Emilia

2012-01-30T01:38:00.000-07:00

For the most part, I love my job. I love being a musician and making good music. I love digging into the music and finding the exquisite moments in the text and the music. But every once in a while I really hate this business. Every once in a while people are so damn opinionated that they can't see past their own nose. They can't see the strengths of their colleagues or the potential of their colleagues students or anything that might possibly go against their opinion. I can't stand people that think they are the only one capable of doing what they do and everyone else...well...sucks. For heavens sake, we all have something to offer and we are all good at something so maybe if we work together, we might make something really great! Argh...that's all. :)

2012-01-24T22:39:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I feel like life is passing me by because I'm always working. And this semester will be no different...I'm playing 14 (yes, you read right) 14 recitals...on top of everything else. Don't get me wrong, this isn't really a complaint but, it's going to be a crazy semester. Here's to insanity!

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-24T14:31:00.002-07:00

"Yes! and the bedpost was his own. The bed was his own, the room was his own. Best and happiest of all, the time before him was his own, to make amends in!
"I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!" Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. "The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh Jacob Marley! Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob; on my knees!"
He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions, that his broken voice would scarcely answer to his call. He had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the Spirit, and his face was wet with tears."

"Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.
He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!"

2011-12-14T22:21:00.003-07:00

Qualchevolte penso che sará il mio destino vivere complettamente da sola...che non c'é un persone per me...ed anche, che facevo tutti i miei amici mi odiono. Non so perché...e lo so che probabilmente non é cosi. Ma, mi fa pensare che facevo a meritare un tal cosa. Spero fervidamente che non accaderá cosi...e se io avessi fatto qualcosa con gli amici, posso cambiarlo. Perché, non voglio vivere cosi.

Ed anche, se si potessi capire questo messaggio, mi dispiace tanto. Non intendevo cosi. Volevo solamente scrivere i miei pensieri. :)

Come Ready and See Me--Richard Hundley

2011-12-08T23:30:00.001-07:00

Come ready and see me
No matter how late
Come before the years run out.
I'm waiting with a candle
No wind can blow out,
But you must haste
On foot or by sky
For no one can wait forever
Under the bluest sky
I can't wait forever
For the years are running out.

Thanks...

2011-11-09T22:30:00.001-07:00

I just have to say how grateful I am for all the people in my life that remind me to be joyful. No, this is not just a Thanksgiving post...it occurred to me today that I am lucky. I can easily get down on myself or focus more than I should on what is less than ideal in my life. But then all of you help remind me how incredibly blessed I really am and that life is so much better when I remember to celebrate the successes in my life and to revel in the joy, not the hardships. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for being happy, joyful people and for letting it rub off on me every once in a while. :)

At the mid hour of night...

2011-10-08T09:12:00.002-06:00

At the mid hour of night, when stars are weeping, I fly To the lone vale we loved, when life shone warm in thine eye; And I think oft, if spirits can steal from the regions of air, To revisit past scenes of delight, thou wilt come to me there, And tell me our love is remember'd, even in the sky.

Then I sing the wild song 'twas once such pleasure to hear! When our voices commingling breathed, like one, on the ear; And, as Echo far off through the vale my said orison rolls, I think, oh my love! 'tis thy voice from the Kingdom of Souls,Faintly answering still the notes that once were so dear.--Thomas Moore

Ps...YouTube the Benjamin Britten setting of this text. Fantastic!

One of my favorite places...

2011-10-03T23:23:00.000-06:00

2011-09-24T22:25:00.002-06:00

"This is my depressed stance. When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this."

--Charles M. Schultz

2011-09-07T00:29:00.005-06:00

"This is my depressed stance. When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this."

--Charles M. Schultz

(sorry this is hard to read...for some reason my computer isn't letting me type in normal black...annoying.)

Parsnip Mash

2011-09-01T19:48:00.000-06:00

I love parsnips. I know...people think I'm crazy. But I do. And one of my favorite things to do (besides roasting them with garlic and rosemary) is to mash them up. So good!

Parsnip Mash

Bring pot of water to a boil. Salt the water like you would for pasta. Add pealed and chopped parsnips and a few cloves of garlic (the garlic will sweeten while it cooks...yum!). Once the parsnips are fork tender, drain and return to the pot (including the cloves of garlic). Add butter, a titch of mayo (not needed if you don't like mayo). Mash like you're making mashed potatoes...adding a little bit of half and half or milk to until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. My favorite is to add some chopped scallions and fresh rosemary. So yummy!

Pasta alla melanzane

2011-08-28T23:51:00.003-06:00

So I've always been kind of obsessed with eggplant. And while I absolutely love everyday fried eggplant and baba ganoush, I am always looking for new ways to eat eggplant. Well, this is one of my new favorites.

Pasta alla melanzana (or eggplant pasta)

I peeled and cubed up an eggplant. Put it on a cookie sheet or in a baking dish with some cherry tomatoes, chopped onions, and garlic. Douse it all in salt, pepper, and olive oil and put in a 400 degree oven to roast for 30-40 min. I usually pull mine when the tomatoes are getting squishy looking.
Once the veggies are roasted, take them out of the oven and put them in a food processor. Whir them until smooth-ish. Add 1 can of tomatoes (pick your poison, diced, stewed, whole, doesn't matter), lots of fresh basil and some salt and pepper. Whir until it becomes a sauce. Put the sauce in a baking dish and rinse out the processor...you'll need it in a bit.
Cook your favorite short cut pasta (I'm a fan of every day penne pasta...it holds the sauce nicely). Drain the pasta and sprinkle it with grated parmegiano cheese (don't splurge on high end cheese...this isn't the place. Just don't use Kraft...it's not real cheese!). Add the pasta to the sauce in the baking dish and stir.
Add small cubes of fresh mozzarella and stir again. By now, everything should be nicely mixed up.
Remember that food processor? Now add a bunch of fresh basil, garlic, a handful of pine nuts and some more parmigiano. Whir. This isn't a pesto...don't add oil. Sprinkle the mixture on the pasta. Drizzle with a little olive oil and stick in a 375 degree oven. Cook until bubbly. I promise...it's totally worth the effort! And a great, mostly healthy, veggie treat (especially with whole wheat pasta). Enjoy!

Funny Face - trailer (1956) AUDREY HEPBURN

2011-08-06T23:11:00.000-06:00

I love this movie!!!

2011-06-11T22:06:00.001-06:00

A friend posted this today...

...To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.
~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

What I don't understand

2011-06-08T23:16:00.002-06:00

What I don't understand...

--how one is supposed to raise large amounts of money when all of the money in the state is somehow attached to the University of Utah and apparently untouchable by anyone but the University...or Kyle Whittingham.

--how one can send out 1300 invites to multiple performances and 10 people attend...all of them put together.

--how when it comes down to it, most people are more than willing to do anything to help themselves but when it comes to helping others, it's just too hard. Or you have to have brown hair, green eyes, play the recorder, and be the perfect reincarnation of their second cousin once removed who used to play the recorder.

Sorry. I promise this doesn't apply to anyone who might read this...in any way at all! You are all wonderful and I love you. I'm just a little disappointed in the universe right now. I'll get over it.

Rumi again

2011-05-23T00:28:00.001-06:00

"Knock, And He'll open the door
Vanish, And He'll make you shine like the sun
Fall, And He'll raise you to the heavens
Become nothing, And He'll turn you into everything."

--Rumi

worth repeating

2011-05-15T10:10:00.002-06:00

"For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline" 2 Timothy 1:7 (NRSV)

Dear Universe...

2011-05-10T18:33:00.002-06:00

I would like life--just for a little bit--to be as easy as we all thought it would be when we were 10. You grow up, get a house and a job, a husband, and everything works out swimmingly and happily ever after. That's all.

--Emily

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T10:08:00.002-06:00

Sometimes the LDS hymnbook is a little lack luster. In honor of Easter, here's the chorus of one that should be in the green book! :)

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Happy Easter!!!

Shirley Jones-Then & Now 10

2011-04-23T17:09:00.000-06:00

Jackie...this one's for you (or at least the first line or so). Enjoy!

Sometimes the Germans get poetry

2011-04-22T23:15:00.001-06:00

Und morgen wird die Sonne wieder scheinen
und auf dem Wege, den ich gehen werde,
wird uns, die Glücklichen sie wieder einen
inmitten dieser sonnenatmenden Erde…
und zu dem Strand, dem weiten, wogenblauen,
werden wir still und langsam niedersteigen,
stumm werden wir uns in die Augen schauen,
und auf uns sinkt des Glückes stummes Schweigen...

(or for those who don't want to look it up)

And tomorrow the sun will shine again
And on the way which I shall follow
She will again unite us lucky ones
As all around us the earth breathes in the sun
Slowly, silently, we will climb down
To the wide beach and the blue waves
In silence, we will look in each other's eyes
And the mute stillness of happiness will sink upon us

2011-04-19T23:20:00.002-06:00

Sometimes you just have to walk away for a bit and say "It's not my problem". That's all.

Help!!!

2011-04-13T21:16:00.002-06:00

ok friends...I need help. I'm trying to help a friend raise $4000. Benefit recitals already on the list. And we need to raise it fast. Thoughts? I'm trying to figure out how to go to businesses...but haven't quite figured that out yet (any thoughts would be appreciated). And, it's a tax deduction for anyone who donates, if you know anyone who needs a deduction. HELP!!!

Thanks... :)

Random thoughts...

2011-04-06T21:39:00.002-06:00

I was reading a friend's blog today and she reminded me of something (if you're reading this, you know who you are). **warning...cheesy comments ahead**

The universe and everything in it is all about love. It's all anyone is really searching for...to be loved in one form or another. I have always been a strong believer that one of the biggest reasons for our existence is to learn how to love...love as friends, love as companions, love as lovers, any and all meanings of the word. And on top of that, learning how to allow others to experience love in whatever form it may take. I've always wondered why people think it their business to nose around in everyone else's desires and dreams while ignoring their own. But I guess that's another post for another time. Anyway, love is a risk...a big one in any situation...there's always the chance that it won't be returned or that it will be twisted around to hurt. But if the universe, God, or whomever/whatever you may believe in cares enough to create a world and a people that are so determined to find it, it must be worth the risk. Here's to hoping we all find it in any and all forms, and are able to celebrate it and keep it.

Ok...cheesiness done... :)

Sarah Teasdale

2011-04-05T23:19:00.001-06:00

I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.

You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.

Oh plunge me deep in love -- put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.

Mahler

2011-03-18T22:47:00.003-06:00

Everyone thinks that Italians and the French write the best poetry...and it's really, really great (don't get me wrong). But the Germans aren't that bad either. If you would like a translation, click here. And also worth you tubing by the way...

Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen,
Mit der ich sonst viele Zeit verdorben,
Sie hat so lange nichts von mir vernommen,
Sie mag wohl glauben, ich sei gestorben!

Es ist mir auch gar nichts daran gelegen,
Ob sie mich für gestorben hält,
Ich kann auch gar nichts sagen dagegen,
Denn wirklich bin ich gestorben der Welt.

Ich bin gestorben dem Weltgetümmel,
Und ruh' in einem stillen Gebiet!
Ich leb' allein in meinem Himmel,
In meinem Lieben, in meinem Lied!

2011-03-17T23:39:00.001-06:00

Sometimes the universe isn't really all it's cracked up to be. That's all.

strange?

2011-03-15T22:01:00.002-06:00

Does anyone else randomly create definitions of "word verification" words? Like the strange words you have to type in to prove that you're not an evil hacker. Or am i just strange? I just commented on someone's blog and the word was sessuser...thoughts?

Well said...

2011-02-27T16:25:00.001-07:00

I know we've all heard this but, I love it...and it's my blog...so I'm posting it. :)

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
...Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."

Nelson Mandela

Posting something Happy...

2011-02-17T23:36:00.002-07:00

So I feel like I haven't posted anything Happy lately. So...here you go. :)

PS...

2011-02-15T23:30:00.002-07:00

ps...I just realized that my past couple posts were really negative. Sorry about that. I promise my life isn't really that awful right now, just a little crazy. All is well over all. :)

Bad form

2011-02-15T23:26:00.003-07:00

For the most part, I don't need people to love everything I do on the piano. It's part of the music world...and I like to think I have enough of a thick skin to get by most of the time (granted, we're all human). But, if you take issue with my playing, you damn well better be willing to say it to my face...and not to a student, behind my back...while I'm sitting close enough to possibly hear. Bad form. Enough said.

Rant...

2011-02-10T22:17:00.003-07:00

Please know...this is probably an irrational rant. And I'm probably wrong in every sense. Totally realize that. But...here you go.
I was scheduled to play a lesson for a violinist. Her teacher shall remain nameless but , he is a prominent violinist in SLC, and possibly one of the nicest people I have met. Anyway, said lesson was on a Monday afternoon. I was given very late notice that I had to be at Westminster earlier than usual. I immediately contacted the violinist, let her know that due to late notice, I couldn't be at her lesson, and that I would love to reschedule. (Insert: I know it's a pain to schedule lessons and rehearsals, and I try my bestest to be everywhere I need to be, when I need to be there.) The violinist responded that she would let me know when we could reschedule. ANYWAY...I received a voicemail from her teacher tonight. Basically, he chastised me for needing to cancel the lesson, talked up how difficult her program is (like I don't know that...I've spent hours learning it for heavens sake), how we need to meet every possible lesson, and that if I needed to cancel in the future, I should contact him so we can "discuss" the matter.
I know it's not a big deal, really. And I know, that I shouldn't have canceled, but I couldn't find a way around it. Totally my fault...but said message was totally unnecessary. If Jeffrey, or Melissa, or Chris was playing this recital, he never would have dreamed of saying anything. Maybe I'm just done with people treating me like I'm still a student, or that it's ok to take every free second of my life and not think twice about it, or that they're just needing me because there's not anyone better available because I really don't have any skill at what I do anyway. I promise I'm not saying that I know everything, and I am definitely not God's gift to the accompanying world. I know I'm the bottom of the totem pole and that I will always have more to learn until the day I leave this blessed existence. But is it too much to ask to be treated well?

By the way, none of this is directed in any way to anyone who might read this blog and is currently working with me. And really, I know I'm over reacting...and that I'm totally wrong and assuming things...really. Just thought I would rant for a bit. If you made it this far...thanks for reading. :)

The Hiding Place--best book ever

2011-02-09T21:36:00.003-07:00

"When you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?"
"Why, just before we get on the train."
"Exactly. And our wise Father in Heaven knows when we're going to need things. Don't run ahead of him Corrie. When the time comes that some of us have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need--just in time."

2011-02-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

Pipes thawed!!!! Doesn't seem to be any leaking yet!!! Yay for water!!!

Still stupid

2011-02-03T07:49:00.003-07:00

My pipes are still frozen. No hot water and no water in the kitchen at all. One more day of running space heaters all day. Anyone want to take bets on my power bill this month? And to tell you the truth, I am very glad nothing has broken yet...really, I am. But for heavens sake, thaw already!!! This is getting really old!!!

Oh, and ps...I did everything right. Cupboards open, heat up, ran a drip, and they still froze. Apparently I need to run a drip in ALL my faucets next time. Grrrr.

Happy New Year (a little late)!

2011-01-12T22:22:00.003-07:00

To tell you the truth, I hate New Years Eve. Horrid holiday. But, the opportunity to start a new year, is at least a bit appealing. This year, I decided not to make tons of resolutions...just a few...and the first would explain my desire to do so.

1. Learn to be happy with where I am in my journey. I'm not discounting goals and aspirations etc., but I really feel like I have to be better at being happy with where I am. Trying to enjoy the journey instead of magnifying the things I'm unhappy with.
2. Continue and improve on being healthy...while still allowing myself small voyages into Wendy's, Del Taco, and chocolate. I'm a foody, I love good food, and for the most part I'm pretty healthy...and plan on improving that this year. But I refuse to deny myself really fantastic food experiences every once in a while.
3. Take time for myself--mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. Anyone who knows me, knows I am crazy busy. And I like it that way. There's lots of good music, and I enjoy playing it...and paying the bills. But, I also need to take better care of myself sometimes.

That's it. Nothing brilliant or earth shattering. But, maybe if I write them down publicly, I will be better at keeping them. Here's to 2011!!!

Rumi

2010-11-14T21:37:00.001-07:00

Come, come, whoever you are.

Wonderer, worshipper, lover of leaving.

It doesn't matter.

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Come, even if you have broken your vow

a thousand times

Come, yet again, come, come.

Franciscan Blessing

2010-10-24T10:35:00.004-06:00

I think this is rather appropriate...no matter what or who you may believe in.

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their path into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim can not be done.
And the blessing of God who creates, redeems, and sanctifies be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more.

Victor Borge - Franz Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody #2

2010-10-22T21:49:00.000-06:00

Nothing needs to be said. :)

Stupid

2010-10-20T21:08:00.002-06:00

So...banks are stupid. Actually, not really...but it feels good to say.
I applied for a loan a while back, knowing that they would probably reject me, but I thought it didn't hurt to ask. I want to pay off my credit cards and get a lower interest rate (since my stupid mastercard upped my rate more than 40% at the end of last year). I never use them, they just carry balances from two old Europe trips that I'm still paying off. We're talking less than $8,000 here people...not a lot! Anyway, I talked to my loan officer today and it looks like I am not allowed to keep either of the cards open after I pay them off. They force me to close them. There would go the emergency fund and how I buy plane tickets for Italy and such. So...needless to say...I told her to forget about it today and that it wasn't going to be a viable option for me. Back to square one. Anybody have any great ideas for earning a quick $8,000?

Fairies...

2010-10-19T22:41:00.005-06:00

The Westminster Chamber Singers are giving a concert this weekend. They are singing a piece with a portion of this text. Seeing that I enjoy Keats, I thought I would look it up. Totally reminded me of Lisa...who will eventually be home from Italy and back to her fairy flitting ways. Enjoy...

Fairy Song
--John Keats

Shed no tear! oh, shed no tear!
The flower will bloom another year.
Weep no more! oh, weep no more!
Young buds sleep in the root’s white core.
Dry your eyes! oh, dry your eyes!
For I was taught in Paradise
To ease my breast of melodies,—
Shed no tear. 
Overhead! look overhead!
‘Mong the blossoms white and red—
Look up, look up! I flutter now
On this fresh pomegranate bough.
See me! ’tis this silvery bill
Ever cures the good man’s ill.
Shed no tear! oh, shed no tear!
The flower will bloom another year.
Adieu, adieu—I fly—adieu!
I vanish in the heaven’s blue,—
Adieu, adieu!

O soave fanciulla - Anna Netrebko - Rolando Villazon

2010-10-15T16:33:00.000-06:00

I know some people think this is cliche but, I love this opera. It's some of my favorite music in the world. Just thought I would share a bit. Enjoy!

Not practicing!

2010-09-20T16:15:00.002-06:00

Ok...I know this is an old rant...and I won't spend long on it. But I'm sick of students not practicing!!! And then you have to practice in their lesson and make them play things 50 times and then they get bored...as do you...and well...yeah. I guess it's karma for never practicing in my own piano lessons...?

Brahms - Piano concerto n°2. Mov 3 (part1)

2010-09-11T23:54:00.000-06:00

Tonight was the opening concert for the Utah Symphony. My aunt was unable to use her tickets so they came to me. The program was fantastic...Beethoven 6 and Brahms 2nd piano concerto (which is one of my all time favorites). It was really wonderful and while I knew what I was getting into with the Brahms, I was reminded yet again why I adore this piece. This is the beginning of the 3rd mvmt. It really is some of the most stunning orchestra/piano collaborative music ever written (in my humble opinion). And totally worth finding the second part on youtube. Great start to the season!

Also...can anyone answer me why happy peasants always have to dance in 6/8? :)

Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableaux Op.39 No.5 (Horowitz)

2010-08-31T23:22:00.000-06:00

So this is my new obsession. I'm wanting to get my solo piano chops back in shape again...and usually that entails pulling rep that's not all that easy. Anyway, it's fantastic...even if you're not a Horowitz fan...I hope you enjoy it! Ciao...

Thought 2

2010-08-18T23:00:00.002-06:00

I miss playing the piano. I know..."but she plays the piano every day!" you say. But I miss playing for myself, practicing regularly (on music that I chose), and really, just playing. Must remedy this. Don't know where I'll fit in the practice time...but it has to fit somewhere doesn't it?

Thought

2010-08-02T17:01:00.002-06:00

Why is it that the people who are always giving you lectures on taking time for yourself and not burning the candle at both ends are always the ones that whine when your schedule doesn't completely revolve around them? Someday I am going to invent a cloning machine. But until then...sorry...I can't be in two places at once! Although, I will certainly try my very best. :)

ps...I do realize that it's much better to be in demand than the opposite. And I'm truly grateful for the work!

Flying Ants

2010-07-16T13:40:00.002-06:00

So...outdoor venue for La Traviata. Gorgeous place, finally starting to cool down around 9 pm as we start the concert (I'm a harp on a keyboard for about 10 min. of fame). About 5 min into the show, the orchestra starts getting inundated with little flying ants. Crawling all over everyone's music, on the piano, the maestro had about 500 all over his podium and score, crawling down the player's shirts...awful. I was killing them with my fingers as I played the piano. Needless to say by the end of Act I, someone had found a bottle of OFF...all the scores, the piano, the players, everything was sprayed. It worked but I now have dead ant carcasses in my Traviata score. Nasty.

A new adventure...

2010-07-14T06:24:00.001-06:00

New Italy experience...

Pizza with fish. Shrimp, mussels, langostines (sp?), calamari, anything you can think of.

Result...not bad. :)

Randomness

2010-07-08T04:03:00.002-06:00

Again, I am not the best at regularly blogging. But here are a few highlights of the trip so far.

1. Freaking out a group of Italian kids who were hanging out behind me speaking italian when I turned around and started speaking to them. It was great!

2. Finding that the problem with the piano that sounded like...well...shit (sorry mom) is just the minor fact that someone screwed 15 screws into the soundboard. yes, fully into the soundboard.

3. Tiramisu suprises on my birthday (don't remember if i included that one in my last post)

4. The closest thing to an American hamburger in Novafeltria on July 4th.

5. A normally 6 hour drive to Pisa...turning into 12 because our driver got lost multiple times (did I include that one already too?)

Anyway, life as always is entertaining and keeping us on our toes. Hope all is well at home!

Update...

2010-06-30T12:41:00.002-06:00

Update...(sorry I suck at blogging)

I have arrived in Novafeltria and all is well. Rome was great. I got to spend some leisurely time seeing what I wanted to see again since I've basically seen all the big stuff already. It was nice just to spend some time in the city.
Traviata is going really well. I swear it's an insta-opera...just add water. We open July 9. But it's going really well. One of the Violettas arrived late (and she's 20, singing her first Italian role!) and is still trying to get off book but the other one is fantastic (as is the 20 yr old, just young). One of the Alfredos was injured and hasn't been able to have any stage time etc. Needless to say, they are both singing now and are supposed to be doing full runs Saturday...and haven't ever done all the show. Grand adventures!
We took an adventure to Pisa on Sunday with Edgidio (a friend who used to teach Italian for LML). Needless to say, he got lost multiple times and what should have been a 5-6 hour drive became a 12 hour drive! Insane. But Pisa is cool and I can now say I've seen it. Otherwise, there's nothing too exciting. Novafeltria is just as fantastic as always. One of our favorite restaurants has closed but as usual, it's like coming home.
I hope all is fantastic at home! And...I miss my puppy...!!!

2010-06-15T08:40:00.002-06:00

It's about this point every year in all the preparations for leaving for Italy that I throw my hands up and say "just get me on the damn plane and across the ocean...I'm ready to be done and there!". I love going, I love Italy, but heavens it can be obnoxious trying to leave the country for a month.

That's all. Ciao...

Brilliance...

2010-06-04T22:52:00.002-06:00

So I discovered a new song. I am playing a recital for a student at Westminster in a little over a week. She found a song from a musical called Next to Normal. The song is called Everything Else and I really think the lyrics are brilliant. Maybe it's due to my life at the moment but, it's really great. So here you go...

Mozart was crazy.
Flat fucking crazy.
Bad shit, I hear.

But his music's not crazy,
It's balanced, it's nimble,
It's crystalline clear.

There's harmony, logic,
You listen to these.
You don't hear his doubts,
Or his debts or disease.

You scan through the score,
And put fingers on keys,
And you play.
And everything else goes away.
Everything else goes away.

And you play 'til it's perfect,
You play 'til you ache,
You play 'til the strings or your fingernails break.

So you'll rock that recital,
And get into Yale.
So you won't feel so sick,
And you won't look so pale.

'Cause you've got your full ride,
And you're early admit.
So you're done with this school,
And with all of this shit.

And you graduate early,
You're gone as of May,
And there's nothing your paranoid parents can say.

And you know that it's just a sonata away,
And you play,
And you play.
And everything else goes away,
Everything else goes away.
Everything else goes away.

2010-06-02T20:44:00.003-06:00

There are some days when I almost start to believe that I should give up the music business and sit at a desk all day in front of a computer...or answer phones...or work at William Sonoma for heavens sake...I would make more money, never have to worry about paying bills on time, and save much more money than I am. I never actually believe it and I'm pretty sure it won't ever happen. But it's awfully tempting sometimes...

2010-05-22T20:54:00.001-06:00

Today's post can be found on my other blog...or just click here...

Thanks!

The end of the Ireland tour...

2010-05-13T14:43:00.004-06:00

Update on the last couple days in Ireland. We're almost home! Wednesday we had most of the morning and afternoon free so Chris and I decided to hit the town. We started back at Trinity College since we didn't get to see the original book of Kells on the day we toured the exhibit. They let us back in with our previous tickets and we were able to see the books. It's amazing. For all the musicians out there, it's what the monks would have been working on while writing Barber's Hermit Songs in the margins. Absolutely gorgeous.
Next we walked over to the National Gallery and saw some wonderful paintings. There are so many paintings to see in a museum like that...and I will admit we got a little punchy. But it was a lot of fun.
We were scheduled to meet Paula and the other "adultly figures" at the Jameson distillery at 1 pm. Paula has a friend in the rotary that was able to get us a VIP tour. It was a lot of fun. But the best part was watching Sue (one of the sisters from Murray who have tagged along on our tour) get completely schnackered (sp?) on an irish coffee and a shot of Jamison. She couldn't stop laughing and we had to help her down the stairs. She has a charming laugh and is a lot of fun so, it was pretty entertaining. Makes for a good story. :)
Today we headed out to Glendalough. It's a glenn with two lakes and an ancient monastary founded by St. Kevin (click for inf0). It was beautiful and I am such a history buff, I love ruins and churches and cemetaries. It was great.
Once we came home, we had dinner at the hotel with all the group. Kind of a final get together and a goodbye to the graduating seniors. Good food and good fun. I believe everyone is out partying until all hours of the morning to celebrate their final night in Ireland. Yes...I'm being boring and staying home...but hey, I'll get some sleep and be packed in the morning. :)
Hope all is well in SLC and I can't wait to get back! See you soon...

I love Dublin!

2010-05-11T16:00:00.003-06:00

Dublin is a great city. I had no clue. Today we started out at Trinity College. We weren't able to see the book of Kells but we were able to see the library. There are no words. You walk up the stairs and find a room 62 meters long full floor to ceiling with original edition books. It smells like old books...which is a fantastic smell. What I wouldn't have given to walk behind the ropes and peruse the books. First editions, ancient writings, bits of everything are in that room. It was absolutely incredible.
After Trinity, we went to St. Patrick's Cathedral to perform. It's a 13th century cathedral and is wonderful. The acoustic was perfect for our choir. Sometimes cathedrals can have too much of an echo but this one--despite it's size--was perfect (about a 3 second echo for those who care). The rest of the afternoon Liam (the all knowing bus driver...I swear he has degrees in history, anthropology, archeology, and philosophy and then some) drove us around the city.
We were able to spend the evening walking around the city--specifically the temple bar area. It was a lot of fun. I will be sad to say goodbye to Ireland but really glad to finally get home!

Ireland again...

2010-05-10T08:35:00.006-06:00

Time to catch you up to date. We left for Belfast Friday morning. It was the longest drive of the trip. We stopped at an American Folk Park...which was kind of funny. It was really great place actually but it made me giggle that we were walking through Ireland looking at American History. We started out in Ireland during the height of emigration, got on the boat, and exited in Boston. It was actually kind of cool. Once got into Belfast, we threw everything in our hotel and went to St. Mark's for the concert. Belfast itself is an interesting city. It is very industrial...but thanks to the history of Northern Ireland and all the violence there is a lot of angry graffiti and the people are a little wary to be friendly. And it's really weird to be in Ireland but hear a british accent. But the parish put on a great reception for us and were really wonderful once we got to know them. I think it did a lot to help people like Belfast.
The next morning we sang at mass at the same church. The organ was incredible!!! After mass we changed clothes and drove to the Giant's Causeway. I had no clue what we were getting into. It was absolutely gorgeous. If you're curious, click here. The cliffs and the sea were amazing and we had the perfect day. I could have sat and stared at the sea for hours.
That brings us to today. This morning we left Belfast for Dublin. We stopped at an old monastary that had some of the most spectacular high crosses in Ireland. They were huge. I love history and looking at ruins...especially when the ruins are mixed with a cemetary. Needless to say, I thought it was great.
We are now in Dublin. A couple of singers and I had lunch at a great little pub. Old velvet seats and chandeleers (sp?) and a wooden bar. The food was great as was the tea. I think it will be a great city to explore.

More Ireland

2010-05-07T08:54:00.003-06:00

So apparently I suck at blogging. Anyway...catch up. After we sang in Cork at the International Choir Festival, we went to Killarney. Killarney is one of the tourist havens in Ireland. It is right in the ring of Kerry so everyone stays there. It is absolutely gorgeous. And I had my first real fish and chips of the trip there. We went to see Muckross (sp?) house. It's interesting how all the old houses of gentry in other parts of Europe are full of marble etc. But this one was filled with wood carving and nothing too ostentatious. It was really beautiful. We sang at St. Mary's church in Killarney before leaving for Limerick.
Chris decided that we needed to have a Limerick writing contest on the way to the city. All I can say is that if I never hear another Limerick, it will be too soon. Although some of them were pretty good. Once we got to the city, we had a group dinner and went to a lecture on traditional irish music that the college had set up. Needless to say, it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. Chris was very disappointed. The woman who gave the lecture was supposed to be from Indiana University....but it turns out she was from Indiana State. Big difference. Anyway, after the concert that night (which was poorly attended) we were supposed to go to a pub to hear some traditional Irish music. Ya...ummm...they decided they didn't want to play that night. No music. So, needless to say, Limerick was a gorgeous city that we all enjoyed but nothing necessarily went all that right.
We left Limerick for Galway. It had been a while since we were in a bigger city. We all wished we could have had more time there as there were some great things to see. On the way to Galway, we stopped at the Bunratty Castle and the cliffs of Mohr (which were almost too foggy to see but not quite :) ). Liam (our bus driver) decided to take us on a small detour to an old portal tomb (kind of like stonehenge but not quite). It was really cool. There's a chance to see another outside of Dublin, I hope he remembers and we get to go.
After leaving Galway, we travelled to Ballina. We sang at Kylemore Abbey on the way...and it is gorgeous! You should google it...it's worth it. Ballina is a great little town but we are farther away from the town proper in this hotel so a lot of us are staying in more and resting up a bit. We went to a secondary school today called St. Mary's. We sang for them and told them basically a little about what schooling is like in the US and such. It was a lot of fun. It's been a while since I have heard how loud 12-16 year old girls can scream when a cute college boy walks on the stage. Tonight we are giving a concert with a local choir benefitting the cancer society. Hopefully we will get a lot of people there and they will be able to raise a lot of money.
Anyway...that's up to date. Tomorrow we leave for Belfast and I start using my british pounds. Not sure if we need passports to get across the border or not but I think it might be a bit of a change. After Belfast, we are on to Dublin and then home (hoping the volcano lets us out of the country).
Hope all is well in SLC!

Ireland!

2010-05-02T11:24:00.004-06:00

So...we're here! Sorry I haven't written yet. We arrived in Ireland two days ago and immediately proceeded from the airport to a concert. We were a little worried that we could get through it well on almost no sleep but, it worked and actually was a really good concert (yay us!). And the church was gorgeous with a great acoustic. We all immediately went to the hotel and slept.
Yesterday, we had most of the day free. I spent a lot of my time walking around the city with a couple of people. We walked into little shops, went through the market, got a great sandwich for cheap at the market, and got caught in a downpour (glad for the umbrella) . We performed a small 10 min concert at one of the hotels where all the choral festival choirs are staying. Small world story...this woman walked up to me and asked where the college was. I told her...and she proceeded to explain that she had a brother that worked at a university in Utah. Long story shorter...her brother is Paul Dorgan. It was great! And then Brady Allred showed up...out of the blue. He was teaching at the choral festival.
Last night we went to a pub because one of the girls wanted to have her first drink in Ireland as she had just turned 21. I went along because she only wanted to have one and needed someone to...shall we say, help her remember that. The pub we went to was having a 21st birthday party for some kid we didn't know. But that meant lots of loud music, lots of old drunk irishmen dancing to disco, and a rousing rendition of the rock ballad version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel--which everyone sang at the top of their lungs. It was great. And yes, an irishman can spin a tale a mile long to try to convince the pretty american girls to stay...and it happens every 30 feet or so when you get to the next pub. But it's not obnoxious, it's pretty charming in fact...they're not obnoxious, and finally let you go...but not without trying. They actually convinced two of our singers to sing the Lakme duet acappella, and on the street in front of the pub. In fact, one of the women that was there came to mass this morning to hear us again. Truthfully, the Irish are some of the nicest people in the world. It's going to be a great trip.

bheith ag geonaíl (whine in gaelic...I think)

2010-04-26T23:23:00.004-06:00

So I'm schedule to go to Ireland with Westminster College on Thursday. It's coming up sooner than I ever expected. And yes, I'm excited. But...getting ready to leave the country is such a big job sometimes...and this time, I work straight until 9 pm the night before. I've had gigs or rehearsals every night for the past two weeks, and they keep going. Like I said, I'm glad for the money, and I'm glad for the work, and I'm glad to go to Ireland. But sometimes it seems like it would be easier to just stay home.
I know, I'm whining a bit, and trust me, I'm really excited and am very grateful I get to go. But heavens, it's a lot of work. That's all. :)

Finally!!!

2010-04-18T15:47:00.002-06:00

ok...allow me to be a little girly for a moment. many of you might remember that every summer before I leave for Italy, I go on a hunt for cool summer dresses...and never find any. So last year, I thought maybe I go too late in the season...and so went shopping in May. Still nothing. This year I saved my pennies and went shopping in April. Success! It only took four years to realize that you must buy cute summer dresses in April. I went to Kohl's and found seven...yes seven cute dresses...for only $160! Yay me! It only took four years...

Volcano

2010-04-17T22:57:00.002-06:00

Yes, I am supposed to be leaving for Ireland in 12 days. Yet, here we all sit waiting to see what the stupid volcano is going to do. Granted, I am not a big fan of plummeting 41oo feet if the engines get clogged with dirt...so I'm fine staying home if that's the case. But, I might be slightly bitter if a stupid volcano gets in the way of me seeing Ireland. That's all. I'm just petitioning the universe to make the volcano stop so people can be safe and we can get to and from Ireland...cause we all want to go. :)

2010-04-17T09:03:00.001-06:00

Today's post can be found here. :)

2010-04-12T21:38:00.002-06:00

Taxes are paid and filed. Time to get over it, move on, and start planning for next year. :)

How can I keep...

2010-04-08T21:46:00.002-06:00

So, as a result of my last post, I ended up needing to have a conversation with one of my favorite people in the world...unless you're talking about money. Anyway, I don't want to bore you with the horrid conversation. But let's just say the phrase "since apparently you can't support yourself, why don't you quit all your current jobs and go out and get a job that actually makes money...like waiting tables" came up. For those who don't know me well, that's a real sore spot with me. My point isn't to rant, I actually wanted to post something (cheesy as it may be) that I've always loved and says a bit about why I do what I do and why I love it.

My life flows on in endless song:
Above earth's lamentation,
I catch the sweet, tho' far-off hymn,
That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul--
How can I keep from singing?

Taxes suck

2010-04-05T20:38:00.002-06:00

I hate taxes! Think about this. I make less than $25,000 a year...and when you take out all my expenses, it's completely depressing. Yet, I am paying $2300 in taxes! Trust me, I have taken every deduction possible and then some...and most of it is self-empolyment tax/social security. And on top of it all, I was only able to save $2000 so I'm probably going to have to take out a loan from my father which I really, really hate. I'm 31...I should be able to pay my own $#%^ taxes. So...all the money I have saved for Italy and oh...living this summer when all my jobs end is going to taxes. That's ok...I just won't eat or pay my bills this summer. Anybody have any brilliant ideas how I can make lots of money quickly...or another job I can pick up in the 15 minutes of spare time I have a day? I'll accept any and all suggestions. :)

ps...sorry for ranting.

Photo Show

2010-04-02T23:06:00.001-06:00

Hello all. I wanted to let you know about the show my mother and uncle and I are having tomorrow from 12-6 at my mother's gallery and studio (235 W. 2950 S.). I am showing my photography, my mother her paintings, and my uncle his pottery. We would absolutely love to see you there!

Adventures in Randomness

2010-03-28T13:07:00.002-06:00

I wanted to let you all know about my new blog. It's called Adventures in Randomness. It's basically a place for me to post about some of my hobbies...mostly cooking and photography. I plan on posting recipes I love or discover, and photos I take, and anything else random. The address is http://emilyshobbies.blogspot.com. Check it out if you're interested. Thanks for reading...

Crazy drivers!

2010-03-19T15:41:00.002-06:00

I hate 1300 E. I know I've said it before...and truthfully, I was getting used to it. But people are driving too close and too fast for two lanes! I saw two accidents between 9th S. and 1300 S. on my way home today. Once was right in the same place I had my accident, and the other was just off of 13th S. And on Monday morning there was another accident right where I had mine. Stupid! You would think the city would get a clue...or the people driving would catch on. That's all.

ps...crazy driving has been going on everywhere. I saw ANOTHER accident happen on 13th and 4th s. just because someone was in a hurry and had to run the light...as well as multiple near misses. Kind of scary.

2010-03-17T21:27:00.001-06:00

I love the dark hours of my being.

My mind deepens into them.

There I can find, as in old letters,

the days of my life, already lived,

and held like a legend, and understood.

Then the knowing comes: I can open

to another life that's wide and timeless.

So I am sometimes like a tree

rustling over a gravesite

and making real the dream

of the one its living roots

embrace:

a dream once lost

among sorrows and songs.

~ Ranier Maria Rilke ~

Ya think?!?

2010-02-21T15:44:00.002-07:00

I'm ushering at Libby Gardner Concert Hall today. No big deal...done it before. But what amazes me is this...the concert starts at 3. It's 3:20 or even 3:30 and people are still arriving. Not only that but they are so put out when you tell them the concert has already begun and they will have to wait until a break between movements to enter. You would think this is common sense...especially among the classical music listener...and more so seeing that this is a NOVA Chamber series concert. These people should know better. Yet they still give me crap about missing the concert. Well, it's not my fault that you didn't leave enough time to arrive on time. And then...when we get to a break between movements and I open the door for them, two of them didn't want to enter because there was another movement left. Ok...fine...but again, when I opened the door at the end of the piece they just sat there giving me strange looks like "what do I do now?". It took them what felt like 5 minutes to work up the nerve to actually walk in the door and find a seat. Such a hard decision who walks in the door first, etc. It was hysterical. If it's going to be this big of a problem...arrive on time! :)

Very Like a Whale

2010-02-04T23:09:00.003-07:00

Very Like a Whale
by Ogden Nash

One thing that literature would be greatly the better for
Would be a more restricted employment
by authors of simile and metaphor.
Authors of all races, be they Greeks,
Romans, Teutons or Celts,
Can't seem just to say that anything is the
thing it is but have
to go out of their way to say that it is
like something else.
What foes it mean when we are told
That the Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold?
In the first place, George Gordon Byron
had had enough experience
To know that it probably wasn't just one
Assyrian, it was a lotof Assyrians.
However, as too many arguments are
apt to induce apoplexy and thus hinder longevity,
We'll let it pass as one Assyrian
for the sake of brevity.
Now then, this particular Assyrian,
the one whose cohorts
were gleaming in purple and gold,
Just what does the poet mean when he says
he came down like a wolf
on the fold?
In heaven and earth more than is dreamed of
in our philosophy there are a great many things,
But i don't imagine that among then
there is a wolf with purple
and gold cohorts or purple and gold anythings.
No, no, Lord Byron, before I'll believe
that this Assyrian was actually
like a wolf I must have some kind of proof;
Did he run on all fours and did he have a
hairy tail and a big red
mouth and big white teeth and did he say Woof woof?
Frankly I think it very unlikely,
and all you were entitled to say,
at the very most,
Was that the Assyrian cohorts came down
like a lot of Assyrian cohorts
about to destroy the Hebrew host.
But that wasn't fancy enough for Lord Byron,
oh dear me no, he had
to invent a lot of figures of speech
and then interpolate them,
With the result that whenever you mention
Old Testament soldiers
to people they say Oh yes,
they're the ones that a lot
of wolves dressed up in gold and purple ate them.
That's the kind of thing that's being done
all the time by poets,
from Homer to Tennyson;
They're always comparing ladies to lilies
and veal to venison,
And they always say things like that
the snow is a white blanket after a winter storm.
Oh it is, is it, all right then,
you sleep under a six-inch blanket
of snow and I'll sleep under a
half-inch blanket of unpoetical
blanket material and we'll see
which one keeps warm,
And after that maybe you'll
begin to comprehend dimly,
What I mean by too much metaphor and simile.

Re-do

2010-01-31T22:01:00.003-07:00

Ok...ignore the last two posts. I have a better way to do this. If you are interested in seeing the pictures I am thinking of showing...click here. You should be directed to a picasa page and can see them all in slideshow. The album is called photo show.

More pics...

2010-01-30T22:49:00.012-07:00

Here's the rest of the pictures that wouldn't fit in the other post.

Pictures

2010-01-30T22:25:00.018-07:00

So I'm thinking of putting together some photographs to show at one of my mother's art shows...and hey, maybe even sell a couple for some extra money. But I can't decide which ones are even worth the trouble. Anyway, I'm gonna post some and get y'all's opinions. Let me know what you think. Ps...sorry I couldn't get these to have any rhyme or reason as to layout in this post. It's kinda strange.

Haircut!!!

2010-01-25T21:26:00.002-07:00

So I finally have a hair appointment!!! It's been almost three months...way, way, way too long for anyone with short hair to go between hair cuts. Needless to say, it's really long. But, the good part about long hair is that you have a lot to work with when you go to get it cut. I just can't decide what I want to do. I know I want to lose the spunky, shortness of it. I love my short hair. But, I'm thinking...and maybe it's just not possible...but I might want to go curly. Not ultra tight bad 80's perm curly. Just a thought. Not quite sure yet. And the woman who does my hair will probably have some good ideas on Wednesday. But, I'm more than willing to take suggestions if anyone has any brilliant ideas...

New Posts

2010-01-06T21:21:00.002-07:00

There are two new blog posts on my other blogs if anyone is interested.

Some great deals on MK at www.emilysmarykay.blogspot.com

and new pictures posted at www.emilyshobby.blogspot.com

Thanks and I hope everybody's enjoying 2010!

2009-12-15T21:39:00.001-07:00

All I can say is...

I wish there was something going on in my life interesting enough to blog about right now. Sorry about that. Hope everybody is well though... :)

No Life

2009-11-22T21:58:00.001-07:00

Mystery Google and mylifeisaverage.com can be a little bit too addicting. That's all.

What happened to Thanksgiving?!?

2009-11-15T21:40:00.002-07:00

What happened to Thanksgiving?!? Every store I go to has Christmas decorations and trees...someone in my complex has Christmas lights up already, there were Christmas lights up at Little America, Christmas commercials on TV, etc. Did I miss Thanksgiving and not realize it? For heavens sake!!! It's not Christmas yet!

ps...there are new posts on my MK and photo blogs too if you're interested (emilysmarykay.blogspot.com and emilyshobby.blogspot.com). That's all. :)

Thoughts?

2009-11-13T23:42:00.001-07:00

So does anybody have any good ideas about finding Christmas gigs? Some friends and I usually get a decent smattering but we would like a good chunk this year. Any thoughts? We thought about advertising but don't really know how. But if anyone has brilliant ideas, I would love to hear them. Thanks!

New Blogs

2009-11-09T09:03:00.003-07:00

So I was a little bored last night and decided to create some new blogs. I now have a blog specifically for Mary Kay (so those of you who don't care, don't have to read about it). The address is emilysmarykay.blogspot.com.
Secondly, I created a blog specifically for my photos. Why not feed the photography habit? :) That address is emilyshobby.blogspot.com.
That's it. Thanks!

Fall

2009-11-08T21:49:00.003-07:00

Happy and I went to Sugarhouse park today. Sadly, Happy had some crazy reactions to some of the other dogs (which is wierd for him) so he had to wait in the car. But, I thought I would share one of my favorites...

Playing again!

2009-11-05T21:36:00.002-07:00

So I've been feeling like I can't play the piano anymore...lately. And yes, I know I can play the piano. But, it had been a long time since I had played solo piano music and played it well. I left Italy and Falstaff ready to play anything and everything...then I let it drop a little. And when I came back to it, it felt like I couldn't play anymore. No matter what I did, it didn't feel good and it sounded worse. And I will admit, my attitude didn't help much. Anyway, I finally picked up a short project...something that I could learn in a couple weeks and enjoy. I started a couple Chopin Nocturnes, re-working one and starting a completely new one. I'm forcing myself to play for people and to start memorizing again--that's the other half of the "I can't play the piano" syndrome is I'm scared to play for people again.

There is a point to this post...I promise. The point is, I played one of the Noctures for Jeffrey today...and it went pretty well. It felt really good to play the piano again and to play well. Playing is such a release for me. Some people play basketball, some people golf, I like to lock myself in a room with a good piano. And feeling like I had lost the joy of playing was awful. It felt really good to play today...and to play for someone...and to enjoy it.

Gratitude

2009-11-01T20:10:00.003-07:00

I was sitting in church today and one of the people who spoke--during one of the ten second bits I was paying attention--said something that caught my attention. She had been having some problems in her life and realized that she had been focusing on everything she didn't have instead of the things she did. I know it's simple but, it made me realize that I have been whining too much. Always focusing on the things that aren't going exactly how I would like instead of the things that are wonderful in my life. So, I wanted to write a post about the things I am grateful for. If this post is already too syrupy, feel free to stop reading now. :)

1. I am grateful for my parents. They are always willing to help and support me in everything I do...and then some. When a stupid 17 yr old decided to total my car, they were there without complaint to help take care of the insurance and in the end, help me buy a new car. No matter what, they are always there.

2. I am grateful for friends. And, they still want to be my friend even when I am not the greatest friend in the world (yes, sometimes I suck at keeping in touch with people).

3. I am grateful for people that make me feel loved.

4. I am grateful for the cutest puppy on the planet (who was very cute as Peter Pan).

5. I am grateful for a home that is dry and warm and perfect for me.

6. I am grateful that I have food in my fridge.

7. I am grateful that I love my job and that I get to make music every day.

8. I am grateful the car saga is over with!

9. I am grateful that so far I have been able to pay my bills and rent every month.

10. I am grateful that when the stupid 17 yr. old decided to text and drive at the same time, that everyone walked away unharmed...and that Happy wasn't in the car.

OK...I'm done for now. But I felt like I needed to be grateful for what I have because there are so many that have less than I. My life is very blessed. If you made it this far, thanks for reading!

SALE!!!

2009-10-13T10:58:00.011-06:00

Hi! I am currently offering 10% off of everything Mary Kay! There are some great gift ideas for Christmas as well and some fun stuff to give to yourself. I thought I would post some of my favorites but you can check everything out on the website www.marykay.com/ewilliams90008. Enjoy!

My new favorite Mary Kay item is the Facial Highlighting Pen. I never thought something could fix the circles under my eyes but this does! It is a great portable concealer too. Fits right in your purse or bag.

Skin Care. Those of you who have tried Timewise already will attest. It is fantastic skin care. I love what it does for my skin. And you can get it in travel size now for half the price!

It's getting close to winter and my hands are already getting dry and cracky. Satin Hands is a great lotion. The lotion alone is fantastic but I also love the scrub.

If you're looking for an easy Christmas gift, there is a limited edition shower gel and lotion set. There are two Holiday flavors as well as others. And they come in travel sizes.

Everyone is crazy about mineral powder foundation...and rightly so. But they can get expensive. Mary Kay has an inexpensive option. It's a great foundation. I use it every day. It's light yet gives great coverage.

Finally, if you are just looking for some fun new colors there are plenty. All sorts of fun stuff to play with. There's even a section for beauty on a budget. Check out the website for more! www.marykay.com/ewilliams90008. Thanks!!!

Frisbee!!!

2009-10-03T22:58:00.013-06:00

So...I had a thought. If Happy can fetch, why can't he play frisbee! So we pack up the car and take a trip to Sugarhouse Park. Needless to say, Happy wasn't all that excited about the frisbee.
If anyone has any ideas on how to get him to realize what a frisbee is and that he will enjoy it I will gladly listen. Anyway, I thought you might enjoy some pictures of our hillarious yet fruitless adventure.

Addendum

2009-09-06T22:30:00.002-06:00

Addendum to my last post. Apparently an East High School student was killed by a car on 1300 E. This is the apparent reason they changed to one lane and lowered the speed limit. I still think it's possibly not the best fix...just because it makes people really mad and I've seen some scary things happen lately by mad people on that street. But, at least it's a reason. And I am sorry a student was killed by a stupid car driving too fast (and hopefully not a stupid student crossing at the wrong time or place).

Death to city street planners

2009-09-01T23:14:00.003-06:00

Can I just say...whomever thought that making 1300 E. a two lane road (just one lane each way...just to be clear) from 1300 S to 400 S....well...they need to be shot!!! Worst idea ever!!! That's all.

Happy!!!

2009-09-01T00:23:00.008-06:00

So my mom and I went to the humane society on Wednesday. We had NO intention of getting a puppy...in fact, I was rather adamant about it. But, as often happens in life, a rather chance happenstance occured. I came home with a puppy. I have to say, he is the perfect puppy so far. He is cute, well trained by his first family (I know, his real personality should start to come out when he gets comfortable but it's almost a week and he is still well behaved), sweet and really loving, always happy to see me, and basically always happy. As of now, his name is Happy...and I'm sorry to all of you that think it's cheesy, it fits him really well...so, deal with it. Anyway, he is a fantastic puppy. I thought you might enjoy some pictures. I think Happy should be short for Chance Happenstance III.

Anti-hermitage

2009-08-22T22:28:00.002-06:00

Ever since I got back from Italy I've been thinking about how much of a hermit I have become. I don't do it all the time but sometimes...or often...I can turn into a little bit of a hermit. I am an only child and am perfectly happy being by myself. I've always been that way. But, there is such a thing as too much time by yourself. So, lately I've been on a mission to be less of a hermit...and I'm having a lot of fun! I've had lots of different people over to my house, met lots of people for lunch, and all sorts of stuff. I had forgotten how great it is to chat with good friends until the wee hours of the morning.
I still have moments of hermitage and I always will. I kind of need it. But I also don't want to ever turn into an old lady with 80 cats and no friends because I wasn't smart enough to take care of my friendships when I had them. I am grateful for every single one of my friends and love to hang out with all of you even when I'm being a hermit. Thanks!

Mary Kay!

2009-08-15T23:47:00.002-06:00

I am now selling Mary Kay. And it's not just for purple-haired ladies anymore! I have been using their products for a long time now and I absolutely love them. The skin care is fantastic and the make-up is just as great.
Anyway, feel free to browse my website (www.marykay.com/ewilliams90008) even if you aren't interested in buying anything. And...great news...you can now order online and pay with a credit or debit card if you choose! Makes life so easy! Check it out. That's all. :)

Hope everybody is well!

La casa romantica

2009-08-09T22:32:00.004-06:00

I just wanted to share the view from my terrace in Novafeltria. I had the greatest house this year. It was this cute little thing on the top floor over the flower shop. I had my own room and a great roommate. Anyway, we the most fantastic terrace with a view of the "Novafeltria mountain" where the ruins of the fortress light up at night. It was fantastic. Just thought you might enjoy a picture.

Noisy

2009-08-02T22:21:00.003-06:00

So I went to my new ward today (if you didn't already know, I have moved). It was an interesting experience. I had been attending a ward that didn't really have any little kids or young people for that matter. Although, there was always grandkids visiting their grandparents and they always seemed to be well behaved. Anyway, whenever anyone has asked me what my impression of my new ward is...all I can say...is...noisy. The bishopbric member that was conducting had to ask everyone to take their seats, and then it just seemed noisy. So much so that sometimes I had to strain to hear the speakers. We had a baby blessing today so maybe some of the noisy kids (and parents I have to say) were only there for this week. And don't get me wrong, it seems like a good ward, and I will probably enjoy it...and I know that most wards are a bit noisy with little people. I will just have to get used to the noisy again.
But other than that, it seems like a good ward. I just need to decide whether or not to make sure the bishopbric knows about me...or should I hide and never be found...? ;)

Why I am an idiot...or why my subconscious wants to amputate my leg

2009-07-17T11:15:00.002-06:00

Why I am an idiot. It seems like this particular trip to Italy has been unnecessarily rocky. It started out with a little rash on my leg (i think i picked something up from my aunt's dogs) that exploded to a large rash on my leg. No amount of cortizone would cut it...and it was getting to the point that I didn't want to wait until I got home. So I go to Brigyda and say I need to go to the doctor. She puts me in the car with Aldonza--who is very nice but only speaks Italian and Polish--and sends me to the doctor. Once we get to the doctor, we have to wait for him to come back from pausa...never a good idea to inturrupt an Italian's pausa. He shows up, looks at my leg, asks me if i ate strawberries or anything else wierd, asks me if i got sunburned, and then asks me if I have asthma or any other allergies. The whole thing took about 5 minutes. He then starts talking really fast to Aldonza. My Italian is good but when I'm nervous, and with how fast he was talking, I have no clue what he said. He writes a scrip, hands it to her, she says she will fill it and get it to me in the afternoon. Then she tells me to walk home because she has some paperwork to fill out. The whole thing took about 10 minutes. I walked out feeling like I had been seen by a doctor working for the mafia. Anyway, long story short (too late), I got the medicine, didn't know what it was, took it anyway, and it has gone away. I later found out that one of the stage managers was a pharmacist and that they had given me steroids and a different kind of corizone. Whatever. It worked.
Then...a couple days ago, I was walking out the back of the theater. I stepped wrong on one of the steps, couldn't catch my balance, and ended up on the ground. I now have a skinned knee as well as a huge scrape on the same leg that had all the rash issues. Don't worry...it's fine...and is getting better quickly. But heavens!!! Either I am an idiot...or my subconscious has issues with my left leg. I hope I still have it when I get home (and yes mom, I just knocked on wood).

Help!!! Aiuto!!!

2009-07-15T14:10:00.002-06:00

Ok. I am in need of serious help! Here's the backstory...

I went up to Pizza due mille tonight for dinner. I went alone because everybody else was either singing Butterfly or at another dinner that I couldn't go to because I skinned my knee and can't get in the car (yeah...another story). So, I went alone. No biggy. I don't mind eating alone ever. I take a book, and all is well. Well, the signore who owns the pizza place is a nice old man...he always talks to me, helps me practice my italian etc. This isn't a new occurance. It is basically always the case. They love it when you can speak enough of their language that they can help you practice. So...he decides...when I am about all the way through my pizza...that he wants to sit down at my table. Again, no big deal. We sat and talked about all sorts of stuff. But, he would randomly throw in strange comments. Like, when I said I lived above the maestro, he said "don't worry...I can take care of him!". Again...thought he was being funny, and I responded with something incredibly sarcastic and basically saying...dude...there's no way in hell...back off. He is an old Italian...it is what they do...but they usually aren't serious. And on top of that, he has my phone number because he said he was going to find me an Italian husband. Now--in my defense, that isn't a big deal because it doesn't trace back to me and I can ignore it. It's like giving an email address. Anyway, I go to pay for my dinner and all of the sudden it is turning into..."I finish work at one...I will call you". And I am just sitting there going...dude...what did you miss about the no hell no! I told him everything I could come up with...besides an American husband or boyfriend...which will have to be my next recourse. But, heavens...why did my one random italian stalker this year have to be a dirty old man! If he calls me tonight, I am making Jeffrey or Robert yell at him in Italian and tell him to back off...and then I am never going in there alone again.
Sidenote...I am sounding like I feel threatened...and I really don't. Don't worry mom, this is not a big deal...just an annoyance. But he actually used the line "Mi chiamano Leo...come un Leone!" (translation..."They call me Leo because it is like a Lion!"). Who uses a line like that!
So...the point of this post is this...
Besides taking someone in from the program with pretty passable Italian that I can sit and basically make out with in the restaurant...I am out of options! Help!!! Any ideas?!?!

Clarify

2009-07-12T03:28:00.003-06:00

Ok...I feel like I need to clarify...

I am having a wonderful time...everything is good and going well...we are going to have a great opening tonight...and the assistant conductor is really a very nice and talented person. We are getting along great...we just had a little bit of a rough start. In bocca al lupo a tutti!

Ciao da Italia!!!

2009-07-11T12:29:00.004-06:00

Ciao da Italia! I realized that I haven't blogged a single thing while I have been here...so I will write a quick update...
I am pretty sure you all know I am Italy to play Falstaff. It is a really great show. Fantastic music etc. But it is also really hard for everybody involved. Hard for the pianist, hard for the singers, and hard for the orchestra. So you really want everyone to be putting forth their best effort. Well...the first adventure when we got here was that Falstaff himself was not memorized. He had been planning on memorizing it when he got here...which, is almost impossible to do that quickly. People were trying to think of replacements that could come and do it at the last minute etc. But...he has pulled through. Basically memorized as of two days ago...which is a good thing seeing that we open tomorrow. It was a huge effort on his part (and he wasn't double cast!). All we can say is imagine what it could have been if he is this good now. Anyway, we open tomorrow and it will be great.
The other entertaining story is the assistant conductor...who didn't arrive until about four or five days ago. He is a real piece of work. First of all...he called me Ellen for about the first three days because that is the name of another pianist he works with. He was trying to change tempos, or directions from the maestro whenever the maestro wasn't in rehearsal. I would stop and say that the particular singer had been directed to do it that way...and he would say that he was sure that was wrong. Then he would check it with the maestro and realize that I was right. I don't know how I could have possibly been right...it's not like I haven't been watching the stick for the past two weeks. He doesn't have a very good sense of how to prioritize fixes so as a result he is always asking the maestro about itty bitty things that Joe can't quite worry about this late in the game with young singers. He comments on everything...how he doesn't like the voices, the pianists, anything he can comment on, he does. I don't want to sound like he is stepping on my musician ego or anything either but, he kind of wants me as the orchestra to be completely subservient to him--which in some cases is completely acceptable--except that he doesn't know what the maestro has been doing up to now, and the maestro hasn't gone through the entire score with him, and he refuses to stay and watch when the maestro is there...it's just too long of a rehearsal apparently. So as a result, I'm the one who knows what is going on when there isn't a stick. He just can't handle the orchestra having an intelligent brain that writes things down in her score so that she can remember them when there isn't a stick. And my favorite is when he takes his own breaks. Just walks out...he wants a break every hour and a half. He looks at me and says "you conduct" and leaves. Apparently it is hard work sitting in the front row, leaning on the edge of the chair, barely waving his hand around because he needs a lot of breaks. I can't imagine that he has really come off a Fess contract...because he doesn't seem like he works that hard! It's really very funny. Ok...I feel like I have to say one redeeming thing about the boy...let's see. He is very useful listening to balance and colors in the orchestra and has a good ear for catching musical mistakes.
Overall, it has been a good start to the summer. The weather has been pretty decent and it is always gorgeous in Novafeltria. My Italian is getting better by the day. All well and having lots of fun. Thanks for reading!