I'm so vain.....

Disclaimer: This post is in no way related to a bug going down my shirt last week. Life in Chautauqua is probably a lot "cooler" for me, heh no pun intended (okay well maybe), than for the rest of you. It has rained probably 90% of the days we've been here. It was nice for the first little while, but now it's just starting to get old. The articles of clothing I brought that would be suitable for this weather include-- one 3/4 length sweater, 2 pairs of jeans, and a hoodie. When it rains, it tends to stay around 60 degrees (according to my internal thermometer), so I am kind of cold sometimes! On another note, I receive in my inbox every day at least 5 emails from different stores like JCrew, Victoria's Secret, American Eagle, Banana, and my own personal stylewatch email, which have been all about the "fall preview" lately. Normally I don't even open these because a. I don't have the $ to dump on that stuff b. I don't really care c. I don't have TIME, but latley I have looked and I just have to say I am realllllly into the sweater thing. Lots of people here who are smarter than I am came with several different cute sweaters that they wear and it just looks so cute and (gasp) I confess I covet their apparel. Anyway, there really is no point to this post, but I do want to show just a thing or to that I am currently "coveting." Oops.


This one is on sale right now at Ann Taylor Loft (and in 3 other colors, too, mind you) for$20. Go get one. Or order it online I guess! This model is creepy.

JCrew. Just love it. Good thing I never shop there. How am I on their email list? Whatev.



Definitely am not digging the rest of this ensemble, well maybe the pants if I could see them, but I like this sweater, too. Another one from JCrew.



And for some crazy reason, I really want more comfy button-ups right now. I have one here and it is just a fave. This one is from JCrew and probably not worth the price tag! But look at her, doesn't she just look happy to be wearing that shirt?

Now is the point at which you all tell me what fabulous fashion sense I have and that I am so chic. And I'll just say-- I know right?!?!

I LOVE MYSELF.

Get ready... I'm gonna start to have some free time the next two weeks!!!! So I am starting with this...... Thank you, KT, for such a fabulous idea.

1. My name: Annie
2. My favorite food: Spaghetti. I heart it. I could eat it all the time.
3. My high school: Flower Mound High School....
4. My favorite color: Uh... green.
5. The place that I am at now: Chautauqua! It's really really pretty. Technically I am at the dorms, but who honestly wants to see a picture of that. Especially not the community bathrooms. Bleh.
6. My favorite drink: Well my favorite drink is really water, but IBC is cooler and I like it sometimes, so that's my favorite today.
7. My dream vacation: I just want to go to a beach. Anywhere. Please.
8. My favorite treat: PBJ!!!! Especially when it is all smashed up and gooey.
9. What I want to be when I grow up: A mommy. Sorry, it's hard to find a picture on flickr when you type in "mom." But that little boy is just so cute-- how can you not want to kiss his cheeks?
10. Whats most important to me: This one is a little complicated. The answer is the gospel and my family. I typed in family and everything that came up was related to animals-- a family of birds, elephants, penguins. So I just went with a poster for "The Music Man" because that is my family's favorite show to watch together. Can I get a "Ulele, sit down?!"
11. A word to describe me: Well it says ambitious up there, but I really think the best word is AWKWARD!!!
12. A nickname of mine: Mary Poppins.

If you want to be cool and make one of these, too, here's what you do:

Step 1: Go to flickr.com
Step 2: In another window open http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php
Step 3: Choose 4 columns, 3 rowsStep 4: Answer the questions in the search bar of flickr and pick your favorite picture on the page and paste the address into the mosaic maker. Create the mosaic and then save it to your computer and post it as a picture.

And just as a teaser for a future post.... A bug went down my shirt during a concert a week ago.

Some random events.....

Over the past few days I keep thinking of all of these funny things that have happened or just random things that have happened that I would like to remember, so I am dedicating this entry to writing down a few of them.

Last week I was walking behind a bunch of brass players and I heard someone say BYU, so I just kinda yelled up there, "Hey, did you guys just say BYU?" And they said yeah. And I said, "What about it?" And they said, "It's the college with the highest teen pregnancy." I have a really hard time believing that... it's kinda funny what people hear.

In rehearsal a few weeks ago we were running the 4th mvmt. of the Hindemith and Mr. Muffit stops and says, "Let's try that section again." We run it again and we stop. Flutes you are too loud, piccolo you are just right. Lucky for me I was the piccolo player. Coincidentally, I didn't even have a part in the passage. I just smiled.

Emlyn and I went over to Judy's house for dinner last week and let me just say it was so delicious. When you eat cafeteria food every day, just about anything would taste good, but still this would have tasted fantastic if I hadn't been eating cafeteria food any day. Anyway, the point is, when we walked in the door she asked if we would like something to drink and we both had lemonade. She quickly informed us she had been to a wine and cheese party about 2 hours before and apologized if she was a little tipsy. Everything seemed to be fine until Emlyn and I finished our lemonades and I see Judy reach into the fridge and pull out a wine bottle. She heads for my glass and starts to tip the bottle over and I put my hand on my glass and said, "Uh, Judy, I don't think that is lemonade!" She was so embarrassed! Good thing I was paying attention, though!

This is from a long time ago, but on the 4th of July we went to a CSO pops concert. If I haven't made this point clear enough in the past, let me make it now. Most people here are old. Lots have hearing aids. They are all lovely, just hard of hearing. So we are listening to this concert and all of a sudden the lady right behind us "whispers", "He's a real shmaltzey guy!" You just have to picture an old lady saying this in a really high-pitched nasally voice and it's great. Same thing happened today at a Beethoven Marathon Violin Recital I went to. This guy in front of me, sporting a hearing aid, leans over to his wife and "whispers", "That's not like Beethoven at all!" About half the auditorium turned and stared. Old people are just so cute. You have to love them.

Did I post about Tony finding glass in his chicken? We were eating lunch one day and all of a sudden Tony's eyes start popping out of his head and Cari Sue and I stopped chewing and stared back at him like, "What is your problem?" Long story short, there was glass in his fried chicken. Lucky for him he didn't swallow it. Since this event, we have heard other cafeteria food scares, like someone found a screw in their mashed potatoes last year. I had the mashed potatoes tonight. Don't worry... I'm all clear.

After our very first concert we were all in the commons area of our dorm having snacks that were provided by our counselors, who happen to be an older couple, probably around 65. They are super nice people who also happen to be from Texas. Also, most everyone in my dorm seems to be foreign. I don't know how Carrie, Cari Sue, and I ended up here... maybe I look Asian.... Anyway, so one girl is from Poland and her name is Agnieskza (or something like that).. you pronounce in Ahn-ee-esh-ka. Well, our counselors are congratulating everyone and the woman runs up to Agnieskza and says, "Oh Ag-a-nee-ska! You were just great on that piano! Did you have to practice with a metronome for that?!" The twangy accent didn't really help. Carrie and I about peed our pants.

When I woke up this morning there was a text on my phone from my pianist in one of my chamber groups that came around midnight last night and said, "U r invited to cool people's meeting in hut 40! Right now!!" The pianists here are real binge drinkers. Actually, there are a lot of people here that seem to be hungover. Before I came here I couldn't really describe what a person who is hungover would look like/act like (I know, I know.... sheltered), but now I'm a pro!

More updates to come! Concert #3 is tomorrow! Exciting!

Happy Happy Happy

Another week down! Seriously, I can't believe I've been here 2 weeks. Time flies. We have our 2nd concert tomorrow night and I have a pretty darn good feeling about it. I am excited. Then we will start new music on Tuesday morning-- a Ravel opera, Don Juan, and a Beethoven Overture. And btw, I looked at Don Juan yesterday and I'm just gonna say... oh freak.



Life in Chautauqua is just peachy. There were several highlights this week that I want to share with you, my dear readers.


-Tony found a piece of glass in his chicken at lunch. I knew I was right about not eating the meat here.

-I got a new computer this week! And it's green! Thanks, dad! But. Let us all have a moment of silence for my tank of a computer. We spent 5 turbulent years together.


-We came out of orchestra rehearsal yesterday at noon and it was pouring rain, no one had umbrellas, and we had to make it back to the dorms. Picture in your mind 60 orchestra kids running with their instruments (in their cases, of course). It was hilarious. I took off my shoes and sprinted like a crazy person. Another time that I feel thankful to be a flute player, as I whizzed past the cellists and bassoonists. I felt so awesome. A bunch of the cello girls were like, "Go Annie!" I am such a rock star.


-I got a package from my mom with awesome stuff like washcloths, a beach towel, a swimsuit and goggles, granola bars, a key ring, cards, and flip flops. I never felt so happy.


-I walk past this sign every day. It is at the bottom of the stairs in my dorm. Sorry, you probably can't see the smaller print, but one of my favorite recognition points is definitely protruding wires or tinfoils. Who knew? These people are geniuses.




-Today at church this girl walks up to me and says, with no introduction or hello, "Madonna has a dress just like that!" I responded, "Oh, really?"And she says, "Yeah! I saw pictures and you look just like her!" The poor thing... she wasn't quite all there mentally, but she sure does know how to carry on an interesting conversation! Definitely the first time I have ever been compared to Madonna. Probably the last. And don't worry.... I wasn't wearing some scandal of a dress. Okay, yes I was.


-The 2nd movement of the Beethoven Flute, Bassoon, and Piano Trio is possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. I didn't even know it existed.


-We went out for ice cream at the local refectory last night because it was Cari Sue's bday and it was SO good. I love everything peanut butter, just so everyone knows. It is one of my favorite foods.


Non-highlights:

-My face hurts. I've had to not answer a few phone calls tonight because I just can't talk anymore! Actually no, I just hate you all and don't want to talk to you. Ha! Just kidding.


-I am still having 24 withdrawals.


-I heard the Berg Violin Concerto at the CSO concert. Bleh. Barf in my own mouth. Not enjoyable at all.

-All housing options fell through. If you know of someone in Boston who needs a roommate....

-There was no granola this morning for breakfast. If only those cafeteria people knew how this ruins my life. Luckily, there were Cheerios. My favorite cereal. And there are still blueberries galore so how can I complain?

Things I'm looking forward to about this week:



-HARRY POTTER! Emlyn and I are definitely going and I can't wait.

-Judy invited Emlyn and I over for dinner on Wednesday. Yay for home-cooked meals!

-A break from the piccolo after tomorrow.

-Maybe going to the beach a few times? Maybe?



-I'm starting a new book.



-I have a lesson tomorrow. That's exciting I guess.



Obviously my life is pretty exciting. Hope you all enjoyed that.

4th of July Festivities

Just in case you think you are cooler than me, I am posting pictures of what I did on the 4th of July. Read em and weep my friends. This past weekend I was able to come into my own again as a true band nerd and it was exhilarating! The Chautauqua Community band is basically just a little band that rehearses one time and then gives a concert on the main plaza on the 4th of July (and we'll do it again in August I think). ANYONE can play in this band. We had a blast.

This is a picture of us playing. Presh. I was surprised at how many people came to hear us.

This isn't a particularly good picture of me, but I need to post it so that you can see the lady that is sitting two people away from me. She's wearing a red ball cap. She INVENTED ALEVE. Those little pills... she invented them. She's really funny and wants me to come over to house with the blue wrap-around porch. Hm.... maybe she will give me free Aleve.

Check out our awesome community band T's. Me, Emlyn, and Daniel. MSFO flutes. Our first picture together. Fer cute!

My fan club!!! Cari Sue and Carrie. Both girls are from BYU and Carrie is my roommate for these 7 weeks. They are fantastic! Btw, Cari Sue is concert master this week.... represent! I think it's concert mistress, actually. Whatever.

And this is a normal picture of us. I really like this flute section.

So, the 4th was fun. We went to the CSO concert at the Ampitheater that night, complete with the 1812 Overture and canons provided by paper bags in the audience. It was awesome. The fireworks weren't all that special, but it was fun to be down on the docks with everyone. It was freezing. You aren't supposed to wear jeans and jackets on the 4th of July.

I am still in love with breakfast here-- it's the first thing I think of when I wake up. The blueberries are amazing and I just load them up on my granola and I feel like I am in heaven. Really. Lunch and Dinner still make me want to vomit. Tonight we had some sort of mystery meat....

Life is starting to get crazy. I am in three chamber groups, orchestra, and I do my own solo stuff and lessons. We have to rehearse a few times each week with each group and be coached at least one time for each group, so it's pretty crazy. I rehearsed with my quintet today and I was really impressed with them-- they are all really good-- but let's face it, they aren't Funky Winds. Our first orchestra concert was last night and it was a great concert. The audience went crazy and it was so fun to see people as we were walking home and they were freaking out and asking us how old we are (that's a touchy subject for me) and telling us how much they just loved the concert. Everyone sounded really good, but I felt like poop. I did really well, except for the Tuilleries movement of Pictures. I practiced those runs so many times and I think I just psyched myself out. It's just embarrassing because everyone here is so good and I just didn't really measure up. After I played that movement I just sat in my chair and thought, "I can't do this. This isn't for me. I hate this." I was pretty much a Debbie Downer for the rest of the night. I don't know what my deal is. Sometimes this happens to me and I feel SO unsure if this is what I really should be doing, if I am really cut out for this. I look at the two people sitting next to me and they are so good and so confident and they have nerves of steel and I can just all of a sudden freeze up and freak out. That's not something that I can feel good about, especially when there are so many other people counting on me to come through. And our private teacher was at the concert which made me even more embarrassed. Bleh. Last night just confirmed the fact that I feel totally inadequate here. I'll get over it. Every day is a new one.

So anyway. After that lovely heart-to-heart. I think I've got a place to live in Boston. We'll see. I've met a few people here that are from BU and they have been so great to tell me all about Boston. I'm excited to move there! And funny story. Today at lunch, 3 of us BYUers were eating with a bunch of other people, as usual, and this clarinet player turns to us and says, "Have any of you guys ever had beer out of a frisbee?" Seriously I about died. Poor guy, he didn't realize he had turned and asked the three people at the table who don't drink. It was really funny.

Also, I finished season 5 of 24, so I have had to find alternate forms of entertainment. I didn't like season 5. Just FYI. The weather is starting to warm up here, so I can go outside this week. Wahoo.

Tomorrow we start our rehearsals for next Monday's concert. We are playing Dvorak's Scherzo Capriccioso (super awesome), Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Wagner's Die Meistersinger, and Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphoses. I am playing first on Dvorak, 2nd on Tchaik, and picc on Wagner and Hindemith. The Hindemith has a crazy picc part. I think the maestro is going to want to kill me when he hears me play the piccolo. I really am not going to make a good first impression! Oh well. I'm just here to get better! Peace out people.

P.S. I really like my flute teacher. He's cool.

The past few days.....

Somebody please pinch me. I really have died and gone to heaven. I will miss you all dearly, but heaven really isn't so bad, so I think I'll just stay. Here's what I have been up to lately.

Tuesday:

Lots of Rain. Practice shacks are kind of a bummer because it isn't fun traipsing through the mud to get to them. Boo. We had rehearsal in the morning for 2 and a half hours and things went considerably better than Sunday. Considerably. Phew. My section rocks. Let's be honest. I'm so lucky to be playing with such strong players!!! Cafeteria food is preeeeeeeeetty crappy. I have a pita with hummus and cold, stewed vegetables (because by the time I get to them they are cold) every day so far. It's not bad, but I could do better. I have to take an hour and a half or so off after lunch because I am pretty beat. I can't play all day straight! My friend from Ecuador said that he practiced from 10 PM to 2 AM last night. Weird. He's the bomb, though, so I'm not going to argue. I am doing an intense Preach My Gospel study program and it is making my life extra good. 24 is coming in 2nd. Actually, it's probably first if you consider how much time I spend watching compared to PMG. I'm prioritizing, though. And all I have to say about 24 is one big sigh. I am sad. Last night we also had what is called the "Connections Picnic." Every arts student here has a "Connection." This is basically just someone who is here to help us out, support us, and be our cheerleader at all of our performances. Me and the other girl flute player, Emlyn, were placed with a very sweet lady named Judy. She has been coming here for over 20 years and is just a doll. She runs a private music school in NYC, has never owned a car, and has a private flute studio of 21 students. She is awesome. After the picnic she took us over to her little house, which she totally remodeled herself and it is adorable. I will take pictures and post them because it is like the most perfect thing you could ever see. It is a white house with yellow shutters, flower boxes on the windows, a cute little garden, and there are even swings on her front porch! And yes, this is totally for real. Judy told me and Emlyn that she is totally taking us for hamburgers at the best burger joint in Chautauqua and we are coming over for dinner a few times. And she told us to come sit on her porch swing whenever we want. She is so cute! And her house is so quaint. It's so great that she is a flute player, too, because we talked about flute stuff with her for awhile and she things we are superstars, so it's kind of fun. This whole idea of connections is so smart! I love it.

Wednesday:

Today was crazy!!! I got up and went running for the first time since I've been here (hoping to make it a habit). It was so beautiful! I ran around the lake, but eventually got lost and had to ask someone for directions back to my dorm. The great thing is that there are SO many people out exercising, so it's just kind of fun! And everyone says hello and.... it's just pleasantville. Then I got ready and ate breakfast, which was actually good for once. Fresh blueberries and strawberries and good bananas. By the way, this town has a strawberry festival in July and Judy is going to take us to it! I can't express my excitement. I practiced a bit before rehearsal and then was at rehearsal for most of the morning. We are sounding pretty good. I am about to whack the clarinets if they don't start playing in tune and chilling out, but other than that we're good. I didn't realize how much difficult flute stuff there was in Pictures. It's a great piece, though, and we're going to sound fantastic. I practiced some more after rehearsal, then I went to a meeting about teaching private lessons. So far I have a student for one week in July and he is 9 and I get $40 for every lesson I teach. Keep them coming, please! I took a break for some 24 before I went back to practicing, then I went to community band practice. All the members of the MSFO (Music School Festival Orchestra) pretty much got roped into doing this, but it is hilarious and a lot of fun. Anyone can play in this band, and we are playing on the main town square on July 4th. It is going to be a riot. We are playing one song on kazoos. Elmers!!! And I'll have a chance to brush up on my piccolo for Stars and Stripes. The best part is we all have these awesome matching T-Shirts, which I will take pictures in and post. The T-Shirts were even called "Collectors Item T-Shirts." Don't think I would miss on that. After rehearsal I went to the Chautauqua Women's Club Picnic because part of my scholarship came from them. The food was delicious and all of the old women were so cute. It was like Steel Magnolias. And a bunch of the vocalists got up and started singing while we were eating. Jaw drop. This one guy started singing Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific and I pretty much melted in my chair, I think. It's a good thing my mom wasn't there or she might have run away with him. It was a delightful picnic and then I had a sectional for an hour and a half and things are starting to gel a lot better. Now I am back in my dorm, ready for an episode of 24 before I go to bed. My life is awesome.

No MSFO rehearsal tomorrow, so that will be nice. I do have my first lesson with my flute teacher tomorrow, though, which I am really excited about. He ran the WW/Brass sectional today and was really fabulous, so I'm looking forward to my lesson!

Sorry if this is more than everyone wanted to know! It's kind of nice to have some documentation for myself, though.