Where Does It Hurt?

It’s been too long since my last post, but I have returned to school “full time.” I just finished my last class of the term yesterday, so now I am basking in my free time again. I’m sitting in our back courtyard, coffee in hand, enjoying the beautiful weather with Jackie lying at my side. Ah, the serenity…

Sorry, I digress. Many of you were probably assuming I am working on some advanced music degree. Guess again! This is a field where there is a never-ending need for workers, I would actually earn money, and I will get to use my nurturing skills to the fullest. Nursing! It’s a one-year program for Division 2 nurse certification. I’m a couple months into the program and it has been interesting and challenging. Plus I have made quite a few new friends.

This doesn’t mean that I am quitting the violin! I will still be teaching 2-3 days per week and playing in the Melbourne Opera next year. Once I get a nursing job, I will probably teach less but I’ll never stop playing in the opera. So there you go!

Somehow during the past 3 weeks I have played in 6 different performances of the Messiah. That doesn’t include rehearsals. I think if I hear the Hallelujah Chorus one more time this year I will implode.

I also finished up teaching violin last week with a rousing final concert on Sunday. I taught my violin group a few Christmas Carols and there were actually people in the audience singing along with us while we performed. It was noyce (“nice” in phonetic Australian).

Finally, I’ve taken up swimming for fitness. I just joined the local “Y” – they have a nice indoor lap pool. Only wish they had a doggie pool as well as a kiddie pool. Oh well, you can’t have everything.

Hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas. We miss you and hope to see you perhaps in 2007.