Happy Birthday

Happy birthday, Mozart! 250 years old, shit man. That's just amazing to think that someone who lived so long ago can still move people today. It just goes to show the power of genius and music.

So basically everyone needs to listen to a Mozart Symphony today. I recommend No. 40 (g minor) for the beginning listener. It's the most famous one.

crap.

Well, I didn't make the finals of the concerto competition. Sucks, man. I'm disappointed, but not upset. Like, I understand why I didn't get passed on. I definitely didn't have as good a performance as some of my rehearsals, plus I got kind of psyched out on the end of the 4th page, so it wasn't that musical at the end.

BUT!!! It doesn't discourage me! Here's what I need to do!!

1. Get more performing (solo) experience
2. Get more confident about my playing
3. Practice a lot!
4. Work really hard!

So then next year when I do the comp, I'm going to kick some ass!

stolen from Alex's blog, which I just found, but I'm certain he doesn't read this, so it's ok

This is an open letter signed by over 10,000 members of the clergy from all over the United States. I think it speaks for itself.

"Within the community of Christian believers there are areas of dispute and disagreement, including the proper way to interpret Holy Scripture. While virtually all Christians take the Bible seriously and hold it to be authoritative in matters of faith and practice, the overwhelming majority do not read the Bible literally, as they would a science textbook. Many of the beloved stories found in the Bible – the Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark – convey timeless truths about God, human beings, and the proper relationship between Creator and creation expressed in the only form capable of transmitting these truths from generation to generation. Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts.

We the undersigned, Christian clergy from many different traditions, believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests. To reject this truth or to treat it as “one theory among others” is to deliberately embrace scientific ignorance and transmit such ignorance to our children. We believe that among God’s good gifts are human minds capable of critical thought and that the failure to fully employ this gift is a rejection of the will of our Creator. To argue that God’s loving plan of salvation for humanity precludes the full employment of the God-given faculty of reason is to attempt to limit God, an act of hubris. We urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge. We ask that science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth."

star wars

So today I watched Star Wars: Episode III "Revenge of the Sith" for the first time since I had seen it in theaters. It just reaffirmed how much Star Wars has played a role in my life. I mean, even though it had fallen progressively more and more out of my life since middle school, it's still just amazing. The stories are what every little kid dreams of, the characters are things that everyone wants to aspire to be (or aspire to eliminate from ourselves), and the music is just incredible. I think that Star Wars is going to be one of the few cinematic events that really stands the test of time.

Episode III just might be my second favorite of the saga. It's definitely the best of the prequels, and I think it is up there at least with Return of the Jedi. It's just amazing how you can hope the whole movie wishing that Anakin just kills the Emperor and does the right thing, even though you know it's not going to happen.

Man, I love Star Wars!

soooo. bored.

So this week I'm working part time at the SUBO. Yeah, this week I'll probably get around 20 hours, which is both good and bad at the same time. It's good becuase I'll make lots of money. It's bad because I have less than $300 left to make in my work study account!!!! Oh no!!! Luckily, there is hope. There's a chance that I may get my account supplemented so I can actually make some cash this semester. I emailed the woman in charge of financial aid, and hopefully she can help me out. Otherwise, I'll be out of a job in about 2 weeks.

On an unrelated note, I'm auditioning for the concerto competition on January 25. I'm playing the first movement of the Mozart, which is insane. I really should be doing something like Lalo or Khachaturian, but I decided to be insane and audition with Mozart. See, Mozart is perhaps the MOST difficult composer for a violinist, and usually considered stupid to audition with, as Mozart must be PERFECT. As in, the intonation, dynamics, phrasing, bow control, etc. all have to be amazing for it to sound good. But if you can pull off Mozart really well, it sounds incredible. This year, I'm "in it to win it" so to speak. At first I just thought it would be a good experience, but now I just want to win. Badly. I want to kick some ass and prove to everyone that I am a good musician. Winning this thing would be so good for me, both for my resume and my self-confidence as a violinist. So, basically, I am going to try my damndest to win.

Anyway, I'm going to go play some online games, I think.

some survey bullshit that i am going to take becuase i'm bored.

1.What did you do in 2005 that you’d never done before?
Hmm... saw Hilary Hahn (I finally met a violinist idol!)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Hah. New Year's resolutions are bullshit.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin did.... but the twins didn't make it (premature).

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Well, the twins, a friend of the family, and an uncle (by marriage) that I haven't seen in a long time. So, not really CLOSE to me, but people I knew.

5. What country did you last visit?
China. Summer before senior year of high school.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Confidence in various areas of my life.

7. What date(s) from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
hmm... March 26. Philadelphia Orchestra and the Ritz Carlton Philly!

8. What was your biggest achievement in 2005?
Finalist at Bach-Handel and a recital?

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't really know.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. I had a nasty bout with tendonitis and stuff, though.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmm... ipod and a WW membership.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mine for being amazing.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I'd rather not answer this one.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food, music, mostly necessities for living.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My recital, Bach-Handel, SSMT being OVER. And the concerto competition, which while technically isn't until later this month, I was still excited about last year.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
hmm.... Barber violin concerto?

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

- Happier or sadder?
About the same.
- Thinner or fatter?
Thinner! Not by a whole lot, but by a bit!
richer or poorer?
Richer!!! I actually have some money in savings!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Practicing. Sounds weird, but I kind of wish I had done 6 hours a day every day. And eating better and exercising.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating McDonalds (yuck).

20. How will you be/were you spending Christmas?
Home.

21. Who deleted question 21?
what?

22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
No. I remained there.

23. How many one-night stands?
none, really.

24. Favorite TV show?
hmm... Celebrity Poker, WSOP, biggest loser, house, oh and LOST!!!!!!!! NEW EPISODE TONIGHT!!!!!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
no. I don't really HATE anyone. I dislike people that I didn't last year, though.

26. What was the best book you read?
I reread some stuff at home. I don't really remember, though.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
"Scotty Doesn't Know" -amazing.

28. What did you want and get?
An A (not an A-) in my lessons.

29. What did you want and not get?
Some respect in orchestra, and a Strad.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
hmmm.... I really enjoyed Eurotrip which I didn't see until 2005.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Went to Philadelphia (20)!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
One hundred billion dollars.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Starting as not really caring, moving to better. I'm still working on it.

34. What kept you sane?
me.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
none, really. maybe snoop dogg?

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Hah. What didn't?

37. Who did you miss?
lots of people and things.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
heck if i know.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
I'm better than everyone.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Scotty doesn't know... we did it on his birthday."

hardcore

So Stef and I went out for lunch today with Aunt Renee downtown to Gallway Bay. I was nervous about going to an Irish place because I was sure I'd be eating like a million points, but it only turned out to be, oh, 12 or 13, I think. That's a plus.

Then we walked around downtown and went to Hard Bean, and sat with Andy (Juskelis) for like 2 hours. It was nice catching up with him. Then Rachel (Gawell) stopped in, which was awesome, since I haven't seen her in forever. She's at Peabody now (a school I'm considering for MM), and she loves it. She also says they have a lot of good violinists, which is pretty sweet. It would be really nice to go to a school where I already have a friend. I don't know, just a thought...

Anyway, I think I'm going to go practice, as I finally feel better.

happy freakin' new year

Ugh. I've been sick for the past, oh 5 days. Thus, I haven't been able to work out or practice. It started off as a nasty sore throat, and has since progressed to my head being full of shit. I blow my nose constantly and I am always feeling almost dizzy/crappy/headache. I really hope this goes away soon so I can get back on my schedule! I really miss running and shit. I think when I get back to school I'm going to run outside becuase I won't have a treadmill.

So basically, it's been an all right year thus far. So far I'm donw 14 lbs on W-squared, which is pretty hardcore. I'd really like to break the 20-mark by the end of the month, and I think I could definitely do 10 a month if I really push myself, which would be really awesome. This week I maintained my weight exactly from last week, which doesn't really surprise me. I wasn't able to work out because I was sick, and it was only 4 days in between weigh-ins (I couldn't go last Tuesday because I was at St. Mary's, so I went a couple days later. Hopefully next week will be a good one. It was a funny meeting this week because there were a million new people who just signed up for their new year's resolutions. The metting place was freakin' packed!!

And speaking of resolutions.....

I have never understood "new year's resolutions." I think they're stupid. I mean, yes it's a new year and everything, but I think it's stupid for a milestone to have to occur to have to change some aspect of your life that you are unhappy with. I think that if you're unhappy with something, then you should go ahead and fuckin' change it, regardless of the time of year! I don't know, I just don't like people making excuses to stay unhappy with themselves and changing only when something big hits. I don't know.