Another Milestone Reached

I experienced another rite of passage last Tuesday night. I was driving home from opera practice (it was late, "American Idol" was on, and I'd been drinking lots of water so I had to pee) when I got pulled over by a cop for the very first time! I was going 48 in a 35 mph zone (but it's one of those undeveloped, back roads so it should be 45 or 50 mph!). I didn't realize how fast I was going, but the truth was I didn't see the cop car there until he was right in front of me, and it was too late. He immediately did a quick U-turn and flashed his lights on. I have a spotless driving record: the only 2 accidents I've been in weren't my fault, I've never been cited, fined, or even given a parking ticket! But, with my lead foot, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Well, when it finally did happen last Tuesday, I pulled over very compliantly, flashed my most adorably clueless smile, and pulled out the big guns....literally. I played the "I'm cute with big boobs" card and pretended to be surprised to learn that the speed limit wasn't actually 50. ("You mean it's 35 all the way down this road, officer? I'm sorry, I guess I didn't realize it. Sure, you can have my registration....is this it? I'm not sure what it looks like.")

Fortunately for me, he took pity on my poor, clueless self and let me off with a warning. So, as of now, my driving record remains untarnished, and I've decided to try harder to keep it that way.
I've also decided against getting a boob reduction anytime soon, because I figure they just might come in handy again someday!

Opera Gala = Great Success!

Here's an article from the Toledo Blade on the gala concert, published February 12, 2006. I'd say it was a success of Wagnerian proportions. (Trust me--I was there!)

Wagner gala wows Peristyle; emcee pleads for arts' future

By STEVEN CORNELIUS, BLADE MUSIC CRITIC

Sounds from the stormy seas of Richard Wagner's opera The Flying Dutchman opened last night's Toledo Opera gala at the Peristyle. Either the programming was prophetic or such is the power of Wagner. The concert began nearly 30 minutes late as musicians battling winter weather slowly arrived from points north.
Little matter, the lateness. This was one of the most enjoyable opera gala programs of the past decade. Conductor and emcee Thomas Conlin assembled a super-sized orchestra, a fine chorus made up of opera regulars and the University of Toledo Concert Chorale, and young soprano Erin Wood, who dazzled.
The evening was dedicated completely to Wagner's music and included selections from six operas. You did not need to be an opera buff to recognize almost all of it.
The rich-toned and melodious Wood gave emotionally charged and seemingly effortless readings of selections from The Valkyrie. She was equally comfortable later in the program as Isolde when she delivered a transcendent performance of the famous "Liebestod" that ends Tristan and Isolde, the opera that changed the course of Western music.
Fine as well was the choir, which was divided for the folksy choruses from The Flying Dutchman, then united and nicely balanced for Tannhauser's "Chorus of the Pilgrims" and other works.
Midway through the program the ever-conversational Conlin, who apparently would be perfectly at home hosting a late-night television talk show, got serious and made a plea in support of education in the fine arts. In a sense, he was simply stating what the music was already saying. The entire program came off as a sonic slide show demonstrating the importance of cultural heritage. Melody after melody - from the nobly paced "Wedding March" from Lohengrin to the terrifying war sounds of "The Ride of the Valkyries"- one heard strings of examples of the ways in which the everyday culture of the present sits comfortably on the strong shoulders of the past.
Great ideas provide the air that future generations breathe. Who among us today will speak to our grandchildren's grandchildren the way Wagner still speaks to us? And what can we do to nurture those voices? Conlin is asking the right questions.

My Life Sucks

It figures, it just figures. This Saturday is the Toledo Opera gala (officially titled "The Greatest Wagner Concert Ever!") which we've been rehearsing for for about a month now, and wouldn't you know it? I'm getting a sinus infection! I tend to get them at least once a month, but I've been doing really well since returning from Florida after New Year's, in spite of the chaotic weather changes. And I've been in really good voice, too. Two days ago, I hit an A! (Not an A as in "High A" but the A above High C! Yes, I was amazed, too!):) But, of course my stupid respiratory system decided to go ahead and get all freaky on me. There's no way I'll be able to slip comfortably into the High C on Saturday. I'm sleeping with my eucalyptus oil vaporizor on and sucking back decongestant like it's going out of style. As if that will help turn back the hands of time to before I was exposed to all the junk in the air.
I blame the government for this. And the media. And that large padded envelope with the tear in it that kept spewing dust particles all over my car seat. (I volunteered to deliver it to BGSU for a guy in the chorus since I'm the only one that lives in BG. Damn my good heart!)

Geez, is there anything positive to report around here? Well, how about: Congratulations, Steelers! Way to go, Hines! Thanks for not choking, Ben (and for allowing yourself to be shorn on natinoal television)! And on the subject of hair: nice coif, Troy! I wore your jersey all day Sunday and to rehearsal on Monday in celebration. I've decided that I'm going to patent a design for a piggy bank that's a model of Bill Cowher's head and when you press a button or something, his bottom jaw shoots out as only Cowher's jaw can, and you put your pennies inside his mouth for safe keeping.

My Broey is doing much better now. He's still eating his special food (when he can get to it before Kirby) and some of the luster in his fur is back. He's still rail-thin, but at least he's eating. I'm still optimistic that he'll live to be 18. He's got too much fight in him to give up just yet. Yep, that's my boy!

Just 4 1/2 hours until "Lost" is on. It's become another family affair. Hopefully, we'll get to see Josh Holloway without his shirt on again. God, that's good TV!!