Soprano in the Spandex Shorts

Inspired Thought From A Bostonian Operatic Athlete

[russianromancer005]

                          Smolov - Smulov- smukov- smukey - sucky.

Today- the 3rd day at my new box! Currently working through the first week of Smolov Squat programming to better my front squat game. Today was 7 sets of 5 front squats- Quite tiring, particularly since I had to finish this after the morning WOD..

But I guess it was a good thing I lifted afterwards- I was approached by a guy who took an interest by what in hell was my reason for the insane amount of sets (insane for me, I guess). After I explained, he apparently was familiar with the programing and we got to talking- talking? Like the kind of talk where you know both of you are trying to assess each other, the circumstances and/or reasoning for this conversation in the thoughts running around your brain: “Hmm, a new person; they’re attractive and TALL… Ok, you’ve gotta look them in the eye so they know your invested in talking. Oh, you also are a lifter? Great, I’ll get to see (stare at) you more during weightlifting class. You live in the same building that I’m moving into?!! Maybe I should ask you for your number, you know, in case I need to know something about the building….? Nooooo, way too forward, and you are in a relationship. Wait, he’s still talking and asking me all these questions; I hope he didn’t see me look at his HARVARD student ID that was with his stuff in the cubby… So he’s smart? or has family connections. Should I ask him what he’s doing in Boston to cover up the fact that I already knew? Oh, ok walking away, I definitely see you later.”

Maybe Smolov  wasn’t too sucky after all.

[russianromancer005]

Let The Adventure Begin

So, my mother sent me a text- actually, a picture via text:

I’m pretty sure this is a napkin, but nonetheless I appreciate her effort to connect with me on some platform since the most convenient way to make contact is though the cellular satellite in space.

I just made the move from Long Beach, CA to Boston, MA. I’ll skip the boring part about the boxes and unpacking, since the point of this blog is “supposed” to be about sharing my inspirational thoughts conjured by the very boring things such as unpacking my essential belongings I dragged across the country via JetBlue Airlines. I made the big move to continue my operatic training at one of the finest music institutions in Boston. Although my training is the reason for my move and will remain the constant during my time in Boston, everything else is (cute pun-play off the napkin) up in the air. I parted with my girlfriend of almost 8 months in California, along with other friends and family. On a more theoretical note: I planned to behind my regrets, self-doubts, and rear-view mirrors that have launched me into re-occuring bad habits. Separating myself from my “former” habitual lifestyle has led me to clarity in the things I want.  So if my singing career is a sure, factual achievement, what do I think this “adventure” in Boston is? Here are a few contributors:

My love life- I have doubts about long distance relationships; It’s been three days since our separation and, although I haven’t acted upon the proceeding thought, I already feel like a single woman looking for a new interest. Does this make me a “bad person” in another’s eyes? Probably. But the one thing I know is that “we want what we want because we feel that we will feel better in the having of it” (Abraham Hicks). And if moving on beyond my relationship is what will bring me joy, then (for a lack of a better phrase) I will follow my bliss.

My fitness- I belong to the cult known as CrossFit. I say that half jokingly because I was hooked the first class I ever took last May and never looked back since. Do I think Crossfit is the “ultimate” fitness program? No. I don’t believe CrossFit is for everyone because I am a firm believer that whatever exercise you partake in, you should enjoy it. Granted, there are some days where the WOD is an absolutely f***ing lung murderer, but afterwards I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in not only the physical strength, but also the mental strength I build with each workout. Do I have a goal? If i were completely honest with you, one is to be able to wear spandex shorts to the gym AND run without chaffing. I don’t want a thigh gap for aesthetic purposes, but people- WHO WANTS TO CHAFFE? Plus, the less athletic clothing I need to wear to the gym for one day, the less laundry I have per week!

My “belief system”- 3 years ago, I shifted my focus from religion to spirituality- yes, they are two very different things. Religion is an institution whereas spirituality is the personal relationship between you and whatever it is your believe is beyond the physical reality. I was born and raised Catholic but the way I perceive the universe is very different from the Church’s doctrine. Do I still believe in God? Yes, but your concept of God may differ greatly from what I believe. I am not here to convince or sway anyone from there own perceptions, but I will follow and share my own on this blog, since it is the biggest factor in my decision process. No matter what, I strive to choose joy and believe it is the purest purpose of life.

So what do I believe the adventure’s end will look like? I don’t know. But what I do know is that “we never get it right and we never get it done” (Abraham Hicks) and there will always be the desire for joy- wherever this adventure leads me to next, it has already begun.

[russianromancer005]

Yesterday, I was so bored that I did the thing that instagram-obsessed, basic bitches do: I went to the park, did my yoga-like hip mobility stretches, and posted a filtered pic of my so-called “one with the earth” experience, all the while looking over some Bostonian summertime scenery. 

I’m not usually one to do this, but lately I have felt this desire to visually capture these “highlights” of my life experience and put them somewhere where I can reflect upon these good, fun, beautiful moments of mine. My reasoning could be an attempt to glamorize my life through some sort of lens, since I am consistently battling boredom in this city in which I have made acquaintences, but no friends yet. Also, this could be my attempt to really find the sparkle or sense of joy, no matter how small, in everything I do; I guess it’s a matter of perspective, isn’t it? Just like the specific angle and filter of an insta pic...

[russianromancer005]

                   The Colonel guards the monument with his wand.

St. Mary’s Church will be a beautiful space to sing in every Sunday. I’m not quite used to this architectural interior that contributes to the antiquity of Boston quite yet, but I am very excited to immerse myself in this environment- I already put way more effort into my daily clothing ensembles than I did in Lazy  Long Beach. Maybe it’s because I want to be dressed to the nines in the event  I get swept up into some fairytale adventure in this unfamiliar land and it will all be caught on film for the world to view and criticize. Sometimes, I feel that my life if made up of unconventional lifestyles: opera singer who likes to spend her free time lifting really heavy things and finding attraction in unsuspected people. If so, why shouldn’t my life appeal to the masses? Not that it matters really, but what does matter is if my life appeals to ME. In this new city, amidst new people and new concepts and environments to intrigue me, I feel a more sweet satisfaction for my call to the fire of adventure and unconventional living. More and more, as I pull my energy away from what is/was in California, I feel a flame of passion and newness flickering within my heart when I ponder opera and sexuality and physicality and success....

But this leaves me to wonder: If this is good and this good wasn’t happening in California, is the next step to leave “California Madison” behind and let those energies fade so I can let the current flame grow? I don’t know. But what I do know is that consistently choosing joy will not allow those energies of doubt/lethargy/discontent remain alive within me.

Can’t the Colonel just waive his wand at me and transfigure my life into a modern-day Audrey Hepburn movie? 

Maybe it’s already in filming...

[russianromancer005]

                          Smolov - Smulov- smukov- smukey - sucky.

Today- the 3rd day at my new box! Currently working through the first week of Smolov Squat programming to better my front squat game. Today was 7 sets of 5 front squats- Quite tiring, particularly since I had to finish this after the morning WOD..

But I guess it was a good thing I lifted afterwards- I was approached by a guy who took an interest by what in hell was my reason for the insane amount of sets (insane for me, I guess). After I explained, he apparently was familiar with the programing and we got to talking- talking? Like the kind of talk where you know both of you are trying to assess each other, the circumstances and/or reasoning for this conversation in the thoughts running around your brain: “Hmm, a new person; they’re attractive and TALL... Ok, you’ve gotta look them in the eye so they know your invested in talking. Oh, you also are a lifter? Great, I’ll get to see (stare at) you more during weightlifting class. You live in the same building that I’m moving into?!! Maybe I should ask you for your number, you know, in case I need to know something about the building....? Nooooo, way too forward, and you are in a relationship. Wait, he’s still talking and asking me all these questions; I hope he didn’t see me look at his HARVARD student ID that was with his stuff in the cubby... So he’s smart? or has family connections. Should I ask him what he’s doing in Boston to cover up the fact that I already knew? Oh, ok walking away, I definitely see you later.”

Maybe Smolov  wasn’t too sucky after all.

[russianromancer005]

Let The Adventure Begin

So, my mother sent me a text- actually, a picture via text:

I'm pretty sure this is a napkin, but nonetheless I appreciate her effort to connect with me on some platform since the most convenient way to make contact is though the cellular satellite in space.

I just made the move from Long Beach, CA to Boston, MA. I'll skip the boring part about the boxes and unpacking, since the point of this blog is "supposed" to be about sharing my inspirational thoughts conjured by the very boring things such as unpacking my essential belongings I dragged across the country via JetBlue Airlines. I made the big move to continue my operatic training at one of the finest music institutions in Boston. Although my training is the reason for my move and will remain the constant during my time in Boston, everything else is (cute pun-play off the napkin) up in the air. I parted with my girlfriend of almost 8 months in California, along with other friends and family. On a more theoretical note: I planned to behind my regrets, self-doubts, and rear-view mirrors that have launched me into re-occuring bad habits. Separating myself from my "former" habitual lifestyle has led me to clarity in the things I want.  So if my singing career is a sure, factual achievement, what do I think this "adventure" in Boston is? Here are a few contributors:

My love life- I have doubts about long distance relationships; It's been three days since our separation and, although I haven't acted upon the proceeding thought, I already feel like a single woman looking for a new interest. Does this make me a "bad person" in another's eyes? Probably. But the one thing I know is that "we want what we want because we feel that we will feel better in the having of it" (Abraham Hicks). And if moving on beyond my relationship is what will bring me joy, then (for a lack of a better phrase) I will follow my bliss.

My fitness- I belong to the cult known as CrossFit. I say that half jokingly because I was hooked the first class I ever took last May and never looked back since. Do I think Crossfit is the "ultimate" fitness program? No. I don't believe CrossFit is for everyone because I am a firm believer that whatever exercise you partake in, you should enjoy it. Granted, there are some days where the WOD is an absolutely f***ing lung murderer, but afterwards I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in not only the physical strength, but also the mental strength I build with each workout. Do I have a goal? If i were completely honest with you, one is to be able to wear spandex shorts to the gym AND run without chaffing. I don't want a thigh gap for aesthetic purposes, but people- WHO WANTS TO CHAFFE? Plus, the less athletic clothing I need to wear to the gym for one day, the less laundry I have per week!

My "belief system"- 3 years ago, I shifted my focus from religion to spirituality- yes, they are two very different things. Religion is an institution whereas spirituality is the personal relationship between you and whatever it is your believe is beyond the physical reality. I was born and raised Catholic but the way I perceive the universe is very different from the Church's doctrine. Do I still believe in God? Yes, but your concept of God may differ greatly from what I believe. I am not here to convince or sway anyone from there own perceptions, but I will follow and share my own on this blog, since it is the biggest factor in my decision process. No matter what, I strive to choose joy and believe it is the purest purpose of life.

So what do I believe the adventure's end will look like? I don't know. But what I do know is that "we never get it right and we never get it done" (Abraham Hicks) and there will always be the desire for joy- wherever this adventure leads me to next, it has already begun.