Well, I got some bad news yesterday. About a month ago, I auditioned for the conservatory that is attached to my college (they have a double-degree program that allows you to major in both the college and the conservatory), and yesterday I received their decision: No.
I kind of expected it, because I knew that my voice wasn't as strong as the other sopranos who auditioned, but of course I had my cry and the typical bummed-out feeling.
And now the question arises: Since I'm not going to be a singing author or a singing archaeologist or a singing teacher or a singing who-knows-what major, now I have to figure out what else to do. Of course, thinking about it, there are so many more doors that can be opened now. As a double-degree student, there's no time left in the day to take just-for-fun classes. I can take that physics-for-non-majors' course now, AND take German 102.
So in conclusion, to all those who have been rejected from their first-choice schools, I know. I know it feels terrible. But there's always something somewhere else that you REALLY want to do.
And to get over the hurt faster: find something you REALLY want to do and do it. And don't think about what you're doing the rest of your life. That'll come when you're ready.
Cheers!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
An Overdose of Politics
I realized that I spent at least 3 hours reading about politics today. Not all of it was the US's, but still....
So I started off checking my email. That was innocent enough, except AOL always has links to news. So I clicked on one, read the article, tried desperately to ignore the comments, the usual. And then I saw the link on the side to a Huffington Post article about Arizona's new abortion law: it is illegal for doctors to perform an abortion if the reason is to avoid a child of a specific gender or race. Um...I'm not sure this is happening in America. The people who oppose the bill are sure it isn't. And the 'evidence' as stated by someone who does support it is as follows:
The likelihood of having a boy baby increases after having two girl babies. Therefore people who have abortions are trying to have boy babies.
Um....okaaaaaay.
My next political reading: another Huffington Post article, this time about how a judge ruled that Chris Christie (governor of New Jersey, my home state), whose budget slashed 1 million from public schools, actually did more harm than good by cutting all that money. Poor schools couldn't afford to give even the level of education they'd been giving before.
Really? I never could have imagined that.
So then, tired of current politics, I turned to the politics of ancient Rome. My assigned reading for my Latin class was on General Pompey tonight, one of the members of the first triumvirate. That didn't improve my mood much, because Pompey was arrogant and got an easy win against King Mithridates in the 3rd Mithridatic War (Lucullus did all the hard work and then got the command taken away because his soldiers were annoyed that he wouldn't let them plunder. Go figure).
Well, since this was a snarky, ranting post, I have to make sure I end with an especially good Delight. This is a picture I took while I was in Israel; one of my favorites.
I wish this really was everything people thought of when they thought of Israel: a beautiful sunset on a walk back from the Old City.
Cheers!
So I started off checking my email. That was innocent enough, except AOL always has links to news. So I clicked on one, read the article, tried desperately to ignore the comments, the usual. And then I saw the link on the side to a Huffington Post article about Arizona's new abortion law: it is illegal for doctors to perform an abortion if the reason is to avoid a child of a specific gender or race. Um...I'm not sure this is happening in America. The people who oppose the bill are sure it isn't. And the 'evidence' as stated by someone who does support it is as follows:
The likelihood of having a boy baby increases after having two girl babies. Therefore people who have abortions are trying to have boy babies.
Um....okaaaaaay.
My next political reading: another Huffington Post article, this time about how a judge ruled that Chris Christie (governor of New Jersey, my home state), whose budget slashed 1 million from public schools, actually did more harm than good by cutting all that money. Poor schools couldn't afford to give even the level of education they'd been giving before.
Really? I never could have imagined that.
So then, tired of current politics, I turned to the politics of ancient Rome. My assigned reading for my Latin class was on General Pompey tonight, one of the members of the first triumvirate. That didn't improve my mood much, because Pompey was arrogant and got an easy win against King Mithridates in the 3rd Mithridatic War (Lucullus did all the hard work and then got the command taken away because his soldiers were annoyed that he wouldn't let them plunder. Go figure).
Well, since this was a snarky, ranting post, I have to make sure I end with an especially good Delight. This is a picture I took while I was in Israel; one of my favorites.
Cheers!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
How Not to make Hamentaschen
Today my friends and I celebrated Purim by making Hamentaschen (a triangle-shaped cookie with a filling, usually jam or chocolate)...but we re-dubbed them Failtaschen for good reason.
And if you want to make Failtaschen of your own, follow these simple steps!
1. Go to your local grocery store and purchase 3 logs of Pillsbury pre-made sugar cookie dough. Also purchase an assortment of jams and chocolate chips.
2. First, try to cut the dough. When that doesn't work, roll it out with a rolling pin. Make sure the table in your dorm is clean and free from drawings of Hobbits doing unsightly things...(yes, that was there until we washed it off...). When it has trouble rolling, sprinkle water and flour.
3. Forget to put flour on the table so that the first few Hamentaschen stick there. Peel them off and reshape. Then put down flour.
4. Fill with various jams or chocolate chips.You may go for one, pure filling, or mix multiple ones. Our most creative was filled with blueberry preserves, apricot preserves, strawberry jam, and 1 chocolate chip. We named her Queen Natasha. The following is a picture of her before she went into the oven...and after.
5. Overfill some hamentaschen and name them the Hoover Dam, then try to scoop some out and watch it implode (that one's name is Boris. We got creative with our Failtaschen).
The Hoover Dam (repaired with a little extra dough)
Boris.
6. Place fifteen hamentaschen on a pan and watch them melt together and cook over a period of 25 minutes...
7. Cut them out of the pan and enjoy your Failtaschen!
(In order to make Hamentaschen that look a little more like actual Hamentashen (i.e., not flat), use a recipe for actual Hamentaschen dough. I was busy and a bit lazy--the dough has to be refrigerated overnight--so I bought sugar cookie dough. And that didn't work so well. They tasted delicious though!)
Happy Purim!
And if you want to make Failtaschen of your own, follow these simple steps!
1. Go to your local grocery store and purchase 3 logs of Pillsbury pre-made sugar cookie dough. Also purchase an assortment of jams and chocolate chips.
2. First, try to cut the dough. When that doesn't work, roll it out with a rolling pin. Make sure the table in your dorm is clean and free from drawings of Hobbits doing unsightly things...(yes, that was there until we washed it off...). When it has trouble rolling, sprinkle water and flour.
3. Forget to put flour on the table so that the first few Hamentaschen stick there. Peel them off and reshape. Then put down flour.
The Hoover Dam (repaired with a little extra dough)
Boris.
7. Cut them out of the pan and enjoy your Failtaschen!
(In order to make Hamentaschen that look a little more like actual Hamentashen (i.e., not flat), use a recipe for actual Hamentaschen dough. I was busy and a bit lazy--the dough has to be refrigerated overnight--so I bought sugar cookie dough. And that didn't work so well. They tasted delicious though!)
Happy Purim!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Japan
Since it has been almost a week since the earthquake/tsunami in Japan, I figured it was about time I turned my thoughts that way and out of my own little world of college and midterms.
First, my heart goes out to everyone affected by the tsunami, especially those who have lost loved ones and homes. I hope that you all find peace and happiness soon, and I hope life will soon return to normalcy. In the face of the nuclear disaster, I pray for Japan's safety.
Second. SHAME to those public figures who irresponsibly tweeted or even suggested that Japan had faced the wrath of God! (i.e. Glenn Beck.) The country needs the world's support right now, not its ridicule!
Third is today's Delight. I like to end my blogs on a nice note no matter how sad/angry the topic is (I think it's saving me from becoming a cynic like most of my friends, actually). So here's a link to an article about a 6-year-old who's playing her part to help Japan: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/16/atlanta-6-year-old-tuesday-muse-sells-art-for-japan-relief-effor/
I hope everyone can band together to support Japan through this crisis.
First, my heart goes out to everyone affected by the tsunami, especially those who have lost loved ones and homes. I hope that you all find peace and happiness soon, and I hope life will soon return to normalcy. In the face of the nuclear disaster, I pray for Japan's safety.
Second. SHAME to those public figures who irresponsibly tweeted or even suggested that Japan had faced the wrath of God! (i.e. Glenn Beck.) The country needs the world's support right now, not its ridicule!
Third is today's Delight. I like to end my blogs on a nice note no matter how sad/angry the topic is (I think it's saving me from becoming a cynic like most of my friends, actually). So here's a link to an article about a 6-year-old who's playing her part to help Japan: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/16/atlanta-6-year-old-tuesday-muse-sells-art-for-japan-relief-effor/
I hope everyone can band together to support Japan through this crisis.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Ohio weather
Today is a lovely, sunny day and so warm I barely need a coat. Which is absolutely fabulous, especially when one compares it to the weather of the last few weeks. It seems to alternate: sun, snow, rain, icky snow, SUN, snow, snow, rain, rain, rain, snow, SUN, snow, rain, etc.
Here are some pictures from the past two weeks:
This is from last Thursday, taken outside my window because it was too dreary to go outside. I also thought the water droplets on the branches looked nice.
This was taken literally the next afternoon, almost exactly 24 hours later. The weekend alternated between rain and generally dreary skies--except Monday when it was briefly sunny--until we got bright sunshine today!
(This picture wasn't actually taken today, but the weather now is exactly what it was then: lovely.)
And while my Midwest-resident friends who live in Michigan keep telling me that Midwest weather is always crazy like this, I will remain hopeful that we will have sunshine through next week! It will make midterms that much more bearable anyway...
The best part about the (probable?) arrival of spring is that I hear birds in the morning again. Every spring, I forget how much I missed the birds over winter.
(This picture was taken in Israel in December--way up on Masada. But that's a story for another post...)
Today's Delight (in case the sun isn't enough): a quote from a favorite childhood story.
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. ~A.A. Milne
Here are some pictures from the past two weeks:
And while my Midwest-resident friends who live in Michigan keep telling me that Midwest weather is always crazy like this, I will remain hopeful that we will have sunshine through next week! It will make midterms that much more bearable anyway...
The best part about the (probable?) arrival of spring is that I hear birds in the morning again. Every spring, I forget how much I missed the birds over winter.
Today's Delight (in case the sun isn't enough): a quote from a favorite childhood story.
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. ~A.A. Milne
Monday, March 14, 2011
Dreaming
I have very peculiar dreams, and I tend to the remember them. Which apparently isn't very common--at least not among people I know. A friend of mine from high school used to 'interpret' them for me. I wonder what she'd make of last night's dream, in which I was interacting with my Latin teacher from high school, my current Latin professor, and the high school drama teacher, all while planning a trip to Italy for opera.
I also once had a dream that I was trapped in a dollhouse on the computer, and there were Sesame street characters running around.
And then there was that dream that I was a Pokemon trainer and had to save the world from being turned into babies.
Of course, some of these are great story material!
Today's delight: the temperature is on an upward trend! (until it decides to go down again, but I'm not going to think about that.) And it was sunny!
I also once had a dream that I was trapped in a dollhouse on the computer, and there were Sesame street characters running around.
And then there was that dream that I was a Pokemon trainer and had to save the world from being turned into babies.
Of course, some of these are great story material!
Today's delight: the temperature is on an upward trend! (until it decides to go down again, but I'm not going to think about that.) And it was sunny!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Nineteen
Well, yesterday was a friend's birthday--turning nineteen! Which, in my humble, 18-year-old opinion, is a very boring age. Think about it: when you're a little kid, most birthdays are pretty good. You get cake, ice cream, maybe a pinata. You hit 10, and WOW! You're in the double digits! Then (at least in the Jewish religion), you turn 13 and you are a Man or Woman with a capital M or W! And 16, traditionally anyway, you get your driver's license. (In my state you don't actually get a restricted license until 17, and then you get an official license at 18.) 18, obviously, you get to VOTE (my favorite thing about being 18) and of course, you're a legal adult and your parents no longer have to sign your medical forms. 20 is the next decade, and 21 you can drink...and I guess that's about the end of each good number until you get to 30. But 19 just sits there between 18 and 20 and does nothing.
Well, at least the birthday party seemed to be a success. And the cake was possibly the prettiest I've ever helped make.
As no fire is allowed in the dorm, we had to use fake flames made out of construction paper. A bit difficult to blow out, but...
And we made dinner for her, too, including my mother's recipe for brussel sprouts. My friend got a bit obsessive and started aligning them perfectly on the tray.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Rain, snow, and other ramblings
Well, today is the second day of rain and drear. Although I've heard tell that tomorrow it's supposed to snow between 6 and 10 inches. Despite my doubts, I will remain optimistic.
I also finished reading the third book in a series I've been perusing. Madelyn Alt's Bewitching Mystery series. Rarely do I laugh out loud at books--usually it's just an in-my-head-chuckle--but this book, like her others, had me cracking up and thinking, "Someday I want to write like that!"
Of course, as I mentioned before, the political situation has not gotten any better. According to the various liberal propaganda (yes, that sounds mean, but quite frankly it is. I am liberal, no doubt, but I recognize propaganda when I see it. Generally because it has a price tag.) that I receive in my inbox, the Wisconsin Republicans have fired through their bill without the Democrats present.
Okay, first, didn't the Democrats leave because they didn't want the Republicans to reach quorum? So obviously somebody went back. Or maybe they managed to rewrite the quorum rule. Or perhaps some Republican was dreadfully ill the past two or three weeks and only just recovered the other day to help reach quorum and ram through legislation.
I suppose I should stop imagining and find a news article to tell me what happened.
But as I never want to leave a blog post on a sour note, here is a picture of what Oberlin's Arboretum looks like on a beautiful day:
Cheers!
I also finished reading the third book in a series I've been perusing. Madelyn Alt's Bewitching Mystery series. Rarely do I laugh out loud at books--usually it's just an in-my-head-chuckle--but this book, like her others, had me cracking up and thinking, "Someday I want to write like that!"
Of course, as I mentioned before, the political situation has not gotten any better. According to the various liberal propaganda (yes, that sounds mean, but quite frankly it is. I am liberal, no doubt, but I recognize propaganda when I see it. Generally because it has a price tag.) that I receive in my inbox, the Wisconsin Republicans have fired through their bill without the Democrats present.
Okay, first, didn't the Democrats leave because they didn't want the Republicans to reach quorum? So obviously somebody went back. Or maybe they managed to rewrite the quorum rule. Or perhaps some Republican was dreadfully ill the past two or three weeks and only just recovered the other day to help reach quorum and ram through legislation.
I suppose I should stop imagining and find a news article to tell me what happened.
But as I never want to leave a blog post on a sour note, here is a picture of what Oberlin's Arboretum looks like on a beautiful day:
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The News.
The news has not been fabulous lately. What with the budget cuts all over the place, Democrats and Republicans in Wisconsin facing off, and of course one can't forget the recessions 'jobless-recovery' looming. It's almost worse than the recession.
And yet I've noticed that people are only interested in pointing the finger. Take the Westboro Church, for instance, declaring that soldiers are dying because the United States tolerates homosexuals.
I have two things to say about that:
1. How did you come up with that reason??
2. I honestly don't care whether or not you publicly declare your beliefs, just don't carry signs thanking G-d for dead soldiers on the same day as a Marine's funeral. It's just not nice.
And then you have the entire country pointing fingers at the opposite side. Republicans blaming President Obama for the current state of affairs; Democrats blaming Republicans for aggravating said state of affairs.
So today's Delight is a link to Tom Leher's song, "National Brotherhood Week," introduced to me by a good friend.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIlJ8ZCs4jY&feature=related
Just to remind us of what really matters.
Enjoy!
And yet I've noticed that people are only interested in pointing the finger. Take the Westboro Church, for instance, declaring that soldiers are dying because the United States tolerates homosexuals.
I have two things to say about that:
1. How did you come up with that reason??
2. I honestly don't care whether or not you publicly declare your beliefs, just don't carry signs thanking G-d for dead soldiers on the same day as a Marine's funeral. It's just not nice.
And then you have the entire country pointing fingers at the opposite side. Republicans blaming President Obama for the current state of affairs; Democrats blaming Republicans for aggravating said state of affairs.
So today's Delight is a link to Tom Leher's song, "National Brotherhood Week," introduced to me by a good friend.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIlJ8ZCs4jY&feature=related
Just to remind us of what really matters.
Enjoy!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Unexpected
What was unexpected today:
Well, first, blogging is a lot harder than I'd imagined. Sure, it's an open, online journal for anyone to read. A perfect source in case someone decides that I am interesting (hopefully I am not boring...). Of course...that's the problem. It has to be interesting. So rather than blather about whether or not I am interesting, I'll just continue talking about what has been unexpected today.
Dinner plans were changed. Not that dinner really changes at college: you go to one dining hall or another. Not much choice there. Tonight we went to the other.
Someone who has never talked to me before talked to me today. That was possibly the most unexpected moment of the day. I was sitting at lunch planning out a story idea (I tend to do that during lunch) when someone from Greek 102 sat down across from me. I honestly don't know his name (I'm going to have to do better with names). The conversation couldn't have lasted more than three minutes: he asked how I thought the Thucydides passage we'd read that day went and if I liked the class. And then he left. It was peculiar...
Today's delight: I have a ticket to hear soprano Christine Brewer perform on Sunday!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Emerging into the Blogging World
I recently read a Writer's Digest article about a writer who explains why he writes: because he's angry.
Well, I can't say that's exactly why I've decided to write. I like happy endings and I like to wonder "what if this happened...?" So that's why I write. To bring in a little happiness into unfortunate circumstances.
For instance: last night it was raining and dreary and muddy and cold. This morning I woke up and lo! There was snow on the ground!
So that's what this blog is for: to bring in at least one happy thing into the day, no matter how snarky the political world, no matter how dreary the rain, no matter how utterly unfortunate life seems. Happy endings just seem to make things better.
Well, I can't say that's exactly why I've decided to write. I like happy endings and I like to wonder "what if this happened...?" So that's why I write. To bring in a little happiness into unfortunate circumstances.
For instance: last night it was raining and dreary and muddy and cold. This morning I woke up and lo! There was snow on the ground!
So that's what this blog is for: to bring in at least one happy thing into the day, no matter how snarky the political world, no matter how dreary the rain, no matter how utterly unfortunate life seems. Happy endings just seem to make things better.
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