Lisa Higbee

I woke this morning with a big headache and a sore throat. Which is kind of a bummer because tonight is my monthly self-planned and executed singing gig, which I have been looking forward to all month. The show must go on? Let it go for this month? I'm a little bit torn. Maybe I'll wait a few more hours to decide for sure. Either way I think it will still be a lovely evening for everyone, since we also have another lovely singer and a very talented painter on the menu for tonight's performance. I'm leaning toward singing. I just hope I don't get anyone else sick. Maybe I'll wear a surgical mask and bring hand sanitizer. People could still hear me through a surgical mask, right?

I'm afraid my body hasn't liked me too much the last few days as I've forced it to get up early and put it to bed later than I should have. It's wondering, "where is all the sleep you gave me last week? And how come you're not making me those incredible gourmet lunches anymore and giving me occupational therapy by knitting an hour a day?" I'm sorry body, it's just that I went back to full time work this week. Of course, full time work has its benefits too, like getting me up at a reasonable hour and out to see the sun. And helping me support myself an a very cute cat. Though sometimes I'd just rather be sleeping in.

I dressed. I warmed up. I packed up all my audition gear: music, make-up, change of clothes in case I want to go to dance class afterwards. The door buzzes. I ignore it. It buzzes again. "Hello?" I ask tentatively, hoping for the UPS guy, something not too difficult. "It's the missionaries!!" Happiness. Indecision. "What's up?" The missionaries happily tell me that they've had a great chat with one of my neighbors. One whom I've invited to church several times without results. I'm listening. "Come on up." The missionaries greet me with their normal ebullience. Since they're not allowed in my apartment we have a great discussion on my doorstep. One of my neighbors walks by. The missionaries invite him to church. They ask if there's anything they can do for me. I tell them, actually, yes, that I'd been meaning to say hi to one of my new neighbors but just hadn't had the drive. The

I started to write an entry in the form of the children's book Fortunately/Unfortunately. Fortunately, it's a fun way to write. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I can't flip flop between fortunately and unfortunately evenly like they do in the children's book! It seems I just have to write fortunately or unfortunately as it comes, and it ended up being mostly fortunately. So here's what came pouring from my fingers tonight: Fortunately, I went to auditions today for Pittsburgh Light Opera's fabulous season which includes some shows which have music I really love, like The Student Prince and Hairspray. Unfortunately (for me), the auditioners were seeing only members of equity, the actor's union. Unfortunately, I am not yet a member of actor's equity. Fortunately, I had brought food and a couple of knitting projects so I could at least sit down and eat my lunch in a friendly place before going home. Fortunately, I at least got to see Abby Bra

I'm auditioning for Meet Me In St. Louis today!!! I think this audition is long overdue since I've been learning and singing this show since I was about 12. I went to meet a friend for breakfast this morning, and on the way home I found myself in an empty car. An idea hit me... time to warm up. So I busted out into my best Judy Garland showstopper! Only the orange-painted seats and maybe the people in the next car heard me.

I wrote a song on my way home on the subway. That's the first time I've written a song in a few years. Within the last few weeks I've also crocheted my first project in a few years as well as knitted my first project ever. Am I experiencing a resurgence of creative energy? What is up with all this song- and yarn-crafting? All I can say is that writing a song and crocheting a case for my blackberry are two of the most satisfying things I can remember doing in some time.