I should take my own advice.

Hello everyone!

It is now 5:48 am, time for the weekly blog.

Today it's going to be partly cloudy with a high of 51 degrees and winds from the North-West. There is also a slight chance of CRAZY!

*disclaimer: before anyone gets frightened for themselves or me, everything I write about is usually exaggerated by about fifty percent.*

You heard it here first, I am admitting to my insanity. Not only am I an avid preacher of not getting yourself over-extended and under-applied, but I am also guilty of the opposite. However, I feel like every week I get on here and write about how stressed I am, so I will start with the non-stressors in my life, which make up the far more vast but less interesting part of my life.

There was another Dorian Festival yesterday. I think this one was choral, where Luther invited some really good high school programs from the Midwest to perform and watch. Norsemen sang two of the songs we've been working on for our Spring concert on May 1st, "Away From the Roll of the Sea", and (as I've mentioned before) Biebl's "Ave Maria". Both went really well, including the time that I took an ooing solo on a part that required no ooing from me or my section in "Away." I also am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get the actual solo on the Ave Maria. I'm the only one of the three final tenors who hasn't sang it in a performance yet, so I'm really hoping that I get it for the concert. I'll keep you updated!

I also am in the midst of scheduling for classes next year. I have no idea what I'm actually going to take. Perhaps I'll save that for another update. I do know, however, that I am applying to go to Greece for J-term. I think Luther says that 80% of the students here study abroad before they graduate. The nice thing is, you are able to study abroad without having to say goodbye to your family for a year if you choose J-term. I'm really looking forward to doing something in the coldest month of the year!

I could go on and on about the good things, but as I said, they are the majority and therefore can be ignored, just like in American politics. (ba-dum-chhhh)

As far as how my stress life, as I like to call it, is going, I really can't say. I guess I'm finally coming to the realization of what I've known since the onset of the semester: I'm in too much. As or right now with all of my activities and classes included, I'm putting in about 12 hours a day, with an hour or so break here and there if I'm lucky. That time figure is also before my homework and practicing. What took the cake, though, is when I actually started to feel stress during my down-times. That was the last straw. My piano professor, Dr. Huang, offered the best advice when he asked "What can you quit?" I really can't quit anything, but I am going to have to condense some things and make some people un-happy.

I think though, after I get over that small speed-bump, it will be for the better for everyone. No more last minute cancellations because of double booking, no more skipping rehearsals because I'm in another. I know Lent is almost over, but is there such a thing as giving up something for "post" Lent? I don't know, but things can only go uphill from here!

Either way, it's early, I have to sleep for the remaining 90 minutes I have before class, and get ready to conquer the last Wednesday before Easter Break!

Later,
Jake