Past the pain threshold

Owwwwwwwwwww. I don't know what's worse: having an extremely weird dream about attending a wedding or waking up & living the day with an intense shoulder pain. Um, OK, maybe the intense pain in my right shoulder. But I didn't feel anything was wrong until I rolled out of bed, so I wouldn't mind going back to my dream state. Gawd, this is killing me. Well, not literally, but I feel like I can't do anything normal (sit, stand, type, etc.) without wincing.

To think, I was complaining about a paper cut the other day. It's weird how when one small thing is wrong with your body, that's the only thing you can think about. Oy.

Sweet Smell of Success

Not only did success smell sweet, my stew turned out to be deeeelish. :) Yes, the crock pot and I could become very good friends. Slow-cooking recipes even caught my eye today on MSN, so I bookmarked that page. Heh heh.

No word on the job front yet. There's another position that opened up, and I'm considering applying for it. We'll see. My stomach is doing a flip-flop. Jeez. Finding is a job is hard work.

Sister, sister (and brother)

Janice conducted her crock pot experiment earlier this month. Now it's my turn to try making beef stew in the crock pot. :) *crossing fingers* The first hour of slow cooking is almost up. Seven more to go. Will let you know the outcome later. I'm prepared to laugh if things go wrong, but I hope it's delicious!

I just read the e-mail the Jason's coming home to watch the Super Bowl with his friends. Heh heh. Good ol' sports fan, that one. :) Now I finally have a reason to watch the actual game -- and not just watch the commercials. Go Seahawks!!!

Oh breathe, just breathe

Heh heh, get it? It's 2 a.m. Like that song by Anna Nalick. :) Great song. So is her new single, "In the Rough."

Anyway, it's 2 a.m., and I can't go to sleep. I had coffee during the first intermission of Die Fledermaus. My mind is racing now. When I got home tonight I checked my e-mail. I received a message about a potential part-time job, and I've been thinking about it ever since. I won't mention anything more right now, but that's what's on my mind.

Oh, and I just spent a great deal of time writing a post for my online friends. Wait. Let me back up and explain that the first Web community I joined was the Miss Saigon Notice Board at Center Stage. That place no longer exists, but a few of us recently started a little group to keep in contact with each other. Very cool. Anyway, here's what I wrote in response to a "what are you up to?"-type thread:

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I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington last month. (I finished two quarters ahead of schedule.) Earned my B.A. in communication with a music minor. Commencement will take place this June.

Right now I'm taking a much-needed break. In March, I'm visiting the Philippines for the first time. Yay! I must admit that it's strange not going to school, but I definitely won't miss the endless homework! Not surprisingly, I feel the pressure of searching for a full-time job. I hope that wherever I end up and whatever I do is rewarding and fulfilling. I would love to work in the communications department of a performing arts organization. I just wrapped up my student job and am doing some cool freelance projects with Seattle Opera.

Speaking of opera, I've really gotten into it over the past year. Seattle Opera is known for performing the works of Richard Wagner, and I think I may have caught the bug to become a Wagnerite. I loved the Ring. I heard (and saw) Jane Eaglen sing the Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde last weekend, and I just listened to a clip of Parsifal earlier this evening. Wow, Wagner's music is so amazing, moving and memorable. Yup, I'm hooked.

Of course, I am a musical fan through and through. I can't wait to see the world premiere of The Wedding Singer.
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*yawn* Ooh, I think I'm finally getting sleepy. Buonanotte.

Sudoku Addicts Anonymous

Hi, my name is Allison, and I am addicted to Sudoku. I bought a Sudoku book from Barnes & Noble last Thursday, and I can't stop playing it. Must. Stop. Now. I think I'll have to hide the book and try to forget about it so I can concentrate on other things that don't involve logically putting numbers in squares. To think, I avoided the puzzle craze for so long, but now I'm hooked just like Dad and Janice. Guess it runs in the family.

Bring on the bubbly

I watched the opening night performance of Die Fledermaus at McCaw Hall. This Seattle Opera production of Johann Strauss Jr.'s operetta is amazing!!! It was my first operetta, and I loved it. The cast was hilarious. (Some jokes even referred to contemporary pop culture [think ABC television shows].) Jane Eaglen cracked us all up: "My dress! She's wearing half my dress!" Nancy Maultsby made me laugh with her Prince Orlofsky laugh. LOL just thinking about it. :) Sarah Coburn soared with her awesome high notes.

You gotta love the fact that these singers don't have microphones when they sing, yet can fill the hall with their voices. Everyone -- and I mean everyone -- was superb. :) I'm a hardcore musical fan. I think operetta was right up my alley with spoken dialogue and spectacular music. Sometimes you need a good laugh, and Die Fledermaus provided that on Saturday. I can't wait to see it again this Friday with the alternate cast.

Raves

Happy new year! Yeah, yeah, so I'm late in saying it, but I mean it just the same! I'm so glad it's 2006. A fresh start. Full of possibilities. Instead of resolutions, I have goals. I won't go into detail about all of them, although I do realize it's important to share them with others. Anyway, one of my goals is to read 25 books this year. I'm well on my way to doing that! So far I've read Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident and Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code. I really look forward to finishing the fourth installment, The Opal Deception. (I read the first book in 2005, so that doesn't count.) If you can't tell by now, I love Artemis Fowl! Thanks to my big bro for letting me borrow his books.

Other raves for:

*The great folks at Seattle Opera for letting me return (and remembering me, that's so cool)

*Whale Rider: I bawled when I watched this movie

*Scrubs' return to TV: I'll watch the hilarious show as long as The Amazing Race isn't airing

*Half.com: I finally checked it out after hearing raves about it from my friends (now I can read the next three books in Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events)

*Quintcareers.com: my favorite resource for preparing for the job search