Hmm ... so ... I'll be in the car a lot this weekend.
I didn't originally have plans for the three-day holiday weekend ... and wasn't going to make any ... but ... then I checked MapQuest out of curiosity and everything went downhill from there. :-)
I'll get to see BestFriend and her husband ... and my brother too, as he's not too far from where they'll be! And perhaps I'll swing by CoolCity (even if it's out of the way) to visit a friend from there whom I've not seen since early May ...
(I'm also tempted to call CGFC who might possibly be nearby, if he isn't in CoolCity at this point. Those with good memories might remember that I deleted his number from my cell phone in May. BUT then I got a new cell phone not long after. And for some reason, numbers I'd already deleted - not just CGFC's- in the few weeks prior to getting the new phone transferred over to the new phone. I suppose I have a secret desire to believe that it's not a strange coincidence but fate somehow. In theory, I still tend to think we're rather perfect for one another. However, I'm afraid he might consider the action of my calling him after not seeing him for so long slightly stalkerish, especially when he never expressed real interest in me ... so ... I'll simply hope that we meet again when I visit that church on a road trip in October. I've decided; there will be no phoning. Not on my part. If it's God's will that anything should happen, then I imagine He'll work it out for us. Otherwise, I imagine I'd be making what could be interpreted as a desperate grasp for attention, rather than the friendly let's-get-to-know-one-another thing I'd always meant it to be.)
~*~*~*~
No classes on the first day of classes! Sweet! No such luck tomorrow ... but ... I'm really looking forward to everything tomorrow. (I'm also a little nervous because I get to start working with the HUGE choir TOMORROW NIGHT! Um, no pressure ... just 120+ singers- including town politicians, former music teachers, professional musicians, and many, many music majors. Aack! *Deep breath* I can and will survive 15 minutes of teaching time!)
Now? Trying to convince myself to sleep on a more appropriate schedule. 'Night.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Thoughts before the first day of classes
Silly me ... I meant to go to bed about two hours ago ... but ... somehow three cups of relaxing tea weren't enough to encourage me to put down my book before I'd finished it.
I learned this afternoon that I have a meeting at 8:30am tomorrow. (Originally, I wasn't supposed to have any plans until 4pm!)
Have not heard bac from my brother yet. I'd texted him to see how he was enjoying his first few days at college. While he apparently had time to call my parents, he's apparently enjoying "partying like a rockstar" (his new status on a certain popular social networking site) too much.
No matter ... I chatted more with BestFriend (and might be making a 10-hour roundtrip spontaneous road trip next weekend since she'll be within driving distance)!
I've also talked with other friends (Twin was telling me about setting up her classroom! My friends are real teachers now while I'm still a student ... I suppose that realization makes me a little wistful. Still ... I know I'm where I'm supposed to be.)
Now- off to bed. Must be alert and look presentable tomorrow.
I learned this afternoon that I have a meeting at 8:30am tomorrow. (Originally, I wasn't supposed to have any plans until 4pm!)
Have not heard bac from my brother yet. I'd texted him to see how he was enjoying his first few days at college. While he apparently had time to call my parents, he's apparently enjoying "partying like a rockstar" (his new status on a certain popular social networking site) too much.
No matter ... I chatted more with BestFriend (and might be making a 10-hour roundtrip spontaneous road trip next weekend since she'll be within driving distance)!
I've also talked with other friends (Twin was telling me about setting up her classroom! My friends are real teachers now while I'm still a student ... I suppose that realization makes me a little wistful. Still ... I know I'm where I'm supposed to be.)
Now- off to bed. Must be alert and look presentable tomorrow.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
more unofficial beginnings
*I tried posting this Saturday (8/25) morning ... but the internet connection is not incredibly reliable.
When I expressed some mild concerns about cooking this year, my mom always repeated my grandfather's words about cooking: If you can read [a recipe], you can cook.
Green and I made dinner again last night. He's teaching me how to make different meals. I don't think I could replicate the amazing goodness that was supertender chicken in some sort of sauce that contained red & green peppers, water, garlic, ketchup, oil, sugar, curry, and onions. Green didn't use a recipe. No reading involved. Still, he jokingly promised that next time we attempted to make this dish, he'd let me do ALL of the work under his guidance and supervision.
~*~*~*~*~
Today is another day for first impressions ... I'll have the chance this weekend to meet the students I'll be working with for the next year.
(Why on a weekend? Individual vocal evaluations for choir are necessary before the ensemble's first meeting so that rehearsal time can be devoted to rehearsing, instead of deciding whether SusieQ is a Soprano I or II and if Johnny, who thinks he's a tenor, really belongs with the baritones.)
It doesn't seem so strange to me to meet them out of the class setting ... Music majors are a rare breed; we're always in our academic building for some reason or another - to practice, to sip coffee and talk for hours in the lounge, to study, to rehearse, to work on projects in the computer lab (and giggle at others' clever creations), to hang out, to have karoake sessions in the practice rooms with someone (usually me) sightreading the sheet music on piano, to play freezetag in the hallways on Saturday nights at midnight... oh ... and maybe attend classes too.
While I don't know for sure, I'd have a hard time believing that liberal arts kids claim their building for their own in the same way we do. :-)
(And now- oops, it's already late morning- better get ready! I was hoping to get there a few hours early to practice since I myself haven't really sung for about 3 weeks!)
When I expressed some mild concerns about cooking this year, my mom always repeated my grandfather's words about cooking: If you can read [a recipe], you can cook.
Green and I made dinner again last night. He's teaching me how to make different meals. I don't think I could replicate the amazing goodness that was supertender chicken in some sort of sauce that contained red & green peppers, water, garlic, ketchup, oil, sugar, curry, and onions. Green didn't use a recipe. No reading involved. Still, he jokingly promised that next time we attempted to make this dish, he'd let me do ALL of the work under his guidance and supervision.
~*~*~*~*~
Today is another day for first impressions ... I'll have the chance this weekend to meet the students I'll be working with for the next year.
(Why on a weekend? Individual vocal evaluations for choir are necessary before the ensemble's first meeting so that rehearsal time can be devoted to rehearsing, instead of deciding whether SusieQ is a Soprano I or II and if Johnny, who thinks he's a tenor, really belongs with the baritones.)
It doesn't seem so strange to me to meet them out of the class setting ... Music majors are a rare breed; we're always in our academic building for some reason or another - to practice, to sip coffee and talk for hours in the lounge, to study, to rehearse, to work on projects in the computer lab (and giggle at others' clever creations), to hang out, to have karoake sessions in the practice rooms with someone (usually me) sightreading the sheet music on piano, to play freezetag in the hallways on Saturday nights at midnight... oh ... and maybe attend classes too.
While I don't know for sure, I'd have a hard time believing that liberal arts kids claim their building for their own in the same way we do. :-)
(And now- oops, it's already late morning- better get ready! I was hoping to get there a few hours early to practice since I myself haven't really sung for about 3 weeks!)
Friday, August 24, 2007
Remembering ...
Last night, I decided to make a banana smoothie. (My siblings often request this specialty of mine when we’re home.) As I lifted the top of the blender, trying to figure out if it needed to be washed, I was struck by its subtle yet powerful scent.
I began to cry as I deeply inhaled several times. The scent was my grandmother’s scent- a pleasant aroma of spices and other unidentifiable factors. It instantly reminded me of her, of her apartment, of seeing her for the last time. The blender had been my grandmother’s, and it was one of the items my parents had taken when they cleaned out her apartment last year because they anticipated that my sister or I could use it when we moved into apartments this year.
I cried even harder as I carefully took the blender apart to wash the various pieces. I hated washing away her scent … I wanted to continue to inhale it and remember her as vividly as in the thoughts which had been so suddenly inspired by the aroma.
I forced myself to wash it, fighting the urge not to do so as tears and sniffles escaped from me, because I had wanted to use it, and I didn’t want one of my roommates to be the first to use it after my grandmother.
Today marks the one-year anniversary of her death. She was my favorite grandparent, the one I knew best. An extraordinary lady, quite ahead of her time. She embraced culture, life, people … She befriended poets and artists, and her own artistry lay especially in her cooking and crafts.
I miss her.
I began to cry as I deeply inhaled several times. The scent was my grandmother’s scent- a pleasant aroma of spices and other unidentifiable factors. It instantly reminded me of her, of her apartment, of seeing her for the last time. The blender had been my grandmother’s, and it was one of the items my parents had taken when they cleaned out her apartment last year because they anticipated that my sister or I could use it when we moved into apartments this year.
I cried even harder as I carefully took the blender apart to wash the various pieces. I hated washing away her scent … I wanted to continue to inhale it and remember her as vividly as in the thoughts which had been so suddenly inspired by the aroma.
I forced myself to wash it, fighting the urge not to do so as tears and sniffles escaped from me, because I had wanted to use it, and I didn’t want one of my roommates to be the first to use it after my grandmother.
Today marks the one-year anniversary of her death. She was my favorite grandparent, the one I knew best. An extraordinary lady, quite ahead of her time. She embraced culture, life, people … She befriended poets and artists, and her own artistry lay especially in her cooking and crafts.
I miss her.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Before the Not-Quite First Day of School
All grad students (or maybe just GAs?) have Orientation this morning. In less than an hour.
What to wear?!
This institution is less formal (meaning: less superficial presentation, more genuine people in general- a good thing!) than MySchool ... and ...
I want to make a good impression (meaning: present myself professionally, like I'm taking this seriously like it's my job- oh wait- it is my job!), but I don't want to look like I'm trying too hard (i.e. I'm not going to go there in one of my I-am-woman-hear-me-roar powersuits - this just isn't that type of school).
Where is the balance?
My solution after considering a few outfits is: gray pants (striped with black and white) and a somewhat-trendy-but-can-pass-for-businesslike black shirt. My choices were somewhat limited considering I a) don't own a pair of khaki pants which go with any of the less-formal-but-still-professional-looking shirts I have (because I feel like khaki can go either way more easily than darker colors), and b) I don't have a lot of clothing for it's-summer-but-it's-cold-outside type weather.
To myself: Stop freaking out! I better put on makeup, blowdry the hair, get dressed, and be ready to be there in less than 45 minutes!
What to wear?!
This institution is less formal (meaning: less superficial presentation, more genuine people in general- a good thing!) than MySchool ... and ...
I want to make a good impression (meaning: present myself professionally, like I'm taking this seriously like it's my job- oh wait- it is my job!), but I don't want to look like I'm trying too hard (i.e. I'm not going to go there in one of my I-am-woman-hear-me-roar powersuits - this just isn't that type of school).
Where is the balance?
My solution after considering a few outfits is: gray pants (striped with black and white) and a somewhat-trendy-but-can-pass-for-businesslike black shirt. My choices were somewhat limited considering I a) don't own a pair of khaki pants which go with any of the less-formal-but-still-professional-looking shirts I have (because I feel like khaki can go either way more easily than darker colors), and b) I don't have a lot of clothing for it's-summer-but-it's-cold-outside type weather.
To myself: Stop freaking out! I better put on makeup, blowdry the hair, get dressed, and be ready to be there in less than 45 minutes!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Still need to unpack books, music
Last week was spent procrastinating, seeing people, running errands, spending quality time with siblings (movies: HP5 with Hermano and Becoming Jane with Hermana) ... oh, and ... did I say procrastinating? I didn't start packing to LEAVE FOR TEN MONTHS until Friday. I was moving Saturday. My excuse was, "If I can pack for 35 days in Europe in 2 hours, I can pack for grad school in a day." :-) I don't think I forgot anything at home either. Except for one piece of sheet music that I'd been asked to bring this fall back in June. I don't even know where it is in the ugly mess which is my room. (Actually, it's much improved now that I was able to bring most of the excess stuff here!) I'll look for the music online.
So ... last Saturday: Easy drive to CollegeTown. (I don't remember what special name I gave it before ... so ... CollegeTown it is!) Lovely, lovely scenery up here. I loved CoolCity (where I did undergrad) because I enjoy the thriving cultural atmosphere in the city ... but ... the natural beauty in the surrounding area of CollegeTown is unparalleled. Even in rain and temperatures far below what summer temperatures should be. :-)
I've met both roommates. Few years' age gap. (They're both a few years younger than I am.) So much for the landlady pairing me up with other grad students. Not a problem though. Both girls seem very pleasant.
Speaking of other grad students -- when I moved in, I ran into one of the other two people in my program (I'll call him Green, and I'll hope to remember that). He lives in the apartment two doors down from mine. How random and awesome is that? Even more random? Today we had it confirmed that the third person in our program lives in the room next door to Green, in the same apartment. (He hasn't moved in yet.) Carpooling opportunities ... and ... we can easily meet up to work/practice/etc together. Nice.
On Sunday, my new boss (from now on, referred to as NB- how original!) invited Green and me to dinner at her home. Although I'd been told by my predecessor about his invitations to spend time with DP and spouse, I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet gesture. I thought it set a lovely tone for the school year. :-)
Last night, Green and I made dinner. My jar of storebought spaghetti sauce was not sufficient; he insisted that we visit the local grocery store to buy ingredients to enhance it. (My cooking skills are pretty much nonexistent, so I simply took his word for it.) So ... we enjoyed a wonderful meal of spaghetti with marinara sauce (and 1lb ground beef, half an onion, some garlic, some green pepper and some red pepper) .... Yummy! We shared dinner with my roommate who excitedly accepted our invitation to join us.
I'm in the process of checking out quick, easy (read: ingredients that are common enough that they can be used in a variety of similar recipes), and healthy recipes online. Meals that can be made and frozen far in advance are also good. I'm hoping to return to my weight of last fall (about 5-7 pounds lighter than I am now), so I want to be smart about my eating. If anyone has recipes that they heartily recommend, please pass them along!
Hmm ... other potpourri: I came into work yesterday and today for a few hours ... to start getting familiar with the place. I haven't been formally introduced to anyone besides the Handyman of the building (very nice, but I've forgotten his name) ... but I've seen many faces which I'm sure will be very familiar to me very soon.
I talked with an old guy friend from MySchool last night ... for ... six hours. I don't even know the last time I spent over two hours on the phone. Middle school, perhaps? Incredibly random and incredibly fun. I took an hourlong nap today, because somehow, 4 hours of sleep last night just didn't cut it. Thank goodness for free evening minutes on my phone plan!
More time was spent on the phone this afternoon with BestFriend! She updated me on her life (in far, far away land), her new apartment, her new husband, her new job ... about real-life responsibilities ("Being an adult = lots of paperwork!!!") ... Soooo good to chat with her again. I want to make sure that she stays a forever friend.
Now I'm off down the hallway to Green's apartment to hang out for a little while. And ... that about brings me up to the present time. I'm hoping that starting a regular schedule soon will help me to be more regular in my updates! :-)
EDIT (nearly two hours later): Another hour on the phone with another old friend from MySchool (yay! This is the friend with whom I frequented the coffee spot on campus. He and I both usually (well, me always) got our Chai Tea Lattes ... and we'd talk for hours ...) NOW I'm heading over to Green's ... Hope he's still up for doing something!
So ... last Saturday: Easy drive to CollegeTown. (I don't remember what special name I gave it before ... so ... CollegeTown it is!) Lovely, lovely scenery up here. I loved CoolCity (where I did undergrad) because I enjoy the thriving cultural atmosphere in the city ... but ... the natural beauty in the surrounding area of CollegeTown is unparalleled. Even in rain and temperatures far below what summer temperatures should be. :-)
I've met both roommates. Few years' age gap. (They're both a few years younger than I am.) So much for the landlady pairing me up with other grad students. Not a problem though. Both girls seem very pleasant.
Speaking of other grad students -- when I moved in, I ran into one of the other two people in my program (I'll call him Green, and I'll hope to remember that). He lives in the apartment two doors down from mine. How random and awesome is that? Even more random? Today we had it confirmed that the third person in our program lives in the room next door to Green, in the same apartment. (He hasn't moved in yet.) Carpooling opportunities ... and ... we can easily meet up to work/practice/etc together. Nice.
On Sunday, my new boss (from now on, referred to as NB- how original!) invited Green and me to dinner at her home. Although I'd been told by my predecessor about his invitations to spend time with DP and spouse, I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet gesture. I thought it set a lovely tone for the school year. :-)
Last night, Green and I made dinner. My jar of storebought spaghetti sauce was not sufficient; he insisted that we visit the local grocery store to buy ingredients to enhance it. (My cooking skills are pretty much nonexistent, so I simply took his word for it.) So ... we enjoyed a wonderful meal of spaghetti with marinara sauce (and 1lb ground beef, half an onion, some garlic, some green pepper and some red pepper) .... Yummy! We shared dinner with my roommate who excitedly accepted our invitation to join us.
I'm in the process of checking out quick, easy (read: ingredients that are common enough that they can be used in a variety of similar recipes), and healthy recipes online. Meals that can be made and frozen far in advance are also good. I'm hoping to return to my weight of last fall (about 5-7 pounds lighter than I am now), so I want to be smart about my eating. If anyone has recipes that they heartily recommend, please pass them along!
Hmm ... other potpourri: I came into work yesterday and today for a few hours ... to start getting familiar with the place. I haven't been formally introduced to anyone besides the Handyman of the building (very nice, but I've forgotten his name) ... but I've seen many faces which I'm sure will be very familiar to me very soon.
I talked with an old guy friend from MySchool last night ... for ... six hours. I don't even know the last time I spent over two hours on the phone. Middle school, perhaps? Incredibly random and incredibly fun. I took an hourlong nap today, because somehow, 4 hours of sleep last night just didn't cut it. Thank goodness for free evening minutes on my phone plan!
More time was spent on the phone this afternoon with BestFriend! She updated me on her life (in far, far away land), her new apartment, her new husband, her new job ... about real-life responsibilities ("Being an adult = lots of paperwork!!!") ... Soooo good to chat with her again. I want to make sure that she stays a forever friend.
Now I'm off down the hallway to Green's apartment to hang out for a little while. And ... that about brings me up to the present time. I'm hoping that starting a regular schedule soon will help me to be more regular in my updates! :-)
EDIT (nearly two hours later): Another hour on the phone with another old friend from MySchool (yay! This is the friend with whom I frequented the coffee spot on campus. He and I both usually (well, me always) got our Chai Tea Lattes ... and we'd talk for hours ...) NOW I'm heading over to Green's ... Hope he's still up for doing something!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
mid-August already ... hmmm
I wish I could say that my room is exceptionally tidy, that all of my belongings needed for grad school are packed in neat little boxes for easy moving, and that I've already uploaded and ordered prints of all the pictures from both Spring Break and this summer.
Instead, I'm so overwhelmed by the mess that is my room that I continue to put off starting to clean it because I don't know where to begin!
So ... as usual, I will have procrastinated until the last minute, leaving me enough time only to cram everything into boxes without any real sense of order ... and I'll find certain things that I need only when I begin packing up my grad school apartment in May.
I suppose I can live with that.
Plus ... it's worth it. I've gotten to catch up with those dearest to me here at home ... and ... I had a pajama day yesterday (I needed just one this week) ... and ... as I'm writing this, I'm feeling the motivation percolating ... so I'll put on my makeup, change out of my robe into colorful clothing, finish my highly-sugared coffee, and work diligently until it's time to leave for my appointment this afternoon. (Other plans today include straightening out the bill for GradSchool since they've overcharged me, visiting with a dear friend, and taking my brother out to see HP5. Yay!)
Instead, I'm so overwhelmed by the mess that is my room that I continue to put off starting to clean it because I don't know where to begin!
So ... as usual, I will have procrastinated until the last minute, leaving me enough time only to cram everything into boxes without any real sense of order ... and I'll find certain things that I need only when I begin packing up my grad school apartment in May.
I suppose I can live with that.
Plus ... it's worth it. I've gotten to catch up with those dearest to me here at home ... and ... I had a pajama day yesterday (I needed just one this week) ... and ... as I'm writing this, I'm feeling the motivation percolating ... so I'll put on my makeup, change out of my robe into colorful clothing, finish my highly-sugared coffee, and work diligently until it's time to leave for my appointment this afternoon. (Other plans today include straightening out the bill for GradSchool since they've overcharged me, visiting with a dear friend, and taking my brother out to see HP5. Yay!)
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