How to be studious, Laura-style:

1) make a nice big mug of cappuccino. The foamier the milk in the espresso, the better.

2) bring out all necessary and most likely boring reading assignments and spread them out on the dining room table.

3) light a scented candle in the adjoining room for some ambience.

4) bring out one of Ashkenazy's Rachmaninoff recordings--make the volume on the stereo just loud enough so you can hear the quietest parts if you really listen.

5) try to enjoy what you hear, taste, and smell, while you drudge through what you see and hopefully comprehend. Highlight to make what you see more comprehendable.

Tada.

Thank you, <taking bow after bow, for having finished a disgusting number of pages of boring material on Monteverdi's Orfeo> Thank you very much.

And a good night to you all.