Back in Bean Town.

I had a nice holiday at home, away from most things electronic and internet. Sometimes, it's good for us to drop the gadgets and live life not glued to a newsfeed and continuous stream of emails. Now, it's back to that thing called school, work, and making a career.

I flew home last Saturday (I love Boston, but extended times away from "home" can take their toll, too...), and this morning, I caught the train back to Massachusetts. I always loved riding trains in Europe, but I'd never ridden one in the States. It's cool...but not so cool traveling for 14 hours while sick. :( Yes, unfortunately, I woke up yesterday with a fever. Ugh. Fever seems to be gone, but I still feel like crap and totally drained. However, I feel myself already pushing myself to swim through the pile of work I've neglected and ignore what my body is telling me. Good thing and also a very bad thing.

I've got a crazy next 3 1/2 weeks before my Christmas holiday. From the get-go, I am facing: sneezing, endless nose-blowing, a voice on the brink of taking its own unapproved holiday, fatigue, exhaustion, 10 songs to memorize, other misc. homework, reading assignments, and a semi-up-in-the-air work schedule. And...cue after-break panic attack. ACK! NyQuil working its way into my system, so I'm going to go pass out now...

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Since going off to school, I kind of forfeited my room at home, so I have sort of been a couch surfer (and let me say that we have one of the comfiest couches!). When I got home last week, though, my mom and little sister had created a little "room" for me under my sister's loft bed complete with a "marshmallow bed," nightstand, lamp, musically-ornamented tapestries and bedding, a "complimentary gift basket," and a section of the closet with my clothes organized by style! (I didn't realize I still had that many clothes at home...haha!) Thanks. :)

Second star to the right and on till...HOME!

Hooray!! I've made it through to...HOLIDAY TIME!! (Okay, I probably shouldn't speak too soon, because I still have 5 hours at the school for my assistantship tomorrow before I can head to the airport, but still.)

It was a crazy week but went pretty great. Sleep has been minimal, but I can catch up on that in the coming week. Somehow today, I had the energy of the Energizer Bunny or something and was just bursting with giddiness. I was hyper-focused or something in the afternoon. (It may have been that Christmas Blend coffee I grabbed on the way to school...hehe!)

Friday school days conclude with Art Song Repertoire class, and I just love that class! I definitely confirmed my nerd-ship today in that class! haha! I just love the coaching sessions, the poetry, the music, the piano-voice collaborations...so cool to me! (I am positive my coach thinks I'm crazy or actually a 5-year old because I am so overtly bubbly sometimes and was definitely more so today than in diction earlier in the week!) Unfortunately, I got the shaft today when we ran out of class time for my coaching time, but I was promised we'd make that up when we meet, again.

Now....it's time for a week of rest and repose in the countryside... ;) Well-deserved and much-needed. I'll try to check-in from the dial-up side!

Cheers!


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Fabulous voice lessons AND BOGO Starbucks holiday lattes...what's not to smile about? ;)

Ta-Da!

Look at this girl go! I just got a job at The Gap. (Can anyone say, "new wardrobe"? hehe!) I am officially moving to a new apartment after the New Year. I am s-l-o-w-l-y conquering my fear of the French language and singing in it. AND I'll be flying home in 2 1/2 days! (Not that that means my to-do list and schoolwork pile disappears during that time...but it will highly possibly be somewhat neglected... Oy! So much work to do...)

Also, my diction coach told me yesterday, "Samantha, she is saying this half asleep...you are singing it like you've already had too cups of coffee. It'd probably be really hard for you to play a depressed person." Apparently, he noticed my bubbly-ness. ;) I think that was the highlight commentary of the week.

And then there was the creeper cashier at Dunkin' Donuts very blatantly giving me the up-and-down... Boy, is that a story for the books! Just ask my friend Edwin, who was with me, all about it. ;)


P.S. Those beautiful red trees I posted I photo of last time have now painted the sidewalk in red and yellow. Still beautiful! :) 

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As seen on a bus stop sign on my commute to school one morning. :) 

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Most beautiful Autumn trees I've ever seen! 
All the other trees in the park are jealous, I think. ;) 

Wow! I seriously promise that I haven't actually fallen off the face of the earth or left this blog to cyber junk! Hopefully, I have some exciting updates to come soon, though... Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed! ;)

Home for Turkey Day holidays in only 10 DAYS!! :) I get 6 WHOLE DAYS at home! YAY!

New Photo: Revealed!

Yes, I finally decided, and here is the finished product: 

Thank you, Susan, for such beautiful photos! :) 

*Photo Credits: Susan Wilson Photography

On Cloud 9

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Ah! I have been so giddy the past 36 hours! Why, you ask? Because this lucky girl got FREE tickets to Dawn Upshaw's song recital last night! :) AND THEN...the lovely Ms. Upshaw came to my school this morning, and we chatted. ACK! Amazing. :)

Dawn Upshaw is not only a brilliant musician with a gorgeous voice and shimmering high notes, but she is also the sweetest, most down-to-earth person ever! She's the "real deal," and both her musical intentions and her personality reveal this. I was in awe just to be in her presence. (...but don't worry, I kept my cool this time...unlike the Audra experience! haha!). Some of us voice majors had a lovely chat with her for part of the morning. She kind of reminded me of my mom. ;) And seriously, that recital last night was exquisite! 

I am SO inspired right now! And the inspiration and moments of musical beauty just keep coming at me this weekend...Tonight was a concert by guest artists Alan Darling and The Mirror Visions Ensemble at the school, and tomorrow night, Haydn's Creation at Jordan Hall with the stunning voice of soprano Amanda Forsythe. Going to be FABULOUS!! (However, she is pregnant and due in a few weeks, so...say your prayers that baby doesn't come early! haha! My voice coach said that he told that baby to "stay right where you are and don't come out yet!" Oh, man!)

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Found on the wall in the room in which I was practicing this afternoon:

I definitely needed to see that today.

Today I...

...Frolicked in compound meter, was made a "queen," waltzed with the "king," learned to "draw" the score for Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet (okay, Adriana, my professor, did it, but still...haha!)...

...practiced German pronunciation with Wolfgang Brendel's son (and a very cute one, if I may had!! Whoa!), took a walk and saw every gorgeous historical mansion I ever want to live in, ate a cookie (okay...several...), fought a case of the grumps, and ended the day wearing a feather boa with stray feathers pinned in my hair. This is what I do in a day of grad school. haha! And have I mentioned yet that I have the most wonderful teacher in the world? ;) I love my life...but HATE it when I get the grumps!! :(

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I love to watch people watch other people sing or play. I just love to watch their reactions. NOT in a bad way, but in a positive way. Sometimes, I get more enjoyment out of watching someone else enjoying the music than just listening (or singing) myself. After all, that's what this work is all about, isn't it? ;)

Also, we have the nicest security guards at my school. There are just a handful that rotate shifts, one for each building each evening, but they seem to love being a part of the work of this community. Again, it may just be me liking to make people smile with a simple, cheerful hello. :) I believe that giving cheerfulness, courtesy, and kindness will return the same to you. ;)

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It was a bit of an up-and-down day. C'est la vie...When we stumble (literally or figuratively!) or run into some not-so-ideal moments, we learn to set ourselves back right-side-up, tidy ourselves up, and walk forward, again, with a smile, knowing life goes on and all we can do is our best. :)

I may have forgotten for a moment that I have a blog...

Oops! I assure you that neglecting to post has not been intentional. I have just been busy, busy, busy! And loving (most) every moment! I am seriously such a blessed person to be in a beautiful city, at an incredible school, and surrounded by such wonderful people.

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Genuine giggle fits. ;)

I have much to update, but I will have to hold off on that because I need to be sleeping right now! For the moment, just know that I am living and loving life! :) Also, choosing a final photo from my recent photo shoot is totally agonizing! Ack! Which to choose, which to choose?! Haha! At least, I have it narrowed down to about four...but final decision deadline is creeping up on me... :/