Lets see if this happens

I have been listening to string quartet tributes of all sorts of pop/contemp. songs out there. They are very exciting to say the least.

I love to improv very much.

Matt has been composing his own music.

Other artists I admire: Miri Ben Ari, DBR, in addition to Hans Zimmer :-D

I would love to invest into music hardware and software so that I may begin composing and arranging and just learn about that aspect of music. I like to compose in the improv sense, it'd be so much faster to use hardware/software to get my music onto paper.

I am sure this can come in handy in many parts of my music life!

Themes

This semester very well may be a semester of re-reading books. All my favs. :)

I already finished reading The Giver. A book that makes you think about a world without pain. Without feelings. Without love.

Currently, I am reading The Outsiders. I already don't wanna put it down. S.E. Hinton really did a great job with this book. Finished Ch.2 and I had to stop myself from moving on; gotta go do laundry! But I may keep reading there!

I have been trying to find new favorite books. But, I haven't been able to help myself. Plus, now that I am an A-dult, I can read these books again with a whole new perspective. Since I'm a little more mature now, too! Funny thing; I know The Giver is an easy read, but the content is rather mature. I didn't really understand the book so well in 5th grade. Of course, there were many things I didn't know when most kids my age did. Sheltered and innocent. Oh well. Now I am informed and educated. Still have an innocent heart though, I hope! ;)

Next on my list to read may be:

Ella Enchanted
Catcher in the Rye
The Great Gatsby
House of the Spirits

I think that is all. I wonder how fast I'll get through them! I'm re-reading them right now for fun and just reflecting on them a bit. But I think I'm gonna go through them again and journal. Right now I just wanna enjoy them! Love reading so much <3

Love to be with Him

I miss Matt today. Specifically right now.

I want him to put his arms around me and squeeze me tight.
I want to see his smile- the one where his lower lip pulls his double chin up and the edges of his smile stretch   from east to west.
I want to hear his Matt laugh- a very special laugh no one could ever imitate.
I want to hear his voice, listen to him talk.
I want to be able to reach over and touch his hand.
I want to place myself in the nook of his arm and lean my head into the side of his neck.
I want to sit next to him, walk next him; drive anywhere, somewhere, no where with him in the seat next to me
I want to admire the hair he spikes up for me every day
I want my hand to hurt from having his fingers in between mine
I want to hear him play on the piano what his heart wants to say
I want to read what his eyes have to say when they look at me

I want him. Forever. For death to take us together so that neither of our hearts break.
I want him. Right now. By my side. That we may never be apart.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful love bird who was looking desperately for her life companion. After waiting and searching for so long, she found her perfect match at the start of one warm summer. They enjoyed sitting in a tree and doing things lovebirds do with their lifetime companion. Unfortunately, when the summer ended the lovebirds had to go back to their homes because of unfinished tasks at their family tree's. And so they agreed to meet when they could at the apple tree between their homes.

The beautiful love bird  was so happy to have found her companion, but was sad because she couldn't be with him. And since the weather wasn't so good at her home, she preferred to have him by her side. But she had to find a way to survive, and she did. Finally summer came again and the tasks at their respective family tree's became lighter. They were able to spend more time together at their favorite apple tree where they had their own tasks to tend to so that they could become independent.

Though the weather at the apple tree was wonderful, the weather at the beautiful birds' family tree had become a little more dangerous. The summer before one of the branches on which the beautiful birds' sister rested on was weak and the sister moved to a place in the tree that was farther from the rest of the family clan. But this little bird was sick because it kept sitting in places where the rain would soak her. So the clan did what they could to take her some shelter. But the storms made it difficult to reach the little bird. Finally, spring came and the sick little bird found its way to a safe place in the tree. However, this year, spring didn't last too long and April showers soon fell upon the family tree.

Now this tree was a large tree. The beautiful lovebird and the little lovebird had an older sister lovebird that lived on one of the strong limbs that branched out from the trunk of the tree. The beautiful lovebird didn't know how it happened, but the little lovebird and the older lovebird started to bicker and beak fence. Then they stopped socializing. This made it difficult for the clan to get together. Later the father lovebird made a choice to not support either of his rivaling offspring. But the father lovebird hurt and created separation between all of his offspring. As it was, life in the tree for the family was different from others because the mother of the offspring was not the right companion for the father. So bickering was quite regular. However, all the bad weather kept all of them in their part of the tree to stay safe; but this did not allow them to maintain affection between each other. And so socializing and affection between all came to and end.

 This summer brought a serious monsoon season with it where the family tree of lovebirds lived. This made the beautiful lovebird weak because of the little sunshine there was at her family tree. The only sunshine she had was when she was with her companion at their apple tree. And when he visited her family tree he nuzzled her to give her strength even if it was for a short while. But the beautiful lovebird loves her family so much she has come to need the affection from all of those in her clan to be strong. And so the beautiful lovebird shivers in the cold most days and nights, especially when she is without her companion. And she hopes that her little heart will beat strong enough to get through the monsoon season. That way when the sun peaks through the clouds and the rain turns into a sprinkle, the clan can come out and began socializing again after they all get their strength and health back. Because after all, love birds need their community to love and be happy.

The Simple Things

I thoroughly enjoy the phrase "a dash of salt". This can be found in recipes such as those for crepes, fry bread, pudding.  These are some of the things I've been/will be cooking.

I greatly appreciate the things that can be made with the most basic baking ingredients I believe are required. Those would be;

1. Flour
2. Baking Powder
3. Baking Soda
4. Cocoa
5. Eggs
6. Milk
7. Salt
8. Sugar
9. Vanilla
10. Chocolate Chips
11. Nuts
12. Coconut
13. Butter- of course can't forget the butter.
14. Then lard maybe (comes in hand when you run out of butter)
15. Oatmeal: for no bakes! or reg. baking too! :D

Those are main things that come to me on the spot. And the recipes I like are the ones that use any of those ingredients and nothing more. In fact my favorite ingredients are those that use less then what I listed.

I think there are plenty of recipes that can make something out of these ingredients. Like chocolate chip cookies. Or pancakes. But I found a couple more recipes that use half of these ingredients or less. Crepes: flour, milk, salt. Fry Bread: same with the addition of baking powder and vanilla if you'd like.

Turns out baking is only a matter of science. Now when I make food I hardly like using measurements for anything. I think its cause I'm lazy and I don't want to think/read. So when I cook, all I care about are the ingredients. Once I have what I need, I just use the intelligence and common sense I have about cooking to make food. I know this is fairly limited, but I have been pretty creative and I more then get by. On non-lazy days I go beyond and try to find a recipe that will expand my knowledge of cooking.

Baking however, requires measurements. Which is why I like the ones with as little ingredients as possible and a rather straightforward method of making the desired food. Which is why I have been enjoying making crepes! Equal ratios and a dash of salt! To be specific 1/2 a cup of milk and flour per egg. Use a non stick pan, pay attention to what you do after mixing the ingredients, after the first try you can do it by memory. Which is what I have been doing lately. I added some sugar, cocoa, and a dash of vanilla to sweeten it up, also tried just plain ol' chocolate chips for fun.

Can't wait to try the Indian Fry bread! Here is a basic recipe I found online. Gotta love Google

2 cups of flour
1 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla if using for a snack or dessert
1/2 teaspoon of salt (optional)
Oil for frying

Also found some jam recipes I can't wait to try. Equal ratio of fruit to sugar. Plus some lemon juice. Or none. :) Gotta get some fruit though. And I'm on the hunt for a real easy and basic pudding recipe! So much fun, and super simple stuff!

Life sometimes gives you a little bit of everything

Each day I find myself thinking a few different thoughts that each make me feel different emotions. If I had to say that one day was either bad or good I couldn't just pick one.

At least ever since Saturday, my first greatest emotion is "Today is a great day, and I feel great!" Then something happens, usually when interacting with another person (and its not always the same person) and they kind of taint that super great day. Fortunately there is a pick me up after wards; like Ivvette, my lovely and beautiful room mate, or Matt, the man who makes my heart smile!

Seems like how great the day was still seems to outweigh the downer, and over all there are more good things than bad. So I guess I can't complain! And it seems to me then that every day turns out to be a well balanced one! : ) I am truly blessed!


Score Board

Good: 3    Bad: 1

My Yellow Brick Road

Of all the things I dream of doing, only one has been the most successful. Coincidentally its the only dream I have ever fulfilled. Those of you who know me, you know what that is.

Sometimes I wish I could be the kind who travels and has adventures. Like Ivvette. She has been to France, Spain, Africa. She is a woman of the world. That is not the sort of life I lead. My life is full of melodies and songs.

Tonight I discovered that my adventures are not found in travel, as much as I'd like. My adventures are in music. I think I've known this deep down, but its barely shaping up now. I sat back tonight and looked at my exposure to music over the last 13 years. There definitely is a lot of Classical music in there. I participate in Orchestras and often ask myself what is keeping me in there. 12 of my 13 years of music experience have been spent at church. Over the course of this time I have developed a role for myself and violin in music outside of classical music. At first, for the Spanish choir, there was no music for violin where I played. Even the contemporary and traditional English church music had no music written for violin. So I created my own part.

Classical violin is an art form that has rules and skills that need to be developed and practiced. Many do not master it. The goal is perfection, beauty, musicality, intonation, reflective of the intent it was written and who wrote it. The musician communicates all of that. There is hardly room for originality. Playing at church has opened new doors for me. Through creating my own parts I have discovered the world of Improv. It is a road less traveled, but a road I do travel.

I have been blessed with a variety of experiences in music that I have been able to be a part of. And I just know there is more that lies ahead for me. But I think what lies ahead may be the most adventurous of all!

I went to a coffee shop with a friend last night and listened to some bands play. Many thoughts came my way and I began to dream up something rather exciting, so exciting I felt butterflies in my soul. Throughout the performances my plans began to take shape and I could hardly contain my excitement! I could literally feel the butterflies in my heart, and I realized I hadn't been this excited by music in a long time, if ever!!!

What is this thing I seem to be so excited about?! Well. Let me tell you! :D Performing. Producing. Putting a program together. I have a short list of musical performances that would be great, entertaining, and thrilling.

1.) My deepest desire is for my sisters and I to get together and play at coffee shops and do benefit concerts. We would play mariachi, Spanish rock, some popular English pop/rock, christian music, and anything we like really! Coffee shops would get us some starting experience, and the benefit concerts would hopefully be bigger and do some good for the community.

2.) Next dream would be push the use of violin to extremes that no one has thought of. Now I know of a couple who have done this, but I want to be a part of it! Some people say violin can't be in a rock band. But some groups use it. I want to see how violin is used in other groups and I want to see what I can learn from it then see what I can do with that information.

One dreams I've had longer than playing with sisters is having a concert where two violinist have an Improv Battle. That could be very exciting!!! I hope others would think so too! :D

3.) To go along with this, it would be absolutely thrilling for a whole band to improv together as a group. Set lists of pop. music and originals is fun, but what could be more entertaining than watching it happen live!

Clearly violin and musical Improv is what is driving what I want to create.

To make these things happen, that would require me to plan it all, put it together, and make it happen. In short, I'd be producing it. I believe that is considered being a Music Producer. The best part is that I want to do it, I wouldn't be shy about it, and it would be fun. Even more so, I think it is exactly what I need to do. I like planning things just right. As I was going to bed I thought to myself that the next best thing to do (other than planning musical events) is to be an Event planner. Even at a hotel, or for a business corporation. Or........... a Music Theater! That would be great!!! I'd still want to produce my own ideas though.

This is what made me so happy. Planning and producing is what gave me butterflies in my heart. The funny thing is, that it felt like a promise. I don't know what that means, that it felt like a promise. What does something feeling like a promise mean? Its kinda weird to say that, but was my honest feeling. And that sort of thrill is what I have never experienced with music. That thrill, could be why I've played classical music all these years. This could be why.

I don't know if I will actually do any of this. But I will see. I have planned all the little things that I should do to prepare myself for making all this happen the way I envision it. I don't know where I come up with these ideas of how prepare myself for what I want to happen. But I think the very fact that the thoughts and the plans come to me without hesitation or fear says a lot.

What comes next are the things that will prepare me.

Matt and I will be practicing Beethoven Violin and Piano Sonatas and performing them at the end of the summer. This is an opportunity for me to perform more. It could also be quite an experience for me. Because I don't want to just perform at a house. So, I would need to find somewhere to perform and perhaps recruit an audience larger than our parents and siblings to watch. This could be fun! Also, it would force us to make this performance happen. Because everyone will be expecting it and attending it.

We shall see what doors and opportunities and accomplishments come of all this. I have a good feeling about it! Until then I will be busily preparing for the unknown that I call my future.