Dear World: On Pants

Dear World,

It is mid-September. The weather is getting to the point where sweatshirts are VERY comfortable and the wind just starts to hurt your ears as you walk int the door. It's great weather for corduroy pants. On the subject of pants, when the weather gets this nippy, why would you want to wear skintight, breathable "pants?"

I am all for girls wearing what they like regardless of body shape. You can find something to flatter any shape. And I am not one of the girls that can wear leggings as pants and get away with it. I simply do not have the shapely rear and things required.

I think maybe four people in the world have that kind of butt.

But (no pun intended), regardless of whether or not you can pull off something flat and skintight emphasising that you're either a) not wearing underwear, or b) have a very intense thong, I do not want to see that much of your rear end. I don't want to have any idea what kind of underwear you're wearing. If you're wearing something that covers your butt and wearing leggings under it, go for it. But leggings as pants?

I'd rather not see your ass.

Love,
Rachel

The Mysterious Rachel Disappearing Act

I suppose I've learned a magic trick: disappearing from Blogger when I have things to blog about whilst still sufficiently lurking around the internet.

For most of you, school has started. This means that I'm back in Ithaca, attempting to major in music, minor in computer science, be in a functional relationship, work as an usher, be a member of a professional music fraternity, finish Portal, practice enough, and sleep. Simultaneously. Notice that "have a life" doesn't factor into this equation.

I worked really hard all summer on my audition excerpts. I counted, thought about, listened to, and explored Stravinsky and Brahms in an entirely new way. And still I fell short of my goal by one chair. It turns out that auditions are picky--and those split-second unconscious decisions on vibrato or expression can cost you. I'm not blaming anyone but myself for this--I made the mistake and I'm going to learn from it. And plus, being a principle player in a lower ensemble is a good experience for me, miss "I want to do a sophomore recital but ZOMG SOLO I CAN'T PLAY THIS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE!?!?!"

My trick to practicing is to make other people listen to you. Let them judge your performance. If you feel comfortable with the people whose opinions matter to you judging your music-making, the audition's going to go better.

Another important thing I learned (from SIMF): let go of your ego. Focus on the music. This makes things a lot easier. It's surprising, how much better we play when we don't think "shit, I might mess up this next run and then the people outside in the hall will think I'm horrible and don't deserve where I'm placed." It's amazing to me that when we go into a practice room thinking that we're the greatest gift to music that any deity has ever created, we falter. The point of music, to me, is that it's not about you. It's about the composer's intent mixed with your emotions. You're not playing music to show how good you are. You're playing music because you feel it. It's inside of you. You want to read the composer's words in a different way.

As musicians, we're all guilty of being full of ourselves. But we're not what matters. The music is what matters.

I think I'm finally at peace with myself.

The Summer Book List

Just so I don't forget what I've read over the summer. If anyone wants to discuss any of these books, let me know! I'd love to hear what you thought of them.

Completed:

1. Waiting for Godot- Beckett
2. Good Omens- Pratchett/Gaiman
3. Candide- Voltaire
4. Anansi Boys- Gaiman
5. Thief of Time- Pratchett
6. The Road- McCarthy

Currently Reading:

1. The Fifth Elephant- Pratchett
2. The Man Who Tasted Shapes- Cytowick

Up Next:

1. The Historian- Kostova
2. Revolutionary Road- Yates
3. The Sound and the Fury- Faulkner

Currently Re-Reading:

1. American Gods- Gaiman

To Read?

1. rest of the Ender's Game series- Card
2. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil- Berendt
3. Soul Music- Pratchett

Based on this list of books, let me know if you have any suggestions!

New Favourite Thing Ever:

And today in the news of What Was The Web Designer THINKING?!?!,the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's webpage.

Looks pretty okay, by web design standards. A lot of colours, a few that don't match, but whatever. Overall, the website is pretty passable. But take a look at the source code:

Not so bad? Take a closer look:



Okay, as a web design student, I was guilty of doing that a couple of times. Spacing was sent from hell to make web designers miserable. But take one more look...



North Korea wants you to know this: they're strong, especially in web design.

Compensating?

Things That Piss Me Off: Attack Ads

I'll be the first to tell you that I'm a political junkie.

I love presidential elections. I love gubernatorial elections. I care about pretty much every office...except the Water Authority. I'm still not entirely sure what they do. But with politics comes a considerable amount of lashing out. Politicians have claws, on both sides. But this time, the Republican party's candidate for Georgia Governor John Oxendine has gone too far. Here's a Macon.com article that details Oxendine's attack on Handel: Macon.com-- Oxendine's Attack Ad

In a recent ad, Oxendine attacks Republican Karen Handel, accusing her of being a "liberal democrat." Where I live, that's considered an insult, and at this point, I'm no longer offended by it. What I am offended by, however, is how Oxendine demonises Handel for supporting equal benefits for domestic partnerships.

I don't care if you're liberal or conservative, pro gay marriage or against it. It doesn't matter. Homosexuals are people, and they deserve--no, they are required to have--equal rights. As most of you know, gay marriage is illegal in Georgia. Fine, conservatives, you can keep your terms. But don't you DARE tell me that gay people don't have the same rights as straight people.

Just like during the civil rights era, separate is not equal. And right now, Georgia is not only dealing with an issue of separate laws and separate rights; we're dealing with unequal and unconstitutional circumstances.

Okay. I'm stepping down from my soapbox now.

1776: Twelve Angry Men, Colonial Edition

So I'm officially a freelance musician.

I am playing in Theatre Macon's production of 1776 as Reed III: Oboe, English Horn (transposed to oboe), and Clarinet. I'm also getting paid for it. If you do the math, it's actually a little under minimum wage...but I'm getting paid. To do something I love. This is excellent!

The first night went off with only two minor disasters on my end. First, the cork on the top joint of my clarinet came off, and unsurprisingly, this makes the clarinet STOP WORKING. In the least legitimate fix of all time, it is currently attached with Elmer's Glue until I can take it into the shop to get it fixed. Second, my shoe and the side of the stage got into a fight. Guess who won? Hint: not me. I hit the side of my knee--the muscle that holds on the kneecap--on the corner of the stage. After limping to the kitchen, I iced my knee for Act Two. Luckily, today I can walk on it with little pain. Stairs, however, are another story.

Well, it wouldn't be theatre if something disastrous didn't happen.

The music for the show is FANTASTIC. The more I hear it, the more I love it. There are many parts in the show that, on first read, come off as "wait, does he really want that?" But the way the pit supports the vocalists and some of these chord progressions...so beautiful, despite horrendous amounts of flats. I wish I could describe the incredible rush I get from performance in general, but there's something about pit...it's thrilling, being a part of a show...having such an important role as both an accompanist and a soloist. It's such a great high.

In other news, I am making a new blog, Birthmother in the Back Room. Those of you who know me know that I'm adopted. For nineteen years of my life, I had no contact with the woman who carried me...until today. I'm meeting her in early August, and today I got the chance to talk to her on the phone. It's strange and wonderful and overwhelming and definitely one of those things that people like to call "a journey" or some other cheesy thing like that. This blog is for the benefit of me making sense of my brain.

Things I Learned from SIMF:

So I spent three weeks in Bryn Mawr, PA at the Strings International Music Festival. Yes, I know I'm an oboist, but they needed me for chamber music. It was lots of fun. I ended up befriending a lot of string players and participating in an excellent trio (of woodwinds! Go figure!).

There was also a great amount of ridiculosity that ensued from this festival, such as taking a friend to the emergency room and then going clubbing, hanging out on rooftops, a Gay Council meeting that lasted until 4am, and salsa dancers invading my room. And hanging a pirate flag from the great hall.

Without further ado, Things I Learned from SIMF:
1. An accompanist can make or break a performance.
2. Think less. Feel more.
3. Lose your ego and you'll lose the nerves.
4. Being on top of someone's shoulders who is standing on top of a bass stool while trying to dodge campus security is TERRIFYING.
5. It is possible to throw pants onto one's body.
6. If you're up at 5:30 and have to wake up at 7 to catch your plane, it's best just to not sleep.
7. Three weeks of rehearsals and seminars and practice without weekends will make one a) insane, and b) coffee dependent.
8. Trains are a MUCH better way of transportation than buses.
9. Check to see if the club you're going to is 18+ or 21+ BEFORE you go there.
10. Sometimes, you just need a new shoulder rest for your flute.
11. Sometimes, friends are more important than practicing.
12. It is possible for a dining hall to screw up peanut butter.
13. Sometimes, it's not your reedmaking ability.
14. Most of the time, it is.
15. People *will* listen to you practice. Practice as if someone's listening.
16. 13 blocks in Philadelphia heat is a LONG WAY.
17. If you want something to happen...you have to make it happen.
18. Madness? This is CHAMBER MUSIC!
19. Singing RENT loudly in public places will make people stare at you, as if this wasn't obvious.
20. 90s music is good for singing on buses.
21. BRING SUNGLASSES TO OUTDOOR CONCERTS.
22. Madness happens, and it's awesome.

Here's to all of my crazy-awesome friends from SIMF: Ello, Addie, Patrick, Ilya, Chris, Alex, Nina, Paula...heck, everyone!