The Music Technician Screws Up

Friday night at 6:00, I went to the church to help out with our Confirmation class's performance of the Live Stations of the Cross. A prayer would be read in the pitch black church, and then a spot light would come on, showing a freeze-frame scene of one of the stations of the cross. Then, in the 45 seconds of setting up before the next reading, music would be playing (Gregorian chants, actually.) I was the music technician. (Woo hoo! I don't have to act!)

The show started at 8:00. We had plenty of time for rehearsal and costuming. During the rehearsal, I set up in the choir loft with the CD player. I did a pretty good job with my fade-in-fade-out techniques, though a few times I came in at the wrong time because one of the readers was playing with their flashlight (one of my cues), or Mr. Paccia turned on or off the spot light in to help some one see(another cue of mine). But it went well.

Several minutes prior to the start of the show, people started coming into the choir loft! They weren't supposed to do that, and I had all my stuff set up there! I tried to gesture for them to go back down, but they just came up. One guy actually sat down next to me! I was freaking out because I did not want anyone watching me. Mrs. Downes then came up, thankfully!, and helped me move the stereo and such into the other half of the choir loft, where there is only one chair and no one was sitting. Whew!

It was pitch black in the church. I kept my fingers on the buttons and dials I had to use so I wouldn't get confused and push the wrong button. It went smoothly until just after the second or third stations. When the spot light went out, I was supposed play the music. I pressed 'play', but what came out was not Gregorian chants! It was some sort of jazz! I paused it as quickly as I could, and, panicked, felt around wildly for the emergency flashlight! It's kind of amazing that I figured it out so quickly. I pressed the CD 1 button that I'd seen earlier because I knew (hoped!) that that was where the CD was. I practically tore out my hair as it took forever to switch CDs. My theory for what happened was that I hit one of the other CD buttons in the pitch black and it changed CDs, and that was what played when I pressed "play"! 

After it finished loading, I tentatively pressed play, and it worked! I was so relieved, though still really flustered. The cue came really quickly, and I was glad to fade it out and turn it off. My heart was still racing and I was slapping myself in the forehead repeatedly. The rest of the show went really smoothly, though (I kept the flashlight on- thank god for that flashlight!)

Mom said that she didn't hear me mess up, but I still needed a second opinion. Mrs. Downes said that she heard it, but was happy that I figured it out.

I think I still need a third opinion, though...Who else heard it? (yikes!) Perhaps I should call Kat. 

Mr. Paccia gave us a pep talk/lecture before hand about reverence and really taking part in the event. Fortunately, it wasn't half as bad as he said it should be. He told us to physically feel the anguish of Christ. 

Hmm...that's a bit extreme, no? Yet another case of improper use of adverbs. *rolls eyes*.

At Long Last!

It is spring break, at very, very, long last! I am ecstatic bordering on delirious, for more than one reason. 

The first reason is that it is, finally!, sunny! I have been waiting forever for a warm, sunny day, and here one is! I LOVE YOU, MR. SUN!

The second reason is that I am obviously out of school.

The third reason is that I am going to a party tonight, at my friend Mary's house. It is Disney princess themed...don't ask...but at any rate, it should be tons upon tons of fun, though I may have to run out of the room when the Disney movies start driving me insane. Woo hoo!

The fourth reason is that I read my book today in Science, and it was well received. Oh, that's right, I haven't mentioned my book. Well, in Science, we had a project to write a children's book. Mine was exceedingly morbid (but very fun to write). 

THE CLASS LOVED IT!!!!! I am SO happy! Mrs. Kirk was slightly appalled, but in a humorous way that does not seem to imply a bad grade. I kept having small giggling fits while reading it. I edited out some parts, such as "etc, etc, the leeches said before attaching themselves to her lower leg" and "she stared vacantly and drooled." I, however, didn't leave out the part about Ellie getting eaten...that would obviously ruin it. 

As I was leaving the pep rally later, Mrs. Kirk saw me and said to another teacher (but also to me), "You've got to watch out for that girl...she's very different than she seems." That wasn't what she actually said, but it was along the same lines. It was really funny. 

Keep up with the posts...I'll be sure to write a lot in the days ahead.

Ghosts

Looking out the window

I search but can find naught to say

Mist curls and twirls and swirls

Trying to respond, but all I say is "oh."

Words are trampled by solemnity

As shapes weave and dance

And he tells from my dismissive stance

That I can feel only apathy

For him, watching as the fog holds me entranced

Pierced my heart with a white ghostly lance

Shades of a past Hades

And gone, devoured by the mist.

Grey Day

I can really only console myself about the grey skies and unfortunate precipitation by convincing myself that it's making things grow. Weather seems to have an irritating correlation with my moods. And on rainy days, I get depressed. It has been gray all winter, and most spring. 

Hmm...could this explain my lack of motivation to do anything, or my fatigue? How about my perpetual desire to go home, and when I'm home, my desire to go back to school? Hmm?

Yeah...that could be it. 

I was bored this afternoon, and a little jumpy. We are watching The Dark Knight in English class, and, yes, I know it's pathetic, but it creeps me out. Clowns are the freakiest things on the planet, seriously. So anyway, to alleviate my boredom and give me something else to think about other than gun-toting clowns hiding in my closet, I decided to make my own peanut butter. It was kind of gross, but tasted okay with jam on toast. =/ 

I now depart to spend the night at Ashley's house. It wasn't exactly my idea, but she's home alone until late, so I'm just keeping her company. 

April At Last

It was sixty degrees and sunny today. I am so happy. I just hope it stays, because I really want warmth and spring. The cold needs to go! 

The crocuses are up, and I found a beautiful iris by one of the trees in the back yard. It won't be long until the daffodils are here, too. I'm glad that it's finally turning green again. 

You know what, I'm so inspired that I'm going to write a haiku.

Grass still brown and dead

Leaves conspicuously gone

But flowers are up.

Hmm, I wouldn't exactly  call it a masterpiece...but it works.