The Big Event

I'm excited.  I've been sick this week, but I'm still excited.  Because Monday night is Opening Night at the Metropolitan Opera!  It's time for our new season to start.  I'm sure I've mentioned before that it gets slow working for a performing arts organization during the summer months when there are no performances.  One of the big perks for working where I do is that I get to attend amazing performances.  I stay busy with other things throughout the summer, but it is always a welcomed day when the fall brings a new season to experience.  I rather enjoy opening night because it is usually something new and exciting...last year was a new production of Tosca, which many people hated.  But oh it was fun to be there and experience the hate first hand.  I love being a part of the drama.  This year we are premiering Das Rheingold, the first opera of our new production of Wagner's Ring Cycle.  If ever there is a thing to be loved or hated, it is a new production for a Ring Cycle.  People are PASSIONATE about this thing and they all loved the old production (as did I - it's the one I 'grew up' on).  But I'm open minded about the new one.  It could be cool, it could be fabulous, it could be silly.  We'll see.  But I'm super excited to be there on Monday night when it is introduced to the world for the first time.  Should I stuff my handbag with tomatoes to throw, just in case I find it appalling?  Possibly...that could be fun.  Mostly I just love to sit back and watch the crowd, dressed to the nines, taking part in this spectacular event.  My gown and heels are ready to go!

New Day's Resolution

I need to play my "auxiliary" clarinets more!  Of course, I need to play all of my clarinets more, but especially the 'others'.  My bass and E-flat rarely come out of the case and that's not good.  It's especially not good because for the most part the only reason they do come out of their cases is because I have to play a rehearsal or gig with them. Which means when I am asked to play in public, I haven't been practicing and there is a good chance that I won't sound that great on them.  Which is... bad.  SO - I am going to attempt to stick to a new rule: At least ONE night a week I have BC night or E-flat night.  If I play them only once a week I will be in much better shape than I am currently.  I started tonight with a BC Squeak-fest.  It was tremendous.  At least I know it is me and not the instrument having the problem, since I had it worked on not too long ago.  Regardless of my clumsiness with it, it feels much better than it has in the past.  This makes me happy because I know if I just practice the thing it will sound better.  It's kind of fun and encouraging to sound like a total mess.  At least the only way to go is UP!

A little o' this and that

This is just a random post that's not really about anything specific, but who cares.  Since a week ago I have felt like most of what I say is a random stream of stuff.  I've said the same thing to myself over and over and several people have heard the same thing too.  Most people also reply with the same stories, but for some reason I keep going round and round.  Each and every day.  The days almost blend together as one big day of 'keeping myself together' and grabbing the bull by the horns.

So this morning I felt like staying in bed, but I did that a little too long yesterday and as nice as I thought it would be, it got be nowhere...fast.  So this morning I rested a bit and then went straight to my bike.  Love that bike.  The sun was shining and the temperature in the mid 60's.  I crossed the street and found myself in Prospect Park, which I took a couple of spins around and it felt good.  At least it was my bike and body doing the spinning instead of only the thoughts inside my head.

The first half of the park is the most challenging from where I live.  There is a bit of a hill that is just gradual and long enough that I can't do my 'usual' hill treatment. (Stand up and RUN).  I actually have to work at it a bit...but that's good.  Gets the heart rate up.  Coming back down the hill on the other side is my favorite....especially at the hour I was out today.  As I coasted down the hill and felt the air blowing all around me I could see the lake to my left.  The sun shone on the water which glistened like diamonds winking at me.  Nice.  I had to loop around and do another round of the park just so I could see it again.  

What else... I did some grocery shopping... much needed.  Then I bought a mop because my apartment is dirty and getting on my nerves so I intend to clean.  I think the job requires something stronger than Swiffer, so I got a more 'serious' mop.  Hope I can get around to it, but I have a couple of performances this evening and will have to start getting ready for that before too long.  Something about a road being paved with good intentions....

One other thing.  How is Google so smart???  This new Google Instant search is unbelievable.  It can finish my sentences for me.  It knows what I am looking for before I know it.  For those situations of "Oh, I can't remember what it's called... I think it starts with a B".... Google can read my mind.  Amazing.  We don't even have to think these days.  Google will figure it all out.   I am sitting here listening to Pandora, which knows what I want to listen to, searching Google which knows what I want to find.  Life should always be this easy. 

Spun right round...like a record, baby

What is it they say about history?  History repeats itself?  Learn from the past?  I don't know.  I guess all of it sounds good.  I am about ready for history to stop repeating itself.  Sure, it's always a variation and slightly different...and so exciting! *eye roll*  But all in all, it's the same old thing.

I'm not going to say much more.  It's all been said before.  Here and here and you get the point here.

As much as I love making those cookies, I'd rather not have to post this again unless I am remembering the past...or enjoying my departure from the past...not to comment on the present.  :)  Is it possible to stop history from repeating itself or do I always need to keep those neon stirrup pants, hair crimper, and chunky boots in the closet for the next time they come around?  Vintage clothing is one thing.  Vintage problems... something else.  Enough!

Living Situations

I've always heard that one of the most difficult things about living in New York is finding the place to live.  And I agree! There are so many different neighborhoods and each has it's great reasons to live in as well as its draw-backs.  Prices can be outrageous and it really comes down to location, location, location.  The closer you live to the heart of things, the more you are going to pay and the smaller it will probably be.  Live further out, have more space: pay less.  Live in the ghetto, pay even less.  I don't know if it's possible to to have it all.  I feel like there will always be a sacrifice, so you have to pick what is most important (at least in the moment) and go for it.

As I was walking around Manhattan this weekend I saw a beautiful building on Gramercy Park and figured that might be a nice place for me.  Just take a look.  Who wouldn't mind having a couple of shiny armor guys guarding the front door and gargoyles guarding the windows?  And walking the red carpet every time I run to the grocery store?  Sounds like my kind of place.  I came back to my cozy Brooklyn apartment and found my future apartment's website.  I did run into wee problem.  The building is no longer a rental, so I will have to buy.  Also the prices range from $484,500 - $6,690,600, but that includes bicycle storage AND white glove service!  So....I've got a little work to do.  Donations accepted.

Old New York

 Fifth Avenue Clock (1909) and Flat Iron Building (1902)

New Clothes for Claire

For a while now I have been thinking that I might want to get a new case for my clarinets.  I have had the same one for some time and it wasn't new when I got it. It's seen some mileage.  I started researching and thinking about what I might want to get to replace the old one.  I have a case cover that I really like with backpack straps that make it easy to carry around, so I thought I may just replace the inside case.  When I found out that was just as expensive as replacing the whole thing I decided I could get whatever I wanted!  I picked one by BAM that is supposed to be lightweight and very protective.  I pulled the trigger to the online store for all things woodwind and the next morning it was on its way to a new home.

My apartment isn't very good for receiving packages because if I am not home (which is usually the case) there is no place for UPS or the post office to leave a large package.  It ends up sitting at the post office until I can get there during business hours, which is difficult for me to do.  I've completely missed packages in the past and they have been sent back!  No good.  So these days I have everything delivered to work.  All week I anticipated the arrival of my new clarinet case (and a few other accessories I ordered).  Of course it arrives on Friday...the first day of my weekend...the one day I actually was home and could have received a delivery.  Oh well, that's just the way it goes.

I don't live very close to the office, so I decided not to go retrieve my goodies over the weekend.  The suspense would make it even better, right? After waiting, I was excited to get to work this afternoon!  And even more excited to get home and try it out!

Once I got home, I opened up my box like it was Christmas and tried it out.  My case has that new car smell to it.  So fun.  I feel a little bit, well, a lot, dorky that I get super excited about a clarinet case, but hey, that's my thing!  Anyway - "Claire" is snug and cozy in her new home and hanging out in my little practice area until I get home tomorrow and can make music with her.  We both look forward to taking the new case out for a real spin soon!

Water

Lincoln Center Fountain - close up

Cough cough cough

I've had a mystery cough for... I've lost track of time...I guess it's been 4 weeks now?  Yikes!  I really can't even remember when this whole thing started.  I guess it was the week after 4th of July weekend, so whenever that was.  Anyway - I've been to the doctor and tried allergy medications and tried cough syrups and tried antibiotics and nothing really seemed to do the trick.  The crazy cough is slowly but surely starting to go away and I'm ready for my life to go back to normal!!!  This thing has affected EVERYTHING.  I haven't been able to sleep well or have energy to do 'regular' things.  So frustrating.  Plus being so tiny and having such a violent cough has done some damage to my body.  I'm pretty sure I even cracked a rib!  Eek!  Not good.  Well, I'm headed back in to the doctor today to get the rib checked out.  I guess the cough is going away (ever so slowly) so it shouldn't be too much longer before I am back to life.  I don't know how much more of this I could take before my whole body just pops into pieces or I cough myself inside out.  That could be an interesting sci-fi movie, right?  The girl who coughs herself inside out and has to go through the rest of her life that way.  Hmmm.... okay... time to head to the doctor.

Summer Eats

Sometimes in the summer I feel like it is harder to find things to cook at home. The main reason is because it is so hot! All I want to do is eat ice cream! My apartment, as most New York apartments, does not have central AC. I have a window unit in my bedroom and there is one in the living room, but the kitchen stays pretty hot. Plus it is a small kitchen so the last thing I want to do is have a hot oven roasting something for hours. That just won't work in the summer!

Tonight I was having one of those "ugh...what am I going to eat" moments. I scanned the kitchen to see what I had and was able to throw together a really nice dinner salad. I broiled a salmon fillet which uses heat, but only for a short time, so that worked well. I had been to Trader Joe's grocery store earlier today and bought a salad mix I really like there. Mixed with baby spinach, topped with sliced mushrooms and raisins for some sweetness and we're on the way to something nice! I also bought a can of Tuscan bean salad from Trader Joe's. It looked interesting and I thought I would try it for a side dish, but I got inspired and added it to my salad. It is a mixture of kidney beans and chickpeas with herbs in lemon juice and olive oil. Drizzled over the greens and topped with the salmon fillet. A little balsamic vinaigrette and I'm in business!

Belts are important.

"Help stop crack. It's the law"

Playing lots of clarinet this week!

Yeehaw!