5 posts tagged “happymaking”
My senior recital... was basically everything I hoped it would be. I can't even begin to describe it thoroughly or accurately. I went to my early classes, but skipped wind ensemble to go in pursuit of more pedal-appropriate shoes (the ones I had, though adorable, were a slight distraction to me given that they're about 4 inches tall and can make tricky pedaling a bigger challenge). I was expecting this trip to be a bit of a waste of time (although I recognized the important therapeutic benefits of going shoe shopping to calm oneself) when, after just 15 minutes at the shopping center, I walk into Belk, find the absolute perfect pair of shoes: black, strappy, cute, short and not-pointy heel, and OH BTW ON SALE FOR $20. They had two sizes left: 6 and 7 1/2; my size 8-8 1/2 feet slid in comfortably and though the heel bordered on the edge of the shoe, all was well in Toe Land and Comfortville. A SERENDIPITOUS SHOE EXPERIENCE, INDEED.
Okay, that part I can begin to describe thoroughly and accurately. What I can't describe is what it's like wondering if when you get out on stage, you'll forget how to play the piano altogether; what it's like standing slightly off-stage, listening to more and more people file in (we had 90 programs and apparently ran out); what it's like as the stage manager calls up to the whoever and gives the order to cut the house lights; what it's like to walk out onto a brightly lit stage with the most gorgeous piano you've ever laid eyes on while all of your college friends and a surprising number of your high school ones are clapping and waiting for you to play it. I can't describe well sitting down and the tremendous force of will it takes to make yourself just start (a problem vocalists or instrumentalists may not generally have, as they're just sort of shoved out of the airplane by their accompanist), or that truly magical feeling when you overcome your nerves, remember how much you love the music, and manage to start enjoying the experience. Dare I say it? I had a BLAST. Performance anxiety Joie, the girl whose lack of formal piano education up till college has given her some sort of inferiority complex, loved giving a piano half-recital.
And now, what I really can't describe: sitting backstage and listening to your amazingly talented peers play 30 minutes of music you composed. That's all I can say, because it was an experience to which words just don't do justice. There are few times in my entire life that I've been so happy. And may I just say, the second bow thing? Pretty much the coolest perk of a recital ever. "Look at me and clap! Continue clapping so that you may look at me again!" Magic, baby!
I had to get all that out. I'm so thankful for this amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity. I spent literally four years waiting for that day to come, and never thought it would get here. Now that it's over, I'm a mixture of sad and relieved... but I don't think I could've hoped for a better overall experience.
i has one teh prezidunt's award four exelens in teh wryting!
But on a less lolcat note. My paper, Embracing Psychedelicism Before The Grateful Dead Made It Cool: Orchestration in Hector's Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique won one of the two awards for Writing in the Disciplines. I FEEL IMMENSELY SPECIAL. Winning this award means praise, esteem, a continuation of the winning streak, ego-boostage...
...and money!!! :-D eeeeee
I'm such an academic whore.
A few minutes ago I noticed the Voicemail symbol on my phone. I called, expecting to have a message from Brian. Instead, I had a message from the Pelham Police Department. I wasn't surprised and figured this was just a detective confirming that he'd gotten the police report I filled out a few days ago.
Instead, it's a detective calling to let me know that an iPod with my serial number has turned up in a pawn shop a few miles down the road from the Sonic where my stuff was stolen. IT APPEARS THEY HAVE FOUND BENJAMIN!!!
That's basically all I know at the moment; as for the 20 or so CDs, FM transmitter, in-car charger, cigarette lighter, and Mazda book/registration/insurance card, I'm not sure if that stuff will be recovered or not. They'll have to confirm that this is, in fact, my iPod, so I'll be speaking with the detective in charge of pawn shop stuff tomorrow. Let's just hope that a)it's really mine, and b)the thousands of tracks of music haven't been wiped.
IT IS A GOOD DAY, I DECLARE.
...or whatever her name may end up being.
Last weekend I persuaded my mom to take me to the new Petsmart in my hometown. We looked at two adult kitties in particular: a very pretty little calico named Tashi, and a tabby named Nicole (not an excellent cat name imho, but whatever). My mom was particularly taken with Tashi, and even made my dad take her to go visit again the following Monday.
This weekend I of course wanted to go see what new kitties we might find... imagine our surprise to find Tashi and Nicole still there! Okay, truth be told I'm not surprised about Nicole. She was a little older than most people tend to find adorable (2 years), had no crazy markings, and wasn't especially active from what I could tell. (I, of course, loved her for these very reasons.) But Tashi was cute, gorgeously marked, and seemed friendly--especially when they let you into the back to interact with her. I was surprised no one had snatched her up.
Unfortunately, Nicole = not a cat cat. Furthermore, after the month-and-a-half of life-in-a-box that she and Tashi had each spent in Petsmart, she apparently had started to crack; the workers said she had been very sweet until this last week, when she started getting angry and a little claw/bite-happy. She was very affectionate with me, but got agitated and unhappy when other cats were brought out.
After returning home, convincing an oh-so-unwilling father to go see the kitties, and deciding that Tashi was just too lovable to pass up... my mommy got herself her very own kitty. =)
Pardon the craptastical formatting, but I'm too tired to make this post look pretty. Also, all the pictures were taken on my cell phone (geez, if I'd've known my parents were getting a kitty I would've brought my camera home...), so the color looks a bit weird. But she's so pretty!
There's more to this story, specifically involving Nicole... but it could get a little sad, and I'll know more Monday, so perhaps a post then. Until then, there's Tashi! =D
