A Quick Fix

Here's how to get your Quick Fix.

• Start here.
• Click on the picture to get here.
• Second-to-last in the list is your Quick Fix. Go ahead. Get your fix. It's quick.
• Oh and then you might as well read all the little words there.
• Squint squint now they're in focus.

More later.

Following My Own Advice

A few entries ago I said something about identifying a problem not being enough - once you know about it, you have to do something about it. I've been trying in dribs and drabs to solve this one. Over the summer I bought running shoes and a couple of super-duper sport bras. I was running a few times a week. Then Husband's teaching schedule got all wacky - he is out of the house Mon, Tues and Wed afternoons until after 9. So much for going for a run on those days. Now, previously I was able to have Alex be my personal trainer and we'd run through the house, banging into walls. It was very motivating when I was participating in a weight-loss challenge with my friends. In two months I lost over 10 pounds. Well now I'm taking this weight thing to the next step. I've set the DVR to record my fitness boyfriend, Gilad. (Aside: Every time I say his name I think of that Star Trek episode and I think, Darmok and Gilad at Tanagra.) Yes, Gilad, and his fascination with "the thigh." But that's free, or at least, it's one of the benefits of a service I'm already paying for. So I went ahead and ordered a couple of Billy Blanks Freestyle Funk DVDs. On sale of course. But even so, once I pay for something I guilt myself into actually using it. The only challenge to overcome is getting the time to do the workout with Alex interrupting. I try to interest him in doing it along with me, but that works for about, oh, 5 minutes before he "needs" me for something. Ok so here we go. I'm determined to get back at least some of that Tiny Person I used to be.

Other advice I'm following is Alex's. He said I should sing Despina on Saturday. In spite of the questionable quality of the higher notes on the video I posted, I do feel more comfortable singing it. I have more fun singing it. And when I relax and let loose, which oddly enough I can do if strangers are watching, I have a lot of fun. I know I can hit the notes if I use proper form. And I'm hoping that the fun overcomes any technical errors I might make. Plus from the way this guy was talking, they're not that picky? And when I saw the group a few months ago, my first impression was that I would fit right in. So we'll see!

Practiced some karaoke today. My friend and I (did I mention she's coming to see Mr Gunn in Grapes of Wrath with me?) sang the duets from Grease and then we did Heart - Magic Man, B52s- Love Shack (with interruptions to prevent our children from flooding her house), she sang Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend - Or I should say, she ROCKED it, totally awesome... we did so many others... and, of course, that old standard that I know only because it's here, Polka Dots and Moonbeams. And my friend stared at me like I was a freak. Well maybe I am. It's just so comforting to actually know the words when you sing karaoke. It's hard!

Ten days til the party. But first, two days till I Sing For Others. Well, sober Others, as opposed to Others at a party where there's karaoke. And alcohol.

What Else Is There?

Out for my run today I finally remembered that I have a play list on my iPhone called, "Workout Set." No more opera acts or recits interrupting my workout!! So I thought I'd share my play list here, partially because it's fun, and partially because I suddenly feel the need to show that I do listen to music other than opera or goofy kids stuff. So here's what I like to run to:









Ooh this one's not on the list, but it will be the next time I go out:



Also must add this:



So, what do you work out to? Post a comment with your favorites!

Blogging Makes it Better

You know how sometimes you'll have a problem or an issue or something, and just telling someone about it solves it? I feel like that happened here. After I wrote about how I was having trouble staying on the same note during a crescendo, boom, I was able to do it. Is it possible that simply writing about it somehow changed something in my brain?

I'm still missing my voice lessons. I never did get an opportunity to switch to another teacher for the summer. The school just went ahead and refunded my money, and since finances are tight, I didn't do anything else. However, I am still owed 1 lesson from last semester. My teacher keeps telling me to come up to her house for it. Maybe I will one day. Now that I think about it, she lives near the mall that has a Godiva shop in it, or at least it did the last time I was there, uh... almost 20 years ago...

In the interest of Opera Fashion, and of not having the money to go on a shopping spree, I've started a new weight loss and exercise regime. I was spurred on by two, yes, two people this month assuming I was pregnant!! One of them wouldn't leave it alone - when I told her no, it's just too much food, she said, "Oh, kind of like a beer belly?" Right. Um, come stand closer so I can smack you. The other person was the librarian. She said, "You won't be checking out all those pregnancy books like you did when you were pregnant with your first." Umm... what? Oh... I see... I just said no and ducked behind a shelf. She'll eventually figure it out...

Makes me wonder... are my coworkers wondering if I'm pregnant but don't want to ask? Which is good. Never ever ask a woman if she's pregnant. Never assume she is pregnant unless she says, "My water just broke and the baby is coming!" And the proper reply to that is, "Oh, you're pregnant? I couldn't tell."

So I've signed up for this free online calorie counter. You put in what you eat and what you do. It tells you how many calories are going in and out. You give it your current weight and your goal and it tells you how many calories you can take in per day to achieve the goal. My goal is to fit back into last year's opera outfits. And I'm writing about it here so I have a place to check in - makes me less likely to cheat. Wish me luck!

iPod Shuffle Train of Thought - Pirates! And a Confession!

Was out exercising with the random shuffle. It's great to hear Juan Diego Florez and then the Beatles. It's not so great to get a track that's an entire act of an opera, or else a track from a CD of an opera that's all recit. At least the recit tracks are usually under 30 seconds.

But that "entire act" track got me thinking about recordings of operas, and the idea of piracy.

I have never recorded an opera from the audience. Even if I wanted to, I don't have the equipment. But I don't want to deal with the hassle, nor do I wish to break the law and risk getting kicked out, just to have a (cough-ridden) recording of an opera I've attended. I just want to enjoy the moment. However, there are people out there who not only record but willingly share those recordings with other opera fans. Share, as in, free. I want to point out that I'm not including radio broadcasts in this. To me, if it's broadcast on the radio, anyone can record it to listen to again later. Not to sell, but to listen and share. But these pirated recordings... I do wonder sometimes what the artists themselves think. Of course each person is different. If it's taking money out of their pockets, I imagine they wouldn't be too pleased. On the other hand, isn't it sort of flattering to think that there are these unofficial recordings out there, passed around among fans? Perhaps creating new fans, even? Now, I have heard some singers profess that pirated recordings send a bad message. Not sure what/how/why... perhaps I'm naive... Does it send a message (to whom?) that it's ok to record live performances? I doubt it. I'm pretty sure most adults are aware of the legal stuff surrounding it. Does it prevent people from buying tickets? "I've heard this crappy audience recording, so why go see it live?" Does it prevent people from buying CDs? "I've heard this crappy audience recording, so why buy a totally unrelated CD of the artist I heard on the crappy recording?" I doubt it. If anything, it's just the opposite.

Confession: I have come across some pirated recordings, mostly of Nathan Gunn because people would just give them to me, but also of some others. So I guess I've broken the law by accepting and occasionally sharing these recordings. I did once make a video that I was asked to remove... and I did, immediately, with tons of apologies and promises not to do it again, etc. I wasn't trying to be sneaky - I honestly thought at the time that I was doing a nice thing. Yes, I am naive about the music business. And no, don't ask me for a copy of it - it's gone.

But now you all know ... It's true... I'm a scofflaw! A rebel! I confess!!