The Ego Episodes

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004

What Did I Get Myself Into?

February's halfway done and look how many entries I've made. One. So far, one. How is this possible? How? Also, did you know that my baby just turned one? Baby, meaning this journal? Yes! One year old! I intended to write something like a year-end entry, to sum up 2003, how I've changed (or not), flashbacks galore ... sigh. I might do this during the one-week break (which is not really a break because I'll be busy catching up and doing projects. Sucks, I know.)

I think I should change my writing style. More to the point, rather than overly long sentences, shorter entries, to the point, and um, yes, less redundancies. Okay, I'll try it now.

Almost all of my nights are fully booked. And no, it's not because I have to study (I wish I could, because, you know, tutorial questions do not magically solve themselves but ... okay, straying away from the point). I'm basically killing myself practicing for two major performances: International Students Night on the 25th and Choir Concert on the 28th. Why? Because I love performing. I do. I'm a performance-whore. I've endured painful/tiring/boring practices because I know that come performance night, the adrenalin rush is just incredible. Rush that kind doesn't come by often.

International Students Night (February 25)
Last year we did a great job. Sure, we just performed under the Main Lecture Theatre during lunchtime where everyone would not give up lunch just to see us perform. But it was a glorious moment. We worked so hard during practices that it gave us muscle pains and we couldn't put on a shirt without holding our breaths because of the pain, i.e., the lactic acid trapped in between those fatigued muscles. It lasted about a week. During our performance, we didn't care if there were only a handful of people (who just happened to be in the vicinity at that time and were unaware of the event) watching us, we gave it all. We did not just dance, we danced. And "Shout For Joy" took on a new meaning. We couldn't just let that song go. So we're doing it again this year.

We're also singing an a cappella version of "Da Coconut Nut". This is quite a feat for all of us, since we only have 2 altos, 4 tenors, 5 bases, 3 main melody, and 1 soprano (me). Thankfully, though, we have Jussy. She can do all sections and she'd be listening to each section while singing her alto part, checking if the rest of us are in tune. Then if the tenors/bases/soprano go out of tune, she'd immediately switch to the part of the tenors/bases/soprano, long enough to correct us and then she'd then go right back to alto. She's like a musically-inclined XBox character (and we all know who's the sporty XBox. Hehee!).

And we're not yet done. We have another number and it involves a lot of actions. Call them stunts. Haha! No, not really, but I don't know, I think it's exciting.

Choir Concert (February 28)
So if I'm not practicing for the IS Night, I'm practicing for choir concert.

For the past two years I've always hated practicing for our concert. You get scolded (especially if you're a soprano) and you have to memorize the actions that you don't entirely agree on doing but you have no choice but to do it, and do it well. This year is no different, except that I've accepted all of those things (Wow, took me 2 years. How stubborn am I?). We have to go through that. The performance night will make up for everything.

For the past two years, I've never been sick before a performance. This year? I don't know. I had a slight case of runny nose a few days back and my throat is a little bit sore. Plus, I'm always tired. I sleep but somehow it's not enough. I think for every night's practice, I need to add two more hours of sleeping time.

For the past two years, I've never had a solo part. Which is good, since I'm not a fan of pressure. This year? Gah. I'm singing and dancing with four other girls. Our character? Sluts. And it's not easy.

Let me put it this way. The Hierarchy of Sluttery can be described as follows: the So-so Sluts, the Standard Sluts, and of course, the Super Sluts.

My character falls under the latter.

I'm ready to be swallowed whole now.

{ joycie at 2:54 p.m.}