Saturday, June 10, 2006
This afternoon I paddled and panted my way through a water fitness class with Jenni. She suckered me into attending with the lure of free ice cream afterward. The instructors also gave away small tubes of chapstick, but I passed them over, as they were not edible. The other reward consists of a slight sunburn to the shoulders, which I might not notice if my bra strap didn't constantly chafe it. Dadgum bra.
I then spent the evening with Jennifer and Sharada, watching Amadeus at Sharada's apartment. I adore everything about the film, especially the perfectly accentuated music. Sharada owns the director's cut DVD, which I had not seen previously (the picture quality much improved from VHS). It contains a scene, whereinwhich Salieri lures Constanze to his house/apartment, that massively alters my perception of Salieri's character, at least with regard to his sexual lust. It also clarifies Constanze's vehement anger upon finding Salieri asleep at her house before Mozart dies.
The DVD version of Amadeus has changed my life.
This morning I finally began the first installment of the massive summer Latin review I had pledged myself to complete before fall, at which time I begin reading portions of Vergil with Dr. Holland. Dr. Holland provides a wealth of historical background during readings, but the work he assigns usually requires only medium or even minimal effort, so that I wonder whether I've actually imbibed the material as I should. I might simply misjudge his intentions, though- perhaps he only expects students to be more self-motivated. I nevertheless view his willingness to be flexible with some ambivalence. Rather than put an unprepared student on the spot, he often leads him or her through the exercise. That would be fine enough at the beginning of the semester, but he allows people to squeak by, or so it would seem, through the entire course. But oh, well. A GPA booster from a senior level course should be received with silent gratitude.
I am also disappointed that Steve (a graduate student) rather than Dr. Lavigne will teach my Greek classes. Steve is passionate, but Dr. Lavigne already knows how to teach and would be more thorough. Plus, having a class with him would make being Dr. Lavigne's Pirschjägerin less of a task.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 8:17 PM]