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!