Saturday, 11 November 2006

Friday = Great

I'll admit, yesterday was pretty sweet. Waking up early to work on homework wasn't quite so fun, but getting an e-mail that I didn't have class was great (get well, Dr. Randel!). So was an early lunch.

Chelsea and I discovered the secret to practicing conducting techniques effectively. You have to practice TOGETHER. That's the point of conducting-to get another person or group of people to respond to what you're gesturing with your arms, facial expressions, and to a point, body movement. We spent an hour in a practice room and got a TON accomplished, and the confidence level SKYROCKETED.

Dr. Hodson gave us candy in F&A, just like last year in Theory II. Bad idea. College students wired on sugar on a Friday afternoon are just as bad as elementary students wired on sugar any day of the week. Oh well.

Some time to rest afterward was nice. And then the evening kicked off.

Jeannette's recital was good. Her technique was well-executed and it continued to improve as she progressed through the program. The last set with the costume change and the addition of cello and flute/piccolo was pretty sweet too. And who will ever forget the squeaky boots before that set? Jeannette, in her own crazy and unique way, also threw a smashing reception at JP's. It really DOES pay to know (or work for) the right people. Sharing some quality conversation with Ben and hearing about his student teaching experiences was really great too. I never would have imagined disco dancing or love stories could fit into lessons about supply and demand.

But no, the fun didn't end there! Ben and I decided to first stop by Cook to pick up his Vespers ticket (these are professionally printed this year!), but unfortunately we got caught in a drenching thunderstorm, a year and two days after last year's drenching in Grand Rapids. Thankfully, we didn't have to air dry in a cold ice arena this time, and I discovered why it's good to keep those hand towels that I never use with me. They were perfect for drying our soaked heads off, but not until after we took another picture to commemorate looking like a pair of drowned rats.

Ben had his car waiting outside Cook, so we didn't have to get wet again on our way to Brumler. Jon VanderDutchyname hosted a movie night, so Ben and I took that in. I'll admit, Air Force One is pretty over-the-top, but no more so than the Die Hard films.

And we got to meet Stephanie! Brandon had his birthday this week and his girlfriend came up as his surprise gift, which is pretty sweet. Ben and I got to meet her after the movie and we hung in Brandon's room talking about stuff together as Brandon turned into a Guitar Hero zombie. I think she's a keeper.

It wasn't a working Friday like I planned, but man it was better than I would have possibly imagined. And now back to the books. Peter's recital was great fun and filled with hilarity at the end, but I must work now before the hockey game tonight. I get to sing the national anthem again for the team, so another free game for me!

Currently Listening Sacred Treasures IV: Choral Masterworks, Quiet Prayers O Magnum Mysterium see related