I am so mobile. It is a mystery to me how I lived life without this device. My new yale lifestyle means 30 emails by 9am. I have to stay on top of the virtual world in order to keep the real world running smoothly. Oy- never thought I would get here. Despite the speed of time around here I am learning tons and tons. Nice to know this dog isn't too old yet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/world/europe/11scene.html?_r=1&hp&oref=login

So glad Bush had enough time to give the US Olympic Basketball team a pep talk before the big game. Lord knows, he's already admonished particular folks about being aggressive so his work is done. Time for some well earned down time.

I think I've accepted a job that is on campus. My Wednesdays will be a little hectic but I am really starting to look forward to the year. A welcome packet arrived this week from my voice teacher. The calendar looks pretty intense but we know ahead of time the major pieces we need to prepare which is really considerate. Recital dates must be chosen by September 22nd. Yikes! Luckily, I've been cruising the standard art song repertoire for the past couple of months. I want to do some of the golden oldies that have been done a lot but that I have never done. Strauss will be heavily featured. I can't believe I'm vocally in a place where that stuff doesn't intimidate me anymore. This is not the same soprano who graduated seven years ago. What is odd though is that this first recital seems like a "throw away". It isn't graded. The event cannot be held in the evening and must be on a weekday. This first walk on the stage is a requirement and nothing more. Wow. I'm so fired up. I can't wait for my first lesson. The Monteverdi opera in NYC feels pretty glamorous too. Small part but lots of fun. I get to be on stage once every act but the amount of music that I actually have to learn is concise and tuneful. Sweet. Le Poisson Rouge- here I come!

But am so bone crazy tired that I don't know where to begin. My calves feel as though I've had a series of violent charlie horses throughout the night that I was too tired to work out. I'm waiting for my car to be worked on and then I need to register it and do a title transfer. When will I be able to pack up and leave? Don't really know yet but I have a reservation to be in Cumberland, MD by tonight. Ugh.

It is 4am and I can't stop. Things are looking okay. I think whatever is left that I haven't figured out I can put somewhere. Actually, what I'm doing is waiting to go to the grocery store. It feels weird and mildly unsafe to go at this hour. It isn't just the hourly folks who re-stock the shelves but the sort of odd third shift folks who have nothing but large bills on them to buy mac & cheese. I'm 100% out of garbage bags which has put all clothing stashing to a halt and somehow this has completely arrested my ability to go on with everything. In less than four hours the movers will be here loading the truck! I am exhausted in mind, body, and spirit. This what a move is supposed to do. It breaks you down and builds you back up again in a new image. I just hope my right hands holds up on the demo part.

I'm gonna miss this house!

I am going to miss my peeps at Christ Church so much. I have never met such a great group of people. It breaks my heart to think that I won't be singing with them next year. This is a truly open group who are active in how they participate in their community. Not to mention, they just plain LOVE music. I have finally been able to do my job as section leader and this experience has allowed me to affirm and practice what I believe the jobs is all about. Sure, I did lots of solo work which was nice but that isn't really the point of why any church hires a professional musician to join the choir.

I am there to support members of the choir and congregation by providing a vocal foundation so people can focus on the worship experience. That is the job- Period. If the music isn't functioning for that purpose than it puts braces on the whole thing. It can intimidate and divide a congregation from members of the choir and clergy. I've seen happen over and over again. People doing the right things for the wrong reasons. CCC is dedicated to what they do. They truly pray twice. It isn't a show, although they love to perform. Being a member of CCC is a way to be.

Every member of the choir is hard working, wickedly funny, and earnest in their pursuit of humanity. Who could ask for anything more? Wouldn't you know it- the quality of their characters makes a celestial symphony.

It's just a to go box and not really an innovation in leftover or "take away" technology. Someone tell me I'm wrong and exactly why because I want to know.

First of all- let me show you a pic of where I will be living in New Haven avec ma familie:




Doesn't Dave look pleased? I have a pic of the hotel we stayed in but as I've said before, it isn't funny yet.

I've been madly packing and hating the world in general. Let me show you why:



The people who live on my street are clearly just the dumbest, most inconsiderate people that ever existed. I do believe you would be shot in Baltimore for this.

Let me show how great my house looks right now and how that is clearly adding to my state of wretchedness:




Shatner is concerned. "Mom, are we moving?"-



Yes, sweetie, we are. I know this because I threw my back out yesterday. Let the self medication begin:


Thank dogness for the healing power of terrier kisses.




It was a trying Saturday to be sure. I can almost bend over without screaming today!!! I can stand up straight for periods of time which is encouraging. My right side is just knotted up. I got the left side to release last night but the right side is just stuck. So lame.

The move is less than two weeks away. I don't even know how that is possible. Yard work all morning, no choice. The vines and milkweed had taken over the holly bushes. The holly bushes have grown at a rate I thought possible only in a rainforest. Boxes, boxes, and boxes to be assembled and filled. Walls need to be painted. Van rental, dolly rental. Ack. The list just goes on and on.

All the precious things in boxes.

This past week was spent looking for housing in New Haven. I was able to squeeze one walk in on Wednesday at 6am only to discover the sketchy part of town we were actually staying in. Apartment secured, we are finally home and I went on a long walk this morning in the park. Yeah!

Wow. I know I'm about a day late and a dollar short on seeing No Country for Old Men but wow. I've heard that a lot of folks don't like the ending and I think these are the same folks who didn't like the way the Soprano's series ended. It isn't neat, or conclusive- a bit like real life. Your imagination is sparked and not in a good way. Having built a summer cottage on the dark side, films and tv that leave me with a certain amount of disquiet are the works I tend to enjoy the most. Thank goodness the brothers Coen have given comedy a break and returned to the style of film making in which they are simply superior. They have brought to film one of the most haunting villains the movie going public has seen in a while.

I honestly didn't keep track of time very well. I kept my heart rate up while I was in the park but once I left there I sauntered. C'est la vie. Least I'm back on the band wagon.

History in the morning, theory in the afternoon. I've now confirmed from a few different sources that the entrance exams are rumored to be ridiculously hard. Yeah. So I will basically bleed from eyes for my first week at Yale but if I can inch ever closer to applying for the pre-doctoral program I think it is worth it. If I get trampled by it all perhaps it is a sign that another 5 years of doctoral work might be unrealistic and one should carpe diem.

Nothing like the good old BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7409591.stm

Go Hillary!

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bal-md.ob.conner14may14,0,3764570.story

Makes me very sad to know he isn't with us.

Hopefully there will be another entry for today. I have a student coming in at 11 so I did what I could.

1 mile/13min 2 mile/10:30min 3 mile/15:30 (weight training)

Gotta set up my piano and mirror and shower!!! Calling New Haven today to set up appointments...ACK!

Of course this is the WATP series so I don't know if the miles are true but the motion was maintained and I am exhausted. It had to be done after a weekend of decadent eating. So, check and check. *sigh*

Boy, I hope I can do my normal 3 tomorrow without crying. Gotta charge the iPod.

Nothing yet to report on the workout front. Maybe this will spur me to take action.

Wow- my stamina has really improved since December. I've been casually working out 3-4 times a week for the past three months and just recently I've tried to step it up to every day. It is making a huge difference. I did 30 minutes of strength training and then sailed through another 60 minutes of aerobic activity. What is now unusual are the days that I'm not in motion (a goal I have long wanted to achieve). Despite all this exercise the weight isn't magically dropping off but I feel better. My body is regulating itself and I feel more in control of muscle tension. I've only had a couple of migraine attacks and they were mild, easily managed. Today I can feel the signs of one coming on. I woke up later than usual and my vision was funny. I don't think I would have noticed that in November which is why I was ending up in the ER unable to hold my head up. Stretching, exercise, good food, sleep. I am determined.