FYI

The next post you get from me will be written from my parents living room in CHINA!!!

See ya, Suckers!

Music Major Madness

I'm sitting here waiting for my little cousin to be finished practicing piano so I can start.  As the clock reached the hour I had a nearly unstoppable urge to go kick him out, it's my room for the next two hours.  Then I realized practice room mentality doesn't really function out of the music building, and the room isn't magically his until seven if I don't boot him out by quarter after.  

That's not the only way music majorhood has *ahem* changed me.  I solfegg, a lot.  I look at the different lines in church as we are singing hymns and it's all going in solfegg.  After too much theory and dictation, I get really really excited about modulations (except when the TAB insists on doing one between each verse, really?! is it that necissary?)

I speak in another language.  I've had roommates complain of it.  I get together with music majors and we speak of dead people who (in my mind) wrote really awesome compositions, and then we pick it apart.  It doesn't help that none of us even bother with full names, here's a mild example from a conversation in which I lost one of my roomies last winter:  Last night I went and saw Concerto night with the Phil, some kid played the Rock 2 third movement.  

That's a mild example... Kim and I lost Tia trying to discuss a German Augmented Sixth Chord and it's modulation.  *grin*

Sometimes I love being a musician.  It makes me feel cool.

Odd Occurances

I've never thought of myself as being a city girl.  But at the very least, I have realized I am lost in a small town.  Just a few recent occurances to show how:

I asked my cousin to give me her phone number.   She gave me four digits.  Only four digits.  I then spent the next few minutes being utterly perplexed, until she explained that everyone in town has the exact same phone number, minus the last four digits.  

My mother grew up in this town.  Those of you who have seen us together know that we look rather similar.  Going to church was a real riot.  One of the ladies in church recognized me, as my aunt's little sister!  Then she was really really confused, because I'm a little too young to be one of the sisters.  Life made a lot more sense when she realized I was a niece.

Of course, I've been confused by people too.  After my first church incident a gentleman came up and shook my hand calling me "Effie's girl."  I'm used to that.  However, he then proceeded to ask how my family was doing in Asia.  The whole time I stood there thinking "Who the devil is this and why does he know who I am?"  He was my mother's neighbor growing up.  

I've loved my last few days here.  Tomorrow is the big test.  My aunt is off to help with the bees for the whole day again, and I'm here with the girls.  They may be little and cute, but they are highly energetic.  We'll see if I can get pictures of my charges tomorrow so you can see what we're up to.

New Respect

This week I am a maid/nanny/general-entertainment-center.  My aunt called to talk me into doing her spring cleaning and keeping her little girls entertained.  I figured it couldn't be that bad (and honestly it hasn't).  I'd clean some and play barbies.  What I forget is that I'm not the spring chicken I used to be.  Those girls have more energy than I could ever hope to have, even if I conked out for a day and then tried to keep up with them.  I'M EXHAUSTED.  

So, I've realized I have new respect for mommies.  I can't imagine doing this every day.  I think I'll have to go visit a exotic foreign country and run around for about a week to recover.  That ought to do the trick.  Maybe I'll up and leave right after finishing here, sounds nice... eh?

Seriously though, I am amazed.  Those girls have so much energy, and it never stops.  Where does this all come from?  Some mad scientist should learn how to bottle that stuff and sell it.  They'd beat out Red Bull any day.  They could call it, "Wired Kid."  And I know two perfect test subjects to compare with... they're hanging off of me at this very moment.

SUMMER

NO MORE CLASS ROOMS
NO MORE BOOKS
NO MORE TEACHER'S DIRTY LOOKS

Thanks for indulging me. *grin*

I am officially done with school until September, and I can't begin to describe how good that feels. Although, it has inspired a mini freak-out session. In completing this semester I am officially half way done with my undergraduate. That is incredibly scary. These two years have gone so fast, and the thought that there are only two left scares me. It wasn't that long ago that I was arriving on campus and goofing off in the dorms. I don't feel like I'm that far along, but as I look back I realize I've covered so much ground.

I just finished my last music theory test... EVER. I remember when writing out a simple I IV V7 I progression and avoiding voice leading errors nearly killed me. I freaking transposed through a Babbit Square! And, wrote and analyzed an aeleotorical composition. All in one final exam. (Feel free to come bring me food and express your adoration, I know I'm pretty awesome.)

With the completion of my jury this semester I only have two more left for my undergraduate. Also freaky. I have two recitals, but in some ways, I would much much rather give a recital than a jury. Recitals, in some twisted masochistic way, are really kinda fun.

What all this really means is I have no idea what I want to do with my life post undergraduate. Do I want to get a masters in performance? There are so many flute players out there... I've thought a lot about ethnomusicology, but I don't know if I could take the step away from flute playing to be an ethnomusicologist. That would be a really fun masters... so cool... study all the awesome music that gets played all over the world. I could do that. But I've also always wanted to be a professional flute player and work in a symphony, that's not a dream I care to ever let go of. ACK! I have a secret hope that I will wake up one morning in the next two years and magically have this all figured out, but I'm not sure it works that way.

What if I were to find someone and get married in the next two years? That's just as freaky. I'm not planning on it, but I have a lot of friends who haven't planned on getting married, and look at them now. That's freaky too. Again, I don't feel that grown up. Not even remotely.

Luckily I'm not alone in my freak-out. A lot of my friends who have now reached the same point as me are just as weirded out. It's been almost two years since I moved out of my parents house. It's almost two years exactly since I graduated from high school. I felt pretty cool then.
Weird, Weird, Weird...

I think I shall go self medicate with Disney songs as I pack...

Happiness

Today I am happy. I just took my second-to-last final and didn't do so shabby. Hopefully by this time tomorrow I will be completely done. WOO HOOO!!!

I'm moving apartments starting tomorrow... and my goal is to clean out all my useless junk. I came to college with a fairly minimal amount, but in the last two years something has happened, and now I think I am that roommate with too much crap. It just keeps multiplying, like bunnies. Actually, the real culprit is my love for printed literature, books, music, you name it, I buy it. Particularly the music. I LOVE buying new music, sort of the same way that most girls love shopping for clothing. Twisted, I know.

Another reason for my absurd amount of happiness right now is the Indian dinner I have planned. I'm trying a new recipe that I got from the guy who owns the little Indian store that I shop at. I'm sort of a anomaly there. Tall, white girl, who actually knows what to do with the abundance of spices and goodness in a little Indian store. Yep. I stick out like a sore thumb. But, the owner takes pity on me, and he gives me cool ideas. The trick is to take enough paper to write down what he has to tell me, which has been problematic. Before giving me the curry recipe he gave me a spinach recipe that I can not remember for the life of me. I guess I'll have to go ask again. And, I bought poppadoms (not sure I spelled it right... sorry). Basically, tomorrow night the roomies and I will be in a Indian goodness induced coma. So excited.

Ooh, and I went on a beautiful run yesterday, in my lovely new shoes. Tia would disagree, but it really was a great run, and I think I may go do it again today. Running is such a funny habit of mine. Two years ago I couldn't run a quarter of a mile, and nothing could have convinced me to do so, now if I don't run a few times a week, I get incredibly cranky. Peculiar.

AND I HAVE OTTER POPS!!! I kinda, sorta, love them. A lot.

Well... I'm gonna go be productive... ish... after all, it is finals week, and sunny, and I am deliriously happy...

Hey You!!!

No, not you. You. Yes, you, over there. The one behind the ginormous stack of text books. Yes, YOU. Just push aside one of those stacks and look at me. No, over, over. Yes, right here.

What? I'm studying too. Okay. I'm "studying." Actually, I'm semi bored out of my mind. That's why I have this coloring book, okay? Well, you should care, because people like you are the reason I'm so bored. Not you in particular, just all of you. Yes, I know it's finals week.

*sigh*

SUCKAS!!!

Last week you all were laughing at me, 'cause I had juries and finals before the reading days. But look who gets the last laugh now. ME!

While all you people spent your day cramming, praying, and on the verge of mental collapse, I did some sporadic studying, checked out four amazing books, ran four and a half miles, cleaned my apartment, partied with Denise and now I'm about to watch Spiderman and eat ice cream. Who's jealous now?

Basically, I have the most awesome major ever.

The end.

{Insert Title}

Today my insides want to be on my outsides. There are multiple causes for this. I could have finally gotten that ulcer that's been haunting me. Perhaps the fact that I haven't eaten any solid food yet today could be a problem. Or the fact that I haven't gotten a significant amount of sleep in about a week. I was going to get some good sleep last night, but my downstairs neighbors threw a rockin' party and didn't invite me. Rude. Maybe the abundance of Easter goodness I ate this weekend is catching up to me. Jurries probably can share part of the blame. A lot of the blame. They're such a fun event... go play for faculty and be reminded of all the things you still haven't mastered. Actually, they're not that bad. I just want them to be over.
The good news is that I passed dictation, and am done practicing for the day. I may go back to run through my Bach Sonata again, but for all our purposes, I'm done. Now if only I could convince my insides to chill out. Ugh.
Finals week as a music major is actually my favorite week of the school year. While everyone else is freaking out, I'm done. At exactly 10:40 am tomorrow morning I will be finished with my jurry and only have three little finals left. One of which is take-home.
So, upon the commencement of my jurry I will do what I do each semester. I traipse off to the library, and silently mock all those who are madly cramming for finals they aren't ready for. I go color in my coloring books.... which actually sounds highly entertaining right now... tootles...

It is officially time for SUMMER

Today I almost paranthetically referenced a Disney movie in a note to by little brother. Clearly, I need a summer of mental regression.

"Enjoy your last day as a kid, Young One. Best of luck in your track meet. I am sure all your lovely deep water running will pay off and you will 'kick all the other kids butts' (Mulan)."

Luckily I realized what I had done before posting... lest my shame be imortalized forever on Facebook.

*gasp*

Today I Saved A Life. True Story.

I am cooler than Wonder Woman, Elastagirl, and Hermione Granger all put together. Said life saving did not involve needles or siphoning of blood from my system. I am far cooler than that. I am the sort of life saving machine who likes to just throw herself into the problem, as it were. So here's what happened:

Amazon Woman (that's me *grin*) running faster than a speeding bullet she races down the road with her favorite running companion (Latin music) but look, what be in yonder distance? In a blue sports car there be a young mother about to dash into traffic, seemingly oblivious to her imminent T-boning. Without a moments thought Amazon Woman (remember how cool she is *wink*) does the only thing she can to stop blue sports car girl. Amazon Woman dashes forward and slams herself into the side of the blue sports car chariot to stop the young mother from being crushed to oblivion. Never mind the bruised knees that Amazon Woman has, or the therapy she may have to go through before ever running again; it was all for a good cause. Those warm fuzzy feelings (of utter terror and shock) completely make up for everything, because helping moronic drivers not die is Amazon Woman's favorite thing. Amazon Woman sighs as she limps off towards her humble abode, "All in a days run, all in a days run."


Moral of said story: Just because Darwin didn't get you this time blue sports car girl, doesn't mean he won't later. Learn to drive or prepare to have your genes removed from the human gene pool.