Finals Week

Everything is coming to a head out here. I just finished a paper (late!) and have my vocal jury tomorrow (4:50pm CST) with a final in my "Opera as Drama" class on Wednesday morning (9:30am). Then I'm done, I'm free, I'm.......................................very busy during the break.

But first things first. Tomorrow I plan on going to school and absolutely knocking out my jury pieces before doing some final studying for my Wednesday final. Then I'll wake up, ace my final, and then head to my weekly church gig rehearsal to prepare songs for Xmas Eve (yep, I'm flying home to CA on 12/25) before heading back to town for some fermented sugar fun at a friend's party. Then I'll head back to school for one final coaching and a last shot at the music library before washing my hands of my first semester as a graduate student. Then I have five days, count 'em five days, to romp around my apartment and do what most people do when their roommate is out of town -- cavort and prance around in whatever clothes you wish (or lack thereof.)

I'll probably clean the house, straighten my room and do some last minute gift shopping before flying home on Tuesday. But I have no rest for the next three weeks. I have molto musica to learn: Haydn and Purcell off book; Faure melodie; Mozart lied; all of Schumann's Dichterliebe; et al. Not to mention a lot of catching up to do with my Yay Area buddies.

Overall, there were a few setbacks, but I've been able to roll with the punches, and in the meantime make new friends both in and out of school. But damn, it's starting to get HELLA cold over here (21F at the moment)

And now for some pics





my street




my house



fall in Chicago



the window I find myself staring out of during class (not taken during class -- though that would have been ballsy)



first snowfall




a happy snowy tree


Enjoy!

Makin' Mine Music

~No Tations~