Procrastination

I am sadly procrastinating at the moment. I turned pages for Molly this morning for a recital permission, and now, with 4 hours before my lesson, I should be practicing like mad, but I really. Am not. In the mood.

Things have been ok. Thanksgiving was very pleasant at Heidi's as always. This was my 6th one there - every year since I started college. Whit made a fabulous dinner, and then we all made strips of construction paper listing twenty things we're thankful for. Then we linked all the strips together to make a paper chain, and it is all different colors and really beautiful. It was a nice thing to do.

I'm auditioning for the Britten-Pears orchestra next Wednesday at NEC. This was a VERY last minute, quick application decision, but if I get in and it worked out, I would be going to England to perform! I need to do something this summer, and CCE looks like it might have a mini-reunion as well, in California. It always amazes me how much time and energy throughout the year musicians spend on music festivals. We have to apply usually by December, do auditions in the winter, make a choice in the spring, attend them in the summer, and by October (only a little of a month after summer) the cycle of "what will I do next summer?" returns again. As much as I enjoyed and appreciated last summer off, the musical-festival-itch has returned.

Last week had a sentimental and emotional moment. I decided to order Papa Johns pizza for the first time since Eastman. I logged into my account, and had to update all my info - address, phone number, etc. Everything was still listed as the Eastman dorm, including my dorm phone number. All those nights of sausage with half mushroom pizzas, sitting on Mary's floor eating, came flying back.

Also, Kimby looked FANTASTIC last week on Stacey London's Fashionably Late! Whoo-hoo Kimby! You're a star!

Ok. Brahms is calling my name. I can hear him. Good lord.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for all of you!!!!!

Craig Smith

The last entry was about birth. This one is about death. The cycle of life continues.

Craig Smith, the founder of Emmanuel Music in Boston (the only church in North America to play a Bach cantata EVERY Sunday) died last night at the age of 60. He had diabetes, and had been in declining health for awhile. I had to do emergency babysitting tonight for Adelaide since my sister needed to go to a gathering of his friends and colleagues tonight, and Whit had BPO. She's been a part of Emmanuel for 10 years now, and knew Craig very well. David Hoose and him were very close friends, and he almost cried in orchestra today (as well as was the person to first tell me).

I only worked with Craig twice last year, while playing at Emmanuel on Sundays. I am so happy to have had that opportunity. The Boston music community and the music world has had a great loss.

Emily Ruth Keener

She's here! And absolutely beautiful!

Congrats, Mary and Daniel!

My parents just left. Always sad to see them go - we had such a good time!

Now back to real life and actually having to spend MY money on food instead of them taking me out. Bummer.

Mary, I am thinking of you and praying hard! Good luck tonight at 10 pm to you and Daniel. I can't wait to hear about how beautiful Emily is!

My parents are coming tomorrow.

I am sick. Sick sick sick. I just chugged some dayquil, and let me tell you - it was gross.

All those within 3,000 miles are required to attend tomorrow night's performance of:

Grieg String Quartet, Op. 27
Performed by:
Heather Braun, violin
Tatiana Daubek, violin
Alyssa Hardie, viola
Nick Hardie, cello

In the flyers we are called the "Student String Quartet", because everyone else performing is faculty. We are all blond in this group. How fitting for four blondes to play a Scandanavian composer!

It has been quite some time again since I've written here, but there is nothing of news or anything even remotely interesting going on in my life right now.

I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed.