Okay.  So in december I decided to audition for this really great program in Italy, a Young Artist's program.  And not only did I get in but I got a role in the marriage of figaro.  Which was cool until I found out that they wanted payment on it much faster than I was capable of handling so I decided to decline.  Later I was offered a chance for Boheme but I didn't even respond to that one or never said that I wanted it.  Then they offered me a spot in a less expensive program and for a minute I thought that I had been offered money that would pay for the program but that ended up being me getting into a scam which I'm still cleaning up and that led to me saying sorry but I can't do that right now but I appreciate the offer.  Then when some of the ladies in my studio said that they wanted me to let them help me raise money b/c I should go I said okay and for the last two weeks I have been sending out letters to get patrons and posting messeges practically everywhere about people just come to the concernt and to buy tickets that will help support me and other emerging artists.  I'm not sure how many of the people that see it will come.  Who knows?  But in the last nearly couple of weeks I've become less hopeful.  Especially since my teacher told me that she bought her ticket to italy for 1300.  I mean first the program is 2500 now that I'm on the lower program which is for doing recitals in Rome and Vitterbo and singing in Masterclasses.  All of which is great but when you put up such a high price on tickets too it all feels daunting.  And I'm losing hope on the whole thing.  And on the other hand I'm thinking that there are some programs here in the US that I could perhaps get in that would pay me to basically be an apprentice for their company for a season.  That might be the way to go.  I'm going to apply to one that I saw in New Jersey.  That's for the coming season.  It's really a daunting task.  I mean right now I just want a job that would help me pay off some things and perhaps be able to save for expensive programs next year.  Had I had enough time to save I would be going right now but I haven't.  And now I'm job searching which is a job btw.  Working for myself has been more of an expense than I've wanted at times.  The good news with the singing is that I decided to claim all the money I spent and so my tax burden went down.  Which was nice.  I'm hoping that everything goes well.  I just want to get my career off the ground in some real way.  It was nice being called an accomplished singer by my teacher last week.  And I'm learning my music really fast aand I have some people to prove wrong about a few things.  Wish me luck and if you are in the area on the 28th of this month please ask me where the concert is or see the blog about supporting young artists I think that's the blog and it says where it's going to be as well.  The place holds 2500 people so please let me know if you'd like to come out and hear a night of musical theater and opera.  Mostly musical theater.  I'm going to be singing a selection from Ragtime and perhaps something else my teacher hasn't decided yet.  I just do what she asks.  It's easier that way.  :)

Anyway, thanks for reading my ramblings today.