PSA: AFB Website for Senior Citizens

The American Federation for the Blind has launched a Senior Site for the growing population of people who go blind from such eye diseases as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. The site is geared toward baby boomers, but if you are suffering a vision loss of some kind, it is useful for anyone. It offers tips people can use to maintain their independence.

Me: I was trying to keep that note free of rehabilitation catch-phrases, but one crept in there anyway, at the very end. *sigh*

I also really dislike the term 'senior citizen.' Once I get old, I would rather be called 'elderly.'

One More Week Until the NATS

Voice Lesson: Today's was not a bad voice lesson, but I enjoyed the practice afterward better. My teacher had me sing all of my performance pieces on "ah." I didn't care for it very much; I kept getting lost on "Tu Lo Sai."

By the lesson's end, though, I had learned the parts of it that were causing me to hesitate, and I think I will be okay now.

I had thought "Greensleeves" would be the snooze piece for the judges, but my music teacher tells me that "Tu Lo Sai" is the snooze piece; they haven't heard "Greensleeves" nearly as often.

My eyes bugged out. "Greensleeves" is so, so overdone at Renaissance festivals and SCA events, etc., which is where I usually sing it. The idea that I will be singing it in front of judges who might not actually be sick to death of hearing it is a new concept. The idea that "Tu Lo Sai," which is completely new to me, is osmething they've heard over and over, is really weird.

It also means I'll have to work very hard on "Tu Lo Sai" because they are all extremely familiar with it and will pick up on any mistakes.

My teacher has told me to take breaths during the long passages of "Greensleeves." I didn't want to do that, because you technically aren't supposed to breathe in the middle of them, but my tone sounds much better when I do--much more 'manly'--so I guess I'll have to give in. I need to sound manly for that song.

Anyone who has ever heard my normal high, squeaky speaking voice will die laughing at this comment. :P

The breath thing is annoying. I don't smoke, so there's no excuse for it, as far as I'm concerned. I think I'm afraid of coughing, so I tense up and either don't breathe deeply enough or don't let all of the air out, so I run out of air at the ends of the long passages, and they don't sound as good as they should. I really don't know how I'll get through this thing without coughing, though my teacher says I will. I hope she's right.

I'm godawful paranoid that I have another pseudomonas infection, even though I know I don't. I've just come off of some kick-ass antibiotics for a UTI and the Cold That Lingered, so...I just have to get all of that thinking out of my head.

And, crap--I'm beginning to think I enjoy singing opera. Eeek! The Baroque ornamentations which I used to think were too fussy and unnecessary, I now think are wonderfully fun to sing.

I'm doomed! :D