Fav Pics from This Week

Yikes!

I haven't posted in over a week, but not for lack of events to discuss. Last week I had the most awesome trip home to Ohio - with a pseudo reunion, a day at Cedar Point, and a New Kids on the Block concert - not to mention all of the quality time with family. It was just under a week, and although I returned to the chaos and frustration of work and a few personal dramas, it was a needed break that I am grateful to have had.

A few thoughts about Cedar Point:
- I am getting older. Even the less thrilling roller coasters were exciting.
- I am more likely to notice potential safety concerns that ever before. I can't believe it's safe when the Mine Creek ride moves around the way it does.
- Water rides are overrated. So are wet shorts.
- Thrill rides have the potential to be more frightening that coasters. Skyhawke made me want to cry and run to mom.
- The red train on the Gemini CAN beat the blue train - even when the riders on the blue train are cocky, confident and loud.
- Chik-fil-a costs double.
- I'm glad the boat ride is still around. It was horribly cheesy, but a nice memory.
- Millennium Force still rocks my world. One of the best coasters ever built for sure.
- But Maverick was a pure joy. I wish I could have ridden it a few more times.It might now be my favorite coaster.

A few more thoughts on New Kids:
- I love sharing this with Cassie. No one understands my raw excitement more than she does.
- It's crazy that I still think they are hot as sin - whether they're nearing 40 years old or not.
- Joe's smile melts me like I'm a 12 year old.
- Danny is in amazing shape. He's insanely hot for once being the awkward New Kid.
- I can't promise that this most recent concert (third in a year) is my last. I have no plans for more right now, but it is way too much fun (especially with girlfriends) to ever consider stopping.

That all aside, life gets more complicated and interesting and frustrating every day. I'm 12 days from my 32nd birthday, accomplished in my career, my friends, and my activities, but always still missing the companion part of things. He's out there... and I may have to wait another year or so until I get him, but it's heartbreaking at times just the same. I've also been working out and seeing differences in my waistline and legs, but no weight changes yet which is irritating. And friends are also testing my inner strength lately. As a wise man once said, keep the tier one friends close, but sometimes you have to let the others fall away. I'm learning a lot about my ability to persevere this year... and I hope it all makes me stronger, happier and more satisfied in life. (As long as it doesn't kill me first, of course...)

The Best Gift Ever

Cut and Color!

Here are the results of my cut and color. The longest layer was only trimmed - just enough to keep it healthy for Locks of Love. The top layer was cut fashionably and colored. Do you love it? I do!

Come to the reunion to see it in person!

Bmore Orioles vs. NY Mets - We Win!

Voice Lesson #2

I was given my first song today... 'Children of Eden' from the musical of the same name. Oh MY is this song gorgeous. I sang it the whole way home in the car and then listened to the professional recording when I came home. After listening to it once, I decided that I will listen to it no more, because I think my version will be slightly more haunting than Stephanie Mills' version. My voice is also quite a bit younger than hers, so I want to do my own thing with it in my own way.

So, I'm ruined. Even as I practice this song tonight, I feel that I'm being swept up into the world of music. I may never be able to let it go again. It feels so damn good.

Crazy Baltimore Weather

Especially for you folks who don't live 'round these parts... yeah. Lovely, eh?




Photos courtesy of Lacy Comstock's iPhone 3G.

Calling All Ohio Folk...

... it's Just Another One of those Ohio Reunions!

Come one, come all! And bring friends! Let's have an Akron City Schools - Stow City Schools - Kent State - First Energy kind of reunion. (Okay... so it's everyone I still keep in touch with in Ohio, but WHATEVER!) Let's have a reunion and get our drink on!

Who: Ohio Folk
What: Reunion and Happy Hour
When: Saturday, June 20th at 9:00pm
Where: Winking Lizard Tavern - Fairlawn (Akron, Ohio)

NOTE: I am looking for someone to go to Cedar Point with me on Monday, June 22nd! My friend canceled!! Can ANYONE go?!

Voice Lessons (for Grown Ups)

So... I had my first voice lesson today - the first in at least 15 years. It was good, I think. I like my teacher (or is she my instructor?) because she's very easy going, but I have a hard time relaxing to do all of the vocal exercises properly. Some problems: I look up, I look up and to the left, and I do the "chin up" thing before I sing... I guess a lot of chorale folks do it. I have decent transitions from chest voice to head voice, go nasal (not often but) at strange times, and I have to practice slurring because I have a hard time slurring correctly.

The creative Charissa inside me is excited, but the perfectionist Charissa is stressing. I can't help but feel a bit vulnerable - I'm the more real me when I'm singing than any other part of my life... and I don't even know her. What if I stink?

June Already

Phew! I can't believe that it's June. Where did spring go? The weather has been so strange lately - back and forth between super hot and days of rain - so summer was able to sneak up on us quickly this year. This weekend I've been lazy, next weekend will be Honfest, and the week after next I'll be home in Ohio. Time is moving so fast.

Unrelated, my hair is super long. I don't know how it happened. It's really too long for my taste at this point, but I measured it last week, and, well... I've decided to keep growing it all summer and then donate it to Locks of Love. I'm super nervous about having short hair once its cut, but most of the work is already done so it's silly to let that stop me. It will be a nice thing to do. It's all about the karma. :)

Speaking of doing good things, I think I've decided that all fundraisers will be delayed until I return from Ohio. I did two in a row, and the next four weeks are already looking pretty full. I have my next theme all picked out, though, so hopefully you all will be feeling generous by mid-July.

That's all. I'm off to eat, watch a movie and crochet. Now I'm working on two blankets at a time - with two (one for Cassie and one for Baby Prevatt) scheduled for the next few months. Anyone else need a blanket?

Oh... photos from today at the park.

Hmmm...

Pretty yarn, yes, but this pattern isn't comfortable. I don't know exactly what that means except that I don't think I can do a whole blanket in this pattern. It's not that it's hard because it isn't. But it's just not FUN.

Plus, I don't think the pattern is doing the yarn any justice. It makes it look cheap, I think. GRRR. I'm going to have to pull it out...