Tulsa Tidbits

Today was a turning point---ridiculously long, but pleasant and productive. And somehow with it behind me, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel which has been the 2011-2012 Season. Tunnel might sound a bit negative. But think of the Detroit airport tunnel. Psychedelic, colorful, exciting, potentially dizzying, sometimes stressful (you're still in an airport people), and a portal to home. Or not home, but for my analogy home it will be.

So, here I am. With a finish line (both literally and figuratively) in the not too distant future. And the potential of possible blogging as well. Now on to the subject of today's post: TULSA. I am no longer in Tulsa, for the record. And Kansas City has also come and gone. Currently I reside in Dallas, but as I am having interesting adventures along the road, I would like to recollect and recount a few.

Let it be known that Tulsa is not my favorite place. Nothing further need be said in that regard. Despite some of my negativity which may have been appropriately or inappropriately channeled at the city, there were some highlights. Here are my Top Ten:

10. My amazing home decor. I had two matching sets of these:


9. Freckles. Unique name for a custard shop, but I'll take it. Several times during my stay in fact. I'm a bit prejudiced against regular ice cream since my discovery of frozen custard. I'll eat both, don't get me wrong. But I prefer what's pictured below.


8. Tide Pods people. These are revolutionary. You may have seen similar products for your dishwasher, but it's taken some time for that genius to transition into the laundry room. And I don't understand why. I've been saying they should for ages. I could probably sue someone out there for taking my idea...Anyway. They're compact. They travel well (an absolute necessity in my current existence). And they're cute. Yes, laundry detergent can be cute.


7. SMOKE. Not a habit I picked up, but a fabulous restaurant on Cherry Street. Friendly people, locally sourced food, and a tasty experience all around. One of the true joys I find in travel is eating. And this was my Tulsan favorite.

6. The Philbrook Museum of Art. A true gem in the midst of the city. I saw this version:

But this version might be more awe-inspiring:

The grounds are stunning regardless of the season, as is the mansion and the art collections it houses. I went with a friend who happens to be an architect and it was fun hearing some commentary from that perspective.

5. Girl's Night Out with Valerie. Let it be known that I was not social in Tulsa. The combination of long hours and a physically/emotionally exhausting opera don't inspire me to do much beyond going home and getting in bed. I didn't realize how much I needed a night out until we planned a dinner date at the Redrock Canyon Grill. I will never forget the gorgonzola sauce of deliciousness the waiter recommended be poured over my steak. Best decision I made in the month of February by far. Add in lovely company and quality conversation, and it's obvious why this makes the highlights list.



4. Valentine's Day. Despite my continuously single state, it's a holiday that I love. I love people and I love thinking about all the love I have in my life. I had the morning off and I spent it frosting sugar cookies made the evening before. Anyone who knows me is aware that baking is one of my therapeutic habits. And that morning spent frosting was seriously needed. In fact, I should probably add frosting to the random list of objects I travel with. Might be best to start every day frosting something...

To celebrate the occasion, I made my fresh juice of the day to color coordinate. I love beets. I don't love what beets can do to your hands and clothes if they have a mind of their own. Another story.


3. Meeting the composer. Most of the music I deal with on a regular basis is 100+ years old. It's inspiring to work with an individual that's creating art for the operatic medium NOW. I'm a music nerd and love a good note session (breaking down what can be improved in the performance) but especially when the person who created the work is present. Awesome.


2. Working with inspirational people. This can be said about many of the locations I find myself in, but this cast was especially committed to the project. It's always refreshing to see people who are making music an art, rather than simply a business.

1. It might not have actually occurred in Tulsa, but my final gig of the 2011/12 Season is owed to my involvement there. And I couldn't be more excited...it means I get to spend an extra month with these lovelies!


Two weeks until Washington DC!

My New Life

One of the beauties of my current existence is the ability to start a "new life" approximately every four weeks or so. New city, new company, new colleagues, new music...I just pack my bags, switch passports Matt Damon-style, and wonder what the Bourne series would have been with an operatic twist. ANSWER: Less successful.

In my recent lives, I've found myself in Salt Lake City, Houston, Tulsa, and--the current--Kansas City. But my favorite new life? That of a seafarer. Welcome to My New Life: The Cruise Edition

Traveling is something I do often. Vacationing? Not as frequently. So a weekend girl's getaway from Houston provided the perfect calm to what has become this Spring's busy storm. Both of us were virgin cruisers (in the traditional sense please) so a 4-night cruise from Galveston to Cozumel seemed a lovely introduction.

And it was. The following picture seems to best embody our carefree existence.

Frozen yogurt machines, people. I'm getting one for my house someday. It can sit next to my waffle maker and chocolate fountain. Other food highlights would include the veggies delivered through room service...I still think those red peppers were delicious...the chocolate milk, bulk gummy candy, and some amazing, melty-chocolatey, cakey, dessert goodness. There was definitely food in abundance, so we were good enough to try out the gym. Running without quite having attained sea legs = slightly disastrous, but a definite achievement.

Other adventures included high-speed sea races in Cozumel, and some work in "foreign affairs."


Some language practice...(we did manage to pull off a conversation in Spanish, courtesy alla Italiano).

And a last minute snorkeling expedition that ended with our credit card being swiped in a jeep, and a ride back to our pier from the mayor's personal assistant. A mix of spontaneity and planning produce the best adventures by far.

Best of all, lots of people watching AND lots of quality time in our cabin, sleeping, gabbing, and doing NOTHING. Not my area of expertise, but it can be quite brilliant as it turns out. Especially when you have animals for company.

I loved our "cruise life," as we frequently referenced it. Even moreso when the craziness of my work life set in the day of our return. To be honest, though, I love the madness of my life. And it makes experiences like The Cruise Edition seem that much better. Here's to vacation!

The Oklahoma Edition

I travel a fair amount for work at the moment. Which you may or may not know, based on the infrequency with which I blog. At the moment, I am in the middle. See below.

Alright, perhaps it's not RIGHT in the middle. But pretty darn close. To narrow down the red region a bit, I'm in Tulsa, the upper right-hand corner. Which has felt a bit like the middle of nowhere. Once again, no internet. And no television whatsoever. The real kicker is that the nearest Costco is 204 miles away...how else does one define civilization?!? I am, however, surrounded by every size of WalMart imaginable. And, miraculously, I've already found a new boyfriend.

Finally, someone who meets the height requirements! Although he can be a bit cold at times...

I've been running a number of times, to bond with the city and its inhabitants. Right now it's brown and ugly, but I'm hoping it will transform to this before I leave. Sunshine and greenery always improve my opinion of a town.

Fingers crossed.

If you were considering a vacation to Tulsa in the near future, I will say this: I enjoy the number of accents I've heard. Despite having lived in Texas, I feel that I was somewhat sheltered from a real drawl, and I thoroughly enjoy the variety of vowels I hear here. Additionally, I attended the Tulsa Symphony concert on Friday which was themed around the "American West." What was the encore? A rousing rendition of none other than "Oklahoma!" I like a little state pride. It creates the real cultural experience.

While I'm doing my best (maybe) to settle in here, I can't help think but think longingly of my most recent adventure which was titled "My New Life." I'll leave you in suspense, wondering what said life may have been. And with a half-promise that I'll write about it in the near future.

A Site for Your Eyes

I claim no internet expertise. Whatsoever. As my blog clearly testifies, I have invested little time in exploring the design options of a webpage. Little might be an understatement. BUT, despite this shortcoming, I have finally managed to finish my new website. It's successfully up and running (fingers crossed that that lasts) and you can find it at:

www.stephanierhodes.net

It's still in the early stages, so click on over and then send some feedback my way!

In compliance with the business practices of my field, I also had new headshots/media photos taken. Some are included on the website, and a few others I'm posting below. If you love me, feel free to say so. But seriously...if you have a favorite, opinions are much appreciated. This goes for those on www.stephanierhodes.net AND this blog. Critique away!









Just keepin' it real...

Xoxo,

S-Dawg

Scenic Seattle

The best part about Seattle is the sunshine. Seriously. Everyone talks up the rain and gloom so much that every day it's sunny seems like a treasure. Despite the fact that I've experienced more sun that rain here. Anyway...when sun comes you take advantage, get out of doors, and run with it. Literally. On my last sunny Free Day (when you get one a week, they always come in caps), I decided to go for a long run, with my camera in tow to capture some of the fall foliage. And divert my mind from that fact that I was attempting more mileage than ever before. RESULT (In Sequence):











Alright, so maybe the battle wounds photo was not actually TAKEN at that point, but that would have been the place in the picture series where my lanky self decided to become one with the sidewalk. The camera survived with some scratches and I'm only missing a portion of my right hand. But I will advise the following: while photography and running are lovely hobbies INDIVIDUALLY, perhaps they are best left to their independent practices. In addition to the 6'0" of ground I covered with my body, I did pull off 16.22 miles on foot, with the Injury occurring around Mile 9 (Michael Scott, anyone???). So perhaps the road and this Rhodes each gained a point that fateful Monday morning. Though given my motto of the following day, "I'm broken," I'm inclined to think that perhaps the road has a slight advantage. For now...

Sleeping in Seattle

Of course there had to be some type of reference to the 1993 classic during my Seattle residency...

There. Finished. Out of my system. Except for this over-sized, baby-blue, "SinS" nightshirt that could rock my fashion world. (Abbreviation of my own device. Not actually a reference to misdemeanors.)

But here's the truth: I am far from Sleepless in Seattle. In fact, I'm pretty sure I average more sleep nightly than I have in the past 5 years. Excluding visits to home when my sole purpose has been to maintain a vegetable-like state for as long as possible. Nights here might not always be the most restful, given my upstairs neighbor's pacing and "other" habits, but the hours are there! And I'm still working. Sleep and work...mixing? A novel idea, and one which made me think. So please bear with me as I wax philosophical for a moment. One of my favorite quotes from Henry David Thoreau:

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

Alright, so maybe I'm not entirely in the woods at the moment. But Seattle's as woodsy as my life's going to get for awhile, and it's given me reason for contemplation. I've been so busy the past five years or so. Might as well make that at least nine. Round up to ten if you like. Practicing, studying, career-planning, dreaming, working---all healthy endeavors. But somehow, in the business of becoming, I lost track of what to become. No, I'm not having a complete identity crisis. I only occasionally consider drastic career shifts, but on a typical day I'm beyond content with my choice of profession. And there have been so many adventures in the past few years...no regrets there. But in Seattle I've been given the gift of time and, while there's still plenty of practicing, working, dreaming, etc. I also sleep appropriate amounts. I run more than I ever have in my life and enjoy it. I find time for yoga class. And I read. It's always been one of my true loves, but somehow I forgot to fit it in. Or felt the only justifiable reading material should be academic. So much to learn!

And of course there is. And always will be. But at the moment, I'm learning how to let go a bit. There's no need to be victimized by the "To Do" lists and bucket lists which I so dearly love. Somehow in simplifying and eliminating the stress of becoming, I feel like I'm beginning to be myself again. The version which I know was ever-present, but perhaps slightly buried in a whirlwind of activity. Using that as a departure point, I've found a heightened perspective of who I would like to become, the characteristics I hope to develop, and the true successes I aim to achieve in this life. Another favorite quote from a great talk:

We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.

Work is necessary. Progression and achievement should be ever-present. But I don't want to be known for becoming a busy person.

So...here's to the woods. Here's to simplifying. The world will go on turning at its same speed, but we set our individual tempos. In slowing mine a bit, I've found clarity, sharpened senses, and enhanced enjoyment. It's about the essentials. Finding time. Relationships. Family. Self-discovery. Calm. Peace. And, of course, sleeping. In Seattle.

One Plate Wonder

Tired of your kitchen??? Ready for a makeover? Look no further--the One Plate Wonder is HERE!

Instead of the chaos and clutter of four burners, opt for ultimate simplicity! With the OPW, you can avoid multi-tasking completely, keeping only one proverbial pot (or fat) on the fire at a time. Not only will you find yourself cooking in a zen-like trance, your creativity will know no bounds as you concoct creations in one universal pot. Space a problem? The One Plate Wonder will introduce you to options never before considered:

Rather than attempt to restrain the One Plate Wonder's warmth, look to more effectively utilize your home space. Mushrooms are happier near ground level. And a dish drainer on the floor can only mean one thing...a cleaner floor. (DISCLAIMER: carpet damage and potential minor flooding may occur at your own risk). In minimal time with maximized effort, your OPW will put food for the family on the table. (DISCLAIMER: Best suited to families of 1 or less). Enjoy with some Virgin Lemonade and you're on your way to domestic bliss!

The One Plate Wonder is available at a Seattle hotel near you! Time to head West...