it’s one month on the DOT until my summer program. this time in july i will be in NJ and singing my ass off.
i bought my plane tickets a few minutes ago. i’ve been holding off since money is so tight, trying to save every dollar i can. fly into newark? fly into philadelphia? fly in the day before the program starts? fly in day of check-in? book through kayak.com? book through the airline? should i fly southwest—no baggage fees, but can’t get discounted flights via kayak, bing, or other aggregate sites?
in case you wondered, i decided to fly southwest.. i get two free checked bags. and that is probably going to save me the most money in the long run. i’m flying INTO philadelphia. then, at the end of the program, i’ll fly back home FROM newark.
so that’s what i’m doing.
my voice didn’t feel too well today (shark week, y’all), so i just spot checked some things.. i guess i’ll work more later? i don’t know. i’ve been going to bed around like midnight? so maybe i should stay up later… i don’t know.
i feel really lazy.
Susan Grahamas Xerxes, and David Daniels, as Arsamenes, in San Francisco Opera’s production of Handel’s XERXES.
i figure this will be a good place to chronicle how i’m doing on rosetta stone.
i worked from about 10:30 to noon (a few minutes ago). i am actually pretty glad that i started at the beginning of the course, even though i had to deal with a lot of stuff i already knew. it was probably worth it for the few extra phrases i picked up. it’s interesting to compare how language classes teach versus how rosetta stone teaches.
anyway, i finally know the word for “toilet” now (you think i would have known this after almost two years of study…. but…), so that’s cool.
i’m really glad i’m doing this and furthering my italian study. it makes me feel productive.
today i only worked on my schumann and my korngold before i got annoyed with practicing. i started my period today, i think, so my voice isn’t feeling SO great. plus i didn’t sing at all (oops) over memorial day weekend, so…
i did, however, log in to ROSETTA STONE! for the first time. my summer program is providing it and i couldn’t be more excited about that. i decided to start at the beginning of the italian course even though i definitely didn’t need to start from the beginning. everyone could use a brush up, right? i’m so glad i can further my italian study since my school only offers I and II (both of which i’ve taken).
i’m having lots of fun. i hope to begin german study soon.
the composer of my new, american songs says i should have at least one by friday. can’t come quickly enough.
today, i am reminded of my support circle.
people have reached out to me in so many ways to support me for my trip to my summer program. i am overwhelmed. it may not make the burden all that much less, but some of the people that have reached out to me are people i haven’t spoken to in years. one of my first donors was a guy from high school that i hadn’t seen or spoken to since graduation. how incredible. i messaged him to tell him thank you and that i would find a proper way to thank him, and he just told me to be “as successful as we all know you will be.”
writing that gives me chills. i CANNOT ever lose sight of these people that have touched my life in some sort of way. you never know who will come back up to greet you on the road, so it’s best to never leave them behind in the first place!
my voice teacher has been cavorting around western europe for the past month, but still has had time to email me and text me. i got a text from him in london today.. “you are my favorite fairy princess, england is doing a number on me!” i told him how jealous i was that he was able to go to europe and everything (he’s been in italy, paris, and england) and mentioned all my friends that were going.. and he said: “always use your gift to help. you will have your time, of this i know. i am yours, and i am your teacher. remember that this summer.”
how could i ever forget?
it makes me feel so good to know that i have an awesome relationship with the man who has shaped not only my singing life, but my non-singing life as well. i don’t know what i’d do without him and i’m not entirely ready to answer that question just yet.
one of my best friends gave me a book freshman year of high school on the metropolitan opera. i was into opera, i guess, in ninth grade, but i never really thought it was something that i would do.. how did she know?
eerie and awesome.
Joyce DiDonato as Mary Stuart in Houston Grand Opera’s production of Donizetti’s MARIA STUARDA, 2012. (Eric Melear)
Angela Gheorghiu as Michaela in CARMEN by Georges Bizet.
