I'm not teaching today as school is closed in observance of Columbus Day. Though I envisioned a leisurely day off, I'll be busier than expected.

I woke up at 4:30am to the sound of some sort of critter making noise in the ceiling. Last February we captured a family of flying squirrels that had nested in our attic. I fear some little cousins may have heard there was a vacancy and taken up residence. Once I realized the rolling of acorns and scurrying of tiny feet was not going to stop any time soon, I gave up on falling back to sleep and decided to get out of bed.

As the coffee began to brew I figured I'd use the time to begin grading the last batch of tests I'd brought home to correct on Friday. I'd completed marking two sets during last night's Yankees vs Indians Game. Things had started out very badly indeed with the Indians scoring 3 runs early on. The Yanks had one run under their belt, but things were not exactly looking hopeful.

"Perhaps," I thought, "I shouldn't grade papers while watching this..."

However, by inning 5 when Johnny Damon turned it around for the Yanks, I decided to keep on correcting my students' reading exams. It was amazing how quickly I got through that batch! Sometimes, visual tracking issues can slow things down. Happily this wasn't the case last night. (Thank you Cloud and Christopher for visiting me in the 'Yankee Game Watching' room I'd created in chat.)

At the gym Saturday and Sunday, I got some weird looks as I did my 30 minutes on the elliptical machine. Whereas I usually listen to Zucchero's "Baila Morena" , "Mama Get Real" or "Io moiro Per Te" while trying to ignore the clock, this weekend had me plugged into Act II of Giacomo Puccini's "La Boheme". I normally look no different than any other person working out with headphones, but this weekend, I also turned pages to the opera's score as I pumped away. I quickly flipped pages as I followed the music, counting measures before the contralto lines begin. I'm in rehearsal with a local opera company as a member of the chorus. Our first performance is a little less than 2 weeks away, and I have to nail down a few things. Add to this, that in the midst of the music, I can forget there are others around me and begin to "conduct" with my right hand and wrist, and you can imagine the eyes that met mine when I looked up every now and then. Hey...I'm down 4 lbs. I've got work to do.

You see, at the last rehearsal, our director assigned a specific part to me. In the midst of the busy scene at the caffe,I'm to play a woman who is signaled over by a vendor who has an item he wishes to sell her. In a matter of just a few careully timed measures, he is to show me an oversized pair of pantaloons, to which the "crowd" begins to sing the famous "Ha ha" laugh of the second act. My character,now highly insulted, overturns his tray of wares and he must quickly pick up his scattered goods.

Whattayaknow. I'm psychic. (Those of you who read "Of Junk and Joy" entry know what I'm talking about. I'm the proverbial Fat Lady). All joking aside, I was told my timing was perfect in how I managed it. The Laughter becomes redirected at the vendor, and I have to hurry back to my table to continue singing. I was told I must remember exactly where to do this each time. Brain...don't fail me.

If it were only possible to show you what John's bigger than a cat eating a canary grin looked like when I told him about this artistic development thrown my way! Too funny! It was the look of a man who wanted to laugh outloud, but for either love of his wife or to avoid her ire, (I'll let you decide) tried valiently to keep his sputtering muted laughs contained.

I really do love performing. I have asked my epileptologist to halt Dilantin reduction until all 7 performances are over for I don't want to risk seizure during this. The principal singers really are very gifted and it's truly a privilege to work alongside them. Once we complete staging,we shall begin rehearsing with the orchestra.

Today, I have an appointment with a dermatologist to check out some uneven post-Sicily tanning. I just want to make sure there's nothing to worry about. Then, I've got lesson plans to write, dinner to quickly throw together. Dilantin Infatabs must be reordered, also. Somewhere in there I want to try and print out some photos of my school's soccer team I took during their "away" game last Thursday. John sees his Doc today. Things are finally looking better.

I had hoped to settle down with tonight's 4th Yankee/Indians game on the tube, but I have rehearsal beginning late this afternoon. I should be home by 9pm. Maybe I'll catch the end of the game and fold some laundry at the same time.

If you're there later tonight, join me in the "Watching the Yankees" Chatroom. You can fill me in on the innings I'll miss while spending time with Puccini.

Ciao per addesso.

Anna