Welcome back to Syracuse!
Zheng and I pulled in last night to my new "digs" (until the end of January). As much as I love exploring new places, and seeing new people, it is really nice that I don't have to figure out this town or this engagement from scratch. There are some new faces, and the piece is new. But I knew how to drive in, to confirm my reservation before arriving, and even where we would be rehearsing and practicing. (And I also knew where to get great coffee! Cafe Kubal is here!).
Syracuse Opera, it is great to be back, and I am grateful for the opportunity.
But a word on Cafe Kubal, in relation to myself. I indiscriminately got Pumpkin Spice or Chai Lattes while I was here in the fall. I was working amply, and (I guess) walking a lot, but I was really not thinking of discipline, financially or calorically. In arriving today, I knew the only things I could have were the Americano or the Espresso. I'm a hard-core Nespresso-espresso fan at home, so this isn't much of a hardship. Whole-30 / Paleo forbids milk, syrup, or sugar.
There are two new "seasonal" flavors on the menu here:
"Orange Gingersnap Latte" and "Mint Mocha"
I won't be off of Whole30 until I'm officially done my engagement here. I'm considering bringing Zheng back as a "date" on closing day, so we can see the show together, and we can also sample the new drinks. (That would mean that I would be willing to drive three hours round-trip for a beverage. And some Piazzola). And as nuts as it is, I would be willing to drive on Sunday the 9th to see the show, more than be willing to "break" the Whole30 while it is going on.
[**please understand the slight facetiousness of my above words. Please also read slight correctly.**]
I wonder, with all of the reading I've done lately, of two camps:
DISCIPLINE: Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman, Whole30, It Starts with Food, The Cloister Life
- and yes, the whole business of Comps study
PLEASURE: The Devil Wears Prada; Happier at Home; Style, Sex, and Substance
Where is the bliss-line with these issues? While my husband teases my organizational habit of "budgeting" for things in the future (like budgeting some money every month for our upcoming move, or talking last night about the fact that our computers are both crooning swan songs), he can tease me all he wants. We don't have a problem paying rent, and when we had to shed *blood I mean pay for our immigration lawyer, visa fees, and a USCIS civil surgeon*, we were able to do ALL of it, at once, and not go into any debt for it. Tease me all you want. The bliss of being able to do that on a musician's and event planner's budgets is not to be dismissed.
The fact is, I think there is great joy and bliss in keeping to a disciplined routine. I'm delightedly happy after a great practice session, and as much as it was a pain yesterday to roast a chicken overnight, carve it, pack it up into small bags, and then bring it to Syracuse, I now have beautiful food for the next few days that I don't have to go hunt.
(I'm imagining [with a smile] me running through the streets of Syracuse in a cave-outfit, hunting down a chicken).
