weird-- i guess it's because of the holidays and an associated desire to surround myself with friends and family, but i've been feeling lately like people don't really have the time for me anymore. i know people are busy with their own lives and i'm busy too, but this includes people that i used to spend a lot of time with... and now i feel like i'm not included in plans or activities and such, when i always used to be. am i being too unsocial because i'm in a relationship? i didn't think i had been, but maybe that's it. do people think i don't need other friendships to sustain me because i have a relationship to fall back on? i've always been a pretty social person so this new thing really bugs me. i'm still here, people! i still want to go out and do things... i just might be bringing someone along with me now.

my concerts went well this weekend-- thanks to my parents and heather for coming up to support me in my creative endeavors. i was in the small group this semester, so we had a few numbers (and parts of other numbers) that i was one of only a few voices. we had two mess-ups at the friday show, but we cleaned them up by saturday. the guest baritone is always a pleasant addition (he is a trained vocalist-- has been in numerous opera companies and has been in shows such as phantom of the opera), and he did all of the major solo parts in the show. i'm glad for the vocal break until next semester, but then i'll be back at it again in january.

christmas shopping! i actually got quite a bit done (or at least, got ideas lined up). heather is actually extremely helpful with the shopping-- she dislikes it as much as i do (hate the holiday crowds!) but she's very decisive when i tend to dawdle over whether or not to get something. but heather's process is simple: do you like it? do you think the person will like it? is it something you can afford? okay, buy it. (but then, she's the type to go shopping the day before christmas, and that would just make me a huge stress ball.)

went to see the polar express on the imax at the tech. very cool animation, and a cute story. it's a cool one to see on the imax, too-- it even includes some rollercoaster riding! wheeeee!