Two more... one just 'cuz, and one more for someone special!

Your Inner European is Irish!

Sprited and boisterous! You drink everyone under the table.

Who's Your Inner European?

Can I really do that? Perhaps I am just hiding something from the world...hmm...

You Are Most Like Carrie!

You're quirky, flirty, and every guy's perfect first date. But can the guy in question live up to your romantic ideal? It's tough for you to find the right match - you're more than a little picky. Never fear... You've got a great group of friends and a great closet of clothes, no matter what! Romantic prediction: You'll fall for someone this year... Totally different from any guy you've dated.

Which Sex and the City Vixen Are You?

I thought this should surprise me, but it really doesn't. Though I don't think I'm gonna be falling for someone totally different. So, who are you darlings?

I heart Project Runway!

Le sigh! So, Jack is now gone and Chris is back. I am sad about that since Jack seemed to be a very talented designer. Chris seems not to have it all together and I don't think he will make it much farther, but I love his good spirit and his zest for life that spreads around the work room. And Steve too! Oh, he was so cute and adorable, but his outfit did really suck.

Well, here is a little something that I found on my favorite PR site (see my links!). Enjoy!!!

Thanks Tati!

You should try these, very enlightening!

You Are a Werewolf

You're unpredictable, moody, and downright freaky. You seem sweet and harmless, until you snap. Then you're a total monster. Very few people can predict if you're going to be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde. But for you, all your transformations seem perfectly natural. Your greatest power: Your ability to tap into nature Your greatest weakness: Lack of self control You play well with: Vampires

What Kind of Monster Are You?

You Are Fall!

Thoughtful Expressive Creative Poetic Smart

What Season Woman Are You?

People Envy Your Compassion

You have a kind heart and an unusual empathy for all living creatures. You tend to absorb others' happiness and pain. People envy your compassion, and more importantly, the connections it helps you build. And compassionate as you are, you feel for them.

What Do People Envy About You?

Your Dominant Intelligence is Musical Intelligence

Every part of your life has a beat, and you're often tapping your fingers or toes. You enjoy sounds of all types, but you also find sound can distract you at the wrong time. You are probably a gifted musician of some sort - even if you haven't realized it. Also a music lover, you tend to appreciate artists of all kinds. You would make a great musician, disc jockey, singer, or composer.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

Are you really surprised about that one?

Friendship & Confusion

It is interesting the things that you find in common with people. Sushi, whips, shows, colleges, towns... the list goes on and on. And how history repeats itself and the cyclic nature of the world.

So, now I have a lot to think about. The semester is almost done and I have to look to the New Year. Revising the resume, renewing the license, figuring out possible places to work, learning music for my recital, studying Italian...AAAHHH!!!

For the moment, I will concentrate on the task at hand and finishing the semester up with a brilliant jury, stunning finals and spectacular journals. Good luck to all in the same boat. In one week I shall be free, free to worry about the next semester!!!

:::Sniff, sniff:: Usually I'm not such a downer. For some reason, all the Christmas music isn't putting me in the spirit of the season. And this is my favorite time of year! Perhaps it is that some of the people I love the most in the world are scattered across this country in C-bus, Dayton, Boston, Florida...To all of you, how I miss you and the joy you bring into my life!

But, on the positive side, I have a fun opera to look forward to in the spring and my kitty by my side. So bring on all my favorite corny holiday flicks!

(I know this blog is a weird mix of thoughts, it cannot be helped! Be patient, I will work through all this eventually!!!)

A little lesson on concert etiquette!

Something has become painfully apparent to me as I have gone to four concerts in the last three days. Americans are stupid when it comes to concert etiquette at classical music events. So, here are some helpful tips for all of you that lack the understanding of how a person should act at a concert (or know people that do):

1. Please try to arrive early to read over the concert notes and to socialize. Talking during a piece is just plain rude.

2. If you don't arrive on time (which happens, I'm a late person sometimes too!), PLEASE wait until there is applause to enter. DO NOT ENTER DURING A SONG.

3. Turn off your cell phone. That does not mean put it on vibrate. Nothing is worse than a ringing sound during a song...nothing except hearing ::bbbuuuuzzz...bbbuuuuzzzz::.

4. Have darling little dears with you? Please make sure that if they get loud at any time, quickly and quietly take them out into the hall. It will only embarrass you and NO ONE (especially the performer[s]) will be able to concentrate on the music. May a suggest sitting in a place where you can make a quick exit? Like an aisle seat???

5. Okay, things happen that make you need to leave during a performance. Perhaps you have diarrhea? Or you just got your period? If you can, try to wait in between pieces. Not possible? Be as quiet as possible and when you enter, do it during applause (See #2).

6. This is not a dance club or a bar. Talking is a HUGE no-no. If you want to share something with your buddy, do it during applause (have you seen a trend?).

7. When a group of songs is pair together there is no spaces in between like this:

Der Mond __________________Felix Mendelssohn
Neue Liebe
Der Nonne _________________ Fanny Mendelssohn

Refrain from clapping until the set it done. With a choir, watch the conductor. As soon as his or her hands drop, it is time to applaud!

8. Speaking of applause..please do! Also, when the performers enter/exit it is polite to clap until the last person enters or leaves the stage. And, of course, when the conductor enters and exits.

I hope you found this helpful. Any suggestions for other things to add to the list? Ah, it feels good to get that out!

Oh Eloisa James, what a disappointment!

As some of you know, I have a fondness for romantic novels. Not those gross ones that are quite distasteful, but historical romance with strong characters and story lines. This is exactly what was lacking in the latest novel I started titled "An Affair Before Christmas".

I have read a few of the author's other books and some are quite good and then there are those I can't finish they are so bad. This was one of them. I was looking forward to reading this book and I'm upset that I wasted time and money on it.

The characters are weak and boring. The main female character, Poppy, has become a duchess and while she claims to be in love with her husband, she doesn't even enjoy being intimate with him. She feels it is distasteful or something. In reality, it is her mother that is controlling her whole life making her feel (or rather not feel) the way a proper lady should. I felt sorry for her husband, "Fletch" (she doesn't even learn his true first name until the last few pages of the novel, how sad is that) who was so faithful to her and was blamed for loving her and wanting her to love and desire him back. Of course, Poppy finally lets herself feel things for her husband in the last few chapters of the novel, five years or so into the marriage. In the middle of this is another love story going on with Jemma, a duchess as well (an annoying trait for some of James' book where you don't know who the main character is there are so many stories going on at once).


A few chapters into the story, I was so frustrated with the stupidity of the characters I literally threw the book down in disgust. The only reason I know how it ends is because I flipped through it trying to figure out when the characters actually did more than complain about their lack of understanding. Also, the novel is filled with typos...and I didn't even read all of it to discover this. It is so sad since I really like her Essex Sister series. I hated the Duchess books I looked at. I guess I can't read anything that she writes in a series labeled "Duchess". I should have known it wouldn't be a sweet holiday novel. You live and learn. I'll stick with my Juila Quinn novels which are never a disappointment.

I tried to make lemonade out of lemons, but all I got was lemon juice in my eye...figuratively speaking.

Negative: Getting stuck behind a truck going 35 in a 55 for miles when I was already late.

Positive: I eventually passed him!

Negative: Gas light went on, meaning I had to get my bum off the highway and be even later to pay for gas.

Positive: I used my credit card (see further down for details).

Negative: I couldn't find a parking spot in the student lot and had to pay to park.

Positive: The garage is right next to the music building & the lady that takes my money is always nice.

Negative: I was very, very late for class.

Positive: Dr. Toliver is so sweet, he totally understood when I apologized.

Negative: I had to conduct in my next class and I felt like I was flapping my arms with no results. Lots of problems and lots of awkwardness the whole time.

Positive: I didn't take up the whole class...at least he knows I'm trying. Oh, and I got to see my guys in class & I heart them!

Negative: I sang first in studio & I felt like it was really shrill.

Positive: It improved.

Negative: I didn't get butter on my baked potato at lunch!

Positive: It is healthier that way?

Negative: My voice lesson seems only to prove how much work I have to do to get good enough to do a recital. I leave feeling like my work has gotten me no where.

Positive: I have come a long way & I know that all that negative stuff is just in my head...even though I can't get it out!

Negative: I lost my credit card.

Positive: I knew the exact last purchase I made (the gas!), no one else has used it since and it is now canceled. Perhaps this will limit my spending till my new card comes.

UA Opera Scenes: Behind the scenes

Okay, here we go kiddos. I don't make promises I don't intend the keep. Here are some hidden, special things to look for when you come to opera scenes on Friday night. The names in ( ) are the actor/actress that plays the role.

SCENE ONE: THE SECRET MARRIAGE...

I get to introduce it (thus the long explanation here)! It is an opera buffa by Domenico Cimarosa that premiere in 1792 in Vienna. It is about two sisters, Elisetta (the older sister) and Carolina(who is secretly married to her father's secretary, Paolino!!!). There is also the aunt, Fidalma, who is in lust with Paolino. At the beginning of the opera, their father announces that he has arranged a marriage with a count for his eldest daughter. The count is actually a friend of Paolino who was convinced to ask for her hand in order to get a titled husband in the family. The scene is before the Count arrives. When he shows up, he mistakes Carolina for his bride and is upset when he finds out he is wrong. He decides to try to pull a switcharoo and when Carolina finds out she freaks out and yells at her husband. In the end, all comes out and everyone ends up happy.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR: The book I'm holding is "Love Letter's From a Duke" with a sexy leg on the cover. I am wearing my "wedding band" on my right hand because it's a secret! Look at Elisetta's (Alisha's) jewelry and fun shawl. Also, Fidalma (Lauren) had a limp when we started the scenes and we decided to make it a permanent part of her character, thus the cane. Interestingly, Lauren plays the aunt while I am oldest really and I play the youngest person in our cast. But apparently I am cute and can pull it off ::wink, wink::.

SCENE TWO: MIKADO...

This is by Gilbert & Sullivan (the dream team!). This scene is at the opening of Act Two where Yum-Yum is getting prepared for her wedding by her friends. After they leave, she reflects on how beautiful she is and how wonderful her marriage is going to be in the classic aria "The sun whose rays".

THINGS TO LOOK FOR: The cute sashes they all have. Also, how they walk in small steps to fit their characters. The neato fan that Yum-Yum (Kelly) holds has different designs on the front and back. She is also going to be in the last scene, so look out! These girls are so cute in this scene I can't stand it. Sigh!

SCENE THREE: CARMEN...

Do I really need to explain this opera??? Think sex, smoke, stealing and love wrapped around Carmen.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR: The (fake) cigarettes that are labeled so each gal knows which is which. Each person also has some red somewhere on their person. SEXY. Carmen (Adrienne) is wearing my fishnets. The men then shimmy to Carmen and she does it back. Remember, these men have been lovers of Carmen at one point (the characters, NOT the actors).

SCENE FOUR: TALES OF HOFFMANN...

"Les contes d'Hoffmann" actually which is some stories about Hoffmann's many loves. At this time, Antonia and her father, Crespel, have moved to Munich to escape Hoffmann. Antonia has a beautiful singing voice inherited from her mother, and also an illness, also like her mother, which will not allow her to sing or she will die. This singing was inspired by Hoffmann, thus their move away from him. They have a deaf butler, Frantz, who likes to sing and dance. Hoffmann finds them and Antonia is overjoyed as they meet.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR: The rose that Anotonia (Amanda) picks up during her aria (which is flipping hot) is the same as the one in Hoffmann's (Kyle's) coat. Crespel (Spencer) & Hoffmann are actually younger than Amanda, but you wouldn't guess that. Fabulous! One of my favorite parts of the whole thing is Frantz's (Carl's) aria...you'll see why. It's pee-your-pants good. In the end, Antonia & Hoffmann pause, join together, swing around and then he kneels with purpose...not marriage purpose, but rakish purposes.

SCENE FIVE: TOO MANY SOPRANOS...

This is a fairly new opera about four sopranos that are trying to get into heaven, however there is only one soprano spot open in the heavenly choir. The scene involves St. Peter giving them the alternative to go to Hell, get some men and bring them back to balance out the choir so they can all join. This is almost satirical of the typical sopranos thus named and classified: Miss Titmouse-coloratura, Just Jeannette-lyric, Madame Pompous-dramatic soprano, Dame Doleful-mezzo-soprano.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR: Okay, this is the most funniest, especially if you are a singer and especially if you are a soprano. Notice the way each of them is dressed. Miss Titmouse (Jessica) is holding a bag with a dog in it. Madame Pompous (Sarah) has another huge ring similiar to Elisetta's in "The Secret Marriage". The immunity ashes are in a cup with a vampire on it. Gabriel is played by Kelly and is way cute. As I don't want to give anything else away, you may see the rest. Though, I have to say St. Peter (Spencer) does a fabulous job holding his own among all those sopranos.

FINALE! DIE FLEDERMAUS...

This is the end. Funny that I get to sing the role of Adele (with five other girls) when I sang it three years ago. Sigh! The memories.

LISTEN TO: The high note at the end. Hopefully we will all get off that note around the same time.

Thanks for reading and I hope this helps your viewing experience. See you Friday!!!!!!!!!

Trust...

This week was going beautifully until...BAM!!! I received an email stating that the teaching I was planning on doing, and told I would be doing, this spring would not be happening. Oh, and thanks for my interest and I have a thank you gift in the mail. Very professional. It wouldn't be so bad except that I had put a lot of time and energy into the process of being trained for this position and been honest about my schedule from the first meeting we had. And, please, AN EMAIL? Beside the fact that the turnaround between giving me my schedule for the spring and my "thanks for the interest" letter was less than twenty four hours.

So the lessons learned: don't trust anything until it is totally finalized in writing, no matter the situation. How frustrating this day has been!

Seeing the world without glasses

If you are a contact and/or glasses wearer as I am, then I am sure you can relate to this thought. When I wake up in the morning, or even when I just take off my glasses for a moment, the world has a tendency to blur. Normally it isn't something I recommend, until I looked outside my window today. With my glasses on I see this:





Quite lovely. But, without my glasses, I saw a beautiful mesh of colors something like this (Though the picture does not do it justice, the view is magnificent!):





My two favorite times to look at the world without my glasses on are definitely fall and Christmas, especially at the trees with the twinkling lights. Here are some more pictures that are of my backyard and in a few days I know that the leaves will fall and be barren. But for now, my world is beautiful with or without perfect vision.

If you were gay, that would be okay

So, unless you have been living under a rock, here is a spoiler for you:Dumbledore is gay...gay!(Sorry, had to make a little Drop Dead Gorgeous reference). Shocking? Actually, in reflection, I think not. How dangerous love can be!

The Indians are not in the World Series right now but my surrogate team, the Bo Sox, are. However, I am a huge believer in the underdog and though I don't really feel they have a chance at this point, I am cheering for the Rockies.

In the news of my life, I have left my job at the 'bucks. What a different experience it was! I loved (and dearly miss) my store in Cambridge, and this experience was almost the complete opposite.

Also, opera scenes are finally coming together. Once again, I play a saucy girl (though not a maid this time) that enjoys teasing those in the room. Unlike my experience at Longy, I am only in one scene but I am getting almost a month to practice the staging (which was not the case before...what was it Bree? a week?). But like Longy, I will give a brief summary of the scenes prior to the night so you, my darlings that are coming, will know what to expect. And yes, there will be another romance novel on the scene! So, keep Friday, November 16th in the evening open (it is the Friday before Thanksgiving!). Hope to see you then. Oh, and check back soon to see pictures of the glory that is Ohio in the Fall!!!!

Bee Bee Bumble Bee

This past Tuesday I made a discovery...I am allergic to bees. When I got stung it hurt like...well, really bad. I told my manager and she asked if I was allergic and I had no idea. Well, once I got back into my store, I was going to put something on the sting when she told me I had to get on bar. I was about to explain and she left.

Twenty painful minutes later, I got to the back room and used some disinfecting wipes and hoped that was good enough.

The next day, my whole upper arm was throbbing and half of it was red, puffy, itchy and hot. And all day long I was also strangely lethargic and when I finally had the opportunity to get some pain killers and cortisone cream, I realize that this wasn't a normal reaction.

So, it is now Saturday night and my arm is still red, but not as red, and a little itchy, though the swelling started to dwindle (FINALLY) yesterday.

The weather is getting colder and I am missing a bunch of sweaters:o( This is very disappointing since I think they are currently residing in my old apartment in Boston. Thank goodness Beth and Eileen are still there. Though this is a good excuse to buy some new ones, I really loved the ones I got last year and I finally don't have make sure I don't wear my gray one the same day Bree does:o).

Assuming makes...

Over the past month since my trip to NYC, my sickness seemed to spread not only to Adriane, but also to my family resulting to bronchitis and (in Adriane's case) pneumonia. Fabulous.

I have also started my new job at a drive thru Starbucks. At the present I will refrain from talking about my...er...interesting experience while I started my training and simply state that I have liked most of the people I have worked with thus far. As a vocalist, I can also say I like wearing a headset that does not require me to scream over steaming milk, grinding beans and crying babies.

Also, it is very exciting to see my Indians in the playoffs against the Yanks. Whatever happens, I am proud of them for making it this far and hopefully farther.

In about a week my grandparents with one of my favorite uncles will be coming into town. If you know my history, then you already know what I am thinking.

It is still warm outside in Cleveland and my classes are getting along. I will be doing opera scenes in November and it is suppose to be memorized by Thursday...but we have only gone over it twice, and one part of the piece ONCE! Why does it always have to be difficult?

A Weekend in NYC

This past Sunday and Monday I spend in NYC with Adriane for an audition she had. All in all, it was incredibly eventful, even without getting the fake Prada I wanted. Since pictures are said to say a thousand words, I will let you join me on my weekend through photographs. Enjoy!


After landing (late) in NYC, we took a cab to the hotel that overlooked Jack's 99 cent store and these cute roof patios.


Once we were settled in, we walked to get tix for a show. To get those, we went into Time Square.


While we were wandering, we walked past Bryant Park & fashion week!!!!


After finding out where the audition was going to be, we walked back to the hotel where we changed quickly and walked (since it was rush hour and no cabs were going uptown) to Rosie's for dinner.


We went and saw "Legally Blonde:The Musical" !!!

It was lots of fun and very energetic. Here are two pix taken during intermission, since I like how I look in one and Adriane likes how she looks in the other.




After the show, Adriane hailed a cab to take us to the hotel. After earlier failed attempts, I was quite proud of her!


The next day I woke up with a cold, but Adriane was set to do her thang. She had her audition and she was fabulous! But between signing up for a spot and her singing, we saw Tori Spelling and her husband!!! (Unfortuantly, the sign blocks her face, but I PROMISE it is her!)


Since we weren't told we had to check out ASAP when we ordered a car to the airport (once again, rush hour and cabs were a no-no), we only had time to eat at the Dunkin' Donuts around the corner. Yum!


I got to have NY pizza since there was no line for security and we got to our gate on time.


Then we found out the plane was delayed by two hours. The good news? We got to have our cosmos!


Next to the restaurant was this, the closest we got to the "Sex and the City" experience.


The plane was so small we had to walk out onto the runway to get on it. By the way, there was a guy who had too much to drink behind Adriane while she was taking this, which is why I was laughing.


The guy was telling Adriane how he tried (and was unsuccessful) to get a margarita on the plane. He ended up sitting next to us (Adriane:" Oh hell no!"). He was loud and rude and then got escorted off the plane.


While he was walking off, he stumbled hitting his head on one of the overhead compartments.


And then he was gone.


By the time we landed and Bill came to pick us up, we were both tired and I was feeling horrible.

But, we certainly had an interesting time that was anything but boring.

And we both had good night sleeps.

"Zip" a dee do da

Well, I just completed my first week at Akron and I have to say that I hate being the newbie. Sigh, that is the bad thing about change, there is always billions of new things to learn and everyone else seems to already know it all!

In that way, I found out about several classes and meetings that I was suppose to just know about through word of mouth. Fortunately, I am not alone in my thoughts as I talked with some other entering grad students and discovered they didn't have a clue about things either.

So, I had some interesting class and various mistakes trying to figure out my schedule, but at least I got to work out three times this week! YES! This happened between the bomb threats that were made on the building across the street from the music building. Welcome to Akron.

In other news, I finally have sturdy internet access 24/7 and I fully intend to utilize it. I am trying to find a job and I think I may have one, but no promises yet. I have to schedule my recital for the spring and I have auditions for opera scenes next Thursday. Any suggestions of what I should sing??? (Two contrasting pieces and I haven't a clue!)

Mostly, I am trying to get life sorted out and make sure that everything is running smoothly. And, as Evan said, just to have fun doing this major. It's performance, it should be jolly although the hard word and diva-attitudes are also a factor.

Life Decisions

While I was driving by Capital, my undergrad alma mater, I couldn’t help but think about how much easier life was when I was starting college. All my worries were what I was going to wear the first day, did I have the right parking permit and would I know anyone in non-conservatory classes.

Now, school is starting again and I am filled with different thoughts. I decided that I could not go back to Boston, and looking at the amount I owe the government for one year of schooling there, it is quite justifiable. But, was it the right decision to even continue this seemingly selfish performance path?

My worries now consist of how I am going to pay for my insurances, the gas to travel back and forth, trying to get a hold of people to find out when I can register, what I am suppose to register for and to beg beg beg BEG for an assistantship or job that would allow me to not be in so much debt.

While this is going on, I can’t help but wonder about my relationships with friends and family. I feel torn in so many directions and while I have the best intentions, I feel like I am slipping away from some of the people I hold so close to my heart. To those of you that I have not contacted in a long time, I am afraid the cliché of “it’s not you, it’s me” fits the bill in this case.

And while life and seasons are starting to change, I find myself joking about where my future is going. Have you ever known that something was going to happen, but it takes so long that hope begins to die? I don’t want to believe because I have been waiting patiently and I feel like it will never come about.

Now that I have thoroughly confused you, I hope that life is fill with more certainty than mine at the present. Am I doomed to never be content? I suppose that is my family legacy.

the cat is out of the bag

well, you may have heard the rumor and i am finally able to say it is true. i will not be returning to boston this fall to finish up at longy. there, there darling, don't cry. i shall visit of course. since i have cheap places to stay and people to see, why wouldn't i? so, i am in the process this moment of moving all my crap (how do i have so much when i lived in such a small space?) out and i have to drive back to ohio tomorrow.

why have i not said anything sooner? i have been a chicken about talking to certain people before i made it "official", such as rachael & jayne. of course, jayne's reaction was "oh no!...well, you weren't happy...do you have any of my books? when you are packing just double check...okay, bye". remember feeling like i was wednesdays at 11? yeah. i have also been EXTREMELY busy with classes at capital this summer and feel like i am failing folk song. i've never been good at it and having hours and hours of homework is not helping. but it has been incredible and i am learning so much.

okay, so what are my plans? well, i'm going to transfer to akron and see what happens. much of my reason to leave is financial, but i also wanted to do more performing of opera stuff which i can't do unless i join the opera department. i also miss singing in a choir. anyway, i am hoping to find a part time teaching job as well so i can continue that track, but i want to finish this performing degree.

so, my sweet darlings, this is the end of this chapter of my life. it is really strange, but i think it is the right decision to make. i will miss all the people i laughed & cried & worked with in boston. my starbucks friend, i am certain i will never find co-workers as wonderful as you.

please keep in touch and if you are ever in cleveland, let me know! - karen

Weddings, Relationships & Birthdays

On the eve of my birthday celebrating my 24 years of existence I have come to think about all that has happened in this year to me and my friends. It seems that life changes come about it so many different ways. People die, they wed, they move, they change. The reflection of myself is fairly similar to the one I was a year ago. But is it?

A recent speaker said that when you are in your twenties every thing seems important. What you are doing, where you are going and how you are going to get there in life needs to be answered asap. But when you hit your thirties, these questions become less important, because you begin to look around and realize that life isn't that pushy.

So many of my friends have married and I am happy for them. When two people can bring out the best in one another they should be together. And there will always be little thing perhaps that may become bothersome, that is normal. But when are the "little things" really big things that we live in denial about. When should we start to take a step back and say "wait, this isn't right."

My life has gone all over and right now I am making some tough decisions. Teaching, singing, school...where do I want to go?
And after talking with tons of my old friends at a wedding this past weekend, I have found that I am not the only one to ask those questions and to make resolutions.

So, I may have made some errors, but it is how I fix them that show who I am.

On the eve of my birthday I am okay with life and glad I have the choice to make decisions for myself. I would never have seen myself as this studious a person. 24 years old. Erg. How weird is that?

Brien & Melissa's Wedding & Gang Wars

This past weekend Evan and I got to go a beautiful wedding for Brien and Melissa, who I sang with summers ago at Blossom. Evan sang beautifully and I got to meet some of his friends and dance to "Baby Got Back". I always had a bad impression of Cincinnati, but it wasn't as ghetto as I remember.

What the groom does the morning of the wedding (watches ESPN)

Evan singing during the ceramony

So pretty!

Brien & Evan

Melissa & I

Evan & I

Zoey the cat

Brett & Evan

Speaking of ghetto, Adriane and I got to see some gang fights at the fireworks last night. Red, White and Boom has now taken on a new meeting.


Adriane & I in downtown C-bus...

...sitting here (look at the sign in the back, it says "Columbus")

Where we were standing to watch the fireworks

Me after the first round of fighting took place behind us (before a guy got tasered, after the girl was taken away by the police)

Fireworks! (Happy Fourth of July, the best month ever, everyone!!)

Spelling & my day in the ghetto

It is nice to say that I (for once) feel totally confident and sure about my decision to come to C-bus and do this masters degree. This in spite of the fact that most people look at me like I have ten heads when I tell them that I am working on two masters at the same time. I get a lot of "so...what are you doing here?" when I tell them I am not teaching presently, that I am performing. Sigh.

But it is nice to be in classes where I am learning SOOOOO much and to feel like it all has a purpose. In my Educational Psychology class (taught by Torello who is possibly the most fun teacher I have ever had) we were talking about repressed emotions and learned helplessness. I was looking through some of my blogs noticing that I sometimes don't have the right word or I don't spell correctly. When I was a young gal in second grade, my dad tells me that some of my peers, while they were grading my spelling tests, would erase my correct answer and put wrong answers down. When my dad looked at my awful test, saw the handwriting and knew (having quizzed me and known what I knew) what must be going on, he had a chat with the teacher about the problem. She didn't seem concerned (bitch) and he used some choice words and she eventually cracked. Needless to say, I switched out of that school. But my point is, I have repressed that memory. I have very little recollection of my time at that school (apparently I played the drum there for a while...who knew? not me!) and I still detest spelling.

Anyway, I got to go past the Kroger on the other side of the tracks on Main St. today, and if you know Bexely you know that is ghetto land. It ended up being an ok experience when we went to the mental health facility for children today and I learned some tips for catering to those students who may have these problems. I am back home now and I have TONS of typing to do, but I wanted to catch up. Enjoy.

Beautiful day

For the last few days the weather in Cleveland has been BEAUTIFUL. Unfortunately, I have had no one to share it with. Much sadness. My parents have left for a trip and Evan went home to do stuff (there went my dreams of a romantic dinner). I do have Sullivan for company, but he doesn't talk very much and I can't translate cat.

I am currently getting ready for my trip to C-bus for the summer where I will be starting my (second) masters in music education with a Kodaly emphasis. My attempt to figure out what I want to do with my life. And on that note, it seems that when I want things to move one way, I am usually halted not because of myself but because of others. Sigh. What to do, what to do, what to do!

I'm a whiner, aren't I? I'll just go back to eating my Dave's Comic Sub...mmm, one of the best parts of living here! YUM!

Old Man look at my arm, I have a bruise from you (think Neil Young)

Since my dad has been traveling all over the place and was quite tired on Wednesday, Evan and I got to take my parent's tickets and see "La Traviata" at the Cleveland Playhouse. The soprano was quite good, especially since she had to sing in ridiculous stilettos with no backs, even though she had some jaw tension. The tenor was also great, but he seemed a little full of himself in my opinion and lacked love for Violette and loved himself. The chorus was great (except for this one annoying girl that looked like she was trying a bit too hard) and I just love Cleveland audiences and the enthusiasm for opera and classical music.

However, I had to sit next to this older man who, as soon as he sat down, took up both of the arm rest and invaded my personal space. He also stood to take off his coat and elbowed me quite hard on my arm AND DID NOT APOLOGIES. I don't care what your age is, you should acknowledge when you've hit someone and at least pretend that you are sorry. Also, even though I am small it doesn't mean that anyone has the right to take up my space. It happens on airplanes, in theaters and all over. Grrrr.

Massholes in Ohio

As you can see, I have been busy doing absolutely nothing these past few days in Ohio. Well, that isn't entirely true. I am currently cat sitting for the sweetest tabby named Sullivan. He likes to curl up in the bathroom sink in the morning right as I try to brush my teeth. Also, for Father's Day I got my dad Risk, the Star Wars edition. It took my brother a half hour to find the emperor and end the game. Possibly the shortest Risk game ever played. My dad foolishly did not look to see where the emperor was and placed him in a weak spot. So is life.

Right now I am in a bit of a panic trying to figure out what will be happening at Capital. I haven't gotten a call, an email nothing and I have a feeling that I am going to have to become annoying to get results.

And, as my title suggest, there are Massholes in Ohio, or rather there are Ohioians that are Massholes and I haven't thought of a clever name for them yet. Suggestions?

Traveling is not my bag, baby.

Welcome! So, I am in OH...IO right now and it took some effort to get here. I woke up at 5:30 in the morning and got my stuff together, threw out my trash and showered. Then I attempted to take two HUGE bags and my rolling little suitcase to the T station. Once I got all of my stuff down one escalator (on which I felt scared for my life that I was going to fall) a man helped me take it all back up and to a taxi. Once I arrived at the airport, I got charged more than I should have and, funny enough, I only had enough to pay the amount he asked for with no tip (which would have been the amount I normally would have paid with tip). So, without any cash, I got my crap into the airport and (miraculously) both bags were just under fifty pounds and I got myself to the airplane.

We arrived early and I got home and discovered I was locked out of the house. My brother didn't have the keys for the new lock, so I put my bags on the front porch and went to the back where I finished a new book in the beautiful 70 degree weather. Evan came over and we went and saw Pirates III and I have to say that I was...upset about the ending. It was too sad for me and I would elaborate, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone.

So, tonight is game four for the Cavs and I do hope they win. I am going to go to a bar and cheer them on. Sigh. Meanwhile my beautiful cat, Jake, is doing quite well and I am incredibly glad to see his friendly, furry face again. I am going to set up a Croquet game and I will take some pics for you.

Cheers!