First page of the hotel archive.

lullaby

Posted by jessica on Nov 11, 2009 with 10 Comments
in I Lift My Eyes Up, Performance, video
as , , , , , , , , , , ,

There is a piano at this hotel.

It’s funny, whenever I ask the person behind the front desk if I can play the hotel piano, their first response is usually just a flat-out no. And I let them say that. Because I am so nice. And because I have no control over them.
But then I smile. I act very kind. And I ask them one more time. Or ask when a good time to play their piano would be.
And most of the time, they respond with a why don’t you play it right now?
And suddenly we are on the same team.
That happened tonight.
And settling down onto that bench, hearing the creak of the wood as I adjust to just the right spot, it’s like coming home.
Actually, my piano bench at home has some leather on it. And when I was writing an essay for my Freshman Writing class at UArts, I mentioned something awkward like hearing the sound of the leather stretch as I sat down to play. My amazing teacher who opened my eyes to the importance of a thesis statement as well as the evils of passive voice, graded it and sent it back with a question. In red.
Do you always wear tight leather pants when you play the piano?
Point taken.
Specificity is invaluable, folks.
And no, I don’t always wear tight leather pants when I play the piano.
Only sometimes.
Anyway, I played for a long time tonight. I wrote something, a song I guess, if it makes it that far. I really like the chorus, but have my reservations about the verses. So, we’ll see. There’s always more work to be done, isn’t there? More things to make, which is good news. Something to fix your heart on, something to bring you hope.
But here is a lullaby I like to sing.
It brings me comfort. Makes me think of parents. Or God. But generally of being loved and cared for.

conversations in Memphis

Posted by jessica on Sep 25, 2009 with No Comments
in Funny Stuff, Performance
as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today I was at the front desk of my hotel, about to ask for a voucher to go to the gym that is actually bigger than a breadbox unlike the hotel’s gym, when the clerk beat me to the punch.

Do you sing? he asked.
Huh? I said, not really following, though I guess the question was pretty clear.
Do. You. Sing? he repeated, slower this time.
Uh…yeah…I said hesitantly, still not sure where he was going.
Well then, why do you lie about it? he queried with a smile.
And this time a BLANK STARE is all he got from me in response.
So he started to sing.
Badly, I might add.
Until finally, it dawned on me.
And yes, after a year and a half you’d think I would be a little faster on the uptake, but what can I say? I was on my way to the gym, whoever I would be playing later that night was a million miles away from my mind.
So finally, I matched his smile and asked him if he saw the show last night.
You betcha! he said, laughing now. And it was terrific, you were just great! And after some thanks on my part and with the voucher in hand, I was on my way to the gym.
Smiling the whole time.
But if I had a dollar for every time somebody has asked me if I can sing over the past year and a half…Let’s just say that I might actually own a Betsy Johnson dress.
Instead of, you know, searching for them on ebay every once in a while.
And one more anecdote.
Yesterday my friend Brandon and I were sharing the elevator with a few of the maids from the hotel. They asked us if we were in the show in town and we said yes. They asked us which show, we answered appropriately.
Which is when one of them, the larger of the two, started doing a fantastic kick line for one. Just jumping up and down in that elevator, the stripes of her uniform blurring with her motion. The elevator was jumping a little too, as if to not be left out in this spontaneous dance in honor of A Chorus Line.
And we all laughed.
And then the dancing maid asked, Can I come o’er there an try out?

Silence for a moment.
I said, Well…and looked to Brandon for help.
Articulate, I know.
He then repeated my Well…and added with quite a serious tone, They are holding auditions in New York City in October…
Which is when Large Dancing Maid threw back her head and burst out into a beautiful bubbling laughter that just could have started that elevator jumping again, had it lasted long enough.
Chile, I was jes joking! I cain’t be in no musical on the stage!!!
And then that powerful laughter started again, and this time we couldn’t help but join in too.

life. always.

Posted by jessica on Aug 24, 2009 with No Comments
in I Lift My Eyes Up, Thoughts and Feelings
as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Irritating is when you get home from your eighth show of the week and the most creative thing you can think to do in terms of resting is laying in your freshly made bed complete with newly changed linens, thanks to the lovely maids at your hotel. You lay down for maybe a half hour [...]