Woohoo! I is college graduate!

Everyone has to see the new TMNT movie. It is the best thing ever. SO many memories! SO very good! All the familiar sights: Leo and Raph arguing, Don being Mr. Gadget, Mike being comic relief, April and Casey being cute, and Splinter being indescribably awesome. I'm grinning so hard my face hurts! I loved it like crazy! It make me so happy!

My first opera premieres a week from tonight! I go crazy! So excited!

*sighs* Thank you, God, for being awesome.

I missed LOST because our TV won't turn on.

I just realized I can touch my nose with my tongue.

And I'm supposed to be writing a paper.

So my car needs a new water pump, and therefore my acquisition of it has been delayed two weeks. I'd rather have it in working condition, but...I have errands to run, and it's hard to get rides all the time.

A friend and I got tickets for last night's performance of Bizet's Carmen. We got on the road, and things were going well until she started offering me large Sweet Tarts. I didn't actually want any, but decided to be polite and eat them whenever she offered. My third piece got inhaled and lodged in my throat. This was a potentially bad situation, seeing as how it was very much large enough to block my airway if so it decided, and it hurt like crazy. My friend, feeling very guilty, pulled into a McDonalds to get me something to drink. I sat there in the car waiting for her for about twenty seconds before it occured to me that, if this thing shifted and I started choking, there wouldn't be anyone around to do the Heimlich.

I went inside.

Fortunately, a cup of good ol' Coca-Cola did the trick, and the offending candy was dislodged and swallowed.

We had a lovely time at Macaroni Grill upon arriving in town. We were on a very tight schedule, though, and things got thrown off by the broken stoplight two blocks down. Never mind, we still barely had enough time to make it. We parked in a garage and ran for three blocks in the cold to the center where I bought the tickets, presumably where the opera would be held.

Nope. We were in the wrong place. So we walked back to the car, and my friend had an asthma attack. She puffed her inhaler, and I suddenly laughed.

"God does not want us to have a good day. That is the only explanation for this."

By the time we arrived at the actual place where the opera was being performed, we were half an hour late. The ticket guy informed me that the tickets they were holding in "Will Call" were gone already, but believe me when I told him our (very good) seat numbers. We were seated and the opera passed without further ado (my parents and another friend were there, and since I don't see them very often, that was a big reason I was so anxious to make it).

We had no idea how to get back afterwards. My friend, the driver, drove around a bit, then tried to turn around. She ended up turning the wrong way on a Busy-As-A-Ticket-Seller-At-A-Showing-Of-Titanic one-way street. And turned off immediately. Just as immediate was the response of the cop who happened to see.

I'll bet she was regretting that glass of wine at dinner, although it had been hours since then.

After some talking, we managed to convince him that we were Just That Stupid, and got directions back to the highway along with a warning.

So now I know Murphy's Law first-hand.

Now, onto the opera, which was very good.

( Carmen review under the cut</i> )

Also, I caught the Met's Simon Boccanegra on the radio today (with Hampson, Gheorghiu, Furlanetto, Giordani, etc.), and taped it. There are several reasons I am happy I did so.

( And here they are )

So Saturday my friend berates me for sending her the fourth chapter of my story, which has a cliffhanger at the end, but not the fifth. Afterwards, I sit, finish chapter five, and chapter six, and start chapter seven. Last night, in spite of the amount of homework I have to do, I made it a good way into chapter nine. I'm starting to get a little obsessed.

Friday night I'm seeing Bizet's Carmen with some friends. I haven't seen this one since I was a child. Can't wait. Will probably post a review afterwards, just 'cause.

I have the first four chapters of a story up at FictionPress, so...people go read. And give me feedback. It should be fun.

Title: Lost Aceitha

Genre: Young adult action/adventure/fantasy/historical

Summary: Patrick's late uncle has left his nephew an odd inheritance. This leads to a series of clues left all over the Caribbean and a mystical family secret, and pirate Captain Lennox, Patrick's former captain, is willing to kill to find out what it is.

My parents just bought an SUV. They're giving me their old car. I'mgettingacar!

*does Dance of Yay*

I actually have a FictionPress account now! So everyone still paying any attention to me whatsoever who liked my fan fiction will be able to read some of my original fiction in a few days. My account name is Achipiquon Que.

I know it's been a while since I updated, but I've been awfully busy. I was actually just leafing through my journal and realizing that I really do need to get a FictionPress account. It is my senior year, and I don't exactly have a lot of time to write stories, but it would be good to put stuff up and possibly have a few readers give me some feedback (plus the "ur story sux get ur tubz tyd u hor" comments which are inevitable). Some stories I'm thinking of putting up once I am able include a young-adult high seas historical/fantasy adventure, a darker modern fantasy, and a realistic fiction story about a modern female composer.

I don't write things set in medieval fantasy worlds (not ones that are round, anyway) with beautiful, graceful elves and spitting, cave-dwelling dwarfs with Scottish accents. I do not roll dice to determine moves in fights. I do not have half-races (half-Elves, half-Orcs, etc.) or even fantasy races at all in the stories I mentioned above (although a friend and I are working on a rather unconventional fantasy story which comes close to cliche but has managed to sidestep it so far). My female characters are neither damsels in distress nor tough-as-nails pieces of meat (except in one case, I think, and she's just scary). My stories do not include overbearing mentors or Dark Lords. In other words, it is unlikely that you have read fifty stories like mine before. I have fun writing them, though, so that might mean that they're still interesting.

At least one has romance, though. Just 'cause I'm single doesn't mean I'm totally averse to it.

So if it interests thee, I'd appreciate the support. No one likes to feel like their efforts are totally pointless. It'll be a few days afore I'm allowed to put anything up, but I thought I'd give you a heads-up. I know I got some enthusiastic supporters for my fan fiction, so I sort of though...stop rambling, Achi. Okay.

And by the way...LOST? Charlie? I'm nervous and excited. Nervous 'cause...yeah. Excited 'cause it seems like this should open up some cool story possibilities for him.

1. "I still have two books to go before I finish my story." (can't write just one book)
Examples: Every fantasy author ever.

2. "Andreileshac'nanispaz! You have until I count to three!" (Authors who name their characters bizarre names that no parent in any world could want to call their child.)
Examples: "Lauralanthalasa" is the best one I can think of, although I am also very fond of "Drizzt."

3. "I know she's an elf because she's so dang hot!" (Books besides Tolkien's where Elves are the most beautiful race on the planet.)
Examples: Eragon, Shannara, everywhere else.

4. "I prophesy that the bad guy and the good guy will meet, and one of them will die!" (Generic Given Mistaken for a Prophecy Syndrome)
Examples: Wheel of Time series, Harry Potter, The Belgariad

5. "I don't get a speech before I die because I'm the bad guy." (Parting Speech Rule)
Examples: Allanon in the Shannara books gets a speech, but the Warlock Lord doesn't.

6. "Beware the Dark Lord!" (Dark Lord Compulsive Disorder)
Examples: Do ya need 'em?

7. "HE'S CAPTURED! Then escapes really easily." (the no-risk policy)
Examples: Anything written by David Eddings

8. "I'm a cross between two different races! Where do I belong! Crisis!"
Examples: Tracy Hickman's Tanis

9. "No one expected the things in store for him." (Random Nobody born to do Great Things)
Examples: Eragon, Garion, Shea Ohmsford, Rand, Karigan

10. "Hi-ho!" (cave-living dwarfs)
Examples: EVERYWHERE!

11. "Let's roll the dice and see what happens next!" (D&D ripoff ideas)
Examples: Dragonlance

12. "I am too drained of energy! I cannot use magic!" (can't come up with a better way to limit magic)
Examples: It's all over the place.

13. "Kay's sells magic rings now." (magic talismans which are the key to everything)
Examples: If it has the suffix "-stone," (Arkenstone) or a capitalized "Orb," (Dragon Orb), you're in trouble.

14. "I'll tell you everything you need to know...when I feel like you're ready." (overbearing mentor)
Examples: Belgarath, that one guy in Eragon, Allanon

15. "Why don't we just call it a 'birthday?'" (fake names for common dates)
Examples: Turnday? DAY OF LIFE GIFT?

16. "Take care of her for me if I die." (Death spoiler)
Examples: I can't actually think of any, but you know the line.

17. "I'll take a little of Tolkien, a little Brooks, just a smidgen of Lewis, some Beagle, a bit of LeGuin..." (Smorgasbord writing)
Examples: Paolini

18. "I don't care what you think would make it better! It's MY story!" (author apt to disappoint readers)
Examples: Most writers like this never even get published.

19. "Wow, my books are really popular! I've hit a gold mine! I could write these forever and just keep getting richer and richer!" (Robert Jordan Complex)
Examples: I'm just saying I gave up on Robert Jordan a long time ago.

20. "Why would I need distinct personalities in my characters when my WORLD is just so darn cool?" (Anne McCaffrey's Philosophy of Writing)
Examples: Raymond E. Feist, Katherine Kurtz

and finally...

21. "If your boobs sag, no saving the world for you!" (Over 25 Questing Limit)
Examples: You know 'em.

(Cross-posted to my Xanga and MySpace)

So how does Desmond know about things before they happen?

VERY cool episode, by the way.

Did I not tell you that this would happen?

And, in other news, MY OPERA IS GETTING PERFORMED NEXT SEMESTER YAYYYZ!

You know you have a really pathetic life when you realize you've gotten really good at Solitaire.

I've been dealing with general frustrations including being forced to switch voice teachers (this is my senior year, I don't have time for this) and putting up with those people who are perpetually stuck in high school.

Other than that, everything's great. I'm in a house off-campus this year, so yay, and I'm also the lead in the opera we're doing this semester. I'm pretty okay with all that.

Living in a house is great. You can clean your own bathroom and eat good food, and sleep in your own little room, and take a shower without wearing flip-flops, and practice your music, and yell, and watch geeky movies with the volume all the way up.

And I'm also on the third chapter of a brand new fiction novel. Not fanfic, I'm afraid, but it's still fun to work on. It's sort of a cross between Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones.

...but I'm alive. Odd stuff happened this summer. Got an emerald for singing to someone. Mouse died in the air conditioning of the car. All in all, not a bad summer.

I had my recital the other night. I sang Ganymed by Schubert and Non mi dir by Mozart. It went well, I think, although I'm getting a little tired of the rep.

LOST the other night:

1. Hurley and Libby: cute or creeeepy?

2. See you in another life, brother? GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

3. It was very satisfying to see Sawyer get what he needed after a remark like that. Yay for Hurley.

Okay, Verdi's an incredibly amazing opera composer. Rigoletto is definitely one of my favorite operas. Thing is, he wrote this one ridiculously long opera called Don Carlo which just has to be one of the most draining opera experiences you'll ever have, simply because it's nearly four hours of a tenor and a soprano wailing high notes together even though they only met each other briefly so how could they possibly be in love (deliberate run-on sentence there, forgive me, folks)? ( Read more... )
Twisted, slightly weird opera, with lots of tenor-soprano duets, but I can't seem to get the music out of my head. I mean, gosh, it's amazing stuff. I don't listen to the tenor-soprano duets (you're cured of any great fascination with them after hearing the constant tenor-soprano duet that is Lakme), but some of the other stuff is simply astounding. Seriously, the king's aria might be the saddest aria I've ever heard (although Senza Mamma from Suor Angelica by Puccini gives it tough competition). What is my fascination with an opera I barely even like to see?

My roommate watches Disney channel ALL THE TIME AND THIS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL VIDEO IS ON AGAIN AND IT'S DRIVING ME ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!

There, it's over, but it'll be stuck in my head forever.

I hate kidney stones. And waiting seven hours in the emergency room.

So the first day of spring was heralded by an inch of wet, nasty snow and cold winds. It's not much warmer now, although all the snow has melted. I love living between two very different climates.


LOST tonight:

1. Is there anyone who doesn't think Henry's an Other, or at least working for them?

2. Hunh. A sympathetic Ana-Lucia. Whoda thunk.

3. SKKRNRRNKKPHHPPPPF! Preview!

4. That voice at the end of the preview? Familiar. As in, Desmond familiar.

5. I love Sun. I hope she's telling the truth. I doubt she is.


Um, some guy left me his number on my tray at the cafeteria when I was away from the table getting some hot chocolate (mmmmmmmmm). I don't know him, never met him, but I looked him up on the university website and found him on the baseball team roster. He's a freshman. I'm not sure if I'm amused, flattered, or creeped out. He left me two separate notes at two separate times (once again when I took my tray up), so he must have been watching me most of the time, which is creepy.

Here's a meme. I find amusement in it, as my highest bowling score is 19.

achipiquonque's LJ stalker is erinlin!

erinlin is stalking you because you are really good at bowling. They are also stalking you in real life. Look out!

I think I got a friend addicted to Beverly Sills (opera diva extraordinaire). Since he's a real freak about coloratura sopranos (the ones that can sing lots of notes really fast), I'm not surprised he now loves her, especially as he was introduced to her via my tape of "Barber of Seville" that features her as Rosina (the leading lady). I was a little weirded out that he didn't seem too crazy about Samuel Ramey (one of the best bass-baritones of the last half a century), and a little stung that he didn't like Alan Titus as Figaro. Then again, my friend is a baritone, and you naturally tend to be a little harsher with people of your own voice type, as you know more of what should be going on. Not that my friend has any right in the universe to criticize Samuel Ramey.

So my voice teacher decided that "Non mi dir" wasn't enough and gave me "Caro nome." For the record, "Non mi dir" is a really tough aria that leaves you breathless, exhausted, and a little dizzy at the end. "Caro nome" is harder. I mean, it's Mozart vs. Verdi here--Mozart may well have been the best opera composer ever (depends on opinion, although his Don Giovanni is said to be the best opera ever written), but Verdi is, in general, much harder to sing. He's also decided to let me work on another Verdi--an incredible soprano-baritone duet from La Traviata, which I'm really excited about.

Barber of Seville was great fun last weekend, but I was completely thrilled with the season this company will have next: La Boheme, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Les Pecheurs des Perles. While the first two are unbelievably depressing (the first one is what Rent was based off of, except Boheme has a tragic ending), I've never seen the last one, although since it's Bizet and it contains that incredible tenor-baritone duet and the plot doesn't look too tragic, I'm sure I'll love it. Actually, they're all operas I'm fairly familiar with but have never seen, so this'll be great.

( Now onto LOST... )

LOST is supposed to be on right now, and the stupid basketball game is just going into overtime. The announcers assured me that we will see the program in its entirety, but how long will I have to wait? Why couldn't MU have just lost?

Gripegripegripegripegripe...

Ah, beautiful evening, window open. I shall focus on that. Yay for fair weather.

It's a gorgeous day today. You know those kinds of days where you want to do everything wonderful that you ever imagined doing? Where you want to flap your arms and fly across the ocean to see places you've never seen? Where you want to stop wondering if that cute guy who works at Starbucks will ask you out and have him ask you out? Where you want to take a shower in a waterfall far, far from civilization, as deep in the green velvet forest as possible where no one will disturb you?

It's a Loreena McKennitt music kind of day. Maybe an Enya "Wild Child" kind of day. I love having a glimpse of spring as winter nears its end. I love spring, as my blooming African violets and seventy-degree weather remind me. It's one of those days where you want to run to a clearing in a forest somewhere and dance under the moon, like you see in all those fantasy paintings.

I love days like these.