Big Purchase

TADA! Sorry the picture is blurry...this is what I bought myself yesterday! Yippee! Now we can have movie nights here in style. I had to move around my living room furniture, so it's not as open of a space, but it's cozy, and it was provide a nice outlet for me when I just need to collapse on the couch after a really long day.
I haven't written in a while, as my schedule has been super crazy, and I've been just completely exhausted. How to summarize the past few days? Liz, Amanda, and I landed roles in the community show of Threepenny Opera--come see us in November! In the meanwhile, we've got rehearsals 7pm-10pm, Sunday-Thursday. Now that I'm doing that 15 hours a week, I wonder what I was doing to keep myself to busy before this!
My French project and two exams this week went well. I just need to make it through next week. Eek. My plans so far for this weekend include sleeping a lot, and relaxing, and studying. :)
I hate to not update you on everything else (whatever that may be, as I've forgotten due to sleep-deprivation), but I'm going to try to get some serious relaxing in, and maybe even 7 hours of sleep!
A domani~

if only it were

the view from my window:

Yeah. That would be nice.

So, since I'm dying for some sleep, here's the quick rundown:

Wake-up, run around the apt. like a headless chicken: 1 hour
walk to bus in morning cold: 10 minutes
bus ride: 7 minutes
listening to gibberish about PD (pre-dominant) chords: 1 hour 15 minutes
listening to music examples while my teacher contradicted herself: 30 minutes
walk to class (still cold. think picture above): 10 minutes
french class, most of which we did exercises that I spent an hour on in the language lab yesterday. Jeez: 50 minutes
walk back to library: 10 minutes
check email: 10 minutes
practice (and sound like poop, giving up): 25 minutes
bus to lunch: 10 minutes
lunch with Meredith, Susan, and Ry'n: 30 minutes
walk to school: 15 minutes
sit outside in the sun, studying for my listening exam: 1 hour
CVE: 1 hour, 3o minutes
bus home: 10 minutes
errands, homework, (no gym!), dinner, make listening list, study: 2.5 hours
drive to cantor rehearsal: 10 minutes
cantor rehearsal: 1 hour 15 minutes
(more driving...)
Threepenny Opera rehearsal: 1 hour
(more driving)
study: 1 hour 30 minutes
blogging: 20 minutes?
talking with dodidef: 1 hour?
SLEEP: not enough

Sleepy-time song for Ry'n:

ehem:


Wass my face an' bwuss my teef,
an' take my contacts oooouuut!
Swip underneaf da cubers,
an' turn da wight offfff!!! :)

sogni dolci~

Studying....maybe.

Today was a long day. I was home for approximately 30 minutes between 7:10am and now (almost 10pm). Ah, the life. So, other than classes and my standard daily activities, I will have quite a bit more studying to do these next two weeks. I don't know if I've failed to mention my list of stressors, but if so:

Over the next week and a half I will have:

SIX (6) Exams---three (3) of which are placement, & one (1) in each of my classes.
TWO (2) quizzes
ONE (1) class project

Tada. Not a fun list, if I say so myself.

So, tonight I went to the gym with Meredith, and then we went back to her place and studied over the preparation and consumption of a meal. I can't say I am all prepared for Wednesday's listening exam in history, but it's a start. Lowa will be spending quite a bit of quality time in the music library tomorrow, listening to all sorts of medieval motets/mass parts/madrigals, etc.

Just to point out: My adorable dog, Buttons, would obviously be ashamed of my studying-procrastination. As you can see here, she's quite the scholar... :)


On to other things, sorry I've missed a blog or two...it's been a crazy few days....but I think I'm back to normal (well, "normal" in the Lowa sense). I've had quite a few good conversations with my Dodidef, and it's been quite a blessing. Fanks, Do!

Well, my bed is looking awfully inviting, and if I hop into the covers and fall asleep instantaneously 3 minutes ago, I'll get 8 hours of sleep. Haha. I jest.
Sweet dreams to you all. Until the morrow---when I write my next blog, we'll be approaching mid-week...

Have your cakes and eat them too...

So today was one big birthday celebration. Adonis and I spent the day going from one little party adventure to another. We went to the Oliver winery and did some wine-tasting with almost every entering grad singer here at IU (Amanda couldn't come, sniff sniff). We each tried 6-8 different wines, and I came home with a really sweet mead wine, which at first is a little too honey tasting, but then really grows on you. My other purchase was this delicious port...Mmm. I'll have to save them for a special occasion.
Then a group of 12 of us followed the wine tasting with dinner at Olive Garden. Not the best Italian food ever, but the company was great. Happy early birthday to both Liz and Stephanie!
Then Adonis and I jetted back to my place to pick up the cakes we made for Susan's party. The theme was sorta "bring a cake", and as you can see, a lot of us did! I made the chocolate and cream cheese cupcakes you see in the back right of the picture, and Adonis made the Strawberry Angelfood Cake, on the right side of the table. Both of our dishes were a success--tada! Happy early birthday Susan!!!
Adonis and I were both pretty tired from the day, and since Adonis signed up for the 8:30am mass tomorrow (well, he was asked to cantor as the signed-up cantor couldn't make it) we're both going to get up at the crack of dawn to sing tomorrow morning! We were the first to leave Susan's party, which was sad, but I am truly exhausted, so it's a good thing...

A domani (and sorry about not blogging last night)...

PS-so, as I type this, my sumo wrestler/football star upstairs neighbors are walking around. Our shared ceiling/floor is undeniably squeaky. I don't know when then sleep. I do know that they were moving around last night when I got to bed around 4am, and woke me up around 10am. They're up now, and I bet they might be up tomorrow morning before I get up at 6am. I've deduced that they sleep when I'm at class from 7am-4pm. Maybe even when I go to the gym. Obviously they don't sleep when I'm home. Jeez. I know they don't squeak the floor on purpose, but I don't know what they're doing up there to cause such a ruckus.

Jazz @ Bears

Back room @ Bear's

Above are some of the jazz faulty here @ IU (couldn't get the picture working right in this blog, so they're seperate. Sorry!). Tonight was the 78th Birthday tribute to John Coltrane. Kaia and Cassandra had the awesome idea of going out to Bear's to hear the gig, and Meredith, Adonis, and I tagged along. I think it may become a Thursday thing. Next Thursday, Sept. 30th, Rachel Caswell will be performing jazz vocals with a back up of guitar, bass, drums, trombone, and trumpet. Should be awesome. Maybe next week someone else can be the designated driver so I can try one of Bear's Thursday night specials. Yum Yum.

So here's a list of all the fun (non-academic) things I've done here so far in 1 month and 1 day:

Gone dancing at a club
Gone drinking at a bar
Heard live jazz
Eaten dinner out with friends
Gone to a movie
Lots of house parties
Car ride sing-alongs
Late night conversations

That's what I've come up with for now. That's excluding more daily acitivites such as blogging (haha), working out, auditioning, etc.

Well, I'm signing off for now. This is the second time I've had to write all of this, because my computer went blitzy when I tried to submit it the first time...grr!

A domani, sogni dolci (yes, Italian again, just for you, Andrew. haha)~

It's just a Rat Race!!!

Here are Andrew & Ryan, my first two guests for movie night. They are, um, making "west side" hand signals, which doesn't really make any sense...so I'll just say they're signaling my home quadrant of Manhattan. Yeah, that's right. Just 'Drew and Ry'n with their spiky hair, chillin' on the couch. Haha.

So, Rat Race was a success. Too much so in fact, because all people that came (the men above, and Susan and Kaia) all stayed until the end of the movie, which they all said they couldn't do because they have work to finish tonight. Sorry, guys! Hope that you get a good night's rest and staying up a little bit longer was worth it!

My day went well---it's my shortest day (other than Fri.) which makes it instantly better than Mondays and Tuesdays (not to mention it's closer to the weekend. I was sad because I had to go to Copper Cup alone...Adonis is not feeling well today :( ---but hopefully he got rest, and feels a lot better! I did get to speak to Vassiliki, who is in CVE with me, and she's really sweet. I'm glad we were able to talk. Hopefully we can catch up more as the semester progresses.

Our French project got a big thumbs up from Prof. Trotter (don't forget to pronounce those French guttural R's!!!) and so we're good to go for next week. I also found an article in the IU paper about a new Creole/Cajun restaurant in town, that's got entrees for either $5 or $6. Makes me think I can just buy the food, and it may be cheaper, as well as less time consuming, and safer for those in class who will be eating it! Any suggestions on it? Shall I try to find crawfish and make a crawfish pie (that would certainly lead to interesting blog pictures), try to make a simple gumbo (without making a roux...that wouldn't work too well, I'm sure) or just go to this new place, and pick up a few dishes? Hmmm...

Anyhow, lots of good practicing happened today, and also a pretty great work-out. I'm starting to get myself in shape. Yay! I was able to do 35 minutes of mixed cardio (cycling, and the dreaded elliptical machine thingee, which I normally hate!) and then did quite a bit of weight training. I have been leg pressing 140 extra lbs. on the bar, and I'm very proud. I even have to do it around muscley, intimidating jocks, but I make it through ok.

Sorry to bore you all with all these little Lowa daily things. I suppose that's why you read this, so maybe you're secretly pleased I share all this stuff with you, who knows.

So, I'm finally blogging my body goals. So far I've lost 4 lbs. in two weeks, and think I'm going about it pretty healthily. My goal is 1-2 lbs. per week, so by the time I get home for Thanksgiving, I'll be pre-summer weight. I need to lose 10-12 more pounds. Anyone that needs to work out, or have a healthy-eating partner, please let me know! I need all the support I can get!

Ok. Getting to bed before 11pm would be ideal. 7.5 hours of sleep sounds fantastic!

Sogni dolci~~

Dinnah...

Here we are, celebrating the end of another long day. I happily joined in for Mexican dinner considering I was too tired to cook. I took a 45 minute step class at the gym before dinner, and in this way, perfectly nixed any positive benefit working out may have had. I keep telling myself that I would have eaten this high-caloric meal anyway, so the working out only helped in the longrun.
Tomorrow should be a relatively short day, except for the movie night (don't forget, everyone! see note from earlier this week). I think maybe I'll take a nap before everyone comes over so I don't fall asleep at my own get-together. How typical of me...
So, I mentioned to my beautiful group of friends in the above picture that I might write part of this blog in "Lowa language"..so here goes...
Tomowwow is anover day of histowee cwass. Vewwy earwee---but wuckiwy aDoniS and I will gets some coffees at da coppah cups to re-tsuvinates us. I can't fink of muts to say wight now, and I fink dose peoples who is not used to heawing dis must be vewwy confus-ed. Hopes you made it frew.

Nighty Night, Lowa is too sleepy for more...

MONDAY.

Oh praise the source of all Monday & Wednesday energy...
Yes, be in awe of the place of early morning jumpstarts. Adonis and I surely enjoy our morning jolt...meet us every Monday and Wednesday @ 9am as we chat about the odds and ends of life.

Yes, this was a loooong Monday. It started at 7:15am when I walked out my door, and the work ended after studio class, approximately 12 hours later. Phew. Good day, though. More on that later. I better load up on some Zzzzzzz for tomorrow (a copper cupless day).

My last Tuesday's notes from Theory:

" . neighboring . sleeping . drawing . blahblahblahblahblah . SlikeTwiSaBug . SlikeLowaTwiSaBug . dix-sept minutes . falling basso . IVI6=I . Ice Cream . chordal heiarchy . MessIAh . Help . IIV6I6=soft (no leading tone) . the last song, and the very last . IV6 . VIV6V ."

Tada. My education dollars at work. Can't wait until tomorrow, 8am...
Happy Tuesday to all....

ps-don't forget, movie night at my place this Wednesday, 8pm! We're watching Rat Race, one of my favorite comedies. I've got some popcorn, but since I have no idea how many people are coming over, bring what you like. See you then.

Weekend Weather and Procrastination

(in the voice of our very own Squidward Tentacles):

Ahhhh, what a beautiful weekend....

Yes, this weekend's weather was gorgeous. Ideal, actually. I am proud that I got up for an earlier mass today--mother nature was too generous with her sun and wind and cooler temperatures to stay asleep until noon.

Church choir this morning was really enjoyable--I met a lot of nice new people, and feel like I belong, unlike my last choir, which I loved, but never really felt like I completely fit in. All of the members had been members for so long, and I was just there for a year. Anyhow, that's another story. Let's return to Indiana for more IU-stuff. Yes, choir here was great. Adonis and I were the only singers that were graduate students (more of an older group at the earlier masses) but there is this couple, Patty and Chuck, who are the nicest people. I really would like to get to know them better---I would love to invite them over for dinner, but I somehow don't feel like that would work...I don't know. Grad student pad, two adults who are more successful at life...but you never know. There is just something special about them. We'll see...

So, Adonis and I met up with Susan after church, and we all ate brunch at her place. That was really relaxing and we all ate well. Thanks, Susan!!! Adonis and I then went to visit Ryan, spinning at TIS. We sat with him while he ate lunch, and then left him to finish his afternoon gig.

I've thus far finished my theory homework and have procrastinated working on my French project, as well as procrastinated practicing that piece I need to memorize for tomorrow. I'll happen. Eeek. Revert back to the picture of Squidward above to see what I'd really like to be doing right now...

And yes, those of you who don't already know (that might be non of you who actually take the time to read this)--I'm a huge fan of Spongebob Squarepants. I even wrote a children's opera on it (well, I didn't write the music, but I wrote the script). I'm a big dork, but I love it anyway. Anyone up for reverting back to your childhood (some of us have never given it up), let me know. I own the whole first season of Spongebob on DVD. :)

Ok. I really should be doing something productive. A domani (A' Demain) [until tomorrow]~

Embarrassing Moment of the Day: in church when we were giving the sign of peace (shaking hands with everyone) I turned backwards to give Adonis a hug. He was further away than I had anticipated, and I almost fell backwards. To catch myself I went to grab the back of my chair, but I didn't look to see where I was grabbing. I attempted about three times to steady myself, not realizing that my grabbing area was a little too far behind the chair...right where an older gentleman of the choir was standing. Needless to say, I was so embarrassed I started sweating. Note to self: NOT a good first impression to try to steady myself against a stranger's crotch three times in a row.

Butterfly and 3 course dinners

I thought I'd include a picture of my last production, Madame Butterfly. This is Tricia and Derek, posing for a rather bizarre and kind funny picture (you had to be there). It was a blast putting on all that make-up, and getting the kimonos ready. We as the ensemble weren't on stage for more than 30 minutes, but it was worth it anyway.


Talking about operas, let's put up that list already! We here at IU have been waiting for over 2 weeks for the result of the opera auditions. I think the overall consensus is that we just want to find out, we don't care if we're cast! Haha.
Sorry I did not blog last night...Ryan, Adonis, and I made a 3 course dinner (cheese and wine, greek salad, pasta carbonara, homemade garlic bread and tomatoes, and greek chicken). It was delicious! The wine hit us all pretty hard, though, and we talked for about an hour, and then we all went straight home to bed (well, at least I went pretty much straight to bed).
Today was a sleep catch-up, and it was fabulous. I was able to get about 9.5 hours, to make up for the average of 5.5 hours I've been getting every night this week. Other than sleeping, I just need to do laundry, and practice. I'm taking today to relax and prep for the coming week.
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!!

Woohoo! I finally finished my Girbles Project!!! Hopefully Trish and Rachel will receive this by next Friday!!! :)

And It's Officially Almost The Weekend.

My longest day of the week is over, and I feel gooooood. Oh yeah, I made it through the week. For some reason this grouping of 5 days (well, counting tomorrow) has been the most grueling. I hope it's not a sign of things to come...

Today I was home for all of 5 minutes inbetween 7:10am and 10:40pm. Theory (yawn) French (oohlala), meeting with my accompanist (La, and more La) a quick lunch at Bloomington Bagels, a lesson, and CVE.

Then Adonis, Amanda, and I went went to the College Mall here. I was in hot pursuit of some amazing posters. Needless to say, my bedroom walls are still blank. I did, however, manage to purchase (for only $10) on of my favorite comedies on DVD--Rat Race. The cast is pretty stellar, and it's got me laughing for the whole movie. I'll have to have a movie night here sometime soon to baptize my new purchase.

Talking about baptizing (well, it's in the same category), Adonis and I went to this church music ministry dinner thingee tonight at the St. Paul's rectory, and it was great. We met a lot of really nice people, some music majors, some not, saw a beautiful house (where the priest lives) and had some really yummy food. All in all, a good night. Then we headed over to Meredith's for some relaxing chat time. There we met up with Ryan, and the 4 of us sat on her super comfy couches and checked out pictures and such.

and here we are. (I often find myself refering to myself as "we". We don't know why.) It's almost midnight, and I've got an 8am class tomorrow. Lucky for me, that's the extent of my day. Then it's weekend, here I come.

So, I met a nice new creature today, and he sat eating lunch with me while I did my homework before my ensemble class. We sat outside on a stone wall near the music buildings, just hanging out. He's really quite cute, and I hope to see him more often. Je vous presente mon ami (I introduce to you my friend):

My new, cute, adorable friend:

He told me that we should all go to Bloomington Bagels for lunch, but not to get the egg salad. We agreed that the egg salad wasn't really tasty...but mon ami really happens to like the asiago bagel (toasted, of course) with artichoke gouda cream cheese. Great minds think alike, obviously, because that's what I had for lunch today too...

Yes, this picture is of flowers and of my dining room, but also my first homemade dessert in the apartment! TADA!

Mini-Sugar cookies!!!!
Yes, I can hear everyone knocking down my door as I type. Haha.

I hope everyone out there had a good day today (if not, come over, I'll feed you cookies and coffee). Today was much better than yesterday--it really was Wednesday!

After history, Adonis and I went to the Copper Cup [surprise, surprise. :) I'm loving the ritual...gives me stimulating conversation after a boring start to the day]. I had a much better practice session today, and a good meeting with my accompanist. I am finally singing my dream aria, Caro Nome, and was feeling very unworthy of it and quite nervous. I'm finally singing it singing it. Not singing it in the shower, or screaming it with my friends while doing our dishes, or humming it for a week straight. I'm singing!!! Yippee! I am (obviously) excited, and feel better having run it through with my partner in musical crime, Kazuha. I'm missing Mista Dodidef Wee, my true musical partner in crime, who is hiding away in Manhattan, in his apartment on 225th street. Any singer in NY needing the most fabulous accompanist alive, let me know. He's the one (and he happens to be an amazing guy too. Ask him about the time he was Squidward, Gary, and Patrick all at once...not to mention the best Serpent ever, hahaha)
Ok, I am very giggly tonight. Must be all the sugar in my sugar cookies...

Thought of the day (keep in mind for reading week when all seems shot to hell):
Cookie Monster: (singing) "C is for cookie, it's good enough for me!!!"

TUESDAY.

Another [early] day...and for those of you who may have had the same sorry misconception I've had all day---it's TUESDAY. Not Wednesday. That means tomorrow is NOT Thursday, which means the next day isn't Friday. Yeah, we haven't even reached the middle of the week yet.
Luckily the day ended well, as Kaia and I watched a movie (horrible movie, but still a relaxing venture) and now I'm pretty much ready to end my day and it's only 9:30pm. Woohoo! I may get to sleep by 11pm. 8.5 hours later and I'll be visiting the Copper Cup for my morning jolt of java-yumminess.

Fact of the day: 10% of the population doesn't have the gene that can smell the flower Freesia

Song of the Day (well, week): Dream On, by Aerosmith. More well remembered from a night of Cafe Wha? craziness. Check them out @ http://www.cafewha.com/?

Missing my girbles from home:Twisha, Sliker and I at the infamous Cafe Wha? 

Creole vs. Cajun

Anyone know anything about French influence on Lousiana cooking? Countdown to project due date: 2 weeks, 2 days, 3 hours and 2 minutes.

The joy of blogging is everywhere

Alas, I too have decided that this is a good way to communicate my daily Bloomington life to those who live someplace much more exciting. No, I'm having a great time in Indiana--I'm not bored of small town life yet, which is very exciting.
Today was a very busy but very satisfying day. I believe I pretty much aced the history listening exam thanks to the help of the lovely Meredith Taylor, who knew the pieces backwards and forwards last night, which helped my studying ten-fold (anyone that wants to hear a sequence from the solemn mass for Easter day, or Psalm 109 from Office of 2nd Vespers of the Nativity of our Lord should merely ask, and it will be granted to you. Yes, I am a dork). French class was French class, which is generally pretty good (stop smirking at me). Tomorrow we have an exam, which Adonis helped me study for while we worked out at the gym. That enabled us to allez au bowling (um, yeah, I've taken French for only 2 weeks) for Scott's 22nd birthday. Yay! I bowled a 78 in my second game, which placed me last, but still 38 points better than my first score. It was all that karaoke that got me going...
Anyhow, it was a fun night, and I should have been sleeping hours ago. Check the picture of the week to see why...

I'm in class at what time?!