I have a lot going on in my life right now. When I go silent on the blog, it usually means my mind is working overtime. My car, the trusty 1995 Mercury Tracer, has finally died. It has served me well over the years, but the time has come for me to get a newer car. The timing isn't great, since I do not feel like I'm in the best financial position to get something right now. However, I do need reliable transportation. Mostly because I do earn extra income from teaching lessons and performing.
Because my car is essentially dead (I do not feel safe driving it), I have been using my bike as my main mode of transportation. This has been great! I get my workout in for the day riding to work and back (about 12 miles round trip). I tried taking the front wheel off and back on (got a ride from someone) and when I went to put the wheel back on, I couldn't get it on! So I had to take it to the bike shop, which I did today. Turns out I wasn't just an idiot, something had gone wrong with the slot where the tire is supposed to go. All fixed now, thankfully.
However, because of this whole car/transportation situation, I have a lot on my mind. Whenever I am subconsciously stressed out, I start losing track of things that I normally do not lose track of, like my wallet. I have lost it twice in the last two weeks. The first time, I knew I dropped it at work somewhere, but it was missing long enough that I decided to replace my credit cards. Then a coworker found it. I had dropped it under the service desk chair that we all use. I was so relieved!
Then I lost it again last night. That was much worse. A friend of mine is visiting from California, and we went to the Rangers/Angels game last night. That's where I lost my wallet. I realized it was missing as we were leaving. It took me some time to retrace my steps and then ask where lost and found was located. Thankfully, someone turned it in. I apparently dropped it in the bathroom.
I am so relieved that there are still honest people in this world. So glad I have my wallet.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Touring
I just got back from a fun little road trip. Went on a "mini-tour" with Vanessa Peters. It was so fun! First, we went to Dosey Doe's, a venue in the outskirts of Houston. We got to play in an old barn. It had been moved there from Kansas and the sound set-up was amazing! My cello has never sounded better.
The next night, we played at a hotel lounge in Austin. That's the kind of show where no one really listens. We considered it (jokingly) a paid rehearsal. It was our best show yet, which is kind of sad really, because no one was really there or watching. And what I mean by "best show" is that we were the most together we've been of all the times we played together.
Our ride was a volkswagon stationwagon, and we got a PA system, two guitars, a keyboard + stand, my cello, a bass drum, snare drum, hi-hat, our luggage, miscellaneous gear, and three people in the wagon. It was amazing!
I had a really good time "on tour" and hope to do it again someday.
The next night, we played at a hotel lounge in Austin. That's the kind of show where no one really listens. We considered it (jokingly) a paid rehearsal. It was our best show yet, which is kind of sad really, because no one was really there or watching. And what I mean by "best show" is that we were the most together we've been of all the times we played together.
Our ride was a volkswagon stationwagon, and we got a PA system, two guitars, a keyboard + stand, my cello, a bass drum, snare drum, hi-hat, our luggage, miscellaneous gear, and three people in the wagon. It was amazing!
I had a really good time "on tour" and hope to do it again someday.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Summer Travels
I did want to write about my summer travels. I went back to CA in June to go to a wedding for a friend of mine in San Diego. It was beautiful, and I'm so glad I got to go back and see most of my friends. I got to go to Woodstocks with a bunch of people I love, and it sort of turned into a reunion, because many of them hadn't seen each other in awhile either. It was a good time to catch up, chill, and enjoy some awesome pizza! I also got to spend a few nights with one of my sisters.
Since she and her husband are both youth ministers, I was informed that they were doing a car wash fundraiser on the Saturday I was staying with them. So I washed a bunch of cars and got an awesome flip-flop tan line on my feet.
Some other highlights included seeing Kenny, who made a special effort to get down to SD from Irvine to spend some time with me, staying with my friend Beryl and having breakfast near the beach before my flight left, and visiting my old coworkers in Point Loma.
Then I flew to Fresno to spend some time with my two brothers, my sister-in-law, and my new nephew! He was born about a week before I got to Fresno. I stayed with my other brother and his roommates. That was really fun. I also made a new friend! Adam (my brother) recently rented a room to one of his old friends, Brad. Brad had recently been accepted to a medical residency program in the area and needed a place to stay. My brother is so nice. Also, Brad had been recently married, so I got to meet his wife since she came to stay with him that weekend. We spent a good amount of time together and I'm glad I have a new friend!
On the day I was supposed to leave Fresno to fly back to Texas, my brother's dog had to go to the vet. Turned out he had a nasty staph infection. This delayed the time I was supposed to get to the airport. My brother's roommate, Nate, agreed to take me. We used the GPS on his phone to get there, only it took us to the wrong location. Bottom line: I totally missed my flight. But, not a big deal, I was able to get on standby for the next day, and I didn't have to be at work for two days.
Well, the next day came, and the flight got majorly delayed, and then ultimately, canceled. Since I was already flying standby, I got bumped to the end of the line. I finally got out of Fresno three days later. Ironically, I both dropped off Adam and Nate at the airport the night I missed my flight and picked up Adam when he arrived back in town. I'm glad I had family in town, but on the whole, this was a very frustrating experience. I was so relieved to get back to Texas!
Since she and her husband are both youth ministers, I was informed that they were doing a car wash fundraiser on the Saturday I was staying with them. So I washed a bunch of cars and got an awesome flip-flop tan line on my feet.
Some other highlights included seeing Kenny, who made a special effort to get down to SD from Irvine to spend some time with me, staying with my friend Beryl and having breakfast near the beach before my flight left, and visiting my old coworkers in Point Loma.
Then I flew to Fresno to spend some time with my two brothers, my sister-in-law, and my new nephew! He was born about a week before I got to Fresno. I stayed with my other brother and his roommates. That was really fun. I also made a new friend! Adam (my brother) recently rented a room to one of his old friends, Brad. Brad had recently been accepted to a medical residency program in the area and needed a place to stay. My brother is so nice. Also, Brad had been recently married, so I got to meet his wife since she came to stay with him that weekend. We spent a good amount of time together and I'm glad I have a new friend!
On the day I was supposed to leave Fresno to fly back to Texas, my brother's dog had to go to the vet. Turned out he had a nasty staph infection. This delayed the time I was supposed to get to the airport. My brother's roommate, Nate, agreed to take me. We used the GPS on his phone to get there, only it took us to the wrong location. Bottom line: I totally missed my flight. But, not a big deal, I was able to get on standby for the next day, and I didn't have to be at work for two days.
Well, the next day came, and the flight got majorly delayed, and then ultimately, canceled. Since I was already flying standby, I got bumped to the end of the line. I finally got out of Fresno three days later. Ironically, I both dropped off Adam and Nate at the airport the night I missed my flight and picked up Adam when he arrived back in town. I'm glad I had family in town, but on the whole, this was a very frustrating experience. I was so relieved to get back to Texas!
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Vacation
What a trip! I just got back from my vacation to California, to the lovely cities of San Diego and Fresno. I had a great time-- got to see most of the people I wanted to see and went to a wedding, which was fun and beautiful. I got to attend this one, I didn't have to play cello at this wedding.
I also got to meet my new nephew who was born on June 18. Welcome to the world, Hudson! He looks exactly like my brother did (his daddy) at birth.
My vacation was a very nice break from life, though I find that how I'm back, I feel like I'm trying to play catch-up, and get my life together, for really good reasons.
Since I've been in Texas, I've been working on building up a community of musicians, and a music network. I've been working on making connections, for both teaching cello lessons and performing. All my hard work is paying off! I met a great musician here in DFW, Vanessa Peters, and I will be playing with her for three shows this month in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. I get to go on my very first mini-tour! (If you can call two shows a tour, haha!). I am really looking forward to these gigs, Vanessa is a great musician and a fun person to be around.
I have been working on finding students to teach. My goal has been to find four students, and right now, I have three. One more to go! So if any of you are interested in lessons... uh, let me know. Comments.
What this means is that I have been having to seriously work on my scheduling abilities.
(I will not double book,
I will not double book,
I will not double book...)
I'm finding that I now must practice a lot of new music so I'm also working on scheduling personal practice sessions. Practicing music is a lot like choosing to exercise for me. I never feel like doing either, but I know it's good for me, and I'll feel better after I do it.
I also got to meet my new nephew who was born on June 18. Welcome to the world, Hudson! He looks exactly like my brother did (his daddy) at birth.
My vacation was a very nice break from life, though I find that how I'm back, I feel like I'm trying to play catch-up, and get my life together, for really good reasons.
Since I've been in Texas, I've been working on building up a community of musicians, and a music network. I've been working on making connections, for both teaching cello lessons and performing. All my hard work is paying off! I met a great musician here in DFW, Vanessa Peters, and I will be playing with her for three shows this month in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. I get to go on my very first mini-tour! (If you can call two shows a tour, haha!). I am really looking forward to these gigs, Vanessa is a great musician and a fun person to be around.
I have been working on finding students to teach. My goal has been to find four students, and right now, I have three. One more to go! So if any of you are interested in lessons... uh, let me know. Comments.
What this means is that I have been having to seriously work on my scheduling abilities.
(I will not double book,
I will not double book,
I will not double book...)
I'm finding that I now must practice a lot of new music so I'm also working on scheduling personal practice sessions. Practicing music is a lot like choosing to exercise for me. I never feel like doing either, but I know it's good for me, and I'll feel better after I do it.
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