Deep Thoughts

Raise your right hand

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I was reading a friend’s blog this morning (food, sweat, and beers) and learned that there is an ad campaign from DeBeers encouraging women to get diamond rings for themselves for their right hand.

So, what if you play the violin and wear your "I love you" ring on your right hand?  Does that mean that he loves me and I love me too?  I’m so confused…advertisers and diamond companies, please help!

I have a new adult student, who is married, wears her rings on her left hand like "normal" people.  The other day I kept hearing weird plucking noises (the e-string) from her.  I asked, what is that noise?  She says, oh sorry, my ring keeps turning.

And that, my friends, is definitively why I wear my rings on my ring hand.  Can’t have weird noises coming from the violin. 

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My sister Leslie and I, both amazing violinists.  Note also her short nails. 

For the layperson:  One of the funniest things about being an instrumental musician is when you are clothes shopping and you find something neat.  And then you or your friend says, but can you play in it?  And you start waving your arms around, or maybe feeling the left shoulder to see if it bumps or does something that will be annoying.  Plus then there’s the problem of earrings, and necklaces, bracelets and watches are a no, short skirts can be a huge problem, long skirts too…even the shoes you wear must be taken into account.  Every instrument has its own limitations. 

Did I say funniest things?  I meant most annoying.

So the fact that I wear my rings on my right hand really says, first, I love the violin. 

Food, Random thoughts

Lemon Cake Batter Blondies

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The title really says it all.  And I shouldn’t publish this yet, but I’m going to ANYWAY, so if you are reading this and going to the same barbeque (barbecue) (oddly windows live writer doesn’t have a problem with barbeque but I LOST a spelling bee on that word so I know it’s barbecue) (or bbq) (squiggly red underline) then the surprise is spoiled.  If you are going to the same barbecue likely you’ve had regular cake batter blondies before, since I like to make those on occasion. 

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This morning Jen and I were going to run 11 miles, that’s two loops around the Park.  I did a lot of things right—I ate well the night before, I got plenty of sleep, and I woke up with a bit of a sore throat.  Allergies…I hope (I really don’t want to be sick right now)…and it killed the run.  After about 7 miles I was in serious trouble (I am such a lousy running partner, I’m sorry Jen!) and Jen pointed out I had been breathing really loudly the whole way, and she was pretty concerned about my ability to finish the run.  So we made an executive decision to turn around.  8.6 miles rather than 11, with some walking…even when walking I was having a lot of trouble breathing.  Ugh.  3 weeks until the half, this does not bode well for a PR.

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So I came home and decided to bake.  I didn’t want to go to the store though, unless I had to, so I had to mix up my recipe a bit.  I had lemon cake on hand…and I thought lemon cake would be amazing.   It is.

Lemon Cake Batter Blondies (adapted from Girl Meets Life)

1 box lemon cake mix

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/4 to 1/2 cup milk (start with less, then add more if needed)

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Mix together, add to greased pan, bake for 30 minutes at 350.  Try not to eat them all at once.

Yeah, that’s it.  Delicious!  I’ve eaten just one or two, depending on how you want to count it.  Might be three soon, but then I promise I will bring them over to my friend’s house.  Nobody wants to write "entire pan of blondies" into a food diary, not even me.

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I also spent over an hour on my taxes, something I’d been dreading.  It wasn’t so bad—I’ve got all my research done and now I’m ready to input into the program.  I’ll do that another day (tomorrow…?).  I also did laundry and I’ve been chugging water and G2 like there’s no tomorrow (the way my throat/head feels there might not be).  Technically now it should be practice time but I may just need another day off from the violin.  I leave for SC in one week, but showing up injured isn’t going to help me play better.

Now I’m going to go back and insert random pictures into the post.  Keep that in mind. 

Random.

Random thoughts

Wine Press Concert

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Last night was our concert at the Wine Press that I’ve been telling you about.  I was super stressed out about it for two main reasons: I had agreed to speak about a piece, and I was playing a solo piece from memory.  However, it went fantastic (overall) and I feel SO great for having risen to the challenge.

I learned that I really love to be a comedian.  My talk was full of jokes, primarily off the cuff.  I don’t know if it was any good, but people did laugh, and honestly, I love the feeling of a room full of people laughing at me.  Wait, did that come out wrong?

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Warming up at home.  My neck muscle looks pretty strained…I need to think about that.  Isn’t the dress awesome though?  I can’t wait to wear it again.

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My trick was to write the music on the inside of my eyelids.  That way I didn’t actually have to have it memorized.

My friend April took a couple pictures during the performance:

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This is during the Prokofiev Solo Sonata (also for Unison Violins.  Think about that.  In fact, I suggested to the audience they imagine another dozen violinists playing along with me, clones of myself.)

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Me and Laura during the Martinu Duo.  We had very similar shoes (I saw her wearing hers and I was inspired to buy a pair of my own.)

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Jen, Laura, Valentina, and me.  Doesn’t everybody look gorgeous??

All in all, it was a great evening.  We had a good crowd (shout out to Suzanne and Michelle for coming out!) and I hope people come back to our future concerts. 

Next Chamber Project St Louis concert is on April 13 at the Chapel.  Lots of good stuff, including Brahms Clarinet Quintet and a repeat of the Martinu, but with a different violist since Laura will be due around then—it’ll be with my husband Chris.  Mark your calendars!

Running

Who likes to play dress up?

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This race was a lot of fun last year, and I’d love even more friends to come out and run (and hopefully it’ll be less rainy.)

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Oh, and it should go without saying, but if you don’t at least make a valiant attempt at a costume of sorts I probably won’t speak to you until a few weeks later.  Who’s in??

Random thoughts

Never need an excuse for shopping

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But it’s nice to have one!  Today I made plans to shop with my friend Laura.  My excuse was I had shoes for this weekend’s concert but I needed an outfit.  Since I plan to stand for everything (an unusual occurrence) I thought it might be nice to get a new spring dress—something I could wear for this weekend and then wear again for other stuff like dinners out, symphony concerts, or whatever comes up!  Laura wanted to go to Baby Gap.  (And I’m not going to lie.  I did too.  I haven’t had a real excuse to do that since my little sister Carrie was born, and I don’t recall ever going to Baby Gap then…don’t get excited though mom.  I want to see my abs first 😉 )

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Lovely old St Louis streets (on my way to pick up Laura).

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My rule for today was that I wanted to match these shoes (which are lighter than they appear here), and ideally get something with a nice spring color, not black, and also I wasn’t allowed to buy purple clothes since I have enough.  Note:  I have these shoes in black and wanted to get another pair after wearing them for a wedding and LOVING them.

But the other colors weren’t available anymore on Zappos.  I lucked into this pair the other week at either Marshall’s or TJMaxx (for less than half) and was SO excited.  I am pretty tall and Chris is not, so I don’t like to wear mega heels around him…also I don’t like to wear mega heels anyway because then I just tower over everybody.  But heels do make your legs look better…this pair is the perfect height, not dowdy, and is also pretty darned comfortable.  (I believe they also come in red…I should do some research.)

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We hit up a couple of stores, and I even tried on this as a potential bridesmaid dress.  (What do you think, Leslie?  The skirt is too full for my taste and makes me look like a 13 year old…but otherwise?)  and no I didn’t try on all those clothes, they just needed to clear out the dressing rooms.  You know, it gets so BUSY on Wednesdays during the day at the mall.

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We found this absolutely adorable onesie at Baby Gap on clearance.  Chris has a similar top but he has to wear pants with his.  I made an inappropriate joke about how that outfit would be excellent for date nights, what with the snaps around the bottom.

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I found a dress at Macy’s that absolutely fit the bill!  And I bought it.  I’ll get a picture on Friday of the whole outfit.  Anyway, shopping success!

Then we hit up Sephora.  Laura said she can’t buy clothes now but she can buy makeup.

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I broke my purple rule for some lip gloss.

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Not sure why that picture has to be sideways, but evidently it must be.  It tingles a bit and I presume makes my lips look enormous and full and truly luscious.

Deep Thoughts

Can you be addicted to Advil?

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First things first:  Chamber Project St Louis Concert this weekend!  I’m playing a movement of the Prokofiev Solo Sonata, the Martinu Duo for Violin and Viola, and Haydn’s London Trio no. 1.  There’s some other pieces on the program as well, and it will be a wonderful show.  Information below.

Dinner & Concert at The Wine Press
March 23, 5:00-9:30 pm
"Haydn meets Hendrix"
Enjoy a great meal followed by a great concert
Reservations required  314-298-9463 or
stlwinepress@gmail.com
$40 includes meal, wine and concert

Now for the regular blog content:

Ty Webb to Danny: "Do you take drugs, Danny?"

Danny: "Every day"

Ty: "Good. So, what’s the problem?"

(name that movie)

Chris and I were talking at dinner last night (that in itself is a shock, I mean, what, married people talking???) and I mentioned it occurred to me the other day that I had been taking Advil every day.  I’ve always taken a fair amount of medicine for headaches, but then I started taking it for various running aches and pains plus violin pains…and suddenly you realize you’ve been taking 2 to 6 Advil a day (well, really, generic, but same idea) for as long as you can recall.  Certainly for a couple of months.  I’m worried I’m addicted to Advil!  Is that possible?  I mean, surely I can’t be in pain all the time, right?  Plus, I’m guessing it can’t be GREAT for my body to take drugs every day…and it seems if I’m not used to taking it all the time, when I do take it it would be more effective, right?  (disclaimer:  am not a doctor)

So today I am going to try not to take any Advil.  I feel like if I can go one day without it, then I’m okay.  So far I’m okay.  My legs and "glutes" hurt, but nothing I can’t handle.  I will try to stay up on my caffeine and water consumption to fend off any headaches.  My stress level is pretty high, but it is (hopefully) balanced out by the fact that I don’t have any teaching.  In fact, I am going to the mall, and since it’s not Christmastime or the weekend, that is pretty unstressful (you know I hate crowds).

So, dear readers.  I need your support in the upcoming 12 hours…wish me luck in my endeavour to become "drug-free." 

thoughts about violin, teaching, running, life.