One overdue essay down, two to go

[jaala]

However, the professor for the remaining two essays is being very flexible about due dates so I think he'll let me wait until after my massive Opera exam on Tuesday. Speaking of which: I need to start studying for that! (And then there's my Theory exam on Thursday...)

I just returned from a very good presentation of Bach's Mass in B Minor. Considering how significant a percentage of the performing forces were amateur and considering that they had to switch music directors last Wednesday (!) because the original person broke his arm, it was quite the achievement. I got to hear what my flute professor's nifty wooden flute headjoint sounds like. Chris (Orfeo in the opera last January) sang the solo tenor part very well as well.

As I sat there listening, I realized that I have to find a choir to sing in next year. I will audition for the school choirs, of course, but if I don't get in I now know that there are a lot of other choirs in town I can try for. The most logical place to attend church services (as I'm going to try my level best to do next year) is the very place that was host to this performance; many of the people in the chorus today belong to their choir. It would be really neat to get into that choir if I could. The lady sitting next to me even suggested I audition for the Choral Society (which sings with the Symphony) saying, "As long as you can read music and your voice isn't half-bad, they'll let you in."

I was fitted for uniforms/costumes last Wednesday morning. I had no idea there were so many items to be assigned... and I still haven't gotten my gloves and hat:

• three different jackets (two red, one navy, and the fifer one is really thick)
  
• two different pairs of pants (they go up above the waist)
  
• two different pillbox hats
  
• two pairs of suspenders
  
• white leather belt
  
• various pockets, pouches, and loops that attach to the belt
  
• sword (ooh! it looks real but you can't take it out of the scabbard--I checked when left alone in the locker room)
  
• two plastic hat covers (for really rainy days)
  
• two fifes (one wooden, one plastic)
  
• vaguely ruler-shaped button thingamajig (don't remember the name, don't know what it's used for yet--cleaning buttons? replacing them?)
  
• two pairs of leather shoes (one man's style, one woman's style)
  
• dress
  
• apron
  
• snood (hair covering)
  
• three (!) manuals (instructions, safety regulations, and information to be memorized I suspect)
  
• a scrubbing brush
  
  So I get to wear red and serge but not red serge. The experience trying on the (form-fitting) pants was a bit intimidating to someone as insecure about her body as me. (Well, I'm always intimidated when trying on clothing anyway.) Said the tailor, "Hmm, a little snug there... but most people firm up in a couple months!" (Yikes!)
  
  I can't shake the feeling I've been enlisted (probably intentional, to help our interpretive mindset), which is weird for me as someone who has never ever considered the military as a career option. I found out recently that the Fort Henry Guard "is the only civilian group in the world entrusted with the honour of marching with the US Marine Corps." Uh... wow. We're expected to polish our boots and the brass buttons on the jackets. We sign-in to work at 8:15 a.m. and it will take me a while to bicycle (uphill most of the way!) to work. If this doesn't force me to cure myself of my sleep irregularities, nothing will. I do get a nice view on the bicycle route, however.