Tidy Up the Blog Day

Errata

So math isn't my strong suit, as many of you found out reading the opening line of yesterday's post. In my mind, I'm not yet halfway to forty because I'm still on the lower end of my thirties. I'm not twelve, although I can still fit into my Boy Scout uniform (which was bought for me when I was twelve) when the occasion arises.

What occasion, you're wondering? Like I'm going to tell you. My mother reads this blog.

Opera

I was tickled blush and bashful, two distinctly different shades of pink, at how many of you either spoke up as opera lovers or said you'd think about giving some of the arias a whirl as knitting background.

I even heard from voice students, which frankly thrills me. I used to live surrounded by singers, and while one can go mad living the opera life, once you've tasted it you never get it out of your system. I wish you all Good Voice, kids. Work hard, and find a copy of Mary Garden's autobiography so you can read her advice on becoming an opera singer. She knew what the hell she was doing and became a legend in her own time. Ignore her good counsel at your peril.

It was interesting that two readers - LornaJay and Ted - recommended different settings of the "Dies Irae" (Day of Wrath) as suitable for moments of confusion or ripping back.

They're so right. I also find the "Dies Irae" infinitely useful, myself, as a film score for fantasies in which I take on the boss, or the Chicago Transit Authority, or slow-moving yuppie parents who block entire city sidewalks and intersections with baby carriages the size of SUVs.

Ring Tones

Speaking of cell phones, The "Mexican Hat Dance" has now been replaced on mine by a chime that sounds like entrance music for Tinkerbell as written by Philip Glass. It's not quite what I want, but neither does it draw withering glances from strangers on the train.

However, after reading Christopher's bold confession that he downloaded the theme from "The Facts of Life" as a ring tone, I'm suddenly feeling inspired. I haven't taken a moment to check to see what's available, but I'm wondering about:

1. "I Wish I Were an Oscar Meyer Weiner"
2. The opening theme from "Sesame Street"
   
3. Marlon Brando screaming, "Stella! Hey, Stella!" in A Streetcar Named Desire
4. "I'm a Little Teapot"

Embarrassment of Riches

May I please draw your attention to the birth of two perfectly splendid new blogs, by writers who should have set up blogs long ago but I'm glad they didn't because who the hell needs the competition?

We have, in alphabetical order:

• Carol, one the funniest women in America (and cute, too) over at Go Knit in Your Hat; and
• Ted, aka Knitterguy, who spins beautiful yarn with maddening ease and knits lace as though it were garter stitch (and ditto on the cute, I've seen his picture. nyah.).
  

Question of the Week

Buzz asks, "...isn't it better to be ahead of the wave, rather than behind it?"

No.

Coming Up

Pictures of gay cowboys, and not the two posers in Brokeback Mountain. Real ones. I'm going through 800 frames, though, so do be patient.