Happy New Year!

Bring it on 2010.

Nice try

I'm getting to some of my goals. I have practiced once today - scales and etudes on the Bb. I think I'll do another session after dinner on the A which will be solos and orchestral excerpts. I should probably review some of the scales again. I went through them all today and marked off the ones I really need to focus on. Unfortunately that list is longer than the ones I know. Some of them I'm truly dreadful at - like Dd minor. And my reeds are not very happy. Have to get some new ones tomorrow if this auditioning thing is going to work out.
I did finally get to finish a sewing project! These coasters are for one of my great friends who didn't know what a paisley was this summer. Now she knows. I had technical difficulties with the iron though. Did you know that if you accidentally drop a hot iron on generic carpeting that the carpet will melt? Yeah, I'm hoping my parents don't notice that one. It came off the iron though, which was my big concern.
Anyway, the coaster pattern is really easy and super cute. I saw them a few times at different quilting meetings but have never made them before. I got the directions at http://vtmountaingal.blogspot.com/2008/01/4-patch-folded-coasters-tutorial.html. They are easy to follow and there's great pictures to help.
Now that I've done something productive for a while, I think I'll play sims...

Goals for now

1. I will not continuously eat Dove chocolate.
2. I will not play Sims all day
3. I will practice scales, etudes, and solos every day until January 30th.
4. I will work on projects that are overdue gifts for friends and family.
5. I will at least begin the process of de-cluttering my childhood bedroom.
These seem simple, but it will be a lot to accomplish. Not to mention all the little things on my to-do lists - mailing bills, writing letters, cleaning out my email, forcing myself to go to the gym... Get an oil change, almost forgot that one. So much for the concept of a 'break.'

Holiday...isn't that a gas station?

Day after Christmas and all through the house, not a creature is stirring - except the NXT robot and the cat that's high on cat nip. I'm finally really feeling that my parent's house is REALLY not my my house anymore. I love them dearly but I can't function in the house as an adult. It's weird thinking of yourself as a guest in the house that was 'yours' in a sense. How does that happen?

Grad school auditions start in 12 days. Do I know my scales? Have I practiced? Naaaaww. Why Would I do that? I could just kill myself...this is several days without practicing. Stupid stupid stupid. Next phase of life is depending on my performance on my ability on this piece of wood and I barely touch it. Clearly I will need to keep a more strict schedule from now on. I'm finding that I can't wait to go to school somewhere. (so I better practice, right?) Not just for the music stuff, I mean, to go live somewhere. An apartment. Out of state. All mine. Whoooo!

I got a pretty awesome set of knives and strainers for Christmas (thinks!). Just thinking of my own kitchen is exciting.

I have been able to do some cooking, which is good. For the most part, cooking tends to be relaxing. Unless there is also baking involved, in which you unknowingly use butter substitute on a recipe that really doesn't work without real butter. Oops. I did make baked potato soup and some really amazing artichoke dip (inspired by one of my favorite English-ed friends!) I get made fun of because I use my computer as a travelling recipe book, but whatever. Who else has a recipe book that also plays Christmas music and Youtube videos?

I realized that, like always, I packed way more stuff to do than is actually necessary. Why do I have to be the weird college student that comes home with instruments, knitting, laundry, and a sewing machine? I have to make sure that I use the sewing machine. At least it will justify bringing it.

Merry Christmas! And let no one suffer from boredom!