"I have never..."

You know the "I have never..." game? You play it at summer camp sleepovers, on Spring Break road trips, and when you're on tour with your high school marching band. That's right, now you remember.

Just in case, this is how it works. Everyone in the circle puts all 10 fingers up. The first person says "I have never..." and finishes in the sentence with something they have never done (duh). If you HAVE done the thing the person says, you have to clap (so everyone knows you've done it, in case it's embarassing or funny or something) and put a finger down. Last person with a finger up wins. Of course the point is to think of something really good that you have never done that everyone else in the circle has done.

I thought of some really good things I could have used if I had played "I have never..." yesterday, as I did a few things I have never done before, but seem probably common, today.

Yesterday...

1) I had never gone to a movie in a theater by myself. (The Prestige is an AWESOME movie by the way. And Christian Bale is smoking hot. And I didn't actually intend to see it by myself, but things got confusing because I forgot my cell phone and Mexican movie theater organization is craaaazy.)
2) I had never rejected a blog comment. (I'm sorry BP, but I just can't "jeopardize my career" like that, especially after my mother's scolding. Post the comment link-ified and I will gladly oblige.)
3) I had never walked a dog. (That's the killer that would've wiped 'em all out in one round.)

Fortunately, I still am really good at winning "I have never..." with the following...

1) I have never attended the first grade.
2) I have never eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
3) I have never smoked marijuana.
4) I have never smoked a cigarette!
5) I have never seen Ghostbusters.
6) I have never dyed my hair.
7) I have never plucked my eyebrows.
8) I have never bought a television.
9) I have never bought a computer.
10) I have never been to grad school.

BAM. How many fingers do you have left?

Wanna play?

Sir Winston Branchill, perhapsÇ

HEY HEY HEY¡ we:re shaking things up on the blog o clara¡ I am not her, for one thing, and i;m waving her very nice shiny computer around, for another. I happen to be one of her famous blogged-about housemates. whatever she says about me is a lie. Never trust anyone who configures their keyboard to Spanish language¡ these¡ things¡ are¡ all¡ upside¡ down¡ WTFÇ¡ and that, after the F, was supposed to be a question mark, but came out as a French c to excuse my French and pay tribute to her instrument. ok, sorry for going on and on (and i could because this is extremely annoying).

I set out only to ask a question. You see Clara here let me post on her blogthing here because i wanted her to ask her reader-friends to name our tree and she instead suggested that i do it (I think because she secretly hates how her keyboard is configured but wants the whole Mexican experience, annoyance and all). Soo on to the abovementioned tree¡ it is a very large and happy tree, slouching in the corner of our living room. if it ever fixes its posture there is no telling how tall it will be. for now, at 12 feet, at would make a formidable xmas tree but, alas, it is not of the needle-y sort and does not believe in holidays. I;m afraid i have no idea what kind of tree it is, but it has many many leaves and is green, if that helps with the naming process. and branches. Get Naming¡ thank you for your time. Carlos de Contrabajo¡

Playing School

You know how little kids play school? I used to looove to play school. I remember in third grade Kristin LeLoup and I spent a week planning for a sleepover at which we were going to play school. We got some assignments, grading material, nametags, etc. and we did play school for hours on end in her basement. It was fun.

The thing is, actual teaching isn't much different. I make up homework assignments, I write things on the board, I correct homework, I write quizzes, I make lists of things to memorize. And I enjoy it just as much. It's really fun to assign homework and announce an exam schedule. I even like taking attendance.

Plus teaching English is a kick, because it's basically a license to stand in front of a bunch of kids and talk, and that counts as educating them. Even if you just want to tell a story that's on your mind.

My favorite part is making them laugh. And when they ask very sincere questions and I can resolve them. It is truly fulfilling.

I've always been the same way about teaching, since I started doing it in high school, whether the subject be horn, piano, soccer, waiting tables, piano, calculus, chamber music, or English. I dread going to it every time. During it time disappears and I get energized and feel not only good at what I do, but that I'm learning too. Afterwards I get a sort of high that comes from contributing to kids that I inevitably grow to find adorable.

The thing is, I still am sure I don't want to be a teacher primarily, at least definitely not of music. Is that weird?

Oh, and also, I will just say this: mother knows best; the blog has been edited accordingly.

Quickie

On Friday: I bought my plane ticket home and had a semi-house warming/post-concert party.

On Saturday: I played a wedding gig for a relative of the third richest man in the world and saw a bi-zarre electronic music improvised to surreal French film from the 1930's followed by drinks with the performer.

On Sunday: I made some tostones, went to a horn sectional, and played soccer WITHOUT spraining my knee.

I like my life.

Which comes first, the Blog or the Life?

My dad sent me this today, via email, I might add. (Hey Dad! You can comment ON my blog!)

"...the thought occurs: do you live your life in such a way as will create good material for your blog?"

To be honest, I'm really not sure if it was a complete joke or a serious question or a little of both--another product of internet communication, huh? No tone of voice capability yet.

But, it got my head spinning in a certain area, so I'm going to write about it.

How do we live our lives- for how it will be to live them, or for how it will sound when we tell other people about them, whether that's on paper or out for drinks?

I remember when I was picking colleges I really wanted to go to Oberlin Conservatory because no one in my high school had heard of it. I mean really, I loved that it was obscure and different and I would look elite or something if I went there. Of course, looking back I realize all my classmates save my best friends could have given a damn where I went to school, but at the time it seemed important. Luckily I snapped out of it before May 1st, and instead of going to an obscure liberal college's conservatory that hadn't had a steady horn teacher in 10+ years, I went to a nearby, more middle of the road, state school that many of my high school classmates were also headed to with a fantastic, internationally recognized horn professor. I adored going to the University of Wisconsin-Madison pretty much every day I was there.

When I tell my music acquaintances where I went to school I often get little or a negative reaction. It's not a particularly renowned music school (not that Oberlin really is either). Side note: most of the horn players know otherwise. But I don't care, because I got a really good education and got good enough at the horn to make it as a freelancer and now I have a job. I made A LOT of good connections and am exactly where I want to be. I made the right decision.

It's fun to tell people I live in Mexico for the same reason I wanted to tell people I was going to Oberlin. They think I'm adventurous, brave, open-minded and fluent in another language. Although I hope those things are true, they don't necessarily have to be for me to live here. Many days they aren't true. But I like that people think that.

Honestly, the jury's still out on if the place is making me happy. I'm happy, but I don't give living in Mexico all the credit. More on that another day.

And if the life comes first and the blog later...

How do we talk about our life? I know people that have the most amazing things happen to them and they pass them off as somewhat ho-hum. I know people who have not much happen to them at all but can make a fantastic story about it. Does it matter what happens to us or does it matter how we tell the story? Which do we remember? Which do we live from?

Version 1:

There's always a lot that happens the week before going into a concert. One thing I really love about music is that once you're on stage it doesn't matter, the audience doesn't care, and it dissolves. You have to be present.
Tonight we are playing a Prokoffief March originally for Wind Ensemble; we were supposed to play the Chamber Orchestra version but the wrong parts arrived (or were ordered?) and now we're playing the Chamber Wind Ensemble version with a few parts missing- oboes playing trumpet parts, horns playing tenor sax parts, some ridiculous lengthy moments of nothing but repetitive boom-chicks. Then Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with an endearing young and shy violinist, who sounds like a machine and an angel singing depending on the passage. I'm crossing my fingers we can keep up with him. Then Brahms Symphony No. 4, which is fun to play second horn on, especially the second movement. I love how Brahms uses rhythms and makes the phrases flow into one another almost so you don't notice and it's just like one 20 minute phrase. We aren't really exploring either of those qualities in this performance, but I can still appreciate it cerebrally. Given the drama of today's particular rehearsal, it will be interesting to gauge the tension level once we get on stage tonight. We should have a color system like the terrorist warning thing in the states- Green: All the regulars are sick and the orchestra is made entirely of subs who haven't known eachother long enough to hold grudges. Yellow: Normal annoyance across the board, but no particular drama. Orange: Principal so and so just broke up with so and so violist, because so and so percussionist was caught yaddah yaddah yaddah. Red: Certain members are spacing out so much and so frequently that other members are playing spitefully consistently. I think the musicians that read this know exactly what I mean.

Version 2:

I'm playing a concert tonight. Wish me luck!

Know what I mean?

life is goooooood

Today I...

1. Woke up early by accident, no alarm. I love getting up without an alarm and having time to do everything I always itend to do before I go to work. It happens about once every five months. :)

2. Ate fish tacos and ceviche with some super cool guys.

3. Had someone clean my entire house for the cost of 120 pesos=12 dollars/3 people= 4 dollars. 4 dollars!!

4. Read, wrote some email, took a nap.

5. Went to a yoga class (a somewhat bizarre yoga class, but nevertheless energizing and body-toning.)

6. Got an extra wad of cash to perform Brahms' Fourth Symphony (keeping in mind we were doing it anyway, so this was just an extra performance).

7. Played Brahms'4 with a mediocre orchestra, and a pretty darn good horn section.

8. Had a few beers- cafe owners gave us bruschetta on the house as they do every once in a while.


Tomorrow I will...

1. Wake up early to go play in a mediocre orchestra (OK, so not everything on this list can be dripping with optimism).

2. Make a Spinach Salad and a Raspberry Vinagrette to bring to Thanksgiving dinner.

3. Teach 2 hours of Chamber Music (I am neutral about this particular item, FYI).

4. Bring aforementioned Spinach Salad to aforementioned Thanksgiving dinner. Will recieve in return turkey, pies, mashed potatoes, motza balls, applesauce, beer and who knows what else.

5. Spend the evening with a great group of people. I'm expecting a lot of intelligent comments, engaging conversation, and laughing. Really-the people here are rad.

So, yeah, could be worse, huh?

G'night!

Dear You knOw who you Are,

(Reader Warning: this is a rant.)

Since our love affair began two years ago, I have been committed to you. I took a big risk asking you out, but luckily you said yes right off the bat. I basically fell in love with you. But there comes a point where you just have to put your self-worth above your infatuations.

It's true, you are fantastically great. You have taken me all over the world. You have paid for a lot of amazing meals, parties until the wee hours. You have introduced me to loads of amazing people, many of them famous and world-renowned musicians, or soon to be. You have helped me improve my Spanish and exposed me to many cultures and perspectives. You have given me adventure. You have opened a multitude of doors for me, including leading me to the job I have now.

But this summer you started jerking me around. At first I was willing to bend over backwards for you, willing to be the bigger person. By the end, I was fed up with how you were treating me. By the end, I was starting to think- I deserve better than this.

And now, I find out you don't want me back. I find out you were going behind my back, noodling with less gutsy people, those that will continue to take your poor treatment, lack of respect, unprofessionalism, and messed up vision.

Well, you know what? I'm better off without you. It's true, I could go crawling back. I could beg for your forgiveness and probably, in the end, you would invite me along for another summer of exotic experiences. But this time, I choose to move on and stand up a little taller for it. If you can't see a good catch when it falls into your lap, you don't deserve her.

I wish you all the best.

C de C

Eggplant Affinity

I'm getting obsessed with eggplant.

Last weekend I made Grilled Eggplant Caviar:

1 eggplant
1 cup feta cheese
1 plum tomato, diced
1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoon loosely packed basil leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Pita Bread ( or French bread, or tortillas if you are desperate)

1. Prepare the grill. Slice and peel the eggplant into rounds about 1/4-inch-thick. Combine the cheese, tomato, garlic, oil, basil and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Set aside.

2. Grill the eggplant slices on each side over medium-hot coals until browned, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.

3. Cut eggplant into a small dice and add to the tomato mixture, turning several times. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, as desired, before serving. Serve with pita bread or with French bread.

**Not that I know a damn thing, but use extra basil.**

Right now I'm working on a pot of Ratatouille:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
• 1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
• 1 small eggplant, cubed
• 2 green bell peppers, coarsely chopped
• 4 large tomatoes, coarsely chopped, or 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes
• 3 to 4 small zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 teaspoon dried leaf basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

PREPARATION:

In a 4-quart Dutch oven or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and onions and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add eggplant; stir until coated with oil. Add peppers; stir to combine.

zSB(3,3)

Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep vegetables from sticking.

Add tomatoes, zucchini, and herbs; mix well. Cover and cook over low heat about 15 minutes, or until eggplant is tender but not too soft.
Serves 4.

**Again, feel free to ignore. Use a few less of the other vegetables or a few more tomatoes, and a little tomato puree or paste or sauce. Don't skimp on the spices. Good over rice.**

This looks fantastic-Eggplant and Mozarella Sandwiches:

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 6-inch lengths of French bread or individual sandwich buns
• olive oil
• garlic powder
• salt
• 12 to 16 ounces thinly sliced Mozzarella cheese
• roasted red pepper slices, cut in strips
• 1 medium eggplant
• flour
• salt and pepper

PREPARATION:

Split bread; sprinkle with olive oil and sprinkle with a little garlic powder and salt. Cut eggplant into 1/2-inch thick slices. Dredge in flour and fry in hot oil until browned. Drain on paper towels and season with salt and pepper.

zSB(3,3)

Place overlapping slices on one side of split bread. Top with slices of Mozzarella cheese; add several strips of roasted red pepper. Put under broiler briefly to melt cheese and lightly brown.
Serves 4


It's true, I'm on a cooking kick. I think it's the combination of finally having most of the necessary dishes to cook anything besides beans or eggs, having roommates that eat my creations, and living two blocks from a good market that is stocked with fresh fruits, veggies and basil they literally cut right off the plant when you buy it.

And it is a simple pleasure, to be sure. Honestly, things at the job aren't going so hot. I'm thoroughly annoyed with the conductor, the administration, the politics and the complaining (although not uncalled for). In fact the only thing I like about my work right now is that I get to play the horn. So it was awesome to wake up late today, decide to cook, and get a little lost in the chopping, stirring, and NPR I was listening to during said actions. Relaxing, really. And then you get to eat!

Another shout out to the internet, which is showing me I never-ever-ever (name that pop culture reference?) have to buy a cookbook again.

All y'all whose blogs I read (you know who you are), why don't you post some good recipes? It could be fun!

Rank these from 1 to 4, one being the most enjoyable, 4 being the least enjoyable.

~Good music-good conductor
~Bad music~bad conductor
~Good music~bad conductor
~Bad music-good conductor

I say 1,4,3,2 but I think in 10 years when I've played a lot more good repertoire I will say 1,4,2,3.

Make sense?

Would be interested in your opinons and reasons!

A Moment

Today during our Brass Quintet dress rehearsal the lights turned out for a moment and we were left in complete darkness.

It just so happens that this blackout coincided perfectly with the the three beat grand pause in the second movement of Eric Ewazen's Frostfire. At the moment the silence began we were thrown into utter darkness, and light returned a millisecond before we had to play the next chord.

No way.

Mmmm...Huesos...

Spanglish pun explanation: "huesos" in Spanish means bones. It also is the word for "gig." Therefore, the title is funny.

Some people have a taste for the freelancing lifestyle, others do not. I'm certain it's related to age, family, financial situation, etc. but I think it may also be an innate personal quality. I think I have it.

I like variety; I like having a different schedule every day; I like being busy; I like being organized and efficient with my time; I like thinking on my feet, switching gears quickly, seeing lots of different people in one day; I like being tired when I finally get to go to bed.

Before I moved here my days often looked like this.

5:30 am: get up, walk to the coffee shop to open at 6 am.
11:30 am: finish at the cafe, go to Little Big Band rehearsal at UW.
2:00 pm: grab lunch, drive to first private lesson
3:00 pm: squeeze in rehearsal with accompanist
4:30 pm: go to teach second private lesson
5:30 pm: head to Dubuque for rehearsal-make some phone calls on the way
10:00 pm: leave Dubuque, listening to recordings of pieces for next week on the drive home
11:30 pm: arrive home and catch up on email, send off some resumes
12:30 am: crash into bed to do it again the next day!

Yep, sometimes I got really tired. But in general, I found I had a lot of energy because I really liked everything I was doing. When you are excited about everything ahead of you on any given day, it's easy to find the energy, which is one of the main reasons I'm so committed to being a musician.

Now, I'm not saying I don't like having time to cook complicated things if I so choose, ample time to watch The West Wing and have a beer or four with my friends, or time to actually maintain a blog. But I miss the pace of having more than one activity you do both because you enjoy it and to earn money. I think that's part of the reason I took a job teaching English right when I got here.

Fortunately, things are picking up, little by very little. I've had one gig since I've moved here (a fluke: special request for brass quartet at a wedding) but in the past week I've gotten two more. Hopefully these things do grow exponentially rather than...wait, what's the other one?

So, next Monday looks a bit like my old life, and I kinda like it.

10:30 am: press conference for chamber music concerts
12:00 pm: read through woodwind quintet arrangements for orchestration class at ESAY (music conservatory)
3:30 pm: brass quintet dress rehearsal
7:00 pm: english class
8:00 pm: string orchestra rehearsal-playing extra for some violin concerto

That doesn't even include my actually salaried job- we have that day off. (12 pm and 8 pm are gigs #2 and 3, in case you couldn't tell)

Other things possibly in the works...Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3 with the aforementioned string orchestra, Konzertstuck with the symphony, another horn quartet concert, another brass quintet recital (???) , a recital, soloing with my old high school Wind Ensemble...

I like scheming, I like planning, I like organizing, I like hurrying, I like doing.
Lucky for me, it's all necessary for what I want to do.

Many things, but not feeling all that creative.

I came up with a lot of good Blog Post Titles in my head today. But I don't want to go through the effort to make the actual post live up to the standard the title sets. So, here ya go.

1)Chile: Qualms and Consejo?

La Orquesta Sinfonica de Santiago has 4 horn job openings. Or they did...huh...that was posted on musicalchairs a few hours ago, now it's not. Strange. Anyway, the reason they have so many openings is because they apparently fired most of the orchestra, or the ones that stuck with the union, or something like that. Some people are trying to get the word out not to apply for these jobs or that reason. But, it's all rumors at this point.

Question- should I send 'em my resume? I'm leaning towards no, but would like comments, please.

(BTW, consejo=advice).

2) It's Beginning to Feel a lot Like Día de los Muertos

Biking home from Brass Quintet rehearsal today was fun because I got to bike through town on the night of a very important holiday in Mexico, "The Day of the Dead." Tonight is a big part of the holiday, and tomorrow we all have vacation, from everything.
I went to a little thing at the music school I teach at, where they had made an altar and cooked a bunch of traditional food (pib=a giant tamale supposedly cooked underground, relleno negro=eggs and chicken in a black sauce, served in tortillas, pan de muerto=dead bread, sweet, slightly orange-y bread, atole=corn based, past drink- ICK). It was fun to learn a bit about the holiday and go around the circle and hear how this time of year is celebrated in Yucatán, the rest of Mexico (because it's different!), United States (that was my turn to talk), Colombia, Italy, and England. Mmmm, one of my favorite parts about my job.

3)You Need Your Knees

Some people from the orchestra organized a soccer game last Sunday. That game was definitely one of my top five favorite moments in Merida to date. It was a perfect day, about 12 people showed up (Mexicans, Brits, Americans, Bulgarians, Russians, men, women, kids, short, tall, just like soccer should be). It was great to be playing again, and great to be spending time with my co-workers without a) drinking nor b) talking about work. And I was even pretty much in shape from all the biking I do here and my exercising kick (no pun intended) I started last month. I have since set that kick aside during my mom's visit and my moving process, but I plan to pick it up again as soon as my knee heals. Oh, that was the point of this paragraph.

The entire game ended with me in goal. Running out to block a shot, slapping the ball to the ground, diving a bit to get it before the oncoming forward could, and my knee giving out. Crunch, "Owww...." and I was on the ground and not walking normally since. The last time my knee gave out was the day I got offered and accepted my job here. (No, I did not get offered another job on Sunday, for those of you that believe in those things.) I've had knee problems for the past 5 years. I've also had a car for the past 5 years. This time it seems a bit more problematic, as I walk and bike everywhere. Luckily I just moved WAY closer to downtown, and I can actually bike in a somewhat one-legged manner. Buses and a new roommate with a car are also contributing. But, I think it is healing more slowly as a result, and I am realizing that I really need to deal with this situation. I think I should take on some real physical therapy and fix this thing. I don't want to be afraid of this happening every time I play soccer, especially if the orchestra games become a regular Sunday thing, like we are hoping.


Well, those titles seemed a lot better before I wrote them down. Oh well. I think I had some more too, but I can't remember them. Basically, life is great. Like my roommates and the house, my moving in is complete now that I finally got my bed moved back into the house, finally playing real music in orchestra again, feeling ready with the brass quintet and no work tomorrow!