I forgot the best part of spring/summer! (At least in TX, don't know about the midwest.)
THUNDERSTORMS!!!! yup, love 'em. Big ones that pop up out of nowhere. Awesome. That's all.
Friday, June 11, 2010
SUMMERTIME!!!!
Hey there....long time no speak.
I love summer. Mostly because I'd rather be hot than cold. Not that I particularly enjoy TX summers all the time. Upper 90's is pushing it even for me. But I love it for other reasons. Although, in TX, there is no such thing as spring or fall. After it gets warm, it heats up super fast into Summer weather. And winter only happens for about 2 months. In Texas, there are 2 main seasons with 1 mini season. Hot, cool/cold for 3 months, with a mini spring that lasts for about 6 weeks, give or take. Fall doesn't exist in North Texas. Not enough rain and stays warm for too long, so all the leaves just kinda die instead of turning.
Now in the midwest, I'd say Fall is my favorite, just because of all the colors here. In fact, you could say there are 3 mini seasons of Fall, as the colors change every couple weeks until all the leaves are gone.
But summer is my favorite because of all the things you can do outside. I love being outdoors, as you all know. I want to hike, canoe, and kayak...all of which is on the agenda while I am in WI this summer.
Well, I was home in Dallas for about 2 weeks. It was a lot of fun....and hard work. And hot. My mom had surgery on both her foot and her shoulder within a week, so she couldn't get up and do much. Don't get me wrong...I love helping out, plus I got some sun (I'm so white!!). Scubbed the front porch (of all dirt and bird poo from the barn swallows that we breed in our porch overhangs. Cool to watch, but makes a big mess every summer.), planted flowers, remulched the flower beds, trimmed, blew out both garages....seems like I'm missing something. But that's the main of it, me and my sister slave monkeys. FYI, to all you Jillian Michaels facebook haters (you know who you are) "monkey" is a term of endearment. So don't hate.
As awful as doing all that sounds (and my sisters did much more yardwork like mowing and such than I did, partly owing to the fact that they are there all summer, note credit due), especially when it's anywhere between 95 and 105 degrees...not exaggerating...it was kinda fun. I should be careful about admitting this because I might get sucked in more, hehe, but I liked working outside. Except mowing. I hate mowing with a riding lawn mower. Call me crazy. Let me tell you the story. Our old riding mower, Moe, hated me. Every time I tried to mow with him he would shut off, not turn on, or have some other mechanical issue. EVERY TIME!! So the lawn ended up taking FOREVER. It could be me, and I know all of you are laughing, but I haven't been able to mow the lawn without something happening on a riding mower. Push mower, I love. I'm a pro. (Well starting it is hard, but other than that) Ride mower....rather not. Eventually Moe died and I haven't been able to even learn how to drive our new one. It's one of those John Deere foot pedal ones, with buttons instead of knobs. So maybe I'll learn to drive it one day. Maybe not.
I like doing most everything else. Or maybe I should ammend. I don't like the yard, but I like the gardens. Flower and veggie. I enjoyed planting flowers for my mom and trimming everything up, mulching and overall making them look pretty. I even got some weird satisfaction out of scrubbing the porch. You know that weird satisfaction you get from dusting baseboards or sweeping up big crumbs on the floor? Yeah, it's that same feeling. By the way, the best way to get rid of bird poo is degreaser. Makes it so easy.
I've also discovered that I'm becoming a little bit OCD about the kitchen. Well, not actually OCD, but termed in the loosest way. When I'm done with something, I have to clean the counters and make it look pretty. I have to wash everything right after I use it (something I'd never been great about doing). It now bugs me when ppl leave dishes in the sink or by the sink. All this I blame on my Landlady that I live with up at school. She has some house rules, one of them being the kitchen must always look nice when you are not in it. So no dirty dishes anywhere, clean up your messes, wash everything right away and put in dishwasher or dishrack, etc. There are 4 different places to throw waste items. You have to wipe off the bathroom sink with the sponge after you use it. These rules have changed me. Now, even when I go to other places or restaurants, if I make a water mess by the sink or leave crumbs where I ate in a restaurant I have to wipe them up. Thank you Diane Ragains for showing me the error of my former ways....I think, hehe. :)
We also saw Wicked the musical. If you have not seen Wicked.....GO SEE IT!! And bring binoculars if you are far away because it is worth watching their facial expressions. Everyone knows the music is amazing, and Alphaba singing 'Defying Gravity' on Broadway is the 7th wonder of the world. But the play is soooo funny and very clever. Not to mention a whole new vocabulary of made up words. Even has one kinda corny love scene/song in the middle, though the actual love story underneith all the action is not corny at all. Anyway, go find out for yourself.
What else...my cousin graduated high school. Got to see a lot of old friends. Went on a date, though I won't post on any of that here for obvious reasons...there is always the chance that whoever I date will find my blog and that would kill whatever mystery factor I possess. I'm so bad, hehe.
Henry the fish is doing well. He is in his 'summer condo' right now. I'm taking him up to WI with me, so he can't be in his bigger tank that he normally is in. Oh yeah, for those who don't know, I'm working up in Door County, WI near Egg Harbor. I'm going to be a counselor for a summer music camp called Birch Creek. It consists of 4 2-week camps: orchestra, steel pan/percussion, Jazz I and Jazz II. I'm' way excited. Basically, I'll be in charge of the students (ages 12-18) when they are not doing music stuff. It will kinda nice....usually I go to camps as a student. This time I can still be around music but not directly involved with it, which will be a nice break. I love being outdoors so I'm excited to focus on those activities. Don't worry, I'll be practicing my harp, probably during all my 'free time'. I have a lot of big stuff lined up for my next recitals in both the fall and next spring, plus doing a competition inn Denton, TX next summer. So I'll be plenty busy with music anyway.
Well that's about it. This is a really long post, but if you think about how long it's been since I posted, it's way overdue. And I'm going to do a much better job this summer, since there will be so much going on that I'll actually want to write about. I'll try to post some pics that I took at home, there there aren't very many. I'll take loads at WI. Also, don't forget to check out my photoblog soon for more pics I've taken recently. I'll try to post them in the next week. Toodles!!
I love summer. Mostly because I'd rather be hot than cold. Not that I particularly enjoy TX summers all the time. Upper 90's is pushing it even for me. But I love it for other reasons. Although, in TX, there is no such thing as spring or fall. After it gets warm, it heats up super fast into Summer weather. And winter only happens for about 2 months. In Texas, there are 2 main seasons with 1 mini season. Hot, cool/cold for 3 months, with a mini spring that lasts for about 6 weeks, give or take. Fall doesn't exist in North Texas. Not enough rain and stays warm for too long, so all the leaves just kinda die instead of turning.
Now in the midwest, I'd say Fall is my favorite, just because of all the colors here. In fact, you could say there are 3 mini seasons of Fall, as the colors change every couple weeks until all the leaves are gone.
But summer is my favorite because of all the things you can do outside. I love being outdoors, as you all know. I want to hike, canoe, and kayak...all of which is on the agenda while I am in WI this summer.
Well, I was home in Dallas for about 2 weeks. It was a lot of fun....and hard work. And hot. My mom had surgery on both her foot and her shoulder within a week, so she couldn't get up and do much. Don't get me wrong...I love helping out, plus I got some sun (I'm so white!!). Scubbed the front porch (of all dirt and bird poo from the barn swallows that we breed in our porch overhangs. Cool to watch, but makes a big mess every summer.), planted flowers, remulched the flower beds, trimmed, blew out both garages....seems like I'm missing something. But that's the main of it, me and my sister slave monkeys. FYI, to all you Jillian Michaels facebook haters (you know who you are) "monkey" is a term of endearment. So don't hate.
As awful as doing all that sounds (and my sisters did much more yardwork like mowing and such than I did, partly owing to the fact that they are there all summer, note credit due), especially when it's anywhere between 95 and 105 degrees...not exaggerating...it was kinda fun. I should be careful about admitting this because I might get sucked in more, hehe, but I liked working outside. Except mowing. I hate mowing with a riding lawn mower. Call me crazy. Let me tell you the story. Our old riding mower, Moe, hated me. Every time I tried to mow with him he would shut off, not turn on, or have some other mechanical issue. EVERY TIME!! So the lawn ended up taking FOREVER. It could be me, and I know all of you are laughing, but I haven't been able to mow the lawn without something happening on a riding mower. Push mower, I love. I'm a pro. (Well starting it is hard, but other than that) Ride mower....rather not. Eventually Moe died and I haven't been able to even learn how to drive our new one. It's one of those John Deere foot pedal ones, with buttons instead of knobs. So maybe I'll learn to drive it one day. Maybe not.
I like doing most everything else. Or maybe I should ammend. I don't like the yard, but I like the gardens. Flower and veggie. I enjoyed planting flowers for my mom and trimming everything up, mulching and overall making them look pretty. I even got some weird satisfaction out of scrubbing the porch. You know that weird satisfaction you get from dusting baseboards or sweeping up big crumbs on the floor? Yeah, it's that same feeling. By the way, the best way to get rid of bird poo is degreaser. Makes it so easy.
I've also discovered that I'm becoming a little bit OCD about the kitchen. Well, not actually OCD, but termed in the loosest way. When I'm done with something, I have to clean the counters and make it look pretty. I have to wash everything right after I use it (something I'd never been great about doing). It now bugs me when ppl leave dishes in the sink or by the sink. All this I blame on my Landlady that I live with up at school. She has some house rules, one of them being the kitchen must always look nice when you are not in it. So no dirty dishes anywhere, clean up your messes, wash everything right away and put in dishwasher or dishrack, etc. There are 4 different places to throw waste items. You have to wipe off the bathroom sink with the sponge after you use it. These rules have changed me. Now, even when I go to other places or restaurants, if I make a water mess by the sink or leave crumbs where I ate in a restaurant I have to wipe them up. Thank you Diane Ragains for showing me the error of my former ways....I think, hehe. :)
We also saw Wicked the musical. If you have not seen Wicked.....GO SEE IT!! And bring binoculars if you are far away because it is worth watching their facial expressions. Everyone knows the music is amazing, and Alphaba singing 'Defying Gravity' on Broadway is the 7th wonder of the world. But the play is soooo funny and very clever. Not to mention a whole new vocabulary of made up words. Even has one kinda corny love scene/song in the middle, though the actual love story underneith all the action is not corny at all. Anyway, go find out for yourself.
What else...my cousin graduated high school. Got to see a lot of old friends. Went on a date, though I won't post on any of that here for obvious reasons...there is always the chance that whoever I date will find my blog and that would kill whatever mystery factor I possess. I'm so bad, hehe.
Henry the fish is doing well. He is in his 'summer condo' right now. I'm taking him up to WI with me, so he can't be in his bigger tank that he normally is in. Oh yeah, for those who don't know, I'm working up in Door County, WI near Egg Harbor. I'm going to be a counselor for a summer music camp called Birch Creek. It consists of 4 2-week camps: orchestra, steel pan/percussion, Jazz I and Jazz II. I'm' way excited. Basically, I'll be in charge of the students (ages 12-18) when they are not doing music stuff. It will kinda nice....usually I go to camps as a student. This time I can still be around music but not directly involved with it, which will be a nice break. I love being outdoors so I'm excited to focus on those activities. Don't worry, I'll be practicing my harp, probably during all my 'free time'. I have a lot of big stuff lined up for my next recitals in both the fall and next spring, plus doing a competition inn Denton, TX next summer. So I'll be plenty busy with music anyway.
Well that's about it. This is a really long post, but if you think about how long it's been since I posted, it's way overdue. And I'm going to do a much better job this summer, since there will be so much going on that I'll actually want to write about. I'll try to post some pics that I took at home, there there aren't very many. I'll take loads at WI. Also, don't forget to check out my photoblog soon for more pics I've taken recently. I'll try to post them in the next week. Toodles!!
Friday, May 7, 2010
I'M FINALLY DONE!!!!!!!!!!
Woohoo!!! Just emailed my paper to the prof. And the best part is....it's thundering outside!!
.....now I can finally sleep.....even though I want IHOP.....but there's no one around or awake to go with me.....so i'll just sleep.....
.....and then maybe have a social life.....
~zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Program for Saturday
This is my first graduate harp recital studying under Faye Seeman at
NIU. Ms Seeman is an incredible harpist who has helped me delve into my
deepest musical reserves.
So here is my program everyone (I will post program notes later before my recital so stay tuned):
Sonatine opus 30----Marcel Tournier (1879-1951)
allegrement
calme et espressive
Red Quintet----Gustavo Leone (b. 1956)
*Ilana Waniuk, violin
*Alex Wang, violin
*David Lee, viola
*Jason Young, cello
Four Preludes for Two Harps----Tournier
tranquillo
pas trop vite
lent
allegro
*Assisted by Joanne King, harp
Birds in Winter----Michael Mauldin (b. 1947)
presto
allegretto
with precision
dolce
in one
con moto
***I am especially excited about the Red Quintet and Birds in Winter.
FIRE
Red Quintet is an extremely passionate piece inspired by the color red. It explores all the combination of sounds in the string instruments to bring this passion to life, mixing mesmerizing segments of free floating sounds to sections of calculated metrical movement.
ICE
Birds in Winter is a hauntingly beautiful serious of movements that are pictorally programmatic. I have interpreted this piece as a progression through the winter season, starting with the first snowfalls in the beginning, to the windy, frozen ice covered dead of winter in IV, echoes off the cold canyons in V, and spring finally returning with the melting snows in VI. Throughout the piece, birdcalls (or absence of) can literally be heard in the music. With this in mind, I invite everyone to let their minds wander and draw up whatever pictures the music inspires.
The Tournier pieces are also very expressive and beautiful.
I have really enjoyed exploring the depths of my musicality working on this program. I hope you enjoy it as well!
So here is my program everyone (I will post program notes later before my recital so stay tuned):
Sonatine opus 30----Marcel Tournier (1879-1951)
allegrement
calme et espressive
Red Quintet----Gustavo Leone (b. 1956)
*Ilana Waniuk, violin
*Alex Wang, violin
*David Lee, viola
*Jason Young, cello
Four Preludes for Two Harps----Tournier
tranquillo
pas trop vite
lent
allegro
*Assisted by Joanne King, harp
Birds in Winter----Michael Mauldin (b. 1947)
presto
allegretto
with precision
dolce
in one
con moto
***I am especially excited about the Red Quintet and Birds in Winter.
FIRE
Red Quintet is an extremely passionate piece inspired by the color red. It explores all the combination of sounds in the string instruments to bring this passion to life, mixing mesmerizing segments of free floating sounds to sections of calculated metrical movement.
ICE
Birds in Winter is a hauntingly beautiful serious of movements that are pictorally programmatic. I have interpreted this piece as a progression through the winter season, starting with the first snowfalls in the beginning, to the windy, frozen ice covered dead of winter in IV, echoes off the cold canyons in V, and spring finally returning with the melting snows in VI. Throughout the piece, birdcalls (or absence of) can literally be heard in the music. With this in mind, I invite everyone to let their minds wander and draw up whatever pictures the music inspires.
The Tournier pieces are also very expressive and beautiful.
I have really enjoyed exploring the depths of my musicality working on this program. I hope you enjoy it as well!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
link to webcast
I forgot that this goes out in email and that ppl don't actually get onto my blog, so here's the link:
http://www.niu.edu/music/media/webcasts.shtml
http://www.niu.edu/music/media/webcasts.shtml
World Music concert TODAY AT 3PM CT!!!!
I know its last minute....if you are at the computer today at 3pm CT, 2pm MT, or 4pm ET, then you can get online and watch via webcast the World Music concert today. It is a concert with multiple ensembles from around the world.
I am playing the liuqin in the Chinese orchestra, which is the first 3 songs on the program. It is going to be awsome. So come watch if you're not at church!!
(link to the url on the right)
I am playing the liuqin in the Chinese orchestra, which is the first 3 songs on the program. It is going to be awsome. So come watch if you're not at church!!
(link to the url on the right)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Announcements!!!!!
I have a couple of exciting announcements for everyone:
...........cricket....................
Yeah, that's what I thought. On that note, I will also be broadcasting it through the NIU LIVE WEBCAST system. That means that yes, while I am doing a sound recording, it will also be broadcast LIVE. That means you still have to save the date to watch me, whether here in Dekalb or on your computer screen.
The date for my recital is APRIL 17, 2010 at 4:45 pm CENTRAL TIME. I will be posting my program later when I know my piece order. So Save the Date!!!!!
1) My first Graduate Recital
I wanted to invite anyone that wanted to fly several hundred miles to come and watch me play my first harp recital here at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL............cricket....................
Yeah, that's what I thought. On that note, I will also be broadcasting it through the NIU LIVE WEBCAST system. That means that yes, while I am doing a sound recording, it will also be broadcast LIVE. That means you still have to save the date to watch me, whether here in Dekalb or on your computer screen.
The date for my recital is APRIL 17, 2010 at 4:45 pm CENTRAL TIME. I will be posting my program later when I know my piece order. So Save the Date!!!!!
2) Perfect Light Photo Gallery
I have just launched my new photo gallery site Perfect Light. I love taking photos and this site allows me to share my photography with everyone. There is not much there so far, but I will be expanding it over time as I take more photos. Remember each thumbpriint is for a single post so there are multiple pictures for each post. Come visit, give your comments and spread the word! (I have also added the URL link to side under my profile)
Friday, March 19, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Asparagus
So Diane my landlady had a whole bunch of asparagus she didn't use; so I said I would eat it. I have always wanted to try roasted asparagus. However, asparagus was never a favorite vegetable growing up (sorry mom). My mom's favorite way to eat it is to boil it. And then I would smother it with ketchup. Sounds disgusting, but at least 2 of my sisters eat it that way too, and it's actually pretty good.
You can quite making barfing noises now.
Anyway, I've always wanted to roast them, since a lot of people cook asparagus that way. So I coated them in olive oil, seasoned pepper, salt, dill, and minced onions and roasted them in the oven. Let me tell you....that was probably the most delicious cooked vegetable I have ever eaten. It literally tasted gourmet and I was extremely sad when it was all gone.
So, turns out I do like asparagus (without ketchup). I think that is probably the way with most vegetables. Many people say they don't like them. Maybe that's because they haven't found the right way to cook or prepare them yet. It's a theory, anyway.
=0>
You can quite making barfing noises now.
Anyway, I've always wanted to roast them, since a lot of people cook asparagus that way. So I coated them in olive oil, seasoned pepper, salt, dill, and minced onions and roasted them in the oven. Let me tell you....that was probably the most delicious cooked vegetable I have ever eaten. It literally tasted gourmet and I was extremely sad when it was all gone.
So, turns out I do like asparagus (without ketchup). I think that is probably the way with most vegetables. Many people say they don't like them. Maybe that's because they haven't found the right way to cook or prepare them yet. It's a theory, anyway.
=0>
Friday, March 12, 2010
Happenings.
Ok, still trying to figure out how to get pictures off my camera. My dad sent me this cool transfer card thing and I'm trying to figure out how it works....when I get around to it hehe.
Yeah, I got this really nice cool camera for Christmas....Canon PowerShot SX20 IS with 12.1 mega pixels....yeah it's pretty sweet. I love taking photos, kinda wish I could do something with photography now. Who knows....it has become a hobby at any rate.
So yeah we got to stay at home (Dallas) for Christmas this year. It was really nice not to have to travel, and to get a real tree!! I love trees. Also my grandparents came down which was really cool because I don't get to see them too often like my sisters do. Usually my dad's brother's family would come too, but we didn't get to see them this year, mostly because my cousin in law was about to have her twins!! Exciting!! I can't wait to see them. Anyway, it was a good Christmas, but I did miss my cousins and playing games all day with them. :(
Update: For those that knew I was dating someone, we are no more (in case you didn't get that memo somehow). Just to set the record straight, I am single at the moment.
School so far has been good...ish. I'm taking a research class and it is not my favorite class. It's not hard necessarily, but time-consuming with lots of little assignments on top of a huge research paper. I'm also taking Music History review, which I actually like...except I have to write another research paper for that. I'm going to be super busy after this weekend.
Flipside, I love Faye Seeman (harp teacher). While the school ensemble-wise is not offering me what I'm capable of, I would not trade my time with Ms Seeman for anything. She is trully amazing and has helped me grow as a harpist so much and really understands how to teach. Speaking of teaching, I have 3 students: 8, 10, and one older adult. I love it.
I am also learning to play the Liuqin, which is a small version of a Pipa. They are Chinese instruments and I am learning liu chin for a silk and bamboo ensemble that we are putting together to perform in April. It's a lot of fun, and our teacher (visiting from China) is a lot of fun to work with. She knows how to play every chinese instrument and even conducts chinese orchestras in China. If it is broadcast, I will let you know. :)
Yeah, I got this really nice cool camera for Christmas....Canon PowerShot SX20 IS with 12.1 mega pixels....yeah it's pretty sweet. I love taking photos, kinda wish I could do something with photography now. Who knows....it has become a hobby at any rate.
So yeah we got to stay at home (Dallas) for Christmas this year. It was really nice not to have to travel, and to get a real tree!! I love trees. Also my grandparents came down which was really cool because I don't get to see them too often like my sisters do. Usually my dad's brother's family would come too, but we didn't get to see them this year, mostly because my cousin in law was about to have her twins!! Exciting!! I can't wait to see them. Anyway, it was a good Christmas, but I did miss my cousins and playing games all day with them. :(
Update: For those that knew I was dating someone, we are no more (in case you didn't get that memo somehow). Just to set the record straight, I am single at the moment.
School so far has been good...ish. I'm taking a research class and it is not my favorite class. It's not hard necessarily, but time-consuming with lots of little assignments on top of a huge research paper. I'm also taking Music History review, which I actually like...except I have to write another research paper for that. I'm going to be super busy after this weekend.
Flipside, I love Faye Seeman (harp teacher). While the school ensemble-wise is not offering me what I'm capable of, I would not trade my time with Ms Seeman for anything. She is trully amazing and has helped me grow as a harpist so much and really understands how to teach. Speaking of teaching, I have 3 students: 8, 10, and one older adult. I love it.
I am also learning to play the Liuqin, which is a small version of a Pipa. They are Chinese instruments and I am learning liu chin for a silk and bamboo ensemble that we are putting together to perform in April. It's a lot of fun, and our teacher (visiting from China) is a lot of fun to work with. She knows how to play every chinese instrument and even conducts chinese orchestras in China. If it is broadcast, I will let you know. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)