This week, I'm sharing Sarah Brightman and Michael Ball at Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th Birthday Bash performing one of my favorite songs from the musical hit, Phantom of the Opera. Love that magical kiss at the end -- so sweet!

Did you know that Sir Andrew wrote the part of Christine especially for Sarah Brightman who was his wife at the time?

Did you know that Phantom of the Opera is the longest running musical in Broadway history?


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Lyrics

It's a place to come on Friday's and think back over your week and just post about 5 favorite things from your week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy over the week. Favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, great internet finds, etc., etc. Go ahead and grab the button and make your own post. Be as detailed as you like, the more detail the more fun for those of us visiting. Susanne, the hostess, just asks that it be kept family friendly. Click here to play along with us.

1. I love African Violets, and my kitchen is filled with them. They're all in bloom at the moment and as much as I need to split this one into at least 3 additional pots, I couldn't stand the thought of killing the blooms. Transplanting can wait.


2. My obsession with The Phantom of the Opera was reborn this week. It may be driving everyone else around me bonkers, but I'm having a great time watching the movie several times a day.




3. Earlier in the week I mentioned that one of my cats, Camry, was in heat. I scheduled an appointment for her to be spayed on June 22. Wouldn't you know it that just when I get everything set with the vet's office, she goes back to normal! It doesn't really matter; she still needs to be spayed and besides, the next couple of weeks should be much more pleasant with her not in heat and chirping all over the house!

4. Because I wake up before the possums go to bed, I managed to see President Obama's speech in the Amazing Egyptian Dude's homeland in real time. I have to say that it was fantastic to hear the president of my country acknowledge my value to it as an educated Muslim woman who wears a scarf. Yep -- the times, they are a changin'!

5. A dear friend sent me the following in an email; it was the highlight of my entire week:




This little boy wanted to see if the President's hair felt like his. For some reason, it made me burst into tears. Perhaps I cried at the beautiful demonstration of a child's curiosity when he hasn't been "shushed." Maybe it was the thought that this young boy could see part of himself in the President of the United States for the very first time. More than likely, I cried at the humble way President Obama bent down to the boy's level and allowed him to feel his hair.

Patience is a quality that I have learned through the years. "Patience is a virtue," my mother used to tell me and my sisters, and it used to make me crazy as a kid. As an adult, however, I understand the wisdom in her frequent recitation of the old adage. Now I know that patience is definitely a virtue, but anticipation is a heck of a lot more fun! So what am I anticipating? Let me count the ways. . .

1. The Spring 2009 semester begins in about 10 days. I just checked the roster for each class and know that one class has 33 students and the other has 6. The anticipation and excitement that typically go hand in hand at the commencement of a new semester are now overshadowed by the anticipation and anguish over the staying power of the class with only 6 students enrolled.
2. I've been crazy about The Phantom of the Opera for ages but never had the opportunity to see it on stage. That will finally change on February 18th! Basma, who is also hooked on the show, will be turning 15 on February 17th and when I discovered that Phantom was playing in Los Angeles, I decided to make both of us happy on her birthday by getting us a pair of tickets to see Phantom! Talk about old adages -- how about "killing two birds with one stone"?! Of course I couldn't keep this a secret from her; what could be more fun than torturing the niece with the anticipation of a night on the town at the theater?
3. Inauguration Day is just two days away! The level of excitement and anticipation at my house has reached fever pitch. Thank goodness the ceremony takes place early in the morning because if it were in the afternoon, I'd have to cancel my appointment with the neurologist. Sorry Dr. S, but President Obama trumps you this time!
   

With so much to look forward to in the next few weeks, I think I need to remember that old saying about patience -- even if it will make me as crazy now as it did when I was a kid.