In this year of 2011, I promise...
I pledge...
I resolve...
What is a resolution? According to dictionary.com it is "a firm decision to do or not to do something". However, I don't find that terribly helpful. The history of making resolutions dates to Rome, around 150 B.C., there's a great ezine article on that here. And while that's fascinating, why do people currently make resolutions? And why make them for the new year?
Well, I don't have everyone's answers, but I do have my own. And here's why I make resolutions at this time of year, and why I think it's necessary.
If in this life we are supposed to be striving to be like Christ, and to be more perfect every day (assuming of course you are a Christian), then the need to make firm decisions (as defined above) will be necessary. The decision that something should not fit into your lifestyle, or something should fit into your lifestyle will almost always be necessary. The idea of making new resolutions with the beginning of a new year is a symbolic one at the least, it gives you a roundness in your mind to have a clean slate.
Two years ago, I resolved to take charge of my health. Last year I resolved to be pushed around by people in my life, whether they were strangers or close to me, a lot less. I think I've succeeded on both counts, and now at this point, where I hover ready to graduate, ready to be my own adult person, but terrified of the prospect at the same, I have no clue what that one big thing should be. Well, I thought I had no clue what the one big thing to change should be.
It has two parts, first, I resolve to get out more. That's vague, but I mean I resolve to push myself past my comfort zone more, to connect with people more, to not care so much about being perfect, but care more about the relationships in my life. The second part, I want to listen more. If you have something to tell me, I want to make sure I'm 100% focused on what you're saying. I want to think less and engage more.
I've been reading a lot of things recently about simple living, intentional living, etc. It's all really speaking to me right now. I feel the need to cut back, to declutter, to pare down, both emotionally and physically. So I can rephrase my resolution. I want to live more intentionally. So that's my only resolution.
I want to find MY untrodden viewpoint, to engage, to love more.
I recently told a person if someone could say during my eulogy "She was well-traveled, well-read, and loved God and her fellow person" I would be perfectly content with my earthly life.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Harriman-Jewell
Oh the places you'll go. I was reflecting last night, through the Harriman Jewell Arts Series, I've seen:
the Trey McIntyre Project - full of crazy dancing
the Jerusalem Symphony
the Royal Dragoons - full of marching and bagpipes
Emmanuel Axe, not once, but twice (but only once solo, the other time in duet)
the King's Singers (twice!)
Joyce Didonato (more times than I can count now)
Alvin Ailey Dance Company - twice!
the Houston Ballet
Parons Dance Company
Renee Fleming
Canadian Brass
Anne-Sophi Mutter
Have participated in two Master's Classes with two different amazing pianists
And considering almost all of those tickets SHOULD have cost me upwards of $45, I'm feeling very blessed indeed. Since I now have a card with all six King's Singers signatures sitting in my purse, I'm feeling blissful as well. Oh... it's time for a Master's Class with the King's Singers actually ...
the Trey McIntyre Project - full of crazy dancing
the Jerusalem Symphony
the Royal Dragoons - full of marching and bagpipes
Emmanuel Axe, not once, but twice (but only once solo, the other time in duet)
the King's Singers (twice!)
Joyce Didonato (more times than I can count now)
Alvin Ailey Dance Company - twice!
the Houston Ballet
Parons Dance Company
Renee Fleming
Canadian Brass
Anne-Sophi Mutter
Have participated in two Master's Classes with two different amazing pianists
And considering almost all of those tickets SHOULD have cost me upwards of $45, I'm feeling very blessed indeed. Since I now have a card with all six King's Singers signatures sitting in my purse, I'm feeling blissful as well. Oh... it's time for a Master's Class with the King's Singers actually ...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
A couple of really good friends
I'm really blessed with my friends. I've mentioned this before. But today, I want to share a couple of stories.
I have a friend who will dash to the cafeteria after her own class is over at 8:50 to pick me up a box breakfast since I'm at work and won't make it to breakfast. She's pretty cool. She also takes me out when I need a drink, makes me monitor my blood sugar, supports me wholeheartedly, and loves goofiness and disney movies as much as I do. I'm very grateful for this.
I have a friend who will dash to the cafeteria after her own class is over at 8:50 to pick me up a box breakfast since I'm at work and won't make it to breakfast. She's pretty cool. She also takes me out when I need a drink, makes me monitor my blood sugar, supports me wholeheartedly, and loves goofiness and disney movies as much as I do. I'm very grateful for this.
I'm also blessed with a friend who, yes, enjoys the goofiness, watches Bones with me, brings me lemonade and strawberries because I can't go to the holiday party myself because of the airborne nut allergens floating through the room, makes me have dates to cry in her lap because life is overwhelming and occasionally pushes me to try new things.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
God is faithful
What a week. My patience has certainly been tried this week. But I have a few things that have helped me get through the long days (and nights!), things I've remembered and repeated over and over as I was studying and being busy. Sometimes for me, I have to remember that I am human, and while I may try as hard as I can, at the end of the day, I am not the one I depend on. God is more faithful than I could hope to be, God will never leave me.
Joshua 1:5 NIV
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
I Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Joshua 1:5 NIV
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
I Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Trials
Well, that may be over dramatic, it may not be. I'm a little sleep-deprived, as the time stamp should indicate here.
"Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind,"
James 1:2
I'm reminded of this verse tonight during my observations of so many things. The last two weeks of classes at Jewell are famous for being rough, no one enjoys them. But it's much harder to enjoy them during the fall. Most of us are busy with planning for the Christmas festivalS, the multiple that will take place over the next two weeks. I think most of us would rather just curl up and go to sleep instead, but that's a little hard right now due to the papers, presentations, exams and concerts that must happen.
Consider it pure joy. I'll be working on that attitude.
"Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind,"
James 1:2
I'm reminded of this verse tonight during my observations of so many things. The last two weeks of classes at Jewell are famous for being rough, no one enjoys them. But it's much harder to enjoy them during the fall. Most of us are busy with planning for the Christmas festivalS, the multiple that will take place over the next two weeks. I think most of us would rather just curl up and go to sleep instead, but that's a little hard right now due to the papers, presentations, exams and concerts that must happen.
Consider it pure joy. I'll be working on that attitude.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thanksgiving 2010
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Not that my family celebrates a lot of holidays, but it's still my favorite by far. I think I appreciate the spirit of the holiday, the family time together, the way everyone sort of unwinds and is just happy to have the day with each other. We don't do other projects during the holiday, we just try to spend as much time together on that day together, doing things everyone wants to do, working to make each other happy.
This Thanksgiving was especially dear to me because I was away from the family core last year (ie my parents), and I'm fairly certain I will be away again this next year. Last year was a fabulous alternative, since I got to have a different family thanksgiving with my brother's family and my sister. But Thanksgiving is not only MY favorite holiday, it's also my Mom's favorite holiday. And the ability to spend it with her, is a blessing. Next year I hope to be in Maine, and I have no idea if there is enough of a break for me to afford the flight home for the holiday. I will be entirely on my own next year, and though I am sure I will find friends, church family, etc, it will still not be the same without my mother. And the rest of the family too.
It's not that we do anything special. Much of the late morning was spent in Wii bowling tournaments (I mean, that's still rather novel to my family, video gaming systems and all), after that we did a lot of cooking. This was the first time in three years I got to A. help cook, and B. could eat everything. My mother worked hard to make it an entirely gluten-free meal, and that was really meaningful to me, since it was the first time in three years I had had a full Thanksgiving meal. None of the food is anything incredibly gourmet, lots of traditional favorites; turkey, dressing, my mom's potatoes, you get the idea: not a lot of adventurousness. But that is what makes it so special. We don't make a dressing except once a year, and it's an incredible recipe, so we savour it when we have it. I don't mean the food isn't incredibly tasty by saying it's not gourmet or adventurous, I just mean, we're fairly run of the mill on the menu choices.
Much of our afternoon and evening after we ate our early dinner feast was spent again playing Wii (need to work off those calories) and then wonderful board games, wrapped up by movie watching (Clue!). It's not the activities, the games, or the movie choices that make it special though, it's one full day of everyone checking their stress at the kitchen door, enjoying great foods together, working together (we figured out that every single dish in the kitchen was a collaboration of some sort), and just being silly. More threats to spew drinks because of raucous laughter happen on this day than on any other day of the year. Me? I like watching them, I enjoy the sense of love that hangs in the air. Sometimes the idea that stress isn't necessary for a few short days while we play, laugh and enjoy each other even lasts as long as the leftovers. Sometimes it doesn't last as long as the leftovers, but we're a real family, with all the failures and mistakes that go along with it. Maybe that sounds cheesy, but I really don't mean it that way.
This year, above all else, I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful to be home, to have a home, to have emotional shelter from the rest of the big, bad, ugly world, to know I always have a place, emotional if not physical, to return to. I'm so incredibly blessed I'm ready to tear up right now, and I'm not a crier.
God said he would never leave us alone, and yes, I know that He meant He was sending the Holy Spirit, but I think God works through means, and I see family as one of his incredible means of communicating His love for us.
This Thanksgiving was especially dear to me because I was away from the family core last year (ie my parents), and I'm fairly certain I will be away again this next year. Last year was a fabulous alternative, since I got to have a different family thanksgiving with my brother's family and my sister. But Thanksgiving is not only MY favorite holiday, it's also my Mom's favorite holiday. And the ability to spend it with her, is a blessing. Next year I hope to be in Maine, and I have no idea if there is enough of a break for me to afford the flight home for the holiday. I will be entirely on my own next year, and though I am sure I will find friends, church family, etc, it will still not be the same without my mother. And the rest of the family too.
It's not that we do anything special. Much of the late morning was spent in Wii bowling tournaments (I mean, that's still rather novel to my family, video gaming systems and all), after that we did a lot of cooking. This was the first time in three years I got to A. help cook, and B. could eat everything. My mother worked hard to make it an entirely gluten-free meal, and that was really meaningful to me, since it was the first time in three years I had had a full Thanksgiving meal. None of the food is anything incredibly gourmet, lots of traditional favorites; turkey, dressing, my mom's potatoes, you get the idea: not a lot of adventurousness. But that is what makes it so special. We don't make a dressing except once a year, and it's an incredible recipe, so we savour it when we have it. I don't mean the food isn't incredibly tasty by saying it's not gourmet or adventurous, I just mean, we're fairly run of the mill on the menu choices.
Much of our afternoon and evening after we ate our early dinner feast was spent again playing Wii (need to work off those calories) and then wonderful board games, wrapped up by movie watching (Clue!). It's not the activities, the games, or the movie choices that make it special though, it's one full day of everyone checking their stress at the kitchen door, enjoying great foods together, working together (we figured out that every single dish in the kitchen was a collaboration of some sort), and just being silly. More threats to spew drinks because of raucous laughter happen on this day than on any other day of the year. Me? I like watching them, I enjoy the sense of love that hangs in the air. Sometimes the idea that stress isn't necessary for a few short days while we play, laugh and enjoy each other even lasts as long as the leftovers. Sometimes it doesn't last as long as the leftovers, but we're a real family, with all the failures and mistakes that go along with it. Maybe that sounds cheesy, but I really don't mean it that way.
This year, above all else, I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful to be home, to have a home, to have emotional shelter from the rest of the big, bad, ugly world, to know I always have a place, emotional if not physical, to return to. I'm so incredibly blessed I'm ready to tear up right now, and I'm not a crier.
God said he would never leave us alone, and yes, I know that He meant He was sending the Holy Spirit, but I think God works through means, and I see family as one of his incredible means of communicating His love for us.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Halfway
Halfway through the week that has consumed my personal life. I'm talking about the week that started Monday and will end this coming Tuesday. I finished the Master Class this afternoon (ps, Alessio Bax is so cool), and can now concentrate on the Solo Artist Competition. I'm really excited, and just ready for it to be over. :)
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Remembering...
I have a really bad habit of getting caught up in everyday life. Letting the little things get to me. The little frustrations. Okay, in the moment, they're big frustrations. A friend reminded me of this verse the other day:
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation,and uphold me with a willing spirit."Psalm 51:12 ESV
Who am I to forget that the center of my world should rightly be God? His salvation is the only thing that truly matters.
"Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation"
Psalm 18:46, ASV
I've really been struggling though this last two months. The recital, work, homework, class schedule, emotional turmoil, all of it has really been waying me down. And now I have this solo artist competition on Saturday. I have really been losing sight of my true focus in life. And the piano work wasn't going so smoothly. In late September I was given a 19 page Bach concerto to memorize for the competition. Up until last night, I was still unsure whether or not I would have everything ready and secure.
Then last night in the middle of practice, I remembered...
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
- Phillipians 4:13 NKJV
God is my strength. My strength is not my own.
And right there I prayed. I spent 15 minutes just sitting in my practice room praying quietly.
And the music?
Beautiful. I saw that concerto in a new light last night. Up until last night it was the technically difficult, slightly flashy little piece that fit my personality that was good for the competition.
But last night I saw God in my music. I saw the long way my memorization skills have come in the last two months, how my patience (against my will) has developed, and I experienced a joy that few understand. The joy that comes from a truly beautiful piece of music, and the ability to share it with yourself, and to share yourself through your music with God. I thank God so deeply, for the gift he's given to me, and for giving me a gift that is so easily shared with others. I don't know where my gifts will take me in life, I don't know how much longer my hands will work, but I hope that while they do still work, I remember to thank God for them every day.
No matter the outcome of my competition on Saturday, whether I win the spot with LSO or not, I feel I've won. I've had a great challenge, and have met it, not through my own strength, but by learning to depend more fully on God. It seems it's a lesson God has to teach me over and over again. I can only hope someday it gets through my thick head.
"I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy"
-The Valley Song, Jars of Clay
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation,and uphold me with a willing spirit."Psalm 51:12 ESV
Who am I to forget that the center of my world should rightly be God? His salvation is the only thing that truly matters.
"Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation"
Psalm 18:46, ASV
I've really been struggling though this last two months. The recital, work, homework, class schedule, emotional turmoil, all of it has really been waying me down. And now I have this solo artist competition on Saturday. I have really been losing sight of my true focus in life. And the piano work wasn't going so smoothly. In late September I was given a 19 page Bach concerto to memorize for the competition. Up until last night, I was still unsure whether or not I would have everything ready and secure.
Then last night in the middle of practice, I remembered...
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
- Phillipians 4:13 NKJV
God is my strength. My strength is not my own.
And right there I prayed. I spent 15 minutes just sitting in my practice room praying quietly.
And the music?
Beautiful. I saw that concerto in a new light last night. Up until last night it was the technically difficult, slightly flashy little piece that fit my personality that was good for the competition.
But last night I saw God in my music. I saw the long way my memorization skills have come in the last two months, how my patience (against my will) has developed, and I experienced a joy that few understand. The joy that comes from a truly beautiful piece of music, and the ability to share it with yourself, and to share yourself through your music with God. I thank God so deeply, for the gift he's given to me, and for giving me a gift that is so easily shared with others. I don't know where my gifts will take me in life, I don't know how much longer my hands will work, but I hope that while they do still work, I remember to thank God for them every day.
No matter the outcome of my competition on Saturday, whether I win the spot with LSO or not, I feel I've won. I've had a great challenge, and have met it, not through my own strength, but by learning to depend more fully on God. It seems it's a lesson God has to teach me over and over again. I can only hope someday it gets through my thick head.
"I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy"
-The Valley Song, Jars of Clay
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Egads! It's another week!
Well, I missed one deadline last week (for the blog sillies), and I'm moments away from missing another. Life got crazy. It does that. I have a friend who likes to say that if she tried to live life with as much energy as I do, she would be exhausted by noon. A fair assumption, since I'm generally exhausted by 10:30am. What, you thought this was real? It's just an act!
A few of the fun things on my plate right now:
- Memorizing a concerto, listen here. To the pros, not me! Bach's Concerto in D Minor for harpsichord (some of us use the piano). That's nineteen pages of sixteenth notes, for those of you who can't hear that. Well, 17 pages of sixteenth notes, 2 pages of 32nd notes, but we're really just splitting hairs now. (listen for the coughing about 3.5 minutes in, promise, its there!)
- Rotary's District Governor for District 6040 is coming to visit the WJC Rotaract club (that's right, we're alive and kicking) and bringing with him someone(s?) from UMKC to pick my brain. I also have the privilege of giving him a campus tour of the WJC while he is here. We're going to poke our noses in classrooms, etc. Should be grand fun. I understand there's a few Liberty Rotary folk going as well.
- 2 big research reports, one on the Tet Offensive and one on Women's Suffrage in the USA
- A fantastic performance by Emmanuel Axe last night (TWO encores!) with the Harriman-Jewell Series.
- Upcoming performance of my own on Thursday!
Well, we're just scraping the top layer. I'm going to wrap this one up a little short, my hands are ready to fall off from all the playing of piano.
A few of the fun things on my plate right now:
- Memorizing a concerto, listen here. To the pros, not me! Bach's Concerto in D Minor for harpsichord (some of us use the piano). That's nineteen pages of sixteenth notes, for those of you who can't hear that. Well, 17 pages of sixteenth notes, 2 pages of 32nd notes, but we're really just splitting hairs now. (listen for the coughing about 3.5 minutes in, promise, its there!)
- Rotary's District Governor for District 6040 is coming to visit the WJC Rotaract club (that's right, we're alive and kicking) and bringing with him someone(s?) from UMKC to pick my brain. I also have the privilege of giving him a campus tour of the WJC while he is here. We're going to poke our noses in classrooms, etc. Should be grand fun. I understand there's a few Liberty Rotary folk going as well.
- 2 big research reports, one on the Tet Offensive and one on Women's Suffrage in the USA
- A fantastic performance by Emmanuel Axe last night (TWO encores!) with the Harriman-Jewell Series.
- Upcoming performance of my own on Thursday!
Well, we're just scraping the top layer. I'm going to wrap this one up a little short, my hands are ready to fall off from all the playing of piano.
Monday, November 1, 2010
CSA 2010
As promised, the weekend was really a great time to be a celiac. I live tweeted the whole conference (my handle is traveling_girl) met lots of new friends, and even got to meet one of my favorite twitter friends: GlutenFreeDee. She and I have been communicating for quite some time through twitter, I found her while I was in England, and she kept me up to date on happenings on the Gluten-free front in America, and I shared all of the joys and pains of traveling gluten-free in a foreign country with her.
Folks, she's even cooler in person. As awesome as she is on twitter, facebook, and her blog, she's even more amazing when you get to stand there face to face and chat with her.
I also met this amazing dietitian and nutitionist, Bruce Homstead. He lives in Massachusetts, but is originally from Maine. Considering the Americorps option I want, I picked his brain for a bit, and then we talked longer and he helped me figure out some great strategies for dealing with being hypoglycemic.
I'm so full of joy right now. Inexplainable joy. These people (every single one that I can't sit here and list because this post would be too long) that cared, honestly cared, made me feel normal. All these "normal" people running around eating gluten-free food.
Oh, and the food.
The food was simply incredible. Salads, entrees, dinner bread, foccacia, biscuits, shortbread, strawberry shortcake, BBQ ribs, amazing side dishes (not JUST RICE!) and that's not even counting the samples from the vendor fair. I came home with a bag full of samples, giveaways, and two gifts from my two favorite companies, Glutino and Pamela's. I got to talk to both table for a bit, and told them how they saved my life, figuratively speaking. They made me love food and look forward to cookies and baked goods again, and I really wanted the companies to understand the service they perform. They made me a person, normal again. They didn't just provide a product, they provided morale and happiness. They both shoved a lot of free stuff in my hands because of it. In retrospect, I have to say, well played.
I also won a contest. I never win anything, so I was beyond shocked when they called my name at Saturday's lunch that I had won a drawing. I got a free bag of flour and a cute little tote bag that says "Celiac Sprue Association" on it with the logo. Sweet.
I am overwhelmed with medical and dietitian and nutritionist info. I was also one of two 20 somethings there, so I got my brain picked a lot (the other 20 something was staff). A lot, a lot. Everyone from Dee, to the nutritionist for the University of Kansas to the staff nutritionist for CSA wanted my opinion on how to reach the 20 something crowd. I gave out my contact info more times than I can count, invited phone calls, emails, etc.
I'm just fired up. I'm proud to be a Celiac now. It's not something I need to slink away from, it's who I am, I should just own it and go on with my life. That's right. I'm the cool one. :)
Folks, she's even cooler in person. As awesome as she is on twitter, facebook, and her blog, she's even more amazing when you get to stand there face to face and chat with her.
I also met this amazing dietitian and nutitionist, Bruce Homstead. He lives in Massachusetts, but is originally from Maine. Considering the Americorps option I want, I picked his brain for a bit, and then we talked longer and he helped me figure out some great strategies for dealing with being hypoglycemic.
I'm so full of joy right now. Inexplainable joy. These people (every single one that I can't sit here and list because this post would be too long) that cared, honestly cared, made me feel normal. All these "normal" people running around eating gluten-free food.
Oh, and the food.
The food was simply incredible. Salads, entrees, dinner bread, foccacia, biscuits, shortbread, strawberry shortcake, BBQ ribs, amazing side dishes (not JUST RICE!) and that's not even counting the samples from the vendor fair. I came home with a bag full of samples, giveaways, and two gifts from my two favorite companies, Glutino and Pamela's. I got to talk to both table for a bit, and told them how they saved my life, figuratively speaking. They made me love food and look forward to cookies and baked goods again, and I really wanted the companies to understand the service they perform. They made me a person, normal again. They didn't just provide a product, they provided morale and happiness. They both shoved a lot of free stuff in my hands because of it. In retrospect, I have to say, well played.
I also won a contest. I never win anything, so I was beyond shocked when they called my name at Saturday's lunch that I had won a drawing. I got a free bag of flour and a cute little tote bag that says "Celiac Sprue Association" on it with the logo. Sweet.
I am overwhelmed with medical and dietitian and nutritionist info. I was also one of two 20 somethings there, so I got my brain picked a lot (the other 20 something was staff). A lot, a lot. Everyone from Dee, to the nutritionist for the University of Kansas to the staff nutritionist for CSA wanted my opinion on how to reach the 20 something crowd. I gave out my contact info more times than I can count, invited phone calls, emails, etc.
I'm just fired up. I'm proud to be a Celiac now. It's not something I need to slink away from, it's who I am, I should just own it and go on with my life. That's right. I'm the cool one. :)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
CSA 2010!
It's here, it's here, it's here!!! The event I've done nothing but talk about for a month, have scraped my meager savings together to attend, have annoyed everyone at WJC by talking about, yes, THAT event is here!
What event you ask?
Why... CSA 2010! It's the 33rd Annual Conference, and it's right here in my own backyard (figuratively speaking of course), downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
It's a great weekend to be a Celiac.
I hope I sleep tonight, I'm buzzing with little kid excitement.
I promise to come back and report on the fabulousness that has to be this weekend. I hope you want to read about it!
A couple of thoughts though (prayer points if you're so inclined):
- I don't do well in crowd situations, especially when I don't know a soul going in. So pray that I can be at ease with my public persona, and NOT scare anyone off by being standoffish, as I am wont to do.
- It's been an exhausting week, and this weekend is going to set me behind on homework. Worth it, but it will be a tough week next week because of my attendance this weekend.
What event you ask?
Why... CSA 2010! It's the 33rd Annual Conference, and it's right here in my own backyard (figuratively speaking of course), downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
It's a great weekend to be a Celiac.
I hope I sleep tonight, I'm buzzing with little kid excitement.
I promise to come back and report on the fabulousness that has to be this weekend. I hope you want to read about it!
A couple of thoughts though (prayer points if you're so inclined):
- I don't do well in crowd situations, especially when I don't know a soul going in. So pray that I can be at ease with my public persona, and NOT scare anyone off by being standoffish, as I am wont to do.
- It's been an exhausting week, and this weekend is going to set me behind on homework. Worth it, but it will be a tough week next week because of my attendance this weekend.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Scarlatti
It's Scarlatti's birthday today. He would have been 325 years old. That... is a lot of years.
Scarlatti gets mentioned in today's post because, well, I love piano music. Scarlatti wrote almost all piano music. See the connection? Plus, I love Baroque music, and Scarlatti spent the majority of his life composing at the beginning of the 18th century, quintessential Baroque period.
Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti, the son of composer Alessandro Scarlatti, was born in Naples in 1685, the same year that both JS Bach and GF Handel were born. He however, unlike his contemporaries, is not generally referred to as GD Scarlatti, but rather Domenico Scarlatti. Who knows how we make these music history traditions. He is considered a Baroque composer, but his music was highly influential in helping develop what we think of as the Classical style. Much of his keyboard music is Italian and Spanish in influence, and includes singing melodies, overdramatic (or operatic) influences and embellishments. During his own lifetime he was known as one of the premier virtuosos at the keyboard. There's a tale of a contest between Scarlatti and GF Handel, and upon the harpsichord, Scarlatti won out, but on the organ, Handel was judged to be superior. Scarlatti was known to cross himself in veneration of Handel's skill when it came up in conversation.
He was primarily a keyboard composer but he also wrote a number of operas for the Queen of Spain. However, in order to find an untrodden viewpoint, or to expand your horizons, I'm going to recommend that in honor of Scarlatti's birthday today, you look up a few of these sonatas for piano, since he wrote more than 550 solo piano sonatas during his lifespan. Prolific much?
Here are my top five favorite piano sonatas:
1. Sonata in E Major, K. 380, L. 23
2. Sonata in C Major, K. 502 *** (absolute favorite!)
3. Sonata in B minor, K. 87
4. Sonata in G Major, K. 427
5. Sonata in D minor, K. 214
Scarlatti gets mentioned in today's post because, well, I love piano music. Scarlatti wrote almost all piano music. See the connection? Plus, I love Baroque music, and Scarlatti spent the majority of his life composing at the beginning of the 18th century, quintessential Baroque period.
Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti, the son of composer Alessandro Scarlatti, was born in Naples in 1685, the same year that both JS Bach and GF Handel were born. He however, unlike his contemporaries, is not generally referred to as GD Scarlatti, but rather Domenico Scarlatti. Who knows how we make these music history traditions. He is considered a Baroque composer, but his music was highly influential in helping develop what we think of as the Classical style. Much of his keyboard music is Italian and Spanish in influence, and includes singing melodies, overdramatic (or operatic) influences and embellishments. During his own lifetime he was known as one of the premier virtuosos at the keyboard. There's a tale of a contest between Scarlatti and GF Handel, and upon the harpsichord, Scarlatti won out, but on the organ, Handel was judged to be superior. Scarlatti was known to cross himself in veneration of Handel's skill when it came up in conversation.
He was primarily a keyboard composer but he also wrote a number of operas for the Queen of Spain. However, in order to find an untrodden viewpoint, or to expand your horizons, I'm going to recommend that in honor of Scarlatti's birthday today, you look up a few of these sonatas for piano, since he wrote more than 550 solo piano sonatas during his lifespan. Prolific much?
Here are my top five favorite piano sonatas:
1. Sonata in E Major, K. 380, L. 23
2. Sonata in C Major, K. 502 *** (absolute favorite!)
3. Sonata in B minor, K. 87
4. Sonata in G Major, K. 427
5. Sonata in D minor, K. 214
Friday, October 22, 2010
What the future holds - Part 1
Not that I have necessarily on this, but I'm really beginning to hope for it now.
AmeriCorps was suggested to me as I was looking for plans that would involve... non-academics for next year. It's a US federal program (think Peace Corps, but for America!) created by former President Bill Clinton in 1993. The work accomplished ranges from environmental outreach and cleanup, to community development. I've looked and looked and looked through the programs, and found one called: VolunteerMaine VISTA. Being picked for this program would be awesome, I'd be working with establishing a Service Learning program in Maine, especially focusing on schools.
So ducks in a row: Basic profile created.
Still to do: Oh so much.
AmeriCorps was suggested to me as I was looking for plans that would involve... non-academics for next year. It's a US federal program (think Peace Corps, but for America!) created by former President Bill Clinton in 1993. The work accomplished ranges from environmental outreach and cleanup, to community development. I've looked and looked and looked through the programs, and found one called: VolunteerMaine VISTA. Being picked for this program would be awesome, I'd be working with establishing a Service Learning program in Maine, especially focusing on schools.
So ducks in a row: Basic profile created.
Still to do: Oh so much.
Monday, October 18, 2010
10 Things
I've decided as part of this blog I'm going to run a weekly series called "10 Thing" featuring ten things about a subject, something that's on my mind, or just general musings. Today hits the musings button. I was having an interesting discussion with someone recently and throughout the conversation they kept saying things like "I had no clue!" or "I didn't know that about you!" and that struck me as funny first, but then curious second. So, in the vein of sharing a little, ten things you might not know about me:
1. I have enough mild allergies that I keep them written down on a little card in my emergency pack. That way in case I can't remember I can look them up.
2. I love French pop music of almost all decades in the 20th/21st centuries.
3. Speaking of music, I can't listen to Barber's Adagio for Strings without wanting to melt/cry/do something else ridiculous
4. I am an ardent feminist, but would probably choose to be a stay-at-home mom if I ever had kids.
5. Remember all those Disney movies the 20-something set cut their cultural teeth on? I only saw four of them as a child; Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, and Beauty and the Beast. The rest I've seen in the last two and a half years. Except Pocahontas, which I'm still missing.
6. I've always wanted to be just like my Dad. Just without the financial whiz brain.
7. I'm incredibly passionate about groups that work with women, especially groups like MOCSA and Veronica's Voice.
8. I danced for ten years during grade school and junior high
9. I collect antique Charles Dickens novels, but I can only buy them in second-hand bookstores, that's one of my rules. I have The Pickwick Papers, Martin Chuzzlewit, and Barnaby Rudge. They're all at least 90 years old, and my oldest is at least 110 years old, there's a signature from 1900 on the inside cover.
10. I blush when I'm happy, not when I'm embarrassed.
1. I have enough mild allergies that I keep them written down on a little card in my emergency pack. That way in case I can't remember I can look them up.
2. I love French pop music of almost all decades in the 20th/21st centuries.
3. Speaking of music, I can't listen to Barber's Adagio for Strings without wanting to melt/cry/do something else ridiculous
4. I am an ardent feminist, but would probably choose to be a stay-at-home mom if I ever had kids.
5. Remember all those Disney movies the 20-something set cut their cultural teeth on? I only saw four of them as a child; Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, and Beauty and the Beast. The rest I've seen in the last two and a half years. Except Pocahontas, which I'm still missing.
6. I've always wanted to be just like my Dad. Just without the financial whiz brain.
7. I'm incredibly passionate about groups that work with women, especially groups like MOCSA and Veronica's Voice.
8. I danced for ten years during grade school and junior high
9. I collect antique Charles Dickens novels, but I can only buy them in second-hand bookstores, that's one of my rules. I have The Pickwick Papers, Martin Chuzzlewit, and Barnaby Rudge. They're all at least 90 years old, and my oldest is at least 110 years old, there's a signature from 1900 on the inside cover.
10. I blush when I'm happy, not when I'm embarrassed.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Organization?
Question marked because I generally think of myself as decently organized. I have the planner, the software, and a brain that categorizes and compartmentalizes fairly well. But in the last couple of weeks my normal routines just aren't cutting it for my life. I'm trying to turn this idea of "new paths" and "untrodden viewpoints" into my new needs for organization. Senior year is turning out to be a more spread out busy, with lots of long term projects. After googling everything from "organization tools for adults" to "checklist ideas" to "task management" I finally ran across a blog called "simple mom". Alright laugh, go ahead. But her ideas are pretty awesome, even for a twenty-something single girl. I think I may try some of her ideas in the weeks ahead, but I'm still open to suggestions. Let me know if you have a system you use that works particularly well for you.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Brand New Thoughts
I've been reflecting recently on where life is sending me next year. Americorps, Oxford, graduate school and programs galor, I have no idea how to get where I want to go in the next few years. I've discovered some fresh thoughts, perspectives, outlooks may be in need. These are the musings of a girl deciding to hunt for the new perspective, the untrodden viewpoint. Join me while I keep things fresh, and try to figure out what life after Jewell looks like, or what it doesn't look like.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)