Don't afraid! Make a phrase!

Ah yes, another riveting choir rehearsal. One of these days we're going to sing "Once in Royal David's City" correctly...i.e. WITH repeats and (GASP!) a soprano soloist! Haha, getting reminiscent about Lessons and Carols at the Cross...sigh. One of these days the tenors will get to sing a tenor 1 line (but I think that's just too farfetched for the imagination, lol.) One of these days we'll sing something other than Deck the Hall or Silent Night during rehearsal. Apart from all these quirks, we're steadily heading towards our concerts (that's right, there'll be TWO concerts, all you friends of mine who live in Moscow) on Dec. 8 and 11. Mark it down on your calendars! A little bummed about not singing O Holy Night (which is my personal favorite carol), but I suppose singing excerpts from the Messiah will be an acceptable alternative. :)

Also, December 13 (I told you I would plug our concerts any and every chance I get, hahaha) is our lessons and carols service (this should be FREE) at 6:30 in the evening, during which you get to hear me sing vs. 2 of "I Saw Three Ships" as well as ding-dong in the background during vs. 6. Yes, exciting, I know :))) There we will also be properly singing "Once in Royal David's City" as well as the descants on "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", not to mention a couple of other a capella pieces. This I highly recommend to all who adore Christmas music and Jesus.

Classes are quickly moving towards the end of the semester. Before we know it exams will be here (just over a month away, can't believe it!!!) In my fairy tale class, we are putting on a performance of a few plays written in the style of traditional Russian fairy tales, one of which based on the skazki "Kolobok". I always seem to be typecast as the dedushka, but I try to ham it up, since obviously I am in no way, shape, or form a professional actor. Anyways that will be coming up as well. My music history class is fun, we're already covering the Romantics (Schubert, Schumann, Liszt, Chopin, etc.)

And now for the most important information you all (namely of course, my family and friends back in the Homeland) are just dying of curiosity to hear about...my plans for winter break. As you may have seen from my ecstatic facebook status, I am indeed coming home on Christmas Eve Day, leaving from Moscow at 5 pm Moscow time and should arrive in Heathrow around 6:15 in the evening London time. Great, EXCEPT that I have a ONE HOUR layover in Heathrow
Airport before my flight to Boston leaves at 7:15. God-willing, if everything works out, as I believe it will, I'll be arriving in Logan around 9:45-10 p.m Thursday evening, just in time to greet my family and crash before spending Christmas at home in the Throp with teh Tardif and Semedo crew. I am also totally free for New Year's, as I'll be home until Jan 28, when I have to fly back to Moscow, but that leaves me 30+ days of relaxation, a little bit of thesis writing, but mostly being in good company. May be making a trip up to the Cross or down to the Cape, we'll see once I'm home. Right now, I'm just taking it easy, getting excited for all the crazy things going on in September. T-minus six weeks and 5 days...perhaps, it's too soon to start thinking about a countdown, but I can't deny how eager and relieved I am that I'll be home in time for Christmas, having missed it this year, and having given in to the prospect of missing it again before we got really lucky and found an incredible price (British Airways has failed to let me down yet, and I am grateful beyond words). It may take a miracle but I am definitely coming home in time to have some Christmas turkey, lots of stuffing and mashed, squash, and plenty of wine of course, that goes without saying, haha. Save me a spot next to you, Josh, I will be hooooooooome!!!! :) YAY!!!!!! See you all in just a few short weeks! Vremya letit (Time flies.), doesn't it? Miss you all! Can't wait for our concerts and I CAN"T WAIT TO GO HOME!!!! Talk to you soon!!! Peace out, homies! Word.