Gelato Flavors I’ve Tried So Far:
• Pistachio
• Coffee
• Mint chocolate
• strawberry
• peach
• apricot/pear
• nutella
• cherry
• chocolate
• tiramisu
• hazelnut
• lemon
• yogurt
Favorite Flavors:
• pistachio
• coffee
• mint chocolate
• strawberry
• peach
• apricot/pear
• nutella
• cherry
• chocolate
• tiramisu
• hazelnut
• lemon
• yogurt
I’m mostly kidding. Pistachio, coffee, nutella, lemon, hazelnut, peach, and apricot/pear are the best so far.
To Try Next:
• Raspberry
• Banana
• Caramel chocolate
• Orange
• Blackberry
• Vanilla
The best gelaterio in Arezzo is on the corner about two blocks from the train station. In addition to supplying possibly the most delicious dessert I’ve ever put in my mouth, the people who work there are wonderfully kind and patient. The man who owns the shop knows us now, and is coming to our concerts! Sometimes he refuses to take money for the gelato, just smiling and shaking his head. He doesn’t seem to mind ugly Americans hanging around his store.
Subjects Unrelated to Food:
I have a bass now! It’s a pretty nice bass, too. It’s carved and has a rich sound, even though it’s brighter than my bass at home. The action’s really high, but I figure that will be like practicing baseball with a donut on your bat. You know those weights you put around the end of your bat to swing, and then when you take it off in the game your swing is so much stronger? Maybe my hands will be stronger when I get back to the states? Hopefully? Please? Anyway, it’s not that big a deal. The bigger deal is the fact that I still don’t have a stool. Hopefully Mr. Vitek will come through on that, but I don’t hold high hopes.
Daniel, you’d be so proud of me! I watched a whole soccer game that you weren’t in, and I didn’t even crack a book! I even got to watch the game from the steps of a medieval church! A few nights ago some of the girls from the convent decided it would be an interesting cultural experience to watch the Italy/Netherlands soccer game (Euro championship?) in a pizza bar with Italians. As we’re heading to the bar, we hear what sounds like a very large, very excited mob. As we get deeper into the old city the noise gets louder, until finally we turn a corner and almost plow straight into a giant TV screen. The soccer game is being projected on both sides of this screen at the edge of the old square, drive-in movie style, and hundreds of Italians are running back and forth with drinks, or sitting with their gelato, waiting for the game to start. The excitement is palpable. Once the game began, it became surprisingly quiet, adding drama to the drawn out “NoOOO!”s and cheering that startled pigeons from their roosts with disgruntled squawks that were lost in the din.
Apparently soccer is a big deal in Italy.
Between the contagious excitement and several bottles of vino rosso, our group was shouting “Forza Italia!” right along with the Italians. It was a great night.
My roommate, M, who plays bassoon, turned 20 yesterday. To celebrate, the city of Arezzo held a parade in her honor. A small group of us were sitting in a fancy restaurant, eating pizza and pasta (and other delicious things staring with p), when we heard this loud emphatic drumming. The drumming was quickly followed by the sound of clanging church bells (from the cathedral tower), and crowd sounds. Looking out the window of the restaurant, we can see the first drummers in their bright green medieval garb (complete with multicolored tights) march by. The waiter explains that these are the marchers and dignitaries involved in the Jousting festival, doing a practice run/parade around the city. We rushed out of the restaurant and stood on the stoop to watch the parade go by. There were little kids strutting around in medieval uniforms carrying family flags. Dignified men in helmets bore the flags of each neighborhood of Arezzo and their jousting champions. The mayor, judges, and other dignitaries were surrounded by knights in chain mail and brightly colored uniforms. It was spectacular. We quickly paid for our meal and followed the procession up to the cathedral at the top of the mountain. It felt like the whole city was packed inside, and we could barely see the bishop and the mayor at the front. What a night!
In Other News:
-This Sunday we take a day trip to Florence (Firenze). When I learn the Italian word for “so frickin stoked” I will tell it to you.
-One of my roommates is sick. This is gonna sound terrible, but I’m hoping it’s because of some bad meat she ate, and not the stomach flu like she thinks, because we’ve all been sharing drinks and living in really close quarters…
-The septet rehearsed today, I love this piece, it’s a lot of fun. The bass actually gets really cool parts, and since I’m by myself I get to play with it a bit more. Chamber music is the bomb.
-Daniel: have fun at GSP! I’m so proud of you. If you get time send me an email (something along the lines of “I am alive,” and maybe some stories you can’t tell mom and dad?)!
-I miss you, and I love you.
XOXO
Erin
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
How do you say, in english?
I hear a shriek. Somewhere nearby someone is screaming their poor heart out. Perhaps a woman is being robbed, or a child beaten? I roll onto my back and confirm I am not dreaming. Fast on the heels of my first thought (Glasses, glasses, where are my glasses?) comes another: Perhaps I should scream too? In my head I give an experimental shout. What comes out sounds more like “whuh?” In my jet-lagged well-travelled state I am slow to realize that these strange calls are not “help!” or even “aiuto!” In fact what I am now hearing are overlapping two octave arpeggios, descending chromatically. I am relieved to find that what I’d mistaken for a distress call is actually musical rapture. Oh joy.
I am currently living in a convent. I have the best roommates in the joint, H (clarinet) and M (bassoon), neither of which are nuns. We get along well, and our room is very comfortable and “cute.” Our neighbors scattered along the hall are all opera singers. Sopranos and mezzo sopranos, to be specific (I’ve been assured the distinction is very important). These dear neighbors have been “warming up” since we arrived. I imagine they are quite toasty by now.
My computer thinks it is 12:16 right now. That is because my computer still believes it is with you, in Kentucky. It doesn’t know is that both it and I are currently an ocean, several countries, and six hours from “y’all” and “g’mornin’.” I am writing you from Santa Catarina in Arezzo, Italy. It is raining now, and I have the window slightly open to let the pigeons in, and also to hear the Italian rain hit the ceramic tiles and metal gutter outside. Funny, it sounds just like Kentucky rain. If I close my eyes, there’s nothing to tell me I’m not lying in the grass under our big oak. Well, except for the distant tolling from the bell tower of Arezzo’s cathedral. And the catty rapid fire Italian exchanged between two maids downstairs. And the echoing of multiple languages trapped in high ceilings and hardwood floors.
Ok, so it’s not exactly like home.
The town of Arezzo is beautiful. It is beautiful in the evening, with golden warmth slanting across the cobblestones. It is beautiful at night, with bright globes outlining meandering streets and laughing couples weaving through the bustle. It is beautiful in the morning, and when it drizzles. It is beautiful when the cobblestones dry in the sun and the shop awnings glint with droplets.
You might have gathered that I like it here. Yesterday I went on a walking tour that gave me just a taste of the history and culture. As Abby would say, I’ve eaten one pistachio (it was delicious, and now I want more). I think I will have to get lost, reveal myself as a foreigner, and fall on the cobblestones many more times in the next 5 weeks to fully appreciate Arezzo. I plan to shirk responsibilities whenever possible in order to do so (just kidding).
Said “Responsibilities” Include:
-8:50 to 12:35 Italian lessons
-3 to 4 or 5, chamber group rehearsal (Beethoven Septet, Barber Adagio)
-6 to 8 orchestra rehearsal
-The Marriage of Figaro, and all associated performances and rehearsals
My Italian teacher does not speak English very well, but she’s very excited about all the various feminine/masculine/asexual/plural/singular/multidimensional/transmutational articles of Italian. She’s also excited about the English word for hiccups, which, if you think about it, is very fun to say.
I have not yet tasted gelato. I feel this is an egregious error that I must now correct. Ciao!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Practical Stuff:
-I have internet (obviously), but it’s currently inconvenient to use for an extended period of time (long story, work in progress). I’m typing blogs offline, and then only getting online long enough to post them and send the standard “I am alive” email to my family. Expect contact, but not regular extensive contact.
-No cell phone.
-Food/money is holding out all right. The convent isn’t letting us use the kitchen, and doesn’t have laundry facilities.
-Digital Camera=awesome. I take back all the bad things I said about technology (until it breaks).
-I have converters for charging appliances (like this computer). I have not killed anyone or anything yet. Knock on wood for me.
-I’m still your graceful glamorous girl (Tide will get chocolate out of cotton, right?), and I love you. A lot. Hugs all around.
XOXO
Erin
I am currently living in a convent. I have the best roommates in the joint, H (clarinet) and M (bassoon), neither of which are nuns. We get along well, and our room is very comfortable and “cute.” Our neighbors scattered along the hall are all opera singers. Sopranos and mezzo sopranos, to be specific (I’ve been assured the distinction is very important). These dear neighbors have been “warming up” since we arrived. I imagine they are quite toasty by now.
My computer thinks it is 12:16 right now. That is because my computer still believes it is with you, in Kentucky. It doesn’t know is that both it and I are currently an ocean, several countries, and six hours from “y’all” and “g’mornin’.” I am writing you from Santa Catarina in Arezzo, Italy. It is raining now, and I have the window slightly open to let the pigeons in, and also to hear the Italian rain hit the ceramic tiles and metal gutter outside. Funny, it sounds just like Kentucky rain. If I close my eyes, there’s nothing to tell me I’m not lying in the grass under our big oak. Well, except for the distant tolling from the bell tower of Arezzo’s cathedral. And the catty rapid fire Italian exchanged between two maids downstairs. And the echoing of multiple languages trapped in high ceilings and hardwood floors.
Ok, so it’s not exactly like home.
The town of Arezzo is beautiful. It is beautiful in the evening, with golden warmth slanting across the cobblestones. It is beautiful at night, with bright globes outlining meandering streets and laughing couples weaving through the bustle. It is beautiful in the morning, and when it drizzles. It is beautiful when the cobblestones dry in the sun and the shop awnings glint with droplets.
You might have gathered that I like it here. Yesterday I went on a walking tour that gave me just a taste of the history and culture. As Abby would say, I’ve eaten one pistachio (it was delicious, and now I want more). I think I will have to get lost, reveal myself as a foreigner, and fall on the cobblestones many more times in the next 5 weeks to fully appreciate Arezzo. I plan to shirk responsibilities whenever possible in order to do so (just kidding).
Said “Responsibilities” Include:
-8:50 to 12:35 Italian lessons
-3 to 4 or 5, chamber group rehearsal (Beethoven Septet, Barber Adagio)
-6 to 8 orchestra rehearsal
-The Marriage of Figaro, and all associated performances and rehearsals
My Italian teacher does not speak English very well, but she’s very excited about all the various feminine/masculine/asexual/plural/singular/multidimensional/transmutational articles of Italian. She’s also excited about the English word for hiccups, which, if you think about it, is very fun to say.
I have not yet tasted gelato. I feel this is an egregious error that I must now correct. Ciao!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Practical Stuff:
-I have internet (obviously), but it’s currently inconvenient to use for an extended period of time (long story, work in progress). I’m typing blogs offline, and then only getting online long enough to post them and send the standard “I am alive” email to my family. Expect contact, but not regular extensive contact.
-No cell phone.
-Food/money is holding out all right. The convent isn’t letting us use the kitchen, and doesn’t have laundry facilities.
-Digital Camera=awesome. I take back all the bad things I said about technology (until it breaks).
-I have converters for charging appliances (like this computer). I have not killed anyone or anything yet. Knock on wood for me.
-I’m still your graceful glamorous girl (Tide will get chocolate out of cotton, right?), and I love you. A lot. Hugs all around.
XOXO
Erin
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Paghera tutto questo signore.
I’ve recently discovered that some people actually read this thing, so I’m going to try to be better about posting. Look for more posts from Louisville (Luhvulle), Kentucky, and then…. Arezzo!
I've been extremely busy lately. Swamped in fact. My most pressing responsibilities have included napping, drawing, bathing, napping, baking, playing bass, napping, sipping coffee, eating, and sleeping.
Ok, so I'm no poet, but the other night my brother and our good family friend from the neighborhood (Jordan) were having our first bonfire of the summer since I've been home, and I wanted to express the moment in a way that was not cliche repetitions of how much everyone had grown up and how bittersweet it is that nothing will ever be the same. So here goes:
A red glow
sharpens the edges of our thinning faces
the softness of childhood melted away
in the heat of a year of fires
spent apart
And from within these new faces voices
chafed and deepened
rush out to meet the cool night air and echo
in the chasm of a year's unshared memories.
Three pillars of time,
of cookies, scrapes, hidden cameras, and
poor dancing,
spies in an adult world,
cluster around a memory
throw plans and dreams
that flash and sizzle away
Into the space between us
Like pennies in a wishing well
Or an ocean.
Theme and Variations on the Traditional Cousins Night Out:
1.) Hugs. Traditional Greetings: “You look great!” “So do you!” (it’s still true every time. We always look great.)
2.) To Kashmiir for Indian food!
3.) Insist that we try something new this time, (not malai kofta and curry chicken with sweet lassi and coconut nan)
4.) Order malai kofta and curry chicken with sweet lassi and coconut nan.
5.) Eat too much
6.) Talk about our lives (recurring themes include a-men are clueless, b-everyone’s growing up too fast, c-remember that time when…, and d-you still owe me for that time when…)
7.) Waddle to Heine Bros for coffee and some devilish chocolate dessert, despite haven eaten too much at Kashmiir
8.) Reminiscing and Delighting, with many repetitions of "awww!" "that bastard!" and "that's so sweet!" return to previous themes (with slight variations: men are now oblivious instead of clueless, everyone should stop growing at 6 years old, and ___ is how you will repay me for that time when…)
9.) Create excuses to prolong the night. This time we held time at bay by swimming and eating Derby pie.
Useful Italian Phrases:
Paghera tutto questo signore…This Gentleman will pay for everything.
Il mio marito รจ nell'esercito…..My husband is in the Army.
Caffe stretto, per piacere…Rocket fuel, please. (made from espresso with less water)
Special Congradulations to my cousins: Sarah Smith for graduating from Male Traditional School, and Julie Smith for graduating from JCTMS. I’m so proud of you both. Now please stop growing (just kidding).
Bass Family Portraits:
I've been extremely busy lately. Swamped in fact. My most pressing responsibilities have included napping, drawing, bathing, napping, baking, playing bass, napping, sipping coffee, eating, and sleeping.
Ok, so I'm no poet, but the other night my brother and our good family friend from the neighborhood (Jordan) were having our first bonfire of the summer since I've been home, and I wanted to express the moment in a way that was not cliche repetitions of how much everyone had grown up and how bittersweet it is that nothing will ever be the same. So here goes:
A red glow
sharpens the edges of our thinning faces
the softness of childhood melted away
in the heat of a year of fires
spent apart
And from within these new faces voices
chafed and deepened
rush out to meet the cool night air and echo
in the chasm of a year's unshared memories.
Three pillars of time,
of cookies, scrapes, hidden cameras, and
poor dancing,
spies in an adult world,
cluster around a memory
throw plans and dreams
that flash and sizzle away
Into the space between us
Like pennies in a wishing well
Or an ocean.
Theme and Variations on the Traditional Cousins Night Out:
1.) Hugs. Traditional Greetings: “You look great!” “So do you!” (it’s still true every time. We always look great.)
2.) To Kashmiir for Indian food!
3.) Insist that we try something new this time, (not malai kofta and curry chicken with sweet lassi and coconut nan)
4.) Order malai kofta and curry chicken with sweet lassi and coconut nan.
5.) Eat too much
6.) Talk about our lives (recurring themes include a-men are clueless, b-everyone’s growing up too fast, c-remember that time when…, and d-you still owe me for that time when…)
7.) Waddle to Heine Bros for coffee and some devilish chocolate dessert, despite haven eaten too much at Kashmiir
8.) Reminiscing and Delighting, with many repetitions of "awww!" "that bastard!" and "that's so sweet!" return to previous themes (with slight variations: men are now oblivious instead of clueless, everyone should stop growing at 6 years old, and ___ is how you will repay me for that time when…)
9.) Create excuses to prolong the night. This time we held time at bay by swimming and eating Derby pie.
Useful Italian Phrases:
Paghera tutto questo signore…This Gentleman will pay for everything.
Il mio marito รจ nell'esercito…..My husband is in the Army.
Caffe stretto, per piacere…Rocket fuel, please. (made from espresso with less water)
Special Congradulations to my cousins: Sarah Smith for graduating from Male Traditional School, and Julie Smith for graduating from JCTMS. I’m so proud of you both. Now please stop growing (just kidding).
Bass Family Portraits:
Monday, April 21, 2008
Why I Was Late
Special Thanks:
To Mr. Graham Akeson, for being there with the scissors, and only laughing a little.
Moral:
Even super bass-babes are still not cool enough to ride their awesome bicycles in long skirts.
Other News:
-The sun is back.
-Contra dancing is the best most exhausting and satisfyingly fun thing I've done in a very long time. I've successfully passed out unconscious, and dreamless, on my bed at a reasonable hour for the past two weekends now, without the aid of any mind-altering substance. My calves hurt so good right now!
-I have so much work to do. ugh. moving on...
-Today's Psych/Neuro department lecture was on the defensive behaviors of rodents and humans. It was frickin amazing, if you want a proper explanation you're just gonna have to call me.
-blues dancing=hawt. I didn't think I could bend all those ways. Still not so sure I was meant to.
-Tonight the orchestra rehearses Mendelssohn's Elijah with full choir for the first time. I'm so stoked.
-I found a secret spot to practice in outside, which I will not tell you about, because some sneaky violinist will probably steal it. Just know that Mr. Darcy is getting his fair share of sunshine too.
-I miss you, and will be home soon. (soon=May 19th)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Rockin Pnemonia and Boogie Woogie Blues
So I can't sleep. I can't even blame California tonight, either. I think it might have something to do with the three shots of espresso, mug of earl grey, and chocolate surprise cake (with sweet cream cheese icing inside) that I just had. Not that I only give you blog-love when I can't sleep...just today.
If I ran the world...
Every restaurant would have a cup of crayons on the table, and extra napkins to draw on. Lynn's Paradise Cafe is leading Earth in this movement, currently. Not only do they provide crayons for every table, but tubs of plastic dinosaurs and cowboys as well. Also, the winners from the annual Ugly Lamp contest at the state fair (which is exactly what it sounds like, with prizes for the ugliest lamps in the "born ugly" and "made ugly" categories) are proudly displayed on every table. With killer cinnamon sweet potato fries and grits done right, it's obvious why this is my favorite restaurant, and why anyone I go there with now has a multicolored napkin portrait of themselves.
The psychics of Cafe Mimosa are still spot on. My fortune today: "Travels from nesting space will take you to a broader cultural horizon." I'm not sure the traditional ending applies here.
If I ran the world...
Every restaurant would have a cup of crayons on the table, and extra napkins to draw on. Lynn's Paradise Cafe is leading Earth in this movement, currently. Not only do they provide crayons for every table, but tubs of plastic dinosaurs and cowboys as well. Also, the winners from the annual Ugly Lamp contest at the state fair (which is exactly what it sounds like, with prizes for the ugliest lamps in the "born ugly" and "made ugly" categories) are proudly displayed on every table. With killer cinnamon sweet potato fries and grits done right, it's obvious why this is my favorite restaurant, and why anyone I go there with now has a multicolored napkin portrait of themselves.
The psychics of Cafe Mimosa are still spot on. My fortune today: "Travels from nesting space will take you to a broader cultural horizon." I'm not sure the traditional ending applies here.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Do that Time Warp again!
This was written several days ago. Clearly we're in a time warp. (or I just don't know how to use my computer. That's also possible.):
Looking out my window now, I can see nothing but white. At first I assumed I wasn't wearing my glasses, but as I can see everything in my room clearly, this is obviously not the case. Therefore I must conclude that:
a.) Matt and Ian have hit my window with so many snowballs that it is covered in ice.
b.) A giant albino squirrel is trying to climb the side of Langston.
c.) Oberlin is in the middle of an f-ing blizzard.
Since Matt and Ian's aim is not that good, and the giant albino squirrels live in the Arb, I'm going with C.
So the snow has been coming down hard for about 48 hours now. They haven't plowed the sidewalks, and it is Too Cold. My bike is frozen, but my room is nice and toasty, with warm quilts and fleece blankets, and I have enough soup and coffee to withstand nuclear apocalypse (not really). If I listen carefully, I can hear the wind moaning through the trees, and it seems to say....
doooooon't gooooooo outsiiiiiiiiide.
I'm not about to disobey a direct order like that. You know what that means? LISTS!!!!
My Louisville Tour would include:
1.)kayaking from the marina by that greasy seafood restaurant to the Ohio river.
2.)bourbon french toast, sweet raspberry iced tea, macaroni, and banana pudding at Lynn's Paradise Cafe
3.)Bardstown road shopping tour, including Queen of Rags, Discoveries, Ear-X-Tacy, ending at Homemade Pie and Ice-cream kitchen for dutch apple with caramel pie
4.)surrey biking in waterfront park, walking along the waterfront, the Belle
4.)frisbee and fountain baths in cherokee park/soccer in Seneca park
5.)crayon rubbings in Cave Hill cemetary
6.)late set at the jazz factory with chocolate cheesecake
7.)Fat Friday gallery-trolley hop on Frankfurt
8.)orchestra concert downtown, + the glass factory and elevator jumping in the Starks building
9.)Sunday night concert in cheroke triangle, with ice cream from the truck, iced coffee from Heine Bros, and quilts to spread on the lawn
10.)a Hitchcock movie in the Brown theater
My Future Home:
1.) The doors are framed by climbing roses. Giant purple clematis hangs from the mailbox, and the honeysuckle on the fences (the kind you can squeeze little drops of sweetness from) makes the yard smell like heaven. A row of giant sunflowers nods from the back of yard.
2.) When I get tired of the color of the door, I paint it a new one: red, green, blue, or yellow.
3.) Instead of walls there are bookshelves, broken by stained glass and little figurines and bowls of Werthers. Ferns and Christmas cactus hang in baskets (high enough that I don't smack into them) around the reading/sitting room.
4.) Secret passageways are left undisturbed for my kids to find. Some of them are filled with treasures. They are decorated by years of overlapping murals and childish scribble, lined with pillows, and perfect for secret meetings.
5.) The music room has instruments collected from everywhere. The music library on a side wall is organized by instrument and composer. A giant mural (which changes every couple years or so) covers one wall, concert posters and paintings cover another. The hardwood floors are ideal for making a bass resonate. On the piano are the pictures of my mother, my grandmother, my great grandmother, and me all sitting in the dresses and on the benches of our own time, and a vase full of flowers from the yard.
6.) The big plushy colorful rugs don't match the curtains, which don't match the couches, which don't match the paintings.
7.) The porch has two rocking chairs side by side, with a small table between. They look out on the garden.
8.) The kitchen is big enough to dance in, and the rack of pots and pans high enough that I don't run into it. The stereo is next to the flour and sugar tins. One window box has basil, oregano, rosemary, the other marigolds, mint, and chamomile. I made the spice rack, and it's painted with roses. The walls are either blue or yellow. There's a small table next to the window, with a white linen table cloth and a pot of violets in the middle.
9.) Butterfly bushes keep the hummingbirds and butterflies happy. Finch feeders, a wind chime, and sun catchers hang around the porch. I never powerwash the stepping stones in the yard, and none of the bricks lie straight. There's a wide wooden swing hanging from the oak tree. The tree house has an elaborate pulley system to transport secret messages and snacks from different lookout points. Every part is a different color.
10.) In summer I sell mason jars of honey (and comb) from the three bee boxes in the back of yard at the farmers market stand, and I always set the thermostat close to the outside temperature, so I have more money to spend on the garden and music room.
Back to the Future (aka today):
It is warm again (relatively).
Ohio weather is insane:
-Last week the lock on my bike was frozen solid. When I tried to turn the key inside it, the metal part of the key broke off.
-In some places there's still something like three feet of snow. Tomorrow it's going to rain.
-yesterday I wore: two sweaters, ear-muffs, scarf, thick gloves, thick pants, and a coat. Tomorrow I will probably wear a skirt, t-shirt and jacket.
Hmm, well if I feel like saying anything interesting I'll start another post. Give yourselves big hugs from me, see you soon (only two weeks until I come home!)!
Looking out my window now, I can see nothing but white. At first I assumed I wasn't wearing my glasses, but as I can see everything in my room clearly, this is obviously not the case. Therefore I must conclude that:
a.) Matt and Ian have hit my window with so many snowballs that it is covered in ice.
b.) A giant albino squirrel is trying to climb the side of Langston.
c.) Oberlin is in the middle of an f-ing blizzard.
Since Matt and Ian's aim is not that good, and the giant albino squirrels live in the Arb, I'm going with C.
So the snow has been coming down hard for about 48 hours now. They haven't plowed the sidewalks, and it is Too Cold. My bike is frozen, but my room is nice and toasty, with warm quilts and fleece blankets, and I have enough soup and coffee to withstand nuclear apocalypse (not really). If I listen carefully, I can hear the wind moaning through the trees, and it seems to say....
doooooon't gooooooo outsiiiiiiiiide.
I'm not about to disobey a direct order like that. You know what that means? LISTS!!!!
My Louisville Tour would include:
1.)kayaking from the marina by that greasy seafood restaurant to the Ohio river.
2.)bourbon french toast, sweet raspberry iced tea, macaroni, and banana pudding at Lynn's Paradise Cafe
3.)Bardstown road shopping tour, including Queen of Rags, Discoveries, Ear-X-Tacy, ending at Homemade Pie and Ice-cream kitchen for dutch apple with caramel pie
4.)surrey biking in waterfront park, walking along the waterfront, the Belle
4.)frisbee and fountain baths in cherokee park/soccer in Seneca park
5.)crayon rubbings in Cave Hill cemetary
6.)late set at the jazz factory with chocolate cheesecake
7.)Fat Friday gallery-trolley hop on Frankfurt
8.)orchestra concert downtown, + the glass factory and elevator jumping in the Starks building
9.)Sunday night concert in cheroke triangle, with ice cream from the truck, iced coffee from Heine Bros, and quilts to spread on the lawn
10.)a Hitchcock movie in the Brown theater
My Future Home:
1.) The doors are framed by climbing roses. Giant purple clematis hangs from the mailbox, and the honeysuckle on the fences (the kind you can squeeze little drops of sweetness from) makes the yard smell like heaven. A row of giant sunflowers nods from the back of yard.
2.) When I get tired of the color of the door, I paint it a new one: red, green, blue, or yellow.
3.) Instead of walls there are bookshelves, broken by stained glass and little figurines and bowls of Werthers. Ferns and Christmas cactus hang in baskets (high enough that I don't smack into them) around the reading/sitting room.
4.) Secret passageways are left undisturbed for my kids to find. Some of them are filled with treasures. They are decorated by years of overlapping murals and childish scribble, lined with pillows, and perfect for secret meetings.
5.) The music room has instruments collected from everywhere. The music library on a side wall is organized by instrument and composer. A giant mural (which changes every couple years or so) covers one wall, concert posters and paintings cover another. The hardwood floors are ideal for making a bass resonate. On the piano are the pictures of my mother, my grandmother, my great grandmother, and me all sitting in the dresses and on the benches of our own time, and a vase full of flowers from the yard.
6.) The big plushy colorful rugs don't match the curtains, which don't match the couches, which don't match the paintings.
7.) The porch has two rocking chairs side by side, with a small table between. They look out on the garden.
8.) The kitchen is big enough to dance in, and the rack of pots and pans high enough that I don't run into it. The stereo is next to the flour and sugar tins. One window box has basil, oregano, rosemary, the other marigolds, mint, and chamomile. I made the spice rack, and it's painted with roses. The walls are either blue or yellow. There's a small table next to the window, with a white linen table cloth and a pot of violets in the middle.
9.) Butterfly bushes keep the hummingbirds and butterflies happy. Finch feeders, a wind chime, and sun catchers hang around the porch. I never powerwash the stepping stones in the yard, and none of the bricks lie straight. There's a wide wooden swing hanging from the oak tree. The tree house has an elaborate pulley system to transport secret messages and snacks from different lookout points. Every part is a different color.
10.) In summer I sell mason jars of honey (and comb) from the three bee boxes in the back of yard at the farmers market stand, and I always set the thermostat close to the outside temperature, so I have more money to spend on the garden and music room.
Back to the Future (aka today):
It is warm again (relatively).
Ohio weather is insane:
-Last week the lock on my bike was frozen solid. When I tried to turn the key inside it, the metal part of the key broke off.
-In some places there's still something like three feet of snow. Tomorrow it's going to rain.
-yesterday I wore: two sweaters, ear-muffs, scarf, thick gloves, thick pants, and a coat. Tomorrow I will probably wear a skirt, t-shirt and jacket.
Hmm, well if I feel like saying anything interesting I'll start another post. Give yourselves big hugs from me, see you soon (only two weeks until I come home!)!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Negative Correlation
Breathing through your nose is really great, and I definitely recommend it (aka "my cold is gone, thank goodness!"). In honor of being able to enjoy having a nose today, some lists:
Things in my life that smell good (in order of appearance in my day):
-clean sheets
-Alexandra's lilies-of-the-valley perfume
-coffee grounds
-chocolate hazelnut espresso
-my conditioner
-Irish Spring soap
-oatmeal w/ cinnamon and honey
-vanilla lotion
-the steam from mint tea
-last night's rose
-kneaded eraser
-snow. No really, I swear it has a smell. Biting, slightly static. I'm not crazy.
Funky smells I am nonetheless thankful to experience (again):
-the shirt I went dancing in two nights ago (why still on my floor? dunno.)
-the used teabags mildewed in my garbage can
-sci-fi lounge/the vinegar water from that busted heater
-dry-erase markers for my Brain Board
.
.
.
Ok, now on to "Topics Unrelated to my Nose"
I'm quickly becoming an expert in ensuring that days where you must do Too Much work do not suck. One method I've found successful is rewarding myself for finishing things. Here are some useful equations to demonstrate:
U=ugh
T=time
U(n)=Ugh 2,3, and 4 through infinity
R=reward
S=suck
:-D=happy
U plus T yields U(n) yields S
U plus T yields R yields :-D
Got it?
Let's put this in the real world to demonstrate:
When dry research methods statistics which must be waded through en masse for many hours are immediately followed by aural skills transcriptions, that is a Bad Day. When they are followed by a hot shower, chocolate hazelnut espresso, and/or writing in a blog when you should be working, that is a better day. When, after completing two human neurobiology chapters and 30 pages of music theory reading, you go out and Tango/Lindy-hop/Charleston with awesome people, you're having a good AND productive day.
:-D has a negative correlation for how much U must be repeated the next day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Schedule, Spring Semester 2008
Monday
11 am-Research Methods I
1:30 Aural Skills II
2:30 Music Theory II
7:30 pm Orchestra
Tuesday
11 am Human Neurobiology
1:30 Research Methods Lab
2:40 Orchestra
9 pm Bass Studio
Wednesday
11 Research Methods I
1:30 Aural Skills II
2:30 Music Theory II
Thursday
11 Human Neurobiology
2:40 Orchestra
Friday
11 Research Methods I
2:30 Music Theory II
Sunday
8-11 Dancing my A** off
Things in my life that smell good (in order of appearance in my day):
-clean sheets
-Alexandra's lilies-of-the-valley perfume
-coffee grounds
-chocolate hazelnut espresso
-my conditioner
-Irish Spring soap
-oatmeal w/ cinnamon and honey
-vanilla lotion
-the steam from mint tea
-last night's rose
-kneaded eraser
-snow. No really, I swear it has a smell. Biting, slightly static. I'm not crazy.
Funky smells I am nonetheless thankful to experience (again):
-the shirt I went dancing in two nights ago (why still on my floor? dunno.)
-the used teabags mildewed in my garbage can
-sci-fi lounge/the vinegar water from that busted heater
-dry-erase markers for my Brain Board
.
.
.
Ok, now on to "Topics Unrelated to my Nose"
I'm quickly becoming an expert in ensuring that days where you must do Too Much work do not suck. One method I've found successful is rewarding myself for finishing things. Here are some useful equations to demonstrate:
U=ugh
T=time
U(n)=Ugh 2,3, and 4 through infinity
R=reward
S=suck
:-D=happy
U plus T yields U(n) yields S
U plus T yields R yields :-D
Got it?
Let's put this in the real world to demonstrate:
When dry research methods statistics which must be waded through en masse for many hours are immediately followed by aural skills transcriptions, that is a Bad Day. When they are followed by a hot shower, chocolate hazelnut espresso, and/or writing in a blog when you should be working, that is a better day. When, after completing two human neurobiology chapters and 30 pages of music theory reading, you go out and Tango/Lindy-hop/Charleston with awesome people, you're having a good AND productive day.
:-D has a negative correlation for how much U must be repeated the next day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Schedule, Spring Semester 2008
Monday
11 am-Research Methods I
1:30 Aural Skills II
2:30 Music Theory II
7:30 pm Orchestra
Tuesday
11 am Human Neurobiology
1:30 Research Methods Lab
2:40 Orchestra
9 pm Bass Studio
Wednesday
11 Research Methods I
1:30 Aural Skills II
2:30 Music Theory II
Thursday
11 Human Neurobiology
2:40 Orchestra
Friday
11 Research Methods I
2:30 Music Theory II
Sunday
8-11 Dancing my A** off
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