laryngitis

I just guessed how to spell that word and apparently my spelling inclinations are correct.  Go me!  But I would still fail at a spelling bee, a) because I cannot spell out loud, and b) because I have absolutely no voice.

Even though I am not performing this week, I still have to talk.  And it's miserable.  My eyes have been all puffy and irritated all week long and my throat dry and scratchy.  Towards the end of last week my ear and throat started to hurt.  Well sudafed and advil took care of that but then I am also apparently severely allergic to Oklahoma ragweed (this is what my cousin David suspects) and I am pretty ill.  Well actually after taking allergy medication I feel a lot better, but I can't talk.  When I do, it's really pitiful.  It's so frustrating to be running rehearsal and to not be able to vocally demonstrate something to the kids because your voice won't do anything you want it to.  When I talk I sound like a dying frog. (Yes, I have had many conversations with dying frogs and let me tell you, they sound just like I do right now)

The kids this week are great.  And the oldest kids are not as old as our oldest kids usually are, which is so cool.  It's unbelievable how well these kids remember their blocking!  We easily got through the show twice today and I don't think we had to remind them where they were supposed to go or what they were physically supposed to do more than five times.  Enthusiasm is pretty good.  Of course it could be better and by the performance it will be.  Again, I was hesitant to stop and correct them today, since that meant I had to talk.  (I am very much looking forward to dress rehearsal tomorrow when I can just sit in the audience and take notes)  Some of the kids are scaring me a little bit in terms of not knowing their lines...but they know who they are and I am pretty certain tomorrow they will come in word perfect.

My energy level right now is pretty dismal.  Well dismal for me, which I am estimating is about normal for most people.  I'm just so tired and worn down.  And it's really awful because this is such a great and fun group of kids and I really am enjoying my time with them.  I just wish I was feeling healthy and could be more fun myself.  I went to bed at like 9:30 last night and suspect that tonight will be pretty comparable.  I suppose I need the extra sleep.

So everyone do a "Bring Back Emma's Voice" dance tonight and think of me.