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.