Wedding Day Jitters

So The last time I had wedding day jitters was September 12th, 1992.
I'm not getting married so why do I have them?
This time it's for Prince William and Kate Middleton. Silly right?

1. I don't know them,
2. I'm not living in England, so why should it interest me?

Probably because the last time there was a Royal Wedding like this, I was 13, and on tour with my choir.
The entire choir was having a party to celebrate, it was a day off work for the adults and an excuse to get silly for the kids. ....However...I was far too cool to care! You remember 13? What an awful, self absorbed lot we are at that age.
So Nicola Buckley, (who was also incredibly cool) and I decided we'd rather bunk off and go round the shops instead!
So as the silliness began, we trotted downtown to be cool and be seen.
Of course, there was no-one to see us....all the shops were shut....no cars on the streets...not another soul to be seen anywhere. Wells was deserted
But we couldn't go back and admit we'd been wrong - not that anyone would have noticed we'd been gone.
So we trolled around town being bored and angsty, and missed out on a brilliant party, by all accounts.

Fast forward 30 years!...I get another shot at it! YAY.
I know for a fact I'm not too cool (just ask my kids), and I know I'm not missing out on the party this time, no matter how silly  and irrelevant people think this wedding is.

I'm getting up early, dressing up, wearing a hat, driving to an English Pub (well, as English as it gets in Cleveland ohio), sipping champagne, or something equally yummy and enjoying the wedding.
Second times a charm, right?

Cheers!

Something to look forward to....

I will not make the mistake of NOT singing The Blossom Festival this year.
Last year I thought I'd take the Summer off, but it had the strangest effect on me!
I was grumpy, irritated & unfulfilled....all of this came as a shock to me, I thought I'd feel relaxed after taking some time away from The Chorus....

So this week The Cleveland Orchestra announced it's Summer schedule, and it's jam packed, and I'll be there for EVERY moment of it! Here are the concerts the Chorus will be involved in, and below that is a link to the entire schedule. I hope to see you there! You'll definately see me :)

• Saturday, July 16, 9 p.m. Blossom Festival Orchestra; Richard Kaufman, conductor; Men of the Blossom Festival Chorus  "Disney Live in Concert: 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.' "  ~ This one will be great! They show the movie on HUGE screens and The Cleveland Orchestra plays the score.
• Sunday, July 31, 7 p.m. "Broadway Classics": Robert Porco, conductor; Blossom Festival Chorus; Lisa Vroman, Debbie Gravitte and Doug LaBrecque, vocalists Music by Arlen, Berlin, Bernstein, Gershwin, Kern and Porter.  
• Sunday, Aug. 7, 7 p.m. Bramwell Tovey, conductor; Baiba Skride, violin; Blossom Festival Chorus Walton: Spitfire Prelude and Fugue; Delius: "The Walk to the Paradise Garden"; Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1; Parry: "Blessed Pair of Sirens."  
• Saturday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m. Nicholas McGegan, conductor; Blossom Festival Chorus Mozart: Symphony No. 25; Bach: Concerto in D minor for Two Violins; Handel: Concerto Grosso, Op. 3, No. 2, and Coronation Anthems Nos. 1 and 3; Mendelssohn: "Dona Nobis Pacem," "Hear My Prayer."  
• Saturday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. Jahja Ling, conductor; Cleveland Orchestra Chorus; Paul Yancich, timpani; Mark Yancich, timpani; Kelly O'Connor, mezzo-soprano; Sean Pannikar, tenor; Ryan McKinny, bass-baritone Oliverio: Dynasty, Double Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra; Beethoven: Symphony No. 9.

 http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/news-and-media/news-releases/2011/Feb-20-Blossom-Festival.aspx

It is often said that Britain and America are "two nations divided by a common language".

Todays blog post was inspired by my friend Elyse who wanted me to do some Anglo-American translations for her :o)

So I thought, hmmm, that's an interesting idea, let's run with it. So here you have it, a sampling of just a few of the differences between us.

British Words  ~ American Equivalent

SLANG (MISC.)

Football ~ Soccer

Queue ~ Waiting Line

Fortnight ~  Two Weeks

Kip/Doze ~  Nap

Postcode  ~ Zip Code

Snogging/Getting Off  ~ Kissing

Shagging  ~ Having Sex

Fags/Ciggies/Rollies  ~ Cigarettes

A4 Paper  ~ Legal Pad

Having A Row/Barney  ~ Argument

Knackered/Shagged ~  Tired

Cheeky  ~Flippant

Cheerio  ~ Goodbye

Cock Up/Bugger Up  ~ Mistake

Daft/Thick  ~ Stupid

Dear  ~ Expensive

Duff  ~ Useless

Fanny Around/Dither  ~ Procrastinate

Hash #  ~ (Pound Sign)

“Horses for Courses”  ~ “To each his own”

Nick/Lift  ~ Steal

Off Your Trolley/Barney  ~ Crazy

Pissed/Ratted/Wankered  ~ Drunk

“Sod/Bugger Off”  ~ “Get Lost”

Spend a Penny/Use the loo  ~ Go to the bathroom

Swot Up/Revise  ~ Study Hard

Taking the Piss/Mickey  ~ Making fun of someone

Waffle on/Ramble On  ~ Talk on and on

Throw a Wobbly  ~ Temper Tantrum

Cack-handed/A clot/Oaf  ~ Clumsy

Jammy beggar  ~ Lucky

Up the duff  ~ Pregnant

Doing Porridge  ~ Serving Prison Time

Big Dipper  ~ Roller Coaster

Casualty Department  ~ Emergency Room

Surgery/Clinic  ~ Doctor’s Office

Chemist  ~ Drug Store

Dosh  ~ Money

Hole in the Wall ~  ATM

Johnny  ~ Condom

AROUND THE HOUSE

Loo/Toilet/Bog  ~ Bathroom/Restroom

Dust bin/Rubbish bin  ~ Trash Can

Cooker  ~ Oven

White Goods  ~ Electrical Appliances

Back Garden  ~ Back Yard

Living Room/Sitting Room  ~ Lounge

Loft  ~ Attic

Flat ~  Apartment

Flat Mate  ~ Roommate

Bedsit/Box Flat  ~ Efficiency Apartment

Lift  ~ Elevator

Flannel  ~ Washcloth

Torch  ~ Flashlight

Serviette  ~ Napkin

Blower  ~ Telephone

Plug Socket  ~ Electric Socket

Mobile  ~ Cell Phone

Pram  ~ Stroller

FOOD & DRINK

Chips  ~ French Fries

Crisps  ~ Chips

Sweets  ~ Candy

Biscuit  ~ Cookie

Take-Away  ~ Carry Out

Fillet Steak  ~ Filet Mignon

Tomato Sauce  ~ Ketchup

Banger/Chippolata  ~ Sausage

Beer Mat ~ Coaster

Bevvy/Grog  ~ Beer/Beverage

Gherkin  ~ Pickle

Nosh/Grub  ~ Food

Pancake Roll  ~ Egg Roll

Soldiers ~ Toast (Bread)

Stone  ~ Fruit Pit

White, with  ~ (Coffee) Cream and sugar

White, without  ~ (Coffee) Cream only

Local  ~ Your favorite Pub/Closest

PEOPLE

Mate ~ Friend/Buddy

Ginger Head ~ Red Head

Bobby/Copper/The Fuzz ~ Policeman

Bloke ~ Guy

Barrister/Solicitor~  Lawyer

Big Girl’s Blouse/Wuss ~ Wimp/Pathetic Person

Lollipop Man/Lady ~ Crossing Guard

Yank ~ American

Slapper ~ Major Flirt

Spotty Youths ~ Teenagers

Sprog ~ Baby

Tart ~ Person of loose morals

Weed/Boffin ~ Nerd

Wanker/Git ~ Jerk

Cake Hole/Gob ~ Mouth

Bollocks ~ Testicles

Arse/Bum ~ Butt/Backside

Mug ~ Gullible Person

CLOTHING

Trainers ~ Gym Shoes

Vest ~ Undershirt

Waist Coat ~ Vest

Trousers ~ Pants

Pants ~ Men’s Underwear

Knickers ~ Women’s Underwear

Jumper ~ Sweater

Nappy ~ Diaper

Balaclava ~ Ski Mask

Cardie ~ Cardigan Sweater

MOTORING

Pavement ~ Sidewalk

Motorway ~ Highway/Interstate

Dual Carriageway ~ Divided Highway

Bonnet ~ Hood

Boot ~ Trunk (Car)

Petrol ~ Gas

Garage ~ Gas Station/Conv. Store

Lorry ~ Truck

Car Park ~ Parking Lot

Cattle/Economy Class ~ Coach Class

Hooter ~ Car Horn

Tube/Underground ~ Subway

Verge ~ Grassy edge of a road

2011 ~ Bring it on!

New Year. A time of reflection and renewal.

2010 was a tough year. I lost my Josie, who I was nanny/friend to for many years. Her family was my family and I don't think England will ever be the same for me.

Sean lost his mother and Richard and Emily lost their grandmother, Stella. Another devastating blow!

This was also a year of excitement. Richard started driving! I went with the Chorus to sing beautiful music in lovely venues. Sean started his MBA (this should go on the tough list too). Emily has become quite an exceptional singer and performed solos at church.

I am both proud of my children and sad too. We have raised smart and independant children. As such we are definately not their primary source for anything anymore ~ except $ and once they have jobs, even that will be taken away from us.

I can't speak for Sean, Richard and Emily but...

my personal hopes for 2011 are that we stay connected as a family.

I hope to have more patience

I want to relieve myself of the burden of overthinking everything.

I want to be free to enjoy the moment.

I want to feel less guilt for things I can't change ~ such as other peoples opinions.

I want to learn more about the people I surround myself with ~ not just the superficial stuff

I want to be a better friend.

I want to laugh more.

I want to keep singing.

I want to eat delicious food, and not be thinking about how long it'll take to walk it off.

I DO want to get healthier ~ not necessarily thinner...although....

I want to be happy.

I want to look back at 2011 and think, "now that was a great year!"

What do YOU want?

Merry Christmas

I'm lucky to have friends all over the world so I thought it would be interesting so see how I could wish them all 'Merry Christmas' or 'Happy New Year' in their own language. So here goes.....

Afrikaans Gesëende Kersfees

Afrikander Een Plesierige Kerfees

African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja Rehus-Beal-Ledeats

Albanian Gezur Krislinjden

Arabic: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah

Argentine: Feliz Navidad

Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand

Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun

Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal

Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!

Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha

Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce

Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo

Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat

Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo

Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!

Chile: Feliz Navidad

Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun

Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan

Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito

Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo

Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth

Corsian: Pace e salute

Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo

Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi

Croatian: Sretan Bozic

Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok

Danish: Glædelig Jul

Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak

Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast

English: Merry Christmas

Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!

Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon

Estonian: Ruumsaid juulup
hi

Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!

Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad

Finnish: Hyvaa joulua

Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar

French: Joyeux Noel

Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!

Galician: Bo Nada

Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!

German: Froehliche Weihnachten

Greek: Kala Christouyenna!

Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!

Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka

Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova

Hindi: Shub Naya Baras

Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!

Hawaian: Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket

Icelandic: Gledileg Jol

Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal

Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah

Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat

Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.

Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie

Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto

Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags

Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha

Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!

Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!

Lausitzian: Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto

Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus

Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu

Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar

Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik

Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb

Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa

Maori: Meri Kirihimete

Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh

Navajo: Merry Keshmish

Norwegian: God Jul or Gledelig Jul

Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado

Papiamento: Bon Pasco

Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu

Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!

Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo

Philipines: Maligayan Pasko!

Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie

Portuguese: Feliz Natal

Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha

Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua

Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn

Romanche (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!

Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele

Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom

Sami: Buorrit Juovllat

Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou

Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou

Serbian: Hristos se rodi

Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce

Sami: Buorrit Juovllat

Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou

Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh

Serb-Croatian: Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina

Serbian: Hristos se rodi.

Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa

Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok

Slovene: Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto

Spanish: Feliz Navidad

Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År

Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon

Tami: Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal

Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!

Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai

Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym

Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho

Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh

Welsh: Nadolig Llawen

Yugoslavian: Cestitamo Bozic

Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!

The ugly girl at a supermodel convention!

E. J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, built by The University of Akron is an outstanding performing arts complex and cultural center. 
Located on the corner of University Avenue and Hill Street on The University of Akron’s campus in downtown Akron, Thomas Hall annually hosts more than 400,000 people of all ages who visit the Hall for a variety of  performances.
The Tuesday Musical Association invited The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus to perform HOLST The Planets – An HD Odyssey. We had just sung this twice @ Severance Hall, squished into a cubby back stage, with this huge piece of equipment that looked like something the Wizard of Oz would use.

The sound is supposed to drift through the Hall so that the listeners aren't really sure if they are hearing it!

It was successful except for a "cougher" who couldn't hold it in any longer and let loose in the final magical seconds, and someone who despite seeing "turn off your cell phone" signs throughout the Hall decided he was more important than that and had the ringer go off during our "oohing and ahhing".

So when we went to Akron, we expected much the same thing. Lot's of Hurry up & Wait, followed by a quick trip to the basement/closet/dressing room to sing 5 minutes of music off stage.

Imagine our suprise to be asked to sing from a flying balcony inside E.J. Thomas Hall. Well it turned out that the sound was too present. Thinking that this was the time where we were sent to a bathroom in the adjacent parking lot to sing, we were all pleasantly suprised to be allowed to sing from the lounge lobby. Complete with comfy chairs and beautiful Christmas decorations.

Not only that but pre concert we received the star treatment with full spread of fresh fruit, sandwiches, cookies, tea, coffee etc. All there for us! We shared the banquet with the Orchestra, who were just as suprised by the hospitality as we were. We all sat together chatting and mingling, something that rarely, if ever, happens at Severance Hall. We learnt a lot about our lovely new assistant conductor Sasha Makila, who sat with us during dinner enthralling the ladies with his Finnish accent and open manner.

The concert itself went very well, and the final sound resonated through the lobby like the final note in a European cathedral, it just whirled around adding to the ethereal quality we all worked so hard to achieve.

I don't know why there is usually such a distinct separation between orchestra and chorus. Don't get me wrong, I love Severance Hall, but last night was something special and it was really refreshing not to feel like the ugly girl at a supermodel convention!

Maybe it was the way we were treated by the people of Akron, and those in charge at E.J. Thomas Hall, but everything was more relaxed and friendly. I hope we can continue this melding of musicians, yes singers are musicians too.

A useful parental tool.

I found this nifty little application today, I thought it was so well put together that I'd share it with all of you. - ENJOY!

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER

Print out & submit as per instructions at the bottom of the form.

1. Name: ___________________________________________Date of Birth: ______________

2. Height: _________________________ Weight: _____________________ GPA: _________

3. Social Sec #: ____________________ Drivers license #: ____________________________

4. Boy Scout Rank: ___________________________________________________________

5. Home address: ____________________________________ City/State: ________________

6. Do you have one male & one female parent? Yes __________ No ____________

7. If no, explain: ______________________________________________________________

8. Number of years parents married: _______________________________________________

9. Do you own a van?________A truck w/ oversized tires? _________ A Water bed? _________

10. Do you have an earring, nose ring, belly button ring? ____________ A Tattoo? ____________
(if yes to any of #9 or #10, discontinue application and leave premises.....)

11. In 20 words or less, what does LATE mean to you? ________________________________

12. In 20 words or less, what does ABSTINENCE mean to you? _________________________

13. In 20 words or less, what does DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER mean to you? ___________________________________________________________________________

14: Church you attend: _________________ How often you attend: ______________________

15: When would be the best time to interview your Mother, Father & Priest? ________________

16: What would you be IF I allow you to grow up? ___________________________________


Answer by filling in the blanks. Please answer freely - all answers are confidential

If I were shot, the last place on my body I would want wounded would be:

If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken would be:

When I meet a girl, the first thing I notice is her:
(Note: If your answer begins with either T or A, discontinue the application and leave the premises:
Keep low and run in a serpentine fashion)

I SWEAR THAT THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED IS TRUE AND ACCURATE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, UNDER PENALTY OF: NATIVE AMERICAN ANT TORTURE, ELECTROCUTION, CHINESE WATER TORTURE, RED HOT POKERS, DEATH, AND/OR DISMEMBERMENT.

Signature of applicant: ______________________________________________________

Thank you for your interest. Please allow 4-6 years for processing. You will be contacted in writing if you are approved.

Please do NOT attempt to call or write. If your application is rejected you will be notified by two large Eastern European gentlemen in trench coats carrying violin cases.

APPLICANT'S RIGHT THUMB PRINT IN BLOOD
____________________________




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                                            This is Emily, my inspiration for this blog entry.....