No, this is not a post about my New Year's resolutions, or about what yours should be. Don't worry.
Check out this blog: http://www.raptitude.com/
Ok, I lied...this may inspire resolutions, it did for me.
Keep perspective, people.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! I hope this holiday finds you warm and content, as Christmas should bring a message of hope and light.
Technology truly is a wonderful thing. I spent many hours on Skype today with my family doing everything we normally do on Christmas. We opened presents (I even had my usual seat on the couch, well the computer did...), we ate Christmas dinner, we opened stockings, we even searched for the pickle! (My mom hides a pickle ornament in the tree and my sister and I have to find it, it's a bit of a Pennsylvania tradition). I marvel at how great technology is. Thanks to Skype and FaceTime, I felt like I was there with my family all day. Though nothing can replace spending time together in person, this was a nice substitute given that I'm 2,000 miles away.
Since it's Christmas, allow the meaning of this day to seep into your life in the coming months. Especially if you're an artist reading this, take this season to think about why you do what you do. As artists we get so caught up in our work, our playing, how we sound, etc etc etc. It's so easy to get caught up in the technical aspects of the work and we very quickly become very self-absorbed. But what is art really about? Do we do it to show off or to glorify our own abilities? Or do we create/perform to affect those around us? We've been given such incredible gifts as artists. It is our responsibility to use them for others, not to glorify our own work.
Reach out, spread hope and light with your work this season.
Merry Christmas.
Technology truly is a wonderful thing. I spent many hours on Skype today with my family doing everything we normally do on Christmas. We opened presents (I even had my usual seat on the couch, well the computer did...), we ate Christmas dinner, we opened stockings, we even searched for the pickle! (My mom hides a pickle ornament in the tree and my sister and I have to find it, it's a bit of a Pennsylvania tradition). I marvel at how great technology is. Thanks to Skype and FaceTime, I felt like I was there with my family all day. Though nothing can replace spending time together in person, this was a nice substitute given that I'm 2,000 miles away.
Since it's Christmas, allow the meaning of this day to seep into your life in the coming months. Especially if you're an artist reading this, take this season to think about why you do what you do. As artists we get so caught up in our work, our playing, how we sound, etc etc etc. It's so easy to get caught up in the technical aspects of the work and we very quickly become very self-absorbed. But what is art really about? Do we do it to show off or to glorify our own abilities? Or do we create/perform to affect those around us? We've been given such incredible gifts as artists. It is our responsibility to use them for others, not to glorify our own work.
Reach out, spread hope and light with your work this season.
Merry Christmas.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Holiday Shopping
This post's title is not to be misleading. When I say "holiday shopping," I don't mean shopping for christmas presents. I mostly mean, shopping (for me) around the holiday season...yesterday was a rough day on the bank account.
We ventured the 10 miles out of Minneapolis (yes, that's where the show is right now) to Bloomington, MN (not to be confused with Bloomington, IN, very different) to the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the US. AKA, heaven. It's so big, there's an amusement park inside and an aquarium in the basement. But seriously, who has time for those things when there are SO many stores?? We surely didn't.
The day started off with fantastic finds at both Urban Outfitters and H&M. I love winter and I LOVE winter clothes, so this day had danger written all over it. Continue to Express and it was all downhill from there. I did manage to pick up a few christmas gifts for family and found an adorable, portable (yes, you're reading this correctly) cookie maker. That's right, regardless of where this crazy career takes me for the holidays, christmas cookies can and will be made. Macy's is brilliant.
Needless to say, we shopped for 5 hours...'twas a good day.
Today brings a gown morning, then a rehearsal for our benefit concert on Monday. Check out the pic below for more details. (I know I've already posted this, but I'm posting again for good measure.)
We ventured the 10 miles out of Minneapolis (yes, that's where the show is right now) to Bloomington, MN (not to be confused with Bloomington, IN, very different) to the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the US. AKA, heaven. It's so big, there's an amusement park inside and an aquarium in the basement. But seriously, who has time for those things when there are SO many stores?? We surely didn't.
The day started off with fantastic finds at both Urban Outfitters and H&M. I love winter and I LOVE winter clothes, so this day had danger written all over it. Continue to Express and it was all downhill from there. I did manage to pick up a few christmas gifts for family and found an adorable, portable (yes, you're reading this correctly) cookie maker. That's right, regardless of where this crazy career takes me for the holidays, christmas cookies can and will be made. Macy's is brilliant.
Needless to say, we shopped for 5 hours...'twas a good day.
Today brings a gown morning, then a rehearsal for our benefit concert on Monday. Check out the pic below for more details. (I know I've already posted this, but I'm posting again for good measure.)
Monday, December 5, 2011
Winter Wonderland
Today's travel day is brought to you by Canada, Le Peep, and Snow.
Corey, the former resident director of the tour, joined me (rather suddenly) on today's 10 hour travel adventure from Grand Rapids, MI to Minneapolis, MN. Having a travel companion is always nice! After a brisk, early start to the day, I decided to feed Corey's obsession with college campuses and took a small detour from I-94. Note the picture on the left. That's right, I ended up back in Evanston, IL for a quick lunch at Le Peep, after of course driving Corey all around Northwestern, bragging the whole time about how much I love the place.
After our brief stop, we continued up through Wisconsin. And a good 5 hours of the drive is up through the sprawling farmland of western Wisconsin. Sounds boring? Wrong. Check out the pic below. It was like driving through a perfect winter wonderland. It made that part of the drive spectacular.
Confused as to why Canada is involved? Well, Corey is Canadian. And apparently most of western Wisconsin reminds him of Canada. Maybe it's the snow?
Anyway, here's to two wonderful, freezing cold weeks in Minneapolis. You thought Chicago was cold? It's only December here and it feels like the dead of winter already. Thank goodness there's a mall nearby. Oh I'm sorry, thank goodness America's largest mall is nearby, just in time for Christmas.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
'Tis the Season
It's officially December and time is driving full speed ahead towards Christmas. For those of you who don't know my family, a disclaimer: Christmas is a huge deal in our house. So huge, we're talking 7 trees. I'm not kidding. Anyway, I've spent a good deal of the Christmas season away from home in past years, but this year will be the first that I spend Christmas day away from from home.
So, to avoid a sudden bout of near-clinical depression, I'm creating my own Christmas traditions on the road.
1. Music- This one is easy thanks to iTunes. My Christmas favorites of the past are still on my computer, ready to be played on shuffle over and over. Also, thanks to Pandora, Christmas music is even more accessible. But recordings aside, a friend and I have been doing our own little Christmas jam sessions. It's sexy. Violin and viola improv duets. Some of them fall flat, and I'm serious, some of them just suck, but they give us a great laugh. But then you get some moments that are beautiful and leave you speechless. I think Silent Night is our favorite so far.
2. Decorations- With music complete, decorations are the next part to make December feel like Christmas. Thanks to Target, the following pics have been made possible:
The first is the tree in my room. It's tacky and wonderful, and delightfully reminds me of the season each day. The second is our pit tree! (yes, Jill, I stole this off your blog) What's the season without a little fun at work?
We also decorated the pit with little ornaments and a slightly wilted poinsettia. I hope the people in the upper balcony can look down and see it.
3. Concerts- Ok, so this maybe isn't the thing that puts me in the Christmas mood every year, but you know as a musician, Christmas gigs are a big deal. So, here's an upcoming Christmas event. I hesitate to use the word gig, it's a benefit concert in Minneapolis in about a week. If you're in the area, you really should come. It's for a great cause and the music will be tremendous.
That is all. Forgive me for this rambling post, I'm not yet caffeinated for the day.
So, to avoid a sudden bout of near-clinical depression, I'm creating my own Christmas traditions on the road.
1. Music- This one is easy thanks to iTunes. My Christmas favorites of the past are still on my computer, ready to be played on shuffle over and over. Also, thanks to Pandora, Christmas music is even more accessible. But recordings aside, a friend and I have been doing our own little Christmas jam sessions. It's sexy. Violin and viola improv duets. Some of them fall flat, and I'm serious, some of them just suck, but they give us a great laugh. But then you get some moments that are beautiful and leave you speechless. I think Silent Night is our favorite so far.
2. Decorations- With music complete, decorations are the next part to make December feel like Christmas. Thanks to Target, the following pics have been made possible:
The first is the tree in my room. It's tacky and wonderful, and delightfully reminds me of the season each day. The second is our pit tree! (yes, Jill, I stole this off your blog) What's the season without a little fun at work?
We also decorated the pit with little ornaments and a slightly wilted poinsettia. I hope the people in the upper balcony can look down and see it.
That is all. Forgive me for this rambling post, I'm not yet caffeinated for the day.
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