I'm switching to a new blog: www.lighterrant.wordpress.com -- in my last unupdated post this didn't work - now it does!

Wordpress is a lot more accommodating and I like the layouts better. If I have any readers left, I'd be happy to see you over there!

Cliché

I like being cliché with Mathew at twilight and beyond. It's refreshing. (Albeit, cliché's aren't supposed to be refreshing.)

I used to be a cheerleader, did you know?

When you're up- you're up
When you're down- you're down
when you're messing with (insert team - antagonist - symptom)
you're up... (clap, clap, clap)
side... (clap, clap, clap)
down.
Up. Side. Down.

I feel lackluster. Surely a side effect of summer and brain rot.

Doubt

Doubt has crept into nearly every crevice of my identity today and I feel nauseous.

Back

Israel is really over. Like, really really over. Ugh.

I'm back in K-Vegas and loving it. I rode my bike all over the place and stopped at Subway for my favorite $5 meal. Things are rapidly changing in my life, but it's nice to come back to find this place as static as I left it.

A favorite of mine, in honor of the fourth:

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
—Emma Lazarus, 1883

Insanity:

Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. -Einstein

He was pretty smart, right? My high school principal used to say that all the time. This blog post, unfortunately, must be cryptic in any case I must say that I might be doing something insane.

Back to Business

Hey blog. I'm back from Israel and need to stop moping.

So here's my game plan for the rest of the summer:

1. Write my 2 book reports and 1 research paper for MDST 310
2. Waitress and Babysit
3. See Harry Potter 6 avec Emily
4. Teach VBS in K-Ville next week
5. (fingers crossed) Visit Aliya & David in Seattle


Hopefully 5 comes true, but I can't be too greedy. One big trip is plenty, but airfare is cheap and I miss them a lot.

travel blog

Okay, so I made a new blog for Israel and will be updating it frequently. I hope anyone that reads this will also read that!

www.lighterrant.blogspot.com

Shalom!

Squeaky Clean

I cleaned today! My closet was a disaster area prior to the major overhaul and it was a blast to listen to Les Miserables and Fiddler on the Roof with my Dad while digging up nearly twenty years of junk. (Found some pretty neat stuff!) Things from old friendships, sadly some that don't exist anymore. I found pictures that had long been forgotten and notes from high school romances and dramas. Oy. I'm growing up, aren't I? I found dozens upon dozens of poems that I wrote. (I used to be so prolific.) I don't know why I stopped writing. I used to assume it was because I was clogged. But the terrifying reality is that I just might have nothing of consequence to say. (Let's not end on that note!)

My room is gloriously clean and I feel wonderful.

Wonderful Day

Today I lounged outside and read I am a Palestinian Christianwith iced tea. It's required for the Israel trip, but I like it a lot. It definitely provides an interesting perspective on the conflict in the middle east.

The photo: I thought I'd take a quick picture on my mac.. can you spot the new freckles? (Probably not, bad image quality)

Bienvenue Été (Welcome Summer)

It is officially summer because:

I have a sunburn.
I have been reading for pleasure.
My skin smells like Banana Boat tanning oil.
The blueberries I had for lunch were fresh and massive.
There are a few new freckles on my face.
Mathew drove 40 miles to see me tonight. (As opposed to the four minute walk in Kirksville)
I've watched four movies within the span of two days.

And well, because it's getting pretty damn hot outside!

I have been wrong for too long!

I have spent the entirety of my literate life misunderstanding how to use "too" as an adjective. This has gone on for too long! II read through old entries that say "to much" or "to cold" and other t's that lack two "O"s I am ashamed. How could I have let this happen?

Moonshine Lullaby

Tonight I was baby-sitting my next door neighbor's 7 month old son and he wouldn't stop crying. I tried everything: standing, sitting, jumping, bouncing... the whole nine yards. In desperation, I started to sing Moonshine Lullaby and he almost instantly calmed down! It was adorable, so I kept singing to him. Everything from showtunes, humming classical music, and even some Elton John. He was my best audience ever.

I want two kids, have I ever told you? I want to have one of each. But not till I'm in my thirties, post Ph.D. and have traveled to at least all the major art museums in the world. (Louvre, El Prado, Tate Modern etc. etc.) This summer, while we are in Jerusalem, we will see the Hadasseh (sp?) which is a hospital in which Mark Chagall designed the stain glass. Way cool.

Ok, why do ALL of my blog entries have to be about travel - it's obsessive. At least I'm taking a bite out of my ambitions this summer. I think I'd go stir crazy otherwise!

It's frustrating that the last week of class is also the last week to say goodbye to everyone. Now that I'm home, I feel as though I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to everyone. Now I won't see a lot of them till August.

Although, I definitely needed a break from Kirksville. Since being home I've had chinese, my Dad's BBQ, frozen custard, and Chiptole. The food just can't be compared.

What else?

Oh! I had a jury. Emily played for me and they even offered her money to accompany other voice students. My jury went well, but not nearly as well as Mathew's. (They told him to quit being a history major and switch to voice.) However, I got a lot of positive feedback and I also have a clear idea of what I need to improve. (Namely, stage presence and more support up high.) Hopefully, I can iron these issues out next semester. One thing is certain, Nicole has EXPONENTIALLY improved my voice. I couldn't fathom a high high C and now it's definitely possible. (It's still rather faint though.) Sometime, I'll sing an aria on my lap top and post it on here. (Maybe I'll be bored enough to do that tomorrow?) Who knows..

Speaking of singing. I have a horrible feeling that our theatre department might do Les Miserables next year. (I don't know why I think that, but I do!) There are precious few things I want more than the opportunity to play Eponine. I cannot imagine anything more disappointing than auditioning and not making the show. I'm not involved in the department anymore and I don't think I'd have much of a shot. That being said, I cannot stand to think of someone else playing Eponine at Truman. It's just too heartbreaking. I want the part the way Eponine wants Marius. It's ridiculous and pathetic, but a fact. Just pray that Ron doesn't pick Les Mis!!

About...

About ready to take my second of four finals.

Je vouloir parle francais avec mes amis, mais je ne peux pas parce que je suis vraiment mauvais a il! Je crois que je vais obtenir un B dans ma classe de francais.

Emily, nous douvais parle souvent ce weekend! Peut-etre je peux le faire!

Amusing Dialogue

Lauren: Mary, you must come to Ruby Tuesdays with Dr. Appold and I
Mary: Dr. Appold and Me*
Lauren: No, Mary, I decided that it's I.
Mary: [indignantly] You can't do that! It's not like you say "Me want food."
Matt: Who said that she was inverting it?
Mary: I was just assuming
Lauren: Well, assuming makes an ass out of you and I.

lots of random stuff

This semester has been fairly easy compared to the last one... and yet I still might get two B's! Ugh. French and Age of Jackson are B-Listed and have warning flags. I am not going down without a fight.

Also, 32 days until I am an amateur archeologist! We are going to swim in the Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Mediterranean and the Red (Reed) Sea . Not to mention all of the history we are going to soak in with the sun. I am BEYOND excited.

Welcome (Rany on the) Royals Fans!

So, Mathew Edward Berger, my darling boyfriend, decided to post on a highly trafficked baseball blog under this name.

In case any stragglers wander on to my blog from Rany's, I'd like to share my favorite baseball quotation:

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal."
-George Will

Also, Greinke, Meche and Davies, the rest are only maybe's WAS TOTALLY my pun. So if you are the Kansas City Star, David Glass, Bud Selig, or anyone affiliated with the offices of major league baseball please have your people call my people for copyright information.

Dramatic

lol, my last post was a bit dramatic.

I just get jealous of people who get to be in musicals, that's all.

hard to explain

I wish I had someone to talk to about this... but I really don't.

I shouldn't go see musicals. They make me ache and doubt things.

"I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life..." -Thoreau

Although my life is richly blessed, whenever I read a novel, listen to good music, or regard a powerful work of art, I feel stir crazy. I am worried I'm going to burst out as Don Quixote, in my own romantic guise and hurt the people I love by searching for experiences that aren't as wonderful as they seem.

Headache.

I can't wait for this weekend.

I love having an hour before class to do nothing but hang out in my room and look out the window, (at another house, but I have an imagination).

Are my posts braggy? I've never filtered my thoughts because this feels like a diary, but I wonder if some of them are self absorbed. I mean, blogging in itself is tid-bit egoistic, but I hope I'm not obnoxious.

No need to respond to this... it can be a hypothetical question and apology.

My Life as I know It

I want to be a professor.
Je veux etre en prof de l'histore ou philosophie.
After SBL and all sorts of other amazing opportunities that have become not only tangible, but within reach, I cannot imagine doing anything else. Which leads me to my next thought, now that I've figured out what I want to "be" when I grow up, does that push me closer to "being" grown up? The details may not be clear, but the outline is starting to shift into focus:

Study Abroad: Israel -- Junior Year -- France: Fall 2010 -- Graduate --Fulbright or Rotary (study somewhere amazing for a year) -- Come back to the US and start Ph.D. track.

I know its hazy, but at least it's something.

Two things need to be on that path:

God and Travel. (check?)

I Dwell in Possibility

Amy and I are going to go to area grade schools and teach art history and theory.

Needless to say, I'm excited!

sinking feeling

Three presentations tomorrow. I can't sleep... my brain is full of Levi Ben Gershon and Alexis de Tocqueville. At the end of this week I have a big paper due in Jackson as well. It looms over me... and taunts the fact that I will not be sleeping much this week. I should work on it now, while I am restless and full of honey coffee, but no - my brain is dead... but, my fingers are not. This combo suits a blog entry but not a term paper.

Lauren attempts to summarize Aristotelian / Scholastic philosophy: fun!

Everything in the realm of sights and sounds consists of matter or form. (The two cannot exist simultaneously). Matter is potential and form is actual. For example, a blank canvas has the potential to be painted, but when it is painted on (matter) it shifts to an actual form. It cannot both be potentially and actually painted, thus the terms are contradictory. Therefore, a potential cannot act on a potential, an external force is necessary for change to occur. This force could not have moved itself, so it would need a different external force to act on it (read: domino effect). However, in the realm of sights and sounds there cannot exist an infinite number of forces. (That would be contradictory as well) So there needs to be one force that moves all other forces but remains unmoved. Enter Aristotle's notion of an unmoved mover. Basically, in order for there to be a finite chain of action, the first movement must be unmoved. Reverting back to the principle that potential cannot act on potential, how then does the unmoved mover cause the first movement? The answer is summarized in love. The second effectual force is drawn to the unmoved mover (thus set into motion while the unmoved mover remains stationary). Think of a beloved object causing something to love it without it doing anything. Anyway, if we think of the unmoved mover as God and the sublunar world as creation, the creation is drawn to him.

Definitely butchered that. However, if I could explain it properly the concept is quite fascinating.

(I refuse to spell/grammar check blog entries.)

I have no talent for sitting still

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
- Proverbs 16:9

All of my dreams make it inevitable that I will be disappointed with life. Since I know that now, I should surrender to God's will and just let him choose my course.

La Vita Nuova

In that book which is
My memory ...
On the first page
that is the chapter
when
I first met you
Appear the words ...
Here begins a new life

-Dante Alighieri

My paradox: I am in a four year relationship, in which I often lack the emotional capacity to be romantic. And yet, I love love poems.

On a completely separate strand - sometimes I pretend that people read this blog and grow fond of me. Not in a unrequited love sort of way, just in a -- well, that's why she's so odd - I get it, neat -- sort of way. How's that for revealing vanity? If I am vain, I'm the most insecure vain person I've ever met.

Want great abs? Catch what I've got!

I have caught my seasonal bout* of bronchitis. *How does one spell that type of bout? Ugh, I fail at spelling.

The only remedy I know of is to make hot tea and complain, thus this blog entry. I remember this time last year I had a blog entry about if you heal my aching back I'll scratch yours. I forgot how sore coughing makes me. It makes me so angry. STUPID COUGHING. I must be driving Mary and Emily crazy.

New Blog Idea

I have an idea for a blog, but I can't decide if it will be interesting.

I want to do a weekly blog on various articles that I find in the microfilm collection at our library. This would be a great thing to put on a graduate school application for history as well as be a fun outlet to write about all my research.

Naturally, I'd make it as interesting as possible.

I don't know, would you read it?

www.webbchange.com

Hey guys,

You should check out the above website. ESPECIALLY if you're from Truman.

The founder came in and talked to Phi Sigma Pi and I think it's a great idea. Wouldn't it be cool if the Truman community promoted the next big "facebook" or "google" type website?

Plus, it's an interesting idea: an online stock exchange based on user opinion of websites.

Cool!

Microfilm Research

I love doing microfilm research. While researching for my Age of Jackson paper, I found this humerous advertisement. (From: Antheneum; or, Spirit of The English Magazines 1831-1833)

How timely! (It's hard to see but it says, "Fashions for March")

Logic

I don't get the SD system in logic. Not only do I not get it, but I got a 2.5 out of 5 on my logic quiz Wednesday. I feel like Dr. B. is disappointed in me and that I'm not living up to her expectations. (Perhaps, that's all in my head).

Stress Syllogism:
Lauren is always stressed.
All people that are stressed go to Truman State.
Ergo, Lauren goes to Truman State.

S: Lauren
P: Truman State
M. People that are stressed

AMP
A/ISM
A/ISP

A A/I A/I = 1

Valid Argument. (Not sound because the major premise is false) To bad the above is CL.

And, I spent all this time blogging when I should have been working on Logic homework. :(

Has neglected this.

Nothing new here... just very busy with homework.

poem for your perusal

Wind tears through gloves
as searing cold grips my spine.
I lift my chin skyward, in want of
solace, an inverse prayer.

The stars are the stars, as always.

Amidst them the burning numbness of cold
is melted to the gentle sting of infinity
and inferiority.

Yet, all to soon the wind rushes
and I am cold again.

-------

I wish my poetry wasn't so jagged. I don't know how to smoothly connect thoughts.

Exciting news, today I found out that Truman awarded me a study abroad scholarship. I'm pretty excited because it makes Israel financially feasible. Now the only thing that can get in the way of me and the Sea of Galilee is terrorism.

p.s. Arabian Nights was fantastic, go see it.

I have not updated in awhile.

I want to, but I feel like my life is going to quickly for words. Madrigal dinner is over, so perhaps I can return from 500 years ago to regularly scheduled programming.

More importantly: Israel is going to happen! (Well, almost... just one more meeting and a passport and I'm practically on that plane.) I can't wait to be an archeologist for three weeks.

et-cetera

Megan, I can't figure out how to comment on your neat looking blog, so I must comment here. Cool blog!

Today Mathew and I sang an epiphany hymn at church. After the service, we chatted with a libertarian gynecologist, a British atheist, a wonderful German lady, her brilliant husband, two music department faculty and the rest of the motley people one meets at St. Paul Lutheran in Mephis Missouri. When I graduate from Truman, I don't think I'll be able to find a church to adequately replace it.

Aussi, j'ai eu un examen vendredi en français. Il a été facile. Je dois aller dîner avec Amy mardi dans MO Hall.

What else?

Madrigal dinner approaches! I am excited. My family will be coming up to see me wear that gorgeous opera gown! (and Matt in tights!) - I promise there will be pictures - My parents haven't been to the house since the flood, so I'm excited for them to see all the little changes we've made.

I have no talent for finishing blog entries.

Brain Candy

Medieval philosophy is my favorite course this semester. We are discussing Augustine's On Free Choice of the Will, which is a great work of anti-manichaeism (read: forces of good and evil) and also goes into depth on the nature of free will and evil. What's great is that I've always understood evil to be nothing, but never knew to attribute this to Augustine's theology. To explain quickly, in Augustine's view: evil is the absence of good, just like darkness is the absence of light, or cold the absence of heat. There are no "darkness" particles - just photons.(Just wikipedia checked that!) Anyway, I remember coming across this view online my freshman year of high school during my online debating days. -- I used to think I was the Holy Spirit and could convert anyone to Christianity by pure reason -- Needless to say, I'm over that, but I never realized how much theology Mr. Rudzinski and I bit into when we rehashed my discussions with atheists and agnostics. He is my Socrates. (Not to say that I'm Plato) Well... I'm attempting to be Plato soon. (read below)

For my first paper, I'm going to write a platonic dialogue between myself, a friend, Augustine, and Kierkeggard. Hopefully I can do all four justice!

Must go do some Logic homework. By the way, I'm trying to have a real liberal arts education: (I have to improvise a bit)

Quadrivium:
Arithmetic (LAS Calculus?)
Music (Chamber Choir - Voice Lessons)
Geometry (History of Math or studying for the GRE?)
Astronomy (I'll hang out with Amy at the train bridge for this one!)

Trivium:
Logic (Logic)
Rhetoric (Replace 170 with a rhetoric class)
Grammar (Historiography, Latin, French)

Isn't it cool that Music is applied Arithmetic and Astronomy applied Geometry?

So yes, another scattered post that wasn't proof read.

Nessun Dorma

Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
Tu pure, o, Principessa,
nella tua fredda stanza,
guardi le stelle
che tremano d'amore
e di speranza.
Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me,
il nome mio nessun saprà!
No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò
quando la luce splenderà!
Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio che ti fa mia!
(Il nome suo nessun saprà!...
e noi dovrem, ahime, morir!)
Dilegua, o notte!
Tramontate, stelle!
All'alba vincerò!
vincerò, vincerò!

-----------

Nobody shall sleep!...
Nobody shall sleep!
Even you, o Princess,
in your cold room,
watch the stars,
that tremble with love and with hope.
But my secret is hidden within me,
my name no one shall know...
No!...No!...
On your mouth I will tell it when the light shines.
And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!...
Chorus: (No one will know his name and we must, alas, die.)
Vanish, o night!
Set, stars! Set, stars!
At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!

Pavarotti's version of this aria is hauntingly beautiful. Incidentally, aria is Italian for air. Also, this weekend a friend told me that I sound pompous when I talk about words. Ever since then I've ben really self conscious about my interests and how they appear to others.

We Are Dorks

So Mathew hates it when I want to sing this duet because it's mostly Eponine with her back up singer Marius. So, he added his own lyrics. :) We are nerds, I know.

I NEED SLEEP!!!

Today Hannah came over and made lemon pepper tilapia and stuffed mushrooms. My taste-buds were pleased.

THIS JUST IN:

I made a skirt today! Like, with a sewing machine and everything. The skirt is for the madrigal dinner and some peasant shall wear it. Needless to say, I am immensely proud of myself. C'est bleu! Aussi, my costume for the madrigal dinner is GORGEOUS. It's so ornate... nothing that would show up in a Lutheran High musical. I don't know why they picked Mathew and I to be Duke and Duchess, but I'm excited... for the singing, but mostly for my gown! -- pictures soon. :)

What else - Quoi d'autre?

French is going well! I can compare things. Lauren est plus intelligente que Mathew! Regarde? (I wonder if French people say, see?) I suppose regarde = look. Je ne sais pas comment dire "see."

Today was action packed. I talked to parents and potential students about General Honors today. I love advertising Truman and the GH program! They're considering changing the name to Arete which is Greek for excellence. That would be pretty cool.

Ok.. no more rambling.. must do homework!

100th Post!

This is the 100th post of my blog, get excited!

Here is a poem for your perusal:

EXULTATION is the going
Of an inland soul to sea,—
Past the houses, past the headlands,
Into deep eternity!

Bred as we, among the mountains,
Can the sailor understand
The divine intoxication
Of the first league out from land?

-Dickinson

I love the line, Can the sailor understand... it's true. I wonder what I miss because it is routine. This is why I love hanging out with Amy! She savors life. I try to do likewise.

This semester my extracurricular activity will be homework.

so much so that asking for forgiveness seems selfish.

I have been so caught up in myself.

Ce poste ne sera en français

J'ai eu le français aujourd'hui. Il sera facile, je pense. Je parle français avec mon ami de l'Algérie sur Skype. Je doit aller à la classe!

The Blue Room

Emily is all moved in! We painted her room blue this weekend. She brought with her a fancy keyboard. Incidentally, I'm excited to hear piano music throughout the house. (Emily, here is my first request: Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso) I think that's the one you played at my voice recital. Emily, it's odd to refer to you in first and third person in one paragraph. I hope she doesn't mind? Also, that Valadon painting is called "The Blue Room." Only, Emily doesn't look remotely like that, nor does she smoke. Sooooo, ya. (Read that in a Eddie Izzard voice.) Must go!

Debussy

God,

When I die, please replay my life to Claire de Lune or Arabesque in sepia tones. Make sure the melody is played by a trombone.

Thanks,
-Lauren

Tea Party

Megan's tea party was lovely. The decorations were adorable, especially the dangling painted light bulbs: very meganesque. And of course it was quite fun to discuss art with an art major. I imparted my favorite Heidegger quote: "Art is truth setting itself to work."

That is all for day.

Dear, I thought I'd drop a line.

The weather's cool, the folks are fine.
I'm in bed each night at nine.
P.S. I love you.

Yesterday we had some rain,
but all and all, I can't complain.
Was it dusty on the train?
P.S. I love you.

Write to the Browns as soon as you're able
they came around to call.
I burned a hole in the dining room table
and let me see, I guess that's all.

Nothing left to tell you, dear.
Except each day, seems like a year.
Everybody's thinking of you.
P.S. I love you.

I have a new favorite singer: Nellie McKay - she was Polly Peachum in the original revival of Threepenny. She also plays the ukulele. (Elle, aussi joue du ukulele!) Sorry, I thought the last sentence in French first. My French 120 mind wants to be bilingual! Je ne veux pas retourner au collège. Parce qu'il est difficile et stressant.

Ok, that's all.

P.S. I love you.

2009 GOTE

Here is a post from this time last year:

I'm not a big fan of New Years Resolutions. I feel like if you want something changed, you shouldn't wait till the New Year. Although, I do see how it's nice to think you're getting a fresh start. Anyway, Sarah and I were once talking about our GOTE's (an acting exercise) and I realized it would be interesting to make a GOTE for my life, instead of the character I'm playing.

So thus this is my GOTE for the New Year: (not exhaustive)

GOALS -
1. Make a show this year, (whether it be one act, mainstage, or lab show) Along with that I'd like to improve my acting...
2. Hit that Phantom of the Opera E during a voice lesson
3. Spend more time thinking about my faith and discussing it with others
4. Get an A in Chemistry
5. Get out more
6. Meet with A.T. Still people to talk about medical school

So here's what happened with my goals for 2008:

1. I didn't make a show. I actually dropped my Theatre major for PHRE. Second semester Freshman year I was not taking any theatre classes. I still love it, still audition for plays I like, (definitely going for J&H), but it was not practical for me. I just don't have the will to seriously pursue it.
2. This goal I have come relatively close to in whistle tones. However, hitting that note solidly is unrealistic for someone who only recently began to sing. I'd have to have trained since I was much younger. Nevertheless, my range has improved significantly in both directions over the past year and a sub-goal of mine was to make chamber choir, which was accomplished!
3. Check! With the help of Hebrew Scriptures class and St. Paul Lutheran church, I have made strides towards enriching my faith. Dr. Appold is a wonderful mentor. I have recently been considering seminary and getting a Th.D.
4. Check! Not without the help of Mr. Conway. :)
5. Check! Thanks to Phi Sigma Pi.
6. Check! I realized I'd rather be an academic doctor.

So 4.5/6 = 75%
---------------------------------------------

And without further adieu... Lauren's GOTE 2009

GOALS

1. See the Holy Land
2. Read The Little Prince in French (cet été)
3. Learn about Classical Music and Astrology
4. Sing an aria from La Boheme: Donde Lieta and perform it at the end of the year
5. Make Jekyll and Hyde
6. Have Senior status by Spring 2010 (so I could potentially be inducted to PBK as a Junior)

OBSTACLES:

1. Money and terrorism preventing the trip
2. I don't think French 121 teaches the subjunctive, so I'd have to learn it myself in order to read at that level
3. I don't have room in my schedule for classes in the aforementioned fields
4. My high high B flat isn't consistent
5. It is very competitive and I don't know the director at all. I am not involved in theatre anymore so he is probably not likely to cast someone outside of the department/community
6. I think I'm 12 credits away: which is a lot!

TACTICS:

1. PKP Scholarship, Cultural Loan, and the Truman Study Abroad Scholarship -- can't do much about terrorism
2. Have the English version with me and Emily on speed dial! :)
3. Pick Dr. and Mrs. McKamey's mind after church or intentionally in their offices / Go to train bridge with Amy and a good Astrology book
4. Ask Nicole if we can start out with that aria
5. Can't do much other than practice my monologue and the vocal audition sheet
6. Go to Israel for 6 credits, take two interim courses or take 12 credits this summer if Israel falls through

EXPECTATIONS:

1. A life changing travel experience. I will learn about archaeology, middle eastern politics, and the geography of a majestic area.
2. Improve my French exponentially
3. I will be able to appreciate the music I love on a new level, as well as the sky that records so much of human history
4. I'll feel like a coloratura soprano! (Trust me: I'm not!) But I can feel that way, right?
5. I think it is within my reach to be in the chorus and I miss musicals and my old theatre friends.
6. Well, PBK would be a 2010 endeavor, but having the credits would be a good start.