I Finally Feel Like a Scholastic "Adult"

Well, this LSU Tiger is one relieved kitty. Last Thursday was my final required student recital, this past Wednesday morning was my oral general exam (the last portion of my general exam...basically, the final exam of everything that I've studied in music up to this point), and last night I sang a beautiful Mahler piece, "Um Mitternacht", with the LSU Wind Ensemble. It was a lot to do within a week's time, but somehow I managed it, with God's help.

The interesting thing is that, upon waking this morning, I realized that I have no homework, no test to study for and no music to practice. It's strange...and WONDERFUL!!!

I am SO grateful for the success I've experienced in the past week, and I owe it all to the strength and endurance I've been blessed with lately. Normally, I would have much less hair (yes, my hair falls out when I'm super-stressed...it's quite lovely), but this time, God blessed me with all the above AND keeping my hair. :) Thank you, God, for EVERYTHING.

So, my plan for the upcoming weekend includes renting movies (which I will more than likely watch in my undies and a hair clippy - period), going out to eat (I will, of course, dress appropriately for this) and futzing around the house a lot, annoying my kitties. I predict it's going to be a truly spectacular weekend...I'm wondering if I can finagle that expensive seafood buffet out of the hubby....hmm... :)

I wish to extend a HUGE thanks to everyone who supported and encouraged me, and stood by my side during the past several years of school and the time when I was just trying to figure out what the heck to do with my life. To my dear husband who pushes me when I believe I have nothing left because he sees the best in me when I don't sometimes ... To my loving Mom who set the example of forward motion, no matter what ... To my protective Dad who loves and supports me and is always proud of my accomplishments ... To my best friend Christie who I know in my heart of hearts is always by my side and a phone call away ... To Jami and Rosella whose friendship and support through this "thing" they call a doctorate have been priceless ... To God who blesses me abundantly without reason! ... Thank you ALL.

My Recital

Tonight is an important night. I'm giving my second doctoral recital at 6:00pm. I have my music memorized...pretty much. (Clarification...when my mind is engaged like it needs to be, I can get through my music without a problem.) I have my program notes ready to be copied, and I've bought gifts for everyone who needs one, with one exception...will do that this afternoon.

The problem now is that I'm incredibly anxious. (And I suggest you read the word "anxious" as deriving from the same root as "anxiety" and having little to do with the more commonly assumed definition that is closer to the word "eager.") My insides are in little knots, about every hour, I get this pang of fear that shoots through my body, I question whether or not I'm ready, I find myself waking up in the middle of the night frantically reciting the words to my music, etc.

There are things that may have attributed to this, I suppose. I waited til the last minute to memorize my music (though in between I was preparing for my general exams). I had my wreck back in January, so the next 6-8 months were vocally lost to pain meds and steroids. My teacher has started a new opera company and has enlisted my help, which took a good bit of my time. The new opera company's debut was last Saturday, so for the previous two weeks I had no voice lesson...not to mention that, since I usually have my lessons on Thursdays, I won't have one today either in favor of saving my voice for this evening. My accompanist's father passed away in the last month, so she was out prior to his passing, enjoying his company as much as she could...I don't fault her for that, mind you. I just wish I had more rehearsal time.

Anyway, again I ask for your prayers. At this point, I know there is little more I can do to get myself prepared for tonight, so I have decided to let go and give it all to God and let Him work it out for me. If I mess up, it's going to be okay. If I forget an word or an entrance, oh well. God willing, though, He will strengthen my mind and my body and give me the words and energy to give a glorious and entertaining performance. I look forward to hearing His miracles tonight, and I hope my audience does too!

Sometimes Life Isn't Fair

About a week ago, someone relieved my husband of all his tools from inside his locked truck box. Among these were tools his father had used that were well over 30 years old. The building next door has security cameras, and the security contact informed us that their tapes indeed showed a small group of men taking his tools...at 9:30pm, just off a main road...they just pulled up and helped themselves. We're in the process of trying to acquire a copy of the tape.

If you've EVER been the victim of theft, especially with items of sentimental value, you know how it feels like someone has literally dug out your stomach with a rusty tablespoon. You frantically go through all the possible scenarios of what you should or could have done differently to prevent it, or what you can do now to get your possessions back or just get even with whoever targeted you. The sick feeling comes from just knowing in the back of your head that there isn't a darn thing you can do about it, though. It's quite a helpless feeling, and it's worsened when you don't know who your victimizer is. It's sad, too, when you find yourself suspicious of your neighbors, co-workers, etc.

So, prayers would be appreciated for my husband right now who is mourning the loss of items that are really precious to him, provide him with great enjoyment, and that, in a way, define a part of who he is. I think he needs it. (Be sure to include in your prayers that Lowe's, Sears and Harbor Freight have some GREAT upcoming sales! :) )

One more...

I got tagged again, plus I love these things, so here goes...
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) ...Neko Explorer
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) ...Rocky Road Sugar Wafer
3. YOUR “FLY GIRL” NAME: (first initial of first name, first 3 letters of last name) ...S-Gar
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) ...Blue Cat
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) ...Lenn Hattiesburg
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) ...Gar-Sh
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) ...The Yellow Chocolate Milk
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) ...Hugh Lenard
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy) ...Chanel Snickers
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names) ...Lenn Duncan
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) ...Presley Paris
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) ...Fall Lantana
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) ...Cherry Flopsy
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) ...Scooters Gingko
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather + “Tour”) ...The Jewelry Overcast Tour
Well, that was fun. Now, if you're reading this, it's your turn!

Samples

I think I can safely admit thatI am a sample slut. I am completely addicted to going to Walmart's homepage and checking out the samples they offer. I'm also one of those who, after seeing a commercial advertising a free sample, makes you mad because they are already preventing your connection to the website because they beat you there.

So, if anyone sees any commercials for free samples, feel free to leave me a comment with the link or phone number. (And for the record, I really dispise the free sample websites that make you fill out ENDLESS surveys and/or require that you "complete 37 of these offers to qualify for your stick of chewing gum". So if you have one of those, no, thank you! Keep it to yourself!)

I really do recommend Walmart.com's site, though. On the right-hand side of the page, click on "In Stores Now" and then "FREE Samples". Currently, they have samples of Goodnites for children, Huggies diapers, Sunsilk hair products and Folger's Gourmet Selections coffee!

ALREADY?!?

I just happened to see a man in a Santa suit on television the other night, and oh my goodness, am I ready for the holiday season to arrive! Since then, I've been sniffing for the coolness in the air (though in southern Louisiana, it ain't here yet!), craving spice cookies, soups, stews and chilis, humming Christmas music, wondering about what to get or make people for Christmas gifts, and wanting to redecorate in red and green! Aaahhh!! That was quick! The weather-people are predicting a cool snap near the end of this week, regardless of the fact that it will happen during the evening with lows in the 60's instead of 70's while the highs remain in the lower 90's during the day...bleh. But cool weather in any form, especially now, is incredibly welcome and will probably put me right over the edge. My prediction is that in the next week, I will have my first Christmas gift purchase. (This will be my usual first gift purchase of a special ornament for my best friend, Christie.) I hope and pray that this holiday season will be a great one because when I get "the bug" this early, I usually have high expectations when the time gets here. So, Merry Christmas, y'all!

Ahhhh....I need a drink.

Well, I made it through. I finished my paper on time, actually a day early, and my written exams are behind me. I will have my oral exams in the next month, I'm guessing. (You have to request a time at least 3 weeks prior to the date..had I known that before 2 days ago, I would have requested it 2 weeks ago.) Anyway, it's behind me. I did...okay. Parts were good, and other parts I wished I'd done better on. But then again, if I'd have done perfectly, there would be nothing to discuss in my orals. I've not gotten any proper feedback, so I don't know how I did "officially".

So, a couple of friends of mine and I will be celebrating this evening (I'm up too late to say 'tomorrow') by having a sleep-over/movie party. We plan to be, as we say, "d-runk"...to translate, that's just another way of saying really, really drunk. The three of us studied together, tested together and will be d-runk together by probably 6pm tomorrow evening. I've even made zero-point sweet & sour mixer. With tequila at 2pts a shot, we need to save all the points we can!..and we plan to use bunches of our week's flex points on alcohol!! (FYI...While it may sound like it, I'm not an alcoholic, this is a huge celebration, we're all of legal drinking age, and we won't be driving.)

Thanks for the prayers and well-wishes, and know that they are appreciated. Gee...now that the written exams are finished, I have some time to relax and clean the house...and cook for hubby...and do his laundry...and run errands...and grocery shop......HELP! :)

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock...

This is probably more a request for prayers than a plain ol' blog entry. I am in the process of studying for my doctoral comprehensive general exams. They are next week, 9/4-6...4th is foreign language diction testing, 5th is song and operatic literature, and the 6th day is for my minor area of linguistics. I have pretty much all of the information I'm going to compile stuffed into one big fat notebook, and from time to time, I'll actually look at it and study.

The remainder of my time is being spent on a paper that is to be written in lieu of a linguistics exam on the third day. It needs to be submitted by/on Saturday, 9/1...though my professor would probably be more appreciative if it found its way to him on Friday instead.

So here's the "issue" for me...So far, the minor area linguistics paper has come out of my head...very little research (though there has been some, and those few sources will be cited, of course) other than checking my textbooks/notes/etc. to verify correct terms, to spur example ideas, etc. He's given me a lot of wiggle room, but as a result I'm feeling quite tentative and not sure what I'm supposed to do if I have few outside sources and research other than my textbooks and notes, especially considering this is supposed to be representative of doctoral level work. So, I'm a little bit afraid right now that my general knowledge on paper won't be adequate, and my professor (though he's really a nice man and wouldn't purposefully require additional work just for his own amusement) will require some down and dirty research to substantiate my knowledge that will need to be done in the last few days that I am hoping to use for concentrated preparation for the other exams.

Anyway, please say little prayers for my paper, for my studies, and for my exams. I'm going to need them at this point. Thank you SO much...and God bless you!!

Doing My Part for the Blog-Go-Round

“Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings,
these are a few of my favorite things”

(Funny, but my first non-paid "professional" musical experience
was a result of auditioning with the song "My Favorite Things". :)
I was the only child in the adults' chorus of HCLO's Brigadoon.)

Sound - my cats purring or my husband laughing
Late night snack - anything mushy/carby like StoveTop stuffing or pudding
Smell - something baked with cinnamon
Color combination - red and black
Nut - pine nuts
Time of the year - early spring or late fall
Author - don't have one
Books - Memoirs of a Geisha, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harry Potter's
Vegetable - Cauliflower
Male Actor - Anthony Hopkins
Flower - the palest pink roses
Vacation spot - what does "vacation" mean?
Pizza - thin crust anything from Pizza Hut
Sport to play - racquetball
Subject in school - anything besides history
TV channel - any channel currently playing CSI: Las Vegas
Radio station - anything playing soft rock or classic rock
Holiday - Christmas
Perfume - Chanel No.5
Shoes - lately, my Crocs, but I definitely prefer my feet bare
Candy - chocolate caramel turtles
City to shop - New York City
Female actress - Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts
Beauty products - mostly Mary Kay
Item to shop for - beads & findings to make jewelry

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes

I have recently adopted the practice of counting Weight Watchers points. I'm doing pretty well, I think. After following the plan for about a month, I'm down 12 pounds. I believe in my heart and head that this is a plan I can stick with. This is a "good thing", Martha.

As a part of my grand plan, I have added the counter to the top of my blog to post my progress. As you can see, I have quite a ways to go. (It's amazing how the pounds can find you when you're not looking for them...sleeping must cause weight gain.) I guess posting my progress is falling under the 'accountability' category.

Surely you've heard the same story as mine...I was big all my life, yo-yo'd for years, and gained more weight each time. I was tired of having trouble moving, tired of settling for whatever fit instead of something really cute, tired of skipping social events in favor of watching TV, and tired of being tired all the time. I knew that something had to change, and I knew I'd better do it soon before I was confronted with some major health issue that required a change. (At present, I am SO grateful to be able to say that I have no malady for which medication is necessary.) The catalyst for my change was probably a combination of feeling icky and depressed and seeing recent pictures of myself next to thinner people...I just had no idea I was THAT big...my mind thought my body was smaller than it actually is....soon to be "was".

This is not a commercial for Weight Watchers. I believe that if something works for you, then it works, and no one single plan is for everyone. For me, though, I love the fact that I can eat whatever I want within certain parameters. (And I'm ever thankful for Slim-A-Bear's!) I'm finding, however, that instead of gorging myself on the usual junk til my points are gone, I'm making better choices...eating healthier options, getting 4-5 servings of fruits/veggies in a day - something I NEVER did before, drinking my water, staying within my points, moving more, not using my activity points most days, and choosing wisely how I'm going to use my flex points, if I use them at all. This is not the old me anymore. There's this, well, it's almost a fear of eating poorly again. The best part is that I can see myself thinner and healthier down the road, and I feel my confidence creeping back in.

So, enough of this. I mainly just wanted to explain the counter. Please keep me in your prayers, though. I've been blessed with generally pretty good health so far, despite my weight, and I hope and pray it stays that way years from now because of the choices I'm making now.

Knock, Knock...Who's There?

We had an interesting night last night. In fact, we've been having interesting nights randomly for the past few months.

Background...We have three cats, and apparently they are making "friends" we don't approve of. They like to fight each other through the windows, and this includes knocks and bangs from both sides of the window as well as lots of growling, hissing and screaming that, at 3:00a.m., frankly, scares the poot out of me when I'm in a dead sleep.

Well, last night, the visitor arrived while my husband was just about to go to sleep. (I was still up cleaning the kitchen if memory serves.) All of a sudden, I hear this loud thump and the sound of breaking glass! I quietly stick my head in the bedroom, hoping it's coming from another apartment, but no. I find my husband hanging halfway out of the bed looking towards the window.

You see, it's been our practice to slap or knock on the window to scare the visiting cat away, but this time the window had had enough. Yep, my husband broke the window. This precipitated a big clean-up and window-taping session, and God only knows how long it took my husband to fall back asleep.

Thankfully, we were able to find someone to replace the glass today, but truthfully, a part of me would've loved to see the look on that stray cat's face when it jumped up on the layers of sticky-side-out packing tape that were there last night, and its paws were momentarily frozen in that "time to get frisked for doing something bad" pose.

Oh no! I'm "it"!

It seems that I've been 'tagged' and must answer the following "questions" with one word. This is my first list like this on my blog (Thanks Christie....) so here I go. (Don't panic. I won't be tagging anyone in return. :) )

Yourself: Content
Your partner: Stoic
Your hair: Plain
Your mother: Amazing
Your father: Cuddly
Your favorite item: Ring
Your dream last night: Absent
Your favorite drink: Margarita (I'm assuming alcoholic here...)
Your dream car: Fuel-efficient
Dream home: Built
The room you are in: Den
Your fear: Abandonment
What you are great at: Singing
Where you want to be in 10 years: Chez-moi
Who you hung out with last night: WalMart
You're not: Scratching
One of your wish list items: Diploma
The last thing you did: Read
You are wearing: Undies
Your favorite weather: Precipitous
Your favorite book: Memoirs...
Last thing you ate: Cake
Your life: Blessed
Your mood: Semi-frantic
Your best friend: Harvey
What are you thinking about right now: Saturday
Your car: Explorer
What are you doing at the moment: Proofreading
Relationship status: Married
What is on your t.v: Infomercial
When is the last time you laughed: Tonight

When will it end...

I was in an auto accident on 1/26/07. I was rear-ended while stopped on the interstate, causing me to hit the person in front of me. The person hitting me didn't see that traffic had stopped, so she was going quite fast. I have injuries that I'm still getting treated for and will expect to received treatment for, for the remainder of my adult life. Today, several months later, I discovered that my medical bills haven't been paid. The problem was that, somewhere in my pea brain, I thought that the insurance of the person who hit me was going to pay for it, and I had all my bills sent to their insurance claims department. Wrong. My med-pay was supposed to do the paying. So, God willing, as of today, all that has been fixed. Thank goodness for patient payees.

I'm not sure why insurance has to be so dang complicated, though. I mean, if you throw a baseball through a neighbor's window, your parents pay for it...if you knock over a glass vase, you replace it...you know how it works - "you break it, you buy it." Why doesn't insurance work that way? No, with insurance, you have to pay for it yourself, THEN go through the hassle of requesting a reimbursement. I suppose this gives them room to argue charges and validity of it all. And in my case, they are going to want to argue why they should pay when a woman was going at highway speeds while the traffic in front of her was STOPPED. Erg. God, grant me the serenity...

"...but we've always done it that way..."

Isn't it amusing how so many of the classic mystery books are titled in the following way:
"The" + adjective + noun
Strange. I want to get to a point in my listening-reading where I can name authors that I like instead of titles of books. Being literarily inclined has only recently been an addition to my long-term-goals list.

Second blog posting in almost a year, all on one night. I guess I'm in a mood to write/type tonight. Or, I need therapy and don't want to pay for it.

Oopsie-loopsie

Unfortunately, I wasn't a good friend on my birthday last year...I did not appropriately acknowledge that my husband was indeed here with me to participate in any type of celebration I chose. (Sometimes "party of two" is a good thing...other times, well...) And, it's been too long since I've written anything...it's almost my birthday again. I feel like I'm starting over completely.

Does anyone really care about typos in their blog? I'm finding myself correcting mine...and wondering what happened to my excellent typing skills from my legal secretary days.

There was a very bad thunder/lightning storm here this evening. I think we got about 2 inches of rain in about that many minutes. Also, Miss Cleo peed on the couch. This was following about 3 days of TomTom screaming at the top of his lungs, day AND night, anytime another of the cats came near him. (He apparently thought he was being chased by both the other cats as they were running in the door...he got skeered...for three days.)

I am the self-designated "Reine de l'Elipse"...just do your best to move past it. Thanks, dear.