Coffeeless: Day 2 & 3

It was a brutal. But I survived.

Partly it was because I'm visiting Catherine, who makes sure I won't break down. Secondly, I clarified what constituted a "candy bar" (a slightly enigmatic term), allowing for Valentine's Day candy, and the fudge my mother recently sent. Oh, and posh chocolates are okay. In Catherine's words "if you give it all up, you'll go mad!"

Secondly, a slight increase in tea consumption helps stave the caffeine depression.

As I push from day 3 into day 4, I can feel the need lessening, but the comforting feeling of having a hot coffee in my hands is still very prevalent. This I'll need to replace.

Coffeeless: Day 1

Feeling nervous, find my fingers tapping all the time. I'm reminded of my friend Eric (who may or may not read this page), well known for saying "I should do [fill in the blank] - No I shouldn't! What am I thinking?" and the blank is obviously (in this case) [buy a cup of coffee].

Instead of coffee and candy bars, I replace them with "good" food, like apples and orange juice. This is okay, but I also have the odd feeling I will need to over consume to compensate for the urges....oh, dear.

Happy Pancake Day!

`Nuff Said, I suppose.

For Lent I will be sacrificing: coffee and candy bars. If there are any other suggestions, please let me know.

Model? Me?

Another modeling gig! Saw a posting for art classes at the Public Library, and thought I would make an inquiry. Turns out they had a cancellation for a mid-March class. I've found modeling here to be a lot more difficult (as in finding jobs), primarily because people actually have "Life Model" as a career; therefore, you need to make a break into it. I don't perceive this to be my "in" since I'm not interested in doing this full-time.

Besides that, all life has to offer right now are pre-Valentines preparations, practice, and of course party (it's some one's B-Day today, and they don't know... - which is a real bummer because I have a warm-up class at 8)

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Pointless Classes

The undergraduates have "technicals" coming up next week. In their 20-minute jury, they'll be tested on Scales, Studies, Sight-reading (the 3 S's) and Excerpts. So for over a month, this has been the aim of studio and warm-up classes. I wouldn't mind so terribly if I didn't feel completely useless and unproductive. It would certainly be to my benefit to be able to stay home and practice (and that's not just my cold speaking. It's a 20 minute walk with a heavy horn in a hard case...not that I'm complaining)

On a brighter note, a less pointless class I had this morning was my composition lesson. I showed Larry some exercises he had assigned last term, as well as the beginnings of the projects that will eventually make up my portfolio. Unlike the first lesson, I was really pleased: we discussed the dichotomy between convention and experimentation, the need to sharpen my craft, and other ideas that will help me develop a "voice" (rather than a "style"). I'm expected to have more work done on my euphonium sonata, and the groundwork for the concerto. Personally I also want to invest some time in past uncompleted projects, including a piano piece and a setting of a poem by Hart Crane.

As I mentioned, the weekend (and continuing far into next week) will be a blast, but can only be written about in retrospect.

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Sick...:-(

A bit of a sore throat, headache, and stuffy nose that I predict will last 1 or 2 more days. Originated (probably) from a late-night snogging this past weekend. Events kept me from practicing today, but yesterday I managed a wonderful session, hitting hard the tape round for Falcone.

The weekend is filled with fun goodness which only can be elaborated on later next week (can we say Farmer's Market?)

We have a break coming up in a couple weeks, but I don't know if I'll notice. Yesterday, not having anything at school. I decided to stay home (a wise choice given my ailment); it was fine except for the severe cabin fever that hit later on (luckily I made it to an Internet cafe, where I can while away an hour in cyberspace - sure beats reality, don't it?)

More comments when I'm less under-the-weather (including a post ON the weather)

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Lack of Posts

I check blogs every day; sometimes I go "harrumph" (it's quite embarrassing in a public setting) when I've encountered people too busy with their real lives to philosophize over cyberspace...sigh. Then I realize I've done exactly that!!! My sincere apologies. Part of the observation comes after reading Pollan's "A Place of My Own" where he builds a house to work in. After being a writer/editor all his life, he feels the need to break away and create something physically "real". Similarly, after spending time online, I find the urge to break into the real world important too.

Anyway, the other reason for the hiatus is, as always, time. More practice, work and composing. On top of that, I see now that, come Saturday, I will have had 5 performances in the period of 9 days (!!). Most were small, with myself contributing less than 20 minutes or so, but of course you have the stress, preparation, et. al. that keeps you busy at times like that.

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Weekend Preview

Obviously this can't be as long as the earlier post (presuming the weekend IS shorter than the week, and it hasn't actually happened yet...you're fill of philosophy on this blog for the time being). I am going down to Brighton with Catherine today, returning Monday, freshened by (calm) breezes and beautiful scenery (not that NW England ISN'T beautiful...I love it all)., and in time for quartet rehearsals.

Week In Review

Tuesday Evening Euphonium Party: The theme was "Food from around the world". I made pasties (ah, not ae), of course originally a Cornish food, but common in Michigan as well (although Aaron was unfamiliar with them; go figure!) due to immigrants from Cornwall who came to work in the UP (moving from tin to copper). Maybe next time I'll bring Coney's.

[Pasties, by the way, are quite easy to make]

Wednesday: Made it to warm-up class (with a new emphasis on scales, which the undergrads will be tested on in a month or so). Finally got a Railcard for British Rails, allowing me to save up to 1/3 on most tickets (and it pays for itself on one cross-country trip). Sadly, though, I lost my hat on the way home, and the rail pass doesn't cover my ears...sigh...I liked that hat.

I also took part in the 1st of 5 guided workshops (meaning I'm guiding them) on composition fo high schoolers. More on this in a later post...

Today: Windy as all get out!! BBC has reported 80 mph winds, and has shown footage of tree-destroyed cars, sheet metal blowing about, and all general chaos. BBC has also reported 7 deaths, which doesn't surprise me, as I've seen shingle bits strewn across the street. I've tried to stay in and practice, although a little cabin fever has crept in (allowing me to venture out and tell the tale)

I guess this isn't the ENTIRE week, unless you want to include Friday as the weekend (like schools that incorporate 6-8 or 7-9 grades as their Junior Highs). But it will be in the next post.

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Little Happenings

1st lesson of the new term went well. Worked on Faustbuch (Betsy Raum) and agreed to perform 1st movement in a small studio recital in two weeks. I also agreed to buy some simming trunks so I can go to the aquatic centre and...swim, I guess (this was precipitated after Mead's question "Do you do any physical activity?" and my reply "Well, I walk to school"--in itself a small lie, because I usually walk TO THE BUS). Finally, I agreed to write up a repetoire list to determine what I'll work on this term. Like pieces included: music for the Falcone competition, and "Impulsions Mecaniques" by Adrianna Holszky (thank you, Paul) which is ordered buy not arrived.

Other big news may be in future updates (I'm not sure where else it would be, maybe a notebook of some sort)

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