Movie Soundtrack Meme

Here's how it goes:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't make up the songs ;-)

Opening Credits (2 songs):
"Worlds Apart" by Jars of Clay
"The Horizon Has Been Defeated" by Jack Johnson

Waking Up:
"Let's Get it Started"

First Day At School:
Bartok's Mikrokosmos- No. 140 Free Variations (this is what I get for saving my CDs for musicianship class in my iTunes program)

Puppy Love:
"Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera

Rainy Day:
"Here You Come Again" by Clay Aiken

First Date:
"Pari Siamo!" from Verdi's Rigoletto, Act I

Falling In Love:
"Garrit gallus/In Novafert/ Neuma" by Philippe de Vitry (from the medieval period, also from musicianship)

Fight Song:
"Mazurka in A Minor, Opus 17, No. 4" by Chopin (such a gorgeous piano piece)

Breaking Up:
"Suite No. 6 D, V. Gavotte I & II" by Bach, as performed by Ralph Kirshbaum

Life Is Good:
"On the Sunny Side of the Street" performed by Frank Sinatra (couldn't have picked it better myself!) :-)

Mental Breakdown:
"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"

Driving (2 songs):
"Appalachian Spring" by Aaron Copland
"McGhee" - Lionel Hampton (swing music, but I have no idea what album this is from!)

Flashback (2 songs):
Beethoven's Eroica Symphony (No. 3)
Beethoven's "Sechs Geistliche Lieder, Op. 48: Die Liebe des Nächsten" as performed by Jessye Norman

Getting Back Together:
"Baby Mine" from Dumbo's soundtrack (this song always makes me cry)

Wedding:
"Ya Dorah Shami" (a piece from Egypt we studied in the World Music section of our musicianship class last year)

Paying The Dues:
"'S Wonderful" as performed by Joe Williams

The Night Before The War:
"Hungry Eyes" from Dirty Dancing soundtrack

Final Battle:
"Young and Proud" by Ace of Base

Moment of Triumph:
"Take Me or Leave Me" from the Rent soundtrack

Death Scene:
"Amazed" by Lonestar

Funeral Song:
"They All Laughed" as performed by Bing Crosby (oh my!)

End Credits (2 Songs):
"Lullabye" by Ben Folds Five
"Down Underground" by Gaelic Storm (maybe this would have better fit the death scene? haha)

Let's Go On with the Show!

It was a joy to see my high school students again yesterday. When they came into the classroom, they called out, "Miss ***********! You're back!" When a majority of the kids had arrived, I began our rehearsal with a twist: I put on a Michael Buble CD and they followed my movements (stretches, head rolls, shoulder rolls, etc) in time with one of the songs. The kids laughed and improvised on the movements (including the guys)! When we'd finished, I told them, smiling, that I'd wanted to incorporate that kind of physical warm-up into one of their rehearsals since I began working with them last fall!

We rehearsed the pieces for today's performance. The focus of the 80 minute rehearsal was on securing the notes/rhythms of the pieces (the kids were working from memory), but we did work on some dynamic contrast, vowel color, etc. It was so wonderful to see them again. It didn't feel like it had been over a month since I had last seen them. I love those kids. They're such good kids.

After rehearsal, I chatted with the substitute teacher, a friend of mine. (He graduated 2 years ago from MySchool, and we had sung together in choir and in a musical theatre production.) We chatted about our job searches ... and it was pleasant to see him again too.

~*~*~*~

Last night's performance with the symphony orchestra went well! As we prepared for our final number, the stage manager warned us, "The performance is nearing overtime. If it gets too close to the cut-off point, we may have to eliminate your number. We're trying to get word to Conductor [famous, famous man] onstage." (Orchestra players are contracted, by their union, for x number of hours per day or by performance length-- if things ran into overtime, the orchestra would have to pay out several extra thousand dollars.)

After the next-to-last piece had finished, he called on the guest artists for their 'surprise encore.' (The applause after this encore is our cue to go onstage to do our number with them.) Well, he skipped that piece and went straight into the introduction of our combined finale ... so we had to rush down the aisles, singing, before we reached the front of the stage! Everything still worked out. I suppose All's well that ends well!

~*~*~*~

Afterwards, I went out with the other kids from MySchool to a nice restaurant for post-concert food! (I hadn't been to this restaurant since BestFriend took me there for "Break-Up Drinks" after Ex-Boyfriend and I broke up in October.) I had a good time ... but ... I don't feel like I really fit in with their crowd. (They're all sophomores.) Perhaps I'm too quiet in group settings ... but ... I just never feel valued in group settings. When I try to say something, I feel that more often than not, I'm overlooked or interrupted.

I feel like I have very few true friends here anymore. BestFriend and Former Roommate, whom I don't see as often, are the only people with whom I feel I could share anything. But ... BestFriend is engaged ... and even though she's my closest friend, her fiance is really her closest friend. (I know that's as it should be.) FormerRoommate is usually caught up in other things in her life. If I had a problem, she'd be there. Her heart is golden. But ... she has other priorities. The Clique (I was one of 4 girls) excluded me last semester ("not intentionally" according to the only girl I spoke with about it), but they showed that they weren't the true friends I thought they were. Some of them have made efforts to include me again ... but ... things aren't the same. I'm cognizant of the fact that I'm more guarded with them. They weren't there for me when I needed them (when my grandmother died in August, when the tragedy occurred on campus in September right outside my building, when Ex-Boyfriend and I broke up in October, when I was student-teaching throughout the semester) ... and maybe I just don't trust them fully again.

~*~*~*~

Well, that was cheery. *smiles sheepishly* I better go change out of my bathrobe into some real clothing, finish my make-up and hair, practice a few of the choir's pieces again, and drive over to the park for our outdoor performance in the middle of Winter. I have 30 minutes before I should leave. Time to put on my smile!

Another Openin', Another Show

Tonight is Opening Night! I'm singing in a large choir, comprised of singers from area universities and colleges, and we're going to be singing onstage with the local symphony orchestra this weekend! We have performances through Sunday!

In addition to that, I'll be working with one of the choirs from last semester's high school student-teaching placement. Their director had asked me last month if I'd be willing to conduct a community performance (this Saturday afternoon) in his absence. I had not known at the time that the performance would be outside. (I still would have said yes, but ... conducting a small a capella choir outside in temperatures of about 30 degrees- not ideal conditions for singing- is going to be an interesting experience.) I also have a professional development workshop on Saturday morning which I may or may not attend ...

My goals, in addition to the craziness listed above, include: finish revising my resume following the recommendations of my department chair, write my philosophy paper, create a podcast for my technology course, and pick out RA in-services to attend. RA in-services are "continuing education" for us ... they're designed to be helpful, but the only ones which fit in my schedule are "Meth Awareness Lab" (oh boy!) and "How to Get a Great Job or Internship" - which I attended last year, and it was a waste of my time. It was geared towards business majors, and the career services employee did not know how to answer my questions regarding the job search for education majors. Ah well!

Let's go on with the show!

Good News and Bad News

The good news is that I still get to go to Italy over Spring Break to visit my younger sister. Other good news is that there is less chance of a problem with me wearing open-toed heels in BestFriend's wedding.

Bad news is that my surgery can't wait as long as we had originally been told.

When my mom heard from the doctor regarding the biopsy on the removed mole, she was told that the surgery to remove more tissue from the area could be done anytime in the next six months. This was fantastic- my semester wouldn't have to be interrupted and I would have time to get it done after graduation and to let it heal before BestFriend's wedding. My mom confirmed this information twice before telling me the news.

My mom called last week to schedule my appointment for the week following graduation. She was told at that time, "We actually recommend that she have the surgery sooner."

Mom responded that this was different from what she'd heard before, and she asked to speak with the doctor. The doctor apologized for the lack of clarity and stated that it really was better for me to wait less time before having it done. (Even though it was not identified as melanoma, it had not been identified, so she recommended getting it done sooner.)

Having to recover from this during the semester won't be too much fun, but the campus isn't too large and I do believe my professors will be understanding. However, I'm upset that I can't be home while I have to deal with this. I have to take care of everything myself: scheduling my appointment for the surgery (and the pre-appointment too), begging a ride from a friend to and from the appointment (since I won't be able to use that foot to drive), requesting special accommodations for classes/work/etc (if necessary), and changing my life around for the few weeks it will take to recover. I'd much rather be home while I recuperate, but that's just not possible. *sigh* I suppose this is yet another small taste of what it will be like to live in the real world, away from home and away from my family support system. Even the few friends I told didn't offer any kind of support or encouragement when I mentioned it to them.

Oh well ... at least I'll still get to experience Italy.

little RAnt

My younger sister leaves today for Italy because she'll be studying abroad this semester. She called me last night to say goodbye, and I just called her now to say goodbye again. (I wanted to hear her voice again, since our only communication between now and my Spring Break will be by email.) I haven't seen her or the rest of my family since I returned to MySchool two weeks ago, and for some reason, I'm feeling incredibly homesick right now.

One of the downsides to being an RA is that we only get one weekend away from campus per month. With rehearsals last Sunday and this weekend for my performances next weekend, I have not had the opportunity to go home this month. I hadn't thought that I'd need/want to because of the lovely 2 weeks of Christmas break. But- there's the [small] possibility that I won't be able to go home until after graduation.

My weekend away in March is over Spring Break because my flight is on Friday but RAs aren't permitted to leave until Saturday. My weekend away in April is for the state conference in my field (which happens to be the same weekend as BestFriend's bridal shower too). We have a few days off for Easter, but I have a church job so unless I get someone to sub for me for Good Friday, I'll have to stay in CoolCity. February is the only month in which I might go home, but the only weekend which works out is the weekend directly before my March weekend. Two weekends away from campus in a row, even if each is within a different month, is not permitted.

Needless to say, I'm getting a little tired of the RA obligations. I love my residents- I'm very fortunate that I have nice girls- but I'm getting more and more annoyed with the other aspects of the job: 6 mandatory 24-hour duty on weekend nights, 1 duty night per week (only 16 hours then), programming requirements, daily curfew (which is at 11pm during the week and a half of finals!), bulletin boards. I shouldn't complain -- the cost of living on campus rose nearly $2000 this year (over $10,000 now), and I don't have to pay a penny. This job is worth it, in the long run, but when I think about what I have to deal with on the job (i.e. the duty call I got at 2:30am this morning which lasted for 2 hours) ... I don't always feel as grateful as maybe I should.

Perfect Evening

My last class for the week ended at 3pm today. (The girl sitting next to me returned my coat. She'd noticed I had left it behind on Tuesday, and she grabbed it for me. I don't know why she didn't put it in Lost&Found, but I thanked her for her sweetness and thoughtfulness.)

After choir, I practiced for a little while before hanging out with one of my guy friends in the lounge. He was kicking himself because he had hoped to ask out a girl in choir, but he hadn't had the opportunity. We greeted people as they came into the building, and we eventually got dinner.

Then I went back to my room ... I was going to take a nap ... but ended up watching Grey's Anatomy online ... before going to Bible Study at 9pm. Amazing Scripture reading this evening about Jesus' first sermon in His hometown. Great discussion.

BestFriend, FormerRoommate and I stayed afterwards talking for over 2 hours. Then we decided we should watch a movie in this lounge area ... and Legally Blonde (the original) was sitting by the VCR. None of us had seen it for several years, so we ordered pizza and enjoyed the movie!

That's probably the last Thursday night girls' night I'll get to enjoy for awhile ... but ... I think it was something we all needed!

A bit chilly ...

I can be very organized when I choose to be. My computer files are organized into lovely, easily accessible folders. The drawers of my bureau are carefully divided according to garment type. I prefer balance and symmetry, and I fold pairs of socks into balls to keep them from separating.

However, I need a certain amount of CHAOS to keep me SANE! I need distractions to concentrate. I enjoy my room when it's pristine and sparkling, but I do just as well when it's a disaster area.

I lose and forget things. Sometimes, I'll be talking with a person, I'll be distracted by something, and then I'll be unable to think of what I was talking about. I'll leave an item somewhere and later I'll have no idea what I did with it. Re-tracing my steps usually helps, but sometimes, I can't even recall what my steps were!

Yesterday, I lost my coat. I clearly remember wearing it into the choral rehearsal room and tucking it behind me in my seat. From there, I went to one of my professor's offices to discuss a conference I hope to attend this summer. After that, I was going to leave the music school, but I went straight to the lounge area and chatted with friends for nearly an hour.

I didn't leave myself very much time to head back to my residential building for RA duty, so I hurriedly said goodbye before heading over to my locker to retrieve my coat. Except my coat wasn't there because I remembered taking it off in the choir rehearsal. I must have forgotten to bring it with me after I took it off, I thought. So ... I jogged downstairs to the room. Another class was in there. I tried to walk inconspicuously along the side of the rows to peer down each row for my coat.

No coat.

I rushed back upstairs to my professor's office. The door was locked. No coat in the lounge. These were the only three places I visited since I'd last had the coat.

So I walked back to my residential building without a coat. The bone-chilling wind tried to eat me alive, but I made it safely inside.

This morning, I checked in with the building office which has a Lost & Found. No coat. I got my janitor friends to let me into the choral rehearsal room once again. No coat. Janitor friend also let me into professor's office. No coat.

Today, I wore my thicker winter coat, which I lovingly refer to as my "marshmallow coat" because its poofiness makes me look like a pale blue marshmallow. I'm gonna ask tomorrow at choir rehearsal if anyone remembers seeing my thinner, less-marshmallowish coat ...

[Note: I've read about others "blogging the lost" and said items magically return ... *crosses fingers*]

"When a guy seems perfect ...

... he's either taken, gay, or both." "Why are all the good ones taken?" "When will it be my chance?"

I've heard these phrases over and over from my beautiful, talented, and intelligent friends. These young women are incredible people, and yet they feel as though guys ignore them. It infuriates them when they see an excellent guy get treated poorly by his girlfriend. It frustrates them when they hear of yet another friend getting engaged or married while they still haven't had a date within the past year!

The apparent lack of attention from the male gender causes these amazing women to doubt themselves. They think that perhaps they're not as beautiful as their other friends and I tell them. They question their worth as people. They worry that their time will run out and that they'll be alone forever.

Years ago, I shared my own lamentations with my mother who told me, "Your time will come."

"When?" I'd asked, half-hoping that she'd tell me the magical age when guys matured and realized what fools they'd been when they had failed to recognize me before.

"Someday. It will come. You'll see," she reassured me.

It wasn't until the end of my senior year of high school that I actually got asked out on a date. I didn't have my first boyfriend or first kiss until halfway through my freshman year of college. I didn't fall in love until 2 1/2 years after that (with boyfriend #2). I've been single since October.

For the most part, I'm OK with this. It doesn't bother me to hear BestFriend gush all about the latest news regarding her upcoming wedding. I don't mind sharing vicariously in others' happiness when they're in a great relationship. I am trying to trust that God knows what He's doing; He just wants me to live and learn some more before He introduces me to the guy He's intended for me. While I hope His time frame lines up with mine (i.e. married by age XX, kids by age XX), I hope He'll give me strength (and patience!) to wait if His time frame is later.

It DOES bother me when I hear a friend question her self-worth (and what she has to offer) because the guys around her are too dense to recognize the stunning woman directly in front of them. I hurt for these girls. They ARE deserving of happiness and I can see no good reason why they don't have what they so earnestly desire. I wish I could hug these friends, reiterate again how much they mean to me and those who know them, and tell them, "Your time will come. Someday. It will come. You'll see."

TGIF

While student-teaching last semester, I never had a single day free from teaching ... with the exception of the random First Day of Hunting Season holiday. (I don't believe we have that in my HomeState ... but ... we always got off for the County Fair. Much more fun than hunting season!)

So ... I've rediscovered many wonderful things about returning to college student status:
*I don't have to get up at 5am. This alone is one of the best things EVER. However, I had hoped that I'd be able to get into the habit of getting up semi-early, around 7-8am, even though I don't have classes until 11am. Much to my dismay, I am even more tired when I wake up at 7:30am than I remember being when I woke up at 5am. I'm sure it doesn't help that I've gotten into the habit of going to bed later too ... :-)

*I have a social life again! This means that I actually have time to stop and say hello to classmates and colleagues. I'm not always running madly around, trying to get something done! I can visit with my residents, catch a movie with FormerRoommate and BestFriend, hang out in the Music School lounge, etc.

*No classes on Fridays! Of course, I need to start visiting local schools soon in order to get my required number of observation hours ... but ... I decided to take this Friday off. I'll contact my "host" teacher next week.


While I love these advantages, it does feel strange walking around campus, being back in the classroom ... I don't know the underclassmen very well. The current freshmen are just a year older than the kids I taught last semester. In the music building, everyone knows everyone else. There's always so much drama ... things which have happened in the past 3 years would make a successful soap opera. (Seriously! :-)) I'm now out of the loop ... and I don't mind.
~*~*~*~

BestFriend and I went shopping today, to fulfill part of a pact we made two years ago: We promised we'd help the other stock her trousseau before she got married. Soon after she got engaged last Fall, we went shopping in search of a few items ... and today, I bought her a few more things to store away for her big day. When we made the pact, neither of us thought that this time (her engagement) would arrive so soon! I jokingly warned her that she'll probably have to wait a bit longer before she can fulfill her part of the promise.

Sigh of relief

It's not melanoma. That had been my greatest fear. Still, the tissue was atypical, and they need to remove more. The still-minor-but-more-intense surgery will require a longer recovery time. I'll be on bedrest longer than 2 days this time.

Thankfully, the dermatologist said the tissue removal could take place anytime between now and six months from now. This means that I can finish the next 4 months of the semester without interruption. I'd like to wait until after BestFriend's wedding (in 5 months) to take care of it- so I don't have to worry about having an ugly bandage (visible in the open-toed heels she wants the bridal party to wear) as I stand next to her as her Maid of Honor ... but my mom wants me to have it done right after I graduate (meaning no substitute teaching, my only chance for a summer job and more classroom experience before I get a real teaching job in the Fall).

I'm praising God that I'm OK, even if I have to deal with the slight nuisance of having another minor surgery. I had mildly freaked out when I looked up melanoma online and saw that many of my symptoms matched. My mother, who serves in the medical field, was even more concerned.

I had told her last week about a sweet dream I'd had in which I'd seen my grandmother (the one who passed away last August). It was a lovely dream, really. In it, I spent some time with my grandmother, cooking food and talking. In the dream, we had a long, thoughtful conversation. I really don't remember all that we talked about, but it was a soothing, familiar (not a topic we'd actually discussed before, but very "cozy," family-oriented, etc.) dialogue. Even though her health was not what it once was, she was much stronger in this dream than she had been the last time I saw her (end of July). Normally in dreams which contradict reality so strongly, my brain cuts in and reminds me that I'm just in a dream. This didn't happen. I awoke from the dream, feeling serene and peaceful ... thinking, I should really call Grandmama. Then reality returned, bringing with it disappointment ... but the serenity lingered.

I didn't realize that sharing this gift of a dream with my mom contributed to her worries. :-( Anyway, I'm grateful that the news wasn't worse ... and that everything looks like it will work out just fine. Praise the Lord!

Day 2

So far, I've had a taste of all of my classes, save one. I have homework assignments (already!), books to purchase, repertoire to learn and practice ...

It feels strange to be back in the classroom as a student. After being on "the other side" of the classroom (even though it was only for a semester!), I find that my perspective has changed somewhat. I've changed. At times, I've been more assertive. At the same time, I feel as though I have backtracked by returning to the classroom as a regular college student. I don't quite feel like I belong here anymore. I've already had a taste of the real world, and I feel slightly impatient that I can't just get out there and start teaching now!

At the same time, because I feel out-of-place, I catch myself practicing old habits ... The new assertiveness and self-assurance sometimes reverts back to the shy, I'm-not-going-to-make-eye-contact-with-you-so-you-won't-call-on-me self which I had tried to repress!

Classes look promising so far ... although I did slightly resent when the professor said, "I'm not going to treat you like high school children" just before she gave us assigned seats. (She seems very pleasant and I sense that she's passionate about her subject area, so I'm going to ignore my feelings about the assigned seating and groups.)

Lessons on both my primary and secondary instrument also seem exciting. I'm thrilled that I don't have to take a jury this semester. I get to learn music for the sake of learning it! I get to grow and improve on both instruments without the pressure of a performance at the end of the semester.

One more new class tomorrow night!

Off to go watch House with my residents, write a recommendation letter for one of my girls who wants to be an RA, and complete the reading & assignment for my elective language course!

Last First Day of School ...

... as an undergraduate! 3 classes and a lesson today, 3 classes and a lesson tomorrow, 2 classes on Wednesday (including a yucky night class from 6-8:40pm), 3 classes on Thursday, and no classes on Friday! Classes include:
2 core classes
1 class in my major
2 classes in my broad field but not in my specific area
2 lessons (1 on primary instrument, 1 on secondary instrument)
1 ensemble
1 elective (a language)

Only 12 credits of these classes were required, but ... my full-time student tuition status covers between 12 and 18 credits. I wanted to get my money's worth. (And - I'm excited that I had the chance to choose 6 credits of electives!!! These are the first electives I've had in my college career!) First class is in about 2 hours ... 11am! As much as I loved student-teaching, it's much nicer to sleep in past 5am.

My next First Day of School should be in August or September ... but I'll be at the front of the classroom instead. With graduation less than 4 months away, I'm off to conquer my last semester at MySchool!

House Arrest (aka RA duty)

The melancholy mood which inspired the last entry has worn off, and I find myself looking forward to the new semester. I'm excited to take electives for the first time in 4 years!

I'm currently in my second day of mandatory holiday break duty. Yesterday was uneventful, but I've had 14 duty calls today. Several of the building's 1200+ residents have decided to "bring back some stuff" early before they're officially allowed to move in tomorrow. Many of them have forgotten to bring their student IDs and keys but assume that it shouldn't be a problem since "no one else is back yet." They don't know that I've had to help out 13 other students who thought the same thing. I just smile and reassure them that it's no problem ... before I ask them to fork over the $2 they owe Residence Life for the service. (The money goes to support a little boy who lives in Africa, sponsored by our staff.)

Perhaps I should be cleaning my room ... I never vacuumed it last semester ... and I still haven't put up the posters I brought with me back in August. I haven't unpacked the things I brought back with me after Christmas. I have posters lying around which I'm supposed to hang up around my floor. I look around my "office" part of my RA suite ... and I'm surrounded by bags and papers. Behind me are the pillows from my grandmother's apartment. On the wall in front of me, there's a floor program sign, a cloth dishtowel featuring an illustrated map of Ireland, and a silvery, glowing painting of Cinderella walking from her carriage to the castle. Next to me on the couch are napkins, an empty chocolate milk bottle, a MySchool sweatshirt, and a few bags I brought back from home. In spite of the clutter around me, I am content. :-)

The end of one chapter in the book of my life

I left home and returned to CoolCity today and spent the evening with two local friends (who happen to be sisters). We went to dinner, drove to a gorgeous holiday light display, and went back to their house to play SceneIt- the Disny version! I really enjoyed seeing them because I didn't get the chance to see them much last semester while I was student-teaching.

As I drove back to MySchool from their house, I took the same route that I normally took while returning to MySchool from my high school student-teaching placement. I ended up listening to the CD from the high school's holiday choir concert in the car. In the two weeks of Christmas break since the concert, I'd forgotten about the CD until I rediscovered it while packing my belongings this morning. I hadn't even listened to it yet.

As I heard the familiar songs, I remembered the kids, the rehearsals, the nuances in the pieces which were never quite perfected, the moments where everything in the pieces fell perfectly into place ... and I burst into tears.

Even though I had been convinced that I would cry when I had to say goodbye to the kids (exactly 2 weeks ago today), I didn't. We were all still on a rush from the concert, and it didn't hit me until tonight, 2 weeks later, that my student-teaching experience is really over. I really, really miss those kids.

I'll be returning at the end of this month to work with one of the choirs on a community performance, which I'll be conducting because my cooperating teacher will be out of town. I'll go back to see the Spring musical. I don't think it'd be appropriate for me to visit any more than that.

I need to let them forget about me (Out of sight, out of mind) so that my friend, who will begin student-teaching with them at the end of February, will not have to step into my shadow. I do not want to detract from her experience in any way, but it pains me that my own time with them is over. I'm truly heartbroken that I won't get to see these great kids everyday. I'm sure I'll feel better as time goes on and I get caught up in the excitement of this new semester, but right now, I'm miserable. My student-teaching experience (at times demanding and stressful, but more often incredibly rewarding and encouraging) really is over.

I think I need to get a good night's sleep so that I don't dwell on this anymore this evening. A fresh start will help me adjust my perspective from longing for the past to preparing for and embracing the future. *small sigh*

Two Days of Freedom

When I realized this break would be the shortest Christmas break I've had in college so far, I was disappointed. Surely the break would be longer so that I'd have more time to recover from my student-teaching experience before I had to become a regular college kid again for my final semester! Less than 2 weeks ... and yet, it's been everything I needed. I haven't left the house much but I've spent time with my family and with the few local friends with whom I've remained in contact ... I haven't accomplished all of the items on my To-Do list but I've definitely had time enough to relax, sleep, and become human again.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is a day for local errands (visit the dentist, raid my savings to pay this semester's tuition bill, stop by former summer employer to maintain contact) and I'll be leaving home on Thursday to return to MySchool in CoolCity. I've already got dinner plans for that night ... and I'll be spending Friday and Saturday under house arrest (aka RA holiday break duty ~ 48 hours of mandatory allowed-to-leave-my-room-only-to-get-2-meals-per-day time) ... Sunday = relinquish mandatory solitude duties, go to church, prepare for new semester. Monday = start of my final semester in my undergraduate career!

If my brain returns sometime in the next few days, I'll try to concoct another post. (I haven't written much over break, despite all of my free time, because my brain and fingers disconnected.) Currently, it's 3-4 hours past last semester's bedtime ... and I've got that early dentist appointment in 8 hours ... so ... buenas noches.