Just Jump In

Get your feet wet!

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

The Shaking and The Quaking

Today was the flute trio competition and Jazz dog's annual vet checkup, so there was a lot of shaking and quaking going on.

The shaking flautist:
It seemed like a good idea back in January - enter the competitive, advanced flute class of the music festival. It's a long way from January to April, though, and that little thing called performance anxiety has been raising its ugly head in the past few weeks. The other trio entered in the competition had two things going that messed us up. They were scheduled to play first, and they played the entire Flutes en Vacances, which meant that they would finish with the exact movement we meant to start with. Obviously, we had to change our order. We had to start with the piece that was more challenging, especially the runs and arpeggios and other tricky things like turns that I had, plus it's nine minutes of continual playing.

The first trio played unbelieveably well. In the "holy shit, maybe we can just leave now" kind of way. Then we had to wait about ten minutes for the adjudicator to write her notes about their performance. Since they played four movements from the same piece, they got to keep playing until they were done. For us, since we played two contrasting movements from different composers, we had to wait in between. For some of us, "stewing in the stress" about sums it up! The first part of the first piece went well, until about the middle when my shaking fingers made it difficult to play, and I got a bit lost. Or maybe it was the second flute, because she thought it was her getting lost. In any case, we kept going and got back together, but I was practically hyperventilating by that point. We did finish together, and in tune, too. Then we had to stand and wait. It started well, and overall it was okay, but I know I screwed up, and both of the other trio members said that they had some problems, too.

It goes without saying that the other trio won, with a score of 88. Amazingly, we got marked at 82, which our conductor (who was watching - she can't conduct when it's competitve) thought was accurate. She thought that we were more musical in the Flutes en Vacances movement that the other group, who had played well, and at breakneck speed, but without a lot of dynamic change. Overall, a good outcome. But I don't think I'll be doing the competitive thing again anytime soon!!

The Quaking Dalmatian:
Miss Jazz survived her checkup, with a lot of trembling and shuddering. She hates the waiting room, so this time I kept her in the car until they were ready to see her, then brought her in, got her weighed, and then we went right into the examination room. The good news is that she is in very good health. Yay!!! I've been so stressed because she's ten and a half, and several dogs I know have had sudden turns for the worse once they hit ten. In the last year alone, four dogs on our street have been put down due to failing health, and two separate clients have had dogs put down as well. Jasmine may be pathetic, but at least she's healthy!!!

Monday, April 23, 2007

You Can Help Raise Money For Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks created a music video of the Five for Fighting song, "World", which features images of autistic children and their families. The band is generously donating $0.49 to Autism Speaks for each time the video is viewed - the funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure (the end of the video must be clicked to raise money).
When you have a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and pass it along to your friends and family. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal.
Watch it now.

**I couldn't find anything to click after the video. From what I understand, you are supposed to watch the videos uploaded by families of kids with autism, and money will be donated. In any case, it's a fabulous video, and worth watching.**

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

C'Mon People

Help crse win the Dorkbloggers award. Just click here, scroll down to the poll, and vote for Zamphir Panflutemaster. Zigzagman is good, but crse rules!!! You can vote once per day from each ip address, so if you have computer access at home and work, you can vote twice. Spread the word. Our crse needs to be crowned Queen of the Dorks (that's a good thing).

Anticipation, Kid-Style

Remember when you were little and you were so excited about an upcoming event that you started preparing for it weeks in advance? Well, that's what Corwin and Clara are doing.

Camporee, the big Scouting camp weekend, is at the end of May - the 25-27. Corwin went last year, but Clara didn't (she was in Sparks, which turned out to be lame, for lack of a better word). Anyway, last year's theme was Pirates, and a giant pirate ship facade was built, and the kids dressed up and had treasure hunts and all kinds of fun things. This year, the theme is Rome (as in ancient). Probably more interesting for the older kids, since 5-7 year olds aren't big on history, but Corwin is really excited. Last night at Beavers they made cardboard swords and started making chariots (props, not useable). I think togas would be great costumes, but it looks like they might be going with Roman army outfits. In that case, I think Clara would be a wicked Cleopatra and Corwin can be Mark Antony. Hubby just rolls his eyes at my enthusiasm for the whole ancient history thing.

So there are legitimate preparations underway, things that need to be done over the next few few weeks. Corwin, of course, has taken it a step further. He has started a pile in his room of things he is taking for camp. And he's encouraging Clara to do the same. It's over a month away!!! I have tried to tell him that I am not leaving a big pile of stuff to collect dust for the next 5 weeks, but there is no negotiating with him. It's really going to be fun when he starts adding clothes to the pile! I've suggested making a list, that he can use it to pack the week before camp. He may be able to be swayed.

I must admit that I'm a little excited about camp, too. Hubby, Corwin, Clara - out. Jasmine and I have the house to ourselves from Friday to Sunday. Woo hoo!!! (roughing it is slow room service, in my opinion)

Monday, April 16, 2007

Why?

I think by know you all know I'm a little bit obsessive. I vacuum somewhat more then the average person, I decorate for all major holidays, I love the whole blog thing, etc. And then BPAL happened. I placed my order on my birthday, and have yet to receive it, but I am constantly perusing the BPAL site in search of other scents I want to try. I even joined the forum, so I can purchase decants and other bottles from forum members (according to Luckybuzz and Margie, this is a much faster way to receive scents in the mail, too!).

So why, oh why, would I ever think that joining Facebook was a good idea? Weasley has been obsessed since he joined. CF has said, and I quote "Don't do it, Canada!! Don't go there!!!" (hmm, think he might know what I'm like? Or has he just lost his boyfriend to Facebook lately?). Well, I got invited before conference and didn't have time to do anything about it. Until last night.

I may blog again. If you ever get me out of BPAL and Facebook! (and if you know me in real life and you're on Facebook, poke me sometime!!! Or add me as a friend. I'm sure I'll accept)

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Today It's Snowing

I am seriously not impressed.

Seriously. Not. Impressed.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

RBOC - the Lazy Version

  • For the past two nights, I have had the weirdest dreams. And both of them involve choir. Huh.
  • My parents bought their new house on Saturday. Not a 90 day conditional, but a firm purchase. They have one condition to meet by Saturday, which will be no problem, but my Dad is stressed to the max about it.
  • In the same vein, they got feedback from the first week of their listing and now my Dad is convinced that the house will never sell. Based on the fact that ONE agent said they think it's priced too high, and two people said it would take too much updating to make it "contemporary" (hmm, is this a style issue? Since the kitchen is 7 years old, the main bathroom upstairs was redone 8 years ago, the basement is stunning and has a 4'x5' tiled shower stall with a frameless glass door and 2 body jets, a big nozzle, and a pull-out spray, plus hardwood throughout the main. It's not contemporary - more traditional, but it isn't outdated). However, there is one agent who is very interested in it for himself, he's just trying to decide whether he wants to build new or buy this one. My poor Mom, having to deal with my Dad's freak outs. It's funny, but of the five previous houses they sold (we got transferred a lot), he wasn't there for the selling part, and the showing, etc. He was always in the next place working while my Mom dealt with the annoying crap. Anyway, they have another showing tonight.
  • I'm going to a movie tonight with Weasley and CF. We're going to see The Reaping, since they already saw 300. Talk about mixed reviews for 300!! CF loved it, and Weasley hated every second of it. Hopefully tonight's selection will be a good balance for everyone. And what can be better than popcorn for dinner?
  • I know I only placed my order on Saturday, but I am obsessed with when my BPAL order is going to get here, especially as I have been hearing more rave reviews for a couple scents in my order. And I am close to kicking myself for not ordering a full bottle of Dracul, because I *love* it.
  • Easter, the last of the "chocolate holidays" is over. We have so much chocolate that it is entirely ridiculous! Plus my Mom did a ton of baking for the kids. C'mon Hubby! C'mon Corwin and Clara! Eat up so that I don't!
  • I have a serious craving for pho. So much, in fact, that I plan on calling in an order and picking it up for lunch in between my session in nearby town and flute rehearsal.
  • On the flute front, I am starting to wonder what the hell we were thinking when we entered the competitive class of the Kiwanis Festival. Two weeks from today, in the morning, we will compete against another flute choir. They are playing all 4 movements of one of the pieces we are doing. We are playing the 4th movement, and the first movement of a different piece. Unfortunately, it is in the morning. Like, 9:30. Really, that is way too early for me to be playing well. I'm sure there will be more stress venting about the whole thing as the date approaches.

Well, that's about it for now. Time to get ready and drive west. Happy trails.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

I'm Gonna Smell Irresistable

I decided to place my BPAL order on my birthday, as I'm spending some birthday money. Oh, I did get an iPod Nano, it's a silver 2GB (500 songs). Any input on whether I should upgrade to the 4 GB Nano in green (sadly, it's possibly more about the colour than the capacity!) would be appreciated.

So, here is what I ordered from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. I was planning to order one set of Imps' Ears (6 in a set), but you know I couldn't narrow it down enough, so I ordered 2 (what's that noise in the background? Oh, it's Luckybuzz and Margie cheering since they've brought me to the dark side!). Anyway, my 12 scents to come are:
1. La Belle Dame Sans Merci
2. Absinthe
3. Jack
4. Eclipse
5. O
6. Tintagel
7. Blood
8. Sacred Whore of Babylon
9. Hellcat
10.Snake Oil
11.Voodoo
12.Vice

Seems to be a good mix of naughty and nice. Although on closer examination, I think I lean more to naughty than nice (which is possibly true in real life!)

Full Responsibility

I take full responsibility for the snow that fell overnight. I knew it was going to happen - it always does. So feel free to blame it on me because it's my birthday. (insert shameless plug for birthday wishes here)

And since it's my birthday, you'd think I could sleep in. I sang in a concert last night, have to sing at Easter Vigil tonight, and Easter morning service tomorrow, so I can't sleep in then. Yep, a sleep in seems warranted. Of course, you don't know Corwin. He was up at 6:45 and pissed off beyond belief about the snow. He cheered up once Hubby let him make me breakfast in bed. At 7:20, half a toasted bagel with cream cheese, a vanilla yogurt (with probiotics), and a rose-printed napkin were dragged up to wish me a happy birthday. I blearily rubbed my eyes, said thank you, and croaked the word coffee. Even the dog seemed disgusted that her beauty sleep was interrupted!

Off to wish my Dad a happy 65th - I was the non-retunable gift, and my parents are here to celebrate. Oh, and please send good wishes/thoughts/prayers to the forces that are in charge of home sales. My parents' house went up for sale on Monday, and the sooner it sells, the saner my Mom will be (again, my Dad is driving her crazy!!!).

Will update with my birthday BPAL order (for those of you who care - you know who you are!)

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

A Slight Problem

Well, I should be dressed and about to head out to work. It is positively disgusting out - pelting cold rain, grey and miserable. At least have have some hot new tunes to listen to on the drive to my session. Which I will soon leave for, but I have been cruising bpal review forums at the advice of LB. She told me she would be my enabler, and she wasn't kidding. I know she was being helpful, pointing me in the direction of more complete reviews of the scents I was trying to decide upon. And yes, it has been helpful. I have ruled out Faustus and Polyhymnia, and pretty much decided on O as my sixth scent. But I have also found four more that I really want to try. FOUR! So, I now need to decide if I should go for it and order two sets of Imps - it's birthday money, after all. This is the sentence that made me immediately add two more to my list:

snake oil's more of a slithery "come hither and let me seduce you" and voodoo's more of a "you come here and seduce me"

Yep, wearing one of these in the right clothes with Tom Waits' Temptation blaring in the background? Could be a recipe for trouble (or a lot of fun!). That's a big heads up to all current or future Illicit Crushes ;)

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

I Was Tagged By Gill-Smoke

And I feel very honoured. In case you don't know, Gill-Smoke is crse's husband. I wasn't tagged by crse because I was "on vacation". Seems to me she knows how I really view my time at conferences (hello blogger meetups! What do you mean there's no shopping?!?!?! Where's the bar?). Now to the meme.

I'm supposed to reveal 5 things about myself that I haven't written about on my blog, and then tag five people. We'll see how the tagging goes - and remember, there's never any pressure!
  1. I don't remember if I've ever blogged about this before, but I have a pierced navel. I was feeling thin in Feb 2004, so I did it impulsively one night. Nancycle and I had dinner, and then she came with me. Hubby had no idea I was even thinking about it, until I flashed him the next night (before I went out - I know, I get out a lot!). It was funny to see the look on his face, especially because I could tell he was trying to figure out if it was a clip-on. But it's a barbell so . . . no. He was okay with it, kept asking how my "mid-life crisis" was healing.
  2. So the aria from Handel's Messiah that I performed in December? There was a recording made. A video recording. Each of AVT's vocal students got a DVD with their own performance, and the performance of all of us singing the Hallelujah chorus at the end. I've had this DVD since early Feb. I still can't bring myself to watch it.
  3. Again, I don't know if I blogged about this but when I was pregnant, I was very worried that I wasn't going to love the kids as much as Jasmine. She's my first baby. I don't love the dog more than the kids, but I don't love the kids more than the dog, either. They're all my babies (though not so small anymore).
  4. I have dated a strangely high number of left-handed men. Hubby is left-handed, too.
  5. I don't get a flu shot in hopes that I will get the flu. Because as miserable as the first day would be with the fever, the aches and the chills, the idea of having to stay in bed in my pyjamas while taking the mildly-hallucinogenic Nyquil, sleeping, and reading books for two more days while someone else (Hubby) has to take care of the kids is extremely appealing. I have even told my doctor my reasoning in flu shot refusal. He just laughed. I still haven't gotten sick - it's been six winters and . . . nothin'!!

There you have it. Five things I have not revealed on my blog (or if I have, I can't remember doing so. Actually, if I have and you can send me to my archives to the post, I will reveal something else.) Now to tag five people. Muse, Sidonia, Nancycle, Lola, and Beck. No pressure, of course.

Search and Rescue

I know, I need to finish the update and details of my trip, and I will, I promise. But I haven't checked my site meter in so long, so I was looking to see what kind of unusual search terms have sent people here. I have had quite a few music terms (like "minuet and badinerie"), and a whole lot of decorating stuff (Pottery Barn leads the pack!). So far, no Bath & Bodyworks, but I'm sure that one day it will crop up. But the best phrase that brought someone from Caerphilly, England all the way to my little blog is "David Beckham at Amberley Castle". Hot damn!!!! Highly unfortunate he wasn't there when I was, or I probably would have shot more pics of him than the gardens, the white peacocks, and Gerhard.

That was the search, now for the rescue. I'm also spending an unbelieveable amount of time on the BPAL site, trying to decide which 6 scents I'm going to order. I have picked 5, but need to narrow my last one down from 15! I've actually shrunk it down to 8. So feel free to help and add your two cents worth.

Here are the five that I plan to order:
  1. La Belle Dame Sans Merci
  2. Absinthe
  3. Tintagel
  4. Jack
  5. Eclipse

And the list I'm trying to choose one from:

  1. Sacred Whore of Babylon
  2. Polyhymnia
  3. Faustus
  4. Undertow
  5. Vice
  6. Hellcat
  7. Depraved
  8. Desire

Any suggestions would be helpful. Descriptions are available at the BPAL site. I'm not into heavy florals, more spicy, sweet, or crisp/fresh/earthy. Helpful, I know.