For the last eight months, when I thought of the word 'Sun', I thought of Sun Microsystems - a major corporate sponsor for the library computer labs. This morning however I was reminded what most people probably think of when they hear 'sun' -- that bright thing outside that provides light and warmth. I don't think it'd be unfair to say that I spent more time in computer labs at school than I did experiencing direct sunlight. When I woke up this morning though, I did just that -- basked in the warm sun for a good half hour (thank you Mr. Housebuilder for creating that window!!!!!). It was fantastic. If you haven't spent much time in the sun in the mornings, find that East-facing window and have a splendid time with it. It truly gave me quite the uplifting start to my day.
So what did I do today? Well I approached the 80% completion mark I think for paring down my belongs into a more reasonable amount, cleaned the microwave (let's just leave it at ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww), finished my taxes (dododo I know this was "supposed" to be done by 30 April), talked to mum & dad on the phone, went over to the Pianohaus (a house full of piano technicians) and watched Get Shorty (I think that's what it was called anyways... a 1995 film with John Travolta in it). It doesn't look like much but I swear the cleaning & tossing of things took a long time.
As you can see, nothing terribly exciting going on these days. I'll see what fun situations I might be able to create for myself tomorrow for the sole purpose of entertaining my blog readers... should be fun!
P.S. My reed knife is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo awesome now. A novel idea this getting-your-knife-sharpened-to-do-fine-reed-adjustments. Who woulda thought?
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
It could have been worse
You know when you have one of those moments doing some hidiously crappy chore like washing 40 windows at work, or cleaning up after someone else for the umpteenth time, that you just have to remind yourself that it could be worse? Well bookmark this blog because whenever you need a reminder that it could be worse, check out this new television show online:
Also tres cool that they use Resphigi's The Birds in the opening scene as background music (I played that this year). Throw in Haydn's Trumpet Concert, also played this year, in the first 3 minutes and you get one very interested music student watching your show. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Also tres cool that they use Resphigi's The Birds in the opening scene as background music (I played that this year). Throw in Haydn's Trumpet Concert, also played this year, in the first 3 minutes and you get one very interested music student watching your show. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Oh the places you'll go
Today I got up at an obscenely early hour (in terms of "summer vacation time") and went up to T.O. to see a recital put on by The Angry Organist. Prior to the recital however, I successfully navigated the TTC system en seul to visit the Bata Shoe Museum (a major accomplishment for a directionally-challenged individual like me). I've heard from many people that it is an excellent museum and I have to say, I was not disappointed. If you get a chance, it is only $6 for students , pretty interesting, and very easy to find.
The recital would have made everyone of you smile from beginning to end. No joke :) . The first thing to smile about was that his name was flashing on the church's info board prior to the concert -- nothing like seeing an organist's name in blinky flashing lights to turn a frown upsidedown :P. The next thing that would make you smile would probably be noticing that the organ console was caged in by bars. Kayla, Osbert's mum, & I all debated as to why it would be caged in: so he wouldn't fall off the stage; so he'd know where "his place" was) but when his dad arrived, he settled it once and for all: it was to protect the organist from objects being thrown at him. Always count on daddios for moral support :). Item number three of interest might be me quasi clapping enthusiastically when Osbert came out only to realize that you don't apparently do this at organ concerts. Item number four belongs to the introductory prayer prior to the concert. I don't remember exactly what was said but it was something along the lines of "make your glory known to all who listen through the melodies of this piece." Normally this would've been fairly appropriate, however, the programme consisted entirely of 12-tone serialistic music. It made Kayla and I laugh out loud a little... I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud at a prayer... Don't worry though, I'm fairly certain no one else (except for Osbert's parents maybe) heard me. Anyhoo, as for the actually performance of the recital, I was fairly impressed. Anyone who can make it through a performance of a difficult piece and portray a sense of confidence is good in my books (well nearly anyone...it applies here though for sure). I took some videos and photos but it will be at least July before I am able to post any of that stuff up anywhere (and likely it will just be Facebook -- got to keep the man a mystery!).
After the recital I took a tour of the Great James workshop and had my knife sharpened. While the process was fairly interesting and he was very good at explaining each of the stages I imagine it'd be a similar experience to watch a close friend get operated on (not to be too overdramatic or anything)! I spend sooooooooo much time with that knife! For those of you that have ever seen someone work on your instrument, you know what I mean. Anyhoo, I came away having made a new friend, the Great James, and a super sharp reed knife. Yay :D
Tonight I watched My Dog Skip. What a moving movie. Aha! Punny! (sorry, but I have been hanging out with Osbert, a king of puns, today). If Starsky were here with me tonight no doubt we'd be having some snuggle time!
Tomorrow I am helping guide hundreds of high school students around the faculty for some sort of festival going on here. Should be tonnes of fun if anyone wants to volunteer some hours.
I think that's all I have to report. Ttyl
Ah yes, as a P.S., I have decided to drop the summer school courses & participate in the summer playing programmes. I'll put up the concert schedule as it becomes available.
The recital would have made everyone of you smile from beginning to end. No joke :) . The first thing to smile about was that his name was flashing on the church's info board prior to the concert -- nothing like seeing an organist's name in blinky flashing lights to turn a frown upsidedown :P. The next thing that would make you smile would probably be noticing that the organ console was caged in by bars. Kayla, Osbert's mum, & I all debated as to why it would be caged in: so he wouldn't fall off the stage; so he'd know where "his place" was) but when his dad arrived, he settled it once and for all: it was to protect the organist from objects being thrown at him. Always count on daddios for moral support :). Item number three of interest might be me quasi clapping enthusiastically when Osbert came out only to realize that you don't apparently do this at organ concerts. Item number four belongs to the introductory prayer prior to the concert. I don't remember exactly what was said but it was something along the lines of "make your glory known to all who listen through the melodies of this piece." Normally this would've been fairly appropriate, however, the programme consisted entirely of 12-tone serialistic music. It made Kayla and I laugh out loud a little... I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud at a prayer... Don't worry though, I'm fairly certain no one else (except for Osbert's parents maybe) heard me. Anyhoo, as for the actually performance of the recital, I was fairly impressed. Anyone who can make it through a performance of a difficult piece and portray a sense of confidence is good in my books (well nearly anyone...it applies here though for sure). I took some videos and photos but it will be at least July before I am able to post any of that stuff up anywhere (and likely it will just be Facebook -- got to keep the man a mystery!).
After the recital I took a tour of the Great James workshop and had my knife sharpened. While the process was fairly interesting and he was very good at explaining each of the stages I imagine it'd be a similar experience to watch a close friend get operated on (not to be too overdramatic or anything)! I spend sooooooooo much time with that knife! For those of you that have ever seen someone work on your instrument, you know what I mean. Anyhoo, I came away having made a new friend, the Great James, and a super sharp reed knife. Yay :D
Tonight I watched My Dog Skip. What a moving movie. Aha! Punny! (sorry, but I have been hanging out with Osbert, a king of puns, today). If Starsky were here with me tonight no doubt we'd be having some snuggle time!
Tomorrow I am helping guide hundreds of high school students around the faculty for some sort of festival going on here. Should be tonnes of fun if anyone wants to volunteer some hours.
I think that's all I have to report. Ttyl
Ah yes, as a P.S., I have decided to drop the summer school courses & participate in the summer playing programmes. I'll put up the concert schedule as it becomes available.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Decisions, Decisions
Now that I have gone through almost all of my possessions at least once to toss things that I can do without, I must prepare for a Round Two -- there's still too much stuff to move. I am forseeing this next round as one that will cause a wee bit more stress :(
To add to the list of decisions to make this week, I was asked today if I'd consider going to a summer program May 26-June 14 that I was originally not accepted to (someone else canceled). The main problem I have with it is that I'm already planning on going to Domain from June 15-29 -- June 15th as in the day after this program would finish -- i.e. I have to somehow get from Waterloo to St. Irenee, Quebec (almost to New Brunswick) in less than 24 hours (fyi it takes 11 1/2 hrs to drive according to Mapquest). Another conflict is that I'm supposed to move my stuff out of the boys house (where I am now) into my new house on June 1. I'm sure it won't be a problem to leave my moving out of here until the end of June/early July because no one is living here at all for the summer, however, this means I'm going to live out of a suitcase for a month and then move. Ewwww.
Well I'm off to watch I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Guess I need to enjoy this free time while I have it.
To add to the list of decisions to make this week, I was asked today if I'd consider going to a summer program May 26-June 14 that I was originally not accepted to (someone else canceled). The main problem I have with it is that I'm already planning on going to Domain from June 15-29 -- June 15th as in the day after this program would finish -- i.e. I have to somehow get from Waterloo to St. Irenee, Quebec (almost to New Brunswick) in less than 24 hours (fyi it takes 11 1/2 hrs to drive according to Mapquest). Another conflict is that I'm supposed to move my stuff out of the boys house (where I am now) into my new house on June 1. I'm sure it won't be a problem to leave my moving out of here until the end of June/early July because no one is living here at all for the summer, however, this means I'm going to live out of a suitcase for a month and then move. Ewwww.
Well I'm off to watch I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Guess I need to enjoy this free time while I have it.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
C.S. Lewis
Seeing as I've had nothing non-ranting to post in the last few days, I'll take the opportunity to share a C. S. Lewis quote I've enjoyed for some time now:
There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with little hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.
Well I'm off to somewhere I've been avoiding for months...yay...
There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with little hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.
Well I'm off to somewhere I've been avoiding for months...yay...
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Mmmmm
I forgot something I wanted to tell the whole world!
Tonight I *baked* a sweet potato and it was excellent. If you have never baked a sweet potato, I highly recommend it -- so fully of gooey goodness I say! I also had halibut for the first time ever and it was also fantastic. This whole trying-new-foods kick that I've been on since around Reading Week has yielded some very positive results. I urge you all to buy something you think you won't like the next time you're at the grocery store. It is a cheap and fun (and healthy if you play your cards right) way to amuse yourself when you cook for one.
Tonight I *baked* a sweet potato and it was excellent. If you have never baked a sweet potato, I highly recommend it -- so fully of gooey goodness I say! I also had halibut for the first time ever and it was also fantastic. This whole trying-new-foods kick that I've been on since around Reading Week has yielded some very positive results. I urge you all to buy something you think you won't like the next time you're at the grocery store. It is a cheap and fun (and healthy if you play your cards right) way to amuse yourself when you cook for one.
To Toss or Not To Toss
'Tis the question of the day. I've officially eliminated 3 boxes worth of stuff today with something like 30 boxes remaining to be reviewed. It is really tricky to part with perfectly good stuff knowing that a) there's nothing wrong with it and b) there is a potential that I might use it at some point down the road. I just need to remind myself that It truly is worth not having to move things around three or four times (over the course of the next few years) before I actually use it. For instance, there never will be a Venetian Blind Convention no matter how prepared I may be for it. Also, the likelihood that I will live in a place where the window is the same size as my past bedroom is fairly low (or so people tell me... maybe they just secretly want to steal one of my 3 Venetian blinds out of the dumpster).
I picked up a grad composite today from the Music Building office -- it's official: I now have a photo to be seen by music students for years to come on the Faculty Graduate hall (which is now more than one hall btw). I've thought a lot more about this photo than the average person does I'm sure. Call me vain but I can't shake the idea that this is the photo that people will see in twenty years to remember me by. I've looked at old composites and laughed at how people looked so cool (especially the '80s -- What were you thinking girl with poofy bangs!?!?!). The girls that always look the best seem to be the low-maintenance ones. Sans the glasses, I think I accomplished this. I hope I accomplished this.
I read on someone's Facebook post something along the lines of "Friendship and love can be the same thing. But when you love every friend, and try to love every person, where does that leave romantic love?" Thoughts about this have invaded much of my recent thinking time. What is the difference between friendship and love? Some food for thought indeed.
Tomorrow is the final concert of the season with the Stratford orchestra wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
I'm concerned how unexciting my blogs are going to be in the weeks and months to come as I'm no longer carrying out the activities of five normal people at the same time -- I know my busyness fascinates many of you. That being said, at least one thing should be improving: theoretically my grammar should improve with the increased amount of time to devote to blogging. Yay for making more sense :)
Anyhoo, I'm all out of ideas for now. Ttyl
I picked up a grad composite today from the Music Building office -- it's official: I now have a photo to be seen by music students for years to come on the Faculty Graduate hall (which is now more than one hall btw). I've thought a lot more about this photo than the average person does I'm sure. Call me vain but I can't shake the idea that this is the photo that people will see in twenty years to remember me by. I've looked at old composites and laughed at how people looked so cool (especially the '80s -- What were you thinking girl with poofy bangs!?!?!). The girls that always look the best seem to be the low-maintenance ones. Sans the glasses, I think I accomplished this. I hope I accomplished this.
I read on someone's Facebook post something along the lines of "Friendship and love can be the same thing. But when you love every friend, and try to love every person, where does that leave romantic love?" Thoughts about this have invaded much of my recent thinking time. What is the difference between friendship and love? Some food for thought indeed.
Tomorrow is the final concert of the season with the Stratford orchestra wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
I'm concerned how unexciting my blogs are going to be in the weeks and months to come as I'm no longer carrying out the activities of five normal people at the same time -- I know my busyness fascinates many of you. That being said, at least one thing should be improving: theoretically my grammar should improve with the increased amount of time to devote to blogging. Yay for making more sense :)
Anyhoo, I'm all out of ideas for now. Ttyl
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