Ok, so here are the test turkey steps:

AND, I found a turkey [...]]]> Mister Songbird has been up to good things.  Last week he helped with the invite list for next Thursday, after hearing my request for ‘A real Thanksgiving’ and voila, 12-14 guests! Yowza!  It is pot luck and I’m gonna need a little luck to get it all together, but I’m excited.

AND, I found a turkey in Manila!  It’s a pretty little bird.  12 lbs of frozen Thanksgiving promise. Not only will this be my first real American Thanksgiving in Manila, it’ll be my first time roasting a turkey, AND the biggest dinner party I’ve held so far.

On the menu so far we have:

• Thee Bird
• Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Okra
• Scratch Pumpkin Pies (made with a local squash, post with pics from my practice pies coming soon)
• Cornbread Stuffing
• Beet Salad
• Surprises!

My boss pointed out that my first iteration looked like drippy paint lids. I didn’t see [...]]]> I am working on an iPad app for work right now and it’s coming along nicely. There is a section where users can select options for worktables (color, shape, etc.) so I’m making a million little table illustrations.

My boss pointed out that my first iteration looked like drippy paint lids. I didn’t see it at first but now it’s all I see! One looked ok by itself but once the colors came together, it was like a home-makeover logo.

So I went back to the drawing board again and again.  Here is the evolution of my drippy tables.

The original drip.

Rectangular drip.

This one my sister dubbed "vampire teeth!" It made me feel afraid.

At last, the crazy colored tables look like tables.

I’d heard the candy giving was going to start [...]]]> It is officially Halloween in Manila. That is to say, this is the day when the small stream of trick or treaters ventures out onto the mean afternoon streets in search of candy and kudos for clever getups from all the expats here. Good times.

I’d heard the candy giving was going to start at 2, so I went out for a mid morning swim in the drizzle (lovely) and made it back just before two. Lacking a costume of my own, I put on a headband with devil horns attached (classic), dumped out packages of hershey’s kisses and tootsie rolls and started looking for a fishbowl for chubby little hands to dig in.

All the while, my handsome but noisy cat, Commander, was just howling. At first I thought it was his usual “if-you’re-in-the-kitchen-then-I-demand-food” routine, so I gave him the requisite shoooo! He scampered off a few feet, but then turned back and gave a low scary sound.

His tail was all poofy! He was in combat-mode! What in the…?

I thought maybe another animal had gotten into the house, but a quick scan came up negative.

I crouched down and changed my tone to here kitty kitty and he just looked terrified. It was then I noticed his gaze, which was fixated wildly on my head. I felt up there and found the red felt devil horns. Hilarious! I took them off and he immediately chilled out. I wonder what he thought? That I’d mutated into some crazy beast? That an animal was attacking my head?

After the extreme high of my big show in August, I fell into the “down” part of my personal musical cycle almost immediately.  It’s a [...]]]> I’ve been posting so much about food, and neglecting the songbird part of this blog.  Well that’s probably because I’ve been neglecting the songbird part of this blogger a bit too.

After the extreme high of my big show in August, I fell into the “down” part of my personal musical cycle almost immediately.  It’s a natural part of the creative process.  I think of it as the “winter” period.  After a flurry of recording, engaging other musicians, performing, interviewing, planning, and really putting myself out there, I tend to go underground.  Sometimes I won’t pick up an instrument for weeks, losing myself in other aspects of life.  It’s a recoup phase, and it’s necessary.  Music is still in my head, and it’s a time when influences can seep in gradually.  But it kinda sucks for the part of me that wants to get back to writing, playing and performing.

The next stage is when all the ideas that have been brewing under the surface start to emerge, and it’s writing/experimenting/recording time.  I love that time. It’s full of excitement and possibilities.  So I’ve decided to cut this “winter” short, and not let it last.

One drawback to not performing regularly with some kind of group during this phase is that my skills can really suffer.  I can feel that my voice is weaker than it was when I left the States, where I was performing and recording quite a lot.

Enter this guy:

Nice headshot, Mr. Arceneaux

Check it out.  I just found a vocal coach who gives free lessons from his website.  Eric Arceneaux has put together videos of warmups, techniques, ways to increase your range and mostly just a lot of knowledge about how the voice works.  Fascinating, really!  My favorite is the breathing exercise which is simply saying “SHHH!” loudly until all the air runs out.  And it works, oddly enough.

It’s really nice when people dole out free encouragement and useful information.

Plus he’s a character, as you may be able to infer from his swanky headshot.  And he’s fond of calling his female viewers “my ladies.”  Nice.

It’s basic stuff that most singers have been exposed to at some point, but it is so nice to have a guide.  So now every day I start and end with “SHHH!”