Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

For those who don't know, CBBees, is the equivalent of "Cartooooooons, put on the cartoooooooooons" or like, Nickelodeon, if you don't get the other reference either.

Serenade

I am rotten at following through with my goals. And every time I begin the end of each enterprise I get terribly depressed about alway losing steam. It's true for so many things in my life. I start out so enthusiastic and really go for it and then a couple weeks in I slow down and something always happens (usually getting ill or some other stressful crisis) and I/it stops the steamroller. grr. So I've been desperately trying to figure out how to get back on track after one of these. You have to admit slowing down is inevitable sometimes. Your mind/body needs a break from the enthusiasm, if you will. I think I've figured out what will work for me though. Its the thought that (cheers to Prince Charming for laying the egg of this idea) if you want to change something about yourself (diet, refocus your efforts) or accomplish something important (like a Thesis project) you have to think about doing it every morning. You can only affect each day you live, its too hard to say you'll do it tomorrow as you don't know what tomorrow will bring. But, today you can affect. I want to remember every morning or while I'm drinking my tea, exactly what I'm trying to change about myself and how I will do that today. You may as well decide certain things are more important that day, but they have to be thought about at least to succeed. I may be unusual in this need, certainly my friends don't have as much trouble with their follow through, but I hope writing it down helps me at least! hahah. The other catalyst for these thoughts are a poem we found in my Grandmother's jewelry box after she'd passed away.

Salutation to the Dawn

Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all th verities
and realities of your existence.
the bliss of growth;
the glory of actions
the splendor of achievement;
For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow
is only a vision;
But today, well lived, makes every
yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day!

translated from the Sanskrit

What's Opera Doc!

Pwease watch this! It's hysterical and although many of you have probably seen its a classic and that means watchable forever!

Salome

I'm bored with 'Sex and the Media.' There doesn't seem to be any new information out there. Obviously, I have not read, heard, seen everything, but it seems that what i am coming across is all the same information. Every sex book I have come across begins with a section (that seems mostly geared towards women) about embracing sexuality and how it is not an evil, dirty thing to shy away from. But, even as a growing girl, I knew that, favored as I was with liberal minded parents among other things. Get past that chapter and there are many good things to learn, but again all the same stuff- sexual positions, how to give a good blow job, how to talk sexy, feel sexy and what people are attracted to, i.e. noise-y partners, partners who participate enthusiastically, changing the routine, role-playing, pleasuring yourself. All things that once you've learned is then much more fun to figure everything else out on your own and with friends, but primarily in a more personal setting. I once perused a sex book, I think it was called The Good Girl's Guide to Bad Girl Sex, and was advised that when finding my 'sexy voice' to hum to a high C and the down to a low C and that range would be your 'sexy voice range,' ummmm, clearly this woman has no concept of music but that's another rant. Moving on. I just haven't come across much in awhile that makes me think 'oooh, I want to try THAT then!' What I'm discovering for myself is much more exciting. I am enjoying a few sex blogs these days, but they don't do sex 'tips' more encounters and stories. Eros.com is a favorite of mine and of course the minute HBO Real Sex comes out on DVD I'm buying it. I think we need to expand 'sex tips' and 'sex shows' these days to broaden people's minds and not just tell them the best way to give a blow job, which is misleading as each person likes something completely different and you can't go into a new relationship doing all of the things your ex enjoyed and expect it to be the same sex. I'll come back to this and organize my thoughts a little, but decided a good ranting was necessary. If I was to give some sex advice it would be, laugh about sex and enjoy trying new things together that might go wrong, but might go very very right.

addendum: For some more musical information. Salome was a one act opera by Richard Strauss that premiered in 1905. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salome_%28opera%29
It was a scandalous offering to say the least. The story of Herod's prurient daughter who ordered the execution of the man she had fallen in love with, John the Baptist. In the final scene she precedes to go mad as she kisses and dances with his severed head before her own death is ordered by Herod. This opera also includes the famous Dance of the Seven Veils, in which each veil is removed until she lies naked at Herod's feet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_of_the_Seven_Veils

The Conductors Pre-Talk

Being British
I found this on the web awhile ago:

Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a
Belgian beer, then traveling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a
Turkish kebab on the way to sit on Swedish furniture and watch
American shows on a Japanese TV.

And the most British thing of all?

Suspicion of anything foreign.

The Tristan Chord

I have been an emotional wreck the last month or so. Not to worry, I have a scapegoat! That works for me, I have to find the cause of my problems before I can get over them. Cause of the Fall is The Pill! A wonderful 'contraption' (c'mon its almost a pun....) but occasionally causing major issues! I've been trying to take the pill on the 3 month cycle. Doesn't it sound grand? Three months and NO periods, and no massive headaches that tend to come with my period! Ah yes, it sounds too good to be true and I think it is, because I'm on month 2 of the 3 and I've been a terror for the last month. Bordering on evil almost. I know its the age feminine claim: 'it was the hormones that killed him mr. judge, sir. I swear.' As they say in Chicago "He had it coming." Well, he probably did. He probably underestimated the power of the Hormone. And to this day, women remain blindsided by this phenomenon. We don't see our evil self creeping up on us until its too late. We're then past the hour when shutting ourselves in our room with something sappy and something chocolate-y will fix it. But this is a normal cycle problem. I'm dealing with PMS double and continuous. Picture the giant Monster Bridezilla from Avenue Q and you'll have me pegged. Fortunately, I do come down from these 'episodes' and can then go apologize to people, typically my wonderful tolerant long distance boyfriend, Prince Charming (oh yeah I'm gonna blame long distance too, someday I'll post a comprehensive list of my scapegoats- you'll be impressed!)


btw, I'm not completely obsessed with fairy tales. Well a little with the original Brother's Grimm. Did you know that it was originally Rose-Red and Snow-White. They were in fact sisters! It's a good story. I've digressed, which is always fun.

In conclusion, because I'm anxious to keep my friends and said boyfriend, I will be returning to a normal non 3 month cycle pill and caution all women out there eager to only have periods 4 times a year, it comes with a price! I'm sure if you stick with it your body will adjust and you won't be evil anymore, but by then the damage will have been done and you'll be a happy period-free single person living in a studio and frequenting old man pubs. Ooooh maybe it'd work if we could wear a sign for awhile? Just like the scarlet letter, that worked well right..? Ours could be the Scarlet XX chromosome! Ah, I do but jest. (if you could see me I'd be doing an Eddie Izzard impression. shakes head yes, shakes head no, yes, no, sneaky yes, emphatic no). Eh, you get the blurry picture!

addendum: My previous titles are relatively self explanatory but if you don't know what a Tristan chord is, I'll explain. Wagner wrote a beautiful opera Tristan & Isolde, based on a legend of the same name, naturally about tragic love, which they have recently made a movie of (talk about tragic.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tristan_und_Isolde

The very first chord in the piece is the so-called Tristan chord, often taken to be of great significance in the move away from traditional tonal harmony since it encompasses not one but two dissonances. It is has a very melancholy but beautiful sound. Wagner, while not my favorite historical figure, as he seems to be a bit of an ass, is undeniably a beautiful composer!

Words of Wisdom from the Composer:

I have an amazing mother!
So today my mother sent me an email that I think everyone can enjoy. Yes, this is very cheesy and don't worry she doesn't make a habit of this it's just that her daughters are both in pivotal points in life and hey so are you guys! so here you go:

Dear Rose-Red and Snow-White,
After talking to Rose and seeing Snow this "weekend" I have a few things to say. There are one or two things I've figured out so far. They are:

If you're going to be reasonably happy in life, you have to have dreams. It doesn't seem to matter how big they are - just that you have them and that you're actively trying to do something about them. The most unhappy people I know have given up, or lost theirs along the way somewhere. Sometimes they weren't strong enough for the dreams they had. Sometimes they just got tired. Sometimes they outgrew their dreams, or achieved them, and didn't replace them. Dreams change, grow, mutate. Got to deal with that too.

You also have to have balance in life. Some people can get by with all work and no play - but they aren't healthy. Some people try to get by with all play and no work - that works out about the same way. We just aren't built for that.

You need to surround yourself with people that can help you with living the way you want to - help you with your dreams and help you play the way you need to.

Life stagnates the minute you quit learning. Things go downhill from there.

There are 4 important stages in life. We don't all get to do all of them.
1. Learn how to make it in life socially, educationally, work-wise. You guys have finished or almost finished the bulk of this stage.
2.Try out your theories. Make a life: a family, work, play, a social circle. Adjust your theories regularly. Take your biggests risks early on.
3.Launch your children. Take care of parents when they can't any more. Work on those dreams you haven't had a chance for yet. Hope you can still afford the risks associated with them.
4. Reflect on what you've managed to accomplish. If you haven't failed yourself, you've got great memories and a few things left to do. Finish anything important. Volunteer. Hopefully you can afford to do that now.

Remind yourself periodically to enjoy the little things in life - they turn out to be most of it - and they help get you to all the big things.
love you lots, Mom

Addendums:

Never underestimate the power and importance of love, lust, greed, jealousy, and loyalty
(to yourself as well as to and from others)

Help when you can

Aesthetics are important - they color our lives

If you can't figure out what to do, wait a bit if you can. If that doesn't work, go with your best guess and do something even if you're not sure its going to be the right thing. Inertia will never get you there.

The Overture

I'm not much of a diary/journal type person, but lately I've been inclined to write stuff down, so here I go diving into my new medium. I'm a classical musician studying here in London having a wonderful time since September '06, but also having some growing pains and culture shock and drama. I'm not very into self summaries, if so inclined people will figure me out as I go along. In my blog I want to talk about everything (I'm ambitious, I know). Specific interests (as in send me stuff about this so I can post it!) are life in London, music and musicians (all types), sex, the environment, pub culture, family, board games, ballroom dancing, books, movies...ok I think I made my point.

For my first post I want to help Americans here who're looking for tastes of home. Having spent my own chunk of time scouring the internet in search of advice I'm going to put all I have learned in one spot, which unfortunately- isn't very much....

As Thanksgiving is coming up- The only place I've found Libby's pumpkin Pie filling is at Waitrose but apparently it also exists at Selfridges (of which there is only one in London... on Oxford Street). Pie tins are another challenge all together! I had to buy a premade crust just to get the pie tin! Waitrose also stocks Skippy Peanut Butter, as no doubt you've found Brit Peanut Butter is NOT the same. If you're inclined for some Mexican, its something alien to the British, but Waitrose does have most of the stuff you might need. If you live not in Central London, you'll have noticed a million little shops, similar in what they carry to a 7-11 with fruit and veg. Don't avoid them, they're wonderful! They carry nice things for much much cheaper than a supermarket-mostly. As yet, I have been unable to find American mac and cheese here, but thats easy enough to make of course. Nachos are another thing the Brits don't really understand, but a few pubs do have some decent ones, like The Globe across from Baker street station.

I'll add to this list as I learn more or people remind what I forgot to write about... toodle-pip for now!