The Adventures of Lowa

Iceland Bloomington

2007-02-14T08:06:00.000-05:00

Alas, things worked out for me this morning. I planned a little singing gig at Meadowood to serenade the residents with standard love songs from movies and musicals. This would require me to skip out of my 1 audited class and then choir. Alas, due to icy roads, school has been canceled until 12 noon, so I am free to go to Meadowood and not rush. Let's just hope I get there and get back in 1 piece. Haha....eeek.

I've been feeling the stress of mid-semester worries recently. Luckily I made a list yesterday and was able to get a lot of the things crossed off. Also I proved more prepared than I thought for a project of mine, so that's also a relief.

Upcoming events:

March 1--Don Freund's Romeo and Juliet. Daniel Shirley and I are premiering the balcony scene. I'm really looking forward to putting this together.

March 4--choir concert at St. Thomas Lutheran

mid-April--premiere of Andrew Estel's Sea Gods, three songs for soprano and orchestra.

April 21st, 1pm--My recital. The first half is a representation of my cultural background--an Italian set, and then a Polish set. I've been working on the Polish, and it's been a challenge, but it's going well, I think. Then the second half of the recital will be mainly new compositions--one set from IU faculty and friends of faculty, and the other set newly composed by 5 colleagues of mine! YAY! I'm really looking forward to the new music that they create.

Fill in one or two possible competitions, an audition for another summer program, learning a role for role prep class, and you've got my semester. Oh, and 20 hours of work a week, and the fact that Andy and I are trying to plan a wedding.

So, you've all survived another list-blog. Sorry about that.

Strange to think what life will be like next year. Each year here at IU has been completely different, and now I'll be starting something completely new. It's been a great 3 years here, but I'm ready to move-on. Soon. Not to say that finding a nice and relatively cheap apartment in NYC is going to be easy (it's not), nor will be finding a job that will pay for all my needs, plus leave me time for practicing and auditioning. Sigh..."real life" will actually begin. :)

Good luck battling the elements! Might even be fun...

Too Many Sopranos

2007-01-31T07:13:00.001-05:00

In the middle of dress week, I'd like to announce that I've been having a great time with this opera (Too Many Sopranos) and if you find the idea of the stereotypical opera singer at all funny, you'll definitely enjoy this show.

The story begins in heaven, where a heavenly choir is being put together. Unfortunately, they can only take one soprano at a time, so four different sopranos who are there (a mezzo-soprano, a coloratura soprano, a dramatic soprano, and a soubrette) must audition for the spot. All four fighting for the spot, they all must descend to hell to try to do a self-less act and bring back some tenors and basses, as the heavenly choir doesn't have enough men, due to their sinful pasts. Then more sopranos will be able to be taken into the choir.

Act 2 the sopranos are in hell, and meet four tortured men--Enrico Carouser, an Un-named Bass, Nelson Deadly, a librettist, and Orson, a director. The sopranos are having a hard time doing a self-less act, and a messenger from Heaven "the Sandman" (who's got a bipolar personality) gives them a task to complete. If they do it, all will be well, and they can return to heaven.

So, that's the basic idea, and it's really funny. It's not the stuffy or boring opera experience that may torture some opera goers--so stop on by the MAC this (or next) weekend for this great composition, from our very own Edwin Penhorwood. It's a double bill with Busoni's Arlecchino, which runs an hour, and is on first. I'm on this Saturday and next Friday (Feb 3/9) if you want to see my in my bi-polar glory.

trying to get motivated...

2007-01-23T07:24:00.000-05:00

I'm a slug. Sloth. Lazy energy-less person.

This morning is the first morning of the semester I've managed to wake up at my old standard time (6:15) to be able to take a slow morning approach and get to school by 8am for my 2 hours of practice before class.

For some reason, I'm not dying at this moment, but perhaps that's because I've switched out my decaf for a lovely Large mug of regular. Tasty, tasty. Anyhow, perhaps also my longer days due to opera rehearsals have left me feeling more motivated and part of something. I think the busier I am the better I feel. It doesn't help, however, when I'm sort-of busy with things that aren't so fun, and then all I want to do is sit around.

Plus there's so much planning to do for just 6 months away, when my life will be completely different...in a great way, but also a scary one. My first time since age 2.5 that I won't have been in school for at least a few hours a week. The first time I'll be permanently living with someone other than family (but not for long!!!) in an apartment smaller than ~750 square feet. I fear that my lack of structure will lead me to a less constructive practice schedule--but considering Andy practices from 7-8am and then a few hours after work, I'm sure he'll keep me focused. We'll never see each other, but at least we'll be working and practicing and rehearsing! Haha. The joys of a young married life, not to mention the life of musicians for decades.

Anyhow, on a brighter note (with a twinge of jealousy) my mom's started her Aruban vacation this past Sunday, and while it snows here, she's got her feet deep in the sand, soaking in the sand and salt and swimming with all the gorgeous fish. Sigh. One more year, and I'll be there too!

Before I miss the bus, and dash my plan for a very productive morning, I best be off. If I don't write again until post-production, come check out the first opera of the New Year--Feb 2/3 and 9/10 (Adonis and I are in 3 and 9). My role is small, and my entrance is at the very last twenty minutes or so, but it's fun and definitely not the standard opera fare :)

2007-01-07T10:27:00.000-05:00

So this year though I've felt like I'm not 100% involved in anything (half at school, half at work, still in Bloomington, yet knowing I'll be leaving soon, etc.) important life markers are still keeping me on my guard:

Tomorrow I start my last semester of school. Ever. It took me long enough. Had I followed my original educational intentions, I'd be in my last year of med school (had I made it this far). I can't imagine it possible that I've learned as many things following this musical path, but I know that I'm following what I love and hope to make some kind of difference in the lives of others. I'll certainly have to be a lot harder-working at find jobs, and I know that despite the hard work and unbelievable intelligence and constant blood sweat and tears of doctors, at least they have a stable life and should be able to find a job provided they continue to care. I don't know how we artists continue to stay strong amidst the constant rejections. My friends and I are working on that, and so far we're still positive. I've gotta say, it would be lovely to be recognized for working so hard...

I just turned a quarter of a century. That's a pretty big mark, I guess. It's exciting to not know where I'll be in another 5 years, and then 5 years after that. Hell, I don't know where I'll be in 2 years. Life's been great, though, and I can't say I regret anything so far in 25 years. I figure that at the moment of all my decisions, I never thought that they were bad ones, so why regret them after the fact if you didn't at that moment? All life experiences make you stronger, if you know how to look at them.

I got engaged at the minute I hit that quarter of a century mark. This certainly is something I never thought would happen anytime soon. In fact, my close friends mock me about it, considering at every opportunity I would mention how appalled I was that people I knew under 40 years old were getting married. I suppose it's my just rewards, and I couldn't be happier. And the amazing thing is, it doesn't seem like a scary, horrendous and awful thing after all. It doesn't feel like a life-changing, (or shall I say life-chaining event--it just feels right. Who knew?

I guess I can't follow up with anything more shocking and incredible at the moment. So, for now, Happy 2007 to all. I hope that by this time 2008 we feel even more fulfilled, more focused towards our goals, and have taken every opportunity to grow into the people we want to become.

2006-12-03T22:14:00.000-05:00

So I've completely ignored this blog for months, and I know I'll continue to steadily ignore it, as I've also been away from AIM for the whole semester. I guess I'm just ready to phase out of the college life.

So much has happened since my last entry, and now that I've got a good bit of work to do to catch up after a long Thanksgiving break, it's probably not the time to recount it all. I did survive until the long awaited vacation, however, and took an extra week for part 1 of the audition rounds. In the end, I only ended up singing for 1 opera company while away, but I was planning on singing for up to 4 when I made the travel arrangements. The extra week of break flew by, and I know I did a lot of nothing. Now I'm back and have to cram in the week I missed, plus the current week and finals week into 4.5 days. It's not going to be pretty. Plus I just found out that my Italian final exam won't be ready by the time I leave, so I may have to take an incomplete for the course. Blah. Also, I missed an exam this past week, and have to retake it tomorrow (during the time I'm at work, somehow) and I don't even know what's on the exam. Though I know this course is not important in the overall scheme of things, it's annoying to know I missed all of these things, for a 7 minute audition.

I did, however, get reaquainted with NYC, and saw more of Andy, after another 5.5 week time apart. He had to work and rehearse a lot, which actually left us speaking almost less than we do over the phone long-distance..but even the one full day with him was enough for the trip. Sigh.

Well, I have to go write a paragraph or three on Dante's first canto of the Divine Comedy, and also do a little extra credit assignment or two to make up in advance all the things I'll mess up on the make-up exam. Bleech.

I need to start catching up with everyone next semester. I've been really hermity, I know. I'm just ready to move-on, and I get my practicing/classes/work done, and then want to stay home. Come January, I need to get out of my shell. Until then, I really do love returning to my very own apartment, and will be pleased to have some time alone for a few days..

L.

Full swing past summer

2006-09-28T08:08:00.000-04:00

Well, my last blog was right before classes started. To be honest, it doesn't feel very different now than my crazy summer days---but I seem to have more responsibility and less will to get everything done.

Two Gentlemen of Verona (despite a quasi-nasty review) went really well. I've never done 7 runs of a show before, and though 1 or 2 nights were a little sparse, it was a good experience, and I'm certainly glad I did it. I thought I'd be a major bomb, but it turns out that a lot of people really liked me, and the diretor gave me a lot of nice compliments. Growing up around a lot of pretty good actresses, I always felt untalented (acting-wise). Perhaps I've grown into it a little more and now have something to offer. Not that I'm going to give up the singing, but if other acting opportunities pop-up, I may not be as shy about it next time.

My classes are going well, and are pretty non-time consuming. Averaging one class a day (plus choir) is great. However, having work until 6pm most days doesn't help to keep me focused on my academics. So far Italian has been mostly review, and my Postural Alignment class has been very interesting. We'll have our first assignment due tuesday, and I hope I make the time to work on the body exercises everyday.

As for my singing, I'm at a weird place right now. I'm amidst some kind of allergy/cold or whatnot, and the singing feels strange. So that's pretty annoying. Add wasting a lot of pratice time ruffling through different (more obscure) Italian operas for a new aria, and practicing practially goes the wayside. Plus, my aria package is under my belt...why bother going over it ad nauseum at the lesson?-but of course I still need to practice it on my own. Part of me definitely wishes I didn't have this job right now, so I could focus in on everything.

As pretty much any grad-student vocalist could tell you--Young Artist applications are awful. It takes millemiums to fill them out, and then you have to take another 1000 years to figure out how to get to the auditions. Within a month it'll be close to Thanksgiving time, at which point I'll be living in NY all but 8 days until New Years. Sigh.

Opera casting should be finished (on the most part), and now we all just have to wait to find out the results. Bah. It's already been a month.

Ok, suppose this is long enough for now. Hopefully by next blog I'll have got my shtuff together so I'll be prepared and not as stressed about all those auditions.

2006-08-25T07:55:00.000-04:00

I have realized that I always expect new blogs from friends, yet never seem to update myself. Sorry!

Another month has gone by, and it's really been mostly the same. I've added Shakespeare rehearsals 5 nights/week, which although strange, have been mostly fun, and have certainly kept me scrounging for free time. Two Gentlemen of Verona goes up at the John Waldron Sept. 14th at 8pm, and runs for 7 shows. If you'd like to see it, maybe I can get a few comps :)

Work has been the same. 3 jobs will be reduced to 2 on Sunday evening, and then classes start Monday. I think I'm really in need of an honest to goodness vacation, and that's not coming until Thanksgiving (audition-laden season). Sigh. I'm so excited about Andy coming in one week--I'll have one and a half full days off. I told work that I just couldn't come in on Saturday, so then at least we'll have one whole day without time constraints.

Andy and I hit our 6 month mark just a week ago--unbelievable it's been only 6 months, particularly because we haven't seen each other much in the last 2 and a half months. It's a sign for what's to come over the next year. Bleech. At least we'll be together in just 1 more week....

Today should be an interesting day--working with Marion, then at Heritage for 7 hours. I managed to lose my office keys (I have NO idea where they are) and nobody has called them in, despite the $100 reward telephone number on them. That makes me feel like they're hiding in some nook in this apartment, having escaped my numerous energetic searches. Ah well. Supposedly my boss is going to have a chat with me today, which I won't talk about here, but it's not about the keys, and I certainly feel that the whole thing is ridiculous. Life certainly throws curve-balls at you, and despite the fact that you try to be the nicest, most patient, hard-working person, sometimes others just can't see it. Ah well. It's not really my problem. I can't let silliness concern me when there are so many other important things.

...like singing! Ms. Wise is back (YES!!!!) and Naomi and I had a double lesson on Wednesday. It was fantastic. Ms. Wise assured me that I have been singing correctly this whole summer, and this pesky ticklish throat is not a result of my poor singing but of some kind of allergy (which the Health Center confirmed just yesterday. Damn Bloomington allergens). Anyhow, my main problem now is that I need to understand the different styles better, and truly sing with character. I have realized with my Shakespeare work and with my singing that I am a very academic learner--I think with my head, not my heart. I need direction, and need to think about things logically. I make almost all my decisions based on fact and (as I just mentioned) logic. I know that I can be creative, but I don't think I am as emotional and creative in the way that most artists are. I know I have to work on this a lot, but am just not sure how to go about it.

Well, someone at Meadowood waits for me. A little Rachmaninoff listening and humming is probably on it's way...

2006-07-22T12:43:00.000-04:00

I sit here and type this from my saturday desk, around lunchtime. Things are great here because it's relatively quiet and the office is spacious and I am alone to revel in my afternoon. Almost doesn't feel like working, and I like it. Laura-quiet time (almost)!

Things have been going well. I was feeling overwhelmed there for a while, but a really great practicing session and the changing of my monthly wall calendar made me feel much better.

I saw the Devil Wears Prada last night. I think it was a really good film--particularly for my age group. The issue of career vs. personal life is such a huge concern for 20 and 30-somethings, and this movie addressed it in a way that kept me thinking. Adonis and I talked about that for a little after the movie, and worried if we would have stepped away from that personal-life threatening position, or if we would have stayed to help secure our future career goals. Hmm.

Well, I feel guilty typing from work, so I suppose I'll sign off for now. Extra warm-throughts to Suz and Rob and Katie and Naomi, wonderful friends and friends-of-friends who helped me move Suz's heavy sofa from her place to mine this morning in a matter of 15 minutes. Down 2 sets of stairs and up another. Extra props to Naomi and Rob, wonder-folk who managed it mainly on stregnth and good-will. I owe you. :)

more than knee deep into summer

2006-07-18T09:18:00.000-04:00

These weeks keep flying by. With approximately 2 days off each month, I feel like I never quite get a good amount of time to relax. Granted, a lot of evenings I'm done around 6 or 7pm, and can make dinner and read or whatnot, but without a full day off, it feels a little crazy around here.

Work is going well all around. I realize that there's no possible way I can keep it all up when school starts, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it. I'll have to start thinking because within a month I will have to have made a choice!

My practicing varies from really good to pretty unsuccessful. I have reason to believe I may be developing allergies (scratchiness in the back of my throat) and that does nothing to help my practicing. It seems to shorten the amount of time I can sing at once, and all I can say is that I hope it either goes away or at least I'll figure out how to fix it. I'm dying for some voice lessons so I can make sure I'm doing things correctly, but I still have almost a month until Ms. Wise gets back. In the meanwhile it's all work and practice, and saving money for future costly ventures (this career).

Tonight I start rehearsals for Two Gentlemen of Verona. I still do not know what the schedule for rehearsing will be, so that's just another thing to add on to my busy days. I've been cast as 3 different people, all men. It's like a reversal of how it used to be, with men playing women. Two of the roles are ok sized and one is just a tiny part. All in all, it'll be fine, though I don't have any idea how I'll pull off a man's voice. Plus, having played men probably won't help me much on my resume, or even for experience because all my opera characters are young women (or birds or bells or fire or something like that). I guess it'll just expand my horizons and hopefully help me to role-prep. We'll see....

Well, I'm off to spend some time with Marion. I really feel like I'm making some kind of difference in her quality of life, and that's really really rewarding. I certainly wouldn't mind just working with a few people at Meadowood, which would cut down my work hours and probably make me more money. Ah well.

Hope all is well for everyone that might read this. Probably not too many people, as I haven't been updating. Anyhow, if you do read this, yet haven't spoken to me in a while, please write or call. I'm so bad with keeping up...

And for those who have asked for pictures on the blog, here's one of just another graduation:

One month later...

2006-07-03T20:37:00.000-04:00

I've got 2.5 jobs
I am singing in choir for scholarship money
I've got no television
my boyfriend has left Bloomington permanently
I have discovered the joys of the library

So, as the list is in no particular order of importance, I'll attack it in random order too:

Though I'm not working more than a combined 40 hours a week, I have 2.5 jobs (plus choir, so it's like a total of 3 jobs). I was first hired by Home Instead, a company providing non-medical aid and companionship for the elderly. We help them so they can stay in their homes and try to stay independent. I did 2 or so weeks of 20-30hrs. a week, and then the hours starting getting smaller, as many of the incoming clients' health has been declining (or stopping all together, shall we say). I was then called by my apartment complex for an interview, which I took, and was subsequently hired a few nerve-racking days later. Turns out that the companionship job doesn't mind how inflexible my hours-available are now, so I work for them Thursday mornings and evenings (and perhaps an occasional other time) and work in the Heritage office 20 hours a week. Pepper the schedule with a normal 4.5 hours of choir a week (unfortunately in the middle of the day) and 4.5 hours of companionship for a lady at Meadowood, and that's my schedule.

Though it will have to be rearranged when the school year starts, it's really not bad. I'm upset that I don't have any long weekends until Sept., as I have to work Fridays and Saturdays at the office here, particularly in August (which is the busiest month) but as for a day off here and there, I don't really need it. I can get out all evenings but Thursdays, and have no cable to keep myself glued to the tv-screen for entertainment.

As for tv, I've discovered the joys of the public library over the summer--lots more movies available! They've got zillions of VHS, and quite a good selection of classic or older DVDs. You can take out an unlimited amount, and keep them for a week. I've been getting 5 each Monday, and it gives me something to watch when I'm getting ready for bed, or am bored. I've also been excited about reading any books I want, which is such an old concept, yet strange to our generation, I think, which loves Barnes and Noble and Borders and Amazon, etc. Not that I don't love those places, for certainly I do, but it's nice to be able to give a book a first shot, and not have to own it if it's something I can live without.

You know, I've been recalling last summer a lot, and living in San Fran with Anna and Naomi. The program we were in was ok, at least for the time being...But San Fran was amazing. I loved where we lived, and Adored the part of town where the program was--New Chinatown. Food was pretty cheap, and it was wonderful. Fresh sushi or dim sum all the time, and an incredible bakery and cafe, and used bookstore with bargain bins overflowing at $1-2 a book. I read like crazy, and Naomi and I exercised for 40 mins/night. I just cannot motivate myself to read as much and exercise living alone, and I don't know why. I suppose having this internet connection is a large part of the problem, though I can't bear the thought of not having it.

...Andy is officially gone for the summer, and I really don't know when I'll get to see him next. It was wonderful seeing him all the time this last month, and I certainly miss him being here. I feel badly about not having the time to visit him in Wisconsin for the entire summer---perhaps if I get a Monday off in August I'll be able to take 3 days for a short trip. Otherwise it'll be up to him to make it out here, which isn't really fair, but due to the circumstances, I guess the only way around it for now. I also really wanted to take a trip to L.A. to see Rachel, as I had promised not only her, by myself that I would. If I only have 2 days off in a row, it's not going to do me much good. I guess I'll see what I can do when I get my august work schedule.

...I've realized that there isn't much to do in Bloomington. Not that I didn't realize this before, but over the summer months people look at every night as a night to go out, and therefore I think realize how easy it is to end up doing the same old thing (which for me is making a good meal, and watching a movie, occasionally with a homemade dessert in hand by mid-flick). I enjoy this, but at times it gets boring. Then there's the bar scene, or going out for meals, but mainly eating out is always more expensive, and when you're getting something that's no better than what you can make at home, is it worth it?
...Even when I lived in NYC, when I was an RA and my social life was spending time with the other RAs, it didn't cross my mind that this responsibility cut-off my social life. There were always these friends just a floor or two away, and even on our free nights, we would do the same things we do here in IN, except for the fact that the scene was better in NYC (but we certainly paid for it, most of the time).

So, I'm rambling now, which although it's a month worth, is way too much for one entry. Until next time...

Graduated, vacationated, and now back in b-town for summer follies

2006-06-04T23:00:00.000-04:00

Being home for 3 weeks was relaxing, and I certainly got a lot of crafty projects in. I was suckered into the literary world of Christopher Paolini (a young pipsqueak homeschooled writer, who nevertheless I find enjoying to read). He's 2/3rds the way through this fantasy series about a dragon rider named Eragon, and it's half like Harry Potter, and half like Lord of the Rings. An easy read, and fun. I'm excited for the final book of the trilogy, though not biting my nails over it or anything.

I managed to cross stitch myself to oblivion while at home, and also clean out a few rooms of houses (not only mom's) and do a little elementary beading. Luckily Andy came to visit for a week and saved me from my lack of things to do.

We drove back to b-town over two days (tuesday and wednesday) to get me here for my orientation at my new job. I'll be working as a companion for the elderly, for a company called Home Instead Senior Care. Everyone has been really nice, and I'm really happy that I won't be stuck in an office all day, or doing retail work. I'm a little nervous for my actual first day (this tuesday) but I know it'll turn out great, and the hours are flexible enough where I'll still have time for other things (aka: school, when it starts up again in late August).

Being back in Bloomington has taken a little bit of readjusting to, but I'm happy in my apartment, which is quite less cluttered than home in Poughkeepsie. I marveled at all the empty space for the first whole day I was here--and those of you that know, I've got quite a lot of furniture and stuff-in-general.

My first night back I got to see Adonis after a VERY long time away, which was really great. We got chinese (from my new favorite take out place in b-town, which is really really yummy, in my opinion--Sunny Palace, near Kroger on College Mall) and movies, and just relaxed here. More fun together is on the way soon, I'm sure :)

Today I got back into the swing of hanging out with more of my friends--Emily and I went to Lake Monroe to tan and relax and talk on the beach (as beach as it gets for a land-locked state), and then I went to Suz' for dinner and drinks over lots of talk and pictures and scrubs episodes. It was an overall great day in which I got very little accomplished, persay, but felt busy the whole time, in a good way.

Alas, I have more crafts projects and a book to get to. Being alone in my apartment at night without tv is actually quite an odd thing. I've given it up for the summer months in hopes of reading more (like last summer in San Fran) and feeling more productive. In fact so far it just feels quiet and lonely. I guess being home with mom so long really keeps the ears adjusted to a higher volume of living, haha.

Overall, it's good to be back. Really.

2006-04-24T13:09:00.000-04:00

It is more than difficult to discuss all of the things that have occurred over the last few days.

My main thought is how much of an impact someone can have on your life, even someone with whom you only interacted for a short time. 5 wonderful people...young and supremely talented people, with large goals and larger hearts, have died, and the hole they have left in so many of us is immense.

You know, I feel that over the past few years, I have changed drastically in the face of death. Now that I've lost people close to me (Dad) I no longer feel that I am a good person to comfort others. When I was at the memorial service on Friday, I looked around at those crying, and felt that I didn't feel adequate to comfort those I don't know well. I felt guilty to be crying because so many around me had even closer links to those that died. This is pointless, I know, as grief is different for everyone, and I have the right to cry over strangers if I want...I felt so sad for those people who had these stronger bonds with Chris, Garth, Georgina, Robert, and Zach. That in itself was gut-wrenching. As a musician the fact that all of these students were really on their way to success...we all knew it...I just can't understand it at all, why people with such a clear path to their goals could be taken away before reaching them...

I do not want to write more about this, as I do not have the ability to phrase things as eloquently as I desire. You can find more information here.

...I managed to complete my recital this weekend, and stayed calm and collected thanks to the idea that I should try to bring as much beauty to the performance as possible, to pay tribute. Putting the importance of things into perspective, I think I did my best to share music I love with a receptive audience of family and friends.

These past few days, Mom, her friend Karen, and my dearest Rachel "Bug" from undergrad were here. They were so great, helping prepare for the recital and gathering at my apt. afterwards, as well as also keeping their distance a little when I needed space. They've just left, and instead of being able to enjoy my free time, I just feel empty.

Andy comes back home on Wednesday, and I know he'll make me feel better. We made a pact to play music for ourselves these weeks ahead, and to celebrate the music and not worry about what others have to say. I wish it could always be like that.

I am grateful for so many things, and hope that I have made some impact on the lives around me--even those people who I see 4 or 5 days a week but may not have ever really talked to. What would they take away with them about me if I were to die?

11 days and 1.5 hours until I find my sanity...

2006-04-12T12:54:00.000-04:00

If all goes as planned, I'll be the happiest Laura ever at 2:30pm on Sunday, April 23rd. This week and a half until then is looking particularly scary, though I should be ok.

The first Carmen went really well, and I've gotten some nice comments. I'm looking forward to the last production, though I haven't looked at it since because of all my recital-prep.

The next morning I sang my audition for the first few operas for next year. I also think that went very well, though I was pretty exhausted, having just been performing in the MAC not 12 hours before.

Mom was visiting the whole weekend, and we spent some good time together, as well as eating out with Adonis and Andy, and hanging out in general. I was able to catch up on some sleep as well, as I took my first nap of the year on Saturday afternoon.

This week is looking a lot crazier than I had expected--which I feel really bad about because my best friend Leanne is coming in today and staying until Sunday, and I am busy ALL day tomorrow. :( I hope she'll forgive my gross schedule.

Today at 4:30 I have my recital hearing, and then I pick up Leanne from the Union, then we go to the Meadowood retirement community and I do my mock recital. I know I am ready for these things today, but I don't feel like I have been singing well the past few weeks (other than Carmen and the audition, which luckily went really well) and it's probably due to the weather, which seems to be affecting about 80% of us singers. I don't know. I just want the faculty to believe I am a strong singer and have good technique and good musicality. I've been worried so much about technique, that I think my presentation has gone a little on the sideline. Grr. After this I've got a week and a half to really work on it, which is good. Particularly when I get my master comp exam out of the way this Saturday, do the last Carmen production, as well as finish off choir on Monday.

Also, I was chosen to be an alternate for a Dawn Upshaw masterclass next week. This is very exciting, as Ms. Upshaw is soo very famous and talented, and has a voice that's high and light like mine, and she enjoys more modern rep. Thing is, Kazuha isn't in town next week, and the masterclass is on Thursday. Unless someone gets sick, I won't get to sing, so there's all the preparation, without the possible benefit. Ah well. I'm going to work with another accompanist Kazuha found for me, and hopefully will be able to work at least one of the two pieces with Ms. Upshaw. Incredible!

So, that's my update for now. I'm really hoping on landing the role Zerlina in our fall production of Don Giovanni--but so are the 30 other sopranos that probably sang for it on Saturday. All in all, if I make it successfully through my recital and all things I've mentioned, I'll definitely have reason to celebrate! :)

2006-03-27T08:50:00.001-05:00

I officially changed my calendar, and it's prepped for all of the crazy and fun rehearsing and performing I have left for my master's degree. So many people are coming to visit me, I'm so excited! I hope that I can spend quality time with them and not stress out for the performances.

April 7th and 15th--Carmen. I'm playing Frasquita, her higher-voiced gypsy friend. It's a load of fun, and so far working with everyone has been fantastic. It's the most performed opera in the world, and so if you've never seen it, now's the time. It's at 8pm in the MAC.
If you are short of cash (read: a music student) come check us out at the dress rehearsals: Monday April 3rd and Wednesday April 5th. I think the dress rehearsals start at 7, but I could be wrong. You won't get the polished performance that you would for the production nights, but it's free and we still give 100%.

April 12--Mock recital at Meadowood, 6:30pm. I'm really excited about this because it gives me a chance to run most of my recital. It'll be held in the nursing area as opposed to the retirement area, and I'm really psyched about this. It's casual, and I can talk inbetween songs and interact with all of the people. This is what I really love. I'm not all about the super-fancy walk on and walk off, judge-me-please kind of recitals. This will give me an opportunity to experience the recital in a more relaxed way, and to truly feel like I am communicating and offering something to the people in the audience. I hope I can bring the experience to my real recital date to keep from being nervous.

April 23rd--Recital!, 1pm Ford Hall. I've picked lots of music that I love, and hope that it's an interesting program. I'm starting with a Carissimi small ensemble piece, and Kaia and Naomi are along for the ride. Then 3 Nin-Culmell sephardic songs, 3 Rachmaninoff, and "Songs of Another Autumn," a world premier of the full song cycle composed by Ralph Buxton. The pieces are really beautiful and eclectic, and the text (by once famous NYTimes reviewer and poet Louise Bogan) is incredible. The recital ends with 3 Barber choral pieces, performed by a group of 8 of us (Kaia, myself, Meghann, Sarah, Jason, Tim, Joe, and Jonathan). Tada! Please come support this fun recital. Plus, mom's making yummy food at my apartment afterwards, so come on over for post-recital goodness :)

Ok, off to start the pre-dress week madness!

Church

2006-03-19T13:17:00.001-05:00

I haven't been feeling very religious lately, yet today I went to church nearby. I realized the main things I have problems with when it comes to church services:

*I find many of the teachings old-fashioned and unappropriate in this day and age. Who can say that the exact teachings thousands of years ago can apply to the daily life of someone living in 2006? Also, those that try to change the wording to make it more applicable to the here and now--who says that these synonyms really mean the same thing? How many times have the wordings been changed, and how different it is now from what what was originally said?

*I don't believe that only my faith saves. I cannot believe that, because there are so many fantastic people that radiate the love of God in all that they do, yet do not share in all that my religion says. Is God really hoping they all become one faith? Plus, religion is such a deep rooted part of many cultures. Certain countries' beliefs and structures can certainly adhere more to one or a few religions, and of course in general the people will find more comfort in that faith that they have grown-up more closely to.

*In my experience, the people in Catholic congregations are completely underwhelmed. They sit there like rocks, oblivious to any reason why they might be there other than guilt. Nobody sings and people barely respond to the prayers. Not that I feel comfortable with jumping around and dancing, speaking in tongues, etc. but some kind of emotional response would be great.

*The music is generally poorly produced--I do not expect all of the cantors and organists/pianists to be professionals (though it certainly would be nice) but it would be enjoyable to see a charismatic leader. I often can barely hear the cantor, and they sing with a garbled tone, and look like they don't even know what they are saying.

I have felt closest to "my church" at St. Paul the Apostle in New York. They really are the community I feel that fits my life and the people there are full of joy and purpose. They attend mass on Sundays despite the busy city life, and go actively to find what they need to take and need to give. I miss it there, and though it doesn't mean to, it really highlights the weaknesses of so many churches elsewhere.

*However, I do realize that church is a wonderful community nonetheless, and in general, people are trying to become better people by going. They want to find something to believe in, to share with others, and despite the many uninspiring laypeople, there are some that truly open their hearts and try to reach out.

*Though the music is generally bad, the words in song always reach me more than the scripture. Particularly today the communion hymn--as I sang it I felt it trying to reach out to me.

Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy; come seek the tender faithfulness of God.

2006-03-15T12:54:00.000-05:00

I am having some issues seeing past blogs on my main screen. Hope you can all access them. Sigh.

Things here are going well. I've definitely been a little lazy, and have only been practicing, making good meals, watching movies, and sitting around for the past few days. It's already Wednesday, which means my normal school week is already half over.

...Now I'm feeling a little too lazy, though I should use this time for a break.

I did do a lot of frontloading before now, however, and have only 1 class that I have work to do for, and of course work keeping Carmen in my head and placing my recital rep there.

Anyhow, this blog says nothing new. I'm just hoping once I publish it, you can see the last blog as well. Who knows.

I wish it were warmer here...the sun is taunting us all by being present and beautiful, but it's constantly chilly and definitely not full-out spring weather. What can one expect? Alas, I dream of warm beaches and tropical drinks...

Spring break has officially started

2006-03-11T14:27:00.000-05:00

So, although this actually only means 4 days of class off, I've got 8 days from now to do whatever I please.

Here are my non-fun goals:

1-make sure I have the Carmen music and stagings down and ready to go for our return
2- practice my gypsy stance/moves
3-Have my recital music pretty much memorized and ready to mold into different interpretations
4-record the song cycle I'm premiering and send it to the composer, to have him give me any input to make it more like he wants
5-go clothes shopping and get rid of the lots of old holey and ill-fitting clothes in my closet
6-get a headstart on my Rodgers song analysis (if not finish it)

Fun Goals:

1-spend quality time with friends still in town
2-finish a book or two
3-get out of town for a day trip with Andy
4-get lots of sleep
5-be a little lazy

Tada. There we go. Let's see what I've actually accomplished a week from now...

~L.

Life

2006-03-08T08:33:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been a long time. Things here are going pretty well. I suppose I should update in a list, to make it faster:

1) Ryan, Dave, and Tony's recitals (in that order) went really well, I think. Overall, I was pleased with the way things went, and hope that all of the composers were too. I think they were, which is fabulous. Makes me think of asking more people if they need soprano soloists for their compositions (during summer vacation, perhaps).

2) as a result of singing in Tony's recital, the conductor, Hebe, asked me to solo for a reading of Mahler 4's last movement. I know, Mahler doesn't seem like it should = me, but for the purpose and the general feel of the movement, I should be ok. It's not partularly high at all, but it's light and beautiful. Yay!

3) Carmen is going really well. We made it through the week of musical rehearsals, and yesterday I had my first staging (making it a 13.5 hour day at school. phew). Of course, when you add staging, inevitably it falls apart a bit musically, but hopefully we'll be able to reign it in soon.

4) lots of fun tidbits with Carmen--we're doing flamenco moves on stage, and alas, although our moves are not complicated, we need to learn how to hold our bodies (shoulders as low as possible, but shoulder blades tight together, almost touching, elbows up, etc.). They're going to provide us with a teacher, who has already started working with the Carmens. Also, I hear they are paying for us gypsies to get spray tans before dress week. Hahaha. Craziness. It's all too fun.

5) As for outside school musical things, nothing is happening yet. I have won no competitions, and am still waiting to hear back from Opera North (who absolutely has nothing to offer my voice type this summer anyway) and Brevard (I'd have to pay). Wheeha. Doesn't sound that great, but hopefully I'll be cast at Brevard in something good, and get almost full scholarship (one can dream...).

6) so, this summer I'll probably be in Bloomington. It'll give me time to study up on things I'd like to sing/new music/opera roles, plus time to read, and I think Ms. Wise might want me to house sit in the beginning of the summer.

7) Spring break is next week, and although I'll be here in town, I'm very excited about it. I'll have to spend some time making sure I've got the Carmen internalized, and spend a lot of time working on my recital rep (My recital will be Sunday, April 23rd, at 1pm in Ford Hall). I think I'm perhaps 70% memorized, but not a performable-memorized, if you know what I mean.

8) This break with also give me more time to spend with Andy, who I suppose I've been officially dating for almost 3 weeks. :) It's been wonderful, and I already feel quite attached to him. Since we've been becoming better friends over 4+ months, this probably isn't a surprise.

9) Mom and friends and family are coming to visit over the weeks of my recital and Carmen, which should be lots of fun. Yay Leanne, Mom, Karen, Diane and Richard, and Rachel! :)

ok, time to get on with my day. I've got rehearsal from 4-6, and then a CVE concert tonight, so it'll be another long day, with a slight reprieve around lunchtime.

2006-02-18T09:10:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've written, but it's been due to the fact I've been up to a lot instead of having nothing to say!!!

I'm almost done with my 'holy crap' list from almost two weeks ago. I've got 2 competitions left and 2 recitals. Ok, so I'm half done. I'll keep you posted with the audition results--I have no idea what they might be, and what I'll do with them once I hear back. We'll have to see.

So, since I last wrote, I spent an amazing amount of time working on another American Song analysis paper, this time on George Gershwin. These papers take forever, and although the class material is really fun and enjoyable, the out of class work with add up to dozens and dozens of hours of work, if not more than 100 hours. Ok, those of you reading this that aren't music students, I can understand if this doesn't look like a lot of time. However, when you're knee deep in music to practice, memorize, and perform, it's plenty. Anyhow, Anna Jacobs and I present the next class paper on Kern, sometime within 2 weeks. Eek.

Recently I've been having wonderful musical experiences:

1) Sitting in Song lit class, listening to and following with a song that Dr. Penhorwood wrote for his wife. The text was provided by a friend who wrote a beautiful poem representing how he viewed the couple, Dr. P wrote the music, and then he and his wife performed it together. The dedication was "To us, Connie and Ed". It was really touching, and I felt so strongly about how it would be one of the best gifts/best moments to share.

2) Watching a concert on feb. 14th of cuban music. The concert itself was fine, but one of the duets worked particularly well. Both performers looked completely relaxed, and yet they were full-out singing, acting, holding each other, dancing, etc. This made me feel as though I was watching a snippet of someone's personal life, just underscored with music, which is often how I feel.

3) Ryan's recital. There were so many great people involved, and I was reminded of how many aquaintances I have that I would like to get to know better. I was really proud of how everything turned out for Ryan, and really enjoyed the whole concert. When he played the piano for his piece (what I could see from the balcony) I really felt as though it represented an important part of who he is, and just watching him play, as though nobody was watching, was fantastic. I could close my eyes during some of the other pieces and just try to feel the music swirling around me, and then watched as the performers played together, making all this wonderful sound---and it's all just part of their normal daily routine.

So, these 3 experiences this past week really made me feel so lucky to be in this career path. What we all do is so amazing--and day after day we practice and interact with each other, creating an emotional catalyst from something that perhaps has not had its voice just yet. Of simply had a different voice before. And the act of creating something from a blank slate, a composer starting with one idea, and giving it life...I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I felt so compelled to try to say it. Thank you, my dear precious composer friends for giving us such a wonderful gift.

That said, I must get ready for my competition this morning! Later today we have the next to last rehearsal for the Dave's song cycle. The more we rehearse, the more I enjoy it, and I really hope that we do it justice on the concert Sunday. (4pm, Auer Hall!)

Have a wonderful weekend! -L.

Say Goodbye to the Easy Life

2006-02-07T19:06:00.000-05:00

Yes, free time will be leaving me soon, and won't come back for months. Suddenly I feel attacked on all sides by auditions and concerts and projects, and I just want a day off. Funny, because I just had a nice long weekend. I went to 2 fun parties, and shocked a lot of singers by being my crazy self and dancing and being fun (I guess I've been very quiet recently). Plus I ditched out on the idea of superbowl and managed to take a great bubble bath and start reading a fun and pointless book. I think if I can just collect myself every Sunday evening amidst warm scented bubbles, all might be well. Then again, it's tuesday and I'm panicking.

In true Laura form, I'd like to make a list of things going on within a month of today:

Bain scholarship competition (tomorrow)
CVE concert (tomorrow)
Brevard Audition (Saturday)
Ryan's recital (next wednesday)
Opera North Audition (next Friday)
Arts and Letters competition (next Saturday)
Dave's recital (next Sunday)
The start of Carmen rehearsals (2/27)
Tony's recital (3/1)
Indianapolis Matinee Musicale competition (3/4)

HOLY CRAP. Yeah. I'm a bit worried, particularly because it's really hard to prioritize music in my practicing. I mean, I've pretty much got to stop thinking about my own recital rep until at least the end of Feb, and these competitions and auditions mean I've got to keep up old pieces and really try to make my main arias fresh and exciting (because so far they haven't gotten me anywhere). Alas.

I know that I am just worried because it looks like there are so many things to do, and once a few of them are over, things should be ok. Perhaps I just went a little overboard on the commiting myself. I mean, I hope I don't have to be committed soon, if you know what I mean.

I should balance out and list some good things I've been noticing recently:

-I've got myself more organized for better voice lessons/practicing
-I think I'm making good vocal improvement at a good rate
-seems like the composition teachers like my voice (I've had silly 2 measure solos in Sandstrom and now Dzubay, and both professors were crazily nice to me...I mean, I figure the 2 measures don't even need to garner a smile, much less a compliment or a thank you)---I'm dreaming perhaps that if I'm stuck here over the summer, my performances in Ryan, Dave, and Tony's recitals (plus these little silly 2 measure things) will get me attention in the composer professors circle, and maybe I'll be asked to record something important for them...haha. One can dream :)
-I have discovered deep water exercise at the gym, and absolutely love it. LOVE IT!
-I'm not stressing about that guy anymore. If it's not going to happen, it's ok! Something will work out one of these days. Until then, there are many important things to think/dream about.
-I've been cooking good meals recently
-I've got a fantastic accompanist who is playing for all of these crazy competitions/auditions. She is just unbelievable. I am so happy that we're back together. I couldn't do any of this without her support.

Well, I'm off to rehearsal. That list made me feel pretty good. And, if this singing thing doesn't work out in the end, I've decided I should become a professional organizer. I mean, I make a mean list, and dream of having lots of money to be able to raid places like staples and buy all kinds of organizing tools...

This week's thoughts

2006-02-02T08:32:00.000-05:00

How wonderful it was to spend time with Sliker, laughing and talking (and eating lots). Definitely had a great time. It also reminded me about the fun we had as RAs that last year, and how post-college, relationships you form are so much different. We had so many crazy times then, running around the building, being able to reach each other in just a minute or two.

I think that I haven't been continuing with last semester's goal of socializing more. In fact, I think I've been pretty antisocial. Almost everyone I see says that they haven't seen anyone else either, but that's can't be completely true for everyone, can it? Recently, I feel like I don't fit in anywhere, and it's this vicious cycle of feeling like I'm not mixing well with other people, and then I don't mix with them, and then they don't talk to me, and then I feel like I don't fit in. It goes round and round, and I don't know at exactly which of those steps it started.

I surprised myself this week (well, sorta) by notating this on my American art song listening assignment: "This repertoire is truly my delight, and part of me would be completely happy focusing my career on exploring American art song. The nature of American song to be comfortable talking about the daily things and silly things, as well as somber things, makes it so much more enjoyable. It does not always require a gorgeous sound, but a true personality, and the performers we have been listening to (William Sharp, Thomas Hamspon, and Mary Ann Hart, in particular) stir my insides to no end."

Thus said, I love American music because it's not always so serious. Sometimes I listen to jazz "standards" and dream of having that much fun and relatively little worry about performing (not that I'm saying that's the case, but they always sound so chill). I love opera, yet it is soo hard that we often lose sight of the joy in it.

Alas, Thursday attacks. Ciao~

2006-01-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

Amazing that another weekend passed so quickly. I guess last week as a whole went by pretty fast--that's what happens with a 3 day weekend! :)

Friday was a really fun day--I got my aparment cleaned for Rachel's arrival, and did some errands (ok, that wasn't really so fun). Then I went Rock Climbing for the first time, at a place south of town. That was really awesome, and a much more interesting work-out than going to the gym. I escaped with only 1 battle scar, and managed (with help of course) to climb a 5.8 or so. I feel good about that, and at the end tried a few minutes of bouldering (climbing low without ropes). That was challenging, and even more rewarding, I think. Hopefully I'll be back sometime.

When I got home I had about an hour to relax and then Rachel arrived! YAY! Plenty of parties and such were going on Friday night, but we went to Esan-Thai for a fantastic dinner, then came back here and talked and relaxed.

This official weekend was a combination of making a recording for Anna Jacobs, who composed some really fabulous music for her NYU application (I'm sure she'll get in, but I'll be really sad to see her leave!), and then relaxing at home with Rachel, watching movies, and just taking it easy. We're planning to go out Tuesday night after her audition, so whoever wants to come, we'll have a little bit of debauchery mid-week :)

Well, time to start the week. Wish I could take the day off and take Rachel to Nashville or something, but alas, singing awaits.

L.

Words from the not-so-relationship-wise

2006-01-23T22:30:00.000-05:00

7-It amazes me how many couples there are out there. When does it truly happen that two people like each other without knowing the other person is interested?

6-How many people end up liking someone only after they spend time with them and start to realize their interest? A lot, I bet.

5-Seems like the spontaneous putting together of an already formed relationship is much easier than having a crush on someone for a long time and then hoping that they might (eventually) have interest.

4-Movies are very devious. They love to trick you into believing Hollywood love stories.

3-Inevitably, when you like someone, you manage to find every possible thread of (fictitious) positivity in their words.

2-Somehow, this person's presence makes you so happy you become nauseous.

1-Over-analyzation is a woman's worst enemy. And as hard as she tries, there's really nothing she can do about it.

Weekendy weekend

2006-01-22T12:14:00.000-05:00

Well, I've made it through another school week, and this weekend has been pretty amazing. Friday was all singing--a make-up lesson and the Vaness masterclass. Ms. Vaness visited opera workshop this past week and I was totally enamoured with her fun no bs attitude, with an anti-diva flair. I mean, don't get me wrong, this woman has sung anywhere singers would want to sing, with everyone we would want to sing with, but she's totally down to earth and ready to share and help out young singers. Amazing.

So, Friday evening Naomi, Emily, and I were 3 of the 4 singers for her masterclass. We all found her really helpful and incredibly positive. I sang the Doll aria, and her comments were very much like Ms. Wise's, but in different words. Her positive feedback was so wonderful to hear, and made me feel that although I probably won't have a job this summer (singing), at least someone who knows an unbelievable amount thought I was pretty darn good. That left me feeling great Saturday morning when I woke up. It'll be one of those things to pull out of my memory bank when I face rejection after rejection....

Yesterday I got back to the gym for the first time in months, and although I didn't really have a lot of fun, I'm feeling really good about it today. It'll probably take me a few more times with friends before I get the guts to go alone, but I hope I do. Sitting around on my tuckass isn't going to do much for my looks, my health, or my self-esteem.

Last night Emily had a great chocolate fest--good thing I did go to the gym, because we all pigged out on amazing chocolate desserts. It was a smaller group of about a dozen of us, and a lot of great talk was had--it wasn't an impersonal meandering party. It was quite nice to just sit around a table in comfy chairs chatting with great people (over unlimited dessert!) :)

Today I managed to sleep in until noon (clocking me in at about 9 hours of sleep) and luckily got out of bed, because I've got a rehearsal now planned for 2. So, I'm eating lunch and getting out of here to look over this music one more time! Eeek!

Rachel Sliker is coming next week on Friday night and staying until Wednesday morning--YAY!!!! I can't wait to see her, it'll be so wonderful!

~Lowa

Chicago trip!

2006-01-16T11:02:00.000-05:00

Laura and Adonis :)

Adonis playing with the fish

2006-01-16T10:40:00.000-05:00

A new week begins, and it's officially a 3 day school week. YES! Today I still have a lesson and masterclass, and if I'm singing well, it'll be the best day off ever. :)

This past weekend was a lot of fun! Friday I totally sat on my butt all day, my last attempt at getting rid of all the voice germs. Saturday Adonis and I took a GREAT day trip to Chicago (yes folks, 4 hours away and just in one day!). We started with Sushi buffet for lunch, then went to the Aquarium (it was discount weekend) and then had Ethiopian for dinner. It was nice to get out of bloomington and go to an actual city. Indianapolis is a poor excuse for a city, in my opinion, and Chicago provided much more scenery and excitement.

Yesterday I held another Pizza Frete dinner party (like last year) and it went really well. I was playing organizer and hostess for the majority of the time, but I guess that's what I do. It was fine with me, and I was able to feed lots of hungry people, and they were satiated and happy. My job was done :)

For some reason I am approaching this semester with a lot more apprehension....I'm just not very excited about it and I'm worrying about random silly things. I feel like if I am able to upser organize everything--down to cleaning my apartment, watching what I eat, spending less money, and doing all my work for class as early as possible, then things will be better. Unfortunately learning music can't fit in there, as it's not a do it once kind of activity.

So tomorrow morning I go to sign up for a recital scheduling time. Early. I'm hoping to land the weekend right after Carmen. We'll see what happens.

Well, off to post some pictures of this weekend :)

Germy update

2006-01-11T09:16:00.000-05:00

So nothing too interesting has been happining in my life as of late (I've been vocally sick, as in soprano-no-more, meet Laura the baritone). I've done a lot of sitting on my tuckass, hoping that tomorrow will be the day I magically have my voice back.

This little nasty voice-virus is slowly being killed by my Zpack antibiotics, and I hope all those little germs are screaming in agony as they are smothered by my lovely white cells. :) Heehee. Mental imagery is important to health, you know!

Seriously, it's been unbelievably hard to be mute this week. You don't realize how much you sing/hum until you can't do it (or at least without a scratchy after effect). I've definitely started to get better though, as Sunday was my worst day (right before antibiotics began). Suz and I went to church and I just tried to sing along softly to one tune, and had to sing an octave lower. Those that know me realize I normally sound like a chipmunk on speed, and this manly voice was quite funny. Suz had to muffle her laughter, and I had to stop pretending to sing. I made a mockery of myself for Kaia later that day and we realized that I was singing a low b-flat. That's at the bottom of the bass-clef, folks. True Baritone register. It was a VERY scary thing, and Kaia told me that she wants Laura back. Me too.

So, anyhow, I don't have those low notes anymore (thank God!) but I don't realy have any high notes either. I guess that's the closest I'll get to reaching my goal of being a Russian bass. :) Keep your fingers crossed for a fully functioning Laura-voice by Sunday. I'll be ok if it comes back then. Any later and I'll really start panicking, as I've already given up the Latin American music competition (watch out for me next year!). I sat in the library yesterday listening to Carmen instead of practicing, and it's just about time I started learning it. This month will be all about Anna and Dave's music (once I'm better) and then Carmen plus recital work. Ryan, I'd be totally ready to sing on your recital too, just give me the music asap and hopefully the recital isn't before late Feb! :)

Okedoke, time to finish my strawberry-chocolate chip pancakes and tea. One class and then errands!

random pics from Christmas break

2006-01-10T07:54:00.000-05:00

Yay! Happy Birthday to me. Instead of getting one big cake, which mom and I couldn't finish, we got little cakes from my favorite bakery/breakfast spot. Yum.

Right after Christmas I traveled a little ways to Long Island for the birthday party of Leanne's grandma. It was really a blast, and we all were ridiculously silly--definitely a day to remember. I miss them, my wonderful extended family.

Rachel Sliker visited Poughkeepsie on her way back home from a masterclass in NYC. It was wonderful to see her, despite the short amount of time we were able to spend together. She's coming out to Bloomington for her Indianapolis opera audition, and will be here at the end of the month! So very exciting!

2006-01-10T07:47:00.000-05:00

I have never lived in a town where the sun doesn't come up until 8am. Until now. Yay for the many remaining tuesdays and thursdays this winter where I'll wake up before the sun. Sigh.

Back in B-town

2006-01-07T12:24:00.000-05:00

So, I'm back. 1 and a half days and it all begins again. I could write all about my break, but it went so fast, and I can hardly remember all the things I did. I do know the things I didn't get to:

-didn't read enough
-definitely didn't practice enough

So, that's my end result. Hahaha. Starting off the semester so well already :)

So this semester looks the same class wise, but there are plenty of singing projects to attack. The Latin American Music Competition, Anna Jacob's recording session, a few more summer auditions, The Dave's recital, Tony's recital, Carmen, and my recital. Phew. I'll keep you all posted on the dates for the watchable concerts.

Well, perhaps I should get myself out grocery shopping. My fridge is about as bare as possible, and I best not starve this week.

Poughkeepsie once again

2005-12-20T13:16:00.000-05:00

Well, somehow 12 days have passed since any blogging activity, and in that time I managed to have a few performances, take a long weekend trip to Ohio, sing two auditions there, take a final exam, and clean my apartment like crazy before leaving way before the crack of dawn for home. My flight ended up being cancelled, but luckily I was able to be shoved on another (direct! YAY!) flight, which left me at Laguardia airport. A little further from home than I had planned, but it was a smooth trip, and I only had to take a bus to grand central terminal, and then a train here. I managed to get home only an hour or so later than planned, and skipped out on a lot of waiting time in airports :)

So, now I've been home for about 4 days, and have noticed a few things:

1-I really hate not having my car here. Mom's car is awful to drive, and it also means that I need to wake up super early and drive her to work, pick her up for lunch, drop her back off, and pick her up to have the car all day (which I hate anyway). Blech. If I come home for spring break I'm thinking I'll drive. I could have just driven this time, since the weather wasn't bad, but I didn't want to take a risk.

2-I love my dog, Buttons. Although she barks like a crazy monster early in the morning and barks when there is anything moving outside (sigh) she's really quite adorable, and silly enough, is seems like when you talk to her, she really understands. It's just crazy. She's getting older, though, and she's a little slower than before. Makes me sad :(

3-Mom is as crazy and silly as ever. We're nuts together, and that's fun. It does seem that all of a sudden she has lots of projects to get done around the house, now that I'm home while she's at work. I know that all of the things that she's done in the house over the years have been taken for granted, and just because I clean up and organize a few times doesn't mean I deserve a medal...but sometimes I want one for it. Crazy how I can clean like a maniac for my own apartment...

4-I think my tastebuds have gradually changed over the years. Nothing really tastes the same recently (certain christmas cookies, for example) and things are very often too sweet for my taste. Also I think my affinity for more eastern foods has made lots of other things taste very bland.

5-Despite my issues with food, Mom still seems to be one of the best cooks around. A huge crockpot full of her homemade vodka sauce has been on all day, and last night as she prepped it, I could nearly have died and been satisfied for just one smell before leaving this earth...

6-I still can't relax, and I'm on vacation. I've really not even practiced, but am obscessing over all the music I have to learn before returning to bloomington. Thank god for the sofa and loveseat in our living room...you sit on one of those and you're asleep in a matter of minutes. Good thing I don't have them in bloomington, I'd never get anything done! Seriously, though I am stuck in the house for a good portion of the day, and feel like I'm accomplishing nothing, I'm still ready for a million errands and unable to get any of them done. Bleech.

7-Every time I'm home it's one doctor's visit after another...if I didn't have to, I didn't want to switch doctors. Therefore, I can always look forward to a visit to the dentist amongst my Poughkeepsie travels.

8-Christmas is coming. Soon! My 24th birthday is coming. Sooner! It's weird, the decorations are up, the radio is blasting christmas music (which I have purposely not listened to, bringing my mix cds everywhere) and it couldn't feel less like the holidays. Each year I turn more grinchy, it's frightening.

9-I am looking forward to spending time with my extended family again--christmas day at the Markowitz' house, and Grandpa Ed and Grandma Evelyn's house on Long Island 2 days later.

10-I think I have plans for New Years--in NYC! I'm definitely not going to Times Square, but my friend Andy will be visiting his brother, and I've been invited out to show Andy some of my old haunts and to find something adventurous and fun to do for New Years. We'll see what my update about that will be. Also, I'll also be able to see lovely Anna, who I haven't seen since this summer, and George, who keeps reminding me that I need to tell him when I'm visiting :)

Ok. That's enough noticing and thoughts for now. I'm off to try to start The Fellowship of the Ring...for the 3rd time. I can make it through the first 60 pages, I can make it through the first 60 pages...

recent pics :)

2005-12-08T23:44:00.000-05:00

Just call us Rosina and Figaro--Adonis and I and our modern Barber of Seville scene! :)

My "family" at Thanksgiving. :)

mini-80's fest. Haha. We're dorks, and it's great.

Two pictures from our scenes program last night. Fun and beautiful ladies everywhere! :)

Adult life

2005-12-08T23:34:00.000-05:00

Today I had another one of those "I can't believe I'm really an adult" moments. I had to drive out in the mini-blizzard we had, and on my trip, I realized that I'm definitely not a kid anymore. Sometimes it takes a bit of ice and snow and some slipping around on the roads to make you feel grown up...

on my list of "to do's", part I:

2005-12-05T00:09:00.000-05:00

Find someone (or lots of someones) who are also leaving B-town for winter break on Friday, Dec. 16th. My flight is SUPER early (7am) and the earliest shuttle arrives at the airport at 6:30am, so that's a no go. I'll take a taxi if it comes down to that, but perhaps if I can find a few other people in the same kind of predicament, and we could take a taxi together and split the fare? That would be best. Of course, anyone going for a long drive home that wants an early start, I'll chip in for gas money! Please contact me if you're in this situation--it's less than 2 weeks away! :)

Try to get into the holiday spirit. For some reason, this isn't easy for me. Add in a few auditions for my last weekend here, and it's nearly impossible. Any holiday spirit sharing post-next Sunday (the 11th) would be eagerly accepted. Cookie-making, holiday-movie-watching, etc.

December update

2005-12-04T12:02:00.000-05:00

So there are only 4 official days of class left (!!!) and 12 days until I go home for a full 3 weeks. Unbelievable. My only stressors for the next 2 weeks are the 3 auditions I have coming up, which will be completely finished exactly a week from this moment. I really have to start rememorizing my monologue for Ohio Light, which I am a little too confident won't take me too long. Sigh.

I feel really bad that Adonis will be driving us all the way to Wooster, OH, for that audition. He didn't hand in his application (the due date snuck up on him) and Wooster is A LOT farther away than we thought. Almost 3 hours further. (further? farther? I don't remember. whichever.). I'm just hoping that the long amount of driving won't kill us (him in particular) and that we can find some fun things to do and some good relaxing between my saturday and our sunday (cincinnati) audition. What a crazy last weekend in town.

Just to comment on this past week, it was the week of choir singing. Every night I had a rehearsal or a concert for the 2 composers concerts I've been participating in, or the CVE concert. I'm baffled that this week I won't have choir to sing in. If only I didn't have all these auditions I could just have fun for the next two weeks (other than 2 more school performances and 2 finals). Back to the choir concerts--Tony's Colors in Silence went pretty well, I think, as he seemed pleased, and the audience was receptive. I really enjoyed singing in the piece, and will probably sing it in his recital next semester. CVE went really well, considering the intense difficulty of the 3 pieces we performed. I was so very proud of Vasiliki and her conducting.

After the CVE concert, Vasiliki's sister, and Vasiliki's Greek friends had a party down in the Auer Hall Green room--yummy food, some wine, and Greek dancing. It was really a lot of fun, and again made me hope for some more time with Vasiliki.

Ok, off to make some breakfast. This weekend was the first time in over a month I didn't have anything pressing to do, and I could hardly believe it. I got soo much sleep last night and it was simply fantastic :) Ahhhh.

19 days until my birthday, and 21 days until Christmas!

Thanksgiving!

2005-11-29T08:32:00.000-05:00

Well, after a week "off", I officially need a break! I flew home Tuesday night (Thanks Adonis, for driving me to the airport!) and arrived in Newburg, NY at 10pm. Over the next few days, much cooking was done, movies were watched, fireplaces were put to good use, and friendships were celebrated. Thanksgiving day was wonderful, as Leanne and her family came over to celebrate. We all had a great time, and I officially adopted 2 more grandparents :) It was really fun.

I took a plane back Saturday afternoon, got to my apartment at 10pm, left Sunday morning at 8am for my central city audition in Chicago, had my audition yesterday morning at 10:35am, and drove back here, arrived at 7:30, I had an 8:30 rehearsal, and then came home and crashed. I got about 8 hours of sleep, but I'm still totally exhausted. I've got rehearsals and/or concerts every single night this week until Saturday, when Adonis and I make a trip to Indy (Yay!). I'll upload pics from thanksgiving soon, though the ones I've red-eye corrected don't seem to be coming out on blogger. Sigh.

Hope all of your turkey days were fantastic. Can't wait to catch up with everyone (who knows when we'll all be able to fit that in our crazy schedules...)

-L.

My online quiz said that I am the:

2005-11-22T02:07:00.000-05:00

Robot!

You are 57% Rational, 28% Extroverted, 14% Brutal, and 14% Arrogant.

You are the Robot! You are characterized by your rationality. In fact, this is really ALL you are characterized by. Like a cold, heartless machine, you are so logical and unemotional that you scarcely seem human. For instance, you are very humble and don't bother thinking of your own interests, you are very gentle and lack emotion, and you are also very introverted and introspective. You may have noticed that these traits are just as applicable to your laptop as they are to a human being. In short, your personality defect is that you don't really HAVE a personality. You are one of those annoying, super-logical people that never gets upset or flustered. Unless, of course, you short circuit.
____________________________________
Scary, beacuse I think some of that is accurate. I sure hope I have a personality, though. Haha.

Books

2005-11-18T08:38:00.000-05:00

So I'll have 3 days at home over thanksgiving, and I looked at my blog from last year and noted that I read 2 books. Would anyone be willing to loan me a favorite of theirs? (I'm a sucker for fiction) Give me a call if you are--I'd be happy to pick it up and drop it off, and repay you with a homemade dinner when we get back from break.

-L.

It totally amazes me that:

2005-11-14T00:25:00.000-05:00

1-the weather can be soo beautiful and warm, then so DRY and cold

2-I have a lot of singer aquaintances now

3-I made it through the week without collapsing

4-after said week (which was downright shitty at times) I could have such an amazing weekend, vocally.

I don't want to sound egotistical, but I had quite an amazing vocal weekend. I really was preoccupied with it (and of course other things) all week, and somehow, everything managed to work out just fine. Better than just fine. I think I was actually proud of myself after my performances Friday, Saturday, AND today--and that's probably a first this semester. There are always things that could have been better, but I was actually satisfied with each performance, whether with oboe for a canata, solo with piano alone on the MAC stage, or a full scene duet with fellow singer. Ahhh, I can sleep soundly.

Tomorrow starts a whole new week, and I am so happy to have made it through this one (and weekend!) it's already looking like a piece of cake. I'm going to have to hole myself in the library a bit, however, to try to get that Opera Lit paper done. I think I've come up with my topic: The art of madness--the mad scene of 19th Century Italian opera. I don't know quite what I'll say about the mad scenes, but I've got the 3 down to one from each Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini. Each of the operas were composed in an 11 year time span, so pretty much at the same time. I figure I'll do some comparing and contrasting, maybe talk about particular performances, and then (gulp) I suppose I'll have to mention society's view of women's hysteria at the time...I may actually have to go to the academic library for that one . Save me now.

Ok. Time for bed. Yay for Sleepytime Tea.

CocoRosie

2005-11-10T21:06:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while I do a google search on people from my past. Anyone from close friends to mere aquaintances, just to see where people end up. Recently I've discovered the interesting current events from someone I met my first year at MSM. She was just an aquaintance, but I always thought she was really interesting, and had wanted to know her better. She left school after our first year, and I guess she started up on what she's doing now--singing in a band with her sister. They're called CocoRosie, and they seem to be doing really well in Europe and with the very alternative/eclectic music lovers. I'm going to see if I can contact her just for the hell of it--I figure why not? At least I can pass on a congrats and a hello. If she doesn't remember me, it'll just be like more fan mail, or something. Hmmm.

Bleeech all over everywhere

2005-11-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

What an absolutely crappy two days. Pure shit. Anyhow, just thought I'd write it down to be done with it. Tomorrow's another day, and hopefully it will bring back a more optimistic and ready to take on the world Laura. Too many things have brought me down recently, and I need some good things to start happening! I send positive thoughts to everyone, in hopes that you are having a better week than I am!

2005-11-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

Though I was able to go out a lot this weekend, I still feel that I was quite productive. I managed to get all of my song lit assignments done for the whole semester (!) and also put together my binder for my recital, which I'm really excited about! I also went to 2 fantastic recitals--One gypsy themed by Bethany Barber and Chris Lysack (not only fun and great music, but entertaining performers, and then lots of cookies afterwards! haha, a grand success) and then Rachel Holloway's doctoral discussion/recital on Barber's melodies passageres, his only song cycle in a foreign language. I found her discussion totally interesting (haha, Barber) and not only that, but her voice was absolutely breathtaking. Made me think about how fitting barber really is for my totally different, light voice, but then I just realized the art songs can fit almost any voice, and sighed some relief. Even if that's not the case, I'm still singing them. Ha.

So, I hope to have my recital sometime in late Feb. or early March before spring break, and am planning some great music! I even copied all of the Barber choral works I'm ending the recital with, and just need to find a few more singers who will sign on with me! The pieces are:

Sure on this shining night (yes, very typical, but I've never sung the solo or choir one, and it's just gorgeous)
To be Sung on the Water
The Coolin (my absolute favorite)

I am excited to program these beacuse I didn't want to do a recital all by myself--that gets boring for everyone...and also, I have some strong feelings about this choir music, particularly that last piece, and am really excited to be able to give out my ideas as to what should be brought out, etc. Anyhow, I am super excited about it all (can't you tell? I've used that word a million times this paragraph), and once I get through the next 6 weeks of auditions, it'll be recital music (and Carmen) all the way! :)

Well, off to start a crazy week. Wish me luck~

Random thoughts

2005-11-04T13:51:00.000-05:00

I've been more social again recently, and it's been fun. Whenever I've actually got an evening for myself, when I can cook a good meal and chill out on the couch, I take the opportunity--however, it gets quite boring after a few hours. I'll keep that in mind when things get busier and busier.

This week there are a few things I've realized:

1-hanging out with new people can be fun, and you can learn all about strange and new things. Also, you seem to learn a lot about yourself.

2-hanging out with new guys can be bizarre and complicated. Sometimes you learn a lot, and sometimes you feel like you've anti-learned.

3-I have a passion for Italian double consonants. I love them. How better to fill more emotion into a word than hang out on a double consonant? :)

4-I beat up on myself in the practice room all the time. Outloud. When I screw up I curse at myself, stop myself incessantly, and overall judge myself with ridiculous criticism.

5-Conversely, I still think I'm too lax when practicing, and wish I could learn solid technique faster.

6-I love eggplant. It's probably my favorite vegetable, and one of my favorite foods.

7-A lot of people hate eggplant, particularly men. The ones I've met this year generally dislike squash and similar vegetables all together.

Ah, my lovely education at work.

Halloween 2005 pics!

2005-10-30T23:59:00.000-05:00

2005-10-30T05:07:00.000-05:00

Halloween party was a success. Totally different than last year, and I can't decide which I liked better. I guess last year the fun was more enjoyable throughout the whole evening (and into breakfast the next day!) but this year I definitely had more guests...I mean, over 50 came, I believe, if not more! Anyway, it's after 5am. I closed shop at 3am, strolled to another party for about 30 minutes, got a 15 minute pizza snack, and came back here. Clean up looks pretty ok (I cleaned before the party, so that's good) as we are all adults and can avoid spilling tons of stuff everywhere. It's amazing what a little during-the-party-cleaning will do to help later on. I just have a sink full of dishes to do, some vacuiming and rearranging, and it'll be back to Lowa-ville. More tomorrow morning with pics. If I don't get into bed now, it'll be morning.

Another note

2005-10-26T17:35:00.000-05:00

I've been upset with some of my NY City friends--well, just one. I know it's strange to put it on the blog, as I don't think they read this, but wanted to type it before I give a call.

"Today I dreamed of friends I had before
and wonder why the ones who care don't call anymore
My feelings hurt
but you know I overcome the pain
And I'm stronger now
there can't be a fire unless there's a flame"
(Seal)

"It comes down to reality
and it's fine with my 'cause I've let it slide
Don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
I've left them all behind
I'm in a New York state of mind"
(Billy Joel)

Random thoughts

2005-10-26T17:24:00.000-05:00

It's been another interesting week. Tomorrow will just zoom by without Opera Lit, so I feel like it's practically the weekend!

I'm ready with my costume for the party, and I've purchased all of the food and drinks (ouch, my wallet hurts). I'm pretty psyched, and just hope I get a good turn out. I'm fighting with the closing night of the opera and also zillions of other parties, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. I know that most people won't be showing up until midnight or so, and I hope that I'm still awake enough and sober enough to pay attention to everything (this punch I'm making looks like it's going to be really good...) :)

I'm also really looking forward to seeing other people in costume. I had a dream the other night that I was dressed and ready to go (my outfit is a little scandalous...) and nobody else wore a costume. Eek. That would be quite mortifying. So, send me hints as to what creatures will be showing up so I feel a little more confident. Haha.

I've met a few new interesting people this week, and I'm looking forward to seeing where things may go. I'll leave it at that for now, maybe more later. We'll see in the weeks to come.

What other random things do I have to say? My heat is now on in the apartment. I read my last blog, and I gave myself a few weeks. Haha. What a joke. It'll be off for the party, guaranteed, but back on until March or April, probably.

I've been revisiting Seal's first album recently, and I really do enjoy it. Kiss from A Rose is actually one of my least favorite songs--the others are just much more enjoyable and the texts seem to capture me.

I guess I'm pretty dull today--just wanted to spill out my thoughts. I'm eager to go home for Thanksgiving--really excited about being with Leanne and her family. Thanksgiving with only 2 people just doesn't cut it.

Off to make some dinner--finally meeting up with Kaia tonight after her masterclass--I've missed her! I definitely need more time with all my friends, I feel like we've been way too busy recently to get together. Maybe once the main auditions, concerts, and operas of the fall season are over, we can all take a breath and relax a bit.

2005-10-24T19:12:00.000-05:00

It's officially fall. The weather is crisp, the air is clear, and it smells like wood and smoke. The trees have burst into hundreds of different colors, and trudging in the leaves makes a beautiful autumn sound. I walked home today, and really tried to take in all of the wonderful images nature offered. I know I sound completely ridiculous, but just peer out your window--a few glances should allow you the same experience.

...Granted, in a few weeks I'll have the heat turned on, be wearing my flannel pjs (wishing they made ones with booties for adults) and drinking hot tea or cocoa almost every night. I'll have to find something to use to insolate the bottom of my sliding glass door (I used cotton stuffed pants last year, as I couldn't find any of those snake-looking insulators) and will complain about how upset I am that I don't have a fireplace.

...walking today I remembered all the times as a kid that we would rake the lawn (at least 2 times a season) and how I would jump into the big leaf piles and bury myself, making my parents laugh, and then we'd have to rake all over again (this was pre-lyme disease mania). We would come back into the house, blisters on our hands, sweaty and tired, and have hot cocoa or cider, maybe watch a movie, or make some homemade chicken noodle soup. So many great family moments in the cooler weather, and I miss them.

...You know, today I actually thought that it would be sad to live near an ocean because you'd miss all this autumn splendor. For those of you that know how very much I love the beach, particularly at sunset when all the colors blend in the horizon like a bold watercolor painting--this was a huge realization. I guess I always knew that I loved living where I could experience all of the seasons, but nature is doing really well this year with it's display. I'm hoping when time comes for the next display, they'll be enough snow here so I can make a Calvin and Hobbes snowman on my balcony :)

Well, I suppose that's enough ranting for now. Sometimes you just want to spill out all of the thoughts in your head, but it's not simply enough to write them down on a piece of paper that nobody will read...

Single

2005-10-21T15:58:00.000-05:00

again. This last relationship ended as quickly as it started, and though I can't say I'm totally surprised, I was willing to give it a shot.

Top ten list
Why it's great being single:

#10-Not worrying about looking good for anyone else but yourself

#9-You can be antisocial and nobody will think that you don't like them

#8-Being really flirty won't offend anyone

#7-More concentrated focus on school work and practicing

#6-Your friends don't have to try to be friendly with someone they don't know

#5-You can watch a movie and eat all the popcorn by yourself

#4-more time for yourself

#3-you're afraid of commitment anyway

#2-No overanalyzing about what they said versus what they actually mean

#1-More time with all of the awesome friends who love you no matter what :)

The trouble with Halloween this year

2005-10-20T17:39:00.000-05:00

is that I don't know when to have my party! I was originally going to have it Friday night, but Adonis will be in Chicago for the evening. I can't have a party without Adonis! Not to mention that it's the opera both Friday and Saturday nights, so a lot of people either won't come, or will not be able to come until 11:30pm. Alas, I feel like I'm stuck in a rut. Having it Thursday wouldn't work either, as people have class Firday, and unless people skip class Monday and I cancel my lesson, looks like having it Sunday night won't work out.

Alas, I think the Lowa Halloween fest is going to have to be on Saturday. I know some people have early church gigs (get a sub!), and there is another party that night...I beg Susan's forgiveness because she's going to have to split up the parties. Can't have a party without Susan either! It's just bad timing for Halloween this year. :(

So, party Saturday night, starting at 10pm? That means I should say it starts at 9 so some people get there at 10. That's always a little crazy. I'm planning on snack foods, and some halloween punch with a major punch to it! Also hot cider for those who need to steer clear from intoxication. Costumes absolutely necessary, particularly because I'm taking a risk and going quite scandalously this year...I think I'll have to close my eyes! Haha. Perhaps more gronk will happen, maybe new games. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Please email/call me with ideas--I really want this to be a success.

The Lowanatrix...

2005-10-17T23:36:00.000-05:00

What I find absolutely amazing is the intensity with which I become NYC-nostalgic when I hear tunes I've heard played at Cafe Wha? I think perhaps it is due to the fact that music is for me the strongest pandora box for memories. Each time I hear something that has been played at Cafe Wha? I am brought back to one of my fun evenings, where the music was unbelievably loud, my table was filled with close friends, and we could reach out and touch up to three of the musicians in the band. So, right now my digital cable is playing Pearl Jam's "Better Man", and one of the musicians from the band, Brian, would just crank out these songs and you would just sit there and stare, amazed. All of the musicians in the band are incredible, and I'm looking forward to getting back there again. I know that I always mention Cafe Wha?, but it's for good reason. If you find yourself in NYC for an audition or such, stop by Cafe Wha? Wed.-Sun. nights for a great time. (if you like, grab a drink or two before going, as the drinks are costly and the cover gets added to your tab), and wear earplugs if you need your hearing over the next two days. Oh, dear Cafe Wha, I love you. You can find them here: Cafe Wha?

2005-10-16T08:17:00.000-05:00

Dear Sunday,

Why is it that you stare at me from across the room starting the time I leave my last class Thursday until I meet you three days later? Also, is it neccesary to taunt me with so many things I need to do when all I want to do is sleep through you? I bet if you had a little chat with Monday, and told him to take a few vacations, you would look a lot better. You should get on that.

Laura

2005-10-12T08:20:00.000-05:00

This morning I ran to the grocery store to get some pancake mix and milk, and discovered a wonderful thing--Kroger nearly empty at 7:30am. I mean, I figured that it would be empty, but it was clean and quiet and there were no lines...ahhh. Almost makes me want to go grocery shopping at 7:30am from now on.

Anyhow, that was just a thought of the day. Things here have been going pretty well. This week I've been a lot more relaxed, and the days just zoom by. It has been pointed out that drinking a huge cup of cappuccino every morning might be the equivalent of snorking cocaine, but I figure for now I'm safe, and am happily enjoying my morning beverage. If I just happen to be too cheery for most of you in the morning, I'll just be balancing out those less caffiene-fortunate :)

Well, I'm off to practice for my scene run though this morning. Lunch at Siam House at noon, with Adonis and Garth, then I will start my halloween outfit search...anyone want to go to the mall with me (ick, I know. Mall is such a dirty word).

2005-10-06T08:22:00.000-05:00

Weeks this semester just go by too fast. I have no idea what time warp I'm stuck in, but please get me out. Actually, take me out only for the weekends, and during practice time. :)

10 highlights from this week, in random order:

1-I've spent way too much time on my Song Lit. listening assignments. The first one took just about 1 hour, they've bumped up to 2.5 or 3. Maybe even more. Bleech.(well, that wasn't a highlight, obviously)

2-This weather has been gorgeous. Yesterday I did my work here with all my windows open, in my bikini. Ahhh.

3-Caught up with Adonis after a long (few day) hiatus :) It was great to talk over chinese food, at our usual table at Great Wall.

4-Dinner with Susan last night, more good chatting (particularly about planning the Lowa Halloween fest)

5-More time with Garth. :)

6-Zuckowski missed Opera Lit tuesday, we had the day off!

7-Finally did the doll song in class. Moved around like a crazy nut, technique gave out slightly. Overall I made it through, but it's gonna need lots more work before Oct. 21st.

8-my cappuccino making is now pretty solid. Yes! Soon I'll order actual espresso beans from Caffe Trieste.

9-roughly quoting from Effron: "Being humble is different than being modest. You can't be modest in this business, but you should be humble."

10-Looking forward to a short camping trip this weekend.

2005-09-30T23:08:00.000-05:00

I am always so amazed at how much work it takes to do all the little things. Today I spent many hours working on organizing my school work, getting old papers together, etc. It's just incredible how long it takes to do absolutely nothing.

I put in my application to Santa Fe today. It was a simple online form, no fee, nothing seperate to send in. They're coming to Bloomington in about 3 weeks, and it'll be an interesting way to start off my auditions for the year. I feel that they are way out of my league at the moment, but Ms. Wise has encouraged me to audition, figuring that if I do my very best, I've got a shot. Either way, my goal is just to perform as well as I can, at least making a good impression, and perhaps getting some feedback on where I am at the moment, comparatively.

Other things: Happy day-after birthday to both Mom and Susan. Sept. 29th seems to be the largest birthday day I know, considering that one of my exes was also born on that day. Very strange. Today was my grandfather's birthday, so a special thought out for all the wonderful times we spent together, more than 10 years ago. Time passes so quickly...

Tomorrow night the birthday festivities continue at 805 Henderson, without Andrew, however. It'll be a much smaller gathering than last time, and perhaps a bit less scandalous as well. Haha.

Well, I'm off to bed early. I want to stop myself before I try to get one more thing checked off my list of to-dos.

2005-09-29T00:53:00.000-05:00

I am smiling right now. I love good dates. Enough said. Goodnight to all!

2005-09-27T15:47:00.000-05:00

I totally just had my first motorcycle ride, and it was awesome (I wore a helmet, everyone. it was safe!). Just had to let you all know.

2005-09-26T01:23:00.000-05:00

I need to make a list. I need to make a list of my lists. I have all these lists laying around, and I'm lost on them. I've been trying to get so many things done, yet don't even recall what I've done and all the things I have yet to do. Can anyone tell me--where did I leave my brain?

socializing sum-up

2005-09-25T02:18:00.000-05:00

You should all be very proud of me--I have been socializing all day. It's practically a miracle that I've spent time with so many people in the span of just 16 hours:

Early morning: Farmer's market with Chester. Chocolate chip pancakes, coffee, and lots of good talk followed. Excellent start to my day.

Afternoon: Party at Dr. Harrington's house for the birthday of three professors. Got to hang out with lots of fun choral conductors, and to spend more time in one of the most amazing houses I've ever seen.

Evening: Dinner and drinks with Adonis, followed by a short nap and then more conversation with lots of people at Noelle's house.

It amazes me to no end that last year I passed up a year of all of these parties. I'm amazed at how the incoming singers already know more people than I do now. I'm not necessarily in my element all the time, particularly with larger groups, but I'm definitely meeting more people and acting more singer-like. Who knows if that last thing is positive, but for now I'll smile about it.

Long week ahead, I think. Monday looks hellish and I hope that I might be able to fit in anything fun between 10:10am and 10pm. This is the week for the doll aria, so everyone beware: the probability of Laura making an ass of herself is at an all time high.

And, for those of you who have been keeping up with my other singing projects, my callback for Rosina went well. It was not fruitful, but Ms. Wise was very proud of me, and for now I should be happy with that.

Well, though should be getting to bed, I think I'll snuggle up on the sofa and watch a movie. It's been a great way to end my evenings, as I love the new setup of my living room, curling underneath my new handmade (thanks, mom!) afghan, lighting a candle, having some decaf coffee, and mellowing out. I wouldn't mind some company, but it's awfully late for that...

2005-09-21T17:42:00.000-05:00

My neighbor from Poughkeepsie sent me this picture, and I decided to post it on the blog. Ah, my young creative halloween days.

My Halloween party will happen again this year, and I hope that all the new people I have met and whose company I enjoy will be able to come...without it being too huge or crazy for my apartment. We'll see...

I'm tentatively saying Friday, Oct. 28th for the party, so start thinking about your costumes now. I can't go as squidward again, so suggestions will be heartily and happily accepted :)

2005-09-19T22:47:00.000-05:00

Tonight there's been an amazing thunderstorm, and I've been recalling past enjoyable storms. For a while there in Poughkeepsie we'd get one horrendous snowstorm each winter. It would leave us powerless for about 24 hours, and we'd have to sleep downstairs in front of the fireplace to keep warm. Other times when there was just a weather emergency, we would make a "Buffalo run" (named after the NY state city, not the animal) and drive on the icy roads to a place called Miss Saigon, the only restaurant in town that was open, because it was at someone's house. The roads would be desolate, and my dad, who was proficient in the art of driving on ice, would swerve us all over the road while we laughed to and from the spicy food excursion...

Just plain rainstorms are best during the early and late summer--during the day when it's warm and you've got plenty of time to dance outside, or at night, cuddling into bed near a large window, candles on, music in the background, and a great book. Ahh. Sounds like a good idea actually, it's my plan once I finish the blog.

I've really been trying to wean myself from the tv recently--not having tv at all in San Fran, I find myself disgusted at how easy it is to get caught up in it. I don't mind popping a movie in, but just regular tv is time consuming and mostly ridiculous. Not that I don't tend to watch it, but I'm trying to read before bed, write poetry, anything to calm myself and put a good end to the day. The soycandles I bought a few weeks ago have been helping set the mood, actually, and somehow keep me going with this plan.

So this week should go by quickly, provided that I'm able to stay relaxed about my callback Thursday. I've been working hard at the aria, and am meeting to coach it briefly tomorrow with the accompanist for the audition. I have been trying to keep my hopes down while still keeping my confidence up--a rather difficult thing to do! Though I don't really know the other singers called back for Rosina, I am sure that they are as up to the job as I am, and most likely more so, as I only feel half up to it most days. I wish I had a realistic picture as to where they are with the aria so I don't feel quite as intimidated or out of my league...and you know, I don't even know what my league is. I always feel so unaccompished, very much like that idea of a minnow in a large sea of vocalists...and I know that this might not be the case, but I'm carrying around that from my undergraduate days when I was living in one of the most professional places for opera in the world, and definitely wasn't even close to being anything of interest.

Sigh, I'm getting long winded. I'll leave you all with a wish for a romantic/relaxing/enjoyable storm. Plus there's a full moon out--you never know what nature has in store for our dreams tonight...

sweet yellow devils

2005-09-15T15:29:00.000-05:00

So, I chopped up my ripened lemon drop chilis today, and just to see how they taste alone, put a little tiny slice (and I mean tiny!) in my mouth. Holy Chapupkas! My mouth and lips are on fire. I only had a chance to chew it once, and had to spit it out immediately. I think they were rated at level 6/10. Scary. Can't wait to season my dinners with those. Note to self: use sparingly.

Dinner with Vasiliki :)

2005-09-14T22:28:00.000-05:00

Yay! Though today was a relatively low stress day (only 1 class, which I didn't have to sing in, and then practicing) I managed to get a lot of errands done, thanks to Vasiliki's visit. My apartment was in great need of cleaning, and it's at that "pre-party" stage, where everything is vacuumed, and all things organized and put away, couch-cover is straightened out, tabletops scrubbed, laundry done, etc. Maybe I should just have a party to put the cleanliness to use (but then I'd have to clean again, sigh).

Interesting fact: When you cook for yourself, things cook quickly. Particularly if you're multi-tasking and are in the shower when you're cooking something delicate in the oven. When you cook for others, however, no matter how long you give yourself, the food is never quite ready on time.

Luckily, Vasiliki was about 25 minutes later than originally planned, so things were cooked. The artichoke was still not as done as the other day (which took less than half the time, sigh) but everthing else worked out fine. Particularly these raspberry truffles I made. Yum yum. Still have a lot to make, but I don't feel like cooking anymore today. The mix is in the fridge, ready whenever to be rolled into little pieces and rolled into the cocoa powder. In fact, I really hope that it's ok that I don't do that now. Grr. I will not cook anymore today. I will not, will not. Not that I didn't enjoy cooking. In fact, it calms me, keeps my hands busy while I listen to good music or review aria lyrics in my head. Good times.

You know, though I didn't do (or luckily need to do) much school work today, I was productive in very neccesary ways: did laundry (my least favorite chore), super-cleaned, did some walking (ok, it was walking home from school, but I booked it, promise), made lots of yummy food for dinner and dessert, etc. I guess I can count today as a success. Hopefully the same holds true for all you reading this.

2005-09-14T16:41:00.000-05:00

you know what's weird? I have no idea what happened to yesterday. It's already Wednesday, and tomorrow I only have two classes, and the weekend is here. It was just the weekend! Wow.

random thoughts

2005-09-13T22:10:00.000-05:00

you know, every monday or tuesday I tend to ponder the weekend on my walk to the bus stop. Next weekend, that is. I so quickly forget that I have just had 3 days (3!!! incredible) to get my stuff together, relax, sleep, hang out, etc., and am already prepped for more classless days.

Recently I feel like most of my time out of the practice room seems wasted, and I'd rather be singing or working on my singing than doing anything else. It amazes me I haven't felt like this earlier before, at least to this capacity.

It seems to me that this year things are taking me a lot longer to accomplish. I don't know whether this is because I have so many more things to do, or that I just care to do them more satisfactorily. It doesn't seem like either of these answers is right, though something's gotta give. I'm practicing more, spending more time in the library....what's going on?

I was also listening to the radio in the car on the way home from grocery shopping (wow, 4 prepositions in a row, jeez) and was changing from station to station...I used to listen to the oldies all the time, and I guess I just got bored of it one day, realizing that instead of playing the same 20 songs over and over for a few months without switching, they play the same 500 songs over and over for ever. I did love those songs though, and listening to the station for a few minutes almost dragged me away from this time period, and I could imagine myself driving along in the late 50's, living some really weird, totally different life, having completely different priorities and situations. I know I'm going off on a tangent, but for a few moments, music can take you damn near anywhere, have you believing almost anything.

That led me to a different thought completely...I wonder what life would be like if I just decided I wasn't going to work. That I didn't need a job, didn't have to worry about acheiving any particular goals, and just stayed home. [Certainly I know that staying home and being a parent or whatnot can be the most difficult and brain-frying job out there, but those thoughts aside...] Even the thought of working a "9-5" job, with no desire to advance further, no need to prove anything to anyone...it's just scary. Life could be so much easier just working to live instead of living to work...but I would be so bored and unsatisfied that I'd probably short-circuit at age 28 and become some kind of half-alive shell of a person. You know, I realize that 90% of the time I meet someone new, the first thing I ask after we introduce ourselves is "so, what do you do?". Such a focus of life. Interesting, interesting...

I guess I don't have too much more to rant about as of this moment (or at least I'm too tired from grocery shopping to care). My friend Vasiliki is coming over to dinner tomorrow, and I'm psyched. We've been trying to plan a get together for quite some time, and finally we're going to get to relax a bit outside of the IU choir-system. Haha. Hopefully a lot of good food will be had, as I'm happy to have a few hours to cook (and will need to do lots of cleaning!) so we can eat well. I'm planning on some roasted chicken (thanks Kaia for showing me the easy way!) in either an orange or garlic marinade, artichokes, and perhaps some pasta. Then raspberry truffles for dessert. (gosh, it sounds like I'm preparing like a donna reed, back to the thought earlier...)

Either way, Yay! Gourmet [oh boy, I'm rhyming, get me out of here] a few times a semester.

Lowareed

Goals

2005-09-10T19:42:00.000-05:00

Goal 1: eat more healthily, go to farmer's market. Not reached. However, I had a good reason, as I didn't get to bed until 6am. This was due to the fact that I reached:

Goal 2!: socalize more.

See pictures below for great times at 805 South Henderson.
More partying tonight, updates tomorrow.

scattered thoughts

2005-09-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

[The picture above is a group of us from Basoti (Anna, Laryssa, myself, Gabriel, and Naomi). Fun times.]

...I feel like I have so many goals and expectations this year, and I'm not really pleased with anything at the moment. I just feel like I'm living mediocrely, and it's driving me crazy. I need to start making more lists, and feeling that satisfaction when I check things off. Being a musician also means that things never really get checked off, as you never reach the completion of learning something. It can always be better, and therefore you need to convince yourself of what constitutes success. It's a little frustrating.

Today Kaia and I are going for a long walk--in an attempt to get outside and get our heart pumping. We could go to the gym, but why not take an hour or two and check out some new neighborhoods and get a great cardiovascular workout at the same time? Granted, we won't be running, but it's warm enough outside that if we keep up a fast pace it should be affective. ...Adonis and I totally pigged out last night at Red Lobster, and then we got frozen custard afterwards. I was so good this summer with my eating (for the most part) and I don't want to ruin my efforts now.

What other random things can I say? My apartment never seems clean anymore--I don't know why, but there are always papers and clothes and odds and ends everywhere. I've suddenly become a slob (no mom, I wasn't always one, thank you for thinking that) and it's driving me crazy. Sigh.

Well, maybe I should go do something about it before Kaia calls. Must be productive. Must be productive...

How to be studious, Laura-style:

2005-09-05T22:52:00.000-05:00

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.

Studio Party!

2005-09-05T22:43:00.000-05:00

Today Ms. Wise had us all over to her house for our studio party--this is almost all of us (some had to leave early to rehearse). It was really a great gathering, and I think we've got quite a group of sopranos. Glad I brought my camera, as we definitely should document this beautiful bunch of people :)

I definitely had my tuckass kicked in my lesson today---in a good way. We worked really hard, and to avoid getting too technical, really tried to reign my support in. By the end of the lesson my back and abs were aching, a very good sign indeed.

Another goal of this semester: take more risks. Taking a lot more risks when it comes to singing--being more opinionated when it comes to my presentation, really going out of my way to say what I've decided I'm going to say with the way I present it, singing anywhere and everywhere I can...whether or not I feel 'safe' or completely prepared (while still being prepared). I've got to stop being scared of getting out there and doing something potentially completely wrong. Mistakes are the only sure way of learning how not to do something...

2005-09-03T10:04:00.000-05:00

So today Kaia, Naomi and I went to the farmer's market this morning. I have never managed to be awake and energized enough to make it before, and I'm really happy we went. It's beautiful outside, and I picked up a lot of fresh and healthy produce. One of my goals this year is to eat more vegetables, cook with healthier things, etc. Maybe these Saturday trips will be a good start at reaching that goal.

I picked up this little guy at the market, I'm really excited! He's supposed to be a little spicier than jalapenos, with a distinctive citrus taste. I think he deserves a good name, so any suggestions would be appreciated :) He's got a new home in my kitchen window with my cacti and I hope he'll be very happy.

I suppose I should take a moment and mention cattle calls. I've been avoiding it, because it's been the one thing out of everyone's mouth this past week (well, at least for singers). I had a good time with my piece, and think I did a pretty good job. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for anything at all, but realize that there's a lot of talent out there, and just doing my best should be my goal. Congrats to everyone that's made it through another year of IU auditions (opera, orchestra, band, chorus, etc.) and good luck to all who have yet to audition. I'm sure I'll post up any news I may hear about my friends or myself, but for now, let's just be happy I got some good produce at the farmer's market! :)

I've been thinking about trying to host an every 2 weeks movie night here. Thanks to netflix and a new living room arrangement, I think I could manage having a few people over every week or two, and it would be fun to keep up the socializing, as it's another one of my goals this year. I realize that I am quite intimidated by being surrounded by so many singers all the time, and am going to try to work at being more social in that circle. We're just such a loud bunch, and I completely pull back into my shell when there are too many of us around. So, more fresh produce, and more parties. Two good goals, don't you think? Haha.

Well, I'm off to do some reading and relaxing on this fine Saturday. I have errands to do, but maybe they can wait until tomorrow. I'm going to listen to cattle calls this afternoon, and then chill out. Have a great day, everyone. More later this weekend.

First Day

2005-08-30T08:17:00.000-05:00

Alas, the first day back is over. There aren't going to be too many more of these first days, so perhaps as the Dave did, I'll recall some of my first days of school:

Montessori preschool: I remember the coat closet, and the teacher's husband (school was held at the teacher's house) was really really tall. He helped me put my coat away, and the second my teacher showed me all the fun shapes and drawing things in the back of the room, I was ready for this thing called school!

Elementary School: Nothing memorable other than the frightening end--I forget which bus number was mine, so when my teacher asked me, I told her only one of the numbers. She accidentally put me on the wrong bus home (no surprise, thanks to my 5 year old brilliance) and my parents nearly had a heart attack as they waited for me at the bus stop and I never showed up. Luckily at the end of the bus route we went back to the school bus depot or wherever we were, and I was able to call home, and then I had my own little bus (well, I shared it with another girl that was placed on the wrong bus home) and got dropped off right at my door.

Middle School: I didn't even make it through my first day. Walking out to lunch I tripped down the cement steps and broke and dislocated (in a very ugly way) my finger. Yeah. My full first day was the second day of school. Very dissapointing, particularly because my trip to the dr. was one of the scariest moments of my child-life. His name was Dr. Charmonte, but my family called him Dr. Char-molte-pain. I'll never forget him saying to me (with a huge needle in his hand) "if you act like a baby, I'll have to send your parents out of the room"...um, I was 10 years old, and my mom was just about to pass out because she was freaked out too. Sigh....

High School: I don't remember much about this first day, although I remember thinking that it might be my last day on earth, as my first days of school had been traumatizing in increasingly exponential ways. I survived. I was ecstatic.

1st College: I remember moving in, and the guys helping us out told both my roommate and I seperately that we had the most things they'd ever seen. And then they realized we were living in the same room. Haha.

2nd College: I remember attempting to be as friendly and bubbly as possible, figuring that I should be trying to quell the nerves of all the first time freshmen. I met Rachel Y ("Bug") my first evening, and we became fast friends.

IU: I remember waiting in front of the recital hall (realizing that studying more for exams wasn't going to change a thing), meeting Adonis, Ryan, Natalie, Amanda, and Todd. I remember meeting Susan outside of the piano exam, and being shocked that I passed--she was so sweet about my nerves beforehand and excitement afterwards--and pizza ensued just a few days later!

new beginnings

2005-08-29T09:10:00.000-05:00

well, not really. continued beginnings? continued continuing?....

Today is my first day back and it looks quite empty. 1 class and 1 masterclass later and I'll be home cooking up leftovers once again.

Seems like I can never solidify an accompanist on time no matter how hard I try. This was my exact problem last year, and yet again, due to schedule flipping, I may be accompanist-less for my first week back, scrambling to find someone who can fit into my lesson time (made with that prior accompanist who now cannot accompany). Singer drama before classes even begin. I love it.

This week I think I have eaten dinner at so many different residences that my own leftovers might be unedible. It's been great seeing people again and getting back into bloomington life...one of my goals this year is to be more social, particularly with the singer crowd which sometimes overwhelms me. I guess there's not enough time in this life to be hermity, so I should get over my quiet self and get out of the apartment more. ...it's just so cozy here. Haha.

Cheers to a year started by batches and batches of chocolate chip pancakes :)
Laura

2005-08-25T23:09:00.000-05:00

So I've been reading everyone else's blogs, so I feel obligated to write in mine. Nothing too interesting here, so I'll just make a list:

-my living room and bedroom have been rearranged. Wheeha. First few nights I woke up having no idea where I was, but now I'm quite happy with the whole set-up.

-this summer made me more interested in wine and cappuccino (the singer in me is not too happy--yay for drying out the cords! sigh.) and therefore I have a few bottles of fun wine in the fridge, and a new stovetop cappuccino maker coming in the mail sometime next week. Fantastic.

-I found my gameboy advance in my desk after finishing my last summer book and before cable got set up. Bad move, as I've already wasted many hours of my life playing on it. Who really cares since classes haven't started and I'm still being moderately productive?...but still I feel annoyed each time I spend a 2 hour session just me and my gameboy.

-I have been shopping for back to bloomington items all week. particularly with Adonis. Not my favorite activity by any means, but good company makes it worth it.

-you know your bed is too big when you manage to lose your tv remote for 3 days. I was sure that the cable guys accidentally took it with them after setting up the cable. Glad I bought a replacement remote and then found mine the second I got home. Very Laura.

-I've somehow adopted a NY accent, though I only spent about 9 days in NYC all summer. Mom probably helped with that, but I guess I always have said "Harrible" (aka:horrible) and some other interesting things.

-I'm definitely still hiccuping. All the time. Somehow most people find it funny and perhaps even charming (well, maybe I shouldn't go that far). I even think the hiccups are contagious :)

-I've been getting to bed way to late. So, I'll sign off for now.

Night!

2005-08-20T13:20:00.000-05:00

Rachel and I at San Francisco Opera House :)

2005-08-20T13:18:00.000-05:00

My first day off at BASOTI--Kaia and I went to her friend's apt. for an Okonomiaki making party. Good times.

2005-08-20T13:12:00.000-05:00

Le donne italiane :)

A little family excursion to some vineyards in NY. My first of the half-dozen wine-filled afternoons this summer.

Whee ha!

2005-08-20T12:35:00.000-05:00

My computer set up is complete, and I'm up and running. Sooo happy.

So, I've been in town just a few days now, trying to get things organized and such. I've rearranged parts of the apartment, so people will have to stop by and take a look. I'm excited. :)

Adonis and I went to the Indy state fair yesterday, and it was as most fairs are. There were lots of greasy food stands, lots of animals and farm exibits, and just a few people as it was early afternoon and a hot day at that. Adonis' new apartment is fantastic and I'm looking forward to spending more time there as the semester gets going. We've already broken in our first batch of walnut brownies a la mode, god knows how many more this semester will bake.

I don't have too much to say at the moment, which is sad for my first blog. I'm going to leave summer pics instead, and hope that I'll have a few good things to write down really soon.

Lowa

San Fran

2005-07-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

In typical Lowa style, I will start with an apology for not writing. I have been in San Francisco for the last 6 weeks or so, and had every intention of writing and including fun pictures. I don't have internet access where I am staying, however, so it became a quick and sad impossibility.
There would be no way to write all the things that I've been up to or how much fun I've been having and work I've been doing, so you'll have to trust me, and wait for photos to load up when I return to a more easternly state. :)
I've been living with Anna (from MSM) and Naomi (from IU) in a large studio apartment in a nice neighborhood just 20 blocks away from this program's building. Everynight we talk about our rehearsals and performances, and do excersizes to keep ourselves healthy. It's been a fantastic experience, and I feel so lucky to have had this time together. Anna and I originally lived in a residence hotel, but it was more expensive than the studio we're in now (almost 2x the cost!) and was 30 minutes away, and really dirty. It was like a hostel, but more expensive. Ick. As Anna says, I was "on a mission" and couldn't even sleep well at night until I found us a decent place to stay. Ahh.
I've had lots of "missions" since I've been here, and most of the time have been able to divide and conquer, or whatnot.
I sang Gilda in the Rigoletto quartet a few weeks ago, and that was a blast. The most difficult thing I have to sing here for sure, and we pulled it off. It left me feeling that I may be Gilda-ing sometime in a few years, and that's really excting.
This past weekend we performed Gluck's Orfeo, and it also went really well. The cast was tiny, and we all got along and were able to be creative and enjoy the beautiful music. I'm not usually into Baroque opera, but this was pretty fantastic. The role of Amor was also a big factor, as I only had about 10 minutes of stage time, but was absolutely important for the plot and only had to sing in the begining and the end. Not a lot of rehearsing, and fun costuming and make-up, if I say so myself. My mother couldn't stop laughing at me, as she says I looked like an absolute Diva, which normally has me running quickly in the opposite direction...I feel like I still have gold sparkles all over my face. Sigh. :)
I finish up with a scene from Rape of Lucretia this coming Saturday. I hope we can pull it together, as I adore the music and am excited to be singing something light and high. Yay for Britten. I've discovered that his music really suits my voice, and it's exciting and interesting all in one. I have to do more research on his music, that's for sure.

Well, too-long blogs are boring. Hope it was readable :) I'll post more when I get back home in a week (I'll really miss it here!)
Lowamor

Po-town

2005-05-20T17:50:00.000-05:00

I'm still here. I'll be here for 31 more days. Eek. That's a very long time.

Let me straighten a few things out--I don't hate being home. In fact, it's very relaxing. A little too relaxing. I've realized over the years that the busier I am, the more I get done in my spare time. I know that sounds a little bizarre, but if I have a whole day free, I'd rather keep it free and do absolutely nothing than add one little thing to it, marring it permanently. Alas, I've been doing a whole lot of nothing in the afternoons.

Work is going fine. I could always work 8 hours a day instead of 4, but I feel like there are only so many hours a day I can do the same exact thing and talk to complete strangers or their answering machines. I figure that's logical reasoning.

I've been practicing a bit, but not enough, and reading, but sad to say I'm not in love with Arrowsmith, my current read. I refuse to quit it, so I only hope my next book captures me more. There are a lot of books I'd like to read, including Life of Pi, and Anais Nin's journals. I'd be really excited if Wally Lamb, Clive Barker, or Fannie Flagg wrote anymore books--I rarely look for books under author, but those three (and I admit, Stephen King's older classics) always keep me happy and engrossed. It's such a bummer when you're in a middle of a book that you can stand to put down. Sigh.

My standard distractions are no more--no more high speed internet, no more IU friends, and no more living alone. I'm actually looking forward to shopping on Sunday. Please, get up off the floor and back into your chair. It's for the company a lot more than for the shopping--hugs to Leanne and Kaitlyn, my two pretend sisters.

I'll be in the city (NYC) June 1-4, and then back again the 14th and 15th for Met in the Park! Start keeping your fingers crossed that it doesn't rain--particularly for June 14th, 8pm. Tosca, my favorite opera to date will be performed. I can't forget last summer when a few of us planned to see Barber's violin concerto, and sat under a garbage bag in the rain until they cancelled it. Blah. :(

Well, since my life is so absolutely interesting right now, I suppose I should leave you to ponder it all. Haha.

Ciao for now~

still home

2005-05-18T23:48:00.000-05:00

things around here are less boring, but seemingly still not exciting. I am now working at a dr.s office, making calls to those people who have not brought their children in recently for their annual physicals. When I'm not working there, I've been lounging and practicing, and trying to make anything work on one of the two computers now at the house (my laptop and our home computer). Alas, I feel as though I have computer virusues living at the tips of my fingers, waiting to slow down the already atrocious dial-up connection we have here. It's been particularly painful because I left a few installation CDs and my camera cable back in Bloomington, and after having that horrible hijacker and completely erasing and reinstalling windows on my laptop, I haven't got many interesting things to work with.

So, things I've noticed here in poughkeepsie:

-performing for a group of older jewish ladies can be fun and rewarding. Dodef and I did a 30 minute concert on Monday for a fundraiser, and it was great. Picture should be on the blog if I can make it through the arduous downloading process.

-driving places in poughkeepsie takes about twice as long as in Bloomington, due to the fact that Bloomington is just so compact.

-I don't really know too many people that still live in Poughkeepsie--thank god for mom, Leanne, and even Buttons, my sweet and cuddly bichon.

-working in an office again is like working in an office again. the situation always seems to be the same, no matter where I am and what I'm doing.

-getting up at 7am during the summer sort of stinks.

-having wednesdays off is awesome, unless you use the whole day doing chores and cursing at a computer screen.

that's enough noticing for now. I'll be at work in 9 hours, prepping to make another 100 calls before lunchtime rolls around. All for a measley $7-something an hour. Woohoo :)

Nighty night!

2005-05-18T22:41:00.000-05:00

Dodef and Lowa at home after a fun concert!

Home!

2005-05-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

Wow, I am so proud. Kaia and I left B-town at 4:15am on Saturday morning, and by Saturday night 8pm b-town time, I was back in Poughkeepsie. Woohoo! Pretty good for someone who hasn't driven much the past 7 years. It wasn't even as bad as I thought it would be, thanks to lots of great CD mixes.

Well, I'm going to run off to play with Buttons, my sweet dog, and clean up a little around here. Visiting Manhattan Tuesday night and all Wednesday to see Sliker, and I'll be back in the city soon after to see many other wonderful people! I only wish it were as beautiful here as it is in Bloomington--it was in the 50's here yesterday, and b-town is supposed to be 90 by wednesday. I'm so jealous. At least it'll be warm enough here to sit outside and read :)

A domani-

2005-04-30T14:13:00.000-05:00

Party @ Ms. Wise's house :)

weekend to study...or not

2005-04-30T13:51:00.000-05:00

Wow, in 1 week I'll be driving solo, just me and my tunes on the road back to the Northeast. Unbelievable. Other than two little final exams, I'm done with half my master's degree. Wonders never cease.

As reminded by my wife, Leanne Rose, I have not mentioned the reasons I will be happy to come home to Poughkeepsie. The list is short, but so important that I don't even need to remind myself of it, because it's a given! But, to clarify, I will see my wonderful mom, and my fantabulous wife of almost 18 years, Lan. :) It's going to be lots of fun! Thank goodness they both are there, as I would definitely go stir crazy in about 2 a half days. Maybe 2 and 3/4 days. Bubby-time is definitely in the works :)

I don't know what actual things I'd like to do when I get home. I mean, I'll certainly get a lot of reading done, which I'm really happy about, because I haven't actually finished a "fun" book since about October. There's always the movie theaters, but since I've signed up for netflix, we can just watch good movies at home for much cheaper. If the weather is nice (I am sure it will be, but it's hard to think about when it's still so freakin' cold here!!!) I would like to take some walks, and of course I'll be learning lots of new music. I forsee cooking a lot because both mom and I are used to cooking for ourselves. We can take turns making dinner, which seems to be a functional answer. It would be great to take a mini vacation to some beach...maybe Lan and I can go to Long Beach Island again? Unfortunately we'd have to wait until August, as it's not warm until then...or maybe we can split the driving and make our way someplace else that's a little warmer?

Well, this is turning into ranting, and it should really be in french to practice for my final exam. Je dois etudier pour mon examen. Je veux dormir, lire, et ecouter de la musique, mais je ne peux pas. Mais...je vais relacher aussi. Peut-etre je vais relacher et demain je vais etudier :)

A demain~

Post-Recital

2005-04-28T08:35:00.000-05:00

Wow. It's over. If you take a look at the pics below, you'll witness the post-recital happiness and chatting :)

So, it seems like people liked the recital overall. Today I get the lowdown from Ms. Wise, as we're going to watch the video at my lesson today. Eek. I hope I make it out of there alive. I'm not going to like it.

So, I was supposed to be homefree by now, and although I'm getting close, I'm definitely not done yet. I'm eager to start learning a lot of new music (I already have next year's recital planned out!) but my voice has definitely not been in a singing mood these past two days, and that stinks. Gotta get that self-confidence up. :)

So, I'll be home in a week and 3 days! Unbelievable. I can't wait to visit NYC, where I'll see so many wonderful friends: Sliker, Twisha, Dodef, Brendan, George, and probably many more people. We'll get Youngbug out there somehow :)

Well, I better get running. I wanted to post the pics, though, for anyone out of state that wanted to check me out in my recital garb ;)

2005-04-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

Auntie Pat, Kazuha, me, and Mom

2005-04-28T08:29:00.000-05:00

Kazuha and I! We're done!

2005-04-28T08:28:00.000-05:00

Me and Ms. Wise, talking shop

Recital!

2005-04-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Top 10 Reasons to come to my recital:

10- You bet your friends $100 you could attend 20 recitals this weekend, and by 3pm on Sunday you'll still need at least one more.

9- You want to meet my awesome Mom and my Auntie Pat.

8- You promised me you would, and you'd rather keep your promise than be blacklisted forever.

7- All your friends are coming, and if you don't come along, you'll rot in your apartment alone for the whole hour.

6- You secretly love voice recitals.

5- You are obsessed with high notes, and I'll sing 3 high-Es in a row.

4- You need a decent reason to postpone writing that awful paper.

3- You can laugh about the duct tape that is under-wraps.

2- You've never seen my tattoo, and now's your chance.

1- You are completely and totally in love with me, and don't know how to show it...

Sunday, April 24th, at 3 pm in Ford Hall. Come on, I mean, I'll be there. :)

The Coloratowa~

2005-04-20T22:58:00.000-05:00

Tutto bene!!! Kaia and I had a great time tonight--we had wonderful wine, tasty food, heard the fantastic stylings of Joe and Co. and talked up a storm. Tutto bene exactly :)

2005-04-19T08:34:00.000-05:00

Duct tape has many uses. Anyone have a good way to get the sticky residue off skin? Sigh. Good thing today is a short day.

no need to CRY

2005-04-17T23:23:00.000-05:00

we CRYed. It went fairly well, and the audience there was receptive. It was practically vocal rape, to be blunt, but we'll all be fine to sing tomorrow, so I guess we can't complain too much.

So, the best part of today was the after concert party at Dr. Harrington's house. I have never seen such an amazingly beautiful and creative house. It is out in the middle of nowhere, and has many wrap-around porches and gorgeous landscape, plenty of windows (walls of them) and nooks and crannies and billions of pieces of artwork and things from far away lands. It was mesmorizing...and the food was fantastic! It was so sweet of him to have us all over for a great evening. I was able to catch up with Vasiliki, which was also great, as we talked for over 2 hours. :)

Driving back home in the car was also an interesting time--you know, there are snapshots of life that you feel you will remember forever--as if life can be paused on them; and you will be able to bring those images back, and remember the exact way you felt...and those moments are often ones that seem silly or inconsequential...like driving home from the middle of nowhere with 3 other chicks in the car, listening to funky music as you rumble across unpaved road littered with trees...it just reminded me of how brief my time here will be...fleeting friendships that don't develop as much as you'd like because there just isn't the time. It's really a sad thing. Then I started wondering how life will be after this whole college stint ends. Will I live anywhere more than a year or two for a whole decade? I won't have school as a common bond anymore; will we be able to connect? It leaves me between scrambling to organizing events so I can spend more time with people I want to really know, or sheltering myself so to not get a glimpse of the friendships I'll be missing...

Alas, despite the melancholy feeling, it was a great evening.

To the many great evenings left before next year is over, I raise my glass. Cheers.

2005-04-17T02:48:00.000-05:00

Magic Flute!!!

2005-04-17T02:47:00.000-05:00

The Pa-ers, PapagenA and PapagenO

No more PAs

2005-04-17T02:26:00.000-05:00

It's pretty unbelievable that Magic Flute is over. Of course now that I feel totally relaxed about the perfomance, it's done. It always seems to work that way.

Part of me is happy that I will have so much free time now (choir is over after tomorrow) but I am sad because I don't really feel like I had bonding time with the Magic Flute cast. I think it was the nature of my role, as I was only onstage with Papageno...but still, I feel like I had one day of rehearsal, then tech week, and now it's over, and it will be quickly a very past memory.

I think I got some good pictures tonight, though, so once they are in my computer, hopefully you'll see a group shot above this entry!

I don't want to write too long, as my brain is swimming and needs to be shut down for the evening. Choir concert tomorrow at 4pm (Swayne's crazy piece, "Cry", which is an interesting concept, but should be performed by machines so to not cause so many voices so much pain). Then choir party, and chilling before another week begins. Only 2 school weeks left~a scary thought that in approximately 1 year from now I will be leaving my new home for a newer homebase. The life of a singer is definitely not a stable one.

Goodnight to the many people that make my life so wonderful~

Let us again ride the rollercoaster

2005-04-12T08:14:00.000-05:00

So now we've passed the nerves, and we've passed the calm. I am now residing in a state of physical armor. My insides are nice and warm and fine, and my muscles have all hardened themselves to the extreme, causing me much trouble when I attempt to do something musical with my voice. It's quite a problem, and I hope that by my recital hearing tomorrow, it will all be fine.

Yesterday I attempted many ways of relaxation, from stretching, meditation (though my mind was racing too much to do well at that one), eating a good meal, watching a movie, singing, and using one of those heat patches on my neck. This morning I took a long hot shower, and now I am eating some pancakes and listening to Barber's Adagio and his violin concerto. Let's hope it makes me feel better.

To take things into perspective, tomorrow won't be that bad. 3 or so pieces later, and the faculty will know I am memorized, and the hearing will be over. I might not wow them, they may not think I'm fantastic, but who cares? No bother stressing over it, as it will only make things worse.

To recap, Magic Flute went really well this weekend. I had lots of fun, and am not worried about Saturday in the least. We had a full house at the show, and my family was here, which was great, despite the fact that I didn't get much sleep.

Well, I am going to make sure all of my things are ready for today, and bask a little more in the Barber....I am so afraid that I won't make the Hermit Songs what they should be. Maybe I just don't love them as much as I thought I would, I don't know. Bleech. No more worrying!

Have a great day~

Calm 1

2005-04-07T08:37:00.000-05:00

is on it's way. Flute rehearsals are over, and I open tomorrow night! Should be fun--let's hope that I can make all my dialogue clear and crisp and heard! That's been the main problem for all of us up there. Not to mention my difficulties with my 30 pound long cloak. Sigh. Gotta love being clumsy.

My mom is coming into town tonight, and then my cousins Diane and Richard are coming on Friday. I'm so excited that family is going to visit! My apartment looks hideous right now, but I'm hoping the hour I have later today will clean it up sufficiently.

I had a coaching with Roger Vignoles yesterday, and it was awesome. It was officially a masterclass, but the time I was able to go, we were working together in a studio without an audience, which I preferred. He was great, and it made me sad that I don't get coachings every week! His main advice--simplify. Don't "emote" but rather just say the words, let them carry you, and believe in what you are saying. It was harder than you'd think to really just let it happen. I'm sure that my breath support went out the window a little bit, but I think once I get the idea better, it'll make everything a lot easier. I guess I want to sing these Hermit Songs so well I'm just way overshooting and working way too hard. Sigh.

I've got 4 minutes until bus time, but in case I don't blog again before Saturday, A big Happy Birthday to Dodef!!!, who is now ever older than old ;)

~Lowa

79 in the sun

2005-04-04T17:31:00.000-05:00

I've noticed that it's warmest in IN around 2-5pm. This is quite different from NY heat, which starts around 11 and simmers down around 3. At least that's how it always seemed to me.

Today it is beautiful, my terrace door is open and I can hear the birds singing. The lawn is rich green, and the sun is shining. In 30 minutes I will be held captive in a windowless basement room for hours on end, trying to get work done as I worry about my next entrance. Alas, it's dress rehearsal week.

Last time I blogged (which was quite recently, I believe) I was overjoyed with my crazy schedule. Today I am not feeling the love. It was busy (and still is), and nothing exciting happened. My voice was in a weird state, therefore completely ruining a good portion of the day. All I want to do is finish up the semester and enjoy time outside. Instead, every spare second I am trying to get more things done, as I know that I'll be cutting into precious sleep time if I don't. My goal is to finish everything important by my recital. That way I'll be really busy until then, but once that's over, the fat (skinny, ahem) lady has sung. Alas.

Tomorrow will be easier, I am sure. It's lots less busy, and I don't have to sing the dress rehearsal, which means I'll be trapped in a windowless space for a few hours, but without light too. However, I'll be entertained, as opposed to be entertaining. Who knows. I know I love it, but I'm ready for a break. Or at least something new.

Well, I better cut this short and get my things together and my laptop stored and ready for transport. I hope all is well wherever you may be reading this from.

A domani, Papagena

Busy and lovin' it

2005-04-03T10:59:00.000-05:00

As you all may have suspected, my weeks have become full of time-consuming rehearsals and such. Contrary to my belief, I am pretty much loving it! Not only that, but I am still getting into bed around the same time, and getting more sleep because the second I'm in bed, I'm snoring! Woohoo!

The next weeks are going to pass by really really fast, and in no time I will be in Poughkeepsie, visiting with my mom and my NYC friends. :) Yay!

Before I forget, here is a list of days I'll be performing. If you feel so inclined, please come to support me/hear some great (hopefully!) music:

Friday April 8th and Saturday April 16th- Magic Flute. Friday is open seating, which means any seat, and cheaper too. Both performances are at 8pm. Watch me "Pa" in style for my 5 minute MAC debut :)

Saturday April 16th-Opera Auditions. I'm singing Durch Zartlichkeit (which has nothing to do with either opera, but will hopefully go really well and be good recital prep). For you high note affetionados, it's got 3 high Es at the end. I'm supposed to go on around 11am. Opera auditions are great to watch if you want to catch lots of different singers singing their attempted best in under 4 minutes each.

Sunday, April 17th-having been recruited into University Singers, I'm performing in Giles Swayne's CRY at 4pm. It's 70 minutes long, 1-on-a-part amplified crazy singing. I've got some high Ds to sing, and tons and tons of notes above B-flat to wail on for way too long (while saying melemelemele over and over. If you're masochistic, or just plain curious, come watch. If nothing else, it should be really interesting...

Saturday, April 23rd-Adonis and I are singing in a church concert benefiting our music ministry at St. Paul's (17th St. just west of Jordan). The concert will be performed by different school of music students--3 singers, and a good handful of instrumentalists. I'm performing rep that will be on my recital, so if you're just coming to check me out, you should come on out on:

Sunday, April 24th-this is the BIG PERFORMANCE! this semester. My first master's recital, Ford Hall, 3pm. I'll be performing Handel, Mozart (one aria from Alcina, the other from Abduction of the Seraglio, mentioned above [3 high Es]) Brahms, Strauss (only 1 German lied each), Faure, and Barber (the whole Hermit). Kazuha Nakahara will be accompanying :) The whole recital should be just under an hour. Please come support me, as it is always nicer to sing for a larger audience. :)
------------------------------------------------
And that's that. I'll be going out on Monday April 25th to celebrate the end of the above performances and the handing in of my last paper (stupid vocal ped, it's due the 25th, the day after that crazy weekend). All are invited to celebrate the last Monday of our first year at Grad school! :)

Want-Ads

2005-03-23T08:16:00.000-05:00

WANTED: Someone friendly to help me over the next month. I will need support through all the performances coming up--any help with memorization would be excellent; foreign language speakers [pronunciators] a + (German, Italian, & French). The person should also be proficient in the art of calm, so they can ease my mind when I'll think I've lost it. This can be a one time job or hopefully more. Payment will be given in meals at my house. If that is not appealing, I would be willing to assist this person with their crazy life, as long as it is post April 24th. EOE.

WANTED: Someone who can whisper sonority qualities in my ear Thursday, March 24th, 9-10am, and Monday, May 2nd, 8-10am. Clear diction a must, perfect pitch a plus.

WANTED: More time in the mornings. Eek. Gotta run for now.