my love for singing

I love to sing.  All the time.  Especially while working, walking to/from work, running (this isn’t easy), walking to/from anywhere, showering, sitting in front of any computer, cooking any meal, getting ready for work/bed/any event…  The only times I don’t love singing are while I eat, sleep and watch TV.  Makes sense, I guess.

Since I sing while I sit in front of my computer, and I sit in front of my computer most week nights (especially if nothing good is on TV) I do a TON of singing between the hours of 8p-12:30a.

This late-night singing is kinda a “bad habit” of mine – considering the fact that I have 2 roommates and one of them goes to bed at 10:30p.  I’m pretty sure I was doing this while I was in high school, at UVa and while I was in College Park, but I don’t imagine anyone actually enjoys this.  I’m not sure I would enjoy it.  At least I’m not loud, I guess.

No complaints so far.

Not to brag (I feel like such a douche for saying this – but whatever), but I’m not a terrible singer.  I like to think all those years of choir (8, I think) and the fact that my parents named me Deva (I hate myself for saying that) work to my advantage (honestly – can you imagine someone named Deva or Diva who couldn’t sing at all? It would be a tragedy).  Anyway, I’m no Diva (not even close), but there are worse things than my singing.

Side note 1: I apologize for the ridiculous use parentheses in the paragraph above.  I also apologize for the quasi-bragging.  I should be smacked.

Oh – I just thought of one of my favorite memories: For my 4th birthday, I had a very small birthday gathering.  Being the diva I was, I had to be the center of attention – so I broke out my My First Sony and proceeded to sing.  And what did I sing?  Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror.  To this day, it’s still my favorite song, and now I know the correct lyrics.  My parents were slick back then and recorded me singing that song… I really wish I knew where that tape was.

So yeah, singing is my favorite hobby.  I’m singing as I write this.  My roommates are probably hating me right now (except for the one sleeping), but I mostly don’t care.  The evening concerts will continue until someone politely asks me to stop.

Side note 2: My roommate who has loud sex with her bf is not allowed to complain about my singing.

old movies

I really love movies (and musicals) pre-1970.

I was just adding movies to my netflix queue when I noticed a crazy pattern.  After Role Models (I can’t help it – I love Jane Lynch), I have:

• The Tender Trap (1955) – with Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds
• Young at Heart (1954) – with Doris Day and Frank Sinatra

There’s already a pattern…

• That Touch of Mink (1962) – with Cary Grant and Doris Day
• Easter Parade (1948) – with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire
• A Star is Born (1954) – with Judy Garland and James Mason
• Bringing Up Baby (1938) – with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn
• Roman Holiday (1953) – with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck

And oh man… if you could see a list of movies I’ve already seen – you’d find a lot more of Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, and Cary Grant PLUS Gene Kelly.

I’m not gonna lie, though – the actresses are super awesome, but I really love Sinatra, Grant and Kelly.  I fall for their charm every time in every movie.

I put trailers for some of my favorites below…

Take Me Out To The Ball Game,1949

North by Northwest, 1959 (Thanks, Mr. Hitchcock)

get excited. tv is back.

In case you’re living under a rock, Glee is the best show on television right now…

Until Monday, when Heroes comes back on.

Anyway, I am crazy about Glee and here’s why:

1. Don’t Stop Believin’

That is all.

2. Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester

Jane is HANDS-DOWN the funniest character on this show.  Everything that comes out of her mouth is dripping with sarcasm, disgust, and pure hatred… and I love it.  Also, her facial expressions are priceless.  By the way, have you seen Best In Show?  Another ridiculously funny role by Jane.

Awesome quotes include:

Sue: I’m going to ask you to smell your armpits. That’s the smell of failure, and it’s stinking up my office.

Sue: Iron tablet? It keeps your strength up when you menstruate.
Will: I don’t menstruate.
Sue: Neither do I.

Sue: I want my full budget restored. I want a fog machine.

3. I think it’s crazy adorable that the high school quarterback also dreams of singing on Broadway.

4. I wish I could’ve been in Glee club when I was in high school.  Sadly, we didn’t even have a glee club (I totally would’ve rocked it out).

So yeah – that’s Glee.  My other obsession true love favorite show is Heroes.

The obvious reason is Peter Petrelli.  The not so obvious reason is Sylar.  Yes – I’ve turned to the dark side… but dammit, Zachary Quinto is so freaking hot in that role.  I can’t wait to watch the 2-hour premiere tomorrow.  That will be my main motivation to get through the day.

Other awesome shows include The Office (dammit, John Krasinski is getting married in real life too) and the new NBC fun-ness, Community.

Honestly, thank God for DVR.

guys and dolls.

Remember when Emily, Melissa and Linh came to visit me and we saw Guys and Dolls on Broadway?  Do you remember when I was raving about how way beyond awesome “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat” was?  Well, check out what I found:

See?  I told you it was incredible.

I’m willing to fight whoever disagrees…

goodbye youth, maybe (a ramble)

What do you think about before your birthday?  On the days leading up to your birthday?  The hours before?

Well, there’s one hour before the anniversary of my birth, and I don’t know what to do or think about.  I want to say tomorrow will just be another normal day, but it won’t.  I want tomorrow to be a normal day.  Except I’m turning 25.   That’s not normal. 

I guess I’m in my last hour of youth.  Or maybe youth ends at 26?  Either way, I’m scared of turning 25.  I don’t feel 25 at all.  I don’t actually feel like I’ve lived for 25 years… until I think about the insanity I’ve been through since birth.  Just thinking about the ridiculousness I’ve been through since 2006 makes me feel old. 

I’m sitting on my couch right now, listening to John Legend and talking to Adam.  This is a pretty typical “school night” for me.  So far, nothing special.  It’s not April 9th yet. 

Now I’m listening to/singing Adele.  I love singing her songs, especially in an empty apartment.  This is a great way to turn 25.  Seriously.  When I turned 22, Linh gave me 5 CDs of Disney songs for my birthday, and Emily, Melissa, Linh and I just sang and danced to Disney music into the early hours of April 9, 2006.  It was fantastic. 

I wonder how many emails from facebook I will get with people writing birthday messages on my wall.  My prediction: 10. 

I’m the worst at planning events for my birthday.  If the weather were nicer, it would be easier to plan something cool. It will be 60 tomorrow, but I’ll be stuck in an office for most of the day.  This weekend, the weather won’t be nice.  It’s not even “April Showers”.  It’s just a mess. 

What is my ideal birthday celebration?  Well, 22 was a good party – I would take the same crowd of people (minus the random folks, and friends of friends) and add Jessica, Laura, Beth and Rob.  Then we would just drink lots of booze, eat great food, and have a grand time.  This would probably take place in a nice park (picnic style) and the weather would be in the high 60s.  At night, there would be a major karaoke jam.  It would be a blast, duh.

And that’s it.  Happy birthday to me… in 3 minutes.

book of questions

I knew buying this book would come in handy…

Question #13: What would constitute a “perfect” evening for you?

Answer: Oh gosh, I don’t know. This is not a question I think about… ever. I guess I can come up with something.

a) a perfect evening with friends

This is a hard one, only because if I’m hanging out with the right people, I’m always having a “perfect” evening. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. Karaoke + drinks would be a good time. Singing 5 CDs of Disney songs with my roommates on my 22nd birthday was a good time. Sitting around and having a lively discussion is a good time. Playing board games/Catch Phrase is a good time. Going out to bars and NOT having to pay for a single drink would be a good time (as long as my friends got free drinks too). Again, most anything would be a good time, as long as I’m with the right people.

b) a perfect evening with my future boyfriend/husband (FBF/H)

First of all, it would have to be between 65 and 70 degrees outside. Around 7pm (because I’d be hungry), we’d go out to a nice restaurant (some type of foreign cuisine) and eat outside, because the weather is amazing. Actually, it wouldn’t have to be a nice restaurant – just somewhere that serves really good food and has outdoor seating. Anyway, my meal would definitely include broccoli, by the way (very important detail). My FBF/H and I would talk about anything and everything, because we’re just that cool. We’d finish eating and our meal would be free, because… well, it’s my perfect evening. Then, after dinner, we’d “take an old fashioned walk” – just like the Doris Day and Frank Sinatra duet. If we actually sang while we walked, I wouldn’t mind. Or if Michael Buble were somewhere close by, my FBF/H and I would stop and see him. After visiting Buble, we’d continue the old fashioned walk, just talking about whatever, and find a super awesome coffee shop to recaffeinate (not a word, by the way). Then, (finally) we’d find a place where we could just sit or lay down and stargaze for the rest of the night.

***Side note: I really love looking at the night sky (as long as it’s not filled with light pollution). I could stare at stars for hours – it’s so relaxing.

c) a perfect evening by myself

I would sing aloud like no one’s listening. All night. Regardless of where I am. Actually, I’d probably be laying down in a dark, treeless field (without creepy rapists strolling around) staring at the stars.

Yeah, that’s it. I was thinking about including my family, but anytime when we’re all together, it’s pretty perfect (in that “oh my gosh, these people are a bunch of psycho freaks – I can’t believe I’m related to them” kinda way).