Well, I'm in the last year of my early twenties. I guess I could do a recap of the cool things that have happened to me this year, and my goals for the year to come. But my blog seems to be filled with far too many lists as of late, and frankly, I'm not in the mood.
So- yesterday was my birthday. To celebrate, I went shopping, ate homemade potstickers, got dressed up, went out dancing, and saw a lot of my favorite people.
It's been my experience that every year since I was 11 has been a little better than the one before. Well, except maybe 19, 19 was rough.
So, here's hoping the trend continues!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Going Through Memories
Happy Holidays!
OK, now that that's out of the way...One of my major projects for my two weeks at home is organizing all of my stuff. I'm always overwhelmed with materialism at Christmas-time, with this over-done flood of buying things (did you know something like 40% of gift cards are never even redeemed?), but this year I am especially aware since I am sorting through EVERYTHING I OWN. For a want-to-be-minimalist like myself, this is not a particularly enjoyable process.
As some of you may know, I moved abroad in less than three days. I was substituting in a different orchestra abroad when I got my job offer. They wanted me to get there as soon as possible, so I rushed home, and with the help of friends and family, wrapped up my life and whisked myself away in about 60 hours. Consequently, my stuff is spread out between the bags I packed, my old bedroom closet at my mom's house, my car, and perhaps some storage at my dad's as well. The project is to re-pack it all into nicely labeled boxes, be realistic and get rid of what I'll never use, and find a few greatly missed items (like those precious black flats with little silver polka dots on them...sigh...) to bring back with me.
As much as I hate confronting all the crap I have, and lamenting the money I could have saved by not purchasing it, I do enjoy stumbling upon some things. My favorite so far was a bundle of letters and cards I've saved. It was like unwrapping a narration of some of my favorite memories. Not particularly significant or big moments in my life, but valuable nonetheless.
As they say, it's the little things that count.
*A letter I wrote to the parents of one of my best friends from my freshman year of college. He was killed in a rock climbing accident in the August before we returned for our sophomore year. That was a rough time.
*A typed summary of the summer of 1997 written by my father. I was 14.
*A few Valentine's Day cards from my college roommate who's getting married this coming summer. She's the master of tongue-in-cheek one-liners.
*A paper my first horn student wrote entitled "Heroes." I was 17 and she was 10 when I was teaching her. She lists her three heroes as Martin Luther King, Jr., Amelia Earhart and me.
*A note scribbled on the back of "Enigma" from "Nimrod Variations" that was passed to me during an All-State Orchestra rehearsal. It was from a percussionist and he was clearing his plans for our honeymoon with me.
*A card I found taped to my locker a few days after my junior recital. The card included: a copy of the program with notes along the way, a description of the sender (a 50 year old bachelor, a clean man, who enjoys nice art and culture, and willing to wait) and a phone number.
*The letter my mom wrote me on the event of my graduation from high school.
So, the bedroom closet is re-done and I've discovered that I have two copies of scores to Brahms Complete Concerti, all the papers I wrote in college, a ton of post-it notes, and a pair of bright blue high heels, among other things.
On to the car...another entry may follow!
P.S. I adore my family! So nice to see them again! And to all y'all south of the border, hope you had a good holiday-I miss you!
OK, now that that's out of the way...One of my major projects for my two weeks at home is organizing all of my stuff. I'm always overwhelmed with materialism at Christmas-time, with this over-done flood of buying things (did you know something like 40% of gift cards are never even redeemed?), but this year I am especially aware since I am sorting through EVERYTHING I OWN. For a want-to-be-minimalist like myself, this is not a particularly enjoyable process.
As some of you may know, I moved abroad in less than three days. I was substituting in a different orchestra abroad when I got my job offer. They wanted me to get there as soon as possible, so I rushed home, and with the help of friends and family, wrapped up my life and whisked myself away in about 60 hours. Consequently, my stuff is spread out between the bags I packed, my old bedroom closet at my mom's house, my car, and perhaps some storage at my dad's as well. The project is to re-pack it all into nicely labeled boxes, be realistic and get rid of what I'll never use, and find a few greatly missed items (like those precious black flats with little silver polka dots on them...sigh...) to bring back with me.
As much as I hate confronting all the crap I have, and lamenting the money I could have saved by not purchasing it, I do enjoy stumbling upon some things. My favorite so far was a bundle of letters and cards I've saved. It was like unwrapping a narration of some of my favorite memories. Not particularly significant or big moments in my life, but valuable nonetheless.
As they say, it's the little things that count.
*A letter I wrote to the parents of one of my best friends from my freshman year of college. He was killed in a rock climbing accident in the August before we returned for our sophomore year. That was a rough time.
*A typed summary of the summer of 1997 written by my father. I was 14.
*A few Valentine's Day cards from my college roommate who's getting married this coming summer. She's the master of tongue-in-cheek one-liners.
*A paper my first horn student wrote entitled "Heroes." I was 17 and she was 10 when I was teaching her. She lists her three heroes as Martin Luther King, Jr., Amelia Earhart and me.
*A note scribbled on the back of "Enigma" from "Nimrod Variations" that was passed to me during an All-State Orchestra rehearsal. It was from a percussionist and he was clearing his plans for our honeymoon with me.
*A card I found taped to my locker a few days after my junior recital. The card included: a copy of the program with notes along the way, a description of the sender (a 50 year old bachelor, a clean man, who enjoys nice art and culture, and willing to wait) and a phone number.
*The letter my mom wrote me on the event of my graduation from high school.
So, the bedroom closet is re-done and I've discovered that I have two copies of scores to Brahms Complete Concerti, all the papers I wrote in college, a ton of post-it notes, and a pair of bright blue high heels, among other things.
On to the car...another entry may follow!
P.S. I adore my family! So nice to see them again! And to all y'all south of the border, hope you had a good holiday-I miss you!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Inside Jokes Galore
At the moment I am completely overwhelmed with gratitude for my friends. I have seen A LOT of old friends in the last three days, and I am in awe of their beauty, brilliance, and what they are up to in the world. They're pretty darn nice to me too.
However, I'm choosing to post a list of little or no significance to most of you, mostly for my own records, and the intense enjoyment of AD (and BM). The day of 12-20-06 will go down in my personal history as one of the best of my life.
However, I'm choosing to post a list of little or no significance to most of you, mostly for my own records, and the intense enjoyment of AD (and BM). The day of 12-20-06 will go down in my personal history as one of the best of my life.
- Supah long run- "eat it up!"
- Whispered: "You can."
- What does $30 buy you in Madison? A bunch of clothes!
- Practice makes perfect!
- Musical review over Japanese food...
- F, C, o M?
- 3 words- Sweet Potato Cheesecake
- Puccini...Strauss...Vivaldi...uhhh
- New game-1. Meet a person. 2. Talk up to 15 minutes. 3. Write the title and author of a book you recommend for them on a slip of paper. 4. Sign it. 5. Give them the slip of paper. 6. Repeat. 7. Make the world a better place.
- Favorite teacher impressions, gracias a BC
- Don't Get Around Much Anymore
- Chesty Bartenders
- Word by Word Toasts.
- 15 minutes- go- and picture series to go along with it.
- Grocery shopping anyone?
- SpoonFest, etc.
- French Toast
- Winery
One more shout out to AD, who so graciously made her house my home for four days, acted as my chauffeur, answering service, personal trainer, event coordinator, counselor, and one heck of a friend.
Our friendship is great because we have a lot in common, support each other in our goals and dreams, and see life in a very similar way, like one huge opportunity for anything fantastic to happen. She's an inspiration and an energizer.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Repertoire: A Test of Follow-Through
**Note: For those of you that check my blog obsessively, I have made a few adjustments to the following project.**
I've just recieved a list of the planned repertoire for next season. It's pretty good.
I will now perform a test: "How Likely We Are to Play What We Say We Will." This test involves making a list of the pieces I am very excited to play that are on this list of planned repertoire. If this piece is changed, or canceled, I will note it in blue with the date. When we actually play the piece, I will change it from black to red. We'll see how many are black at the end of the season, and how much blue is clogging up the list.
Remember--- here, nothing is confirmed until it's history.
List posted 12-15-06
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1
Pictures at an Exhibition
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6
Overture to Tanhauser
Salome, Dance of the Seven Veils (Strauss)
Sinfonia Indiana, Carlos Chavez
Short Ride in a Fast Machine, Adams
Firebird Suite
Copelia (Delibes)
Four Last Songs, Richard Strauss added (2-23-07)
Mahler Symphony No. 4
Les Preludes added (1-24-07)
Beethoven Emperor Concerto changed to some Mozart Flute Concerto in G Major (1-19-07)
Beethoven Symphony No. 7
Madame Butterfly
Creatures of Prometheus added (2-23-07)
Brahms Tragic Overture added (12-16-06) then cancelled (1-19-07) changed to Oberon Overture (1-24-07)
Don Juan changed to Death and Transfiguration (12-15-06) changed to Schumann Symphony # 4 (1-19-07)
Candide Overture
Brahms Symphony No. 2
Rhapsody on a Theme from Paganini, Rachmaninoff
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra
I've just recieved a list of the planned repertoire for next season. It's pretty good.
I will now perform a test: "How Likely We Are to Play What We Say We Will." This test involves making a list of the pieces I am very excited to play that are on this list of planned repertoire. If this piece is changed, or canceled, I will note it in blue with the date. When we actually play the piece, I will change it from black to red. We'll see how many are black at the end of the season, and how much blue is clogging up the list.
Remember--- here, nothing is confirmed until it's history.
List posted 12-15-06
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1
Pictures at an Exhibition
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6
Overture to Tanhauser
Salome, Dance of the Seven Veils (Strauss)
Sinfonia Indiana, Carlos Chavez
Short Ride in a Fast Machine, Adams
Firebird Suite
Copelia (Delibes)
Four Last Songs, Richard Strauss added (2-23-07)
Mahler Symphony No. 4
Les Preludes added (1-24-07)
Beethoven Emperor Concerto changed to some Mozart Flute Concerto in G Major (1-19-07)
Beethoven Symphony No. 7
Madame Butterfly
Creatures of Prometheus added (2-23-07)
Brahms Tragic Overture added (12-16-06) then cancelled (1-19-07) changed to Oberon Overture (1-24-07)
Don Juan changed to Death and Transfiguration (12-15-06) changed to Schumann Symphony # 4 (1-19-07)
Candide Overture
Brahms Symphony No. 2
Rhapsody on a Theme from Paganini, Rachmaninoff
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra
New World vs. Columbus-Advice?
I have the opportunity to get away in February for a few days, so I'm going to take an audition. Both of these auditions fall during the time I'm away...on the same day. I can only take one of them, I'm sure. I haven't decided which one yet. This is where you come in.
I'm going to make a list of the reasons why I should take each audition. If you give me a reason I consider substantial, I will add it to the list. Then I will do what I want to do and justify it with the reasons on the list of the audition I choose. :~)
New World Symphony
Cheap plane ticket to New York
Was already a finalist for them, would like to stay on their list
Can stay with and visit my friend Margo for the long weekend
Definitely want to play in New World Symphony
Have already prepared the list (two years ago)
Columbus Symphony-4th/Utility Horn
Is a real job
Pays $1200 a week, 46 weeks
Is a 4th horn job and I'm working as a low horn player (decent chances)
Probably will feel comfortable with much of the list, although I haven't seen it yet
I'm going to make a list of the reasons why I should take each audition. If you give me a reason I consider substantial, I will add it to the list. Then I will do what I want to do and justify it with the reasons on the list of the audition I choose. :~)
New World Symphony
Cheap plane ticket to New York
Was already a finalist for them, would like to stay on their list
Can stay with and visit my friend Margo for the long weekend
Definitely want to play in New World Symphony
Have already prepared the list (two years ago)
Columbus Symphony-4th/Utility Horn
Is a real job
Pays $1200 a week, 46 weeks
Is a 4th horn job and I'm working as a low horn player (decent chances)
Probably will feel comfortable with much of the list, although I haven't seen it yet
Thursday, December 14, 2006
My Very Own Harper's Index
Please forgive me, this is my first attempt at a Harper's Index. I can guarantee it won't be as cool as the real ones.
Number of rehearsals I have had to attend this week: .5
Number of hours I slept last night: .5
Number of minutes I allowed myself to bike to music school due to hitting snooze button: 7
Number of minutes it took me: 6
Number of students I was supposed to teach today: 7
Number that showed up for their class: 0
Number of days until Christmas vacation for students: 1
Number of days until Christmas vacation for teachers/orchestra members: 3
Number of Christmas concerts left to survive: 3
Number of days until Christmas: 11
Number of Christmas gifts I've bought so far: 5
Number I have left to buy: 5
Number of luggage items I am bringing home: 4
Number I am checking: 1
Number of episodes of West Wing I was hoping to watch on the journey home: 12
Number of episodes I will be able to watch now that my computer battery isn't working: 1
Number of helpful things Apple Care guy told me: 0
Number of apples I have eaten this week: 0
Number of pears or pear flavored things I have eaten today: 3
Number of sushi rolls I plan to eat tonight at Campay: 2
Number of pesos I plan to spend: 70
Number of dollars that equals: 7
Percentage off on sushi rolls at Campay on Thursdays: 50
Number of Thursdays I will be in the USA: 2
Number of times I will be salsa dancing on Thursday night in the next two weeks: 2
Number of times I have gone salsa dancing here since August: 2
How excited I am to go home: priceless.
I really should have gotten more sleep last night, but I tossed and turned, and then watched True Romance which is a really good movie. Word.
Number of rehearsals I have had to attend this week: .5
Number of hours I slept last night: .5
Number of minutes I allowed myself to bike to music school due to hitting snooze button: 7
Number of minutes it took me: 6
Number of students I was supposed to teach today: 7
Number that showed up for their class: 0
Number of days until Christmas vacation for students: 1
Number of days until Christmas vacation for teachers/orchestra members: 3
Number of Christmas concerts left to survive: 3
Number of days until Christmas: 11
Number of Christmas gifts I've bought so far: 5
Number I have left to buy: 5
Number of luggage items I am bringing home: 4
Number I am checking: 1
Number of episodes of West Wing I was hoping to watch on the journey home: 12
Number of episodes I will be able to watch now that my computer battery isn't working: 1
Number of helpful things Apple Care guy told me: 0
Number of apples I have eaten this week: 0
Number of pears or pear flavored things I have eaten today: 3
Number of sushi rolls I plan to eat tonight at Campay: 2
Number of pesos I plan to spend: 70
Number of dollars that equals: 7
Percentage off on sushi rolls at Campay on Thursdays: 50
Number of Thursdays I will be in the USA: 2
Number of times I will be salsa dancing on Thursday night in the next two weeks: 2
Number of times I have gone salsa dancing here since August: 2
How excited I am to go home: priceless.
I really should have gotten more sleep last night, but I tossed and turned, and then watched True Romance which is a really good movie. Word.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Uh oh.
I was just at Wal-Mart (the first no no) and realized I was singing along to every song that came on. I then realized that I actually own the CD they were playing in Wal-Mart.
Does that speak highly of Wal-Mart or poorly of me?
Yeah, better not to answer.
Does that speak highly of Wal-Mart or poorly of me?
Yeah, better not to answer.
A Wedding
I'm supposed to have gotten a really great blog entry out of this wedding I went to on Saturday. But you can't force a really great blog entry. So I'll just relay the events and we'll see what happens.
My friend and co-worker, RM, got married on Saturday. As our wedding gift (and dues for getting a free party) about half the orchestra provided the music for the event. Some contributed more than others- JK arranged "All You Need is Love" for the recessional, and JM arranged a lot of string pieces in order to include the brass and winds a little more. Oh yeah, JM also conducted, which was cool.
Anyway, it was kind of half gig, half friend's wedding which made me both enjoy the gig but not cry at the wedding. Well, I cried a tiny bit, but I don't think anyone noticed.
It was a beautiful ceremony, but after it ended the party really started.
Highlights included:
Yeah for weddings and congrats to R and R- they seem to really be right for each other, lucky bums.
My friend and co-worker, RM, got married on Saturday. As our wedding gift (and dues for getting a free party) about half the orchestra provided the music for the event. Some contributed more than others- JK arranged "All You Need is Love" for the recessional, and JM arranged a lot of string pieces in order to include the brass and winds a little more. Oh yeah, JM also conducted, which was cool.
Anyway, it was kind of half gig, half friend's wedding which made me both enjoy the gig but not cry at the wedding. Well, I cried a tiny bit, but I don't think anyone noticed.
It was a beautiful ceremony, but after it ended the party really started.
Highlights included:
- Waiting so long for food that we turned into 4 year olds, playing games with the flatware.
- The food being well worth the wait.
- Seeing the bride and groom dance a cha-cha.
- Realizing it was a cha-cha version of Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers.
- Galloping around in a conga line of solteras due to some tradition I don't know about.
- Enjoying it thoroughly.
- Not catching the bouquet.
- Not catching the bouquet all three times the bride threw it.
- Mariachis that brought tacos.
- The mother of the bride busting out in song with the mariachis.
- Seeing little girls in princess dresses with their hair done up in flowers.
- Seeing my co-workers dressed up in not-black clothes.
- Being complimented on how I look by my co-workers (thanks!).
- Socializing with people that aren't my co-workers (no offense!).
- Sleeping all day the next day.
- Still having two more days after that off.
Yeah for weddings and congrats to R and R- they seem to really be right for each other, lucky bums.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Jingle Bells, Time Wasters, and Party Justifications
Jingle Bells:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2700154567140630531&pr=goog-sl
Time Waster:
www.weffriddles.com
Warning: IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE, DO NOT GO TO THE FOLLOWING SITE. IT WILL SUCK YOU IN AND YOU WILL END UP WASTING YOUR TIME WHETHER YOU HAVE IT TO WASTE OR NOT.
Party Justifications:
Lastly, here is a list of excuses we are using to have parties here lately. Fortunately, most of them seem fairly legitimate.
~Thanksgiving
~Semi-House Warmings
~Successful Cello Concerto Performance
~Fantastic Jazz Trio Premiere
~Bachelor Party
~Bachelorette Party
~Another Bachelorette Party
~Weddings
~Going Away Party
And here is a list of excuses to have parties while I am home. Perhaps less legitimate, but it's vacation so it's OK.
~Welcome Home!
~Welcome Back to Alma Mater!
~Nostalgic Evening of Visiting Old Hang Outs
~Reunion at The Cardinal
~Welcome Back to Hometown!
~Merry Christmas Eve!
~Merry Christmas!
~Happy 23rd Birthday!
~Happy New Year's Eve!
~Happy New Year's Day!
~Welcome Amber to my new home abroad!
~Amber in town for 2 weeks!
~Real House-Warming?
~Post-Concerts (perhaps successful, likely not)
~Welcome Jessica to my new home abroad!
~Goodbye Amber!
~Goodbye Jessica!
and on and on. Yippee.
How do you spell Bachelorette?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2700154567140630531&pr=goog-sl
Time Waster:
www.weffriddles.com
Warning: IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE, DO NOT GO TO THE FOLLOWING SITE. IT WILL SUCK YOU IN AND YOU WILL END UP WASTING YOUR TIME WHETHER YOU HAVE IT TO WASTE OR NOT.
Party Justifications:
Lastly, here is a list of excuses we are using to have parties here lately. Fortunately, most of them seem fairly legitimate.
~Thanksgiving
~Semi-House Warmings
~Successful Cello Concerto Performance
~Fantastic Jazz Trio Premiere
~Bachelor Party
~Bachelorette Party
~Another Bachelorette Party
~Weddings
~Going Away Party
And here is a list of excuses to have parties while I am home. Perhaps less legitimate, but it's vacation so it's OK.
~Welcome Home!
~Welcome Back to Alma Mater!
~Nostalgic Evening of Visiting Old Hang Outs
~Reunion at The Cardinal
~Welcome Back to Hometown!
~Merry Christmas Eve!
~Merry Christmas!
~Happy 23rd Birthday!
~Happy New Year's Eve!
~Happy New Year's Day!
~Welcome Amber to my new home abroad!
~Amber in town for 2 weeks!
~Real House-Warming?
~Post-Concerts (perhaps successful, likely not)
~Welcome Jessica to my new home abroad!
~Goodbye Amber!
~Goodbye Jessica!
and on and on. Yippee.
How do you spell Bachelorette?
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