Pretty Eyebrows

I just got home from having my eyebrows waxed and getting a half hour massage. Needless to say, thank heavens the massage was AFTER the eyebrow extravaganza. I haven't had my eyebrows done since Mary's wedding, and it hurt badly. I always try to keep up with them - a pluck here, a couple plucks there - and I'm fortunate to be fair skinned and fair haired that I don't have to worry about it too much. In any case, they are now perfectly shaped, the skin around them is puffy, pink, and inflamed, and I'm sure I won't have them waxed again for another two and a half years.

Christmas Eve

It has been a long time since the last post. Since then, I've done a LOT, including: finished three papers, played a very successful jury, played two successful yet slightly stressful but very very very fun Back Bay Chorale concerts, and somehow flew home despite record snowfalls in Boston AND Milwaukee.

Hannah got here a few days ago, I got here Monday afternoon, and Holly and Tony arrived late last night. The three of us have already played a game a Scrabble and Holly has already won, darn it. Shoot. I am determined to conquer SOMETIME during the next week and a half! Heidi, Whit, and the little dearies Adelaide and Finnis arrive late tomorrow night. There are ten stockings on my parents' fireplace. We are a growing family!

Merry Christmas to all those near and far!

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.

Stressed. Tired. Almost done. Cannot wait till next week Tuesday, at 4:30 pm.

Although the picture isn't great, here is the newest member of our apartment: Molly's new kitty, MK.

MK stands for Mama Kitty - she was a pregnant stray when she arrived at the shelter, and that is what the staff at the shelter named her. Her initials will remain the same, although Molly may change their meaning to something else. She is super friendly - hates being left alone in a room for even a second - and has a chirpy meow, sounding like a bird. She is very sweet, although still obviously very young - she is currently in an ongoing 3 day battle with the front hall rug. Every twenty minutes or so, she attacks it with a burst of fresh energy. Oh, she also enjoys eating the tips off the leaves of plants. Otherwise, she has adjusted to life here quite quickly.

I jumped at the chance to take this shot with my photo booth program, since its the most sedate she's been since moving here this past Sunday. We have had a very nice, relaxing evening together!

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who are dear, whether they be near or far!

I am so thankful for all of you!

Thank God for Thanksgiving Break

And that is quite literally how I feel.

This semester might be the longest and most stressful that I have ever had, but it has also been one of the most successful. In any case, I have never been so happy and thankful for tomorrow and Friday - all that is written in my schedule is "thanksgiving break." Hallelujah.

Right now I am sitting on my couch, the tv is on, I have finished a homemade dinner, I am in pjs, and I plan on staying here for the next few hours. I finished one of my three papers due by the end of the semester this afternoon - I am QUITE ahead of schedule, considering I didn't start any of the five due last year first semester until a few days before the semester was over.

Unfortunately, I really don't have any exciting news other than that. My life is a whirlwind, and while I complain - I'm enjoying it, too.

Taken last Sunday while babysitting the little dearies. I had him in a Bjorn on me the entire time - such a nice little warm, cozy bundle!

The picture is a little blurry because I couldn't use my flash - didn't want to wake him up! And he has a blue handkerchief thingy on his head is to block the sun from the window in the kitchen.

Pictures

Click on the album "The Family Meets Finnis" for pictures from a visit by Mom, Dad, and Hannah to Boston to see Heidi and Whit and Adelaide and meet Finnis for the first time!

Unfortunately (and for this I apologize) there are none of Heidi and only one of Whit. Next time, I'll do better.

Time for bed.

Its late, I'm bored, not really wanting to go to bed yet, but REALLY REALLY should.

Oh well.

Its been another really long, really busy week. I had Cantata Singers this week - its a Britten focused season this time around (last season was Weill, this season is Britten) and in the program tonight was also Faure Requiem. Now, it is usually just a violin solo part, but for many personal, academic, and historical reasons which I will not draw out for you at the moment, the decision was made to play it with 8 violins instead of just 1. Initially, this sounds like a terrific disaster (if you know the violin part to Faure Requiem, you know that its only about 30 bars total and 28 of those bars include notes that never go into the staff and are always in nose bleed territory).  Actually, it wasn't all bad, but it was hard to sit there so long without trying to draw attention to yourself. Reminds me of those WLC Christmas concert days, although tonight was about three times as long for sitting still. Ugh.

Hard to believe the 2nd week of November is already upon us. Tomorrow night Molly and I are having a fall potluck party, which was planned quite late so it may end up being under 10 people eating a lot of baked spaghetti, salad, and pumpkin pie, but who cares. Its my first Saturday night at home since before school started. I'm going to love it.

I'm still struggling with tears every time we play or rehearse certain sections of Daphnis. I really really really REALLY don't want to actually weep openly and have people start asking me whats wrong, and then have to say "Oh, I am just living in the past during this section of the piece." That sounds plain silly, so I make myself stay as calm as I can. 

We're also doing John Adams' Fearful Symmetries for this concert, and I LOVE IT. It was written shortly after Nixon in China, so a lot of it has the same quality of sound (electric keyboards with certain programs written just for the piece, etc). I loved Nixon in China when we studied it in music history, so just imagine the blast I'm having with it now. Oh lord.

In all honesty this might be my favorite program I've done at BU yet - I get pretty weepy during the last part of Daphnis BUT the first two parts I've never done, so its nice to now have played the whole ballet. What I love though about this program is the instruments: there is an alto flute in Daphnis (bravo, alto flute) and there are FOUR saxophones in the Adams, and we all know how I feel about saxophone in an orchestral setting.*

And now, a happy picture:

*I love it. See post from January 17th, 2007.

I think because I originally started the previous post on Monday, Oct 27th, but did not actually complete or publish it till Friday, October 31st (and then put in obvious changes for it to apply to Friday instead of Monday) is why the previous date says Monday, Oct 27th. I should have deleted the whole thing and then started over. Oh well. I apologize for the confusion.

Happy Reformation Day/Daphnis and Chloe

Because I am a Lutheran girl, I wish everyone a Happy Reformation Day this October 31st. :-) 

Possibly because of the Lutheran-ness, I've never been a huge fan of Halloween. To me, this is just a means of getting to Thanksgiving and Christmas (much superior holidays). However, I must admit that this holiday is more annoying to me since my move to Boston and a drunk dressed up fireman on the T got a little too friendly my first Halloween here. Public transportation here on Halloween is much more worse than after a rousing game between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Prime example: tonight at the sane hour of 8:30 pm, someone threw eggs at the train I was on. Yuck.

This week has been better. Things are finally getting a little less stressful and busy, although now I'm filling up time with practicing instead of rehearsals and concerts, so everyday is still a pretty full day.

This past Monday's orchestra rehearsal was a little hard. We've started Daphnis and Chloe (the entire ballet) for the Symphony Hall concert on Nov 24th. While I have never played the first part, and have only done the second suite (basically the third part of the entire ballet), once we got to the part where the second suite starts, I almost broke down. It has way too much sentimental value to me to slam through it in a bad sight-reading session of the BU orchestra. Both the infamous "French concert" at Eastman (possibly the best orchestra concert I played in while there) and the "hodge-podge" concert at TMC (definitely NOT the best concert, but still pretty wonderful) featured the second suite from Daphnis. As much as I love living in Boston, have made good friends, finally have a teacher who is giving me a hundred percent all the time, and am even working as a professional, I miss Eastman and my time at TMC daily. Daphnis and Chloe brings those memories back with a full force. Once those stupid bird solos started I almost wept openly.

Anyway.

Ten Things I Wish I Could Say to Ten Different People Right Now:
1. DON'T change a composer's marking - he knew what he was doing.
2. I got some good practice time in this week - I promise next week's lesson is going to be much better.
3. I'm upset about your choice, because it has affected our repartee as a whole.
4. Why??
5. Lets play SCRABBLE!!!
6. You really do need to wash your hands BEFORE you touch a violin. I can see grime on your fingerboard!
7. I am so grateful for you everyday, for everything you both have done for me here in Boston.
8. Would you like a pistachio.....?
9. I'm so confused.
10. Would Baba like some bunny pasta? (response: he doesn't have a mouth!!)

Nine Things About Myself:
1. I like winter.
2. I only do laundry about once every three weeks. I don't have time or money to do it more than that. This is made possible by Victoria's Secret - because of the free panty coupon I get about once a month, I have enough clean underwear to last about 6 weeks.
3. I am addicted to sleep. Seriously. Addicted.
4. I don't practice enough.
5. I make too much coffee every morning and end up throwing a fourth of it away every day.
6. I prefer to be busy; if I'm not, I sleep too much and watch too much tv and waste the whole day.
7. My dental insurance expired when I turned 23. I haven't had a teeth cleaning since Dec 2006.
8. I could watch episodes of Frasier all day and not get bored.
9. I enjoy sitting in the back of an orchestra section - its more of a challenge.

Eight Ways to Win My Heart:
1. Clean my apartment.
2. Let me borrow a favorite book of yours that I've never read.
3. Give me a shoulder rub and don't ask for one in return. (selfish, I know)
4. Play scrabble or boggle with me.
5. Buy me sushi.
6. Smile and hug me when you're happy to see me.
7. Play chamber music with me.
8. Love me despite my many faults.

Seven Things That Cross My Mind a Lot:
1. We should call the landlord and see if the shower water pressure could be stronger.
2. I'm doing a doctorate and all this work - what if I never get hired at a college or university?
3. I desperately need a haircut.
4. I really need and want to visit Denver.
5. Prayers for health of my family.
6. Guilt for not calling those I miss and love more. I'm terrible at keeping in touch.
7. Guilt for not practicing more.

Six Things I Do Before I Fall Asleep:
1. Change into pjs
2. Prepare the coffee maker and set the timer
3. Set my alarm and check it multiple times.
4. Brush my teeth
5. Wash my face
6. Get music and class binder together and in my violin case for the next days rehearsals, classes, etc.

Five People Who Mean a Lot:
1. Mom and Dad
2. Heidi, Whit, Holly, Tony, Hannah
3. Adelaide and Finnis
4. extended family
5. Molly

Four Things I'm Wearing Right Now:
1. Blue jeans
2. Tank top, then grey sweater, then Tanglewood fleece (its COLD up here in VT)
3. Thick socks and clogs
4. Brown belt

Three Songs I Listen to a Lot:
1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6
2. Hung Up (Madonna)
3. Ravel Piano Concerto (second mvt)

Two Things I Want to Do Before I Die:
1. Travel around Europe for a whole month.
2. Play a concert I feel 150% prepared for.

One Confession:
1. Since living in my apartment, I always buy more milk than I can consume before it goes bad. I've thrown away more spoiled milk than I am proud of.

I'm in Manchester.

Its beautiful up here - this is my sixth fall tour in a row.

I'm finally able to relax and breathe - my life has been too much of a whirlwind lately, and I am able to get some much needed rest at the moment.

Thats all I really have to say at the moment. More relaxing with wine, good friends, and tv is calling my name.

I'm killing time at the library before the big trumpet concerto performances tonight at Tsai. We are accompanying the three finalists for Cornell's Trumpet Concertino (sp?).

My life has been a complete whirlwind of activity, but with the passing of this week (Firebird concert in NYC done and over) and this weekend (a big one for me - my first as concertmaster for the Sunday Bach cantata at Emmanuel) life will get a little easier. Just a little.

Fortunately, some of the immediate family (Mom, Dad, and Hannah) are coming this weekend to meet Finnis and visit with Heidi, Whit, Adelaide, and me. A BIG unfortunately, Holly and Tony can't join us. :-( WE WILL MISS YOU!

Happy Birthday Kimby!

I know it was yesterday, and I will call...... I hope you had a wonderful day!

I'm swamped right now and getting up at 6:30 in the morning to head to NYC for a Firebird Ensemble concert - so goodbye for now.

Disappointing debate and Dr. Beat

I'm sitting here watching the VP debate, and it is frustrating me to no end. Everything is "Your guy voted this way" and the response is always "No he didn't! Thats a lie!!"

(sigh) I don't get it. Either he did or he didn't. How can there be so much "yes you did" - "no you didn't" back and forth and back and forth and BACK and FORTH? Its on a record - somebody isn't reading the records right! Either you DID or you DIDN'T! THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND! ITS YES OR NO!

Maybe I'm just not used to presidential debates. This is the first debate I've watched and paid attention to (although obviously I've gotten sick of it, now that I'm writing here) for a presidential campaign, and its not even the presidential candidates but the VPs. In any case - its driving me nuts. However, I will say that they seem to be overly nice to each other. Interesting.

I am seriously considering moving to Canada and staying there for the rest of my life. Good grief.

Onto now a different separate, serious, very tragic note:

Dr. Beat, my trusty, loud, rhythmically intricate metronome with twenty buttons that became a dear friend for now 6.5 years, has died. The circuitry is shot. I have simply dropped it too many times; it has been used for too many years; been carried around too many miles. It was my high school graduation gift from Heidi and Whit, and it was used and loved well all through my undergrad and masters years. All those CCE rehearsals, all those orchestra excerpts practiced for TMC and excerpt class to make sure I'm always steady while playing the Scherzo mvt. in Schumann 2, all those hours with a drone to help me play in tune. It has always stayed in my violin case, which means I carried it as much as my violin around. I am actually pretty devastated about this, and will be asking for a new one for Christmas. As silly as that sounds, a simple metronome after a Dr. Beat would be too hard - I have come to depend on it specifically.

If I had a backyard, I would bury it. Since I don't, and that might be a little insane anyway, I'll keep it for awhile for the fond memories.

Rain rain go away

I'm watching the news right now, and this announcer talking from Fenway is standing outside (in the absolute POURING rain) with someone ELSE holding an umbrella for him. So its the man giving the report, and a random hand seemingly from nowhere holding an umbrella. Looks creepy. He has clean fingernails though.

It was so frustrating all day today with the rain. Even from my stop WAY out on the Green line there were people standing because all the seats were taken. I had to take the T a lot today because of rehearsals being all over the greater Boston area, and every time it was hot, muggy, wet, and crammed. I am one of the few people I know here that actually enjoy taking the T, but today I most certainly did NOT.

I will leave you all with this:

I love Beethoven 131.

Tonight was the first BU orchestra concert, which went well - Brahms 2 is always a joy to play. 

I'm teaching at Exeter for Heidi while she's on maternity leave this semester, and so far, I am really enjoying it. I had to get a Zipcar, since its a little over an hour north of here (NH) and taking a train would just be too risky, with delays and what not that usually happen with trains. The teaching itself more than makes up for the cost of the zipcar, so that is great, and I love having a car for one day of the week. The drive itself is gorgeous - fall, in all its beautiful, tree-color-changing glory, has already arrived up north. 

Peter has put me on a Kreutzer diet for lessons this semester. Its going well - kinda like a purifying ritual. Today was about trills. I am a very bad trill-er, especially my fourth finger. Its a disaster. Kreutzer to the rescue!

Announcing!

Little dearie Hannah Ruth has a blog!

http://bannahhraun.blogspot.com

In other news:

My life has been chugging along here now for three weeks at BU and Boston in general. I'm enjoying school - great Sheveloff class, and orchestra isn't too bad. We're doing some Debussy piano pieces that were orchestrated by Ravel, a new trumpet concerto by Richard Cornell (Terry Everson sounds GREAT!), and Brahms 2. I'm concertmaster. Again. Fortunately (or, I should say, hopefully) this means I'll be somewhat off the pressure hook for the rest of the semester. Hopefully. Last year I was concertmaster twice in a row in the second semester - I really don't want to deal with that again.

This past Thursday night was the opening concert at Emmanuel. We did all 6 Brandenburg Concerti. It was, to put it plainly, an incredible experience and I enjoyed myself immensely. I played the solo violin part to number 2, which used a solo horn instead of trumpet (apparently thats how Craig Smith did it the last time they did Brandenburg, in 1996). It was beautiful to have a horn instead of a high, screeching piccolo trumpet. Ahem.

I got to hear a lot of the rehearsals for the ones I didn't participate in (3, 4, and obviously 6). My conclusion is that number 6 is my all-time favorite, especially the first two movements. Simply glorious. The grand plan of my lifetime is to have a kid who plays viola and then I'll learn the 2nd viola part somehow badly but since its my kid they'll HAVE to play it with me! Ha! You're all invited to that concert about thirty years from now. :-)

Finnis and the rest of the Braunhills are doing well. Last weekend he had a brief return stint to the hospital to treat jaundice. It was scary, but according to Hannah (Miss PA School Smarty-Pants!) its very common in newborns. He was three weeks early, which could have caused some stuff to not quite work right yet. However, I got to see him and Heidi Wednesday evening at the Bran. dress rehearsal, and his coloring is back to quite normal and he is cute as a button. Thank goodness.

Here is a picture of the incredible flowers my parents sent to me for Brandenburg:


For more Brandenburg pictures, click HERE.

Excerpt from a 1950s Home Economics Textbook

This was handed out at my history and lit of the keyboard class. My prof, Sheveloff,  has been teaching at BU for 45 years, and is a whole entire wealth of information unto his own. He is also one of the funniest people I know, and loves irony. Our entire class is basically female (only one male), so thats why he handed this out. Numbers 4 and 12 especially make me laugh out loud.

How to Be a Good Wife

1. Have dinner ready. Plan ahead to have a delicious meal ready for him. This is a way of letting him know you have been thinking about him and his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and they need a warm meal as part of their welcome.

2. Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up; put a ribbon in your hair. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

3. Be a little gay and interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and it is your duty to provide it.

4. During cooler months, prepare a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

5. Minimize all noise. Turn off the washer, dryer,  and vacuum. Tell the children to be quiet.

6. Be happy to see him.

7. Show sincerity in your desire to please him.

8. Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

9. Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.

10. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie down in the bedroom. Always have a drink ready for him.

11. Arrange his pillow and take off his shoes. Speak in a low, pleasant voice.

12. Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

13. A good wife always knows her place.

Pictures

For more pictures, including a few of Finnis and a few more of the road trip in August, 

click here.

For Hannah

Poor Hannah, without text/photo messaging on her phone, has yet to see her new nephew. So here is picture for her, and all who read!

He's Here!

Finnis Whitacre Braunhill was born this morning just after 2 am, and weighing a bit over 7 lbs. He is healthy and whole, and parents Heidi and Whit and big sister Adelaide (who started kindergarten today too!) are all well. Heidi looked great this morning!

I'll put up pictures when I have my camera and him in the same room together - didn't have it this morning when I visited. I forgot it last night in the flurry to get to their house to spend the night with the new big sister who was too excited to sleep, thinking about the next 12 hours of her life - a baby brother and start of all-day kindergarten all at once!

I Regret This Error....

My sister Holly has a few words to say about what I wrote in a previous post (the one about Scrabble.....) on August 15th, 2008.

".......just reading your blog and noticed you wrote that you beat me in Scrabble once. As I recall - Hannah is the only one that has won against me (ONLY ONE TIME). Just so we understand each other.... ;)"

I apologize profusely to her, my family, and the Scrabble gods. Although I did not beat her, she did not win. The only time she didn't win, too.

As you can see, the Brauns get a little competitive from time to time concerning board games and cards....but we have never been that way with violin or music. I wouldn't have it any other way. :-)

This week has been too long, too stressful, too frustrating, too emotional, too draining, and too depressing to write anything.

Picture instead.

Holly enjoys in solemnity the war memorials at Gettysburg.

Beginning of School - Year 20

Yes, thats right people - this week is my 20th start to a new school year. 

Today was pure hell. Woke up to the sound of car alarms, moving trucks, and the front door of my building opening and slamming shut many, many times. Its Sept 1st, the most terrifying day in Boston, especially in Allston/Brighton. I was told the other day that about 500,000 people are moving in/out in Boston on this day yearly. Being the college town it is, today it lived up to the chaos standard - it took me almost an hour to get to BU because the trains were so backed up that THREE came at the same time after waiting 20 minutes and OF COURSE the one I got on went express to BU Central WITHOUT saying it was going to so I had to walk back for ten minutes to CFA. Got my theory test results - happily, I passed with flying colors, so I have no review for theory required for this degree. Yay for me. That was it for happy news today.

After I got the results I went to registration. BU has a messed up system with all kinds of rules and exceptions. When I first got here two years ago I was incredibly confused. Today wasn't as confusing, but still pretty bad. I have a plan for the next three years of coursework, and I am relatively happy with it. Emily S. and I went up to the lab to finally register in the computers, but we couldn't without an advising code, which is messed up because technically we're new students even though we aren't. Too complicated to type out here. Anyway, about an hour later, after a trip back to the string advisor and the dean's office (TWICE for me) we finally registered and all was well. 

Not really that I was well, though, because by this time I was so fed up, frustrated, and the clock was ticking without any practice time done. I checked email to find out info about all kinds of things filling up my schedule at an alarming rate, and I started to have a slight panic attack, so I left the lab and calmly went and practiced. Of course, as it happens, I cut the fingernail on my third finger too short so the strings were cutting in and making it bleed, and with only an hour done, so I just ignored the blood and kept on playing. 

My orchestra audition is on Thursday, and I have to say, I am more well-prepared for this one than for the last two, so that is good. 

In other non-school related news, I'll be teaching at Exeter up in NH for Heidi this semester while she's on maternity leave. I start next Tuesday - last week we made a trip up to get me acquainted with the area and building I will be teaching in. I am very VERY excited - the experience will be amazing for me - and looking forward to having, if only a little bit, a real "job." Imagine that! 

Molly and I have been rearranging furniture and books in the living room, and its a nice change. The fishies, Couperin and Quantz, are still well, the weather has been nicely mild lately. I prefer it to not be so hot. 

And now, time for a happy picture:

Heidi models with Baba bedecked in blue and black ribbon (from Shelly's wedding).

more pictures

More pictures from summer exploits.....

This morning I got up too late to practice and too early to really get ready immediately, so why not waste time with blogging?

Heidi, Adelaide and I shall be heading to NH later this morning for a nice little trip up to Exeter. Heidi teaches there with about 5-8 students, and while she is on maternity leave these next few months, I'll be going up once a week to teach in her place, so today is just a day to look around, make sure I'll know where I'm going, etc etc etc. I won't officially start teaching for another two weeks. I'm kinda excited. The Yings are giving a concert at Exeter in October - unfortunately I can't go, because of a gig here in town.

Theory testing is on Friday, and next week starts the beginning of my three-year coursework for a doctorate in musical arts. Also have an orchestra audition next week, for seating - excerpts are Brahms 2, which then we shall play at the first concert. My chamber music situation is already figured out - three other DMA students (Ariana, Klaudia, and Nat), playing Beethoven 131 and Bartok 2, which we will perform in the spring for a DMA chamber music recital for all of us. This first year I may only get one recital out of the way - but after that, I'm looking at two next year, and two the following year. The biggest annoyance is the concerto recital. A whole recital, of just concertos. (sigh) Yuck.

I will write more about this whole DMA process as the week goes on. For now, I must go start coffee and get ready for the day. 

Only in Wisconsin.....

How very reassuring....

Gallery

Pictures from July 25th - August 12th.

Picture Preview of Summer 2008

At Shelly's wedding - little dearies....

Recap

1. Flew to Milwaukee - luggage got lost for the THIRD time this summer, fourth this year.

2. Lutheran conference was very good fun - played Bach, went well.

3. Went on road trip with parents, Holly and Hannah. Five people, five person car. Tons and tons of Scrabble. Holly won mostly, I only beat her once. She has taken the Scrabble Crown. Hannah is still Boggle Queen. Saw Gettysburg and DC. Walked enough miles to start my own personal walk-a-thon.

4. Cousin Shelly got married - a very good party. Pictures will come.

3. Got on early flight Wednesday morning to return to Boston. Did software update on my mac (a mistake, as you shall see). Enjoyed birthday feast for Tatiana's 25th.

4. Rehearsal for wedding yesterday, went well. Got my life back together and started organizing since school only starts in 2 weeks. However, in the organizing and emailing frenzy, my trusty, beloved iMac died. Not died died - it isn't a sad mac (a frown face when you hit the start button), but something is up with the hard drive, most likely from the software update. I've kept putting newer and newer technology on an older and older computer, and it finally couldn't really take it anymore. I spent some time on the phone with my dad trying to get it back to working, but no. He doesn't think the hard drive is completely lost, especially since it is still smiling when I hit start. However, it has been six years, and it has never truly failed me once till now - not once. It has done its duty, and its time to be done. Tomorrow morning, on this tax free weekend in Boston, I shall buy my next Mac. I have been planning to get a new one since I knew I was starting my dma this fall, and its a good time of year to get one anyway since I'll get a free ipod. My ipod is dying too, lately - its five years old.

5. Today was running a lot of errands - Molly and I rented a car and got new furniture, lots of groceries, and general stuff for a new school year (me) and start of real life (Molly).

The next post will be from my new Mac laptop!

Conference Over

The WELS Lutheran Worship and Arts conference is all done - we returned on Thursday night late, and all was well. These conferences are always funny - I saw a ton of people I hadn't seen in years. Good times.

Now I'm in Milwaukee for the next few days before Holly gets here Monday morning and then Tuesday morning we head out to Pennsylvania to see Gettysburg, then DC, then attend my cousin Shelly's wedding on Saturday. My parents no longer lease suv's; they've had a little Honda Accord for the past almost two years, so this will be one cramp, tight car. Heidi and Whit are also attending the wedding, so on Sunday I'll drive back up to Boston with them.

It has become very clear that while I continually beat Hannah at Scrabble, she is the ULTIMATE QUEEN of Boggle. She completely cleaned me up on the car ride home. Good lord.

Hello from St. Peter, Minnesota....

Home of Gustavus Adolphus.

I tried to get a link to the school, but they must all be under construction cause there seem to be no link that follows through. So feel free to read the bio on the REAL Gustavus Adolphus above.

For the next five days, I will be back in the WELS bubble, but thankfully, my darling baby sister will be here with me to enjoy it all. We have already played Scrabble three times today, and I won twice, Hannah once. Expect to see reaction photos soon from the winner and then the loser.

Breakfast is at 8 tomorrow. Time for sleep.

Hot and Humid, Sangria, Practicing and Planners

Another heal wave has hit Boston this week. Although the rain did come and slightly cool things off, its still hot in the apartment tonight - sleeping will not be easy.

Tonight Emily S. and I enjoyed the humid air with some sangria. $5/pitcher peach sangria from Tasca is really amazing.

I practiced today, for almost four hours. The solo Bach I'm playing for the Lutheran conference is coming.

I bought a new planner for my life today, for 2008-2009. I love new planners. They are the start of something fresh and clean.

Obviously, I am virtually alone in Boston at the moment (except for Emily - we are starved for company) with not much to do except practice and buy new planners and drink sangria, so I have nothing interesting or thought-provoking to say. I'll stop before it gets worse.

Origins

Because I had bought Heidi some ginger body stuff for her birthday in April, I am now on the mailing list for Origins, a beauty store kinda like Clinique but more independent from department stores and such. They also sell a ton of organic products. Happily, I got a postcard a month ago for a free facial and free lip balm. I went in this morning to get it - it felt WONDERFUL. The only problem is that the woman literally used seven different things on my face before even putting make up on. From the first wash till the lotion. Its nuts, the stuff women (and some men) go through to just have clear, healthy skin.

I did get a jar of exfoliation stuff, and it was expensive, even though I got $10 off. I was promised it would last a year, so I sure hope thats true. On my way home, though, I got to thinking.

In order to be as healthy as you can and buy all the right things for your face or body, or even for food, you have to buy organic products, and organic anything is EXPENSIVE. Its almost preordained that the wealthiest people, the ones who can afford to buy the right products that have no chemicals and make you as "pure" as possible, will live the longest, healthiest lives. Anything cheap is full of chemicals that will supposedly kill you early. Obviously, we all die eventually, but while anyone lives, they want to FEEL good, and not be sick, and a lot of the cheap stuff that you have to buy because its the only thing you can afford has so many of those chemicals or what not that will (supposedly) some day give you cancer or make you sick. Today was the first time I really splurged on anything to do with beauty or skincare - I buy Clinique powder, but everything else comes from CVS, and this exfoliation stuff was WAY more expensive than Clinique powder.

Maybe its all a scam; I don't know. I just hope it works.

Mid-July already....

As usual, the summer is flying by and I don't even really know what happened to it.

I spent the past two days in New Hampshire, playing a pops concert at the NH Music Festival. My sister is there playing for a month, so it was nice to spend the weekend with her and Adelaide. This was my first EVER pops concert, complete with a medly of songs from the James Bond movies and Stars and Stripes Forever. We also did a Gershwin thingy, and the conductor actually had us "tap dance" in one spot and do a "kick line" in another one. Fortunately, Heidi and I were the last stand of 2nd violins, hidden behind the piano; we could not stop giggling, and I ended up laughing so hard and trying to suppress said laughter that the tears were flowing freely. I couldn't help it, especially with the theme from Rocky being played while the conductor walks on stage, in lieu of the national anthem.

My days spent at Tanglewood were nice too, although they ended on a somber note (go to ohmytrill.blogspot.com for more information). I'm not sure what they will do now.....its quite a disaster. I'm expecting a chain reaction of canceling conductors throughout the world as the BSO tries to replace the ones for Levine's concerts.

Fortunately, I'm home for a solid week and a half before heading home for the Lutheran worship and arts conference. Right now I'm baking cookies. They smell good, and the timer just went off. Anyone who wants to try one is welcome to come by!

Back in Boston

I'm back in Boston. I'm heading to Tanglewood tomorrow to hear Molly's faculty concert with BUTI and David's (plus many, many others I know) orchestra concert with TMC.

I have been a complete and utter lazy person since returning from Seattle.

I will post pictures and write more about it at a later date. I'm really not in the mood for blogging right now - must go practice. In any case, I had a wonderful time, we played well, and I was so happy to have done it.

Seattle!

I am in Seattle, rehearsing with CCE! Getting here on Monday was the biggest pain and one of the longest days for me ever. Both my flights (from Boston and then DC) were boarded on time but then we sat on the runway for first fifteen minutes longer (to DC) and then about an hour longer (to Seattle). Then, I get to WA and my luggage is still in DC. I didn't get it back till after 4 pm the next day, and although it normally wouldn't be a huge problem, I had left Kitty's violin part in my luggage and we couldn't rehearse without it. (sigh) I will be smarter next time.

It is of course wonderful to be with and see Kim and Kitty again, and Natalie (our substitute cellist) is great! Bartok is hard - but we're plugging through it....

Flight Canceled

Its incredibly early at the moment. I've been up for an hour already. My United flight was suppose to leave this morning at 9, but I got a call about thirty seconds before I headed out the door telling me my flight is canceled and I've been put on a new one at 2:45 pm.

There are two INCREDIBLY annoying things about this:

1 - obviously, I got up about four hours earlier than needed. And now I'm wide awake.
2 - my old flight had a connection in Denver - this new one is DC. So I'm flying straight south for two whole hours when I really just want to go straight west. Totally out of the way.

As you can see, my next post is actually NOT from Seattle......

Stupid airlines. United, like American, has also started charging for first checked bag, so the only silver lining in all of this is that the bag charge actually doesn't apply to me for this flight OR my one in July because I got them so early. Good grief.

Adelaide Day

Yesterday Adelaide and I spent a grand total of almost 7 hours together yesterday! It was a busy day for Heidi and Whit, so in the morning she and I walked around Cambridge and the Charles River and in the afternoon/early evening we were here in my apartment, playing a made up card game we invented, watching Schoolhouse Rock, dancing, and eating thai curry. Its great that she is almost five now and I can leave her in the living room by herself without panic - I was able to get some stuff done while preparing for my next two weeks in Washington state.

David was here on his way to TMC this past Wednesday for one night only, but we still had a great time hanging out and catching up. And tomorrow I will see Kimby and Kitty!

Molly left yesterday afternoon for BUTI for the next 8 weeks - I was sad to see her go, but I just spoke to her on the phone and she sounds like all is well! She took our two fish, Quantz and Couperin, with her so they can also enjoy the fresh air and beautiful music of Lenox in the summer. I'll probably be visiting her and David and other assundry Tanglewood people during July 4th weekend.

I will write next from the lovely city of Seattle, Washington!

(please note: the sheet covering the couch is not a usual phenomenon, and I know it looks weird. We put it on during the heat wave last weekend because that couch is the most heat insulated thing I've ever seen. The sheet helps. It was removed this morning. Thank you.)

MAC STORE FUN!

The parents and I are at the Mac store for awhile before they fly out back to Milwaukee tonight. We've had a really good time for their short visit - I'm only sad I can't go back to WI with them - Holly is flying into Milwaukee right now as we speak for work, so she and Hannah and my parents will all be home together for the next week. And on Saturday the girls are going reception hall shopping for Holly's wedding. I want to go too! Sad day.

Mom and I did the Freedom Trail yesterday in four hours and 92 degree heat. We put on so much sunscreen you'd have no idea we spent so much time in the sun. Dad got a lot done at the Harvard Library - he's a research machine. We've been here for about a half hour asking the Mac guys what would be best for me to get in the fall - its almost time for a new Mac! New degree, new Mac, is my motto.

Happy 2nd Anniversary to Mary and Daniel!

Cleaning Frenzy

The parents are showing up tomorrow around 3:30 pm, so Molly and I worked our tails off and cleaned this apartment. It was time - we haven't done a really hard cleaning since probably January. This apartment is so sparkling, after over three hours of hard labor, that even Mary Keener would be proud.

They weren't kidding with the heat today - up to 90, and tomorrow is suppose to be worse. My fan has been dusted off and brought to use, so there goes the electric bill - said fan will be on ALL night tonight so that I won't suffer. Monday they are predicting 96. Of course, that is the day my mom wants to do the Freedom Trail. OF COURSE. Ah well.

The wedding I had this afternoon was a doozy. It was at the Taj in downtown Boston, one of the hotels Donald Trump owns, and it is quite ritzy. Musicians can't enter through the front entrance - we must enter through the back kitchen entrance. Anyway, the hotel woman in charge of such events was so worked up about making everything perfect, she even yelled at the BRIDE'S MOTHER. Good lord. Unfortunately, weddings are how I pay the bills in the summer......

(please note: the picture was taken in September when we were doing a big cleaning overall as Molly was moving in. She's wearing slippers - there is NO WAY that slippers would be tolerated today, with the heat.....its just a good picture to represent the cleaning.)

My little dearies.....

This picture makes me smile.

It has been dreary, wet, rainy, and cold for the past two days. I'm trying to soak it up though, since there is the first heat wave of summer coming in tomorrow - upper 80s for the next few days. Ugh. As many of you know, I love summer, but only when its 75 and breezy. Extreme hot temperature does not agree with me, although I don't really like air conditioning either. Time to bring out the fan.

I've been asked to play in the Brandenburg concert at Emmanuel in September, and I could not be more excited, nervous, and thrilled to do so. I have the solo part for #2 (they're doing all six), and section parts for 1 and 5. Oh lord, I am excited!

Adjusting

I've been reaquainting myself with no school lately - bedtime has inevitably been pushed back to 3 amish, waking up around 11 or noon every day. This does NOT mean I haven't been doing things with my time lately:

Ex. A: Last week was performing Mendelssohn's Elijah - and boy, THAT was a dramatic somewhat stressful week, albeit it was with really great musicians, the music is absolutely fantastic, and a WONDERFUL baritone doing Elijah. Three things (or, I should say, people) happened:
1. Original Soprano (OS) shows up on Monday night for the first rehearsal. We start, I don't notice much, but others notice the smell of alcohol. Turns out OS is drunk; so much, in fact, she must be escorted from the building after the first 15 min of rehearsal.
2. OS is fired, so Replacement Soprano #1 (RS#1) comes for the double rehearsal on Tuesday and Wednesday night dress rehearsal. RS#1 is fantastic - powerful voice, dramatic expression, focused, and of course, NOT drunk. Alrighty. We're ready for the performance.
3. Friday morning arrives, and it turns out that RS#1 has lost her voice. Can't sing a note. Cancels. So, we all show up to be greeted by Third Soprano of the Week (TSW). In peformance. Without one rehearsal. It should also be noted that TSW had been on quite a long flight the morning she got the call. Hours before showing up to perform. It should also be noted that TSW did a great job, and the performance went quite smoothly.

Ex. B: Teaching. I currently have five students - four of them I am subbing for a friend out of town, and one all on my own. I am really enjoying myself with them, even with the 15-year-old boy who showed up with the first violin part to Pirates of the Carribean to play for a school orchestra audition. I asked him if he's seen the movie, and he looked at me with "duh" written all over his face.

Ex. C: Cribbage. Molly has taught me the finer arts of playing this game. We've played it for about the past three out of four nights, always more than one game. I love it.

Ex. D: Photocoyping. In the past few days, I have photocopied all four parts plus score for the second mvt of Ravel quartet (for Lutheran conference in July), plus all four parts (not score) for Bartok 2 (for Centrum with the CCE girls in a WEEK!). This means I am also:

Ex. E: Sending parts out. Yesterday I sent various photocopys to Oregon, Washington, Illinois, and Minnesota.

Summer is off to a good start.

(i finally downloaded pictures on my computer.....so expect to see a lot for awhile)

Photo 1: from Hannah's visit again, when Hannah and Adelaide and I went to Newbury St. for lunch. Notice the Brewers shirt Grandma and Pop (my parents) sent to her - on the back it says Braun - for Ryan Braun, a Brewers player. No relationship to us, however. A shame.

Photo 2: from game night, a while back. This is during Hilarium, a game Molly has that we had never done before. Its like sharades, but out loud. Very hilarious.

from Hannah's visit to Boston

Photo 1: Please notice the house behind Hannah - its one building, yet two seperate houses, one painted grey, the next yellow. Weird. This is in Charlestown, on the way up to Bunker Hill on the Freedom Trail.

Photo 2: (as always, click photo to enlarge) Please notice the PINK - ugh - master's hood. Also, Heidi is starting to show a little.

You know you're losing your mind when.....

You forget David Gerstein's birthday.

So here is a picture to make up for forgetting to call on the 24th, and calling yesterday instead.

Happy Birthday, Gavid!

(this is from my trip to Houston in January....)

And.........

...........now I may tell all and sundry that Heidi and Whit are having a boy! Adelaide is beside herself with news of a baby brother, and I think we are all looking foward to having a baby in the family that is NOT a girl. Not that a girl wouldn't have been great too. But its time to have a boy.

In other exciting news - Molly, Amanda, Cassie and I went to Indiana Jones last night at midnight, and was very happy with it. I didn't have much in the way of expectations (I had so much for the new Star Wars films and look how THAT turned out), so I was not disappointed. Its weird, and different, but still the same Indiana Jones. Ah, Harrison Ford. He defenitely isn't young anymore, but every once in awhile, he looked thirty instead of sixty. I love it. We got home at around 2:30. Fun times.

Also, when I woke up at noon and went and got some coffee at the corner diner, I also picked up a Metro and came home and did the WHOLE CROSSWORD PUZZLE! Yay! This is a good start to summer.

My new degree title......

Heather Braun, Master of Music, string performance.

Hectic-ness

I'm still rehearsing like crazy the Schubert quintet and Grieg quartet for Thursday night's performance (Nick's DMA chamber music recital), Molly and I are performing the Copland again for an extra recital that she wanted to do on Wednesday, and today I finally had the wedding that I contracted and had been anticipating since first hearing from the bride around last August. Thank GOODNESS thats done. It was 52 degrees outside, and my violin is probably cursing me in agony, but we did it. Why does ANYONE think planning an outdoor wedding in the first part of May in New England is a good idea???

I think I should start putting in contracts that if its below 65, we charge an extra $100.

In other news:

~Hannah Ruth is coming to Boston for a week long visit starting this Tuesday. I am SO excited. Oh my lord.

~Graduation day is May 18th, next Sunday.

~I am sitting principal 2nd for Back Bay Chorale in two weeks. We're doing Mendelssohn's Elijah.

~I forgot my mother's 60th birthday this past Sunday. In the impulse of guilt and really wanting to do something nice, I sent her some really nice flowers on Monday. So nice, in fact, my dad told Hannah "Heather shouldn't have done this! She can't afford it!" Luckily, I had a coupon so they were NOT that expensive. Luckily, also, my mother was quite forgiving for the fact I forgot. That is now the third family member birthday in a year that I have forgotten. I'm losing my mind.

Check back soon for some exciting news - I have to wait a little bit yet before I can post anything about it.

I just got the most interesting phone call.

My name was given to some woman who is looking for a string quartet for a Sandra Bullock movie. Apparently there is a wedding scene and they want the musicians to mime playing, with the sheet music in front of them so they would move their bows at the right time, but not ACTUALLY play. They just wanted it to look right.

Unfortunately, as movie filming goes, I would have to be there from 7 am to 7 pm on both next Monday and Tuesday, and I have Cantata Singers starting up next week. The pay for the movie is bad considering how long I would be there, too.

Still - I always am so annoyed at these movies that get actors who have obviously never even SEEN a string instrument, let alone held one, so I'm impressed that they actually are looking for people who know what they're doing.

I'm sad I can't do it! Darn it.

Happy Birthday Mary Keener!

Happy Braun Family News Part Two

How could I forget?? Now that the entire Braun clan has been informed of the news, I may tell all and sundry more happy Braun family news:

Heidi and Whit are pregnant! The due date is Sept. 27th. Adelaide will have a baby brother or sister.

I was informed of this news just a few days after Holly's engagement. In the next 12 months, I will have a new brother-in-law and a new niece or nephew.

We are all very happy and excited!

Glory Days of Post-Recital

Mozart Requiem
Schubert Cello Quintet
Grieg String Quartet
Pizzetti Tre Canti
BUSO last concert tonight
Cantata Singers
Back Bay Chorale
Emmanuel Music
wedding gigs
jury duty

(These are all the things I have to look forward to performing or doing for the next month now that my recital is over.)

48 hours

Exactly 48 hours from now, I will be playing the beginning of Brahms in recital.

My permission this morning went well. I passed, and all can continue normally.

The weather here has been spectacular lately.

My parents and Grandma will be here tonight at 5:30. Holly arrives tomorrow at 9:30.

The end.

My recital is now officially less than a week away. I would say that I am about 75% ready for Brahms, 85% ready for Copland, and Beethoven I haven't played yet for almost two months. That is scary. However, since Molly and I have already performed it several times earlier in the year, I am confident it will be fantastic, therefore, I will say that I am about 90% ready for Beethoven. That could be generous. Incredibly generous.

I went to Barber of Seville tonight by the BU opera. It was excellent - the singers here are really great.

I am going to put this next thing in acronym form since I really can't risk putting it all out, here on the internet, where anyone can find it - but here is something that is really annoying me lately -

H.A.T.H.I.T.S.H.P.M.L.T.M.I.T.T.S.H.A.N.T.O.W.A.W.D.E.T.H.I.S.G.H.P.W.A.S.S.A.N.C!

There. I feel better.

Birthday

Happy Birthday to Heidi! Also, reminder to all about their taxes......

Recital countdown: T minus 11 days.

Happy Braun Family News

As of around 5 pm EST today, my sister Holly is engaged to Tony Schmidt. The wedding as of now is planned for May or June, 2009.

This will be my third time as bridesmaid. You know what they say....... :-)

I am so excited and happy for both of them!

Landlords and BU Strike Again

I had a blast playing Baroque violin for Semele on Wednesday and Thursday night. Since I'm staying here next year, I'm going to try to get more into it, even convince the HP department to do some major work (new strings, adjustment, fingerboard planed) on the violin I'm using.

Here are some things happening lately that have made my life more stressful than it should be:

1. Got the most interesting call from Liza yesterday - Molly and I did not get the renewal contract for our apartment next year to our landlord by April 1st, more like April 8th, but he apparently still does not have it, so realtors were calling Liza saying that they would be showing my apartment to prospective tenants. WHAT??????? I called said landlord immediately and we have figured it out (as well as told him he should not be bothering Liza, obviously), so all should be fine. But that was an extreme moment of panic. Sheer. Panic.

2. I received my acceptance letter for my DMA here a week ago Thursday, along with a letter for a full tuition scholarship from an arts foundation. Two days ago, I got another letter of acceptance, with a full tuition scholarship from private CFA sponsors. I did not realize the discrepancy until last night when I was filling out the forms, but I now have two letters that say I have two full rides from two very different sources. So now I have to go figure that out in the admissions office. BU has apparently been screwing up EVERYTHING with admissions stuff for next fall - my friend Sharon was told her scholarship for next year was half of what it actually is, and my close friend Emily's application was actually lost. Gone. I realize I am selfishly complaining, in comparison to their mixups, but come on, BU. This messes with people's lives, plans, emotions, and time in extreme ways.

The weather is picking up. Spring is finally coming. With it means baseball season in Boston, meaning overcrowded trains with drunk Red Sox fans.

Week of Insanity

Last night's Verdi went smoothly, although it was not without its hiccups.

The first Emmanuel rehearsal for B minor Mass was yesterday, and it was quite enjoyable to sit next to my sister. We are standpartners - I love it, but it is quite funny at the same time, too.

Tomorrow night and Thursday night are the Semele performances for the Baroque orchestra. Its great music, and the singers sound wonderful, the orchestra, not so much. My baroque violin is in such bad shape - I desperately need a new D string, a rehair, and some peg dope.

My modern violin is also in a bit of a bad state. I need new strings, need a rehair, need new rosin (I finally dropped it - I knew it was coming - my rosin is now in 25 zillion pieces), and need an adjustment.

And I really really REALLY need a nap. No time though! Must press on!

Organic Cake and Scooping Singers

I am currently listening to Mozart C minor Mass (playing it in a week and half for a Harvard group) and waiting for Emily Stewart's birthday cake to bake for tonight. Its all organic - even the icing, which I made from scratch. I love Whole Foods. I got up early this morning and went the the store for this week's groceries, since I have no time for lunch or dinner at home this week, and will be making food for the day every night before so I don't spend $500 in one week just eating out. (Thats an exaggerated amount, but hey - its expensive around here.)

I have officially, completely decided that I don't appreciate singers who scoop up to every other third note. We finally had the soloists yesterday for the Verdi Requiem (Symphony Hall concert on Monday) and the tenor soloist is starting to grate on my nerves with all this unnecessary scooping. I thought the other three soloists weren't so bad with the scooping, until the soprano has an octave leap marked "pppp" (literally - I have the cue in my part - it is pianississississimo) and gave the biggest one from her middle staff B-flat to her upper octave B-flat. I almost had a heart attack on the spot. Yes, she's a student, so I shouldn't be so harsh. Yes, she has a beautiful voice, and I think will be very successful someday. Yes, I KNOW its Verdi, and the scooping makes it "romantic" and "expressive". In my opinion, however, the tenor and soprano soloists would say a lot more about their vocal control in their performance if they scooped less.

I am currently at the library, printing out various important items before heading back to CFA. My day has already started with a flourish - little dearie (aka Adelaide) came by this morning and I hung out with her while Heidi had an appointment. Whit has been on brass quintet tour for almost a week now, with almost two weeks to go, so I am happy to help when I can. She even let me French braid her hair - it looked very pretty!

I'm afraid to check email now. Everytime I do, there is some new crises or rehearsal or conflict or one more thing to do before April 26th (my recital date).

If it would just get a little bit warmer, I would be more optimistic about the next month.

things

The sun is shining today!

Amy left yesterday - we had such a great time!

Every time I look at my schedule, I absolutely freak out and have small panic attacks. My recital is in three and a half weeks.

I enjoy playing Baroque violin a lot. Hope to make it more of a regular thing continuing into next year. Speaking of which, BU still hasn't sent out any acceptance forms or anything of the kind. I really need to know NOW if they can afford to keep me here next year.

I've been reading through those blogs Mary posted a lot over the past couple days. The first one is comforting on a huge scale that prayer works. The second one is indeed completely different - completely tragic, in so many ways. One, I haven't been able to figure out HOW their baby died, and two, she should have listened to the Bev Braun-ism: "Your most important decision is who you marry, because it effects everything in your life after its done."

I am currently in the process of changing my blog - its a very SLOW work in progress.

Lately, every time I open a new blog post, I stare at the screen for five minutes not knowing what to say. What can I even say - my life right now is a constant barreling of school and friends. Nothing in either of those categories has changed much within even the past month.

Thats it. I really have nothing left to say. Except saying that I have nothing left to say.

Amy and I are currently at the Tsai computer while waiting to get in for the Collaborative Piano/Composition Project Recital. I know I called David with this fabulous news, but I will be watching the one and only John Malkovich tonight in performance. The piece Molly's playing for has a narrator part, and the composer who wrote the piece (Jacob) knows JM from a posh store he works at in Cambridge. I'm very excited about this. I already saw him at CFA last week after he came for a rehearsal. Ha! This'll be hilarious.

Amy leaves tomorrow. :-( After that starts the absolute craziness till May 18th, which is Graduation Day - I have a performance of significance EVERY weekend from now till May 15th. Joy.

If it doesn't become spring here soon, I may die.

Amy Kant!

Amy has been here for the past couple days, and so far, we are having a great time! This afternoon we are heading downtown to meet Mr. Carlisle, who was an English teacher at our high school and who ran all the dramas and musicals that we were a part of while attending Wisco. I haven't seen him since he left before my senior year......it'll be so good to see him!

My recital is exactly four weeks from today, and I'm confident I'll be ready if I have enough time to practice. Only problem - I really don't have enough time. Poor Molly is absolutely swamped right now with recitals she's playing for, so we haven't even started the Copland sonata. I'm not overly concerned, I just am overwhelmed with everything that is going on. Quintet hasn't been going well - we haven't had a rehearsal where ALL people are present for over a week now. Hopefully that will change soon - and the last mvt is so incredibly difficult, I have trouble seeing straight when I think about it.

I can't worry about that now - tomorrow Amy and I shall babysit little dearie Adelaide, hear Heidi play at Emmanuel, and go to the Aquarium!

Another Snow Picture

In the absence of anything useful to say, here is another Milwaukee snowstorm picture. Our car got completely stuck after we pulled out of the driveway. Hannah and Dad immediately got out of the car. Inside the car, at the moment of this picture, Mom and I are debating whether to get out and help. Eventually I did and we shoveled the car out of the street. Of course, 10 min. later, the snowplow guys came. Typical.

PS - I realize these pictures aren't nearly as adorable or fun to look at as the ones of Emily Ruth on Mary's blog. Don't worry.

I don't know HOW the snow is staying like that, but all four corners of my parents' house looked like this on Friday after the snowstorm, picture courtesy of Hannah Braun. This is over the windows of what USED to be my bedroom, but my parents moved into it the day I left for BUTI in 2002. Anyway. I'm back in Boston now, sad that my long weekend at home is over, but happy to be back into the swing of school and such. Amy Kant comes to visit in three days!

Good Friday Canceled

Milwaukee received about 12 inches of snow in an all-day blizzard yesterday, and as a result, all Good Friday services at church was canceled. This has never happened in my lifetime before. Watching the news, it didn't look like ANYONE had Good Friday services in Milwaukee. I partially blame the fact that Easter is so early this year - apparently we cannot have it on March 23rd again until 2160. The last time was in the 1800s. This is all based on what Mrs. L told me yesterday at the L and C Koz's Good Friday bash, though, so who knows. Anyway - for it being Easter weekend, it sure feels like Christmas outside. Good thing I got here Thursday morning!

Is it really appropriate to have a party on Good Friday night? Especially to NOT call it off when even church was called off???? Who knows. I guess not, since all THREE St. John's pastors were at this event. Hannah and I walked the mile home around 9:45, her shoveling a path for me in my clogs with her knee-high boots. It was good times!

I've been having a good time at home. I thought I was going to be the only daughter home this weekend, but Hannah surprised me by showing up late Thursday night!  We've been mostly eating, talking, shopping, and watching college basketball. I'm doing pretty good so far on my bracket - I've only missed 7 on the whole first round. Beating Hannah, at least.......

I hope you all have a lovely Easter, and that the Easter bunny brings you something special!

The weather here right now is so crappy I could cry. Where the hell is spring??

Molly and I dyed Easter eggs last night - decorated eggs include our fishies and one egg for each of these categories: French, German, Russian, and American composers. We are dorks.

I finally found a sub for that gig - Anaar. Thank goodness.

I'm heading home to Milwaukee for Easter weekend tomorrow - looking forward to it. Just hope I actually get things done - I have a tendency to do NOTHING while at my parents' house.

Things I have learned tonight:

1. Hannah cannot make toffee. She can however make an excellent brown sugary thing that has chocolate and pecans in it, and it will taste spectacular in your oatmeal! Just ask Bill Braun!

2. It only takes five minutes to make your lunch the night before and it saves about $6 tomorrow.

3. If you throw out the baby AND the bathwater, all you get is a wet and critically injured baby (from For Your Consideration).

4. Spring break is over and I didn't get anything really done. I realized that tonight when the clock struck 12....

5. There is drama in the basement of my Milwaukee home....oh, the drama.....at least they're being smart about it NOW.

6. Tomorrow the sun will shine! One day closer to spring.....

I did finally manage to go to the grocery store. Whole Foods is the best place on earth.

I just got home from seeing The Other Boleyn Girl. I had read the book by Philippa Gregory about a year ago, and while I had enjoyed it, it really is historical fiction, the key word being FICTION. I also have read a lot of biographies on the Tudors, especially Elizabeth I, but also including one about Anne Boleyn I read last summer that was written recently. While the historical fiction novel by Gregory focuses on Anne Boleyn being an evil, incestuous, deceiving woman, the bio that I read shed light on some important information that is not seen very commonly, namely, that most of what we know today about the whole break with the Catholic Church and Anne's trial was written by her enemies. According to this bio, she was a fierce Protestant, knew Martin Luther's writings extensively, and saw an opportunity to change the religion of England.

Ok, obviously, I'm Lutheran, so I was quite attentive at that part of the bio. But the fact that most of what we know today about Anne's convictions and trial were written by her enemies is quite enlightening, and was on my mind as I watched this movie. I think so much of what is assumed today about Anne (ex: she did NOT have 6 fingers on one hand) is exaggerated to such an extent that makes her truly evil. I wish Philippa Gregory had decided to focus on a different side of Anne Boleyn's history instead of the one that has been told for the past four hundred years.

The movie stays true to the novel, of course, being of the same title and having the author help with the screenplay. I enjoyed Natalie Portman's portrayal as Anne very much, but am kinda confused as to why somebody didn't dye Eric Bana's hair red, since Henry VIII had quite reddish hair, as did Elizabeth I.

Spring break is over. This is such a sad day. Tomorrow is the last concert for Cantata Singers, which I am very much looking forward to. The one last night went really well.

Oh, and our rent went up $12.50 a month for me and Molly. This isn't too bad......but I knew it was coming.

I am severly procrastinating from walking outside. It snowed a little this morning, and now its just cold and gross. I HAVE TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. THIS IS VITAL. But I just can't seem to move myself from this chair. I am all showered, dressed, etc etc and ready to go, but I just can't do it. I have no food in this place. Its 3:15, and I haven't eaten yet today, and had to make earl grey tea this morning instead of coffee because I ran out of coffee yesterday. But I can't make myself just go. AGHGHGGHGHGHGHGHGH!

This is pathetic.

Maybe I should make a grocery list first. Maybe that will get the motivation spirit moving.

Weird

This story was on the front page of my Metro yesterday, I talked about it with Heidi at lunch, and I come home to this link she emailed:

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/woman-stuck-in-bathroom-for-how-long/20080313080209990001

There are SO many questions I have about it, but we may never know!

Last night, for the first time in MANY years, I went to a play. And this play was in downtown Boston, at the Charles Playhouse. Emily R's actor friend is in the show Shear Madness, which is actually the longest running nonmusical ever - since around 1987. Its a whodunit comedy murder mystery, and was really well done. I recommend anyone to see it. Afterwards, I got to meet some of the actors and we hung out for awhile. It really is amazing to me how much a freelance musician and a freelance actor use the same words and have the same lifestyle. All in the name of art and culture.

Speaking of freelance musician: tonight is the first concert for Cantata Singers.

I am having the most terrible time trying to find a replacement for a gig at the end of March. I said yes to it before I knew Amy would be coming to visit that same weekend, and it seems like EVERY violinist I know has a conflict. I've even asked Nat, who really is a violist but plays violin at Emmanuel. I have about two more people on my mind that would be able to do it. Then, I'm out. This is serious. And I've been working on it for over an hour.

Today is rainy, gross and cold. As Adelaide said: "Its a lion day!" This OF COURSE was going to be the afternoon I got my grocery shopping done. Now, with the weather, that is very unlikely. Thank goodness I did my laundry yesterday. That was also becoming a desperate situation.

Who knew spring break could be filled with so many desperate situations?

I haven't been sleeping well lately, but last night really was the worst. I have no idea when I finally slept, but I did wake up at 5, then 6ish, then 7 before just giving up and reading until around 9, when Molly and I headed to the corner cafe for breakfast. I really hope this doesn't become a trend.........my head hurts.

Soon I will head downtown to meet Heidi and Peter for lunch, which should be lovely.

Still really nothing new to report. Its spring break. I have rehearsal tonight for Cantata Singers. Today I've paid bills, kept trying to find a replacement for this gig at the end of March when Amy Kant comes to visit, and am stalling to actually GO to BU to practice my parts for tonight.

In the absence of anything remotely intersting to say, how about a picture instead?


This one is worth a thousand words. To me.

Problems with rain and words

I really don't have anything of much interest to say. I'm sorry if I bore you all.

After a few days of sun and almost (ALMOST) spring weather, yesterday was downright crappy. Yuck. I am still wearing my clogs with the hole in the right big toe area, and when I left yesterday it didn't seem like it would be too much of a problem, but I was wrong. Not only did I accidentally step in every puddle downtown, I even slipped and fell while crossing the street and my entire shoe filled with water. I had gotten a new pair for Christmas, but since Dansko clogs are all handmade, the pair my mom got was just too small, and now they are on backorder, blah blah blah. So the ones with the hole it is, for now. Its looking like my left one might be getting a hole shortly too.

Today, though, the sun is out, although it is very windy. Heidi is bringing Adelaide over soon for some babysitting and fun. I wish you could all see her now - she is four and a half, VERY articulate, tall, and smart as a whip. And still the funniest person I know. A few weeks ago, when I was at their house, Heidi mentioned how tired she (Heidi) was, and how she needed to go to bed. Adelaide hadn't really heard the whole thing - she was doing something else - but her ears picked up on "tired" and "bed" and IMMEDIATELY she shrieked "I'm not tired! I don't need to go to bed!"

I have Cantata Singers this week, and we're doing (among other things) Brahms' German Requiem. Last week with some friends I mentioned it, but somehow my brain decided to combine "German" and "Brahms", so instead of "Brahms Requiem" or "German Requiem" I said "Germs Requiem." Tatiana is STILL reminding me about it and laughing her head off. I think I'm dyslexic sometimes.

Blah blah BLAH. My life is boring at the moment. Sorry.

Highlights From Today:

Quintet rehearsal:
Alyssa blowing her nose with her left hand while holding a long open A with her right during the slow mvt of Schubert Quintet.
Alyssa getting up to turn the fan on.
Alyssa getting up to turn the fan off.
Alyssa getting up to turn the fan back on.
Said fan then falls to the floor with a TERRIFIC crash.

Quintet coaching canceled.

No orchestra!

Singing happy birthday to Peter.

Mango cheesecake and wine with friends.

It is spring break! Yay!

The concert is done and over. It went as well as it probably could have - a couple spots here and there that were weird, but altogether not bad at all. So relieved. And so happy its over! And EXTREMELY happy that I have NO orchestra tomorrow! Yay!

In other news, Ari is one of the concerto competition winners!

Tomorrow is the last day before spring break. All I have is quintet rehearsal in the morning and then a coaching in the afternoon. Tatiana and I may go hear the BSO tomorrow night - Julian Kuerti is conducting his debut. He and I were TMC fellows together in 2005, so I want to go and root for him.....he is very talented, and conducted at Emmanuel when I played there the terrible weekend in January that I had the flu.

Time is flying by.......

It is a beautiful day in Boston today - I think it rained a lot overnight, but now it is sunny and in the fifties. Spring is finally coming!

I'm finally catching up to all the stuff I put off and put off until the competition was over. Speaking of which - the finals were last night, and this morning I saw Peter, who informed me that NO ONE knows who won yet. Not one person has announced anything. I checked the school of music office, as well as the scheduling, and it seems like its a very well kept secret at the moment. Peter charged me with letting him know as soon as I know.

In my opinion, the whole thing last night was handled weirdly. Ari played first, and I went to hear him, and the judges didn't seem like they were really paying attention (two of them were the former Boston Globe critic, Richard Dyer, and Tamara Smirnova, the assistant concermaster of the BSO - I don't know who the third guy was). They were whispering and then stopped Ari to tell him to start at rehearsal number 105 - and he looks at the piano score of the pianist playing and tells the judges that he just played rehearsal 105. Dyer then says "Just start somewhere near the end." What the heck is that?

OH! I just heard gossip - they are going to announce them in about an hour.

Good grief.

I played for my first Baroque opera orchestra rehearsal last night. We're doing Semele by Eccles. Beautiful music. I was SO uncomfortable for the first half hour (no shoulder rest+no chin rest+my long neck = a very slippery and tippy baroque violin). After awhile I was getting the hang of it more, no longer had to do this elaborate thing when I put it up to make sure it wouldn't fall, and started to enjoy myself.

This afternoon is the final three hour dress rehearsal for chamber orchestra. By tomorrow night around 9ish, this whole Haydn symphony leading extravaganza will be over. Thank goodness.

Brett Favre is finally retiring.

Hannah has called already this morning near tears. So glad I'm not in Milwaukee at the moment. It would drive me crazy.

I'm sure though, when I AM home in two weeks, that it will still be the number one subject.

Today, not only did I lead the entire orchestra for Haydn, I led the actual rehearsal for about 20 minutes as well, while David sat in the hall.

I'm laughing out loud right now, it sounds so ridiculous.

Ok. While it kinda is annoying, I am having a little bit more fun now, but leading an ENTIRE orchestra is exhausting. I have to give a lot of cues, which means moving around, which I know some people (who I will not mention) think that makes me look like I'll fall out of my chair. I haven't fallen out yet, but I did almost drop my bow today. That was fun!

Trivia night tonight. I'm determined that we shall conquer!

I like how young we all look in this picture, especially David (you can click on it to make it bigger).

I like Kimby's sultry look.

I like Kitty's exuberant smile! :-)

I like how I am wearing the exact same thing - even the same jewelry - right at this moment. Just noticed that.

I like how happy we look.

Today, fortunately, the weather gods decided to let it be sunny. February apparently was the wettest February on record in Boston this year, so I'm glad its over. I'm sure there is more snow and cold on the horizon, since I've never known a March in the north to be exactly pleasant, but spring is on its way. Thank goodness. I love winter, but this one has been very long, snowy, rainy, and cold. My down jacket is starting to get uncomfortable in its bulkiness. And I miss wearing summer skirts and dresses.

Speaking of summer, my summer plans are finally shaping up. I'll be in Washington with the CCE girls in June, then Minnesota for the Wels worship and arts conference at the end of July, Milwaukee for a bit after that, then Pennsylvania for my cousin Shelley's wedding in early August. Paul - I will probably have to leave from Philly to get back to Boston - maybe we can meet up??!?!?

Last night I heard Boston Baroque do Purcell's King Arthur. It was very enjoyable, and now that I'm taking Baroque violin this semester, am getting more into it. Tatiana and I also had the BEST - ABSOLUTE BEST - mango cheesecake. Anyone coming to Boston will join me and we will go have some. Because it was that good.

Leap Year

Happy birthday to all those born today. I don't even know anybody who has a birthday today, but they are out there!

If my birthday was on Feb. 29th, on non-Leap Years I would celebrate on March 1st. Just a thought.

My past couple days have been so wonderful, relaxed, and pleasant. Last night Molly and I went to Tosca because she got a $15 birthday coupon and had to use it in February, so we enjoyed tapas and even got a pitcher of Sangria. Because of coupon - entire meal was $11. Then we went home and watched Finding Neverland, which I haven't seen since David and Mary and I saw it at Little Theater and Mary and I were sobbing on the way home and then the woman with no gas asked for a dollar for gas and Mary gave her one and she drove off. That was a hilarious night. Anyway, it was good to see it again.

Tonight are Geraldine and Jesse's recitals, one after the other. My weekend will consist of some practicing, possibly going to a concert tomorrow night, and Amanda's recital on Sunday.

Did I mention how much less stressed out I am? Maybe all this extra acne I got last week from stress will finally go away.......