TOSCA!

last night i was invited to a very very special treat. my dear friend greg emailed me the night before asking if i wanted to accompany him to see the opera "tosca" which was playing at the Met. now, this is something i've been wanting to do for a long long time. you see, i was named after tosca. my mother give me my middle name because this was her favorite opera. as a child i hated the name because it was "weird." but i grew to love it, as it was a unique name with a cool story behind it. unfortunately, i'd never had the chance to see the opera, let alone really get into the story or even hear much of the music. kinda lame for having the name and not knowing much about it.

it was high time i saw the damn thing. and at the met no less! i already had plans for wednesday night but thought this to be a once in a lifetime treat, so i cancelled. i got dressed up for the big night and met greg in front of the enormous theater. he didn't even recognize me. guess i clean up nice. ha!

this was my second time in the theater. it's overwhelmingly huge and decadent. being there made me feel like a true new york patron of the arts or something. love that feeling. we had incredible seats... orchestra section with a clear view of the stage (didn't even need my binoculars that i brought). greg doesn't screw around when it comes that kind of thing. i felt so honored.

i made friends with the nice man sitting next to me and just had to tell someone my fun story. i took out my wallet, pulled out my california ID and showed him my middle name in official print. his eyes widened and asked how i got such a cool name. i told him my mother gave it to me. "well, she has very good taste" he responded. i was waiting to see.

soon enough, the big gold curtains were pulled open. the stage was giantic with an elaborate set. i already loved it. the music began and the singers took stage. i was mesmerized. those voices! so loud and piercing and just amazing. i couldn't believe that sound was coming out of those people. i asked greg if they were miked and he said no. filling that huge space with those big voices was just plain magic.

i got totally into the story, thanks to the digital subtitles on the backs of the seats (so high tech). i had chills every time they hit those high notes. the whole thing was thrilling. and i was happy to have that fiery character's name. every time they sang "tooooosca" i thought "that's me." ha!

as we left the theater i told my seat partner "yes, my mom does have good taste!" and on my walk home, i called my mom to thank her for naming me after such a cool opera. she said "oh good, glad you liked it. i was so worried that you'd hate it." silly mom.

new favorite spot

i was thrilled with a new neighborhood discovery today, smooch cafe, just a block away from my place. first of all, it's ridiculously cute. little stools and couches and brick walls and snap shots of cool people all around. the people that work there are super friendly. i walked in solo style on a saturday morning, sat at the bar and got into a lovely discussion with the international employees (aussie and israeli), philosophizing about life and love. and the best part: GOOD COFFEE!

i've been looking for a decent latte in this neighborhood ever since i moved to fort greene. the places around here make them too light or too bitter or too foamy or scalding hot and charge $4. so stupid. but this place reminded me of the lattes they made in new zealand like these. perfect espresso strength, yummy taste, just a touch of foam. delicious. funny how something so simple can make me so happy. guess it's the coffee snob in me (thanks starbucks).

like i told the cute employees today, "i'll be back."

april showers

raining today. little buds have appeared on the tree outside my window. spring has arrived. a favorite time of year in nyc.

i'm still perplexed by the fact that i've been a new york resident for over 2 years. times flies here. this spring marks my third witnessing of it's arrival. amazing.

i'm actually going to be leaving again for the month of may. going to be back in california. have to deal with my grandma's stuff and tie up some loose ends. that'll take up the first half of the month. the second half, i'm planning a little cross country trip with my dear friend wanna. we're going to take the scenic route. the major stops on the list are zion and bryce, maybe santa fe to visit our friends bob and laura, then up through colorado, into wyoming to yellowstone, through the dakotas then over to chicago, and a stop at falling water (a place i've always wanted to visit), and back to nyc. i'll be taking my grandma's car which was left to me. nothing special. just a honda that will get from here to there. i'm totally excited for a little road trip action. should be a big one.

but i'm also on the brink of a decision which i can't seem to make. i'm definitely going to sublet my apartment for the month of may. but i have to opportunity to rent the apt for the whole summer. in turn, i'd sublet my friend olia's room which happens to be 5 doors down from my office space. the benefits would be the convenience to work, i'd be in williamsburg where i happen to spend a lot of time anyway, and most importantly, i'd save some real money. renting her room would be less than half what i pay for my place.

the negatives are that i'd have to share the place. i haven't been in a roommate situation in a long time and i'm quite used to my own ways. but the place is pretty big so i don't think that'd be that big of a deal (i hope!). but it is only for a couple months which couldn't be too bad. also, i'm going to have a car for easy escapes. AND i'm considering getting a summer share with a few friends in woodstock, which would be amazing! i'm just looking forward to the summer, taking little trips and saving some money for even more trips!

what to do?

lomos from the dominican republic

proud
Originally uploaded by megasoul.

what a lovely place to get reacquainted with my lomo (which had been getting dusty for a while). awesome colors and willing subjects!


click to see all the pics

christians against hip hop

PLEASE click the following link:

christians against hip hop

i worked on this little ditty with my fellow office mate leba, the queen of hoaxes. it's not meant to offend... rather, it's a commentary on women and hip hop, which is the subject of leba's upcoming online film "where my ladies at."
this fake site is entered in another online rumors contest and we need as many hits as possible.
pretty please click it and pass on to friends.
it'd be greatly appreciated.