You won't believe this, but somehow I am sick again. No fair! I spent all of last month with that nasty cold... Luckily I think I have nipped this in the bud. Lots of sleep, sinus irrigation...big fun over here.

Not too much going on here. The competition went okay--at least nobody said I should switch back to soprano--but I did get comments that my repertoire is too big for my age. Okay, how old should I be before I can sing Verdi? Though honestly, I listened to myself singing a particular Verdi aria earlier this week, and I did actually sound, well, too lyric for it, for lack of a better term. I ain't no Fedora Barbieri yet! So I'm going to ratchet things back, and work on some (slightly) lighter rep. I do have one audition in February, but other than that everything's wide open right now--so there's no reason not to experiment and find the best fits for me. My teacher has also suggested I look at oratorio (two-day commitment, quick money!), which wasn't too great an option as a soprano (everything was always too light or too high), but I can kick ass on any of that Handel. Or the Beethoven 9, or the Verdi Requiem. Or Bach, for that matter. So there's that, too.

My Hansel and Gretel rehearsals start next Friday, and while I'm looking forward to getting back on stage I'm not looking forward to driving 150 miles round-trip for the rehearsals. Especially the day when I'm only called for 45 minutes. But we did the cost analysis when I first heard about the gig, and I'll still make money on it even with all the gas. (Plus right now gas is under $2 a gallon at Costco!) I'll get an audio book (or two) from the library--it makes the drive go so much faster, plus it helps me stay awake.

In moving news: the resumes are done, the clips are ready...we're basically just waiting for the right opportunity. There is another opportunity closer to home that Mark is exploring, but I'm not at liberty to discuss it. (Or else I'd have to kill you.) He's become increasingly tired of his job and the management, so he's more than happy to move on. Still needs a little bit of prodding, but that's what I'm for. On a slightly-related note, we bought him two new suits last weekend--a dark navy and a fantastic grey pinstripe. I am well aware that my husband looks hot in a suit, but I never mind being reminded. (Broad shoulders, mmmm...)

Oh, also, in the TMI department, I've made a GYN appointment for next month. (Between my two H&G performances, since that's the best time I could get.) My pain is not going away at all, and it hurts so much I basically just don't want to even try to have sex anymore. Libido gone. And Mark doesn't want to, either, because he doesn't want to hurt me. Sucky. So I'll probably have to have a laparoscopy, and hopefully then they'll have something to tell me. It's been over three years since these problems all started, and I'm really tired of it!

And re: Cathy's wedding... I have been looking online at bridesmaid dresses. Maybe I've become a prude all of a sudden (doubtful), but most of the ones I've seen are totally slutty. And I don't want to have to wear my corset, plus it'll be October, and outside...Yes, I think I'd like my arms covered. I'm really into portrait collars right now, for some reason, so maybe I'll end up with one of those translucent wrap jacket things. Hmmm. I think a shopping trip is in order!

And to close: look what somebody did to this dog!



DO NOT WANT!

By the way, if you should want to knit this little guy, the pattern is here. Brought to you by the sadists at Lion Brand Yarn!

I'm feeling segue-impaired right now, so I think I'll just make a list:

1. The thing with Mark's brother is on its way to being resolved. Mark believes his brother was purposely being nasty to him because of various abandonment issues, but their relationship is going to be better. This does not change the fact that his gross toes touched my plant. I'm willing to let him improve his standing with me, but my little cactus is not so quick to forgive.

2. About a month ago I heard about Pandora--I've been listening to it every day at work. It's an easy way to learn about different bands similar to what you already like, and the caveats I'd heard about it selecting things you hate--well, that can happen, but you just say you don't like it. I started a station with the Foo Fighters, and the second song it picked for me was Audioslave. Umm, no. But it learns quickly.

3. Six years ago today Mark and I had our first date. It was at a nice restaurant, and the food was decent but we had lousy service and never went back there. Dawson's Creek was filming up the street, so after dinner we walked over to the set but didn't see anything interesting. I was so nervous--I understand why, I guess, but it seems so silly now to have been nervous. I bet he was more nervous than I was, honestly.

4. Saturday will mark my mezzo debut, at the same competition I did this time last year and was so pissed about. The judges are better this year--maybe they'll actually have something valuable to say this time! I'm so new to this rep that I really can't expect anything. That and, as I mentioned last year, nobody over 25 ever advances. Hell, I'd be happier with the $400 consolation prize. I've taken tomorrow off work so I can concentrate on dramatic stuff, so I think I'll feel relatively prepared (considering I learned four of the five arias less than two months ago).

5. If you are yet unaware of the cat macro phenomenon, you haven't yet lived. I am addicted to these things now!

My brother-in-law is the most annoying creature to walk the earth. He just stayed with us for a week, and I am very glad he is gone. Part of me wants to think it's mainly because I'm possessive of my boo :), but I know this is not the only reason: when Mark's twin and his family visited, I didn't feel this way. And I certainly don't feel like this when Mark's sister visits. No, the problem is Mark's brother: a crude, negative, bossy person. I just never realized it before this past week.

I really hate having to say this. But if disliking one of your inlaws makes you a bad person, I think everybody I know would be going straight to Hell. This is just the first time this has happened to me personally. And I feel really bad about it, because I don't want to hurt Mark's feelings. I didn't even tell Mark until yesterday, when I basically invented an errand for myself to escape the house, and Mark suggested I take his brother along. (The shrieks in my brain at this I cannot describe.) So I have to talk to him about it today. The fact is, Mark's brother is incredibly negative and complains or naysays everything--and when he does compliment something, it's always with surprise. He has lousy taste in movies (National Treasure, anyone?) and constantly denigrated our taste in movies and TV. (Also, he refers to movies as "flicks". I wanted to kill him.) He kept trying to tell Mark and me what to do in our own damn house. He came home every day before four o'clock, so I only got to practice once last week (and I have a competition in less than two weeks, with all new music!). (Okay, maybe this wasn't on purpose.) He belched constantly, and showered like once in a whole week, and put his bare feet on our ottoman, and our coffee table, and played with my Christmas cactus with his toes. Oh my God. Why is this ever acceptable? "Make yourself at home" does not equal, "Leave your dirty socks on my living room floor". You know what? Nobody treats me like this in my own house. And I let him get away with this why? Because he's "family", and I didn't feel like it was my place to say anything. Humph. Now I'm mad at myself for not saying anything.

I have New Year's resolutions! But I need to recuperate a bit first.