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?