My time of crisis is upon me! Months ago when I planned out my March in terms of when to assign things in my class, when I could play some shows, etc., I forgot to factor in rehearsal and prep time, as well as grading time. So for weeks now I have been dreading the final two weeks of March, which are essentially upon us. I am playing a show with Katy and we haven’t practiced in months, so every day off between now and the show (the 23rd) I have penciled in practice, either with her or by myself. I am also performing in a piece at YU for which I am not sure I have all the details. I am presenting, MCing, and doing a pre-performance lecture at a concert of 20th century wind quintet music about which I am increasingly nervous and trying to do tons of research for and I feel like I keep going down weirder and weirder rabbit holes concerning. I am also positive the audience will be filled with people who know a lot more about 20th century music–wind or otherwise–than I do. To be fair, this would not be difficult, as I would describe what I know about 20th century music as being “minimal.” I did not intend that to be a joke about minimalism but yeah, in case you were wondering, I mostly know about minimalism. And the blues. Thus, research! But oops, I also am giving a public lecture on Hildegard at an upcoming music festival in Washington. As much as I feel I can just wing such a thing, I really want it to be as polished as possible, plus I want to have a great PowerPoint, like a Mitt Romney level PowerPoint (who am I kidding?? Not possible). So I need to really start writing that soon–I haven’t even started it! Oh my god. And I KEEP forgetting that I also am a teacher. Like, I completely forgot to do the reading for class one time last week. I also forgot that I was supposed to grade the midterms so I ended up having an emergency cram session. And I forgot to hand out their next assignment, so I had to rewrite the syllabus and make up a not-lame-sounding reason for the changes. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?!
Starting now I essentially have shit I have to do every single day until the 24th. Rehearsals and practices but also research and writing and then also my actual job, which I keep forgetting about. But come the 24th guess what? SPRING BREAK. And nothing whatsoever to do but put on a bikini, get out the old beer bong, and ride a raft down the river wearing a nacho hat and screaming SHOW ME YOUR TITS at boys. I can’t wait!!!!!!!!! I think I like having a time of insane busy-ness before a time of rest, for as Freud says, we only know we are happy due to the presence of happiness’s opposite
Thursday night there were four things I wanted to go to but I could only go to two due to simultaneity problems. I made my choice based on who I had promised what to longer ago. It was fun! I had a terrifying, dizzying episode with my face blindness that I am still mortified about and still unsure of who the person in question was (if it was you, I’m so sorry), but other than that I feel I handled Thursday well.
Last night I went to a performance at YU and the people behind me were talking the entire time and then they got up and walked loudly right in front of the performer 1 minute before it ended. If you are reading this, you people, you are truly assholes. Then I went to sleep and had the most heinous night sweat I’ve had in months. I’ve been getting acupuncture in a probably fruitless attempt to fix my body. I just don’t know what to think anymore. I feel like my body is completely betraying me. I feel like I will never run again and I will never be free of this unbelievable night sweating situation. I should keep a positive attitude but it is hard, and I am a cynic. My acupuncturist is a genius and a witch and she is my last hope.
I got home in time to deal with one million emails from students and take the dog for a walk and now I am taking a bath and going to my parents’ for dinner. In case you wanted to know some up-to-the-minute details about Yours Truly’s cool life. Tomorrow I have to practice keyboard parts, watch “Metropolis,” research for the wind quintet concert, and then go to a housewarming party. Sounds pretty good! Then it’s back to the grindstone at my cool job.
You guys I love my job.
I love all my jobs! It is good to be busy. I am saying yes to more things, and that continues to go well, although it does create situations like the one I’m currently paddling in. But what is the point of not being slammed with projects and tasks? Projects and tasks and shows and social events and your job you love, truly ’tis the spice of life.
HUZZAH TO ALL
Also I finally got this book about nuns doing witchcraft and setting fires in renaissance Italy I’ve been meaning to read. Bedtime reading! Those crazy gals
I just feel bad for never updating this damn old thing. I don’t feel I have many interesting thought processes right now that I would enjoy typing about or that you would enjoy reading about, so instead I just tell you my to-do list. I have a bunch of rants I keep thinking I’ll post but then I just feel like, ugh. Who wants to read another rant about capitalism, anti-elitism, gender, misogynist birth rate rhetoric, or Mumford & Sons (one of these is a joke)? Who even wants to write such rants? Not me. Lets be nice to one another.
During spring break I will go outside, fetch my dog, read books, cook something without sighing audibly the entire time, visit friends, and hopefully go on a hike.
Good day to you
p.s. if you want to come to the concert here are the tix! You should come! https://www.albertarosetheatre.com/calendar.html
if you want to come to the festival in Washington go here: http://anacortesunknown.tumblr.com/
I can not give you a ride
