It ain't a Chausse family picnic without something getting thrown in to the fire; other than a tree.


More on last week to come,, as soon as I get time...

This last week has beed so stressful, and yet so incredible! Last week was a big hastle trying to get the "60's Day" project for American Studies II together. What we did was, instead of having just a plain old, ordinary posters project about the 60's, we had a grand presentation in front of the whole school. We not only set up stations, sold food, and displayed items from the era, but we also had events going on all the time. One of the main events was a mock "Ed Sullivan Show" complete with The Beatles! Ok, so it was Matt, Brian, Will, and Tom dressed up like the Beatles and performing their music; but it still kicked ass!! Here's a picture of them during the project:
As exciting as that was, though, it wasn't the highlight of the week. Prom, as many already know, was on Friday night! Sarah Martin and I left early from school at 12:30 to go to her house and start getting ready. It was actually a miracle that we were able to get ready in time, considering Vanessa, a friend who's in hairdressing at another school, wasn't able to get to her house until 3 to do our hair. But, we pulled it off! We headed over to Luc's house at 5 to take pictures, and then finally to Prom! "



When we got to Prom, there wasn't much to do. We were kind of bored at first, until after we ate. When we were all finished eating, the real fun began! I couldn't stop dancing, even though my dress and shoes were so uncomfortable to dance in! I danced with everyone, too. It was so much fun. Kurt and I had the last dance, of course, which I must admit was probably the best dance of my life. I'll never forget prom. It was a wonderful experience.

Now, to the fun part! Tonight was the night I've been waiting all year for. Tonight was the small ensembles concert. I was in all 3 ensembles which performed. I has so worried about tonight, and I have been freaking out about it for weeks. Wind Ensemble went relatively well, I think. There were a few issues, as always, but over-all, it went fantastically well! After that was the Women's Choir. We only sang 2 songs, which were "From a Distance" and "Someone New." "Somone New" was a song that I was sent from Alain, and I fell in love with it. I brought it to Mr.Atkins, and with a lot of help from Nhu, we were able to transcribe is and put it all together in time for the concert. I was scared that it wasn't going to be too good, but I think we really did a great job with it. Finally, the jazz band went on. I was backstage freaking out during their first 2 songs. Then I heard the last chord of the second song and knew it was time for me to go on. I went out and sang "I Didn't Know About You" which was a song orginally performed by Duke Ellington's orchestra with Ella Fitzgerald on vocals. To know that I was singing a song originally done by Ella herself was intimidating enough. I was so scared. However, when I started singing, all of that went away, and I was left in the spot light. I couldn't believe it! I messed up a few parts, but no one noticed. I think it went so well, really. I received a lot of really great comments after the concert, and I still haven't come down from this high I'm feeling!! This has got to be the greatest night of my life!

This last week has been extremely long and exhausting. First, I must address something. There is a person in my life whom I've been very close with for several months with. Just this week, we had a falling out. No one really knew much about this person, except for me. I think I'm still trying to deal with all of that.
What can I say about this week? I want to make this a brief entry, so I'll leave some of the lame moments out. Tuesday night is the high light of the week, for sure. That was, as many know, our Spring Concert. The choir started things off with "Stand By Me", "Sing Sorrow", "Rock-A-My-Soul", and finally "Dixit Maria". It was an amazing performance; probably the best we've had in years, as noted by Gilbert faculty and alumni. After an intermission, the band went on. It was great, because we were so nervous! To break the tension, though not purposely, we had a little incident. When Mr. Minnerly went to raise up the stand, it broke off! It was so funny, because he had specifically told the members to only bring out stands that were in good working condition. So, of course, he gets the crappy one that breaks! It was a great way to losen us up before we played, though. We started with this nice, typical opener, "Triumphant Fanfare." After that, the focal point of the evening, "Of Sailors and Whales," which is a five movement piece based on the novel Moby Dick. We played it so well, I think. We worked so hard on it, and it really came together well. It has to be one of the best pieces I've ever performed. Finally, we wrapped it up with "Daughters of Texas," which didn't go off as well. For the last section, you couldn't hear our part at all. The rest wasn't bad, though. In all, the concert was excellent. We got a lot of really great comments on it.
Wednesday I had a precalc test. I wasn't sure how I did, but I knew that I tried my best and that it wouldn't be a complete disaster. I got it back today, and it was a 73! That's second-highest this year!
Ok, so, last night! Yesterday afternoon, Kurt, Anna, Bob, and I went down to Winsted Formal Wear and picked out the guy's tuxes for prom next friday. After that, we walked back up to the school, got pizza, and waited till Jazz Band. I finally got to sing my piece with the Jazz band behind me! I was so scared; incredibly scared; the kind of scared where I was certain I was going to either vomit, faint, or both. But after a little while, I got used to it, and really got in to it. I loved it! Being in front of them, singing my song. Mine! I love it!! I can't wait till the concert! And get this; Minnerly wants me to dress up, like, in a dress. I only have 2 dresses, both of which are gowns. One is black, and since the band is wearing black, he doesn't want that one. So, I think I might be wearing my prom dress in the concert! Now that's cool.
The funniest thing about Jazz Band was Luc. Minnerly was trying to set up an extra rehearsal, and he asked if everyone could make it. Luc said he couldn't. Minnerly asked why not, and he said, "It's the opening of Star Wars!" There was a pause where everyone just stared and then there was an explosion of laughter! Then Luc finally adds, "I work at a movie theatre, it's our busiest night." Minnerly was not very amused, but everyone else found it really hillarious.
After Jazz band I went over to April's and watched the girls for a couple hours. For anyone who doesn't know, I've been babysitting April's daughters for almost 3 years on and off, and we've all grown rather close. I havnen't seen them in quite a while, so it was really nice to be over. It was also nice to have $25, even though it went away quick. I had to pay my class dues, $15, so that I can buy my prom ticket. But, at least that's all done. April and I were sitting up talking until about 3:30, and I was almost certain I was just going to skip school today, but I ended up going; for nothing, really. Other than getting two tests back, there was no point in going to school today. Nothing has happened today, really, other than Lindsey and I going to the movies. We saw "Amityville Horror" which was really freaking good! We were so scared!! I grabbed Lindsey's arm so tight that I left a bruise. I still feel bad about that. I'm still a little creeped out tonight, and I'm a little afraid of going to sleep because I'm afraid of what dreams may be produced tonight. Though sleep does seem to be the best possible thing for me right now....

This past week has been crammed. Last Saturday I had an interview at Cinerom Theater, which I thought went well, despite the fact that I still haven't gotten a call. That night I went to a dance at Sarah's church with a bunch of people from school. Despite it being "Napolean Dynamite" themed, I still had a great time, and I can't wait until the next one. She's basically planning the next one, which is themed "A Night at the Oscars." I think I'll wear my prom dress for it. Tuesday was amazing, because we went to see "Stomp" which was incredible! I couldn't believe all the things they did. "Stomp" has been on and off Broadway for years, and I've been dying to go, and when I saw it was coming to the Palace Theatre, I told Minnerly that it'd be a great trip to go on, and we went! Unfortunately, I had a major essay for American Studies 2 to write that night, so I was up until 3:30 in the morning writing it. I'm terrible when it comes to starting work in advance. The essay turned out relatively well, I think. On friday we had an extended choir practice for three periods, in order to get ready for the concert Tuesday night. After that, we had women's choir. A lot of the girls were complaining that we wouldn't have "Someone New" ready for the concert, which really upsets me. I've been looking forward to singing that for so long now. It's my piece.... or at least, it used to be my piece. It's turned in to Nhu's piece, lately. She took over the work on it after I did just 2 parts. I wanted so badly to do it on my own, because it was my piece. My song. Mine. Now, it's hers. I'm usually not one to say things like this, but it's sort of upsetting to me that some people get to do everything, and get all the claim in everything. I just wanted something; one thing for myself, that was purely mine. And nothing against Nhu, because I love her to death, but she always gets these things. She always has the solos and everything in choir, all that musical stuff. I really wanted this for myself, but now it's hers. I especially wanted it because of a special person, who I seem to have lost site of, too. Alain and I haven't spoken more than a few words since I've gotten back from Italy. He hasn't returned any of my emails, and it really concerns me. I wonder if he's ignoring me? I really miss him. The song was supposed to be for him, but now I don't know where he is on it.
Yesterday was pretty good. I went shopping for my prom gown. We went to the Waterbury Mall in the intent to find something at DEB's. When we got there, I tried a couple dresses on, but nothing was really my size. So, we went over to JC Penny's, and as I was digging through the racks, I found this one dress that was perfect. I wanted it, but there was only one, and it wasn't my size. As we were going to the dressing room, I saw that dress in the rack to be put back out, and it was my size!! It was fate! I tried it on, and it fits perfectly! I'm not going to describe it just yet, or post any pictures, because I want it to be a surprise. I'm so excited, I just can't wait for prom!
Last night I spent the night at Lindsey's,, but by the time I got there, it was pretty late. We watched "Ladder 49" which is an amazing movie, and then went to sleep. We didn't really spend too much time together. We talked all night, of course, but we didn't do as much as we usually do. This morning I had to leave relatively early to go to breakfast with mom for mother's day. We went to the Burville Vollunteer Fire Dept.'s brunch, which was excellent. There was so much food there, and I'm sure mom had a really great time.
Now I've got some work to do, which I don't want to do. Not only have I got school work to do, but I have a lot of cleaning to get done. This weekend seemed to go by quickly. I wish I could have another day... don't we all... I really need to work on my music, too. Since Tuesday is our concert, I want everything to be perfect. I just wish it could be.