317/365 Now that didn't take long

Friday tradition, soon to end. Ilana has but one more week of her acting class at Theatre Jacksonville. No longer will I need to wind up my week with a bit of caffeine and reflection here at the San Marco Starbucks. And what a week it's been. Did we have a day off? I can't remember any leisure time.

316/365 Troublemaker

After eight years of reading, writing, researching and presenting best practices for effective instruction, I can't imagine letting this be the deciding factor in the lesson I teach. I insist that I do all I can to teach well, and to create lessons that engage, endure, and maybe even inspire. Let the chips fall where they may.

315/365 Pooooooooped

Tired by day and awake by night. Duh. I think I know why. New job, adjustment period and I haven't taken my meds in almost a month. Without the scrips I have NO thyroid function. Might explain the fact that the comfy jeans are less comfy too, even with my lack of enthusiasm at mealtime. As much as I hate to admit that I need the things, I shall swallow more faithfully henceforth.

314/365 Not too busy

Things have been a bit crazy for the human inhabitants of 0ur house, with hardly a moment at home but for sleeping time. With all the running around we've been doing, it's nice to know that SOMEONE is able to enjoy the comforts of home. Oh, to be a cat.

313/365 $200 Later...

and it cools things. The ondenser, covered under warranty, was just fine. Condenser fan, burned out. $40 part. The other charges were for labor, including $89 for a home visit. Next time I'll bring it in, I guess. Argh!

312/365 Roadie for Hire. Free.

They came to "show us their acts" for 8 hours on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago. We worked for 2 hours apiece, the hubby and I, planning the host's script, order, sound and stage cues, and program. Today's run-through went from 12:30 to 5:45 for our entire family of stage crew, including set-up and break-down of sound and lights. SWJ, the variety show is on Tuesday night!

311/365 And still the fat lady sings

So today our refrigerator died, one cat chewed some green ribbon and vomited, and the other chose to relocate her litter box functions (without relocating the litter box), but I'd rather focus on the good of the day.

I'm working on some new repertoire. Faure, Schubert, Handel, Mozart, Bach and I have reunited. These are presents under the Christmas tree to me, but far, far better. It takes a long time to unwrap the treasure in these, first finding the notes in my voice, then learning the dynamics and tempi, translating and learning the pronunciation of the words, to then learning the character, the story, the emotion ... each new layer like the stacking babushka dolls, while dependent on the previous they become more precious as I go. I have a dozen of these presents to unwrap, and it will take me months of work to do so. What fun!

In keeping with the operatic theme, this evening we attended a delightful night of music and laughter with the JU opera program. Their double bill of Menotti/Puccini The Telephone and Gianni Schicchi were well-sung and performed. There was uproarious laughter in the intimacy of their studio theater setting, and even our first-time opera-goer teenager could see the joy in opera well-directed and well-staged.