Welcome Back, Enya!

Music: "Amarantine" - Enya's new album

So, finally, after a few years, Enya returns w/ her newest release, Amarantine. I tried to get it last night @ midnight @ WalMart, but they closed before someone put it on the shelf. So, this morning, I went to Barnes & Noble and picked it up. Below are some thoughts after spending time @ Unity and reading various responses.

~ I love all of Enya's work, period. Granted, some of it may not be up to what I expect to be her best, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try and see what she gets/got out of it, etc.
~ I think her best albums are Watermark and The Celts.
~ Her style will always be hers...that's why she's successful. Granted, some of it can get a little tedious, but, it's not fair to expect her to change just because we (the fans) want her to. She's human and will change, as everyone does. This is reflected in her (and Nicky/Roma's) work...

My individual track analysis will follow...but in the meantime, I can say that this album is excellent....

Wasting Time

Music: Various Broadway Musicals & Disney Music

I'm in Christopher's room just hanging out, chatting, singing, and updating my blog - it's just like old times, in a way. I really should be working on oboe stuff and practicing, but I'm not really in the mood...I'm too busy enjoying Chris being his usual, evil, bitchy self...hehehehehehe

How interesting - I'm trying to decide if broadway is just a name for classy title for pop music...nah...broadway has good writers that know how to make music, not garbage that tries to be music.

I can't believe that this term is almost over - like, dude, where has the time gone? I'm thinking of a brief list of good and bad things, in no particular order:

GOOD:
~ Allan is back
~ Allan is pleased w/ how I'm progressing
~ I'm almost done w/ skills and theory
~ I'm playing more than last year
~ I've matured since last year
~ I got a job
~ I have a car
~ I'm living more on my own
~ I feel a little closer to my friends

BAD:
~ I got a job
~ I have a car
~ I feel like I'm not working as hard as I really could, but don't know totally why...
~ Christopher is leaving @ Christmas time
~ My college career is almost 1/2 over
~ This year is almost over
~ I'm still debating how to "tell" the family...
~ I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever survive @ home when I go...
~ I'm constantly questioning my dreams and trying to decide if what I want is right...

So, obviously, that's not everything, but that's all I could think about @ the moment. I'm making a mix CD from Chris's playlist...I know it might be illegal, but it's not like I'm making money off of it and am thoroughly enjoying it...

Stress

Things I have to do tonight:

~ Perform in Vocal Dept. concert
~ Practice
~Write & email Mesh of Civilizations paper proposal to Simon
~Talk to Christopher about job/holiday situation

Not too bad, but still a little busy. I'm so stressed about my damn job situation and this Thanxgiving thing. I promised Christopher that we'd go up for the weekend. Now, it's looking not so good, since they're not taking time-off requests @ work. I did, however, talk to Amin about this a few weeks ago, so I'd hope he would consider that since I'm out of state and don't really have family that's "readily available," it would be nice to try and celebrate the holiday weekend and chill a little bit. I mean, work IS NOT my number one priority - it comes AFTER school, and even though I sometimes don't practice after I work late, it still isn't the top thing. I know they're understaffed and such, but still...give your employees a break...I already work w/ out taking a break (and sometimes, a lunch), so that should say something, even if it's small.
Gah...if worse comes to fruition, I can probably easily look and find another job somewhere else, as I'm sure people are hiring for the season. Oh, and I really wish that they would realize school is my top concern, INCLUDING attending concerts in which my teacher is performing, as that's MAJORLY important in what I do...So, confusion, once again, seems to be dominating a major aspect of my life.

I can't believe that the term is already over half done. I really need to kick myself in the butt and get working more, but I just wish I had more mental energy to get what I wanted to accomplish done (aka. more practicing) during the day.

News on the car: they have to replace the fuel tank. Another 2 days, @ least without the car. I swear, when I get it back, it'll have more done in repair work than it's actually worth...not much else to say here except, "grrrrrr........"

I forgot to post this the other day - it's official - Doug is in a relationships with a, as he puts it, "really nice girl"...so, it now appears that 99% of my friends that are my age have a significant other. Well, that pretty much goes for aboug 75% of the people I know, as well. I just have to wonder if I really am missing out on something, as everyone tells me, or is this just a growth stage, where once I'm through, I won't feel so, well, almost pressured sometimes to be in a relationship w/ someone. Grr...I hate this topic sometimes. Anyhoo, I hope Doug has fun. It's just ironic that it's him having a relationship before myself.

Back to work...

Here's the promised entry about last Sunday:

Last Sunday morning, I met Allan @ his house around 8ish, so we could leave for the Musicians' Union, which is down in Hollywood. I got to sample some Janice's WONDERFUL homemade jam, as a bonus. Anyway, it turns out there were only 6 of us on the bus, including the driver, so a quiet ride was enjoyed by all. The drive down to Orange County didn't take too long, and scenery was great. I love Los Angeles. I got to see the Crystal Cathedral, which is gorgeous, and funny enough, there's a Best Buy really close to it. Costa Mesa is a lovely area with some great architecture, like the current Performing Arts Center, as well as the new one they're building. The principle flute auditions were that day as well, so there were a bazillion flautists running around and playing, and I'm sick of the Mozart concerto for now...
The rehearsal itself went really well, and I got a chance to meet David Shostac, the principle flute, as well as help Allan pick reeds. The new 2nd bassoonist, Damian, is such a nice guy and really cute. The rehearsal progressed, and it was great to see Keith Lockhart in the flesh. During the lunch break, Allan introduced me to him and I got his autograph for mom. He's a very sweet guy and a great conductor, as well. Of course, since Allan had played in the BSO, he knew Keith.
The concert was brilliant as always, and they featured the same AWESOME cellist, Alisha Weilerstein (I think that's her last name) to play the Rococo Variations again, as the program had changed at the last minute due to the illness of the singer. The program was as follows:

Le Tombeau de Couperin (Ravel)
Rococo Variations (Tchaikovsky)
Haffner Symphony (Mozart)
Mother Goose Suite (Ravel)

Some great repertoire, if I do say so myself. Interestingly enough, Keith told Allan (and myself) backstage afterwards that they had thought of putting the Mozart concerto after Le Tombeau, but then decided against it...needless to say, Allan was thankful they chose not to.
So, that, in a nutshell was my great day. Los Angeles is gorgeous at night, and even better when you have Enya as your soundtrack.

So, it's back to what could be considered as "normal" around here. Apparentely, since the holidays are approaching, Toys is now open until 10, instead of 9, which means I probably won't get out of there until midnight...narf! Oh well, it's money, and that's all that's keeping me motivated.
In Enya news, the album launch took place last week outside of Paris. Enya.com has some great photos and a video of the lovely fireworks display. Enya's dress was AMAZING - it was red, but backless. Very classy, and she keeps getting better with age, like Bach. There are only 18 more days until the album is released, so I think I can handle it. But be warned that's all I'll be listening to for the next few months, probably, lol.
Oh, and my car is finally in the shop. Apparentely there's something wrong w/ one of the cylinders(!), so it's back to bumming rides w/ people. More on this later.

Music: Mussorgsky, "A Night on Bald Mountain" & Rimsky-Korsakov, "Capriccio Espagnol"

Another list of interesting things that have or are going on:

~ The annual Halloween Party was crazy, as usual. I went as what I describe as a "gothic count" or, when hanging out w/ Christopher and his friends, "gothic Prince Charming," as they went as Cinderella, the fairy godmother, and an ugly stepsister. The funny thing is that the ugly stepsister worked really well on Chris...I left after about an hour and a half, as I lost track of people and got bored and tired of the substance abuse.

~ The Santa Clarita Valley Youth Philharmonic concert on Saturday night went well, in fact, better than I had anticipated. I had great reeds, lent one of my other good reeds to Phil, the 2nd oboist, and everything came out wonderfully. Wearing a suit while playing isn't as bad as I thought, either, plus, I looked pretty decent in all black.

~ Sunday is an entry in itself, so I'll do that later.