Welcome to the A-Z Challenge

Today's the 31st of March, and some of you will know what that means. April is here! And with it, the A-Z Challenge.

This year, I've gone a little insane and entered both my blogs, so this is going to be a wild ride, people.

Because of that (and my goal to hit at least 1000 blogs by the end of the month), I might fall a bit behind on the comments. Please bear with me until I can catch up.

In the mean time, the theme for this blog's Challenge will be The A-Z of Taking Charge of Your Life. It'll be stuff that I picked up from own experience about how to go after big dreams and how to make a lifestyle out of running after them. But please note, these posts are just that: personal experience.

Still, I do hope that you'll find some value in them. They will all be coming out of my heart.

On a lighter note, I just want to say "Welcome" to all new visitors and "Welcome back" to all my old friends.

A bit of news

I know that this isn't technically Wednesday. In fact, it isn't even remotely Wednesday.

But I did something late yesterday that I thought needs a post. Especially since it involves one of my goals for 2012.

I booked an audition.

On Sunday I am going to try out for a leading role for a local theatre production. It's not a massive production, but I have to start somewhere. And starting as soon as I have a chance is a good way to go. Because I know I have a lot to learn and that I need to gain experience.

But yeah... I'm quite excited about this. Now I just need to find a monologue or poem that I can read for them. Any suggestions?

A realization...

I've been trying to write my A to Z Challenge posts ahead of time so that I could have more time. Interestingly, I only realized today how much time it's taking me right now.

Anyway.

I've sort of come to the realization that my postings for this blog have lost substance somehow. Which is not a good sign, because that implies I don't have enough to write about.

That's something that worries me a little. Because am I doing too little in my life for me to write about?

I don't really think it's that bad. I just really need to make a point to put more thought into it.

So that's what I'm going to do during April. I'm going to be doing the A to Z Challenge, so I've got all those posts planned out, giving me about a month to sort out where I want this blog to go...

In the mean time, I might be taking the next few days off in preparation for the Challenge so that I can spend more time on the more important stuff next week.

Then again, I might not. ;-)

Who else is doing the A to Z Challenge?

A small realization

Things are going a little crazy on my side. I entered both my blogs into the A to Z Challenge, so I'm busy preparing for it, but on Wednesday, when I started writing the posts, a cold/flu or something hit me with the strength of a freight train. 

So here I am. Writing this post from bed. Ugh. 

Anyway, things are a bit more quiet, since most of my activities went on break for the holidays, including my singing. 

In that way, the cold couldn't have been better timed. I only missed one lesson and I'll get a chance for my voice to recover. 

Still, it's not really making getting back on track all that easy. But I will not complain about this any more. 

See, speaking to one of my closest bloggy friends, she asked me something that reminded me of something I take for granted.  

I'm happy. Sure, there are some serious down moments. But it all pales to insignificance when I realize how blessed I am. I have my family and friends. I have a home. I have a future. I have my dreams, and the ability to follow them. I have you all. I have God. 

What more could I want? 

When was the last time you counted your blessings? If it's been a while, feel welcome to count here. X

Back at the office

I'm quickly rattling off this post while waiting for something to do.

So far I haven't yet really gotten everything fitted into my schedule yet, but I'm working on it.

In the mean time,

I'm waking up earlier so that I can get edits done, because that's what takes the most concentration at that stage.

After that, everything else just has to fall into place.

In the mean time, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to go through the A-Z challenge list while waiting for phone calls etc. Because that doesn't take as much concentration.

Sometime later this afternoon, I'm hoping to get some writing done.

Otherwise, there's not a lot of news.

What are you planning to do today?

A new challenge

I've been having a bit of hectic time yesterday, with the business that I co-own taking off. As a result, I'll have to start pulling something resembling office hours, which is something I'm looking forward to. Still, getting used to the new way of things takes a while. I'm actually going to have to start scheduling things way ahead of time so that I can get everything done.

After all, I can't let my dreams settle by the side of the road just because. No... this is a new challenge, and I will succeed at it too. Because this business will one day be mine, so I have a bit of a vested interest.

My only (mild) concern is fitting in everything once my dreams start coming to fruition. But there will be a way. I know that God will provide it.

And she's back!

Finally, I have enough of my ducks in a row to indulge my blogging addiction. Since it was my singing the Suiderkruis Mis (Southern Cross Mass), I thought I'd celebrate by putting up a review of the show. Sadly, it's in Afrikaans, so I'll have to translate for you... Sorry if some of it comes out wonky, but the way I see it, it will be better than using Google's translator... 


Original Article


Suiderkruis-mis

With soloists Francois van Coke, Leroi Nel, Annalie Herbst, Ellenoré van As, Riaan Hunter and the Klein Libertas Theatrical Choir. Composer and conductor: André Strijdom.

****


The Argentinians have Ramirez's Misa Criolla. Out of Kenya we have Missa Luba and then there is the lovely Misa Tango by Luis Bacalov.

And now South Africa has its own Mass - one specifically written for people living under the Southern Cross.  

As in the above mentioned masses, folk tunes were incorporated into the five parts of the traditional Catholic mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus Benedictus and Agnus Dei). There are soloists, a choir and orchestra/band, and the worship of God is the main purpose.  

But our own mass has something else that makes it truly special. It rocks. 

The rock-element brings excitement to the Suiderkruis-mis. And not only because Francois van Coke from Fokofpolisiekar and Leroi Nel from Foto na Dans are two of the soloists.  

Van Coke gets the opportunity to use his best rock-voice, and manages to move the audience when he begs for a world without hunger and homelessness and a world full of love and understanding in the Credo. 

Nel's attention grabbing solo in the Benedictus was a highlight. And best of all, they're just normal people. Go listen to them when they're performing in their element and in their own genre.

It isn't actually possible to say more about one soloist than the other. They're all young, with voices that grab you and refuse to to let go. They're deeply involved with what they're singing. 

Hunter's bass-baritone voice gave goose bumps from the first. Both Herbst and Van As's pure and lovely voices were a pleasant surprise. 

The choir and band/orchestra buzzed with energy. Not that it could have been any different under the energetic guidance of the (barefoot) composer/conductor Strijdom.

The whole piece was a joy to listen to, from start to finish. Afrikaans, Engels, Xhosa and Latin was sung. The Latin lended something mysterious, something with the flavor of incense, light from painted glass. Then came the familiar sounds of languages heard and spoken on the street every day. This is a mass for everybody. Before the performance, there was a discussion about the piece. It was a bit too long, but insightful, especially the explanation of the different parts of and the background of the composition.

Except for wishing them congratulations, one has a few other wishes for this piece of music. Hopefully this won't be the last performance. 

Also, one can hope that there's a program next time, so that one can follow the beautiful words that sometimes gets lost in all the music that's going on. Especially for the choir and Van Coke.  


Finally, one must hope that there will be a CD. There is just too much that you want to listen to again and again to be satisfied with only one performance. 








So yeah... sounds like all the hours I put in was more than worth it. And let me just say that I share those hopes. This composition really can go very far. Hopefully, this is only the beginning. 

Because I'm singing

Hey all. We're busy preparing to perform on Tuesday, which means an incredibly intense training schedule that's been quite taxing on me.

Because of that, I decided to take a bit of a blogging break until next Wednesday, when the performance is done.

Will miss all of you!

X