Ups and Downs
It's been a while since I've written. Probably the biggest news is that Fred and I have been busy in the last couple of weeks looking for houses in Minneapolis. We've seen 14 places so far, but only one with any serious potential. As our realtor says, "You'll find the right place. What's on the market now just sucks." We'll be looking at 8 more tomorrow morning, and he has a "feeling" about one of them. So we'll see.
Then there's the La Boheme. I've been doing all the rehearsals because the other Schaunard was having health problems, and David couldn't find a replacement. As of today, Joel's back in, so I'm off he hook. That leave me with actual time to work and practice.
On a brighter, cheerier note, I'm doing the titles for Boheme! Usually David does it, but I thought it's something I'm more than capable of doing, and it would certainly help him out with his time. It's great for my CV (which I need to put together so I can start applying for teaching gigs), it's a challenge, it's something I'm excited about and would enjoy, and it's a way for me not to get totally bored with the project (Usually, David handwrites the titles and his assistant types them. Not so much fun.)
Things are good on the friends front. Last Friday, Fred and I met Jeremy, Tam, and Eric for dinner, then went to their place and played games. They gave me a late Christmas gift -- "Snorta" -- a silly game combining barn animals with a card game. We also played "Wise and Unwise" -- which I asked for for Christmas but didn't get because it's HELLA expensive -- and had a BLAST! Fred started laughing uncontrollably at one point, which just made all the rest of us lose it. I don't think I've EVER seen him get so silly.
I remember asking recently what it is that I would ask for from my friends, would I need from my friends. Sometimes, it's a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to bend. Sometimes, it's just being in their presence and achieving a sense of normalcy. That's what the time with Jeremy and Tam was all about for me. And it was wonderful.
Tomorrow, we're having a new friend from the U over -- Kristin. She's a soprano in my studio, and just an incredibly kind and sweet person. She's one of the people I decided I must get to know better. Then, Jenn comes into town on Friday evening, and we'll hang out on Saturday.
Still haven't made phone calls yet. I can't wait to get a house so I can use my cell AT HOME.
I've still been up and down emotionally. Yesterday was really rough for some reason, but this morning I had "cat therapy." I know someone whose pet is classified as a service animal to help with depression. There's something to that -- they DO help! In any case, Timonium demands attention at almost 9:30 exactly every morning, and this morning was no different. So, I sat in my comfy chair in my bedroom and did Sudoku while he purred away in my lap. I was about to move on the other things when Dante made his presence known, and replaced Timonium in my lap. So I did another Sudoku. I still got my prep done for my class after that, but I was driving pretty fast to get to school on time!
Still haven't heard from Utah or Des Moines. That's neither good nor bad. The only other time I didn't hear right away was when I auditioned for Opera North two years ago. I made their alternate list, so it was May before I got the "thanks but no thanks" letter. So, I'm still on pins and needles about that. I'd love to do either of those programs.
I need to mail my application to NYIOP so I can sing for the German houses. That's tomorrow's project. Fortunately, I found some of my materials today that had gone missing, so I can put a CD together to submit with my application -- maybe.
Other goals for tomorrow: License Dante, get groceries for dinner, get a spray bottle (Timonium has taken to knocking the garbage cans over), edit and burn CD's of the oratorio, and straigten up the apartment.
Got Mom's Christmas letter today. It was fun looking at all the pictures of me in my various costumes :-) Being the only child doing something that's moderately interesting, I get some major coverage in their annual missive.
It was a great day for choral music. I used Z. Randall Stroop's How Can I Keep from Singing in class this morning. From the same CD also listened to his Sure on this Shining Night, which was just sublime. The music for choir tonight was also beautiful. Stephen Paulus' Pilgrim Hymn, Don Krubsack's Psalm 16 and "Agnus Dei" from Faure's Requiem -- all for the funeral of a choir member's husband on Saturday. Also, "Gloria" from Mozart's Coronation Mass, There is a Balm in Gilead (one of my dad's favorite choral pieces), Randall Thompson's Alleluia, a Bach "Alleluia" (Don't ask the BWV number. I've sung it, but can't remember when. You know you've been singing a long time when you remember a piece and think "I've performed this piece before. But where?"). Rene Clausen's Set me as a Seal. And a new Salve Regina by Childs -- beautiful. On the way home, I listened to a CD of the St. Olaf Choir, and was extremely moved by the Grechianinov Our Father, not so much because of the music but because of the overtones that were flying about!!! The choir sang so well in tune, that a high Bb (or so -- don't have perfect pitch) was present several times. WOW! So cool to hear that "ghostly" sound -- no one's singing it, but it's there, just as if someone were. I got chills.
Well, there are a couple of episodes of "Lost" that I want to watch before bed, so I'll leave off here. Good night, world!
Then there's the La Boheme. I've been doing all the rehearsals because the other Schaunard was having health problems, and David couldn't find a replacement. As of today, Joel's back in, so I'm off he hook. That leave me with actual time to work and practice.
On a brighter, cheerier note, I'm doing the titles for Boheme! Usually David does it, but I thought it's something I'm more than capable of doing, and it would certainly help him out with his time. It's great for my CV (which I need to put together so I can start applying for teaching gigs), it's a challenge, it's something I'm excited about and would enjoy, and it's a way for me not to get totally bored with the project (Usually, David handwrites the titles and his assistant types them. Not so much fun.)
Things are good on the friends front. Last Friday, Fred and I met Jeremy, Tam, and Eric for dinner, then went to their place and played games. They gave me a late Christmas gift -- "Snorta" -- a silly game combining barn animals with a card game. We also played "Wise and Unwise" -- which I asked for for Christmas but didn't get because it's HELLA expensive -- and had a BLAST! Fred started laughing uncontrollably at one point, which just made all the rest of us lose it. I don't think I've EVER seen him get so silly.
I remember asking recently what it is that I would ask for from my friends, would I need from my friends. Sometimes, it's a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to bend. Sometimes, it's just being in their presence and achieving a sense of normalcy. That's what the time with Jeremy and Tam was all about for me. And it was wonderful.
Tomorrow, we're having a new friend from the U over -- Kristin. She's a soprano in my studio, and just an incredibly kind and sweet person. She's one of the people I decided I must get to know better. Then, Jenn comes into town on Friday evening, and we'll hang out on Saturday.
Still haven't made phone calls yet. I can't wait to get a house so I can use my cell AT HOME.
I've still been up and down emotionally. Yesterday was really rough for some reason, but this morning I had "cat therapy." I know someone whose pet is classified as a service animal to help with depression. There's something to that -- they DO help! In any case, Timonium demands attention at almost 9:30 exactly every morning, and this morning was no different. So, I sat in my comfy chair in my bedroom and did Sudoku while he purred away in my lap. I was about to move on the other things when Dante made his presence known, and replaced Timonium in my lap. So I did another Sudoku. I still got my prep done for my class after that, but I was driving pretty fast to get to school on time!
Still haven't heard from Utah or Des Moines. That's neither good nor bad. The only other time I didn't hear right away was when I auditioned for Opera North two years ago. I made their alternate list, so it was May before I got the "thanks but no thanks" letter. So, I'm still on pins and needles about that. I'd love to do either of those programs.
I need to mail my application to NYIOP so I can sing for the German houses. That's tomorrow's project. Fortunately, I found some of my materials today that had gone missing, so I can put a CD together to submit with my application -- maybe.
Other goals for tomorrow: License Dante, get groceries for dinner, get a spray bottle (Timonium has taken to knocking the garbage cans over), edit and burn CD's of the oratorio, and straigten up the apartment.
Got Mom's Christmas letter today. It was fun looking at all the pictures of me in my various costumes :-) Being the only child doing something that's moderately interesting, I get some major coverage in their annual missive.
It was a great day for choral music. I used Z. Randall Stroop's How Can I Keep from Singing in class this morning. From the same CD also listened to his Sure on this Shining Night, which was just sublime. The music for choir tonight was also beautiful. Stephen Paulus' Pilgrim Hymn, Don Krubsack's Psalm 16 and "Agnus Dei" from Faure's Requiem -- all for the funeral of a choir member's husband on Saturday. Also, "Gloria" from Mozart's Coronation Mass, There is a Balm in Gilead (one of my dad's favorite choral pieces), Randall Thompson's Alleluia, a Bach "Alleluia" (Don't ask the BWV number. I've sung it, but can't remember when. You know you've been singing a long time when you remember a piece and think "I've performed this piece before. But where?"). Rene Clausen's Set me as a Seal. And a new Salve Regina by Childs -- beautiful. On the way home, I listened to a CD of the St. Olaf Choir, and was extremely moved by the Grechianinov Our Father, not so much because of the music but because of the overtones that were flying about!!! The choir sang so well in tune, that a high Bb (or so -- don't have perfect pitch) was present several times. WOW! So cool to hear that "ghostly" sound -- no one's singing it, but it's there, just as if someone were. I got chills.
Well, there are a couple of episodes of "Lost" that I want to watch before bed, so I'll leave off here. Good night, world!