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I Always Forget to Make a Title
Jun. 4th, 2010 08:03 pmIt's been so long since I posted last that I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of things I "should" write about. However, should means nothing here.
I've been knitting/crocheting a lot lately. I made two pairs of purple Mary Janes most recently. They are unusual because they are outside shoes, the soles are made from jute, from which I've made a welcome mat from before, and I had to buy the pattern, a first for me. One pair was for me, and the other for a new friend of mine who shares my name. They are very cute and fairly comfortable, but I'm picky about what shoes I wear.
Other projects have been doll scarves (once again inspired by the new friend. She's a doll collector.), doilies (more on that later), and a cardigan. The cardigan isn't done yet, since I stalled on it a few weeks back. I have everything I need to complete it: buttons, yarn, a plan; but the motivation left me at that point. Almost all the other projects I started in order to avoid it are finished, so I'll probably be going back to it soon.
I started a dress for the Renaissance Faire a few weeks ago, but I couldn't finish in time to actually wear it to the event. It's still "unfinished" and a bit too small, as well. There is a big story behind that, but I don't feel like telling it today. Hopefully, I'll finish a dress that fits me by the 21st of the month. My band is playing a Ren Faire-themed party then.
I am still teaching about fifteen students, but I've had three leave from moving away or losing interest, and the look of my schedule is changing due to summer arriving. I feel a slight twinge of "I hate change" every time the seasons switch and my schedule is rearranged.
However, summer has freed up my own teacher and I've been having regular lessons once again. Practicing, and thinking about practicing (two things that go hand in hand) is becoming habitual once more. I'm not going to be going to a music camp this summer, and I'm glad for it. I need all my energy to get ready for graduate school.
I'll also be beginning tutoring for Music Theory and History very soon. Taking it, not giving it, to be clear. That is also in preparation for grad school. There will be an entrance exam. If I don't pass it, there will be remedial classes. Ew.
My family has attended several events over the past two months. On Mother's Day we went to see my maternal grandmothers. I promised to make my great-grandmother ten 3-inch doilies during our visit, and I finished them a week ago. Now, I just have to go give them to her. I'm bad at finding time for it, unfortunately. I will, though. The doilies aren't doing me any good sitting there.
Our second event was Memorial Day. We went to Illinois to see my paternal side of the family. They were very interested in where I was going to go to school. Turns out one of my uncles lives in Ohio, about three hours from where my school is. It will be nice to go visit them when I have a weekend off. Mother also approved; she said it made her heart easier. We're looking at apartments in my town right now. I've picked one out, and we just have to call on it.
Goodness, I'm worn out. Typing isn't as easy as it was after a two month break. I'll be back, hopefully sooner than last time. I want to say I'll get in a regular schedule of posting to prepare for grad school, but summer isn't always interesting, you know? I'll likely begin posting again once I've moved in August. Can't have Mother get too lonely without me.
Until then,
Deepgreen(y)
I've been knitting/crocheting a lot lately. I made two pairs of purple Mary Janes most recently. They are unusual because they are outside shoes, the soles are made from jute, from which I've made a welcome mat from before, and I had to buy the pattern, a first for me. One pair was for me, and the other for a new friend of mine who shares my name. They are very cute and fairly comfortable, but I'm picky about what shoes I wear.
Other projects have been doll scarves (once again inspired by the new friend. She's a doll collector.), doilies (more on that later), and a cardigan. The cardigan isn't done yet, since I stalled on it a few weeks back. I have everything I need to complete it: buttons, yarn, a plan; but the motivation left me at that point. Almost all the other projects I started in order to avoid it are finished, so I'll probably be going back to it soon.
I started a dress for the Renaissance Faire a few weeks ago, but I couldn't finish in time to actually wear it to the event. It's still "unfinished" and a bit too small, as well. There is a big story behind that, but I don't feel like telling it today. Hopefully, I'll finish a dress that fits me by the 21st of the month. My band is playing a Ren Faire-themed party then.
I am still teaching about fifteen students, but I've had three leave from moving away or losing interest, and the look of my schedule is changing due to summer arriving. I feel a slight twinge of "I hate change" every time the seasons switch and my schedule is rearranged.
However, summer has freed up my own teacher and I've been having regular lessons once again. Practicing, and thinking about practicing (two things that go hand in hand) is becoming habitual once more. I'm not going to be going to a music camp this summer, and I'm glad for it. I need all my energy to get ready for graduate school.
I'll also be beginning tutoring for Music Theory and History very soon. Taking it, not giving it, to be clear. That is also in preparation for grad school. There will be an entrance exam. If I don't pass it, there will be remedial classes. Ew.
My family has attended several events over the past two months. On Mother's Day we went to see my maternal grandmothers. I promised to make my great-grandmother ten 3-inch doilies during our visit, and I finished them a week ago. Now, I just have to go give them to her. I'm bad at finding time for it, unfortunately. I will, though. The doilies aren't doing me any good sitting there.
Our second event was Memorial Day. We went to Illinois to see my paternal side of the family. They were very interested in where I was going to go to school. Turns out one of my uncles lives in Ohio, about three hours from where my school is. It will be nice to go visit them when I have a weekend off. Mother also approved; she said it made her heart easier. We're looking at apartments in my town right now. I've picked one out, and we just have to call on it.
Goodness, I'm worn out. Typing isn't as easy as it was after a two month break. I'll be back, hopefully sooner than last time. I want to say I'll get in a regular schedule of posting to prepare for grad school, but summer isn't always interesting, you know? I'll likely begin posting again once I've moved in August. Can't have Mother get too lonely without me.
Until then,
Deepgreen(y)
For the Hate of....
Dec. 17th, 2009 10:52 pmI really don't like where I'm living now. I'm getting ready to leave and - Wow, we interrupt this regularly scheduled rant to bring you breaking news: I'm in a bad mood. The bad mood affects how I see life. I enjoy where I live right now pretty well, actually. Where I used to live, on the other hand, I hated with a spectacular passion that I had to suppress until I moved or I would have been very depressed. My city is a good one. Not too large, not so small that I can get across it in thirty minutes. Something new can be found every day. I'm also so tired I mis-spelled at least ten of the last twenty words.
The reason I'm in a bad mood, you ask? I've been sick since Monday. Steadily improving, I think, but my energy is low and my voice is a third or so lower. Also, my older sister and her fiance are in town. Family. Gotta love it. There's been a lot of ups and downs. I'm so tired that I want to stay in, but I feel guilty that I'm not spending time with family. Then again, they surprised us with the timing of the visit (nine days before Christmas), and the scarf had to be speed-knit. (It's done! By the way, and absolutely gorgeous.) Perhaps the resentment can cancel out the guilt. I really want to see her face when she opens it, though. That may make up for a lot. Uh-oh, I sense high expectations. Large chance of disappointment, abort, abort!
I've practiced violin very consistently over the past four to seven days. I haven't been counting so much as thinking that I should practice every day. Empowerment from working out with Mom? I have time, I might as well. Also, I don't have time, graduate school deadlines loom.
I hate the looming, I really do. It scares me and makes me want to run for cover instead of getting my ducks into line. I just want it to be finished already. Circle of procrastination alert. I wait, which makes me nervous, which makes me wait more, which makes me panic, which either makes me wait until next year, or (I think) try to get everything in and do a bad job of it, so I wait. It's a bad cycle. I have to see things as nonthreatening in order to start, but urgent enough to actually get it done. Getting applications in just isn't that way. It's threatening. You are opening yourself to criticism and rejection by sending it. You are trying to change your life by doing it. It's significant. I can't see it any other way. The solution, I suppose, is to gird oneself for the inevitable. Be fearless. What could happen? It's paper. If they say yes, you can always say no. But you really want them to say yes. !%$#. However, acting confident, ever if you aren't, usually leads to good things. I learned that from my violin teacher. Play loud and fast, and sometimes (usually after lots of practice) everything just gets better.
I want to thank the English language and the written expression of it for allowing this rant to happen. Until next time, kiddies.
Greeny
The reason I'm in a bad mood, you ask? I've been sick since Monday. Steadily improving, I think, but my energy is low and my voice is a third or so lower. Also, my older sister and her fiance are in town. Family. Gotta love it. There's been a lot of ups and downs. I'm so tired that I want to stay in, but I feel guilty that I'm not spending time with family. Then again, they surprised us with the timing of the visit (nine days before Christmas), and the scarf had to be speed-knit. (It's done! By the way, and absolutely gorgeous.) Perhaps the resentment can cancel out the guilt. I really want to see her face when she opens it, though. That may make up for a lot. Uh-oh, I sense high expectations. Large chance of disappointment, abort, abort!
I've practiced violin very consistently over the past four to seven days. I haven't been counting so much as thinking that I should practice every day. Empowerment from working out with Mom? I have time, I might as well. Also, I don't have time, graduate school deadlines loom.
I hate the looming, I really do. It scares me and makes me want to run for cover instead of getting my ducks into line. I just want it to be finished already. Circle of procrastination alert. I wait, which makes me nervous, which makes me wait more, which makes me panic, which either makes me wait until next year, or (I think) try to get everything in and do a bad job of it, so I wait. It's a bad cycle. I have to see things as nonthreatening in order to start, but urgent enough to actually get it done. Getting applications in just isn't that way. It's threatening. You are opening yourself to criticism and rejection by sending it. You are trying to change your life by doing it. It's significant. I can't see it any other way. The solution, I suppose, is to gird oneself for the inevitable. Be fearless. What could happen? It's paper. If they say yes, you can always say no. But you really want them to say yes. !%$#. However, acting confident, ever if you aren't, usually leads to good things. I learned that from my violin teacher. Play loud and fast, and sometimes (usually after lots of practice) everything just gets better.
I want to thank the English language and the written expression of it for allowing this rant to happen. Until next time, kiddies.
Greeny
I am very, very lucky to have a confrontation-avoiding family. We have drama, it just doesn't happen during the holidays. I have heard some fairly frightening stories from others in the past couple days, and this has made me truly, well, thankful that I come from a bunch of south-westerners. Not that our avoidance of public scenes is healthy all the time, but get-togethers don't end up in shouting, drunkenness, and general disorder.
Onto other, happier, topics. We went and visited our family today, as tradition demands. Copious amounts of meat, starches, well-doctored vegetables, and pie were consumed. We also fed the mass-media glut that often happens today by going to Blockbuster and renting a movie afterwards.
It was a rather quiet day, excluding our 2-3 hours of driving. I crocheted and knit during both trips, and managed to produce a man's ring of bamboo crochet thread (I was very pleased by the final result), and two inches of a gift scarf (new project alert!). I just realized, however, that producing six feet of the thing is going to require an audio-book. This is what got me through the afghan: a 23-hour sci-fi audio-book. Stephanie Meyer's The Host, in fact. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either, just a slightly unusually-set, overly complicated romance novel. I wonder what I'll come up with to listen to next.
I reorganized my room a bit the last few days. I have a bookshelf again! Being able to immediately fill three shelves full of books amused and alarmed me. I only started buying books four years ago! This does not bode well for my future storage needs. In the process of clearing space for my bookcase, I had to face my knitting and crochet collection. Another rubbermaid container was bought to store the yarn (embarrassed fidgeting commences), and I still need to buy an organizer for my knitting needles. I'm wondering how exactly I bought so much stuff without really noticing until now. General apathy plus a convenient stashing place equals not enough knowledge, I think.
I will be working on using the stash until it reaches a manageable size again, and I'm also finishing some old works-in-progress. I had two that just needed ends worked in (now basically finished), and I've got three that need sewing of zippers and lining. I think I'll bring out the sewing machine tomorrow, and finish the three.
Hope to talk to you all soon,
Greeny
Onto other, happier, topics. We went and visited our family today, as tradition demands. Copious amounts of meat, starches, well-doctored vegetables, and pie were consumed. We also fed the mass-media glut that often happens today by going to Blockbuster and renting a movie afterwards.
It was a rather quiet day, excluding our 2-3 hours of driving. I crocheted and knit during both trips, and managed to produce a man's ring of bamboo crochet thread (I was very pleased by the final result), and two inches of a gift scarf (new project alert!). I just realized, however, that producing six feet of the thing is going to require an audio-book. This is what got me through the afghan: a 23-hour sci-fi audio-book. Stephanie Meyer's The Host, in fact. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either, just a slightly unusually-set, overly complicated romance novel. I wonder what I'll come up with to listen to next.
I reorganized my room a bit the last few days. I have a bookshelf again! Being able to immediately fill three shelves full of books amused and alarmed me. I only started buying books four years ago! This does not bode well for my future storage needs. In the process of clearing space for my bookcase, I had to face my knitting and crochet collection. Another rubbermaid container was bought to store the yarn (embarrassed fidgeting commences), and I still need to buy an organizer for my knitting needles. I'm wondering how exactly I bought so much stuff without really noticing until now. General apathy plus a convenient stashing place equals not enough knowledge, I think.
I will be working on using the stash until it reaches a manageable size again, and I'm also finishing some old works-in-progress. I had two that just needed ends worked in (now basically finished), and I've got three that need sewing of zippers and lining. I think I'll bring out the sewing machine tomorrow, and finish the three.
Hope to talk to you all soon,
Greeny
I leave for four days and the world changes. Honestly, it's just my life, but that is my world (egocentrism, ahoy!).
To update:
I have a car, here are pics:
The best part of having your own car? Total ownership, I don't have to share! I almost felt selfish when I realized this, but I'm getting used to the feeling again. My favorite feature in the car (besides wonderful handling, plenty of room, and great A/C)? The heads up display:
I just think it's cool, and it reminds me of a friendly Cylon, which is entirely geeky, but completely justified.
My band has a gig! It's on August 22nd, 8pm, at a nice place, called the Riverwalk. I can't wait.
I'm also getting back into teaching. All of my students have been contacted, and most are set up to take lessons for the fall. I'm nervous, but also quite happy with it.
My dad and I went to see Wicked on Sunday. It was an excellent musical. The singing was wonderful, the effects were impressive, the dancing evocative, and the story engaging. Totally worth the ticket price.
Finally, the knitting...take a guess at what's been going on with that and you'll probably be right.
And I'm off!
Greeny
To update:
I have a car, here are pics:
The best part of having your own car? Total ownership, I don't have to share! I almost felt selfish when I realized this, but I'm getting used to the feeling again. My favorite feature in the car (besides wonderful handling, plenty of room, and great A/C)? The heads up display:
I just think it's cool, and it reminds me of a friendly Cylon, which is entirely geeky, but completely justified.
My band has a gig! It's on August 22nd, 8pm, at a nice place, called the Riverwalk. I can't wait.
I'm also getting back into teaching. All of my students have been contacted, and most are set up to take lessons for the fall. I'm nervous, but also quite happy with it.
My dad and I went to see Wicked on Sunday. It was an excellent musical. The singing was wonderful, the effects were impressive, the dancing evocative, and the story engaging. Totally worth the ticket price.
Finally, the knitting...take a guess at what's been going on with that and you'll probably be right.
And I'm off!
Greeny
Back to the Real World, again
Aug. 6th, 2009 07:17 pmToday is my dad's birthday (happy birthday!). Randomly, I also bought a car today.
Just letting that sink in. It's a Honda Civic, and it's so sharp. I love it lots. If this seems sudden, well, I've needed a car since I totaled my old one last year, but I've been using dad's truck as a stopgap, and it was the Cash for Clunkers program that made mother push me into finding a car. We checked out a good few yesterday, and I fell into serious like with the Civic. Today kinda tested that like (So. Much. Waiting.) but it was worth it in the end. I has a vehicle! There should be pictures! There will be pictures next time.
Other than that, life is rather predictable. I've taught my first lesson since I got back. It went really well, and pleased me. I've also been messing around with the dang fanfiction again, but I'm trying to make it a positive thing instead of the opposite. I went to band practice yesterday night, and I forgot my bow -sigh of extreme disappointment-, but I got to hear what everyone else has been working on, and it's so good. I can't wait to catch up with them. The knitting limps along slowly, but it's going!
I think I'll be heading out now,
Greene
Just letting that sink in. It's a Honda Civic, and it's so sharp. I love it lots. If this seems sudden, well, I've needed a car since I totaled my old one last year, but I've been using dad's truck as a stopgap, and it was the Cash for Clunkers program that made mother push me into finding a car. We checked out a good few yesterday, and I fell into serious like with the Civic. Today kinda tested that like (So. Much. Waiting.) but it was worth it in the end. I has a vehicle! There should be pictures! There will be pictures next time.
Other than that, life is rather predictable. I've taught my first lesson since I got back. It went really well, and pleased me. I've also been messing around with the dang fanfiction again, but I'm trying to make it a positive thing instead of the opposite. I went to band practice yesterday night, and I forgot my bow -sigh of extreme disappointment-, but I got to hear what everyone else has been working on, and it's so good. I can't wait to catch up with them. The knitting limps along slowly, but it's going!
I think I'll be heading out now,
Greene
I'm Home Again
Aug. 3rd, 2009 03:19 pmToday is my birthday, I'm 22 years old/young/whatever. It's not such a big deal. I'm thinking that my 25th will be a big party; what else is the first fourth of your life for? But for today, I'm just acting my usual semi-social, haphazardly planning self.
Somewhere in my brain, I am constantly subverting tradition. This is at least partially because I'm number two of five children. Being just the same as everyone else makes me cringe. Thus, you have me ordering different food at restaurants than my family, a virgin pina colada on my 21st, and getting a birthday pie today. I fully intended to buy my usual ice cream cake, but when we got to the store the pie was right there, and I couldn't help myself. (I got French Silk pie and a cheesecake sampler) It's going to be so good.
I know already what half my presents are, and am looking forward to the rest. This year was better (and worse) than many. That is how it seems to go, huh? The higher the highs, the lower the lows. Balance is inherent in many things. My favorite thing about the past month was being with my parents, talking with them one on one, no real distractions. It made me feel special.
While I'm rambling on, I may as well mention a conversation my brother and I had. We were coming home from the airport, and were talking about age. He mentioned that he felt he stopped maturing at 14, and that is was scary that so many people treat him as an adult. I've also heard this sentiment on XKCD.com (very funny, overly educated snarky cartoons, try it!). Here:
I don't really feel that way. I often feel that people treat me as more mature than I am, but I'm constantly experiencing new things and learning from them. Maybe the difference is that I haven't given up on maturity yet, and I'm willing to redefine it as I go. People treating you as mature is not necessarily a bad thing. Conforming to the expectations of others is a normal thing for many. The best example of that for me is the orchestra here in town that I've played with (remember that week?). At school we were all more or less the same level, and slacking off is a way of life for many a student. However, in a professional orchestra the expectation and, consequently, the level of performance is higher. When I play with them I feel elevated, made better by the good performances of the people around me.
That was probably enough thoughtfulness for today, here's some knitting!
This is the baby thing (my younger brother decided it looked like a mini skirt) at about 13 inches. The curly bit at the bottom? That's where the drawstring holes are. (That's also my shoe at the very bottom, just noticed that). It's gotten even bigger since then, I'm currently reading about 18 inches, and am aiming for 21.5 in. before I start the armholes. Wish me luck!
Until next time,
Greeny
Somewhere in my brain, I am constantly subverting tradition. This is at least partially because I'm number two of five children. Being just the same as everyone else makes me cringe. Thus, you have me ordering different food at restaurants than my family, a virgin pina colada on my 21st, and getting a birthday pie today. I fully intended to buy my usual ice cream cake, but when we got to the store the pie was right there, and I couldn't help myself. (I got French Silk pie and a cheesecake sampler) It's going to be so good.
I know already what half my presents are, and am looking forward to the rest. This year was better (and worse) than many. That is how it seems to go, huh? The higher the highs, the lower the lows. Balance is inherent in many things. My favorite thing about the past month was being with my parents, talking with them one on one, no real distractions. It made me feel special.
While I'm rambling on, I may as well mention a conversation my brother and I had. We were coming home from the airport, and were talking about age. He mentioned that he felt he stopped maturing at 14, and that is was scary that so many people treat him as an adult. I've also heard this sentiment on XKCD.com (very funny, overly educated snarky cartoons, try it!). Here:
I don't really feel that way. I often feel that people treat me as more mature than I am, but I'm constantly experiencing new things and learning from them. Maybe the difference is that I haven't given up on maturity yet, and I'm willing to redefine it as I go. People treating you as mature is not necessarily a bad thing. Conforming to the expectations of others is a normal thing for many. The best example of that for me is the orchestra here in town that I've played with (remember that week?). At school we were all more or less the same level, and slacking off is a way of life for many a student. However, in a professional orchestra the expectation and, consequently, the level of performance is higher. When I play with them I feel elevated, made better by the good performances of the people around me.
That was probably enough thoughtfulness for today, here's some knitting!
This is the baby thing (my younger brother decided it looked like a mini skirt) at about 13 inches. The curly bit at the bottom? That's where the drawstring holes are. (That's also my shoe at the very bottom, just noticed that). It's gotten even bigger since then, I'm currently reading about 18 inches, and am aiming for 21.5 in. before I start the armholes. Wish me luck!
Until next time,
Greeny
My apologies, good readers, I didn't intend to leave and return a full week later. Things got rather busy. It was the last week at EMF, and social activity picked up correspondingly. I am pleased to write that my last week here was a good one. I practiced more than previous weeks, socialized more, and got to explore the town a bit thanks to Mom and Dad. My parents arrived Wednesday night, and we went to dinner at this really nice restaurant called Tripps. The food was excellent, and I actually tried a wine that wasn't too objectionable. Mind you, my experience with all things alcohol is still quite limited, and wine is no exception.
The next day Mom and I went shopping, and I found a pair of cute blue flats, and new comfortable black gig shoes. I also went to a Michael's and bought some sale yarn (technically, this makes it souvenir yarn, hmm..). That night was the first of my last three concerts. It didn't go as well as I'd hoped, but it was still very fun.
Friday was a sort-of repeat, except we went to a museum about Greensboro in the 1800's. Rather excellent places, historical museums. (We also went to a winery. This is a first for me, and it was really fun. The people there were really interesting, and I found wine I unreservedly liked. [This is in parenthesis because Dad's embarrassed about me writing this.]) The Friday night concert rocked, to put it simply. I haven't had that much fun since the second week here.
Finally, Saturday dawned. I got up unnecessarily early, but I had time for everything. My chamber group rehearsed, and I got a (really necessary) box filled with clothing and such off to UPS. That thing was heavy, I'm sore from having to carry it around. Lunch happened, and then I went to the operations center and found out when my group was playing. I'd been trying to find this out for three days, and nobody knew anything. At last someone told me the program was at operations. I had a difficult time locating it, but then I did my good deed for the month, and brought a copy of it over to the main hall. Then, because I was very tired (late nights do that, go figure), I tried to take a nap. Getting there felt like an obstacle course, Mom and Dad had arrived, so I met them at my dorm. Then they needed to use the computer, so I laid down and let them, and then they went and watched TV while I napped. My parents are cool that way.
My quartet played around 2:30pm, and we did well. Our violist said it was the best chamber performance that she's been involved in. Mom and Dad left after that to drive to Florida, and are there safe and sound, according to the message I got last night.
After that I went to dinner (at Elizabeth's Pizza!) and the last EMF concert with my roommate and some friends. The faculty played Don Quixote by Strauss. It was a wonderful thing to hear. I finished the first Harry Potter book during intermission, and managed to return that to the library here after the concert. Unlike many others, I managed to get a full night's sleep. I woke up earlier than I planned today, but that turned out to be a good thing (after all, I get to write this). I have a few regrets about what I missed here due to laziness, stubbornness, and fanfiction, but overall it's been a good experience. Music is a wonderful thing, and I'm glad to have been immersed in it for five weeks.
Now, back to reality.
Greeny
P.S. The knitting is bigger.
The next day Mom and I went shopping, and I found a pair of cute blue flats, and new comfortable black gig shoes. I also went to a Michael's and bought some sale yarn (technically, this makes it souvenir yarn, hmm..). That night was the first of my last three concerts. It didn't go as well as I'd hoped, but it was still very fun.
Friday was a sort-of repeat, except we went to a museum about Greensboro in the 1800's. Rather excellent places, historical museums. (We also went to a winery. This is a first for me, and it was really fun. The people there were really interesting, and I found wine I unreservedly liked. [This is in parenthesis because Dad's embarrassed about me writing this.]) The Friday night concert rocked, to put it simply. I haven't had that much fun since the second week here.
Finally, Saturday dawned. I got up unnecessarily early, but I had time for everything. My chamber group rehearsed, and I got a (really necessary) box filled with clothing and such off to UPS. That thing was heavy, I'm sore from having to carry it around. Lunch happened, and then I went to the operations center and found out when my group was playing. I'd been trying to find this out for three days, and nobody knew anything. At last someone told me the program was at operations. I had a difficult time locating it, but then I did my good deed for the month, and brought a copy of it over to the main hall. Then, because I was very tired (late nights do that, go figure), I tried to take a nap. Getting there felt like an obstacle course, Mom and Dad had arrived, so I met them at my dorm. Then they needed to use the computer, so I laid down and let them, and then they went and watched TV while I napped. My parents are cool that way.
My quartet played around 2:30pm, and we did well. Our violist said it was the best chamber performance that she's been involved in. Mom and Dad left after that to drive to Florida, and are there safe and sound, according to the message I got last night.
After that I went to dinner (at Elizabeth's Pizza!) and the last EMF concert with my roommate and some friends. The faculty played Don Quixote by Strauss. It was a wonderful thing to hear. I finished the first Harry Potter book during intermission, and managed to return that to the library here after the concert. Unlike many others, I managed to get a full night's sleep. I woke up earlier than I planned today, but that turned out to be a good thing (after all, I get to write this). I have a few regrets about what I missed here due to laziness, stubbornness, and fanfiction, but overall it's been a good experience. Music is a wonderful thing, and I'm glad to have been immersed in it for five weeks.
Now, back to reality.
Greeny
P.S. The knitting is bigger.
On the lack of things to do
Jun. 8th, 2009 09:51 pmI realized after my first summer in college that I needed to do something to keep myself engaged. I'm a pretty hard learner sometimes. It took me feeling like I was going crazy to figure that out. So, my second summer I took an art class, which worked pretty well. My third summer I went abroad, and, consequently, started this journal. That was exhausting, but I was never at a lack for interesting things to do.
This summer is strange. As everyone should know by now. I'm going to North Carolina in about three weeks. I've complained enough about how a bored Greeny is a bad thing, and now here I am: apathetic about most things, addicted to reading fanfiction, and unhappy about it all. I have a schedule. I'm working two days a week, and going to band practices twice a week. Also, I'm re-starting lessons after a month hiatus. Perhaps the next two days will perk me up.
This summer is strange. As everyone should know by now. I'm going to North Carolina in about three weeks. I've complained enough about how a bored Greeny is a bad thing, and now here I am: apathetic about most things, addicted to reading fanfiction, and unhappy about it all. I have a schedule. I'm working two days a week, and going to band practices twice a week. Also, I'm re-starting lessons after a month hiatus. Perhaps the next two days will perk me up.
Onto other news. I got to see the newest addition to my extended family on my mother's side. Cassie is a wondrous little three-week-old baby. My mother, myself, and my youngest brother took the 1 1/2 hour drive on Sunday to go see her. This is the baby for whom I knit a yellow cap. However, I forgot to take it, and then decided after seeing her that yellow is all wrong for her coloring. She has dark hair and eyes, like myself, and I never liked the look of yellow on me. So, I decided to make something new, and asked my dearest cousin (her mother) if she wanted any particular piece of clothing. I was asking to be polite, and expected the answer to be something typical, like a sweater or jammies. She surprised me by asking for a sleeper. I had to ask for clarification. Basically, a sleeper is a long gown for a baby with a drawstring at the bottom. It keeps the baby warm, and prevents them from going anywhere fast.
I went and looked at yarn for this project today, but I couldn't decide what to get. Being a slow decision-maker is frustrating, sometimes. All I know for sure is that the local yarn store ladies are very helpful, and that I want a dark red/burnt orange color for the thing. It's going to be fun to make, I think.
Now, I must go find something engaging to do besides read fanfiction. Maybe a crossword puzzle....
Greeny
Laptops, Festivals
May. 27th, 2009 01:45 pmSigh, I just lost my post.
Let us see, there was squeeing over the new laptop my dad just got me. It's new and pretty and I'm posting from it right now. He did this because a) I killed my old one accidentally. b) He moved his office (and thus the communal computer) and c) He loves me lots, and is good at getting lovely deals. Therefore, I now have unlimited and uninterrupted acces to the internet, a new office, and plenty of time to have fun with both.
There was follow up reporting on my visit to the guy friend's parents (and friends, it turned out). Quite a bit of fun, actually. My only complaint is that my eyes rebelled that day, so I ended up wearing sunglasses most of the time. Did you know that single-child parents act differently than multiple-child parents? I've noticed this trend only now because I didn't have friends who were only children until college. In general, single-child parents have much more distinct personalities and hobbies, because they have more time and energy for such, comparatively.
Ah, and then there was the knitting...I figured out the mistake, it's simple, but really annoying to fix. I'll probably keep the project.
Finally, there was...the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina. I'm in! Got confirmation yesterday. I'm filling out the rest of the paperwork and sending it in. Also, I'm waiting somewhat impatiently for dad to get home so I can get his signature on one of the papers. At least I got a partial scholarship. I don't know why that makes up for waiting impatiently, but it does.
Gotta go.
Greene
Almost There...
Dec. 23rd, 2008 10:58 amThis is my first Christmas while blogging. As some of you may know, my family started officially celebrating the holiday two years ago. We started buying presents in an organized manner last year. There are many and varied reasons why this was not a family tradition until now. Basically, we were humorless Baptists, or influenced by the like. Not really, if there is one thing my family has, it's a sense of humor. (The baptist thing is true, though) We still are, technically, but we're getting out in the world in ways we could not before.
Enough about tradition! Let us examine the present. I am still finishing the dang afghan, not much progress since last time I wrote. I have finished my Christmas shopping. All that is left is the wrapping. The thing about buying presents: it's a crapshoot. You could go and buy something on the list they have published, or you could be creative and try to match their tastes without getting them something they expect. I do the first, mostly. Dad does the second. Getting something people love is hard, getting them something they hate is about the same, the middle of the road ("Oh, that's nice") is the easiest to attain.
Gifts are not the end-all and be-all of the season, and treating them as such is folly. But if they aren't, what is?
I realize some people don't like their family. My older sister can only stand us for a few days before retreating to her home four hours away. However, what is life without relationships? The group, herd, pack, family is the reason any human is alive today, and on some level we know that. It is our nature to be with others, and so we celebrate that in the middle of winter, when we really need a pick me up. That's my interpretation of this crazy ritual, anyway. I refuse to be overly stressed out about cookies, dinner, or presents. The traffic (so many people!) is what kills me.
My sister is coming in tonight, rather late. That is her tradition. It goes along with one holiday with her family, the other with her fiance's. We have plans. The parents are going to Florida. There may be lots of fun, cooking, movies, etc. Or this could get rather stressful. We will see. I have many 'escape' plans at the ready: knitting, reading, hiding, and so much more. I feel like my entire life has prepared me to deal with this holiday.
Wow, I ramble on pretty long sometimes. Wish me luck!
Greene
Enough about tradition! Let us examine the present. I am still finishing the dang afghan, not much progress since last time I wrote. I have finished my Christmas shopping. All that is left is the wrapping. The thing about buying presents: it's a crapshoot. You could go and buy something on the list they have published, or you could be creative and try to match their tastes without getting them something they expect. I do the first, mostly. Dad does the second. Getting something people love is hard, getting them something they hate is about the same, the middle of the road ("Oh, that's nice") is the easiest to attain.
Gifts are not the end-all and be-all of the season, and treating them as such is folly. But if they aren't, what is?
I realize some people don't like their family. My older sister can only stand us for a few days before retreating to her home four hours away. However, what is life without relationships? The group, herd, pack, family is the reason any human is alive today, and on some level we know that. It is our nature to be with others, and so we celebrate that in the middle of winter, when we really need a pick me up. That's my interpretation of this crazy ritual, anyway. I refuse to be overly stressed out about cookies, dinner, or presents. The traffic (so many people!) is what kills me.
My sister is coming in tonight, rather late. That is her tradition. It goes along with one holiday with her family, the other with her fiance's. We have plans. The parents are going to Florida. There may be lots of fun, cooking, movies, etc. Or this could get rather stressful. We will see. I have many 'escape' plans at the ready: knitting, reading, hiding, and so much more. I feel like my entire life has prepared me to deal with this holiday.
Wow, I ramble on pretty long sometimes. Wish me luck!
Greene
