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
____________________________




____________________________

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

Josie Springbett Ayres

Sept 16 1982 – Aug 29 2010

This blog entry is so hard for me.

I got back from England last night after spending the week with what I consider “my other family”.
When I was 17, I worked as a nanny for the Springbett family who had 3 children. Zoe 6, Josie 5 and Jack- maybe 10 months old. They quickly became like family. Zoe and Josie were precocious little monsters and I loved them completely; and Jack was just a sweetheart. I stayed with the family until I was 21 or 22. We have kept in close contact and I stayed with them or visited them whenever I returned to England.

Josie was diagnosed with cancer in 2007. She endured not just chemo, but several surgeries, courses of radiotherapy, endless scans, endless appointments, devices implanted, head shaves, etc so when I saw her latest blog entry I wasn’t surprised, but I was devastated!

Josie’s last blog entry- August 12th 2010
Hello everyone,
It's just going to be a short update today as I'm feeling a bit lost for words. I did however want everyone to know that I've decided to end treatment. I've had the feeling for a while that the chemo is running out of steam and I don't see the point of weakening my body with something that the cancer is now hardened to. I think I had made my decision a while back, but I don't like giving up and it's hard to tell your loved ones that you have.

I got a text from Zoe on Saturday at 1:30pm saying that Josie was struggling and only had hours left.
At 2pm I booked a flight and at 3pm I was in the airport on my way to say Goodbye.

I landed at 11am and drove straight to the hospital. I was 2 minutes too late. She was gone...
So a light went out, and England will never quite be the same without my little pixie.

Sleep well Josie, you are loved xx

What a wierd Summer!

Summer's are full of swimming and sunshine and happy laughing children right?... Well kinda'

 I'm working, so that is an adjustment, the days of hanging out with them at the pool the whole time are a vague memory. But it's more than that. I've been in the strangest mood. I don't know know if it's my age, or their ages, or my hormones or theirs, but something's definately going on that I was unprepared for!

This year Richard grew taller than me - a lot taller than me, started shaving, and got his temps. Emily got too gorgeous for words and suddenly realized it.

Their social calendars are unpredictable and full, and...I'm just the driver.

My calendar dried up to nothing and without singing and I've been floundering.

However.....schools back in session next week, and I get back to rehearsals in 2 weeks.

I'm becoming sane again, I can feel it.

Hallelujah!

Some Helpful Tips That Men Should Know!

When we are truly angry, we go silent. That is your opportunity to apologize, or run. But at that point, neither of these things will save you.

Never underestimate the power of a kiss on the forehead.

Seeing you in a suit never fails to impress us.

That low-cut top — we wouldn't wear it if we didn't want you to look. Just be discrete about it.

When we say we want to share a dessert, we really mean we want you to have just one bite and offer the rest to us. We were planning on eating the entire lava cake ourselves anyway, but this way we don't feel guilty.

Even if we assure you we don't believe in Valentine's Day, buy the damn flowers. It couldn't be easier.

Speedos are never okay.

We could always use a little more cowbell.

Don't tease us. We're not your little sister.

When we're out together, and we see a tall, leggy model, remember: tall, leggy models are not your type.

Putting dishes in the sink doesn't count as doing the dishes.

If we really do look fat in something, by all means say so. But you don't actually have to use the word "fat."

Fifty percent of the time we say we're just kidding, we're actually telling the truth.

Confidence, not arrogance is sexy.

Guys who do a lot of yoga kind of creep us out: men really don't have to be that bendy.

Being thought of is awesome. Tips for when you're at work: send me a link to something I would like, or text a picture of something that made you think of me, or a note that you heard a song on the radio that reminded you of me.


We aren't all romantic comedy junkies. Some of us would rather watch The Godfather. (Except Part III.)


If you win it's because e let you win. It's just easier that way-


If it looks like a woman and her friend are having a good conversation, it's absolutely not a good time to try and meet them.


You should be able to read our minds at all times.


We like it when you're direct. So just say it.


Even a text can be thoughtful, if it means you're thinking of us.


We notice hot guys all the time, but we're discreet about  it.

We all have an evil twin. Get to know her, she’s a lot of fun!

We do a billion things to our skin, hair, nails, etc. just to keep them pretty. Notice!


We will never ask for popcorn or candy at movies but if you get some we will always help you eat it.


If she tells you to never call her again and hangs up on the phone with you, there is an excellent chance that she’s waiting near her phone for you to call her. —


We notice how long it takes for you to answer a text message. We time it down to the last nanosecond. Then we analyze why it took you that long. We're like that.


If you didn't hear us, don't pretend you did. You'll never win that game.


We want to trust you, which is why we hire private detectives


We can tell when you're not listening. Hey! You!


If you text us and we call immediately after, please answer the phone. We know you have it right there.


The less you pack for a vacation, the more room we have to fill your suitcase up with our shoes.


We love it when we can still make you blush.

Escorting us into a room with your hand at the small of our back makes us smile.


Just because we're asleep doesn't mean we don't know what you're doing. We always know what you're doing.


If you don't touch us in public, the relationship is going nowhere—fast.


The girl who had a crush on you in the third grade probably still thinks about you once a week. Okay, twice.


Don't ask why we're afraid of insects. Just kill the damn bug, already.


If we're wearing heels it's so our legs can look good. We feel sexy in them but it usually isn't all that comfortable so slow down when you're walking beside us. Thank you.


If you think it's a test, it's probably a test.


We think of dinner as an obstacle in the way of dessert. We don't like that you don't like dessert.


We pretend to like your taste in music, and then we forget that we were pretending and end up actually liking your music.

We don't even know what fantasy football is.


It is not required that you be the center of attention, Leave that to us.


Telling me I'm acting ridiculous is the absolute worst way to get me to stop acting ridiculous.


We've always had crushes on you. We never thought you had cooties.


There should never be rhinestones on your clothing. Ever. We are the sparkly ones.


We like it when you kiss the top of our head.


Never pinch the muffin-top. This is grounds for execution.


We are manipulative beasts. Call us on it from time to time.


If we see you treat wait staff or cashiers poorly, you’ll probably never get to second base.


We are judging your outfit, whether silently or not, from head to toe, right this very moment.


If we offer you gum, it means we want to kiss you later. It's not an insult. Just take the gum.

Musical memories!

So I've been posting song lyrics on facebook for the last couple of weeks. It started as music that I was listening to at that moment and the words struck me for one reason or another. Then people started asking for me to post at different times of the day so that it wasn't always the same people winning - you know who you are Joe G.
I was flattered that friends were having fun with it...

So I thought, I know, I'll be tricky and post from random era's.
This is where I really started to have fun.

I dug deep into the musical archives of my mind and began pulling lyrics from songs that had an impact on me, one way or another.
This of course, lead to memory upon memory. Some great, some, not so much.
Memories of friends, places, food, kisses (sigh), clothes (yikes) and hairstyles (double yikes).

I think I'll continue posting these musical memories as it's been a real pleasure to remember things long forgotten. Every ones welcome to play....Brain power, no googling!
I always put a YouTube video up after the games been won, so that way you can join me on my journey through time.
My hope is that some of them will bring up luscious memories for you too...

I made a huge mistake!

The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus has a rigorous schedule. During our season we sing every Monday, sometimes Sundays too and concert weeks we are at Severance every night. So when Summer comes along and we are given the choice to sing Blossom, it isn't mandatory. So this year, for the first time I decided to skip it and take some time for myself.

BIG MISTAKE!

So far, every Monday I've thought, Ugh, I could be singing tonight, and Friday is the big American Spectacular Celebration at Blossom Music Center.


 I'm not singing but I am going!
Sean, Richard and I will set up our picnic on the lawn and have a great night.

So, I'll be singing every Summer from now on as apparently I can't last 8 weeks without it.

What do Led Zeppelin, the Cleveland Orchestra and The Rocky Horror Picture Show have in common?

Well, I'll tell you....me!
I was riding through the metro parks todays, it was gorgeous, not too hot, not too cold, as Goldilocks would say "It was juuuust right".
I had my music on, as usual, I couldn't ride without it, all that fresh air and nature would overwhelm me out without something to distract me.
So I'm pootling along on the path at my own happy speed, when I see the real thing pass me, the lycra cyclist,s riding on the road ahead of me with their fancy outfits and their big huge helmets which look more suited to a bobsled run than a ride through Cleveland's parks. Ahhh, I'm in awe of their shaved legs and killer calfs (calves?). Well all of a sudden, I'm catching up with them...am I getting my second wind?

No of course not! I realized to my shock that they have LET me catch up to them....why?
As I close the gap between us, they turn and smile at me and I suddenly understand  what's going on.

I have my music cranked, and I'm singing! They are listening! and they seem to be enjoying themselves, cos they must have heard at least 3 songs now. When they saw that the gig was over, they again smiled at me and took off at light speed, leaving me in their dust, feeling quite stupid actually.

It's here, my sunny day

So a week or so ago I blogged that I would love a sunny WEEKEND! Well, ha ha it's here, and you know what I'm going to be doing? Playing with my new phone.

This thing has it all talk to text - walkie talkie mode- better camera that the one I currently own-cool maps and all the bells and whistles, oh, and it makes phone calls too, or so I've heard!

So, I guess I could sit outside and play with it...but will I?

Not likely, it's cotton wood season and that stuff seeks me out like a guided missile.

So on this lovely sunny, WEEKEND day I think I'll sit here and play with my new toy phone.

p.s call me, I'd love to figure out how to answer it! :o)

Take the time to follow through.

How nice is it when someone actually does what they say they will?

And why is it always such a suprise?

I met someone today for lunch. Not someone I knew well, not someone I knew at all really, but someone who invited me out as a "thank you".

Let me back up...

A while ago, on Q104, a radio station here in Northeast Ohio, I heard a discussion about The Cleveland Orchestra. I, of course, added my two cents worth in the form of an email to the producer saying that if they really wanted to learn about them they should attend a concert and hear for themselves why it is regarded as one of the best in the world!

I didn't think much more about it until my email was read on the air, along with a promise that the morning crew would in fact go to Severance hall and check them out.

Great! But would they really?

Yes they did, the following week. They went, they heard, they understood!

In fact, they chatted about it on air the next day. I was pleasantly suprised.

Given that they seemed to enjoy themselves, I took it upon myself to invite them to an Open dress rehearsal for Carmina Burana - which tied into our local sports team, The Cleveland Cavaliers.

Great! But would they come?

Well, one of the personalities came, Allan Fee, bringing his daughter - fabulous! Again they talked about it on air, the next day and again I was pleasantly suprised.

A couple of days later I received a phone call at work from Allan, asking if there were tickets available for the Saturday performance?

"Let me find out and call you back"

So Allan, this time came with his daughter and lovely wife.

A few days later, I was notified by Facebook that I had a message from Allan.

"Great concert, let me take you out for lunch as a Thank you"

I responded, "No thanks neccessary, but lunch would be great, let me know when you can make it'.

Thinking, nothing more of it, I went along on my merry way, working, living etc. A couple of weeks go by, and I get another notification...."When are we meeting?"

Huh.....This time I was genuinely suprised, he could have easily let it go, but instead he followed up with me. How nice!

So today we had lunch, ( I chose the place, my mistake, it wasn't great...dry omlettes and a smattering of potatoes, sorry Allan) we chatted for a while, and I thought, why do so many people just blow things off? Are we really all that busy?

So thank you Allan, for reminding me how important the little things are, like calling someone back when you say you will, or doing something you say you will, when you don't really have to.

I know this is something I can work on, I want to be the one suprising someone else by going the extra mile or doing something extra that they didn't expect.

I can do better, how about you?

Sunshiney Day!

Why is it always sunny when I'm at work?

Why can't it be nice on the weekend, when I'm allowed to play outside?

I sit in my office looking longingly out of the window, wanting nothing more than to run around on my lawn, jumping through the sprinklers. Wanna join me?

Teamwork

Some members of COC had the privilege, this week to join Robert Porco's "other choral family" the May Festival Chorus in Cincinnati, where he was being honored as their choral director for the last 20 years -actually 21, but James Conlon was celebrating his 30th season as MFC's music director, so Bob's 20th was bumped a year.

When we arrived in the rehearsal room members of the May Festival Chorus (MFC) were wearing T-shirts with "Team Porco" on the back.

That was a very telling statement. When you sing in a chorus, there should be no stars, no stand outs, no individuals. There should be a single cohesive entity working together as a team to create the most beautiful music possible.

However, a team will always need a leader. This is where Bob comes in. For the last 12 of those 20 years Bob has driven approx 500 miles round trip weekly, from Cleveland to Cincinnati to rehearse both choruses. Rehearsals are generally 3 hours long and cover the music we will be performing at our next concerts. Bob leads us in a vocal warm-up, then we go to work, learning, refining and perfecting the music. So who decides how the music should sound? Who translates what the composer meant by a certain marking in the score? Who has to know the back story to a piece of music heard often or possibly never before? The director of course!

So entering a new rehearsal room, in a new city with new people around us, we were naturally curious as to how it would go.

Warm ups sounded the same. On to the piece. "Belshazzars feast". Hmmm, same markings, same phrasing, similar sound quality - different singers obviously create their own unique sound. How is it possible for 2 choruses who live 250 miles apart, and who never rehearse together, to be so instantly harmonious....It can only be the leadership.

Bob requires, and expects, nothing but the best from us. He knows what we are capable of and won't let us get away with anything less - however hard we try sometimes to get away with it.

This is one of the reasons we all work so hard for him. Equally, this is why he works so hard for us!

As you'll see in the link below, all our hardwork paid off, for the audience and chorus members combined! So thank you MFC, for allowing Clevelanders to play on the Cincinnati team for a game. We loved it!

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100522/ENT03/305220012/1025/ENT/May-Chorus-honors-director

How did I get here?....

Don't worry I won't scare you with the whole "birds and bees" thing, by now I would hope you understand how all that works! I really just wanted to see this photo of my parents on their wedding day. Can you believe they were married at the sweet ages of 16 and 18? I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like. Although at 16 I was living quite a different life to the one I expected.

Okay, so where to begin?
With music of course! That's been the defining factor from the start. My grandfather made instruments out of cricket bats, my mum played the accordian, my brother plays every guitar he can lay his hands on, none of them had training it was just in them.

Like alot of English kids I sang in the local church choir. Without realizing it I had started on my path.
So after a few years of choral singing and some pretty awful school report cards, my parents decided to let me try out for a school they knew I'd pay attention in.
Drama School! I auditioned and was accepted. Bliss! So at 13 my days were filled with acting, tap dancing, ballet, vocal lessons, auditions in London, oh, and math, english, science blah, blah, blah.
Then just as I thought it couldn't get any better, my world turned upside down.

My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had 2 years of surgeries, chemo and therapy but it wasn't enough. Two days after she died, my dad decided that he had lived 2 days longer than he wanted to. So at 16 I was on my own.

So what now? Music of course....
I worked as a studio singer in London, sleeping on friends floors and not really minding all that much. So I went from choral to pop to jazz to jingles, I sang it all. Subsidizing with nanny jobs and waitressing. After a while I decided it was time to start fresh.

I had the option of working as a nanny in Brazil, Australia or California. I really didn't want to learn Portugese or sit on a plane for 36 hours, so "California here I come!"

I worked for a family with 4 children, aged 10, 9, 5 and 2.
I pride myself in introducing them to Queen, great memories of dancing to Bohemian rhapsody (full blast) until one of them spotted their mom coming home, that's when the music stopped and the homework began ;o)

After I married Sean, and we had our 2 beautiful children, life was great!
We moved from the Bay area CA, to Reno NV, to Evansville, IN where I just happened to hear a radio commercial for the Evansville Philharmonic Chorus it had been a while since I'd sung.
I couldn't do that again, could I? Well why not? The children could do without me 1 night a week, and I needed it, I was starting to ache without music.

I had 4 fun seasons singing with them before moving to Cleveland.
Thank God I was ignorant enough of American orchestras to not realize what a big deal the Cleveland Orchestra was, if I knew I probably would have psyched myself out of auditioning.

Well I'm now going into my 6th season, and am thrilled every time I step on that stage.
So life didn't go exactly how I expected it, but what does?

That's how I got here....Music chose my path for me!

The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus supporting the Cavs!

This is what I was busy doing all last week....
Singing Carmina Burana with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Singing with this group is one of the highlights of my life, I feel blessed each and every time!

A snippet, as defined by dictionary.com.

n. 1. A bit, scrap, or morsel.
2. A small or mischievous person.

This is what the blog is all about...little bits of information from a small, scrappy, mischievous person.

I've never been much into writing before, never kept a journal and not just because I didn't want anyone to find it, but because I didn't think I had anything that interesting to say!
Maybe I still don't, but nowadays, I don't care.....I'm writing it anyway.