Dread.

You know, it’s a brand-new year, and I should be looking forward to all the great things 2009 will bring. But right now, one feeling threatens to override the others: dread.

Now of course, I will follow up this post with things that I’m really looking forward to, but that will be later, when I’m in a better mood and the sun is out. For now, here’s what I’m dreading:

  1. The thought of a Super Bowl where both teams are from Pennsylvania. The Eagles I can stand, but the St*****s…God hates me. And shut up, Kody.
  2. Buying a new dryer today. My 12-year-old Kenmore died last night.
  3. Up at 5 a.m., school, rehearsal, home by 8 p.m., study until midnight, sleep, repeat.
  4. The knowledge that my knees probably won’t take too many more years of tap dancing.
  5. April.
  6. Waiting until July for the 3rd season of Mad Men.
  7. The drive to school this morning in the freezing cold. (Must start the Mighty Ford Ranger extra-early.)

Commiseration, anyone?

Fink out. (At least there’s yummy coffee in the kitchen.)

PS — I guess I can’t really be *completely* depressed. Mad Men won again.

:-)

11 thoughts on “Dread.

      1. Ross

        I was at CNN reading about Charles Ponzi and the origins of the ‘Ponzi scheme’, then saw something about Publisher’s Clearing House, read that they paid $52 million from state lawsuits for deceptive practices, wondered if I could find data indicating how often the sweepstakes winner did NOT buy a magazine in the course of the promotion, so I went to Snopes and then The Straight Dope, where that article caught my eye. Link trails are great aren’t they!

        I have a quick music question. I’m writing a celebrity obit for a web site to have on hand when he dies (a very common assignment for me) and as a boy this celebrity was a ‘boy soprano’ in the choir. What does this mean?

        1. Clearly he was pre-pubescent, right?
        2. Would he have sang the same parts as the female sopranos, or are parts also written for ‘boy sopranos’?
        3. Is this position any more or less prominent within a choir than any other role?

        Reply
        1. Rat Fink Post author

          Awesome link trail, my friend. Written like a true philomath!

          Excellent question about boy sopranos. As long as they use those two words (boy and soprano) in the same sentence, you’re right on with your assumption. You’re simply talking about a boy with a higher-pitched unchanged voice, as opposed to a boy with a lower-pitched unchanged voice. (I have those in my choirs as well.)

          1. Yep, pre-pubescent.
          2. Most of the time, yes, unless he sang in a church choir that might use more “high church” choral music that required a boy chorus.
          3. Nope, not necessarily, unless a special part has been written for boys.

          Without going into *too* much historical detail…when choral music got its start (in the church), boys were often used to cover the higher parts, before women were permitted to be seen and heard. Then there was the dark time during the 18th century, when a powerful soprano’s voice in a man’s body made him a rock star (if he was good). Parents took money to have their “talented” sons castrated and trained in the opera. (Can you imagine this “surgery” in 1790?)

          Thank God it fell out of favor — although the Sistene Chapel music people dragged their feet about it. They were among the last to say, “Oh, all RIGHT. We’ll stop mutilating boys for our own musical pleasure.” Heh.

          So yeah, that was way too much answer for 3 simple questions!

          Reply
        2. Ross

          It wasn’t way too much answer for 3 simple questions, it was the perfect amount of answer- thank you!

          As an opera fan I have on occasion come across information about the ‘Castrati’. I tried to find the name of one in my favorite Mozart biography, thinking a castrato was normally cast in the role of Cherubino but that wasn’t the case. Did many of them, like Brazilian soccer stars and Madonna, go by one name?

          Also I think Ann Rice wrote a novel about castrati; I started reading it in I think my teens and lost patience.

          Reply
        3. Rat Fink Post author

          Annie Rice’s A Cry to Heaven — amazing book! I’ve read it twice. It’s not for everyone (especially those with “ooky” factor issues), but it’s superbly written — she did her research, lemmetellya.

          I’m not sure about the one-name thing…the castrato I know most about is Alessandro Moreschi — the “last living castrato.” I’ve used this recording of his Ave Maria in my music history classes for years. (It was recorded in 1902.)

          They were fascinating creatures, with alternately luxurious and awful lives.

          Reply
  1. Stein

    I’d like to say that your choice of artwork on this post was great. Oh, and just as I rooted for the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series I’ll root for the Arizona Cardinals.

    Reply
  2. Greg

    1. I don’t watch the SuperBowl and could care less who wins–if it doesn’t affect my pension, medical benefits or what’s in the fridge–who cares?
    2.Dryers–one fond memory is of my brother,Kevin, riding his tricycle through a pile of flaming papers which he lit from the pilot of our gas dryer.
    3.”Think of me fondly” when I get up at 9 a.m.
    4.Darn knees–first thing to go!
    5.Mad Man–haven’t seen it–still watching reruns of “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
    6.I have to say that I’m glad I don’t have to face that early morning drive in all kinds of weather–I can enjoy a second cup of coffee while watching the “Colbert Report.”

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      Ah, you retired guys…you really love to rub it in, don’t ya? Well, I have a 2-hour delay this morning, so there! (Wait…I’m still up at 5 a.m….)

      You *must* watch Mad Men, Greggy. I have Season 1 on DVD. I’m serious — you will adore it. It will bring back memories for you bigtime! Let me know and I’ll loan you my DVD.

      PS, while I’m here…the Music Parents approved the purchase of the motion light. When do you want to come in and play with it??

      Reply

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