Hell Ride Continued…
The plane takes off and sounds like what I can only describe as the Empire State Building being dropped into a cement mixer. After about four years, the heat kicks in with the smell of alien fossil fumes. And then, as if on cue, Read More of the Diva »
Posted by Lynne on February 8th, 2010 | Filed under In the Life of a Diva | Comment now »The Flight to Riga: Code Name – Hell Ride
I am so exhausted that I can not think straight as I make my way to the gate for my flight to Riga. I keep thinking that I’ve lost my passport though it is in my handy passport/ ticket/ wallet holder that is hanging around my neck. I’ve been up about 24 hours at this point.
Boarding is announced and I dutifully follow the lead of my fellow passengers down the frigging stairs. I am lugging my carry-on (which at this point weighs 2000 pounds) to the outside. Remember, Stockholm is freezing! We trudge through the freaking ice patch covered tarmac to our crop duster / prop plane and go up more stairs to the plane. Read More of the Diva »
Posted by Lynne on February 8th, 2010 | Filed under In the Life of a Diva | Comment now »Seven Hours at Arlanda: Stockholm Airport
I felt so lucky to have an international phone. Being able to call my BFF from the cell without pushing a bunch of numbers is thrilling for me. I proceed through Customs and after the obligatory questions:
Why are you visiting Stockholm? How long is your stay? Business or pleasure?
I wheel my carry on as I search for the nearest toilet.
I take my first photo inside Stockholm. There are an abundance of Olympic rings represented all over the place. I don’t expect we will see a lot of that in Chicago…
Read More of the Diva »
The Flight to Stockholm
My departure gate is empty - I will have room to spread out on this flight!
Terminal 5 looked deserted and my departure gate is totally empty. And this made my heart leap for joy after my major disappointment at not finding noiseless headphones. And besides, I threw my old beater headphones in my suitcase for good measure so I knew that all was not lost.
However, the thought of an empty flight to Europe was more than I could hope for. I was mainly praying for an empty seat next to mine. Nothing worse than my bulk being squeezed in between people on an eight-hour flight! Read More of the Diva »
Posted by Lynne on February 4th, 2010 | Filed under In the Life of a Diva | 3 Comments »Terminal 5, O’Hare International Airport
a deserted International terminal at O'Hare Chicago
O’Hare International Airport has one of the worst international terminals ever when it comes to shopping and eating. I would have never noticed had it not been for the fact that I needed to purchase a set of noise reduction headphones. This whole thing started because I was misled by the giggling receptionist at Best Buy the night before:
RING, RING… someone picks up
Burst of hysterical laughing followed by indiscernible talking then:
Best Buy Hancock Center, Markita speaking…background chatter… giggling…You so stupid… uh, this is Markita. Read More of the Diva »
Ready to go
Shana Punim watches me pack with suspicion.
I am packed: clothes, laptop, camera, plugs, adapters, power converters, sheet music, lyrics, feather boa and snow boots. It’s cold in Riga but the weather is better than last week when temperatures barely made it above zero. Now, there’s plenty of snow and highs in the low twenties. It’s practically a heat wave!
Packing stresses me out. Read More of the Diva »
Posted by Lynne on February 2nd, 2010 | Filed under In the Life of a Diva | Comment now »What Kind of Singer Are You?
I am in the midsts of preparing for my trip to Riga, Latvia. I am a bit nervous (new band, new old material, long assed lay over in Stockholm, my thighs squeezed into a airplane seat) but ready to face what lies ahead – a brand new adventure. Ready or not, here I come!
I got an emailed list of interview questions from a Latvian musician. He wanted to post it on his band’s web site or something like that but it struck me how much he did not know about me. It’s not his fault of course. No one knows me in the Baltics. But one of his questions made me think back on a time when certain people had trouble with what I sang. Read More of the Diva »
Posted by Lynne on February 1st, 2010 | Filed under In the Life of a Diva | 3 Comments »I Cheated.
Run a marathon - one thing I did NOT do
I ate fried chicken and corn bread. Read More of the Diva »
Posted by Lynne on January 28th, 2010 | Filed under In the Life of a Diva | 2 Comments »The Amazing Adventures of Permanent Lifestyle Change Girl:Cleaning My House Ain’t For Sissies…
Isn’t that what Bette Davis said? I know she was referring to “getting old,” but I have definitely gone through a lifetime of crap as I sift through the debris that makes up my household clutter.
I found a secret stash of extra buttons – in their plastic baggies – from various clothing purchases. It’s so kind of manufacturers to provide extra buttons. Kinda like a little hug. And I actually used my spare buttons – twice. I felt so vindicated! Read More of the Diva »
Posted by Lynne on January 26th, 2010 | Filed under In the Life of a Diva | 2 Comments »The Amazing Adventures of Permanent Lifestyle Change Girl: Litmus Test – the Movies Part 2 Success
I did it!! I went to the movies and did not go to the concession stand. And I did not die of hunger nor did I waste away from longing for snacks. There were folks crunching and munching all around me! The deicious aroma of popcorn and butter was dancing all over me but I did not falter in my conviction. In fact, I felt like they were slaves to their popcorn – puppets of the concession stand.
Savages!
I thought to myself as I listened to their cracking and smacking. Read More of the Diva »