None Shall Sleep

So things at work got a little slow today, and I decided to compare and contrast different versions of "Nessun Dorma." Clearly, my employment is a necessity here. I can't believe some of the people who have attempted this: Michael Bolton, seriously?

Luciano Pavarotti
Lani Misalucha
Paul Potts
Aretha Franklin
Andrea Bocelli
Michael Bolton
Deanna Durbin
Joaquin Aguilar
Sarah Brightman

What makes me particularly sad is trying to compare anyone to Pavarotti--he sings it so effortlessly. Bocelli isn't a bad second, but it still isn't the same because his voice is so soft. Aretha Franklin tried to make it hip, and it didn't work well. Paul Potts and Joaquin Aguilar were actually very good. I couldn't handle any of the female versions, however. And I hate Sarah Brightman.

The conclusion of this experiment: Pavarotti's performance in Paris 1998 is the best version of "Nessun Dorma" available.

English translation:
"None shall sleep. None shall sleep. Even you, O Princess, in your cold bedroom, watch the stars that tremble with love and with hope. But my secret is hidden within me; none will know my name. No, no! On your mouth I will say it when the light shines! And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine. No one will know his name... and we will have to, alas, die, die. Vanish, o night! Set, stars! Set, stars! At daybreak I shall win. I shall win! I shall win!"

Needing money and Novocain.

Wisdom-teeth Friday is much closer than I’d like. I’m getting them pulled the day after tomorrow, and I’m not happy about it. I just don’t like people poking and scraping things in my face with sharp metal objects—I find the whole process to be very unpleasant. Unfortunately, our insurance doesn’t cover the entire operation, so we have to do a co-pay. The nitrogen is an extra $85 and the IV is an extra $350, which means I’m just going with the Novocain and my Shins cd. Hopefully the two will be enough to carry me through.
On the bright side, I get to take a day off work, eat lots of pudding, and watch good movies. John has also promised to feed me soup and rub my feet all weekend. It will suck to have four holes in my mouth, but at least I’m getting pampered in the process.

Other things in life are straddling the good/bad fence. I’ve lost 16 pounds since the new year without any trouble at all, and spring is really starting to elbow its way into our region. I am, however, slowly beginning to realize how much I hate my job. Sure we get to wear jeans to the office and I spend most of my day watching movies at my desk, but I would really like to contribute something to the company—something other than copying notes off of white boards after other peoples’ meetings. I’m an intelligent girl, but I can feel my brain rotting away in my skull. It’s really got me thinking about trying to get back to school, but I can’t decide between a Masters degree or a teaching degree. Plus, there’s always the matter of payment. Stupid money, making the world go round.