The last night of Break
Tonight is the last night of Christmas Break and subsequently my last post. I had a good break overall. I didn't learn the Mozart movements that I should have, but by the end of this week I should have them down. I would make a list of the best memories of this Christmas Break, but that would be really lame. Besides, I practically wrote about every breath that I took anyways (almost, ha ha).
So here's hoping that I have a great semester (what? no one else is saying it). May I do my Latin homework and learn how to perform without having a heart attack. I want to learn more about God and realize his power in my life again.
Goodbye
Life out of the Sick Bay
I don't think I have strep throat anymore, and that could be a good thing. The good news is that Marion will let me be around her now, and the bad news is that I can't be sick anymore. I must continue to soldier valiantly on with my life. Note that I did not split my infinitive in that sentence; that took some thinking.
This morning I had to go to work. I was late. I didn't even hear my alarm go off. I was out late with Lynette, Dorothy, and Batman. We went to the symphony; they played Ravel's Mother Goose Suite and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. They had a guest performer: Edgar Meyer the Double Bass Virtuoso. The whole program was amazing. If you want a great piece to play at someone's wedding (not mine since I don't believe in having a ceremony) (ceremonies are stupid; and think about it: they are totally unreformed. True Reformed minds do not engage in pointless displays of unnecessary drama* nor do they waste exorbitant amounts of money on ridiculous things like Junior Bride and Groom outfits and 5000 floating tea candles) Anyways, if you want a great piece of music for your wedding, you should arrange the final movement of the Ravel Mother Goose Suite, the Fairy Garden. Or don't bother arranging it; if you're spending a lot on your wedding anyway, just hire your entire local symphony to do it. Maybe they will give you a group rate. Or maybe they'll think you're such a cute couple that they'll do it for free (NOT!).
I left work early to get to my concerto competition in time. I made it early enough because I was turning pages for Gerald's** accompanist and although he told me that he played at 11:00 he actually didn't play until 11:40. Our accompanist gave us a little scare: she was supposed to accompany Thomas** at 11:25, Gerald at 11:40, and myself at 12:00, but at 11:05, she still wasn't there. But she made it. She got lost apparently; she is from Russia. I played alright, and I didn't win, which was no surprise to me. In fact, no one from the Reichert studio won this year, which hasn't happened in three years.
Here are some things on my wishlist for this year:
1. A Steinway
2. A BMW
3. Florida
4. A Church Building
5. A Cruise
6. France
7. A horse
8. A Flying Horse
9. A Fairy
10. Chill with my best friend
*disclaimer: the arts are not considered by the author to be pointless displays of unnecessary drama. They are Art. Weddings are not Art, and never will be, and that is that.
** names have been changed for privacy.
Life in the Sick Bay
So I was sick all day Thursday (yesterday). But that didn't mean anything. I called in to work , but then I worked on a research project, finalized my tape, went to the post office, got an oil change for my car, and practiced for 4 hours. I went over the Arts Academy to teach, but apparently they aren't starting classes again until next week. All this while enduring the terrible effects of Strep Throat. Marion stopped by our house after using our car and wanted me to drive her back to work but after she found out that I was sick, she wouldn't let me come within 10 feet of her. "You'll kill my baby!"
Today a couple of men were over setting up a desk for my Mom when I came back from work. I have to drop off my tape with Mrs. V, teach a piano lesson, practice, write something, and then go to the symphony (at least I think I'm going to the symphony; I can't find Aaron or Lynette). I also have to dig up a faculty member to write me a recommendation.
I was just thinking: these have totally got to be the best years of my life; they just can't get any better than this! And I'm not even in Europe yet. I love being alive.
Yesterday I was stricken with Strep Throat. I felt it coming on while I was recording my last two pieces for my carillon tape. I think this gave me the urge to get them done before I was too sick to climb that blasted tower again for the 50th time in a week. I did get them recorded, so now I have to tape to submit. Today I called in sick for the second time in all my 5 years of being in the workforce. I probably will go in to teach later this afternoon though. I'll just have to infect all those kids with the deadly virus I am carrying.
Tuesday night I went out with Andrea and Brian to the Olive Garden, and then we went over to Brian's and watched about 12 episodes of Boy Meets World. That was a good show. I had forgotten about the dork Minkus. He was funny.
Last night I went to Uccello's with Melissa and Dan Langeland because it was Dan's birthday. I don't know Dan very well; I went to church with him 12 years ago, and last year he was a music major, which is how Monica knows him. I invited myself along because Melissa wanted me to be with her because, well, she just did.
On Friday I start teaching a private student. I can't wait. I love teaching.
If I hadn't bankrupted myself over Christmas........
I would be moving out next week, but I can't afford to now that Christmas is over. The good news is that Melissa found my cellphone.
I went to the music store today. I have the same problem in music stores that I have in fabric stores: I see all this stuff that I want to do and buy, and I get so many great ideas, that when I am finally about to pay for all the things I am settling for, I can't focus on what the sales clerk or anyone else is saying to me.
"I'll have to order these. Do you want to pick them up, or should I send them to you?" "Uh, fax them, I mean send, or no, I'll pick them up." "How will you be paying for this? "Check. (I realize that I don't have my check book with me) wait I mean cash. Actually, I'll just use my credit card." "Was that credit or debit?" "Debit, right?" "Your order will be coming in on Thursday." "So when is it going to be here?" You get the picture.
This morning I went to the Hazenburgs and helped them get ready for their party. It is more interesting to clean other people's houses than to clean your own. I didn't get to practice today. I haven't practiced since Thursday. It's freaking me out: I have a competition on Saturday, and the whole next semester of music to be ready for. Did you all see my professor in the paper today? "Aviram Reichert gives an animated performace of Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini" ."
I stopped at Arby's on my way back from the music store and had a whole order of mozzarella sticks to myself. I can just feel the jealousy coming my way.
This house is really big
I just came back from the wedding in Canada. It was fun. No one else is getting back until tomorrow, so I am completely alone right now. Oh, I am moving out next week. I think there's some killer squirrel trying to get in through the window. Oh, and I left my cell phone at the Vantimmeren's on Monday. I should work on getting that back.
Life after Christmas
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Don't think that just because I am posting about everyday means that I don't have anything better to do with my time. I am purposely posting everyday, so that when I go back to school, I can look back on how nice it was not to have to put in 18 hour days. Today I went to work, and then I took a nap for two hours, and then I drove out to Grand Valley (on the way I stopped in at Lynette's and gave her a Latin exam) and then I practiced my concerto, and then I recorded carillon for a while and then I practiced some more, and then I came home and wrestled with Evie ( I won like four times). We both got bored watching PBS; they had two specials about how the world is likely to be engulfed by huge tsunamis and then about how the surviving humanity will likely be killed off by a pandemic flu virus. Tomorrow I think I will discover the cure for bird flu. That wouldn't be such a waste of my time.
I should post something about what happened on Christmas. I had to work that morning at Rest Haven. As a result, I was really tired for the rest of the day. I kept falling asleep in church, and I have never fallen asleep in church since I was five years old. We had Aunt Marion, the Zylstras, and the Howkins over for dinner, and around 1:00 I went to bed and stayed there until 5:30, when we left for church again. That night, Lynette, Evie and I went over to the VT's. Melissa, Rachel and Lynette and myself opened the letters that we all wrote to each other three years ago. They were all really funny. We stayed up really late laughing really hard as usual. Melissa and Lynette thought everything was really funny, like the time when Abby burst in, told us all to shut up, and then disappeared. Ha ha. The next morning we watched a movie until 12:00, which was really bad because I had a lesson at 1:00. Lynette drove us home in just enough time; I was only 10 minutes late after driving to Allendale all the way from Belding. N.B. the fastest way out to Belding is to take Vergennes.
I have got serious practicing to do all week. This weekend should be interesting. We're going to Canada for Michelle and Bryden's wedding.
