Singing with Dean Shay...

I am tired. And I can feel it from everyone. The sense of 'Why am I back doing all this work for two weeks just to go home again?". Erg, it makes it very difficult to consentrate. Also, the fact that I wore a tank top today and it is the last day of November is slightly disturbing. Are we looking at the end of the world?! And today, in Mozart class, I sang with the Dean. Yes, Brad was "ill" and "couldn't sing" and had to "save his voice" so he did not sing today (of course, I had heard him singing quite well an hour before that in a voice lesson...but whatever). So that was the situation. It was fine and he had a surprisingly good voice! And it was fun to sing Papagena's role:o). Well, I have to finish up some work and get some sleep...yawn! When is Christmas again?

Happy Turkey Day! Now, back to work!

I hope that you had a lovely holiday. I can say that mine has been awesome. Of course, traveling to Cleveland was a bit of an adventure. On the T, there were several rowdy teens that were hitting each other and boucing around swearing up a storm (with younger kids around to hear them) so, while I planned to take the silver line, I got off at the earliest stop and took my normal route instead just to avoid being around them any longer. There were TONS of people that were going to the airport, making the trains really full. But I got to the airport and on the plane (mostly full of students) without problems. I was in a window seat next to a guy that snored the whole flight and when I was doing Suduko he asked me why people did that game and engineers such as himself don't get what the attraction is. I just gave a polite smile and he left me alone for the rest of the flight. The good news was that my luggage was meeting me at the end of the trip, a feat that doesn't occur often for me (just ask...I have several stories to tell)!

We ate late since the oven turned off when the timer went off, something my brother and mother did not notice until an hour and a half after when I noticed the "bake" light wasn't on. That, and it was cooked upside down for half the time which pushed the thermometer in so it never popped out. But, the whole meal was a success taste wise and the Cowboys won!!(always a good thing.) I have been able to sleep and relax, cuddle with my cat, and to see a bunch of Evan which has been lovely. He even brought me flowers at the airport and a Chipolte burrito (to which he pointed out I grabbed for the burrito first). AND he bought me a Farrari Carano Chardonnay!!! I have been dying to try it, but it is kind of pricey. So, we shall open that sometime soon:o).

Looming in front of me is the prospect of coming back and having to grab the bull by the horns and finish up the semester strong. Oye! If you have any stories that you would like to share (a la my turkey story) let me know. Cheers!

OSU wins against Michigan 42-39...is there anything better?

I wouldn't be able to call myself a Buckeye fan if I did not mention yesterday's game. It was a beautiful thing. I went over to Rachael's where a few of us Ohioians congregated to watch and we weren't disappointed. A 42-39 victory secures OSU's spot as number one in the nation and a chance to play who ever winds up number two in the big bowl game. It was a wonderful game and I love being able to be around people that appreciate the OSU spirit in such an atmosphere as this.

And I am three days and counting to being back home in the Buckeye state for Thanksgiving and reunited with my fixed computer:o).

Work Ethic

When I have to answer the question "What is your strongest attribution" and "What is the weakest" I use the same answer. I have a high work ethic. I believe that I should take responsibility for what is in my care and in a way this causes problems because I get upset with myself when I don't do my best. This describes two things that happened this evening.

First, I was placed last in the concert program again tonight must to my dismay. Once again, I had this gurgly-cracking thing that happened at one point during the piece. After two hours of sitting, how would your singing voice sound? I have asked every voice teacher I have had the same question on how do you deal with these situations. But I never get a straight answer. (If you have a suggestion, I would LOVE to hear it!!!!) Of course, I got pissed at myself since I did not do my best and I didn't want to let down my group.

Second, I have never thought people could have such low work ethic. People showed up to the masters class in jeans. It would be like showing up to a performance that way or going to an opera with jeans (which you shouldn't do, by the way, even for a matinee). Also, people just left after they performed. Maybe I shouldn't have shown up for another hour then so I could have been nice and warmed up. Then, the clarinet player (a father by the way) double booked himself and, at 5:50, told the teacher he had to go by 6. So when the teacher told him to stay anyway, one of the people he was suppose to meet showed up. And, in the middle of coaching (other people, fortunately) she opens the door to the room and tells him he has to go to their rehearsal. They take it outside and he eventually leaves. So, one girl doesn't perform and at the end of the class I see her crying. The person leading the class was fine, but by the time we got to perform she had been worked out it seems. Beside the fact that our pianist did not show up for Mondays rehearsal again. Erg. By the time I stepped up to sing I was PISSED. And the teacher went over the time. It was not a wonderful experience and it was the most boring master class I have ever seen. Even when I had to sit through hours of it at Capital. I can't wait for Thanksgiving!

The whole experience just pissed me off. How can people be so rude?

Care for a drink?

The most flattering thing happened to me today. While working my really really really long shift, a cute guy that had come in before entered, recognized me and remembered my name. Somehow the conversation got around to the OSU vs. Michigan game that will be taking place next Saturday. I found out that he went to Michigan and we were joking about who was going to win. He sat down to drink his coffee and I had a long line of drinks to make. About fifteen minutes later he was leaving and I said "My condolences for the loss you will suffer next Saturday" to which he laughed. Then he asked if I would like to have a drink sometime. I blushed and said I was seeing someone, but thanks. And then I made another "have fun watching the game" comment as he left. I couldn't believe it! I was wearing a red shirt, not my most flattering color, no makeup, and my hair was falling out of the clip. Yet, I guess I still looked good. But, it would never work even if I was available. Being from "that state up north" would be too wide of a gap to breech!

Get well, get well soon we want you to get well...(a la Seinfeld...without the cake)

Today was not my day. First of all, I have gotten my period for the second week in a row. Second, today is my first day off since last Friday and I am so tired and my feet hurt so much it is unreal. Third, I have to memorize two French poems for tomorrow. Fourth, I missed an Audra McDonald concert. Fifth, I did not find a dress to wear for Sunday's coffee concert. Sixth, we ran out of dishwashing soap. Seventh, the shuttle to the T stop from Cambridgeside Gallery stops running at 6:20 p.m. and Ashley and I had to walk to Kendall square. Eighth, the cork broke in half when Eileen went to open it (my fault, since I put it in and she was trying to fix my work). Ninth, I cannot go online and email, blog or look at anything I normally do till Thanksgiving because...Tenth, my four month old iMac's hard drive just died. Yes, you are reading this correctly, my computer that I bought a mere four months ago, and did not back up, has gone to the doctors (a.k.a a repair shop) to get a new hard drive and I have lost ALL of my information. I was so upset at the store that I cried. The poor mac genius took it very well and Ashley was there to pat me on the back. So, my dear friends, I am afraid that this blog might get a little neglected till I get my dear friend back. And let my experience be a warning to you...BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Decision 2006/Democrats Take Over the World Day

It is very interesting living in such a democratic state. Today at work, for instance, people were VERY excited that "we won!". Now, while I have been around people that can get a bit fanatical about their party, these have been Republicans and they weren't THIS animated about it. And I feel like Americans have really stated how upset they are with the way this country has been run. If you know me, then you know that I tend to shift the conservative route. I wouldn't say I am a republican any more...but I am not a democrat either. Perhaps an independent? Though, I am hoping that the newly elected governor of Ohio, Strickland, will be better than Taft has been...but, really, how hard could that be? As one of my customers said to me today "Ohio is full of corrupt people." When I said "I'm not!" he simply responded "you're too young".

Even though I am out of my home state, I did vote absentee and I HOPE that you voted as well. It reminded me of the last big election in 2004 when I drove from C-bus to Cleveland just so I could vote and I drove back to C-bus early the next morning for classes. The power of having a voice lured me to do what I needed to do. It also reminded me of 2000 between Gore and Bush. At that time, I was in AP Government and our homework assignment was to come back the next morning with the election results. I remember being pro-Bush and Ben having his Gore sticker on his book cover. Of course, we could not answer the question when we came back the next morning...or the next...or the next I believe.

Unlike after that election, I hope that the results prove to do something better for this country. I hope that Ohio gets turned around. I hope that the war issue gets resolved. No matter what, at least we know that the next presidential election will be very interesting.

In the Barn, Milking the Cow/OH....IO!

I can't imagine a better Friday. First, I got to watch Yumi, Rachael and Bree (with Lindsay, Staci and Brian playing) sing Schumann's Frauenliebe und Leben. It was BEAUTIFUL! And as Jane was coaching them, I could only think "Why isn't she teaching our vocal seminar class!?". She is one of the most open people I know and she is so helpful and...wonderful! After this, we had art song repetorie and, since it was Brian's birthday, we had a cake for him. But we waited until Kai-Ching went to play for Yumi to have her play Happy Birthday while Lindsay walked out with the cake. It took FOREVER as Brian kept asking Yumi questions about the composer, the poet and the song. When Kai-Ching started playing the Debussy piece we were all confused. Then she used a glissando to go into Happy Birthday as the cake came out. It was AWESOME! I got to sing Debussy's "Clair de lune" (second version) and it actually went pretty well. Danny was great on the piano and I was happy with it. People said they could hear me on the lower portions when I definitely thought I couldn't. Yea!!! But the best part of the class was Brian making the huge boobs motions with his hands as we were translating a passage about large breasted women. Ha!

So, some of us went to Cafe Paradisio for dinner and then Jennifer, Brian, Rachael and I met up to play Euchre (us silly Ohioians and our Ohio game). It was SOOOOOO much fun! In the end, Rachael and I were victorious with the third game, the tie breaker. Between which we had a lot of "You're mama" comments, some musical theater blabbing, and coffee. What a nice Friday!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

For Halloween I decided to dress up as a cross between Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. You can decide how it turned out:). As I was walking around all day in my costume, I was incredibly depressed that I saw no one on my way to class dressed up! Where were all the freaky people that would use this occasion to really do it up right?! Ashley ended up coming over and we made a pasta dish a la Ashley, spinach, garlic toast and pumpkin muffins. Yum! We started The Shining and then Catherine came over and joined us.

This morning while I was at work, much of the Halloween stuff went on sale! I was excited that could buy the cute brown and orange monster mug that reminded me of the Cleveland Browns...but then, a lady that ordered a nasty breve latte (a latte with espresso and half & half) took ALL OF THEM!!! I was quite pissed off. Erg!!!!

I hope that you had a wonderful Halloween!!