Happy Mothers Day

Thanks for everything you've taught me, Mommy! I'm proud to be so very much like you.

I thought it worth mentioning that Im am typing on the new Sony Vaio Laptop that was a gift from my parentals! Its awesome! So awesome in fact that we decided to say buh- bye to our old desk top pc and all the contraptions and wires that went with it.



This took a little bit of convincing since the pc had been a gift from Eric's parents, but that was almost 5 years ago, and sadly 5 years is a lifetime for computers. But we finally agreed that 1. having 3 computers for 2 people is silly (Eric also has a laptop.) 2. Having the oldest, slowest, least capeable computer as our main computer is silly. and 3. Having a huge slow computer that takes up 4 times the space and it half as functional as a laptop is also silly.

Soooo, out with the old in with the new. Thanks Folks!

How Glad I Am...

to have all of you in my life! I hope this song makes you feel glad too!

Christmas

Hope you all had as wonderfull of a Christmas Holiday as I did!





Christmas may be over but Nutcracker is still going strong. Check out the NY Times Slideshow

Today is my 28th Birthday!

I have the feeling its going to be a very good year.



This is a video of maybe my 9th or 10th birthday. Im opening presents from my friends Emily and Sarah. After this they are coming to see me perform in the Nutcracker, then spend the night, as went many a happy birthday growing up. My main concern continues to be "when are we gonna eat?"

Waking up from the Pill

I highly encourage every woman on the Pill to read this NY Times article entitled Waking Up from the Pill. While I dont agree with every statement and attitude presented in this article, I do agree that American women today have a very significant disconnect with their bodies, especially concerning reproduction and childbirth (which are our prime biological functions after all).




Hey, Im on the pill and have been for over 10 years, but over the past few years as I've started to consider starting a family I've often thought to myself "Isnt there something strange about tricking my body into thinking its been pregnant for all these years? Whats going to happen when I stop fooling her and want her to actually be pregnant?"

Sooo, I encourage you to read this article and just start a conversation with yourself, your sister, your girlfriend, your doctor about it. Or leave a friendly comment here about your thoughts.

Childbirth

As any of you who have spoken with me on the subject know , I feel very strongly towards (one day) having a natural childbirth at a birthing center. This beautiful video only strengthens that opinion...

Theo's Birth video from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo.

Thanks to my dear friend and NICU Nurse Katie for the link ;-) I cried.

Happy 20th Birthday...

... to my sister Bryony!



I was recently ask in an interview, what in my life was I the most proud of, and I replied that I was most proud of my relationship with you.



From the day you were born I knew my life would mean more, that I would be someone special to you, and that you would be the love of my life!

Looking Forward...

November is slow for me as far as the Opera goes. This job is unique in the fact that you are hired for specific Operas, and the performances of those specific Operas are spread out over weeks, even months. Neither Boris nor La Boheme have performances right now. La Bo has four shows in December, then I pick up Tosca in January, Nixon in February as well as La Bo again, and then Boris resumes in March with my final show being Tosca April 16th- then ABT's season begins one month later.

In the mean time Im selling away at Esprit and looking forward to a short run of ABT's new production of The Nutcracker at B.A.M. This means I will be spending my first Christmas in New York! My parents and sister will be joining me up here for the Holiday and I think it will be a really fun and unique experience to celebrate in the City! Now I have a real excuse to buy and decorate a tree!

Widower

Hey kids! Check out the short film Widower that Eric filmed last March with his partners Sam and Nick; also known as the Rodanti Brothers:

Widower from Rodanti Bros. Films on Vimeo.

Last night the team had an awesome fundraiser at the Brooklyn Brewery for their next film: The Long Way Home.

One Year Anniversary!

I cant believe how this year has flown by! The past twelve months have been full of so much love, and not just between E and I, but from our family and friends as well. Thank you to everyone in our lives who support us and help us be the people we are. I am such a lucky gal!



"I promise to be your constant friend and faithful partner. I accept you entirely for who you are, and I promise to love you unconditionally, in sickness or in health, whether we are wealthy or in need. I promise to always encourage and inspire your creativity. I will celebrate your strengths and learn from your weaknesses. I promise to laugh and dance with you down every road our lives will lead us. I will love you for as long as we both shall live, and even after that. We are one heart, from now throughout eternity. I love you."

Cross Toes

Yippie, I got called back for a second interview for the job a I really want! Its down to just three of us...yikes. The job would involve world traveling, which would be sooooo cool, especially since Eric can visit on the road. Cross fingers and toes, please!

Also, did you know that as a young man (and soldier?) my Dad only narrowly escaped becoming a Vampire? It's true.

Family

A few weeks ago my cousin Connor was nearly killed from being accidentally shot by a spear gun while fishing with friends.

After going through this and my mothers stroke, I am in awe of what our bodies can endure and survive.

I am so thankful that he is recovering well and has even started back to school! I am very proud of him and my family for being so brave and strong. I have always been thankful for my loving and very close family, but these hard times have made me love them more than I ever imagined I could.

News Coverage:
one
two
three

From Neon Sushi to Chocolate Froth!

While I was down in NC visiting my Mom and Pop I decided I just had to remove the wallpaper from our hallway bathroom! This is the most used bathroom in the house and it was still adorned with the stripped and neon fish clad paper I picked out in 1990. Buh-bye!





First I removed all the wallpaper by scoring, spraying a mixture of fabric softener and warm water, and scraping. It came off pretty easy. The fact that it was almost 20 years old didnt hurt.



Then we (Dad helped with this part) tore down the cabinets and the molding that held up the horrible plastic cover for the florescent light above the sink.



Then I primed and painted all the trim , shelves, lower cabinets and window with a bright white semi-gloss.



On the walls I used Behr's Chocolate Froth in a satin finish.

VIOLA!!


I love the way it turned out and so do the 'rents!




There are a few more things to be done: hang the mirror, a new counter top and sink are on their way and an electrician is coming by to install new light fixtures. Also we had to order special hinges for the lower cabinets. Still, I think we'll all be a little happier in this slightly more sophisticated commode!

Mr. Peck

Love spending time in NC but I'm missing my honey!

Kailyn's Flower Girl Dress!

Hey friends! I'm spending time in NC with my mom for a few weeks but just last weekend I was upstate at my sis-in-law's wedding. If you remember I was making the flower girl dress for my niece. I think it turned out great!










Kailyn loved twirling around in it all night!

A dream is a wish your heart makes...

Great news, my Mom is being released from the hospital tomorrow! Dreams do come true!


(The Castle from Sleeping Beauty)

Mom

Wow, my last post was only 5 days ago but it seems like another lifetime. Later that day my world was turned upside down when I called my mother in NC and realized she'd had a stroke.

I called 911 here in NYC and they connected me to the local Police who sent an ambulance to my Mom's house right away. She was alone so I called our neighbor who rushed to our house to be with Mom.

I flew to Richmond Sunday night to get my sister and we drove to Winston-Salem from the airport. We got to the ICU around 2:30 am and stayed with her for a little bit but then let her rest. The next few days were an overwhelming mix of hospital visits, phone calls and worry.

Basically what happened was that she had a clot in her Carotid artery that a piece broke off from and traveled to her brain. Initially she was almost totally paralyzed on the right side, but that movement and strength is coming back more everyday. What has been most severely effected is her ability to recall words and form sentences. She can speak clearly but has trouble finding the right words to use.

Now she is out of ICU and in the rehabilitation center where they have begun aggressive physical and speech therapy. She has a long road of recovery ahead of her, but everyone is very impressed and encourage by her improvements day by day.

I am back in NYC now and will visit her again in about three weeks when, hopefully, she will be at home receiving out- patient therapy.

To my friends and family who have been supporting us the past few days- thank you and please keep it coming.

Little Dude...

We had a wonderful weekend hangin out with this little dude...




Cutest nephew ever!

What happens in Buffalo...

Phew, am I pooped! Just got back last night from a fabulous weekend in Rochester/ Buffalo for my sis-in-law Chandra's Bridal Shower/ Bachelorette party!



The shower was beautifully arranged by our sis-in-law Lauren and Chan's Maid of Honor Stephanie. The food was amazing and the games, favors and company were so much fun.




Look how big the babies are getting!

After the shower we headed to Buffalo for Gay Bingo! Hosted by drag queens, this is not your grandmother's bingo!


A Drag Queen explains the rules to us.

Different letter/number calls evoke a specific chant such as Caller: "B 10" Players: "inches, from the floor!". Also, whenever someone got Bingo the Caller counted to three and the players all pointed to the winner and yelled "BITCH!" It was so funny!


Aunt Judy won the first bingo!



Then all the girls checked into a hotel and got ready for a night on the town! We danced the night away till about 4 am! Yeah, I cant remember the last time I was at a night club let alone till 4 am, but we had a great time.



It was so much fun to celebrate with Chandra and get to know all her girlfriends! Now I'm looking forward to the wedding even more.