bear
Originally uploaded by doctorgirlfriend

So here we are on Friday. Since I haven't taken any project pictures in more than a month, here's a picture of my niece (yes, I have a new niece--I just neglected to mention it here because of the slack) with the Baby Bobbi Bear I made her. This picture does not do her justice; she is absolutely adorable. The bear's not bad, either, I suppose.

So what have I been up to since Monday? All recital, all the time. I had the final two rehearsals Monday night and yesterday afternoon. It's occurred to me in the past few weeks that two or three of the pieces I chose are just too damn high in spots for me to sing comfortably, but it's obviously way too late to pick new pieces or new keys...I just have to get through it, and never perform them again! It's been a learning experience, and it's good to learn things, I suppose, but I would rather not have to go through it at this point. I mean, they'll sound fine, but it will be A LOT OF WORK. Like, Herculean effort. :'/ Most of the recital is perfectly fine, but the few measures that aren't are messing with my mind. I've also been dealing with some shoulder tension, and since it's been a while since I've done such a long performance, I'm out of practice in being able to get rid of it in the middle of a piece. Blech. It'll be fine. I just have to keep saying that, and walk myself mentally through the recital with relaxed shoulders...

In addition to the actual performance preparation, there's the dress, and the fact that I decided to hem it myself. Several pinking-shear disasters and at least 12-14 hours of work later, I have a mediocre hem job (a blind hem! On chiffon! What was I thinking?!?!?) and the knowledge that spending $60 to have it done professionally would actually have been a bargain. What a nightmare. In other recital drama, I remembered yesterday that my parents are coming down...and of course they're staying with us tomorrow night. From about 11:30 on Sunday, I need to be in my Fortress of Solitude: slow warming up, doing my hair and makeup, a little yoga, more warming up, listening to my dress rehearsal, reading through my translations... I know my parents don't really need entertaining, but there is still serious potential for guilt-tripping (six hours one-way they're coming, and I have to excuse myself for an extended amount of time), and then I feel bad sticking Mark with them. You know, I really don't need to worry about this. They decided to come down, and they're welcome, but they are well aware of the parameters.

Ugh, guess I needed to vent!

Everything will be fine...

You kick ass at this...

Once you get on stage you will feel awesome...

Since I've been so remiss lately, I'm going to plan to write something every Friday, starting this Friday. But in the meantime:

* Dress rehearsal for the recital is tonight! Everything should go fine, if I can remember the third verse of that first Bolcom song... I've already had a recital-related nightmare, where I ran so late that an Up With People-Style Def Leppard revue went on in my place. They were singing "Rock It", and jazz hands were involved.

* The Chicago trip was great--one of these days we'll get the pictures online and I'll link to it.

* I never posted a picture to my Tomato:


I look a little like Wonder Woman there... I really like the way it fits (I certainly customized the pattern), but I haven't worn it more than once or twice since it's been such a hot summer. Inspired by how well this turned out, I decided to finally bite the bullet and design my own sweater, with some Berocco Cotton Twist I got from a friend. The yarn looks and feels nice knitted up, but is extremely unpleasant to work with. Also, I am on my fourth try. It's harder than it looks! I think I'll mainly stick with heavily modifying other people's patterns, thanks.

*Right now I am trying to finish hemming my dress for Sunday (which incidentally is also my bridesmaid's dress for my brother's wedding next month). The chiffon overskirt has a 20-foot hem. I may need to do it by hand, Lord help me...