Kasi Jones

*Before you begin reading, please note that every time you get to the word EARTHQUAKE! or EARTHQUAKES! the appropriate action is to shout the word in your best 1920’s presenter voice. Thank you. The Management.

So, yesterday there was an EARTHQUAKE! not too far away from here, about a 4.6, I didn’t feel a thing…no big deal.

SO, last night, I was exhausted, emotionally, physically, everythinglly. I passed out at 7pm Japan time. Woke up at 11pm from the most terrifying nightmare I have ever had. Tried every hour to go back to sleep and the nightmare would start again…Don’t you hate that?!

SO Finally, at about 4:45am I fall back asleep, now, it takes me forever to fall asleep, especially when I’m trying, so I was just laying there in that weird pre-sleep dreamville, you know what I’m talking about? Where you can kind of hear people, but if you actually try to respond you either make, strange grunting noises, give a series of “mmmhhmmms”, or just interject with random vowels, “refrigerator!” Yeah. You got me. Well thats where I was. And suddenly I felt like I was rocking, and I woke myself up saying “yeah, mmhhmmm” and nodding rapidly. Then I just layed there, trying to process what was happening…Am I dreaming? am I in a giant woman sized cradle? What is happening?

Then I realized, EARTHQUAKE! And a big one at that. I was too tired to be scared, and I thought, I should get in the doorway, but then I remembered that I suck at opening the door to my new apt. (its this electric key thing, its very complicated when you’re me). So I thought, I should get under the desk, but by this time we were really movin and shakin, and I thought, “there’s nothing above your head Kasi, just stay in the comfortable bed and let God rock ya! If you try to go to the desk you’ll probably fall and break something”.  Now, you tell me, who can argue with logic like that. So I stayed in the bed and felt seasick, and loved every second of it.

Now, I haven’t researched the effects of this EARTHQUAKE! at all, and I hope no one is hurt, and no property was lost or severely damaged. Having said that, I LOVE EARTHQUAKES! They are a terrifying reminder of how small we are in the scope of our planet.  For some reason, every time I remember that I am this tiny speck on this glorious Earth, it frees me up. Does that make sense, I stop worrying about silly stuff, I stop stressing. I relax.

I just want to love and be loved.

And be an international superstar.

And win a Nobel Prize.

And be happy forever.

That’s not so much to ask.

At least…I don’t think it is.

EARTHQUAKE!

Because I just saw this on Facebook…with the status “Curves misses Kasi”

Its an update board about me! They like me. They really like me!

Sometimes you don’t realize how much you miss home until home misses you.

I’m totally rambling, I’m a hot teary mess, happy tears, its just so sweet.

Thats all, its 2am here, goodnight.

So, I was looking online and I think that there is a Curves fairly close to me, at least in my same little suburb. But the address isn’t on there and its not a good idea for me to call as I don’t speak enough Japanese for a full phone deal…although…wouldn’t that be a HILARIOUS video blog?! or maybe not…it would probably be me repeating the same 4 words and them hanging up on me lol.

I do miss my ladies at Curves Weho, before I left I got all sorts of sweet gifts and cards, and every time I read one of them I get all welled up

I love where I am, and I love my cast so much, But what I loved about my Curves, was that it took me out of my little entertainment bubble, and exposed me to so many amazing women who do so many amazing things….I’m hoping I have the same experience here in Japan.

I’m sure I will.

The post office near me is open 24/7! I don’t know how you feel about that, but it completely blows my mind! How convenient!
Just thought I’d share.

I’m in Japan! I’m typing fast because I’m using some random wireless and I don’t know if its going to cut out. Mine gets set up this week.
Its beautiful here, So humid, which I love because my hair looks amazing!

I’ve already started picking up little bits of the language, and attempting to use it. Although, I naturally keep speaking Spanish to people for some reason when trying to explain myself. Which is hilarious, because my Spanish is minimal to say the least. lol.

I have a great studio apartment that I desperately need to dress up with pictures.

I’ve only been here a day or so so all we have done is orientation…Although my first night I went to McDonalds and had an Ebi Sandwhich, which is essentially a tempura shrimp burger which is essentially the best thing out of McDonalds since the nugget.

Today I have the day off, its 6 in the morning tomorrow here for all of you Americans. That’s confusing, 16 hours ahead of PST. And I have the day off, so shopping for household goods, trying out my 5 new words with out speaking Spanish or sounding absolutely crazy, and then…drum roll…TOKYO! its about 15 minutes on the train.

In the words of the great Annie…”I think Im gonna like it here!!!!”

So, there is this place I go all the time in Hollywood, its called the Body Factory, and they make these amazing, super healthy, protein/green shakes. I would have one everyday, but every time you go its 6 bucks, and they sell their powder at the shop, so it just seems silly to pay 6 bucks everytime, when I can just buy the powder and make it at home…right?

Well, I bought the powder last night, and this morning was my first attempt. I made a single serving, and it was PERFECT, I gave it to my sister.
I needed to make two more, so I decided, I would do a double batch…BAD IDEA!
I’m bummed, Laura (sister) got the perfect smoothie, and the rest of us got a pathetic shadow of what this drink can be.

AAAh Mi, I suppose the lesson here is make things in small batches its always better.
OR, maybe its to take the good smoothie when you make it and give your sister the gross one.
Either way, I’m getting 32 grams of protein and a days worth of vitamins from one glass, so I guess I can’t really complain.

Kasi Jones wove her musical magic over a roomful of friends and fans as she gave herself a terrific sendoff before shifting her base of operations from Los Angeles to Tokyo for nine months.

Just two weeks before moving to Japan for a gig with “Big Band Beat” at Disneyland Tokyo, Jones sang a set of songs that demonstrated again her brilliant voice and beguiling stage presence.

Only four months after making her cabaret debut, Jones exhibited more self-confidence and vocal prowess than she had in two earlier shows, with every sign of becoming a cabaret headliner if she continues to pursue the intimate art.

She kicked the show into high gear with “I Don’t Care” (Jean Lenox/Harry O’Sutton), building from a soft, coquette-like tease to a strong vocal and employing a confident strut during an instrumental break.

Jones demonstrated complete control on “Blues in the Night,” (Johnny Meercer/Harold Arlen), then cooed her way through a very up-to-date arrangement of Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle’s “Gee, I Wish That I Had Someone to Rock Me” and a sassy take on Fats Waller’s “Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now.”

She adopted a more serious tone on “People Like Us,” a Gary La Chiusa downer about down-and-out people (which she sang with musical director Todd Schroeder); a down-and-dirty “Love for Sale,” the Cole Porter standard that’s become a standard part of Jones’ repertoire; and Coldplay’s “The Hardest Part,” about letting go of love — something the young Miss Jones has experienced, as related in previous shows — before shifting the mood and attitude with the Gloria Gaynor declaration, “I Will Survive” (Freddie Perren/Dino Fekaris) to which Jones added a hustle and, once again, a strut.

Finally Jones bid sayonara to L.A. with a sweet version of “I’ll Be Seeing You” (Sammy Fain/ Irving Kahal), before encoring on two of her standards — Eubie Blake’s “My Handyman Ain’t Handy No More” and “Astonishing” from the Broadway musical Little Women (Mindi Dickstein/ Jason Howland).

As that song says, “Here I go/There’s no turning back/My great adventure has begun.” For her fans, the adventure that leads her back to Los Angeles can’t come soon enough.

Elliot Zwiebach
Cabaret Scenes
July 22, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org
http://cabaretscenes.org/cabaret_reviews/2009/jul09/jones_kasi_7-09.html

Its so strange, I’m moving to Tokyo, Japan, in 9 days. NINE DAYS!

It’s unreal.

I am so very excited for everything, even the plane ride.

But at this very moment, I’m a bit blue.

Its just hard to say goodbye to everyone, even if it is only 8 months.

The unknown is always somewhat frightening. But the weird part is, I’m not worried about how I’ll feel, or how I’ll change. I’m worried that things will change here, in LA, that the place that has become my home, may not be as welcoming when I return. Is that strange?

Its such a transitional city, that you never know who will be here on any given day. hmmmmmm…..Kasi’s feeling emo…lol.

The good news is, in packing I’ve gotten rid of about four HUGE bags of old clothes and junk that has been cramping my style for way too long, and found some amazing old treasures that I thought were lost forever (eg. the hot pink pleated tennis skirt Bonnie gave me 4 years ago)

I’m almost packed, now just need to clean and organize.

Tokyo, I’m almost ready for you!