And then there was ranting.

I've had mixed feelings about my local choir since the director's welcome note was "okay, you guys are in as long as I don't get any fantastic sopranos." This past week I've been frothing at the mouth.

We're a week away from performance and he still can't let us go through a piece from beginning to end without stopping. I understand the idea of working out problems, but we really need to be past that and solidifying a larger-scale grasp of the music by now. Every time he stops us (for the UMPTEENTH TIME in the last five measures) I want to scream and throw things.

And I approve of the idea of looking professional, but we're a civic chorus. The degree of wardrobe micromanagement is ludicrous. Purchasing the same dress wasn't a big deal (especially since they selected my Chorale dress and I didn't have to buy a new one. WIN). Purchasing identical costume jewelry was a bit silly, but I could live with it. The list of shoe specifications was inconvenient (they want closed-toe, a bit of heel, but we aren't allowed wedges, which would be much more comfortable) but only really annoying in that they're asking us to buy YET ANOTHER THING, and some of us are - y'know - grad students and not working professionals with a steady income.

But this week we got an e-mail informing us to wear black hose, TRUE RED lipstick (no other shade, absolutely!) and blush, and to pull our hair back from our faces. Now there's an e-mail exchange comparing lipstick shades, and if they tell me to go out and buy Revlon #322, I'm going to throw a serious hissyfit. We are a CIVIC CHORUS. We are volunteers. We do not want to deal with this shit.

Also, with my hair pulled back, rouged cheeks, and bright red lipstick on, I'm going to look like the whore of Babylon. The same lipstick shade? SERIOUSLY?

Epiphany

I know this is my third post in a day, but I had a moment of clarity this afternoon at the bookstore.

I've been trying (with the bits of attention not fixated on playing FFXII*) to figure out what all the Twilight hooplah was about, and been of mixed feelings about the movie (my strongest feeling being that it's a shame how that nice young man got attacked by a bottle of rabid hair gel). It took me actually LOOKING at Stephanie Meyer's book, side by side with a movie poster, to realize I'd listened to the book on tape on my last road trip.

Oh. THAT Twilight.

Now I know what all the hype is about. I'm not saying the movie won't be awful, because books-turned-movies often are, but I will say this: I thought the book was outstanding.



*My thoughts so far: 1) WTF battle system. If I'd wanted an MMO-style system I would be PLAYING AN MMO. Dammit. 2) Fifteen minutes in and I am already going "JESUS, GRANDPA, WHAT DID YOU READ ME THIS FOR?!" Oh, this is going to be a happy game. -.-