So, it all started when Tejas was reading Frenchie's Tarot for her the other night. Now, Frenchie claims to have unused psychic ability, but doesn't really like the supernatural so she ignores it. However, she doesn't seem to have a problem with Tarot. :)
Anyway. This event usually leads to Frenchie telling stories of her friend's ghost encounters. After a little time has passed, I decide to ask my question.

Being on break, I have been up a lot later than I usually am, and for some reason up alone. Alone in a dark house late at night lends a certain amount of paranoia, so I had kept quiet about the recent weird feeling around the kitchen and bathroom. Lately though, I've noticed a presence in the hall when I come out of the bathroom, or it follows me up the hall, right on my heels, stopping right when I get to the end of the hall. This could easily be paranoia, but it doesn't feel like it. It feels like I'm being chased. So, I ask Tejas and Frenchie if they've noticed anything. Frenchie freaked out! I mean, lost her mind. Especially upset since the disturbance was being felt so close to her room. Tejas immediately sets to calming her, all the while turning to me with the "yes oh my god I have too" face. Exit Frenchie for bed and Tejas and I get down to sleuthing.

Here is what we have decided after a few days of thinking, really paying attention, and comparing notes.

1. The presence is not malicious. Just mischievous. Good.
2. Female.
3. A child. Evidence: Frenchie's stuffed cat is inexplicably missing. When it follows me up the hall, it's short and you get the feeling of a child pulling at your waist or shirt. It will not go into the living room - wasn't allowed? Gives Tejas the mischievous grin feeling.
4. We have taken turns asking it to behave and it seems to listen.
5. We are not talking about her in the house anymore.
6. I walk down the hallway with a visualized bubble of protective energy. Good times.
7. It likes to rifle around in the drawers and kitchen cabinets, but didn't last night when I asked her not to.

In conclusion, as long as nothing else disappears... sorry Frenchie for the loss of the cat... and we don't sense a feeling of impending doom or disaster, or she starts to get nasty, we'll live and let haunt. I am prepared to call a medium if I must.

One of the things that I really love about living in Chicago is the things that opportunities that pop up from time to time. My friend Amanda was unable to attend the Renee Fleming masterclass up at Northwestern, and her girlfriend Krys was left with a ticket. It was offered to me. (Thank you thank you thank you Krys!!!) You bet I took it! Now I am definitely a mezzo at this point, and though I have many singers that I love and admire, for no real reason Renee Fleming has never really appeared on my listening list. (It's mostly made up of mezzos, so it's no real slight.)
After this masterclass though, I am going to make her a part of my list.

In person, she is a remarkably funny, engaging, and down-to-earth person. She kept it real the entire time. From her, I received further confirmation that whatever happens it is going to be all right. First, she's a big fan of taking care of yourself... working on things in the practice room and experimenting. Yay! Also, she had so many issues when she was young. Vocal bad habits and paralyzing stage fright. HEY! Guess what? Me too. And Renee Fleming of all people moved past it. So, guess what? I have all ready moved past the paralyzed stage. I started to give it up in Postcards from Morocco this past semester, when I realized that I knew what needed to be done. I was very chill in my last jury. It was good times in fact. And then there was Amahl and the Night Visitors. No fear. I went out and did what I needed to do, and when the larynx crept up, I fixed it and moved on, all while keeping the character. I was onstage and in character the entire time. I had that moment of your brain being in three different sections. One part controls the words and the musical issues, one is adjusting for technique, and the other part is controlling the acting issues. Maybe I've moved past a really terrible bout of it, and maybe there will be another bought. But Renee Fleming made it through two terrible boughts of it. There's hope.