EEKS! A spider!

Ashley was finally able to reach an apple on top of the tree only to find it had a huge spider living in it. She threw it on the ground - it landed on my shoe -I screamed - stepped backwards and stepped on an apple - rolled onto Bree - and it's all caught on video!

Trying to reach the apple

Rachael's brilliant idea of trying to reach the apple. We first tried having Ashley hoist me up in her hands - then stepping on her knee - then standing on her back. I thought a piggy back ride would be safer. Perhaps I should have gone for standing on her back. (Aside: We didn't know Michelle was taping)

Apple Picking
 
 
  

 
 
 
  

 
 
 
  

 
 
 
  

It's been a busy past week/weekend. I'm so excited that Autumn is here. It's been a strange Autumn already though. It's been perfect weather for the most part - although it did rain a lot on Sunday. Other than that it's been warm during the day and chilly in the evenings. All with the exception of today which was 75 degrees!! The leaves are starting to turn too! I feel an apple picking trip coming on. Anyone game? I can fit 4 other people in my car!
I'm finding a lot more time to practice this year which is really fantastic. Really really fantastic actually. Karen and I were placed in the same Vocal Chamber Ensemble group and we're doing some really nice duets together. Some Purcell, Donizetti, a beautiful Ave Maria by Faure and so on. This is actually my first time working with another singer in the VCE class. The last two times I took it I was placed with a saxophonist the first semester and a flutist the second semester. We are having a lot of fun - the two of us are - and, not to sound vain - but man we sound really good together. LOL. I guess a more humble way of saying that would be - our voices blend together quite well together.
I'm really loving the Schumann Song Cycle class that I'm taking. I've always loved Schumann but have never sung anything by him. This was my chance - so I took it. Anyhow - I just finished a coaching on Süßer Freund, du blickest mich verwundert an from Schumann's song cycle Frauenliebe und Leben (A woman's love and life). This is the last cycle Schumann wrote before his marriage to Clara and was intended as a wedding gift to her. The poems are a cycle that give the emotional experiences of a woman at various stages in her life - narrating the progressive stages of her relationship with her love from her first sighting of him, their wedding, announcing her pregancy to her him, and finally - the death of her husband.
I was assigned song no. 6 which is the moment when she is trying to tell her husband she is pregnant. Well Friday was my last coaching on the song and I basically had to act it out - but under the direction of my classmates Yumi and Bree who had been told the previous week to come up with some sort of scenario and direct me through it. Well, guess who my husband got to be? Brian - one of the teachers who co-teaches the course. My accompanist wasn't there that day so he was playing for me and Yumi and Bree thought it would be interesting if he was the husband. Great. Thanks guys. I thought I was going to die. Poor Brian - I don't think his face could have gotten much more red.
The scene played out so that he was playing the piano (actually accompanying me) - and I was desperately trying to get his attention - trying to tell him in so many ways - but he was a like a man distracted by a football game. At one point he even pulled his phone (still playing the piano with one hand) and pretended to make a phone call at which point I grabbed the phone away and eventually sat down at the piano with him. Then it got to the "intimate" part of the song and I just wanted to melt to the ground. I was trying to stay in character and keep the fourth wall going - I continued moving closer and closer to him on the piano bench and he starts cracking up and then I started cracking up and then I spit on his hand!!! EWWWW!!! It wasn't a lot of spit - just singer spit - but still!! So that was how my Friday played out. I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed (not just about the spit thing - just the whole situation in general) but we are both adults and could laugh about it afterwards I suppose.
So there is a story for you all to laugh at. Next time we'll sell tickets for the show!
This weekend's supposed to be nice and we're trying to come up with something fun to do outside of the city. Apple picking, cranberry harvest festival - we're not sure yet. It's my first free weekend in a long time and I want to make the most of it. And who knows - this may (or may not) be my last Autumn here in New England so I want to fit in everything I haven't done yet. Good Luck with that Rachael

Süßer Freund, du blickest mich verwundert an

Süßer Freund, du blickest
Mich verwundert an,
Kannst es nicht begreifen,
Wie ich weinen kann;
Laß der feuchten Perlen
Ungewohnte Zier
Freudig hell erzittern
In dem Auge mir.

Wie so bang mein Busen,
Wie so wonnevoll!
Wüßt ich nur mit Worten,
Wie ich's sagen soll;
Komm und birg dein Antlitz
Hier an meiner Brust,
Will in's Ohr dir flüstern
Alle meine Lust.

Weißt du nun die Tränen,
Die ich weinen kann?
Sollst du nicht sie sehen,
Du geliebter Mann?
Bleib an meinem Herzen,
Fühle dessen Schlag,
Daß ich fest und fester
Nur dich drücken mag.

Hier an meinem Bette
Hat die Wiege Raum,
Wo sie still verberge
Meinen holden Traum;
Kommen wird der Morgen,
Wo der Traum erwacht,
Und daraus dein Bildnis
Mir entgegen lacht.

Sweet friend, you look
at me in wonder,
you cannst comprehend,
why I am weeping;
Let the unaccustomed
drops of pearl
tremble, joyful-bright,
in my eyes.

My heart is so full of fear,
yet so blissful!
If I only knew,
how to put into words;
come and bury your brow
here in my breast,
I will whisper all my joy
in your ear.

Now do you understand the tears,
that I can weep?
Should I hide my tears from you,
you beloved man?
Rest on my heart,
feel it beating,
so that I can press you
close and closer.

Here, at my bed,
there is room for the cradle,
which will quietly keep secret
my lovely dream;
the morning will come
when the dream awakes,
and from there your image
shall smile at me.

From Frauenliebe und Leben Robert Schumann
Text by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781-1838)

Top Ten Signs you Need A Break from Longy
(I was all excited to post this and then realized that quite a few of them are "inside jokes" so I've provided an "inside joke" key at the end.)

1. You start arranging to have dates at school, in between rehearsals.
2. Your favorite restaurant is "the Bistro".
3. Whenever you write "long" your hand habitually adds the "y".
4. When Terry and Harry are your best friends and David is your weekend buddy.
5. When your daily exercises include sprints between buildings trying to find a practice room.
6. When silence is deafening and fresh air makes you choke.
7. When you feel like a full-time babysitter.
8. When you think the copier is a technological advancement.
9. When you schedule a room and therapy session with John at the front desk.
10. When you start asking about the PhD program at Longy.


"Inside Joke" key

2. the "Bistro" is a small little area inside one of the buildings where there are vending machines, tables, a microwave and fridge.
4. Terry, Harry and Dave are the guards that are there in the evenings and on the weekend.
5. Longy has two buildings-each one a block from the other. There are never any practice rooms to be had - and what usually happens is you look in one building for a room and when there isn't one you trek to the next building and usually there isn't one there either. So then you just go home.
7. Longy has a large Prepartory Studies program. There are kids running around ALL THE TIME. Some of them climb lockers and the lockers fall on them (as happened last weekend)
9. John is the Front Desk receptionist (my old job last summer!!)
10. Longy has NO PhD program.

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”
~George Eliot~

Ineffable Creator...
You are proclaimed
the true font of light and wisdom,
and the primal origin
raised high beyond all things.
Pour forth a ray of Your brightness
into the darkened places of my mind;
disperse from my soul
the twofold darkenss
into which I was born:
sin and ignorance.
You make eloquent the tongues of infants.
Refine my speech
and pour forth upon my lips
the goodness of Your blessing.
Grant to me
keeness of mind,
capacity to remember,
skill in learning,
subtlety to interpret,
and eloquence in speech.
May You
guide the beginning of my work,
direct its progress,
and bring it to completion.
You Who are true God and true Man,
Who live and reign, world without end.
Amen.

From the Ante Studium(Prayer Before Study) by St. Thomas Aquinas

ahhhh... I remember...THIS is what it was like working the 5-10 shift on Tuesday evenings. I'm back into the full swing of things - at school, the library...everything. I'm sitting here at work, back into my old Tuesday evening schedule and it's completely dead at the circulation desk. I really should be doing some translating and studying of text, (I say this way too often - it's becoming too much of a trend and habit this "I should be...") but I suppose I'll turn to it when I'm done updating my blog page which is of the utmost importance! Have to keep you all informed, don't I???
Second week of classes is going well. I'm pretty much over my nasty cold and now am just work with the leftover gunk. Back to singing and trying to determine what I will put on my required recital at the end of this year. Because I'm doing this program (Graduate Performance Diploma) in a year I have to give the recital this year instead of next - obviously - so I've got my work cut out for me. Last year at this time I knew exactly everything, save for one piece, that I would be working on towards that May performance. This year I have one set of pieces chosen and that's it. Ergh. I have lots of other ideas rolling around in my head - but not anything clear cut, that would fit well together (not that sets HAVE to)or that won't make my recital 2 hours long. I was already pushing the limits last year with a nearly hour and 25 minute program. No wonder I didn't have a voice two days later! I guess it also didn't help that I had a performance the following evening as well. Ok.. this is really not interesting at all. I'm just babbling.
I'm desperately trying to get back into running too. Pushing myself to make that commitment of 3-4 times a week and do 3-4-5 mile rotation. Can I do it? Perhaps if I make myself committed to the fact that running is as important as practicing - then yes. It's going to start getting cold here in months time and then I'm not going to want to be out in the cold running and risking getting sick. THAT I cannot afford. I worked enough hours in the past year at Harvard to be eligible for all sorts of benefits - including use of all their gyms!!! WOO-HOO! It will only be $20/semester. That's a better deal than $300+/year at a gym that's completely comparable!
I quit my job at Starbucks. I have too detailed of an explanation to post on the web. If you want to know - ask me. However, I did get a job as one of the Institutional Advancement interns at Longy. It pays better and completely compatible with my schedule and for the same amount of hours. Plus, I'm working with and for some pretty cool people.
I just read a weather report on weather.com that said that beginning tomorrow "October is visiting September". Already I'm talking myself out of running tomorrow. BAD RACHAEL! NO EXCUSES!!!!
Ok - must get back to reading my Glamour... I mean... translating my French text. He he he.
Au revoir!

Classes have begun and I have a cold already!! Although, as soon as I felt that scratchy throat and sneezed that "tell-tale" sneeze I brought on the Vitamin C, Echinacia, Airborne, OJ, and water and I can tell that this little viral invasion of my body could have been a lot worse than it is.
Classes began last Thursday. My first class was Elementary French. As it turns out she is going to do total immersion with us and Thursday was the last day we will ever speak English!!! Oh good Lord! I think I could very well have handled a total immersion in German but not so much in French. We'll see how it goes. Perhaps one day I will write an entire blog in French. I'm also taking a Schumann Song Cycle Class,the required Experiential Education Program, Vocal Chamber Ensemble, and my studio voice lessons. A significantly smaller schedule than in previous years. I think it's going to be a really good semester.

Five years ago....
Five years ago I boarded a plane in Columbus on September 8 which took me to Minneapolis, then to Amsterdam, and then on to Budapest. One of the memorable parts about leaving is that all of my family and friends came to see me off and were able to hang out at the gate from which I was leaving - one of the last times that would ever be allowed. On the flight to Amsterdam I sat beside this gentleman who was going to Frankfurt, Germany where he would be stationed at an American Military base for the next 5 years. I remember thinking that 5 years was such a long time - and what would I be doing five years from then. One other weird thing I remember about that flight is that when we were preparing to land the wheels of the plane had almost touched the runway when the plane suddenly jerked up and we started ascending quite rapidly back into the air. One could hear everyone on the plane say "whooooaaaa" and this guy looked at me was like "Well, that was a little un-nerving!" and I just nodded. We ended up circling around in the air for probably 1/2 hour longer before we made our landing.
I didn't arrive at the Institute until later that evening, September 9. Blue Peter picked up me up from the airport which was really nice because I didn't have to worry about catching a train with all my luggage. (Oh, by the way - he's called "Blue" Peter because there are two Peter's at the Institute and this particular Peter always wears a blue sweater. Students from many years before nicknamed him that to keep the two Peters straight.) Angela greeted me at our door and I remember two specific things about that evening: Even though I was thoroughly exhausted we moved the entire room around and Angela made me a fantastic dinner - some kind of pork or chicken stir-fry.
So, I wasn't in America for September 11. I was actually preparing to go to a Hungarian Language lesson. Opened the door to my room to step out and there stood Gretchen, her hand up to knock on the door, and tears in her eyes. She said "There has been some kind of explosion in one of the World Trade Center Towers and part of the Pentagon has also exploded." So we all ran to the tv in one of the hallways where there were already people gathered around it watching the BBC - the only English speaking station we got. During that time we witnessed the second plane hitting the tower and both of the towers collapsing. It was so unreal. I mean... of course it was unreal to anyone who was watching it all over the world. We just sat there for hours and hours watching. Time just flew. As we sat more and more people gathered around the tv. At one point Mihaly, one of our professors, came from his office and sat with us just shaking his head in disgust and occasionally grumbling something in Hungarian. He would get up, leave, and then come back again. It soon got to be past dinner time. After that I don't remember much. I know our internet stopped working and I wasn't able to call into the U.S. but my mom was able to call me. It was such a relief to talk to her. She was crying but I assured her that of all places, this little monastary in this little city in Hungary was probably one of the safest places I could be. The next day Peter Erdei, the director of the Institute, gathered all of us Americans (I think there were 10 in all) together just to talk about the situation and answer any questions we might have concerning safety and going outside of Kecskemet.
All-in-all, the experience of living outside of America during 9-11 was very different. After about 10 days it ceased to be constantly aired on the tv or front page of Hungarian newspapers and magazines etc. It didn't "go away" but it certainly wasn't something that was in our face for 2 or 3 months afterwards. That's how we experienced it.
Well, I certainly did not intend for this blog to be a look into the past but I guess that's sort of what it became.

Sarah's Bon Voyage Party
  

Second Annual Longy Kickball Tournament
  

Longy-oke: Hang on Sloopy "O-H-I-O"

The Ohioans supporting the Buckeyes at the first annual Longy-oke.

"Here we will sit and let the sounds of music creep into our ears: soft stillness and the night become the touches of sweet harmony."
Wm. Shakespeare

Simon and I went for a walk last night through Harvard Yard. A beautiful, cool August evening. I just happened to have my camera with me.
 
 
  

I'm so lucky...
According to Forbe's Magazine the #3 Drunkest City in America is Columbus, OH. The #4 Drunkest City in America is Boston, MA.
I certainly have the knack for seeking out my places of residence in dens of debauchary! :-P
Oh - and Pluto has been downgraded. Poor Pluto!

Back to normal!! I think anyhow. I just spent the last two weeks (well, I arrived back in Boston on Thursday) in Ohio spending time with family, friends, and spending the marjority of my time home at Choir Camp. I apologize to those of you who are reading this and didn't even know I was back out west for a time. It was a very short and very busy trip with most all of my attention on Choir Camp. I'll be back again at Christmas!
So, about Choir Camp.... I don't think anything brings me as much joy as these children do every summer. Not only do they work hard and are enthusiastic about their music making, but they amaze me with their knowledge of the Lord working in their lives and how they can serve others with his love and all the gifts and talents they have been given. This year's theme was "All Creatures of Our God and King". The kids go through 6 days (Monday-Saturday, 9-2:30) of two 45 minute rehearsals, and craft/activity time which is all based on the theme. On Sunday they lead the later service with all of the hymns, anthems, and service music they learned during the week as well their prayers and a sermon that is given by 3 of the choristers concerning the lessons of the day and how those lessons might have fit in with our theme. Whew! This year the children worked daily on a mosaic of St. Francis with all the animals and creatures of land and sea as well as the sun, moon, and stars. They presented this to the congregation on Sunday morning as a gift that will be hung somewhere in the church. In addition, they made the communion bread that was given at the Eucharist on Sunday. Other activities included presentations by Pilot Dogs of Ohio (seeing eye dogs), Cat Welfare, and the kids also did some gardening (weed pulling and planting). All this and singing too! They sounded WONDERFUL!!! I wish I could put up pics of all our fun, but the internet being what it is these days I probably shouldn't post anything without their parent's permission. You'll just have imagine what it all looked like. BIG BIG Thanks to Chris who is my partner in crime for these camps! Without her... well - it just wouldn't happen!
Now I'm back in Boston. Karen Camp drove back with me to bring some of her belongings and to also look for an apartment! She found one (!!!) and it's just one block from my place! Woo-hoo!
That being said, classes begin in 2 weeks and New Student Orientation begins NEXT week. Yes, yes yes yes yes... I have to attend Orientation. BOOOOOOOO!! I guess I'm considered a new student even though I just graduated. However, I don't have to take any of those silly little exams this time around - THANK GOODNESS!
Last night Karen and I saw The Illusionist. I highly recommend it! Tonight is the Live Finale of Treasure Hunters on NBC for which Bree and I are having our own little private party.
Igh - I need to start practicing again.....