The semester that ate my brain

I have this fuzzy recollection of a time when I actually had spare time to do things like read and post in lj. Or maybe I dreamed it. I'm excited about my students and some projects I've got going on this semester, like the first ever Voice Department Cabaret at Earlham. But between that and the high school music magnet and the private students and singing for a bazillion weddings (and a piece in a faculty recital on Friday I should be practicing - ack!), I'm finding my "free time" has pretty much evaporated.I did manage to go to a belly dance class for the first time, though! I've always thought I'd want to try it for fun and exercise, but I'm usually working in the evenings when normal people are free. However, I've had Wednesday evenings free on a regular basis and am not performing in any operas this semester (my choice). Then I saw the belly dancers at the Ohio Renaissance Fair and thought, hey, that does look like fun. I liked the first class and have a dvd to practice basic moves between now and next week. In my spare time. Ha!The Renaissance Fair was loads of fun. We shopped, saw performances of the Mud Show (not to be missed), Cosmo the extemporaneous story teller, etc., and only winced a little bit at the pub sing where a few of the musicians have a little trouble reaching their high notes. Really, in just a few voice lessons it wouldn't be hard to fix. ;)