Practicing

Frustration

Leave a comment

 

Like, not practicing the violin regularly, then practicing again regularly, and I suppose not building to that (though I feel I have), and invariably your damn right shoulder starts tingling, and you sort of stretch it out, but not really, because you are lousy at remembering to stretch.  And then a couple days later your right wrist hurts.  Not tingling, but the sort of aching, mildly nauseating pains as you attempt to play spiccato.  And you feel like you really are doing a lot of things right.  You’re standing up straight when you play, you’re working out so your arm and shoulder muscles are strong, your back could not be stronger than it is.  Everything should be going in your favor.

And of course it’s not.  Because your right wrist is always going to conspire against you and hold you back.  And you don’t know what to do, other than cry (a little, only a little bit), step away from the violin, and just try to relax.  Always it’s the right wrist, ever since you first starting having problems, at the age of 12.

This of course the day after you thought, damn, I just might be in the best shape of my life.

That’s what you get for being proud.

Insanity:  expecting that I can play the violin at some sort of high level without my body conspiring against me. 

Only a little bit of crying, right?  That’s okay, isn’t it? 

Random thoughts

Sprinter

3 Comments

No, that’s not me saying I’m a fast runner.  In fact, my trainer suggested yesterday that I might be faster in races if I walked—this is after I admitted that the run on Sunday only took us 5 to 10 minutes longer than usual.  I could tell he was really holding back the laughter.  Or perhaps laughed out loud.  I don’t know, I always forget stuff when I’m exercising.  I thought perhaps this weekend I’ll just walk the St. Patrick’s Day Race holding a bunch of green beers rather than run it…probably get a PR.

One of my students came in yesterday and said they were trying to figure out what to call this really warm season that is still winter.  She and her friends were puzzling between Sprinter and Wring.  I like them both!  (It’s like Brunch, why didn’t Lunfest get the prize instead?)

In other news, it’s been unseasonably warm here.  Everybody is freaking out that the summer will be boiling.  I went shopping yesterday for new spring/summer clothes. 

IMAG0619

It’s the classic blogger pose of self-portrait in a changing room.  BUT…what does that dress remind you of?  I couldn’t resist, especially for the price. (Under $25)

If you guessed:

Tantillo539

The bridesmaid dress from my wedding, well you win the prize!

Here’s the prize:

IMG_1899

I’ll be shipping out the cats in boxes later this week. 

Cat, Performing

Prokofiev (and lots of asides)

4 Comments

I am having a wonderful time working on Prokofiev’s Sonata for Solo Violin and the Duo (for two violins)—just one movement of each, but still.  WHY don’t I play more Prokofiev??

My sister Leslie and I performed the Duo on her second Master of Music recital back in…2004?  I’m too tired to think about it, but I got this picture from 2004 on my computer.

both2

And this one, close up on pores and eyebrows (but I remember thinking it was a fabulous picture at the time).

both2

Yes, friends, that is in the hallowed halls of CIM.  Where else are there blue/green brick walls??

both

I evidently wanted my features more in the middle of my face.

Anyway, Leslie played some other stuff on her recital too, but the highlight was (obviously) the Duo for Two Violins.  We’ve decided to reprise the second movement for our encore in April after the concerto performance (in South Carolina, at Presbyterian College). 

The other important thing about that time was that it was right around the time that the heat broke in our apartment.  Little did we know this would lead to a three month long battle with our landlord, moving to a new place, breaking our lease, suing, and ultimately them settling.  Awesome.  I remember mainly being cold and angry, and feeling helpless.  I hate feeling helpless. (Stating the obvious, of course, because who does?)  Our new place was nicer anyway, but we only lived there a few months, and then Leslie went to Phoenix.  So, the Prokofiev (in a really contrived, stretched out way) represents our last bit of living together before we branched out on our own.  The end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood.  (Now I’m just making stuff up.)

DSC00388

Another picture on my computer in the "2004" folder.  Yes, that’s the fatness ("Oistrakh"), and her old friend "Heifetz" who is no longer with us.  (It’s the sad.  She was my first real pet, and was wonderful.)

DSC00387

Rarely did they sit this close.  Must have been cold—I still have that cow pillow and the blankets!  Not the couch, ha! 

In a nutshell, I really love Prokofiev.  The D Major Concerto no. 1 is perhaps my favorite violin concerto (I say, perhaps, please don’t make me choose), Symphony no. 5 (two words, midget porn), Lieutenant Kije (TROIKA!), and more…

That said, I’m not sure how I feel about the SLSO’s latest marketing campaign for Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite (which I do not know.)  I know they are trying to be funny (well, I presume)…but…well, check it out yourself if you like. (Oh, you see what I did there??)

I probably won’t attend, I’ll be resting up to kick butt in the Go! St Louis Half Marathon the next day.  I’d listen on the radio, but I imagine it would blow my speakers out.  (haha).

Running

Failed Run

6 Comments

Things I learned today that I really already knew:  You can’t treat your body like crap the night before and then run 10 miles.  It just doesn’t work that way.  We ran 6 incredibly slow, painful miles, with way too many walk breaks.  6 is better than nothing, but I’m pretty annoyed with myself.  I’m just chalking last week up to a disaster of a week for running, and tomorrow is another day.

(That’s not actually me.)

Tonight was a great success though!  Chris and I found out about a "Registry Completion Event" at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, where everything on your registry is 20% off.  We had gotten a lot of cash gifts from the wedding so we made a list of what we wanted to buy off the registry, and got EVERYTHING on it plus a little more because it ended up being cheaper than we thought.  The salespeople were very helpful, and we came home with a car full of pots and pans, knives, and towels.  Some other stuff is being shipped, for no additional cost (some things from the Beyond section that were out of stock in store.)  I know some folks had trouble buying in store from our registry at Bed, Bath, but online was easy and tonight they were just great. 

Alright.  I’m going to watch Shameless and hit the hay early tonight.  Time to start a new week off on the right foot. 

Cat

Haircut

1 Comment

I got a haircut, finally!  I haven’t had a haircut since before Thanksgiving.

And today, nobody noticed.  Or at least nobody said anything.  Oh well.  I think it’s hugely different.  I feel like my head is so much lighter, and my hair no longer chokes me in bed while sleeping.  I’m guessing she cut 4 inches? (I did metric estimation in Science Olympiad, not english estimation, plus I was never good at it.)

IMG_1897

IMG_1898

Crazy eyes!

IMG_1894

It’s so bright!  And she’s so tired…

I am too.  It’s Friday night, end of a long week.  I’m vegging out in front of the television, watching Parenthood from a couple weeks ago (I’m behind.)  But, I wanted to share my photos with you!

Tomorrow night:  Home Wine Kitchen with friends, can’t wait.  I’ve been wanting to go for awhile and finally we are going!

What are you doing this weekend?

Random thoughts

Need more coffee before I have a title for this post

3 Comments

IMG_1892

This is what temptation looks like.  Trick:  do not open any of the boxes.  Wait.  (Not sure what for.  A sign from God?  Perhaps for somebody to say, hey, Hannah, you’ve lost too much weight, you should eat some girl scout cookies?)  Darn adorable students selling cookies.

IMG_1893

This is all the music I have to finish learning and perform in the next month. 

This has been a lousy running week.  Yesterday I managed a run/walk for 4 miles (was fine), today I didn’t go at all (stomach issues).  Tuesday I should have stayed at the gym and run but I needed to get groceries before teaching.  Maybe tomorrow I can do a short run after my workout with Mike, though I have a lunch meeting at work.  Saturday is also a strong possibility for a short run.  Sunday we are running 10 miles, rain or shine. 

bazu-476763

(What I look like running in the air, a rare occurrence!)

Oh, and I got a text from Leslie last night asking when my half marathon was, and did I want to do a training run in South Carolina.  I can only assume she is already packing for the trip.  Leslie, shall we wear the green shorts and orange tops, or do you want purple shorts and PF Chang’s 2011 shirts?  Or Aqua shorts with green tops?  What are you thinking?  My current shoe choices are pink or turquoise, if that matters.

thoughts about violin, teaching, running, life.