I'm gonna make a couple of corrections, if you don't mind. It's been awhile since I took French, but I remember some grammar stuff.
*Mes yeux sont brune
and I think
*Je ne joue pas un sport en hiver. (If you think I'm wrong, that's cool. Just trying to help ^_^)
I think you could just use your name as the closing...I'm not sure about it, but that feels right to me. Either that, or "ton ami(e), [insert your name]"
Other than those couple of things, it's great! (I hated writing letters in French class. Drove me up the wall, lol)
-Siren =)

"Cherie" is "dear" directly translated, but it's not the proper greeting, I don't think.
"Cher," I think, is what you want to use for "dear" in a letter form.
"Vraiment votre" is "truly yours," loosely translated. I'd invest in a french-english dictionary, as well as a dictionary of idioms like those.
To start a letter in French, I would begin it with "Madame" or "Monsieur," depending on who you're writing it to and on what level you know this person. (Cher ___ works fine).
If it's a formal letter, Madame or Monsieur is the greeting to use, I believe, and the closing should be "Sincerement" (I think).
I really would invest in a dictionary of french-english idioms (sayings). I have one somewhere, so I know they're out there. LaRousse is a good brand/name.
Hope this helped!
-Siren =)

Okay, what you audition with has a LOT to do with which part you're aiming for. I auditioned for that play and I was aiming for Marian, so I auditioned with something musical-theater-y. (I actually picked an excerpt from Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance (one of Mabel's songs) to show off my high range, 'cause that part deals with quite a bit of the voice.
If you know musicals, go with something from there. "Think of me" or "Wishing you were somehow here again" from Phantom of the Opera are both good.
Go with something you know and you like that shows off the part of your voice you want to show off.
This is very short notice - a lot of the advice you get here may not help you.
The best advice I can give you is to sing something you know that you think shows off your voice well, preferably musical theater style, as Music Man is indeed a musical - they're not gonna be looking for a whole lot of opera, nor are they gonna want "rock" or "pop" style singing (I don't think.)
I hope this helps - good luck with your audition! If you're willing, let me know if you get in/what part you end up with. I'm curious!
-Siren =)

I'm obviously not a guy, but I've never had a guy complain about the lipgloss I use - if anything, I've had them say they like it. It can get in the way if it's sticky, or thick - aim for more flavor and less gloss.
Bonnebell stuff is very good - I use F'lip Juicees, or whatever they're called, and I actually had a guy ask me to put it on before he kissed me. Lol. I used to call it "kiss candy."
A lot of guys like fruity flavors, I've found. Strawberry works rather well. Shiny is good if you're looking to show off your lips - like if they have a good shape, but I would go for flavor over look, especially if you're planning on kissing someone. No guy wants to end up wearing his girlfriend's lipstick.
I strongly reccomend Bonnebell. Watch for things that you can't see move in the tube. Like, if you can tip the gloss and you see a moving bubble, it's good. But if you tip the container and you can't see anything move, it's probably sticky and is therefore not necessarily a good thing.
Balms are good, too, as long as they don't taste funny.
I hope this helps a bit!
-Siren =)

Okay, I have proof that "bad" people do take voice lessons. I taught for awhile before college got to be too much work to do both, and one of my students was pretty damn tone deaf, lol.
Practice makes permanent, my flute teacher always told me, and I told her that. After a few weeks of lessons and just practicing she began improving and finding the pitch much more quickly. She just has to remember to support and to "feel" the pitch before she sings it. So yes, people who aren't amazing singers do take voice lessons, and they CAN improve.
If you're willing to work and really practice enough to make a difference, it can help. If you want to improve, by all means take lessons. Voice lessons are never a bad thing.
It's up to you, though - you've gotta decide you want to improve. The first step to fixing a problem is wanting to fix it.
Go for the lessons!
-Siren =)

Wow, that is a strange coincidence, lol. It would be even weirder if my real name was something like Nicole. It's not, though. Lol. "Siren" is way closer to my real name than Nicole.
That's kinda cool, though.
-Siren =)

Do you have AIM? Why don't you contact me there? I might be able to help you a little more if I can talk to you more about your voice. What kind of a range do you have, what kind of pieces have you sung, etc...
-Siren =)

[Edit] Yes, we can talk anytime! Just catch me on line - my computer's usually on. I've got a busy night tonight, but thursday should be pretty open. My screen name's SirenCytherea.
^_^

You can't do enough without a voice coach to really develop your voice because you can't hear what's really going on in your voice. It resonates in your head and obstructs the sound you hear. (That's how my tone ended up too dark and I'm still working on making it brighter)
A voice coach, maybe even your choir director would be willing to help you a little, can tell you what the rest of the world will hear, and how to make things sound better to everyone else - when you sing, you sing for the world/an audience, not for you. What you sing needs to be good enough for the world to love, not just you.
Have you spoken to your mom or dad about wanting a voice coach? Parents can be surprisingly helpful, especially if there are money issues involved.
You might try speaking to them. If not, talk to your choir director about it. Maybe he or she would be able to help find you a coach who won't charge too much, or even coach you him or herself.
I hope this helps!
-Siren =)

I'm sorry to say that I probably can't tell you anything you want to hear about the first question. Getting a bigger sound takes a lot of practice and possibly a voice teacher or a voice coach. Key, though, use more air. The higher the notes, the more air you need. Make sure your throat's open, too. Take a breath like you're about to yawn. Feel something in your throat kinda drop? That's your larynx. You want that lowered/dropped like that all the time when you sing (it's hard, don't expect to get it right away).
Audition songs depend on what you're auditioning for. If it's for a musical, I might sing Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from Phantom of the Opera - shows off your range and your tone, if both are good. Look through musicals. Miss Saigon has some pretty solos (You Who I Cradled in My Arms (not sure about the title, but that's the first line)).
If it's something classical, I would invest in The First Book of Soprano Solos part I and II. Those have some good songs in them that show off your voice.
I suggest posing your second question to the pool of advicenators with a little more detail - some of them might have more song ideas. I do mostly classical stuff and I'm not quite sure the kind of audition songs you want.
If you like, you can elaborate a bit and I can do a bit of searching for songs. You might also include your range notewise. Like, my comfortable range is from A3 (A below middle C) to D6 (C above the staff)
I hope I helped a little!
-Siren =)

There could be a few reasons for that - the coverup you use might not be the right color for you, or maybe not the right kind of coverup. It also depends on what you use to put it on. Sometimes brushes work better than fingers, or vice versa.
What you might try doing is brushing a little powder over the concealer, and the rest of your face to blend it a bit.
Or, try a different concealer. Clinique Airbrush Concealer is what I use and you can never see it. I used something else before and it was always visible and almost cakey. Lol.
I would try the powder idea first, and if it doesn't work switch brands or styles.
I hope this helps!
-Siren =)

It's "Have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood? Am I know to be prey to you lust for flesh?"
and
"That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood has also denied me the joys of the flesh."

Christine's asking him if he's finally done with all the killing, and - the second question can be taken a couple ways. I always took it as a bit of an inuendo (They're all over the musical)- she wants to know if he's going to force her to...*ahem*.
The Phantom answers her, teling her that because he turned into such a killer, etc, he has been denied fulfillment of love/lust/etc. Or he could be talking about his face as a "fate". It can be taken a few ways, but there are definitely undertones in there.
Hope this helped!
-Siren =)

-

Haha, that sounds familiar.
If I were you, I would invest in Clinique Airbrush concealer. Works WONDERS. In the meantime, put foundation over it, and concealer, and powder to smooth it out. If you can wear a choker, I would.
I feel your pain, though. In the future, I believe if you freeze a metal spoon and apply pressure to the hickey...it's broken capillaries, and the cold helps that.
It should lighten a bit by monday, but covering it up with stuff should help.
By the way, I hope you got him back for that. Lol. If a guy gives me a hickey, he walks away with a matching mark. ^_^
Hope this helps a bit!
-Siren =)

Aww sweetheart, you are totally NOT a slut. A slut, by definition, is someone who sleeps around. Kissing does not equal sleeping around, m'dear.
I can understand you feeling bad for having your first kiss with/without tongue in a situation like that.
There isn't a whole lot to do about this situation, as long as people don't get the idea that you ARE a slut simply from doing that.
I would ask all parties involved to keep quiet about that night if it bothers you.
You're not stupid. You got caught up in a situation. I've had that happen. I just made it clear that it was not about to happen again, and in your situation I would do that.
I'm sorry to tell you there's nothing to be done about the fact that your first kiss wasn't what you wanted, but if it makes you feel any better, I haven't heard a single good "first kiss" story. Even mine sucked, lol.
I would just make it clear that that was a one-time thing and it will not happen again. Next time, pay more attention to the situation and try not to let it happen again.
Guys are stupid and manipulative. You've gotta be careful of that.
No matter what, just remember that what happened does NOT make you a slut by any means.
I hope I helped a bit!
-Siren =)

Ouchie, that sucks. I feel your pain, though. I lost my voice a week before a performance (I'm a vocal performance major, so my voice is like, my life) and I wanted to kill things.
Here are my tricks:
I swear by Halls Strawberry Vapor Action cough drops. Don't eat too many of those, though. Menthol is good, but in moderation.

Natural Ricola cough drops

Bigelow's Mint Medley tea with one Natural Ricola cough drop, and any amount of sugar you like. Mix it all together in the tea and drink. Feels good, tastes pretty good.

Celestian Seasonings Honey-Lemon Chammomile cough drops.

They're all cough drops, and tea, but they all work very well. You could also put honey in your tea. Also, drink lots of fluids and eat water foods like fruits and veggies. Keep a bottle of water within armslength of you 24/7 until Sunday.
When I'm sick I drink like 2 liters of water a day. Lol. Lay off the sodas - they're bad for you anyway, and try to avoid coffee.
Warm tea and hot showers are your best bet.
Sunday, if your throat still hurts, pop a cough drop in about an hour before you sing (I reccomend the Halls for this), and drink water - every time you take a sip, swish the cough drop around in the water so it melts a little and you get some of the menthol along with the H2O. Also try to take a hot shower in the morning, or breathe steam somehow. That helps your voice warm up anyway, and won't hurt you.
As far as preventing the cold, fluids, fluids, and SLEEP. Sleep more. Don't go out on Saturday night or whatever. Just chill at home and relax. Rest and relaxation does wonders for the body, especially when it's starting to catch something.
I hope this helps - Good luck on Sunday!
-Siren =)

Haha
Yup, girls give guys hickeys too. Of course, the only hickeys I've ever given were to "get back" at the guy who gave me a hickey.
My guyfriend is covers in hickeys. So yes, girls give guys hickeys as well.
I personally think hickeys are odd in general, so odd or not is your call.
I think they're pretty funny.
Hope this helps!
-Siren =)

Okay, it's not really supposed to HURT. Is he using more than one finger? If so, you might be just a little too "tight" for that right now - ask him to use just one.
Or, penetration isn't even completely necessary. I mean, that's the "idea", but it sometimes feels better if the guy does more clitoral stimulation than vaginal. Get him to try that. You might like it better, too.
Also, check his fingernails. If they're long, he could end up scratching you, and that could definitely cause a bit of pain. Make him cut them...lol. He may resent it, but you sure as heck won't!
Try these few things - all tried and true. Hope this helps!
-Siren =)

1. male or female? Female
2. age? 17, almost 18
3. heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual? Heterosexual
4. drink alcohol or do drugs? If so how much? I drink, but not on a regular basis by any means. The only drugs I do are prescription.
5. have you had sex? why? Yes. We made the decision together, and we both believe sex is the ultimate expression of love. Needless to say, we love each other (still)
6. how often do you have sex if you do? how much would you have sex? Well, not very often at the moment, since my boy's left the state for college, but we used to about once or twice a week or weekend.
7. ever been kissed? Only two people, lol.
8. given or received hand jobs? Yes
9. blow jobs? Yes
10. anal sex? No.
11. what are your feelings about anal sex? It's degrading, probably painful, and not very smart.
12. how many people have you done anything sexual with in the past month? In the past month? No one, unless you call harmless flirting/talking about sex "sexual". In that case I do it all the time. Lol.
13. how many relationships have you been in? Currently in my 7th.
14. how many people have you had sex with? how many people have you done sexual things with? "One" answers both questions.
15. ever had a sexual experience with someone you weren't dating? Not really, no.
16. do you regret anything that you have done with the opposite sex (includes kissing!)? If so what and why? I do regret my first kiss. It was extremely sloppy and icky. That guy was a terrible kisser...
17. have you ever cheated on someone? No.
18. do you think it's important to love someone before having sex with them? Yes. As I said somewhere up there, I believe sex is the ultimate expression of love, not lust, so if you don't love someone, you shouldn't express love to them...
19. what do you think love is? True love is wanting to be with that person for the rest of your life.
20. ever gotten caught? if so what were you doing? Haha...kind of. His mom walked in when I was kind of half laying on him (fully clothed), and she was just like "Hi! How're you?" It was awesome.
21. where's the craziest place you've had sex? Oh wow. Um...Probably a park *cough*
22. what is your greatest fantasy? Wouldn't you like to know? ;) Nah, it's all girly romantic stuff like candlelight dinner followed by romantic stuff...
24. what are your most desireable traits in the opposite sex? I like my guys to have nice arms. If they can make me feel safe when they hug me, they get extra points. Only one guy's been able to do that and I'm still with him. They've gotta have expressive eyes, and a nice smile. Above all, they have to respect me.
25. any other information you'd like to share? People rush into things too much nowadays. I think everyone should take everything slow and relaxed. There's no need to rush anything. Especially young'uns. Y'all are in your teens. Don't be running to have sex, fall in love, and get married (in no particular order). Chances are you'll meet someone else years later and that relationship that you thought was so "amazing" will seem like crap. Love is great, but it's definitely worth waiting for.

Do whatever feels right. Soap each other up, let him wash your hair, make a mohawk with his hair out of shampoo...just play around. You don't HAVE to have sex and make out, though you can do that if you want.
Go with the flow. It's kinda fun playing with soapsuds, especially if you have a loofah thinggy. For one thing, they're funny looking, and for another thing, they make a LOT of suds. You can also tease him while in the shower - let him wash but not touch, or let him watch but not touch - and do "those" things OUT of the shower, where there's no risk of slipping and hurting yourself. (That's something I'd end up doing, by the way, that's why I mentioned it)
Also, him seeing your body and you seeing his may make up for making out, and you may not actually want to/need to in there, 'specially if you use soap...lemme tell you, it doesn't taste good. Lol.
But really, just do whatever you want. Play with soap. BUBBLES!!! Lol...
Hope this gives you a few ideas!
-Siren =)

The person you need to talk to about this is your girlfriend. If she really cares for you and cares ABOUT you, she won't hold you back.
My boyfriend and I are an extremely close couple - we've never broken up, and he's in Florida for college while I'm in Michigan. I told him to go because I care about him and I wouldn't want him to be unhappy in school just so he could be near me.
An hour is NOT that far away. You can still go see each other every weekend and you can switch off. Like, one weekend you'll go to her, and one weekend she can come see you.
There are ways to make relationships work even if you're not going to school together. At least you wouldn't be in separate states.
That's my view on the distance thing (if you can even call an hour a long distance issue.)
As far as jeapordizing things, you've got to talk to your girl. Explain to her that you feel like part of yourself is missing, and that you want to play college basketball.
She should understand. If she tries to hold you back, she's not worth it. If she tries to stop you from being you, something's wrong.
You'd be surprised how lenient girls can be. I was really upset when my boy decided he wanted to go away, but then he told me more about the school, and I said "You're going. It's a good career move," even when he wasn't sure about it. I told him to go because I want him to be happy. There's plenty of time for us to be physically together later.
Don't think about it as leaving her - you're just going on an extended vacation. (That's what my boy always says.)
Think about what you really want, and then tell your girlfriend what's going through your head. She's gotta know what you're thinking. Talk to her first, and then talk to your coach.
I hope this helps!
-Siren =)

I'm a laid-back 26 year old with a Psychology BA, starting my MA program, and working my way into the field as quickly as I can. It took me an extra Bachelor's degree (in vocal performance and creative writing) to figure it out, but I was put on this Earth to help, to heal, and to love.

I have made the decision to dedicate my life and career to helping others. I am here to do just that.

I've been a member since 2004, and since I signed up, I've gone through quite a lot and learned quite a lot from it. I'm here to give guidance where I had none; no one should have to go through the difficulties I went through alone.

Feel free to visit my website/blog, if you want to read my experience with domestic violence and my thoughts on it.

***While I do tend to answer mental health and other health-related or medicine-related questions, I am by NO MEANS a licensed physician or practitioner of any sort. Any and all advice I give for these questions is from my own experience or studies.***

If you need to get a hold of me quickly, my screen name on AIM is SirenCytherea. Just let me know you found me here.

I'm a strong believer in the idea that there are no stupid questions except the ones left unasked, so, please, keep an open mind, heart, and mouth.

Siren

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