sunshine and rain

Sunshine and Rain
September 2008

My iTunes: Singin' in the Rain

I'm posting this picture precisely because it did not look like this today. Or at least not the last time I walked back to my house this afternoon. The sun was not out, nor was it a pleasant temperature. It was raining cats and dogs. So much so that I didn't walk back on a path but in a river. I must have looked quite ridiculous: I decided to wear my button down sweater instead of my dress shirt so as not to soak the one, rolled up my good dress pants so as not to ruin the hem, had my heels in my bag, and was clutching a broken umbrella trying desperately to cover up my books and purse. Pictures of that were not taken and will not be shared :)

But I believe I can officially announce my good news (drum roll, please): I am booked for my first wedding shoot! I'll be meeting with the bride this weekend to discuss details and such.

But now, I'm off to bed. This week is going to be long and exhausting, so I need every bit of rest I can manage to squeeze into my schedule!

my brother

My Brother
September 2008

My iTunes: Déranger les pierres by Carla Bruni

Meet my brother, G. In all honesty, even though I'm his older sister, I can say that he's a pretty cool guy. Now that my other brother, R, is off to college, G painted their bedroom a dark grass-green that I love. It reminds me of my favorite coffee shop. I haven't seen the final product, but last I saw he was doing a great job. I think he enjoys having the room to himself and making it feel like his own space. For a mini-bachelor-pad, it's pretty stylin'. He is a stylin' guy himself, with a taste for certain brand-name clothing. I knew it was a sad day when I had to ask for his fashion advice about something.

Anyway, I thought a cool guy deserved a cool picture. Here's to you, G! (Might I suggest a new facebook profile picture?)

johnny's bistro

Johnny's Bistro
September 2008

My iTunes: My Girl by The Temptations

One good signage deserves another, right?

I had rehearsal again last night, but have today off, so I'm going to try to knock some things off my to-do list. Why does it always seem to grow, even when I'm crossing things off?

I may have good news on the photography front soon, but I want to wait until it's certain, so keep checking...

shoemaker country

Shoemaker Country
September 2008

My iTunes: Notre grand amour est mort by Carla Bruni

I seem to have missed a few days -- it's been a busy week. I have an unexpected three-day weekend, though, because somehow I ended up with no students today. I'm determined to be very productive, to catch up on sleep, and to spend some quality time in the practice rooms. I figured right now I would multi-task and eat breakfast while posting since I've missed the past few days.

Rehearsals for the opera have started -- it's so wonderful to be back. The only thing that could have kept me out of the last show was having back surgery. I've also finally started to set up visits to graduate schools... which means road trips and (hopefully) pictures! The first trip will be in a couple weeks, so I'll keep you posted.

unconventional post

Unconventional Post
September 2008

My iTunes: Ta Tienne by Carla Bruni

This is a bit of an unconventional picture for tonight's post, but there is still a photographic component, and the file is still a JPG, so I figured I could share it. (That, and I'm too tired to come up with something else at the moment...)

This is the photographer bio that I put together for the coffee shop while my pictures are displayed. I thought some of you might enjoy looking at it. I was pretty impressed with my graphic design abilities, having never taken a graphic design course.

But now, back to paper writing and more homework, and hopefully bed sometime before midnight.

pictures at the coffee house

Pictures at the Coffee House
September 2008

My iTunes: Je suis une enfant by Carla Bruni

Here they are -- I've just ordered 11x14 prints of each of these. I'll pick them up later today (because it's almost 2:00 a.m. on Saturday) and take them over to the coffee shop. I was there last night and the owners were really excited. I'll try to remember to take my camera with me and share a shot of the line up.

Now, time for bed!

the candle

The Candle
September 2008

My iTunes: Tu Es Ma Came by Carla Bruni

I feel proud of everything I accomplished today. I started with a to-do list that literally reached from my elbow down the length of my arm. Now the list fits within the length of my hand. Hopefully I'll finish the rest of it tomorrow.

Here's some of what I did today:

Bought the rest of the frames for the photographs I'll be displaying and selling at the local coffee shop; mailed off a list of my expenditures to be reimbursed for my most recent trip to Philadelphia; mailed a package; set up three more students; set up a time for a photoshoot; wrote a paper; set up my senior recital; picked up four books at the library; ordered refills for my allergy medicines; replaced my broken sunglasses; bought a few dress shirts since none of the ones I wore before back surgery fit anymore; got my hair trimmed; took three girls out for coffee; wrote out the IPA for my new German songs; read four articles for a reading assignment; made and ate dinner.

And now I'm going to order the prints for the coffee shop -- I'll have them as my post for tomorrow!

old-fashioned

Old-Fashioned
September 2008

My iTunes: Au Fond Du Temple Saint from Georges Bizet's Les pêcheurs de perles

You'll all have to put up with another shot of cupcakes... sorry to keep making everyone hungry :) I thought this shot at least had a different feel than the previous two.

The opera was wonderful -- I'm so glad I was able to go. The tenor-bass duet, which is playing on my iTunes now, was simply gorgeous. Even though I only saw a dress rehearsal performance, I thought the opera was superbly cast, from the principals right down to this one fantastic member of the chorus (who also happens to be my voice teacher). The baritone who played the role of Zurga was actually one of my teacher's former students. He did a really amazing job, I was very impressed.

I'd write more about it here, but I doubt many of you want to read my operatic gushings (and I know a certain faithful reader of mine would just roll her eyes -- you know who you are...), so I'm going to write a paper on it instead. I'll get to hand it in for three of my classes -- talk about multi-tasking... Then I'm going to bed at a decent hour for once. I think my voice teacher is right -- sleep and food really are essential...

shiny

Shiny
September 2008

My iTunes: Nel furor delle tempeste by Marcello Giordani

Quick post today -- I'm off to run a few quick errands, then class from 11:00-3:00, practice voice for an hour, and then go down to Washington, D.C., to see the Washington National Opera's performance of The Pearl Fishers at the Kennedy Center! My voice teacher is in the chorus and had two tickets, so she gave them to me. She really is the best! I'm very excited -- I'm taking one of the girls from my freshman Bible study with me. It's so wonderful to introduce people to opera and then watch them really enjoy it! I'm going to try out my new opera glasses, too!

pink

Pink
September 2008

My iTunes: Die Mainacht by Brahms, sung by Bernarda Fink

Well, I promised that today's picture would be pink! I made about 60 cupcakes for Bible study last night -- it was J's birthday and she loves pink almost as much as she loves Jesus, her family, and her standard poodle. (Okay, so maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but you get the idea.) They were strawberry cupcakes with strawberry icing and pink sprinkles with pink candles. I think she liked them. I'll probably be sharing some more shots over the next few days.

8122

8122
September 2008

My iTunes: Péché d'envie by Carla Bruni

Sadly it seems that I missed the last day of Robert's "Show Me..." Project, which would have meant I could have shown a feet pictures! Perhaps I'll put up a delayed post later this week. But today I thought I'd do this shot.

The beginning of my week always seems busier than the rest of it. Today I have class straight from 11:00-4:00, and tomorrow off-and-on from 11:00-9:00. Thank goodness I love all my classes. I'm especially looking forward to my voice lesson this afternoon because I tried some different things as I practiced this past week and I think I made some good progress. We'll see what my teacher says.

I went back to the gym this morning for the first time since my stairs accident last Tuesday. I did a lighter work out than usual to get back into the routine. I'm still black and blue, but thankfully the swelling is gone. Several of you have commented and asked about how I'm doing -- thanks for your concern!

Tomorrow there might be a pink-themed picture, so stay tuned...

bench in the sun

Bench in the Sun
September 2008

My iTunes: L'amoureuse by Carla Bruni

I'm finally getting to join in Robert's Show Me... Project. This is for today's "show me something that relaxes you." It's the invitation to just be, to go to a place where time feels like it's standing still and take a deep breath. No demands, just a few moments of solitude.

I've discovered a new singer -- Carla Bruni. I absolutely love French songs and jazz-inspired songs, so her music is right up my alley (although her personal life, perhaps not...). It's very relaxing and mellow. This is one of my favorite songs on her latest album, Comme si de rien n'etait.

old e city

Old E City
September 2008

My iTunes: Die Mainacht by Brahms, sung by Bernarda Fink

I have a feeling that my posting might be more sporadic for the next few months than I'd like it to be. With taking 10 classes, working, helping out with IV, working with the Baltimore Opera Company, applying to and visiting graduate schools, preparing for auditions, and trying to make time to eat at sleep, I have to be really disciplined with my time. I'll try my best to keep up with this, though, especially as I start off with my fledgling photography business.

The latest photography news is that I'll be showing some of my photography at a local Jazz and Art show tomorrow night. Should be fun. I picked up prints this evening, but one turned out really dark, so I might have to reprint it tomorrow.

Anyway, I was up way too late last night (1:45) because an old friend was in town, so I'm going to hit the sack A.S.A.P.!

space pops

Space Pops
September 2008

My iTunes: Kyrie, a Gregorian Chant

This is a shot I grabbed at a coffee shop in Old Ellicott City earlier this week. The sign for "space pops" just made me laugh.

Short post tonight -- I'm going to hit the sack early because I'm sore from the day's mishap: it was a rainy day and I attempted to go down a set of marble stairs, but it ended badly. Thankfully, I didn't land on my tailbone (which would have been very bad, post-back surgery), but I really did a number on my right side. I'm now bruised and swollen :(

looking up

Looking Up
September 2008

My iTunes: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by W.A. Mozart

Well, I am back from Philadelphia and done my research... again. I had a very productive three days last week -- I looked at almost everything I had looked at in June, except for three pieces of sheet music. Since I looked at over 160 pieces though, I don't think missing those three is really going to hurt my argument. I was exhausted after my olympic research spree, and my arms hurt from taking so many documentary photographs, so I decided to take the weekend off. But today is Monday, so back to the grind.

Classes should be good today -- Theory III, Aurals III, Vocal Pedagogy, and a voice lesson. The only trouble is, they're back-to-back from 11:00 to 4:00. I might have 15 minutes between Aurals III and Vocal Pedagogy to eat a quick lunch, but only if I pack it, so I think I will.

Overall, though, things are looking up (just like in this picture). I've decided not to replace my computer right now but to wait until next summer before starting graduate school, and I'll just hope it doesn't have another massive meltdown or explode and burn the house down between now and then. I'm backing EVERYTHING up at least 3 times before I even go away from the computer: DVDs, external drives, and online storage. Even if it's just a paragraph I've written for an assignment -- I'm not taking any chances. I suppose I'll just have to live with the paranoia for the next year...

sienna, italy

Sienna, Italy
August 2008

My iTunes: Romeo Et Juliette by Gounod

I guess it's time for a quick update, this time with a picture. The computer is back and running like it was before... whatever that means. The data recovery guy wasn't able to get any of my research or my 50-page paper off of it, so I'm actually sitting in a Cosi in Philadelphia right now after two days of hard core research. It's one of my favorite chain restaurants of its kind, and we don't have any near where I live, so I'm enjoying the chance to eat here.

Yesterday I spent 11.5 hours in the archives with one bathroom break (yes, I counted) and only stopping otherwise to go outside to inhale a granola bar while waiting for the next of my research items to arrive. Thank goodness today was shorter -- the archives were only open for 8.5 hours. You know you're hard core when you get there before half of the librarians and have to wait outside until they open, and then the head librarian offers to stay late so you can finish up. In the past two days, I think I've covered what nearly took me two weeks to do in June (only this time instead of having searchable, transcribed versions typed up, I just have pictures of everything, which means I've taken thousands of pictures, but none that I'm allowed to share). It might actually be possible to look at everything in three days that I looked at in three weeks.

So that's the latest on the computer and research. As for photography -- a big thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support for my show! I've gotten to edit a few shots so I can pick which ones to sell at the local coffee shop. I've made a Flickr set -- check it out and comment on which ones you like best. This is one of my personal favorites.

I'm not relishing time spent with my computer at the moment, and I still have a ton of work to do so I can make the most of my last 8.5 hours in the archives tomorrow, so I'm going to end this here.

Ciao!