"We Could Get Along, But We Never Did Belong"

I feel good today; it appears that a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I'm not entirely sure why. It has nothing to do with anything or anyone in particular, but today seems good. Yesterday evening was much the same. I'm at peace.

Good luck making that last. But, hey, I can have a sublimely silly day every once in a while.

So, I attended the Hannover Staatsoper Saturday night for Puccini's La Boheme. It was, quite simply, lovely. Hannover has a strong cast, and the sets, costumes (for the most part), and the sound were very good. Though the orchestra tended to drown out the singers at times, this could have been only from where I was sitting--which was a really good seat, albeit on the left side. My favorite voices were Marcello's and Colline's, though Rodolfo's tenor was smooth and strong (mostly). Musetta brought some pep to the crew, which was a nice touch to the ensemble's diverse personalities. Mimi, however, was a little underwhelming, but only in acting--her voice, to me, was lovely. My only quip is that she was a bit too stiff in movement, which provided no real umph to her personality. Regardless, I liked this Mimi, and I would certainly see this cast again in another piece. Added bonus: I went to the opera on Halloween!

As it was late upon the return to Celle, I managed to try out the AnrufsSammelTaxi service that is offered when the buses don't run for the usual bus fare (which is so much cheaper than an actual taxi). It was a good experience, particularly since the taxi driver was very polite (most taxi drivers around here are not) and struck up conversation while he was driving me to the flat. This is helpful for future reference, as I expect to use this service a lot during my stay here...because Celle has a ridiculous bus schedule.

It's also helpful because my parents are arriving Friday evening. Hey, did I mention that? They're arriving Friday.

But, my mind is preoccupied with other things right now, such as--gasp!--using my oven for the first time since I've moved here. I roasted pumpkin seeds today, with reasonable success. Still a little tough, but they taste good. So, I call that a success. I didn't burn down the flat, and that is what counts. I have high standards for myself, don't 'cha know.

Let's see how the rest of this week goes.