I did it!

Picspam to come in the morning...

It's been one amazing weekend. And it's not even over yet! Toodles.

I should live up to my first first name more.

And now I'm off to prepare Opera Workshop music before going for a brisk run. I think, post-toning, I will have dinner with Marissa and Ariel before we acquire ingredients to bake something tonight. I was thinking a king cake, but I don't know what will strike my fancy later this evening.

It's also Fridaaay! Long, good, music (concert attendance)-filled weekend ahead! Toodles.

( to-do. )

halloween costume. help. Halloween is less than a week away... I'm a bit bummed that it falls on a Friday because that means I'll only get to wear my costume once; the school-wide costume party will obviously be on Halloween, as opposed to the Friday before Halloween as it was last year.

I originally wanted to be Zerbinetta, patterned somewhat after Kathleen Battle's costume, except red, black, and white with a solid bodice/corset and diamante skirt like Diana Damrau's. I already had a jaunty hat as an accessory.

But I don't know how feasible that is given the short amount of time. My other ideas for this year were Sophie from Der Rosenkavalier (Julianne Gearhart in Seattle Opera's production), Duchesse de Polignac in the green gown from Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, or Cécile de Volanges from Valmont (which I know is a tweaked version of Les Liaisons dangereuses)... which are about as involved as the Zerbinetta costume *shrugs*

My mom said she'd make me my costume if she had an adequate workspace, so my thoughts now are 1) renting a costume, 2) paying to have my costume made (I supply the pattern, measurements, fabric, and notions, and hope for the best), 3) *shudders* buying a simple costume, or 4) not going incognito at all. I don't want to be Cherubino again this year, since that costume was quite memorable last year, nor do I want to be like hordes of other girls scantily, skankily "clad" in the potentially cold weather. That is too easy :p

I'm going to e-mail our stage director if she can recommend me a good seamstress/tailor who could execute my costume.

I was thinking of having either this pattern (pattern 3637) or this simpler one (pattern 4092) made for the blue Cécile gown. However, I realize that both designs require a pannier of some sort... or at least petticoats. The more complicated one even has a separate, $17.95 pattern for the panniers (pattern 3635).

ETA (10/21, 7:30 PM): I decided to put an inquiry to the local professional costuming supply. I added Queen of the Night to the list of possible costumes. I hope it's still possible, that it won't break the bank, and that I get a pretty costume.

As for the pie, I'm baking a lattice-work peach pie tonight! Perhaps will watch The Dutchess around 10 PM with my mom? I don't know.

what to bake? I'm thinking it's between the hand pies, for which I actually packed my two cookie sheets, and the apple crumb bars. Or just plain apple pie, hahah. Fruit filling, definitely.

I also want to snap up a set of icing tips (okay, I'd be happy with a 1M and a set of 12 disposable icing bags) at Michael's before I return to school so my next cupcakes are spiffier looking. And a pair of 9" springform pans. And a 9 x 9" pan.

zzz. I was reminded today of how much sleep I need (have lost?) because I almost slept all afternoon. I'm taking an extended break before I return to my Introduction to Sacred Scriptures homework. Tomorrow is Christ and the Moral Life, and Tuesday is theory and ET/SS.

The aroma of scrambled eggs calls? Toodles.

( to-do. )

Apparently ear training was cancelled this morning, and no one saw fit to tell Walter and me?

Huzzah. We had this great conversation about how we've enjoyed this process learning and tweaking our scenes, that we can't believe that it's already time to perform them in front of audiences, and how we get emotional at the end of "Lady's Maid," the finale of the workshop.

In other news, I am grateful that I didn't roll over and go back to sleep this morning at 4:50 and instead went to 6 AM Bikram. I am also grateful that the bus indeed came, and I didn't have to walk 14 blocks more en route to class, and that I was so refreshed, and the morning was so crisp and bright that the walk back to school was quite pleasant.

Time to get on with my morning. But first... what to wear?

We open tomorrow night!

</stream-of-consciousness>

( to-do. )

Opening night was sold out, natch. I guess fire code prohibited the symphony from letting two students into the relatively small hall. *shrugs* We went for sushi at the Japanese restaurant I've been wanting to try for months, in part because Donna was famished from not having eaten since earlier today.

I caved and finally ordered the unagi domburi (heheh, econ_cat), but I got to sample Donna's tuna (part of the Rainbow Roll, which consists of "snow crab roll wrapped with pieces of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail"), Mango ("fresh mango and fresh salmon and snowcrab"), Special Crunchy ("tempura sea eel, avocado, snowcrab, tempura batter inside seaweed and rice with smelt roe on the outside, topped with eel sauce"), and Violet ("fresh salmon, snowcrab, and crunchy tempura batter") rolls, one of each. I felt like Belle in "Be Our Guest." That, coupled with the small salad with sesame dressing and the delicious miso soup and several glasses of water -- I was quite full afterwards. (Donna let me take home the leftover sushi, ginger, and wasabi :) Except the saltiness of the meal made me want something sweet.

The Italian gelateria was sadly out of tiramisu by the time we arrived, but Donna bought some miniature biscotti and amaretto merengue-esque macaroons as well as the coconut variety for her parents, while I learned that you can apparently buy a small order of gelato with two scoops/two different flavors. Donna and I split this, nonetheless, since I wasn't too hungry. This was another first, as I had strawberry paired with amaretto, marking the first time that I had ice cream other than vanilla or cookies and cream (not counting the times I had neapolitan ice cream).

Back at Donna's, her mom was baking miniature blueberry-banana-nut loaves for a housewarming party tomorrow, as well as muffin (e.g., 6 to a pan)-sized Duncan Hines yellow cakes. We tasted them before finishing Bridget Jones 2: The Edge of Reason, which I'd begun watching earlier this evening while waiting for Donna to arrive home from work. I agreed with Donna that the fight scene near the end was brilliant.

This evening of firsts and just spending time with a wonderful friend made me realize the silver lining, if you could call it that, in this storm dramaturgy. I am indeed ready to resume school, but I am glad to have had the chance to come home for a few days. My roommate also wrote me back today, and I was relieved to hear from her. I was stricken by a particular part of her message:

"I love the weather (it feels like its time for thanksgiving!) Its been so beautiful down here, I'm guessing its been like that downtown too, today its gotten a little hotter but I hope it gets cooler again. I also love how every one is just taking care of their neighborhoods and friends and there are no schedules to stick to, no one is rushing, no red lights to stop at!, nature is in control of us. It feels very primitive. :P But at th same time I feel like I don't have anything to do, like I'm jst sitting around trying to get the initiative to do my homework. BUt, I have to say, two nights ago my sister and I were driving back to our house after dinner and here was a full moon and it was pitch dark aside from that because the power was out everytwhere, but the moon reflected off the lake and it was so gorgeous. I didn't notice how pwerful the moon was because we can never see its full light because of all our artificial city lighting. It was beautiful."

:)

( Stolen meme. )

P.S. The yoga studio will add 4 days onto my next unlimited pass for the days that the studio was closed! Huzzah! I also bought two pretty blue tops for yoga this afternoon after I learned that my gym membership expires on the 23rd.

To buy at lululemon
1. Athletic Dp V Tk III
2. Dp V Tk III
3. Dash Short

To bake for Opera Scenes Workshop reception/s
1. Annie's Eats' Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
2. Annie's Eats' Cheesecake Bites
3. Brown-Eyed Baker's Black Bottom Cupcakes
4. The Good Wife's Blueberry Muffins
5. Smitten Kitchen's Bourbon Peach Hand Pies
6. Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake in minimuffin form, frosted or unfrosted?

(We have a four-night run, so I don't know if I'll bake one for each night or attempt to bring two or more on one night. It all depends on the availability of the kitchen and how much money, spare time, and patience I have :D)

I tried to listen to the opening scene of Figaro while I read the libretto, except it was weird because I was already on the scene with Bartolo and Marcellina, but Figaro was just beginning to measure the bedchamber. *shrugs* I also realized that it wouldn't be quite prudent to tie up Maria's computer for a little over three hours listening to Figaro. I will just read the libretto and then move onto my theology homework.

It's not begun to rain yet...

( to-do. )

I think I'm going to do doubles for Bikram next week to make up for the four days that I'm not practicing yoga. It will take extra willpower to go to manage my time well so that 1) I get everything that needs to be done for class on or ahead of time, so 2) I can go to bed early, so 3) I can get up that early in the mornings. But I surmise that it will work out just fine.

I also realized that it's a good thing I practiced two hours the other day. I could theoretically take two days off practicing this week, since I almost always take one day off practicing. (I regularly practice about an hour a day in terms of solo voice rep and going over choir music on my own, not counting soprano sectional rehearsal or daily vocal ensemble rehearsal time.) But if I wanted to practice, I could, since Maria has a piano.

This morning I woke up with a start and saw the sunlight filtering into the bedroom in which I'm staying this weekend. I feared it was late. When I finally pulled myself out of bed and looked at my cell phone, it was hardly 8:40. I guess I'm so used to waking up early, earlier than that now.

And I had cereal for breakfast for the first time in awhile! Mmm. I was planning on having one of the peaches Maria and her mother bought yesterday, but I was so full after the several bowls of cereal that I decided to wait. Lunch was a slice of Italian cream cake. Mmm. Perhaps I will have the peach later, after all.

Maria and I were sitting in the living room earlier, she transposing a viola part from C to G-clef, I reading the beginning of a performable English translation of Le mariage de Figaro, as BBC America's You Are What You Eat was playing in the background. The host was mentioning something about which pig parts go into hot dogs... and she had a bowl of pigs' ears and snouts. That were still hairy. Ew. I don't eat hot dogs anymore, and if I had any doubt about changing my mind, I don't now.

This morning the sky was bright, and everything seemed calm. Now the trees are rustling more, the poolwater is rippling, and the sky is grayer.

Back to Beaumarchais. Even if I'm reading it in English and not in French (that might take a bit longer because my French is a bit rusty), I'm seeing the similarities and differences and after I read the Da Ponte libretto without hearing the music (Figaro was the first opera I ever saw, at the Met, when I was 13, and I've seen it live or on DVD several times), I think I want to pick up another book on the collaboration between Mozart and Da Ponte in writing the opera. Then perhaps I'll be more ready to answer the Stanislavsky-based questionnaire focused on Susanna. Toodles.

( to-do. )

cold turkey. pancakes. Ahahahah. I had pancakes with strawberries for breakfast. *shrugs* I will try to supplement apple cinnamon oatmeal and an orange tomorrow morning with, say, protein of some sort. So I don't feel like passing out come 11 AM at the end of my voice lesson.

practice session whoa. I was only going to practice for 30 minutes this morning... but I had an immensely productive, good practice session that was 2 hours and 7 minutes long. I covered rep for chamber choir, Opera Scenes Workshop, and solo voice. It was great. I found that dipping into "Broadway chest voice" for "Lady's Maid" after having fully warmed up about thirty minutes prior only made the "classical" rep sound better. I can't wait to sing the Mendelssohn "Morgenlied" with the full accompaniment. I'm glad that my subtext for that song is basically the way I felt that morning I went to 6 AM yoga, or rather, the way I felt walking back to school afterwards.

However... this great practice session meant that I, uh, missed ear training :/ Well, we're granted four absences, so I will save the rest for when I really need them.

thank you, econ_cat! My bank said that since I didn't open my account in this state, I cannot obtain a temporary debit card. Woe. So I withdrew cash instead. At least this way I have money on me, and I am not tempted to go splurge at the mall or anything before my paychecks arrive next week.

healthy. mm-hmm. Salads are my new turkey sandwich. (I used to have a turkey sandwich -- on wheat with tomato and one slice of Muenster cheese, that's it -- at lunch and dinner almost every day last semester. It was filling, not unhealthy, and simple. I'd have a fruit and a bowl of cereal, and voila! A meal. Alas, now you have to buy the sandwiches prepackaged, which means you cannot specify what is in them, boo.)

I noticed today that not only are the croutons in the dining hall's prepackaged salads partially hydrogenated soybean oil- and high fructose corn syrup-laden, but the whipped cream atop the cup of fresh berries (strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries) not only lacked a taste (eeeyuck!) and had a thicker consistency than I would've liked, but of course, that topping also contained the aforementioned anathemic ingredients. Ewww.

Other than that, the berries were tasty. I will just have to try harder to find options that aren't preservative-laden. However, my roommate and I realized today that, if the prepackaged foods are that costly ($4.49 for a salad, $1.99 for a fruit cup, etc.) and have preservatives, how much more expensive would food be if they were totally organic and natural? Eeek.

do I sense a 'tude?!? Long story short. In my soprano sectional rehearsal today, several sopranos obviously hadn't practiced beforehand. I, with my nascent piano skills, slowly plunked out the notes before we attempted to sing the pieces. On the Agnus Dei from Haydn's Kleine Orgelmesse, at one point, we as a group accelerated the tempo, thus turning straight quarters into eighth notes. I wasn't as concerned with the rhythms because the group as a whole was unsure of pitches. A testy, cocky freshman soprano asked, "Wait, why are those now eighth notes?"

I automatically (d'oh! I need to stop being apologetic for things that aren't my fault) apologized on behalf of the group and said, "Yes, those are straight quarters."

"Then why don't we sing them as straight quarters?" the nasty soprano shot back with an edge. I think the air became a lot more still after that. I know I couldn't have been the only one to reel from the unnecessary vitriol. My roommate later confirmed that she felt like the attitude was unwarranted.

I wish I had been witty enough to reply with something like, "Yes, but I'm more concerned that the group as a whole is unsure of pitches. In the future we will endeavor to maintain rhythmic integrity."

Aaaand this is the soprano who sang "Se Florindo e fedele" breathily with almost no physical indication that she knew what the text was about, the soprano who didn't get into Opera Scenes Workshop, aaand who, in choir, as evidenced by today, slouched and consistently let her focus and gaze meander when the sopranos weren't singing. You can run sectional next time, kthxbye.

Our director, however, not only listened in surreptitiously from the hallway to my rehearsal, but he said he was proud of me for having made a difference in getting the sopranos through some trouble spots in the Maurice Green All Thy Works Praise Thee, O Lord. However, the sopranos consistently missed descending perfect fifths (?!?!?!) in Parry's Crossing the bar and the Agnus Dei of the Kleine Orgelmesse. I was also turned off by the fact that, in the final iterations of "Agnus Dei," the sopranos were swatting at the D to F5, and it wasn't pretty.

yoga. Day 17. There weren't many people in the class, so I secured myself a spot on the second row where I could see myself. However, I hadn't exchanged my glasses for my contacts, so those didn't help much when we did several of the floor series poses. Plus they were susceptible to blurring with sweat :p But I was glad to have had the chance to go again today, especially after that BS with the sopranos.

one day at a time. I feel like I'm living day-to-day. I mean, I am well aware of deadlines, of which rehearsals are to come, etc., but I only have exactly enough time to do the work that is due the next day, if even that. When the weekend comes, I am tired, but I still need to work. I know this is a matter of prioritizing and time management. I guess it's not so bad that I have time to do Bikram daily as well as check my e-mail and journal :)

Okay. Full day tomorrow. Nonstop. Bedtime. Toodles.

( to-do. )

I am thankful for my roommate and my God moment that I had on the way home from yoga this evening. I had enough change to either 1) wash and dry one load of laundry, or 2) wash two loads, meaning I'd have to hang everything. I wanted to wash my Bikram clothes and towels, hang the clothes, and dry the towels.

As I was walking in front of an apartment complex, I looked at the sidewalk, and lo and behold, there was a dollar bill folded into four. If I had a spring in my step before that, I was positively insistent on reaching home in a timely manner to catch dinnertime as well as to put away the dollar and get back to work.

Earlier this afternoon, our beloved accompanist/coach dropped by the dorm to give me the Nico Castel translations for the scenes we're doing in Opera Workshop, and we were both glad to see each other. Although I didn't tell her, I was taken aback by how striking she looked, as usual, even in casual attire, in this case a gauzy white button-down shirt and shorts. She looked so effortlessly put together like an actress from the first half of the twentieth century. I felt like I was a little girl again admiring an actress or ballerina.

Day 15 of the Bikram yoga challenge, e.g., one-fourth of the way. It was different practicing without a hand towel, so that meant I perhaps wiped off my face less (I still did it between Savasana and sit-up, but using my big towel, of course), but I liked where I was situated in the room, in the second row. The teacher was the statuesque honey blonde with a calming voice who I think is my favorite out of all the Bikram teachers at the studio, and I was flattered when she told me after the first Bow Pose, "That was beautiful."

Augh. This weekend was full of opportunities to partake of baked goods :p But then again, I don't eat birthday cake or doughnuts every day, I eat fruit at every meal and exercise daily, and I don't eat fast food, so I suppose everything in moderation is okay.

Waiting for my laundry... I should do my Christ and the Moral Life readings rather than just sit. Toodles.

( to-do. )

Several of the past mornings, I've set my alarm to wake me up early. However, I often got up, flipped open my phone to stop the alarm, and promptly rolled back into bed. Not this morning.

Although part of me couldn't fathom being up as early as 4:45 -- as I walked through the lobby at 5 AM, I couldn't believe there were still people studying... it's only the second week of school! -- and part of me started to think irrationally, wondering what would happen if I turned back when I was already 15 minutes into the walk to the studio, I felt wonderful especially at the end of my practice.

The sun had just risen, and after final Savasana, and everyone else had left the room, I sat, stretching as the sunlight filtered in through the blinds. While the sidewalks had been dark and silent en route to the studio, it was as if the world was waking up as I walked back home. I felt a spring in my step and felt ready to take on the day. I was so pleased that I didn't feel the need to listen to music on the return.

Riffling through my new repertoire for voice just now, the translation of Mendelssohn's Morgenlied, op. 82, no. 2 seems appropriate:

Awakening in renewed strength,
I greet Your light, God,
and I turn my happy face
toward Your works.
How splendidly the sun sends its beams upward,
awakening life's loud chorus!

Songs of jubilation already resound
in fields, bushes, and sky,
and from the forest's halls
the morning's fresh fragrance pours.
Little birds shake off the dew,
fly up, and sing in the bright blue.

The sun is already hovering higher
in its victorious course;
all that lives breathes rapture,
and all that slept awakens.
O God, in Your sunshine
how splendid it is to be alive!

So I didn't go to ear training this morning. *shrugs* I wanted to take my time at breakfast. Peter and Walter informed me that we have a test on Thursday on the reviewing we've been doing, on intervals, scales, etc.

I got a lot accomplished this morning in terms of workstudy tasks, but what I was really concerned about was conducting my first soprano sectional. My piano skills are nascent and I was pondering how I'd come across as firm yet loving, poised yet not supercilious. We worked on plainchant, a hymn, and sort of [jo jo]-ed our way through the Kyrie. I found there was a glint of unsolicited vibrato, vowels in need of uniformity, and an affinity for ritard-ing at the end of every verse in a hymn. Hm. It was a good first sectional, though, and it made me realize that I don't have to be a concert pianist to conduct one.

One word of advice I wanted to stress was that listening to the Mass constantly and spending at least 10-15 minutes at the piano with the score daily will be invaluable in getting the music in their bodies. I about floated off the ground when we finally got to sing the Kyrie, and our director was pleased with the sopranos' sound. "If the top ain't right...," begins a familiar choir cliché. But today it was, for the most part. We moved to the Agnus Dei and touched two pages before we moved onto another piece, William Mathias's Lift up your heads, O ye gates. It has divisi and some A5s towards the end.

Copied new repertoire, overhauled the studio binders (e.g., took out the people who graduated/left and shifted the singers to their new lesson days), and labeled the Pop Singers' binders over the course of about 2 hours this evening. I think I'd already known during choir that I wasn't returning to yoga this evening, not merely because I was tired, but because there was little to no way I'd be able to reconcile the time it takes to practice Bikram in the evening with the amount of workstudy tasks PLUS my homework for tomorrow. Not to mention, um, my first voice lesson this semester. Bikram will always be there; I can always go twice in a less hectic day, like Saturday, perhaps, instead of today.

Dinner consisted of a small Caesar salad with honey dijon dressing, a fruit cup, an orange, and grapes. And too much bottled water. I didn't think it was possible to eat too many fruits and vegetables, but now I know better. I had a slight hankering for unagi, but I wasn't willing to take the time to get myself to the sushi grille.

I got to talk to my mom for the better part of 36 minutes, and it was good to check in with her. My family visited a leading technical institute for my brother today and enjoyed the campus, although my brother's first choice remains a leading non-technical institute. I really hope he gets to attend his first choice school because he's bright, and that would mean we might get to be in the same city during the school year.

So. I've got two readings and some theory (mmm) to cover tonight. Or eaaaarly tomorrow morning. Methinks the theology will come first, since I have a reading quiz at 8:10 and need to finish the second quiz before I go to sleep tonight. Toodles.

( to-do. )

For some reason, I awoke with a start this morning around 5:22. I had feared that I'd overslept and missed my 8 AM Bikram class, but the darkness outside confirmed the time that I read on my cell phone.

However, when I next roused, it was already 7:25, which was too late to make it to Bikram on foot.

I decided to *gulp* just go twice tomorrow, in the morning and in the evening, so that Jasia and I could still make Stanzie's complimentary Power Vinyasa class for beginners at 11 AM. Although neither of us is a beginner, it was great to see both Stanzie and MM and just do some basic vinyasa asanas.

I realized how long it had been since I'd been there at the studio when my muscles started to smart somewhat while we were holding Chaturanga. But the sensation of downward dog and crescent lunge were great, and it made me wish I could somehow practice both Bikram and Power Vinyasa regularly. I mean, I could, but it would take a lot of time management and slightly more money than I am willing to part with at the moment. I think after the 60-day challenge ends, I will combine both Power Vinyasa yoga with cycling/running. I guess five days a week of Vinyasa yoga and cardio isn't bad, although I think being able to do Bikram seven days a week spoils me.

Another thing I noticed this morning as we did the sun salutations is that my mat still retains that funky aroma of the Bikram studio! I wonder if it's the smell of sweat or what, but the heated room always smells like it. *shrugs*

Cream cheese-filled kolaches are mmm but meant to be eaten sparingly, of course (although I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they're not as "bad" nutrition-wise as I thought). Sebastian let Jasia and I split the last one as we drove to lunch at a Mexican place. I was proud of myself for choosing the black beans in my salad, because I'm not particularly a fan of beans, despite their positive attributes.

Jasia and I were finally able to get quarters not at CVS, which, again, wasn't giving cash back with transactions, but at the grocery's customer service desk. I previously picked up about 2.5 pounds of red grapes and two Valencia oranges since fruit isn't as readily available on campus.

The dining hall is thankfully open this evening, but again, the hours are silly, 4:30-7 PM. Do they not realize that most students won't be hungry for dinner until after 7? Oh well. QuizNo's, when it opens, will close at 10 PM nightly.

For some reason, I have peaches on the mind again. I saw two recipes for peach pies today, first, of bourbon peach hand pies, which I am making for sure when I go home in about two weeks, and then for peach pie redux, utilizing the same recipe I used when I made my first peach pie a few weeks ago. There is something special, exciting, and whimsical about fresh, ripe peaches; for some reason I always think of frolicking barefoot in an white fence-enclosed orchard in the summertime when I see them.

I'm glad Gustav weakened before it hit today, but I hope the storm surge doesn't prolong the time residents have to be away from their homes, work, etc.

Okay. Enough procrastination. Time to finish this reading assignment. Toodles.

( to-do. )

I did go to yoga this evening. I ended up getting the spot next to the mirrored door, so that at the end, when we were in final Savasana, as people left the room, I felt repeated cool breezes :) But, no, seriously, it was a good practice. I feel rested and ready to practice (voice) now.

Aaaand I also thought I wasn't going to make it back in time to scoop up dinner at the dining hall, but I arrived shortly after 7, and not only did the cashiers let me grab something, but because the cash register was malfunctioning, they said it was on the house! I had a turkey sandwich on white, a 2-oz. container of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, a fruit cup, and an orange -- sort of like what I used to have before the switch from buffet to à la carte, except with white bread and mayonnaise instead of wheat with no condiments, Cinnamon Toast Crunch instead of Honey Nut Cheerios, and with the addition of a fruit cup. It was a delicious, filling dinner, though, especially after walking over 20 blocks to yoga and back.

The copy editors' meeting has been canceled due to the change in the weather, but we'll still be sent our articles to proof via .pdf form.

Methinks it's time for a shower before I go practice. I also want to check in with my parents to make sure everyone's safe. Toodles.

Putting together this road bike was a little more than I bargained for... but I'd rather have paid $19.95 plus shipping for the toolkit and instructional DVD than spend $65+ at a bike shop. I still have to buy the helmet, lock, and rack. *shrugs* All I have to do is adjust the brakes, fiddle with the chain, and I think it'll be operational. (Whenever I see/read/hear that word, I think of Emperor Palpatine and the Death Star.)

I sort of don't feel like going to yoga today. In fact, I feel like just going back to bed. However, missing a day of the Bikram challenge means you have to go twice the next day. Hahahahah. No thank you. There are only three classes tomorrow, and that would either mean sitting through two consecutive practices or coming back. I'm going this afternoon. I know I'll feel energized afterwards, and then I'll practice.

I finally realized why the Gloria in the Oxford score doesn't resemble any of the three recordings I've heard. I didn't realize until just now that it's a prolongation by Michael Haydn, and the original score, what I've heard on the recordings, is on page 45... I wonder which one we'll sing. Here's to hoping it's the original.

catthewonderdog, you're right... sushi is addictive! I can't stop thinking about it. My roommate says it's the one thing that doesn't upset her stomach. I wished aloud last night in conversation that they offered it here at school... and then I realized that 1) it would probably be waaaay overpriced, and 2) I wouldn't want to think about whether or not the fish would be sanitary.

Almost time to dress up for Bikram. Toodles.

( to-do. )

Whoa... I just realized that I don't think I've checked Facebook more than twice today, including now in the next window. That must mean I'm busy...??

Today was day 5 of the Bikram 30 (60?)-day challenge. I think I would like to invest in a few more tops, bottoms, and towels since I plan to be doing yoga, whether Bikram or Baron Baptiste Power Vinyasa, regularly.

My shiny red road bike is still in its box, and the toolkit and instructional DVD on how to assemble it also arrived. I don't know if I want to attempt to set it up tonight. I won't really be able to use it, however, until I purchase a helmet and lock. A water bottle cage and even a rack would be good, too.

I'm in the midst of ironing out my schedule. Again. I think I found the solution and am hoping tomorrow's gander at my e-mailbox will yield a definitive answer.

iimpu and I had a great Target trip this evening :DD Thank you!! Now to find over-the-door hardware for the mirror...

I have Bach's "Ich will dir mein Herze schenken" stuck in my head, Arleen Augér's rendition. I want to learn that piece this semester.

tytaniastrange, is it tacky to add an E6 to the ossia of "Fair robin I love"? Also, I hope this isn't a naive question, but dramatically, are the repeated "Fa la la"s that Dorine sings supposed to be like laughter? Whenever I sang this aria I always just looked shrewd and sassy especially during the E-E "la la."

Apparently the dining hall tried to pull a fast one on the student body. Dinner has almost always ended at 8 PM every night. Even the overall time that the hall is open says 7:30 AM-8:00 PM. Tonight, however, I approached the food court-style hall around 7:30, and it was bare. I glanced at the hours on the window and next to dinner was 4:30-7:00 PM. O____o I eat dinner around 7-7:30 PM, which is the perfect time because it's right after I've walked back from yoga. It gives me just enough time to eat, shower, change, practice, and do homework before bedtime. I ended up eating a piece of bread for dinner.

But then again, tonight was the first Wednesday evening social event of the year sponsored by the residence life staff, and there was breakfast food aplenty ^_^;; Yay Bikram challenge! I also hope to take my bike out for a test run this weekend. There is a nearby cycling track that I've always wanted to use and will.

Earlier in Pop Singers we started learning our first ensemble piece, an arrangement of George M. Cohan's "Give My Regards to Broadway," which took me way back. I was grateful and a bit proud that I already knew the melody and some of the backstory to the composer and piece. I can't wait to learn the choreography! In fact, I'm excited to finally be able to attend all the rehearsals because I have no classes in the way of them. (Though Music History was indeed great.)

Stream of consciousness indeed. It has been quite a day. Off to revise the Pop syllabus, send reminders, photograph cards, and and... laundry? Yoga at 6 AM. Toodles.

The blueberry lemon loaf was a success, yes. Crisp, golden brown on the outside, soft and cakelike on the inside with just a hint of lemon-y taste thanks to the one tablespoon of grated lemon zest. My parents really enjoyed it (there is about a fourth left) in part because it closely resembles the lemon cherry pound cake/loaf Barnes & Noble Cafes sell, except I'm willing to wager that my loaf has no butter, baking powder, or the optional lemon glaze which is basically more sugar and butter.

But unlike muffins, which take about 23-25 minutes to bake, it takes an hour to bake, and upon calculating the calories of the ingredients... I've decided this will be the first and last time I'm making this O___o

Quality Bertolli light virgin olive oil or butter (the recipe calls for 1/2 cup or either 960 calories' worth of olive oil or 800 calories of butter -- the former has slightly more calories, but the latter has tons more saturated fat), it is quite a hearty loaf. *shrugs* I had a cake-like piece and some skim milk for what I guess is my lunch.

Which brings me to the conclusion that I don't think I want to buy baking paraphernalia so much anymore if that means it will enable me to bake more easily. I don't want to bake unless there is a reason for it, e.g., reception, bake sale, meeting, luncheon, etc.

Dishes are almost washed, and then it's time to sort through clothes that once lived under my dorm room bed in hampers. I hope to give away or dispose of a good deal of them so I won't have as much to bring back. I read an article last night about "editing" one's wardrobe, so that is added incentive.

After my dad returns, I hope that means I can go school and room supply shopping. We hit the road at midnight for an approximately six-hour trip.

( to-do. )

Glad that Shawn now has a gold on beam! Aaand the end to 2008 Beijing Gymnastics, in general. I didn't wake up this morning to catch it live, though.

I don't know if it's residual fatigue from my work schedule and staying up late last night to watch the Olympic coverage, but I was, again, lethargic this morning. I had breakfast, sat around checking NBC's results page, went to the car to retrieve my bag, and took an almost hour-long nap in the car! I then proceeded to go to the gym, do my weights as usual, stretch and warm up, but only jog for a bit before just walking briskly uphill for the remaining time because 1) my right ankle felt funny, and 2) I was seriously sleepy. *shrugs* Maybe it's my body's way of telling me it's tired of my summer exercise routine? I can't wait to get my bike and do yoga daily.

Speaking of bikes, I've all but abandoned my hope to purchase the GMC Denali 24" Girl's Road Bike 21 Speed because I realized its standover height is significantly shorter than my already-short inseam. My brother, who knows more about cycling than I do, suggested the 2008 NEW ROAD RACING BIKE SHIMANO 14-SPEED BICYCLE, and while it sounds convincing, part of me is disappointed because I really liked the raspberry satin of the former bike. However, its price is also attractive, since I'm not looking to shell a ton of money on a road bike just yet, but I need to now exactly how fast it can be shipped because I need it for this weekend's errand-running and end-of-summer excursions. Also, I have no tools at school, so how would I assemble it?

Ohh, Anthropologie, why did you have to e-mail me...

I don't know why, but the smell of brown rice cooking is absolutely mesmerizing. I think it ranks right up there with paper in a stationer as a favorite scent.

Eek, I am supposed to write at least one piece for my school's newspaper as a copy editor. The option that gives me the most freedom is an opinion piece; of course, my editor-in-chief must approve the topic. I realized that, had I been quick to grab the CD review story, I probably could've "reviewed" the forthcoming soundtrack to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. I am now trying to find a way to write an opinion piece about DHSAB...

Other feasible options include an article about fall fashion, but honestly, I don't really adhere slavishly to trends. If I see something I like, it fits me well, I can afford it, and I can use it often enough to justify the cost, I'll buy it. I don't dress uber-trendy, like the garishly- and whimsically-dressed mannequins at my former place of employment. There is also the option of reviewing a movie, BUT it must be released either the weekend of August 29 or September 6, since we print the day before the latter weekend. I checked IMDB, and there seem to be no good films opening that weekend. Plus, I'd have to make phone calls in an attempt to score free passes. Ballet Shoes with Emma Watson opens this Sunday, but it's only playing at one theatre, and unless people are fans of Emma Watson and the BBC period drama, I don't think the majority of our readers would make the effort to see it.

Any suggestions for more opinion piece topics? I don't want to write something about which I'm not passionate, nor do I want to write about something incendiary/controversial just yet.

Also, strangely, most of the foods I've wanted to bake/cook lately are the ones that I told myself I wouldn't eat until I'm back in town because I've been waiting for a long time to have them, e.g., quesadillas, whole wheat blueberry pancakes, sushi, etc. *shrugs* I guess I will just stick it out and wait.

Finally borrowed Day and Waugh. Need to finish Dyer, which has been on hiatus for quite sometime.

I thought it was interesting that this was the first day of school for several local high schools... yet tonight I saw my share of uniformed girls, some in senior sweaters, some walking on the backs of their shoes (a major no-no to school administrators... and I myself wouldn't want to ruin a good pair of shoes, but I digress), shopping. For what?!? It's not like the back-to-school dances are anytime soon.

Two more days of work, amen. At least today is payday.

I'm glad Nastia is finally smiling! She was always so stoic, poised, and focused yet compassionate (e.g., during the team finals when she consoled Sacramone after Nastia herself performed an impeccable balance beam routine). Still can't wait for the individual event finals.

Methinks it's bedtime, since we have an early day today -- leaving the house at 6:15 AM for a 7 AM Assumption Mass -- which ends in a rehearsal dinner at a restaurant I've only heard good things about from my family. I also look forward to groceries, because the bananas are ripe and begging to be baked (and my family wants muffins), and I want to bake either pancakes or a chocolate cake before school resumes. Toodles! It's finally the weekend!

( to-do. )

Hmm. In a rather weird mood. My peach pie yesterday morning came out delicious, albeit not necessary as aesthetically-pleasing as a lattice-top pie or in general, since all I did was punch a hole in the center and cut eight vents/slits. I'd forgotten to brush the bottom crust with part of the one beaten egg to "keep it from being soggy later," and the top crust wasn't as evenly brushed with egg as I'd've preferred. *shrugs* It was my first true double-crust pie, so give me a break.



Plus, I was lucky that I just felt that 8 peaches, not 10 as the recipe recommended, would be fine because the crust was bursting at the seams prior to baking. With vanilla ice cream, it is delicious, just sweet enough that I think I enjoyed this pie more than I did the apple pie I made last. The filling's syrup (peaches' juice, nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar, and flour) was also just right. I was also happy to say that absolutely no butter was used in this pie, even in the organic whole wheat crust purchased from Whole Foods. Mmm. I know what I'm eating for breakfast... I think, however, I will wait until school resumes to eat/make any more pie.

I look forward to baking a friend two dozen cupcakes (flavors to be specified soon) in exchange for the New Jerusalem Bible he's sending me for my theology course this semester :) It's a win-win situation because I get a textbook almost for free, he gets cupcakes, and I get to add up to two more new flavors to my repertoire.

Gym time was good earlier, and I had my favorite salad for late lunch. But I learned that I am indeed scheduled to work the very last two days I would be employed by the company, grr. I mean, at least I'm being paid, and they're 7- and 6-hour shifts, respectively, but still. *shrugs* I guess it's not bad considering that I get Friday and Saturday off for the wedding this weekend.

( Thoughts on BRIDESHEAD REVISITED film. )

I felt like being alone and doing something creative (um, hello, finishing my card?!?) after the movie, especially because we ran into some old classmates = awkward, "How have you been? What are you up to?" conversation that resulted in some silences, standing, and blinking, but we went back to Donna's house to watch Olympic coverage. Donna poured us Cheez-Its party mix, made us finger grilled cheese sandwiches on white and wheat, sliced peaches and apples, and put out some chocolate-covered strawberries and truffles (I only had the berries) from work, so it was like an Olympics party. I was disappointed in the US women's relay, but we had fun watching and adding our own commentary to the men's all-around finals. I was disappointed to realize that tonight is the women's all-around, meaning I will be getting off work just before it starts. I don't want to miss it.

Note to self: I need to stop going out with my friends because this invariably means spending money on eating out :P D suggested sushi for lunch, but that still costs money. As much as I enjoy the Chargrilled and Fruit Salad, I realized that with tax ($6.08), it costs about 43 minutes' worth of work to buy it O_o Everytime I think I want to spend my money on something, I think about how many hours it took to earn it. A lot of the things on which I'm spending my money, however, have to wait until I return to school.

( to-do. )

Ahhhhh! One more day of work left, unless I am scheduled to work Sunday and/or Monday *pumps fists* I intend to enjoy today, my designated day off, immensely. Perhaps today might also include the trip to the bike shop so I can be measured/fitted for a bike and thus figure out whether the beautiful fuschia road bike I eyed online will work.

Aaaaand I am one-third of the copy editor-troika of my school's newspaper! The staff is getting shirts :D I've wanted to work on a newspaper staff for a long time.

I decided to postpone the pie to Wednesday since my sister brought back some banana muffins from her choral rehearsal since there was so much food. She even brought back leftover Rocky Road-style cookies. I would eat them but for the "flavored marshmallow bits" O_o

At work, I tried putting off Windex-ing the mirrors as long as possible in the hour between the mall closing and getting off work at 10. However, I realized that 1) I won't be working this shift much longer, and 2) if I don't do it, who will, since I usually work this shift. As I sat on the bench near the yogurt parlor waiting for my dad to pick me up, I blinked and remembered the first time I worked this shift and wondered if I could hack it.

I can't wait for the All-Around Women's Gymnastics final tonight!

( to-do. )

Maybe it's the oolong tea and cinnamon...

Maybe it's because I have two days (including today!) of work left...

Maybe it's because I'm excited about baking my first peach pie soon?

(I just whipped together two dozen banana muffins for my sister's 4 PM chorale rehearsal -- she said the chamber ensemble boys from the neighboring boys' high school will be there, so obviously plentiful food isn't a bad idea -- in about twenty minutes, woo. I'll bake my family their batch tonight post-work. I told my sister that if her first actual chorale rehearsal during the school year falls before I leave for school, I'll bake a cake or some other different set of cupcakes.

I also felt energized and pleasant when I did the groceries (fruit, baking supplies, and pre-made organic pie crust -- to save time and trouble and abstain from butter) locally and at Whole Foods.)

Maybe it's because I have all the Giselle/Amy Adams Enchanted songs stuck in my head...

But I'm in a pretty chipper, sprightly mood today. Hmm.

I seriously want to go for a run before my 4 PM work! Toodles.

p.s. I decided that I could definitely go for working part-time at Williams-Sonoma. I was mesmerized last night when I finally decided to go inside and take a gander at merely the bakeware aisle. Can't wait to have my own kitchen...