Ariadne auf Naxos

Another Monday...after a busy weekend....

The hiccups never returned, so I guess the chocolate-covered strawberries really did the trick. (I made more chocolate-covered strawberries at home on Sunday. A little tip for you: don't try to melt down chocolate chips and then dip the strawberries in the chocolate. It doesn't work; just give in and buy the more expensive dipping chocolate. It will make your life much easier.) Anyway, I spent Friday afternoon putting things together for a department party that evening. The party was fun for the first few hours; then a lot of random people (people not connected with the department) started showing up and it wasn't so fun any more. I probably should have stayed until the end of the party to help clean up since I'm the elected graduate student social secretary (my official title is 'event coordinator,' but I prefer 'social secretary'), but I just didn't feel comfortable there any more. I guess the people who stayed late helped with the clean-up.

While the day was uneventful, Saturday evening was much more fun. Jimmy and I went out for a fancier-than-usual supper and then we went to the opera. (We saw Ariadne auf Naxos by Strauss.) The first act of the opera was wonderful, but the second act was a bit slow. The performers weren't able to keep up the momentum after the intermission. Ah well, I still enjoyed this one more than Faust. (I was disappointed in Faust, which was the first production of the season. The casting wasn't quite right, and it just seemed to light and happy for Faust.)

And after two days of parties and opera, I got to spend Sunday with my books. I read Joseph Conrad's novella "The Duel" and started on Kate Chopin's The Awakening. I've read both before, but I think I'm enjoying both of them more the second time around....