My god, it's Wednesday already?

I forgot to mention that I donated blood on Saturday and had this rather stern Ukranian woman take my vitals and such. She told me how to correctly pronounce my last name and didn't seem to happy by our Americanized version. "That is not how we say it in the Ukraine." She wanted to know if I spoke the language or had ever visited (no, and no) and agreed that it would probably be wise to wait until the political atmosphere had chilled out a bit before considering it. It was kind of trippy to answer the typical embarassing health questions (no, I'm not a prostitute, drug abuser or sex addict, I swear) with her. Usually I try not to get too chatty with those folks for just that reason. It makes keeping a straight face damned hard. She also muttered, "Your blood pressure is 100 over 70." I nodded. She frowned, "That's low." I nodded again and replied, "It's always low." For a second I thought she was going to tell me I couldn't donate, instead she made a note of it on my card and waved me through. I don't think she quite believed me, but they seemed to really need the donation so there you are.

Class last night and a quick gift exchange with eilonwey, we both giggled a lot exchanging Lush gift boxes. As she pointed out, "The only thing better than giving Lush is receiving it." My bathroom smells all vanilla-y now. Mmmm.

We made good progress on Raks Souhaila, though I still feel a bit like a cow doing it. On the other hand I feel like a real dancer now, if I know where to put my feet I'm fine, if not it all goes to hell. You really do dance from the feet up. It wasn't too disastrous and I finally seem to have the vampire-sit bit in my head, now if I can just get that final combo that's eluding me...

It sounds like we're going to be doing some troupe photo shoots in the upcoming weeks as well. Aelf, if you're reading this we've got one tentatively scheduled for Jan. 8th at the Rosicrucian museum. Is that cool or what? I'm really looking forward to that one. there's also one on Tuesday evening of next week where we can do it in studio so work with more costumes and props and such. I want one good shot of me veil dancing and I'll be happy. I'm also bringing my uber-sexy new costume with for some pics. Of course this does mean I have to behave myself this weekend. Seriously.

Missed a call from jakejr and would've called her back but my battery ran out. I'm utterly hopeless when it comes to cell phones, the number of occasions people can actually reach me on mine are disturbingly small. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother.

Got home late and had just enough time to do a quick solstice ritual before passing out. My Tarot reading was a little disturbing, it warned of some financial problems cropping up soon. :(

Tonight I brave Whole Foods, then tomorrow play Santa and do some baking for our potluck at work on Friday. Oooh, speaking of which, thanks to our party yesterday I now own a copy of Con Air. Who the hell thinks that dvd is a "white elephant" gift? I'll tell myself they had two copies.

Sometimes you just can't be cynical enough

Oh dear god. cleolinda just posted a link to a review of the new Phantom movie soundtrack that is, if one is extremely kind, savage.

It would seem that the early viewers have confirmed the most general worry of Phantom fanatics: visuals were priority #1 and the music was priority #2. The British have been the most vividly spectacular in their negative criticism of the film --after all, the production was their brain child originally and they have the right to claim its successes and denounce its failures-- and one writer from The Herald summed up the critical response by stating, "I approached this with an open mind. I really did. And it made me want to claw out my own eyeballs and use them to plug my ears." But could it really be that horrible? After all, how could one of the greatest compositions of modern times be so thoroughly ruined?

Indeed, the music for this film version of The Phantom of the Opera is an unimaginable disaster of staggering proportions.

If Webber truly thinks that the performances of this film version live up to the standards established by the original recording, then he has completely lost his mind.
[...]
Butler's performance exists on a whole other level of hideousness, though, and it is this unbelievable error that renders the film recording of The Phantom of the Opera as both horrendous and painful. Butler's lack of formal vocal training is blindingly obvious, with the man shouting his role rather than singing it. He cannot hold notes worth a damn, and the entire demeanor of his voice is wrong for the role. The Phantom was both mysterious and romantic. There was something overpowering and seductive about his voice, as captured perfectly by Michael Crawford. Butler does well with the anguish and anger, but that's it. Volumes could be written about the particulars of how this actor was terrible for the role, but at some point, you have to just denounce the poor guy as the wrong choice and move on.


I think I need to go home and listen to my London and Toronto cast recordings so I can stop whimpering.