Spring cautiously approaches

The weather is playful! Two days ago it was wretched slush falling from the sky. Yesterday it was partly cloudy and like 50. Today it’s sunny and 52, and the projection for next week has two 60˚ days next to each other. It’s very exciting, and hopefully won’t distract from studying (too much).

Thursday night I went with Ariela and another feb friend named Ben (newest Mamajama) to the “Middlebury Union High School A Cappella Invitational” in mead chapel. Midd college choir and mountain ayres (chamber singers) opened the show, and then high school a cappella groups from Mount Abe, Vergennes, and Middlebury did various sets. They were all right, and it was nice to hear a lot of songs I’ve sung before! The evening ended with “Maiden Vermont,” a chorus (50ish of them) of Vermont women ages 35-70 I would say, but the median was around 55-60. They were AWESOME. They sang barbershop stuff, and had all this hilarious choreography. Mama would have felt in perfect place among them. I got a huge kick out of it.

Ilanna came over to visit on Friday! It was kinda a last minute what-the-heck affair but it was nice to see her. She, Ariela and I had a late night Friday night. Saturday I had work from 10-2 and ran over to the Middlebury-Bowdoin track meet as soon as I could. Sarah and I were able to chill for intermittent periods of like 10-15 minutes each, which is frustrating but life. Saturday night I stayed in and watched “Finding Neverland.” Gotta love corniness.

The tracks of the Mamajamas’s new album “The Madras Album” are almost finished! They just need to be mastered, but so far they’re sounding really good. We have our CD release party on May 3. – it’s a big weekend. Friday the 2nd is my birthday, then Saturday has the a cappella show and the spring Jazz show later that night. I sent an email to the parents and it looks like they’ll actually make a foray into the cold north to see the shows / celebrate the birthday! Never underestimate sentimentality, I suppose.

The 5 remaining weeks are daunting to me. I’m half at a point where I’m ready for the year to be over. It’s not completely overtaken me yet, but I’m really looking forward to warmth and old friends. 5 weeks isn’t so long, but when I look at my syllabi I’m blown away by what I’m expected to accomplish before then! Oh, huge pet peeve: classes that have both a final paper AND a final exam. What the hell?

With community service done, I should have a much easier week.