this coming weekend and I get to play host! Girl we are going to have a blast...just as long as all the brewing hurricanes behave themselves:P
oaIforgothowfunnyseinfeldwaso, Caitlyn
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Twilight
Okay if you are looking for a book to sink you teeth into this month I highly recommend "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer! I literally couldn't put it down! It's like a modern day Romeo and Juliet...except of course the male lead is a vampire, but don't let that deter you! It's good and enjoyable even if you're not a crazy vampire fan like myself:) A bonus is that this November the movie is coming out in Theaters taking the place of "Harry Potter" whose release date has been moved to next summer. lame.
Florida is a complete ocean right now, it's non stop rain and wind creating a strange dark atmosphere that feels like it will never end. I have spent very little time alone in my house, way to much of a scardy cat to be there alone with this ghost story weather raging. Instead I'm hiding out at my grandparents house and immensly enjoying their company. I think tomorrow I might try sewing myself another dress with my grandma's help!
Last night I hung out with Nisha and had a blast eating our favorite papa john's pizza and making up songs about vampires, princes, and princesses! We watched August Rush (which had the most unsatisfying ending) and got tipsy off of wine...meanwhile the storm was literally screaming outside! Nisha and I got up at 6:30 am this morning so I could get her at the airport...sidenote, driving in a Tropical Storm deprived of sleep is not fun! haha, but hey, we lived!:)
Can't wait to see the sun again!
oawatchingmensbeachvolleyballissexyo, Caitlyn
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Tropical Storm Fay
She's quietly raging ouside as I write this, mostly a steady patter of rain with the occasional oddly human sounding wail of the wind. I'm missing the thunder and lightening of a traditional Florida storm..lame.
Even though this lovely storm is the title of my entry I actually want to write about last Tuesday (9-12) when I went to Coco Beach with a couple new friends from the Ale House. Windows down, Country music blaring, I didn't have a care in the world as we headed out around 10am. One of the perfect moments in life, that there would prove to be many of during the day. Another came when I was talking with my new friend Cary in the cool surf with a Coors light in my hand...Perfection! And yet again when we relocated to the bar on the beach as the afternoon showers kicked in and ordered Rum runners...YUM! I suppose this is the end of my perfect life moments because the rest of the day gets a little hazy...There was opera singing in the bar (par usual), free drinks were sent my way (which I shared with my friends), numbers were exchanged with old people I didn't know, botchie ball was played, and I think for a while I just drifted in the surf staring hazily up at the big blue sky...at least I hope thats where I got the rug burn looking scratch on my stomach:P We didn't end up leaving the beach until 11pm at night at which point I vaguely remember eating a Wendy's sandwich...YUM, again! What a freaking perfect day, I can't wait to do it again.
Also in daily news I picked Nisha up from the airport on Thursday at 1:00am! Then got up the next day and worked one of the hardest doubles of my life...I swear it was like everyone in the world all wanted to eat at the Ale House at one time!! Hard, but I made it though okay and with a lovely chunck of change to pad my pocket aka savings account. That was also the night Mike Phelps won his 7th gold medal and might I add I would like for him to by my husband...or atleast my first...I've been thinking of all the wonderful things I could do with those big ears of his:)
Alright, time to dig into my vampire romance novel before bed. Tomorrow I say goodbye to my sister and parents as they take her up to Maryland for her freshman year at Goucher University. All alone in my house for a week? Do I sense a party going on?
oaIlovethetasteofthisstrideforeverfruitgumo, Caitlyn
Monday, August 11, 2008
Getting Started
blogging...makes me think of clogging...then I think of Ireland....then I think of Riverdance...then I get up and do a pretend little jig around my room...then I sit down and write....
It's my first blog and I'm nervous...I'm losing my blog virginity at this very moment...although personally I wish It was another type of virginity I was loosing but thats my own fault for waking up and immediately reading a sex scene in the romance novel by my bed. (sigh)
I guess I'll be writing about my life, which I try to keep as exciting as possible, so perhaps this will be fun to read. To catch you up:
1. I work at the "Orlando Ale House", and love it. All the different people I meet! I just got an award from the manager yesterday and he said I was a breath of fresh air to the company. I am trying to spice things up by tap dancing around the restaurant and singing operatic Happy Birthday for guests. I just made a $100 in tips yesterday, which I'm squirreling away for my future. I usually make about $13 to $14 an hour!
2. I take voice lessons with the amazing Priscilla Bagley, once a week and am prepareing for college auditions this fall! So far she wants me to audition at: CCM, FSU, Eastman, AVA, Boston Conservatory, and Northwestern...and drum roll please, I may be trying for a double degree in Musical Theater and Opera! Yep, I've come to the conclusion I have to give musical theater a try, just don't expect me to accept a gig where I'm belting 5 high C's a night...cough cough like Legally Blonde.
3. I ride my bike to the YMCA wellness center and work out whenever I can. I have a great upbeat summer playlist I've carefully assembled and can easily spend 2 hours there jamming out. The machines have TV's too and I love to go and catch "Friends" which I'm quietly obsessed with, and freak people out by randomly bursting into laughter. I love the atmosphere of mostly elderly people, because I don't feel like I have to impress anyone and I can workout in peace which is how I like it!
4. I am also working steadily on scrapbooking my last 4 years of college, and believe me it's going to be amazing when I'm finished, I might try to find a way to copy it and send copies to my 9 classmates, since you all are heavily featured:) Also, I have just begun writing a novel that I am determined to finish, I'm drawing off of real life experiences and so far the rough outline is that it's about a performer/entertainer who finally finds love....or does she? dun dun dunnn. I'm creating characters off of people I know so you might just find yourself reading about yourself one of these days!
5. Finally, I'm looking forward to being in Orlando Opera's Production of "Il Trovatore" this fall! I'm just in the chorus but am looking forward to the experience and all the people I'm going to meet!
Ok, I think I've written more then enough to get this thing started. I have to head out and buy new clothes for my Ale House Uniform since there is a whole new set of rules being implimented today, and I have to be at work by 4:45pm.
oao = over and out.
oailovewatchingolympicgymnasticso, Caitlyn
