Success, and Cats

I was so intent on my running this morning that when I looked up to check the time, I'd been running 15 minutes longer than usual (on my cardio days I usually go for 50 minutes or 5 miles, whichever comes first depending on my energy level) and would probably be late to work. Curses!

I sped home, abbreviated my morning routine, wolfed down some raisin bran dust (the dregs at the bottom of the box), and stopped. What was that noise? I continued getting ready and there it was again - a muffled high-pitched sound, like one a kitty would make if it were accidentally shut inside a closet. I peeked around the corner into the living room and saw Jesper and Kiska sprawled on the rug. I shrugged and started the blow dryer.

When I turned it off, I heard the noise again. Jesper was staked out in front of the door, meowing perplexedly. I opened the door - and a random kitty tried to zoom inside! Jesper got in one good hiss before I slammed the door shut. The pitiful crying outside resumed immediately, and a confused Jesper stared at me and meowed, probably saying: "Listen, it's another sad cat, and I'm not sure if I like it or not, but please do something about this situation!"

I figured I should give it something to drink, since it's going to be in the mid 90s today and very humid. It probably belongs to somebody in my building and escaped into the stairwell when a door was opened, but it's trapped inside the stairwell and can't go outside. I gave it food and water, rubbed its little tabby face and left while it was chowing down. It was such a sweet little kitty. I hope its owner realizes it's not inside his/her apartment before too long!

At my lesson on Tuesday evening, L gave me a compliment I will treasure for a long time. She said, after she told me how well S and I did last Saturday:

"You have It. You already have the innate talent and instincts that most people spend their lives striving for. There is nothing standing in your way. The only thing left to do is put in the hours, and if you do that, you will excel. You're dedicated and skilled, and I learned something important about you on Saturday that you need to remember. Most students prepare a piece to perfection with the understanding that when they perform it, nerves will bring it down a couple notches. You prepared a piece to perfection and performed it perfectly."

I am thinking about pianos, real pianos. Bad bad bad! $300 tattoos, houses, pianos...! I'm just chock full of fiscally-bad ideas. I haven't even had my keyboard for a year! She assigned me Tchrepenin's Bagatelles, and I love them - it's been years since I've done anything contemporary. I have those in addition to the Chopin waltz, which L says master pianists spend their lifetimes studying and mastering.

...and S asked me this morning whether I'd like to work on another accompaniment piece with him. <3