Boing!

This week is kind of busy for me, and I'm a little on edge.

( reasons why, interesting only to me )

I'm just feeling very scowly and I'm not sure why.

Time didn't permit. More important for me to spend a little time with Hagen, I think -- more relaxing that being talked over in Vietnamese, right?

It occurs to me that I haven't updated in a coon's age, so here goes.

The new job is going well -- they like my work, I like having something to think about for a change, Dana and I can carpool most mornings and get together for lunch. Getting used to being out of the house for 10+ hours a day is taking some getting used to, though. I'm trying to start a load of laundry every morning so it just needs to be dried and put away when we get home at night.

We found a marvelous butcher AND a store that specializes in fresh pasta, so we're feeling a lot happier on the food front. The pasta place isn't the most convenient place in the world, but it's a damn sight better than buying up at Dean and Deluca in DC and schlepping it home.

Haven't heard anything about Hagen in a bit. I emailed Conny last week to see how he was doing, and whether she would be having a birthday party for him with a silly hat next month. :) I miss my big black nose.

I'm writing this from the rescue squad. Dana and I pulled duty Wednesday night and Thanksgiving day, plus our normal Friday night shift, and we're staying over until 5pm today. He's outside with his rescue team, going over what is on the truck and what should be on the truck and where, and putting things under the dumpster to make it lean, and fun things like that. *I* am entering sweepstakes and staying inside where it's warm. Tomorrow, I want to sleep in. :) But I must finish decorating for Christmas and cleaning -- yesterday I got most of the tree up and situated, so now it wants trimming and the house decorations scattered appropriately.

The Symphony Chorus is coming up on a big performance weekend next week. We'll do Handel's Messiah on Friday and Monday nights, and then a Christmas pops concert on the Saturday inbetween. The symphony conductor is sidelined with a detached retina until at least January, so we have no idea who will be conducting. It could be a different person for each concert -- should be exciting.

Sweeps-wise, I haven't won a thing all month. I got a coupon for a free Armor All product yesterday, but I won that back in September. I haven't had a lot of time to enter them, but I would have thought that the wins would trickle off over the next couple months, rather than precipitously. Perhaps it just means that I'm due for something nice. ;)

Tonight is my 20th HS reunion, which I will not be attending (as it's in Bethesda and I am here). I didn't mind missing it in the least, but last night I got an email from my tennis partner/gym buddy, who is going and pretty much only wanted to see me. It was lovely to hear from her, and I'm looking forward to catching up.

I think that's all I've got. I'm reading some of you on a regular basis, and the rest of you when I can, but if there's something you desperately want to talk about, drop me an email at my normal address. Love love love.

I'm a little gobsmacked going into the weekend, because it's got lots of nothing. We're going to a party for an EMS buddy tomorrow afternoon, but apart from that, we have no commitments.

Last night we went to see "Talladega Nights" (for free thanks to movie passes from a sweeps win) -- it was funny, but not as much as I'd hoped it would be. Still...funny enough. :) AND it seems that our movie theater has entered the new millennium, because instead of the slides they used to show, they're showing a little pre-presentation. I don't know what they call it, only that it's not "The 20."

Next week is going to be pretty filled -- two chorus rehearsals, and then Friday morning I'll drive north for the weekend. I got my boss to agree to let me come in on the last of the month, so I'm working Friday, probably having dinner with Dad on Friday (and barring that, enjoying non-faire time with the lovely pyratelady and gallant ironbeagle), faire all weekend, and then a Richmond Symphony concert on Monday.

Dana is waiting to be scheduled for precepting shifts with Chesterfield Fire, so he can be cleared to run as a paramedic. Our squad's standard is 10 calls, which is pretty anemic, so he and the Chief agreed that he should run through the same clearing process as the fire guys, which is 10 8-hour shifts. He's looking forward to it, and we both hope he can start soon!

Whatever you have scheduled this weekend, have fun and stay safe!

Dana and I just got home from a 24-hour shift. ( for those of you interested in such things )

Tomorrow is chorus rehearsal #3, followed by a potluck dinner and then our first concert. The orchestra will be playing the National Anthem, Copland, Barber, and other things, and we're singing Wagner & Beethoven. (linky here for my music geeky friends.) I suppose I would be more nervous if I weren't bone tired, but I'm surrounded by good solid singers and I'm really looking forward to it. (In a stunning change from every other chorus I've sung with, the conductor openly adores his alto section.)

Time has little or no meaning at this point. We pulled 24+ hours duty, ran lots of calls, napped infrequently, and are now coming down with colds. This is NOT the week that a cold is at all convenient, with my first symphony rehearsal, sending my puppy to Germany, and then another trip north before performing this coming weekend.

::crawling back into bed until Tuesday morning::

I had my audition tonight with the Richmond Symphony Chorus, and I'm pretty sure I nailed it. If they don't take me, I'll be very surprised (and impressed enough with their standards that I'll audition again for them next year).

All five people in the audition room could not have been nicer or more supportive. And they'll let me know one way or the other on Wednesday -- I love promptness and decision-making.

Feels good.