The wind is rocking the plane, even before we get off the ground. The runway is covered with a thin frosting of ice and snow. It doesn't look that bad to me, but I'm a Texas girl, what do I know?
Yesterday, I dragged my suitcase in the rain to store it at the opera house, since I will be back in a couple of weeks. I ate dinner alone, and went back to the opera to practice for my auditions.
Wotan had inhabited the room I checked out, so I quietly went next door. Understudied (even Erda!) don't ask Wotan to relocate. It reminded me of my apprentice days here, when June Anderson once made her coach ask me to move to a practice room on another floor. I guess I was too loud for her, even all the way down the hall.
At 8:30, I found out my 6 a.m. flight was canceled due to the winter storm moving in. Outside, it was still raining and not so cold. I spent an hour on the phone with the airlines, and then went back to the apartment. The Rehearsal Department kindly let me leave my second suitcase in storage--- I feared checking luggage when the flights are such a mess --- and I grabbed a cab to the very expensive but convenient airport Hilton.
Now I am seated on a packed flight, waiting for who knows what so we can take off. We've been at the gate for an hour. My makeup, audition dress, and shoes are crammed into my computer bag. These are the essentials! The auditions are all important. I haven't been able to do many this year due to work --- the singer's Catch-22. So I must get to New York now, although I'd so much rather be going home.
We almost got to take off a moment ago. Then the captain came on and said LGA us closed for now. With any luck, we'll get in today. With any luck, I'll be singing my audition tomorrow.
And that's what my life looks like today.
