done done done done done done done done done...

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm done with the first year of my masters degree. i emailed my paper to my professor tonight. a huge weight is lifted from my shoulders.


i wrote my paper about gilles apap. if you don't know who he is, look at this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmjGDBWZZFw it's amazing.

i'm excited because i can start practicing violin again. that was my punishment. no violin until i stopped procrastinating and got my papers done. yay!

knitting 101

i thought i'd share my first knitting attempt with you all. it's my practice "square." i realize that it's a rectangle, but my yarn got all tangled so i had to abort the whole square concept. i kept losing and gaining stitches, and i had to teach myself (with the help of youtube) how to cast on and off. the casting off didn't go so well...

i think i'll try again after i get my paper done. it's my last thing for the semester and then i'm done with the first year of my masters degree. it's crazy how fast this year has flown by, but i'm happy to have a bit of a break, and i'm really looking forward to seeing my mom.

decision list

1. i am going to go to rocky ridge this summer. although pretty much everyone has told me to go to banff, i've decided that the best thing for me, and my playing, is located in colorado for the month of july.

2. i hate violin right now because i hate MY violin. i am going to do everything i can to get a new one by july.

3. i realized that one reason why i've been hating my instrument is because i've been playing too much viola. i love viola, bu it's affecting my intonation too much. next year, no viola in chamber orchestra or chamber ensembles. only orchestra. i am not budging on this decision.

4. bread and dairy make me sick. i am going to try to refrain from ingesting either of these things.

good day :)

long time, no post.

lately, i find myself having to make all sorts of decisions. i don't really know how to decide what to do. i stand at the juncture and just stare. and wait... for what, i have no idea. a sign. or someone wise to tell me what to do.

example #1:

i got into the banff masterclass program. yay!!! & boooo!!! my professor doesn't want me to go. she wants me to go to her summer program. not a bad option either. there has been much debate and drama over this whole "issue." i will spend part of tomorrow making a pro/con list.

example #2:

i was asked to play viola in a musical, "into the woods." it's not a ton of money, but it's an extra paycheck than i would otherwise not have, and it sounds like fun. if i do this, i'll have to stay in london for an extra 2 weeks, which means that i'd have to move out of my apartment to a different place, which is a pain in itself. and i will miss one concert at home that i really wanted to see. thoughts, anyone?

on a happier note, jenny, chri, and i dyed easter eggs today. lots of fun! i can't remember the last time i did anything easter related except eat a big meal.


hope everyone had a good easter!

i don't wanna.

i have to drive back to london tomorrow. i don't want to go. i want to stay home and be here. i can practice here, i have my cat, i have a phone to communicate with very important us citizen friends... what more could i ask for really?

new beginning

Life is precious. Everyone knows this, but I have been thoroughly reminded of it this last week.

I never think that I'm wasting my time because usually whatever I'm doing makes me happy- even if it's not the most "productive" thing at the time. While doing a lot of reflecting, I started wondering if I'm making the most of my life. Will I look back when I'm really old and gray and be happy with what I've done? What if I feel that I'm happy now, but in the future I'll think, "God, I was stupid when I was in my early 20's." A slew of hypothetical situations like this flooded into my brain... I HATE hypothetical situations.

I don't think that I have many answers, but I do know this: I don't know. And I won't know. Maybe in the future I will look back at myself and think I was naive. I am fine with not knowing, and will gladly wait to find out.

happy canadian thanksgiving!

i'm feeling settled in. this is my room. it's lovely.

and my violin stuff is going well. right now i'm going through the process of making a lot of changes in my technique. i love the new changes though. i feel so much more comfortable than before. it's amazing how such little adjustments can make such a big difference.

i went to the eye doctor yesterday. she did a million tests and then asked me if i have problems with double vision. apparently my right eye sees things lower than my left, which my new eye doctor seems to think will cause double vision later in life. great. i now have one contact for my right eye (near-sighted). my left eye (far-sighted) doesn't need one. oh if i could afford laser eye surgery i'd do it. right now. i've tried contacts before with no success so i have my fingers crossed that this works out. my lack of a bridge on my nose makes it quite difficult at times to keep my glasses up on my face.

i set up my recitals: my solo recital is march 21st, saturday, 8pm
chamber recital is february 27th, friday, 6pm

both will be in von kluster hall. if you have a passport and some free time, do come. i will feed you.

this coming monday is canada's thanksgiving. strange... it's so early. just strange. i let all of my classes out early today. and i pretty much just cancelled my 230 class because there was pretty much noone there. i'm way too nice to my students.

lastly, a friend who i'd lost touch with has reentered my life. they are keeping me very inspired and motivated. i am happy and grateful :)