| Stressed |
[29 Feb 2008|11:28pm] |
Things I hate
1) Pharmacy school
I had to turn down a month of free vacation (in exchange for some orchestra duty) in the Colorado mountains taking lessons, thanks for my rotation schedule.
2) Airports, airplanes, and airlines
UGGH!! No matter how "cheap" a ticket is, it's always expensive, and Philadelphia is the WORST (your airport tax dollars at work for the TSA). Not to mention waiting...and waiting...and all my frequent flyer miles are under "Sarah," which is the name on my student ID but not my drivers license. Usually they don't care but occasionally I get searched b/c of it (in Philadelphia, of course).
3) Practicing
Because I have to do too much of it, have no life because of it, and I'm still not good enough!! Anyone agree (with all points except the last one, of course??
Okay. Enough whining...I can't wait for spring break...
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| NIU... |
[16 Feb 2008|05:07pm] |
It's so surreal. I grew up in DeKalb, Illinois (pronounced the way it's spelled, no silent "l" unlike the one in Georgia). Our house was right off campus, and a five minute walk on a nearby trail would bring us to campus. My parents both went to school there and initially went back to Taiwan after graduating, only to come back after I was born.
Familiar places from my childhood are all over the news...Kishwaukee Community Hospital, Annie Glidden Road, Lincoln Highway, DuSable Hall, and several others I can't remember because I was so young. I'm pretty sure the building where the shootings occurred was the one where Chinese school was temporarily held on Saturdays. I haven't been back there in nearly a decade, but the pictures in the paper bring back lots of memories - elementary ballet classes, the bowling alley in the student center, the duck pond in front of campus...most of all the music building, where I took my first three years of violin lessons and played in the string orchestra for a couple of semesters. And, of course, the Huskies.
It's a town so similar to Athens (where the economy feeds off of the school), except even smaller...Kish is the only hospital in a 20-minute radius of campus, downtown covers only one street, and there was a fireworks show when the Target opened.
It really could happen anywhere.
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| mmm |
[01 Feb 2008|10:02pm] |
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mood |
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 full |
] |
Best pizza ever...
Gumby's
Seriously. Steph and I got pizza there tonight - she had a meatball pizza (not with sliced meatball bits but meatballs cut in half and virtually covering the entire part of her pizza) and I got a chili cheese fry pizza.
Yes, you heard that right. The pie was covered with chili, then a double layer of cheese, and french fries on top.
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| Sigh |
[23 Nov 2007|09:35pm] |
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mood |
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 frustrated |
] |
I'm so moving out of GA when I graduate. I feel like I don't really belong here anymore. Like I'll fly home and it'll feel so good to drive through Atlanta because that is home, but it is those trips that keep me sane right now. Dah..
8 more weeks till I get my sanity again (aka next trip to Philly)...
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[28 Oct 2007|09:43pm] |
That had to be the most exhausting weekend of my life.
And it was wonderful.
But I'm glad to be home.
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| Wow. |
[15 Oct 2007|08:48pm] |
"All the left hand does is play in tune and vibrate - it's really all about the bow arm." - Ellen
And how long did it take me to get this?
Ahhh Philly next week!! :D
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| 3 more weeks... |
[02 Oct 2007|10:37pm] |
...and I'll be in Philly!! :)
I'm really looking forward to the lessons, since it's been more than two months since I've had any with Ellen. I've been frantically poring over my lesson notes from this past year in hopes that I will catch everything, although that's going to be really tough because she covered a ton of ground in my lessons. And I'm eager to see Lisa-Beth again - she's such a godly woman and a major reason I didn't lose my sanity when I was struggling with certain things last year. I went to Credo this summer because of them, and now it's Philly. LOL.
Except I'm excited about it till I listen to myself play...so much work to do O_O I feel like my playing has changed to a point where I need to approach practicing differently now, but I'm not sure how...
One would think I would get excited about things like dating people or doing things HERE. Except that no one's interested and my friends are too busy.
Oh well, I'll take what I can get.
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| Is life busy enough? |
[12 Sep 2007|07:36pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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 frazzled |
] |
- CCE concert in three weeks, and I just found out who the pianist for the sonata was yesterday...obviously we have not rehearsed or coached yet.
- Performing Schumann with Ana before fall break. That's easy, except that
- I'm flying to Philly later that week for lessons on a bunch of things, none of which are mentioned above and
- I just found out I'm playing offertory at Wesley next week. Did I mention...
- My piano trio is cool!!! (yes, I know you're reading this Jessica...hi!)...as in, we got through a good amount of our piece in one rehearsal and it didn't completely suck (well, at least one movement sounded decent)
Oh yeah. Um, I have a pharmacotherapy test Friday (I'm not even sure how to pronounce that...)
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| Credo (old entry from Monday) |
[26 Jul 2007|02:00pm] |
Done with Credo, and the last three weeks (after the first week especially) have been absolute mayhem. I'm now house-sitting in Cleveland Heights, with a cat being the only other living thing making any noise in the house (I need some peace and quiet!!).
Credo was a great experience. It was definitely different from MasterWorks - not in a good or bad way, but with a different mission, both musically and spiritually. Spiritually, Credo is what anyone wants to make of it - students can grow a lot, or not at all - although it's really up to the Lord. The only real "religious" activity is a half-hour "morning sing"/chapel type thing. There's also a sung grace at lunch, which involves waving the arms in the air like Superman and thanking God for the food, but that doesn't count because I only went a total of four times (shhh, don't tell!). I had incredible fellowship with the other counselors as we were struggling and growing together, and bonding over late-night counselor meetings. I felt I grew a lot, particularly in the third week.
Musically, Credo is really great. I LOVED my piano quartet - we got along so well, and I was very lucky to be working with some incredible musicians that I learned lots of stuff from. Our coaches were James Howsmon (an Oberlin piano faculty with some serious ensemble chops) and Stephen Clapp (Juilliard violin faculty). I also had some lessons/masterclasses with some other people, including a mentor of mine who I haven't seen in over two years. It was so encouraging when she said that my playing had gotten both more musically mature and technically secure - because I've been hard at work on both. I was stretched to my very limit because I took a lot of lessons, and the violist and I had to learn a piece in less than three days so we would have something to perform the last weekend (the cellist left early). I don't think I was ever so worn out at the other music festivals I went to, but I know it was SO good for me. Also, playing service concerts was amazing because playing for an appreciative audience made me feel even better about what I was doing when we played for our "official" recitals.
Anyway, I'm in Cleveland for another week, practicing and doing research for my seminar, then going home to work the last two weeks of summer before going back to school.
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[24 Jun 2007|08:41am] |
Finally, week 6 of this work/practice marathon has come to a close. One week to go then I'm driving up to Ohio (7 hours on day 1, then 5 hours on day 2). Today I went to Macon to have a lesson with the teacher at Mercer, and spent several hours on the road thanks to lousy traffic (on a Saturday?!?). Now I'm exhausted, need to find dinner, and listen to the lesson tape.
But since more of the rep is now under my belt and I'm getting a little burned out (before I even go to Credo!) I've been taking some extra time to read a little. I read A Wrinkle in Time, a classic I somehow never was able to grasp as a child, and am hoping to read more Madeleine l'Engle. Probably will take the next day or so off the violin, since I know I won't be in a real crunch to get my music straight and practicing when I'm burned out doesn't do much more than cause bad habits.
MasterWorks people - I miss you!! And can't wait to hear about all that the Lord does there this summer. I'm so grateful for the circle of friends that MW (well, the Lord really) created - both the ones I've met and haven't met.
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| Thoughts on graduation |
[13 May 2007|12:48am] |
It just occurred to me that graduation for the class of 2007 was today.
That means almost everyone I know who entered UGA the same year I did that isn't a pharmacy major.
It's kind of surreal to think that my class is moving on - work, grad school, other plans. And even more surreal that I wasn't a part of it. I didn't go to graduation, and no one invited me to attend. Granted, they probably all just assumed that I was going and I don't think tickets are required to get into the stadium anyway. It's also a reflection of my absolute refusal to have a social life while at this school.
It's not the first time I'd stopped to wonder - is this worth it? I'm not intending to pursue violin as a career. I never thought I had what I took to make it, and wanted to focus on doing the best I could rather than trying to meet a certain standard to get hired at an audition - I figure that I'll do my best, and in the unlikely event that I actually meet that standard then yay I get to play in an orchestra; if not, life goes on and I don't have to worry about where my next meal will come from. But I never realized how much of my life is actually invested in music until I got to college and saw how 99.9% of the college population lives. Sure, they may be watching Grey's Anatomy, an activity that has no intrinsic value, but - here's the key point - they do that over a large tub of popcorn and lots of laughs with good friends, and no guilt. You can't do that in a practice room and get that. I'm still trying to decide exactly how much - if I should - value those things. Practicing has its own rewards too, and although they are few and far between the memories are priceless - playing Brahms quartets with people who have worked equally hard, the privilege of learning (or even just listening to) the most amazing repertoire, playing in a great orchestra sitting three feet away from Bill Preucil making up his interpretations on the fly, refreshing trips every week to Atlanta for lessons, Saturday mornings spent in youth orchestra and eating pizza during breaks, flying up to Cleveland to take amazing lessons and seeing some of my favorite people, and summer music festivals in the middle of nowhere being immersed in my favorite activity with some of the most inspiring people I've ever met. But aside from that, life is happening in Athens too, even though I'm brushing it aside for the other world I live in.
But as I get back to work on a Bach partita and can't stop smiling, the answer is crystal clear - yes.
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[23 Apr 2007|07:48pm] |
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mood |
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 tired |
] |
Aww man...it all came and went by so quickly. I was still in Cleveland just over 24 hours ago...it was a really busy trip - two lessons, a friend's recital, and a Cleveland Orchestra concert (we only stayed for the first half, though - I was pretty burned out and had a lesson at 9:00 the next morning). It's so nice to get away and a relief to be back home, but it is a little hard after a weekend full of playtime! But I'll be doing a three-week program at Oberlin this summer, which'll be nice, but it's not till July :( Hopefully then I'll have a few hours a week to sneak off campus and go to Cleveland - which would be a definite plus to being at Oberlin.
I both can't wait for school to be over and dread it being over - I have to work like a slave this summer, because I need intern hours. The Ohio trip will be somewhere in the middle.
I sort of wish I knew where I was going for rotations NOW...most likely it'll be Athens, Macon, or Atlanta. Athens is my first choice because the SOM is there (and for me, open 24/7 to practice in). Macon is second because Jun-Ching said I could find someone to study with there. Atlanta third because traffic sucks like crazy. If for some reason those don't work out it would suck to live in southwest Georgia and then I'd probably be studying with someone from FSU. But that's thinking waaay far ahead...
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| sigh... |
[03 Mar 2007|11:53am] |
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mood |
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 depressed |
] |
"...I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is necessary for you that I remain in the body."
Phil 1:23
That was Paul's purpose...now I still have to figure out what the heck I am doing here.
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[03 Mar 2007|01:58am] |
This has been such a crazy week...the way I see the world has completely changed (although I haven't, I hope), recovering from this past weekend's lesson marathon, getting to see Alan and Fiona again, getting back in the swing of things (tests, etc.) while feeling extremely sad for someone else, finding disturbing news unrelated to what I just mentioned, getting to see Matt again (!), getting drafted to join a string quartet with a coaching looming on Monday for pieces I barely know, trying to have something new ready for my next lesson Tuesday...
But I feel like the luckiest girl in the world for many of the blessings I have had in this world - even though I know none of these were accidents.
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| What a crazy weekend |
[26 Feb 2007|12:11pm] |
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It started out with my flight being delayed an entire hour, partly because of problems on ground as well as an old lady sitting in the exit row who started messing with the latch and refused to move when the attendant tried to kick her out of that row (there were several soldiers on leave from Iraq who were joking about this lady opening the latch, and subsequently adding to the number of war casualties by 3). The rapid transit took forever (sad), and i didn't get to my stop until half an hour before my first lesson, so that waas fun. But the lesson went great, and we just spent the evening hanging out and eating dessert (mmm!) Had another lesson this morning, can't wait to listen to the tape :) Going to hear an concert this afternoon, then going to the airport with someone who is flying out just half an hour before my departure time. Then it's back to school with lab tomorrow (ugh, at least it's not PCL) and and a stat test on Tuesday I am SO not ready for...(God help me!)
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| Valentines day - not just for couples |
[15 Feb 2007|09:53am] |
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music |
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Bartok Solo Sonata, mvt. 2 |
] |
I had the BEST valentine's day yesterday. I wasn't about to let being single spoil a perfectly good holiday for me. I...
Slept in half an hour (I know, but my room is on the east side of the house so it's impossible to do much more than that)
Took my time getting ready and got a late start
SKIPPED ALL MY CLASSES!!! (not kidding!)
Took a nap
Had Brandi over to bake cookies
Went to Wesley during time I normally spend practicing...the verse that stuck out was John 10:10...I love it! (look it up)
I did get some studying and practicing too, but it was nice having a life for a day :)
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[29 Jan 2007|06:21pm] |
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life is so confusing.
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| Goodbye, ASYO... |
[07 May 2006|06:16pm] |
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mood |
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 melancholy |
] |
For real this time. Today was my sister's last ASYO season concert. Good for my mom I guess ;) she's been a youth orchestra mom for the last seven years, like a soccer mom except a thirty mile drive, sometimes in weekday city traffic. And funny to think, we're the only family Melanie hasn't not seen during her entire career as ASYO coordinator - my first year was her first year. No more mooching Atlanta Symphony tickets and five dollar parking with my sister's youth orchestra ID!
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| Best, Worst, Last, First, Today, Tomorrow, Favorites, Currently, and True & False. |
[03 May 2006|07:58am] |
b e s t
******
1. Male friend: All my Bible study pals
2. Female friend: See above
3. Vacation: Spending the summer playing Mahler 5 and tons and tons of chamber music...this summer!!!!
4. Age: 21
w o r s t
*******
1. Time of day: 3:00 food coma but too much to do
2. Day of the week: Saturday - because I don't get enough done
3. Food: tofu
4. Memory: Plenty of them
l a s t
*****
1. Person you saw: My violin student
2. Talked to on the phone: Alicia, last night!
3. Hugged: My sister last night after my brief visit home
4. Text: Matt Sikes: "HAARRRRRHHHHHH" (I think he's still trying to figure that one out)
5. IMed: Paul Kim
t o d a y
*******
1. What are you doing now: not practicing
2. Wearing: ASO t-shirt...nerdy
3. Better than yesterday: yes, because i'm not driving for two hours
t o m o r r o w
************
1. Is: Wednesday
2. Got any plans: nope!
3. Goal: PRACTICE
4. Dislikes about tomorrow: I'll probably be lazy
f a v o r i t e
**********
1. Number: 7
2. Song: Too many to list
3. Color: ummm
4. Season: Summer, sooo many good memories :)
c u r r e n t l y
***********
1. Missing someone: I will be missing a bunch of people in the fall
2. Mood: happy
3. Wanting: it to be four weeks later!
T r u e or F a l s e?
************
I am a cuddler- T
I am a morning person- TTTTT
I am a perfectionist- F
I am an only child- F
I am currently in my pajamas- T
I am currently pregnant- F
I am currently suffering from a broken heart - F
I am good at styling other people's hair- T
I am left handed- F
I am addicted to my myspace- F
I am online 24/7, even as an away message- T
I am very shy around the opposite gender at first- T
I bite my nails- T
I can be paranoid at times- T
I currently have a crush on someone- F
I currently regret something that I have done - F
When I get mad I curse frequently- F
I enjoy country music- F
I enjoy jazz music- T
I enjoy smoothies- T
I enjoy talking on the phone- T
I have a cell phone- T
I have a hard time paying attention at school - T
I have a hidden talent- T (I can do a back walkover?)
I have a lot to learn- T
I have a pet- F
I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal - T
I have at least one brother and/or sister - T
I have been told that I am smart- T
I have been told that I have an unusual sense of humor- T (oh dear)
I have broken a bone- F
I have bathed someone- F
I have changed a diaper- F
I have changed a lot over the past year - T
I have done something illegal- T
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color- F
I have had major/minor surgery- T
I have killed another person- F
I have had my hair cut within the last week- F
I have had the cops called on me- F
I have kissed someone I knew I shouldn't- F
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