Back to it...

Wow. So, the last week or so has been absolutely nutzo...but in a good way. Orientation is done and classes start on Tuesday. O.M.G. I'm a grad student AGAIN (yes, that month @ USC does count!)

My allergies have been a real bitch to me - instead of being stuffy-nosed and having respiratory misery, they're going a really dirty route - my sinuses keep draining and making me really nauseous. Granted, I know how to deal with nausea, it's a real pain in the ass to feel that way all the time. At least I have a cause. I wish there was a med that would just dry up everything and not make me drowsy or have odd side effects. Gross. I also haven't been sleeping well. It's so strange. You would think that being able to sleep in more often would be okay, but it seems to just make me feel even more weird throughout the day. Gah. I can't win! I sleep well, but am really groggy when I wake, even when I've gotten a great amount of sleep. I almost feel like I want to revert to my LA schedule, per say.

There is so much to tell about school stuff that I can't possibly fit it all in. But, the major things are that I'm mostly registered, I've met some great friends, I've met all of the oboe studio, I've gone clubbing, I've felt incredibly welcomed and "at home," and placed well in my ensemble audition. I'm so glad things have gone relatively smoothly so far and that I'm not the only one in the boat. @ CalArts, I often felt stranded. So, for a later post, I'll try to talk about everything I listed above. I'm not feeling particularly descriptive right now...

Quintet is going well - we're progressing and things are coming together well. Naturally, there are issues, but I'm trying to learn how to deal with them in a more professional manner. It's tough, but nothing worth doing is ever easy. I can't believe our recital is next week...this week will be spent practicing Mahle, Pasculli, and Borne. It's so weird to be accompanying someone again. I really hope I don't fuck it up. Then, there's the topic of the encore, my arrangement of "The Music of the Night." I've never hit a note above a...G in public. But, I think this is a great challenge for me, both technically and artistically. Getting more comfortable singing in front of an audience is something I need to do, if I'm to have any sort of career in the pop industry. It's nice to not have a reed and worry about getting water in your keys, but it's very scary to know that everything is YOU. Your voice, your artistry, your everything. But, I MUST remember to be relaxed and enjoy the moment. This is one of my favorite songs and while I'm not attempting to seduce anyone, I've gotta bring it. Otherwise, it'll just suck. My main thing is to just utilize tonal color, a bit of rubato, and keep it real. So, if the high note cracks or dies, well, oh well. I meant to do that. :-)

So, musically, I'm ready for all of the adventures and challenges to begin. I've gotten lazy and need to have my ass kicked back into gear. Bring it!

On a completely random note, my hair looks really great today - I wish it would cooperate like this ALL the time. Like, the picture on my UM card is TERRIBLE. But, who ever takes a good ID photo? It had to be a really hot, humid day and me all out of breath and sweaty. ugh. Oh well. My passport pic is worse!

My car is like a child. If it's not one thing, it's another. First the A/C, now the damn driver's seat belt. I think because it's fraying at one point, it gets caught just before it reaches the right length for me to fasten it. Ergo, I spend at least 5 minutes looking like an idiot trying to just get it to come out all the way! Grrr...I swear. When this car dies (knowing our luck, it'll last until the year 2748), it's going to be a pile of metal and plastic that is totally worn down into dust. I would be nice to look for another car (and a new oboe), but ha. $$$$ rules the world and neither the parents or I have any right now. I really have no idea how any of us are surviving. I'm not working full-time anymore and won't have a nice paycheck coming in 2x a month. Fuck. Oh well. One day @ a time.

For all that I bitch, I really hope that I can look back on everything and say that it was worth it someday. I hope it's not all in vain. I think if it ends up like that, I'm going to be a basket case.

Anyhoo, the fingers are tired now. More later.