Sunday, April 3, 2005

"No, no, no! We're not having a party because the pope died! Though I suppose, we cuold be celebrating his first day in heaven ..."
Right, so this morning, after church, a few friends and I were leaving our senior youth group meeting, where we were discussing the process for electing the new pope (and, consequently, referencing a higher authority on the subject, namely, Angels & Demons), and to get out, we had to pass through a first grade pre-communion meeting thing, where they were having a small party that had obviously been planned before the pope died.

As we get to the door, the director of religious ed was clarifying some misconceptions among them on the nature of the party. We all started laughing, so we had to get out fast, but God, that was funny.

So, I have found out the deal with cutting the band down. They wanted to make us smaller, so it seemed odd to cut out the french horn and bassoon, rather than flute and clarinet or something. What I have learned is that we are trying to convert present members of the higher level band to replace these graduating people. Which makes me feel better, since I have learned about a recruiting attempt that would land me a second bassoonist to work with.

My dad got a little scary about daylight savings. He was changing me alarm clock for me last night, for goodness sake. I had to argue with him that I needed the VCR clock to remain as was until morning so I could catch my anime, he was so desperate to get that clock changed.

Right, and I have to take the MCAS long essay on Wednesday, and I haven't had time to read outside of school in forever ...

So, I guess I'll write an essay on To Kill a Mockingbird.
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Thursday, March 31, 2005

ARGHHH
So ... the other 2 bassoons didn't make my band, so I'm on my own next year with my sister, who made it, and Rachel, the other bass clarinet besides my sister.

And, they aren't replacing the graduating french horn.

There won't be enough of us to cover all the parts.

WHY????
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Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Anthony Federov looks like Daniel Radcliffe, only slightly freakier and blonde without his glasses. Which is kind of freakish.
So ... band rules ... my life.

I spent last night at a concert band rehearsal being hollered at and today helping out at the kid's honor's band thing.

Chairs. Lots of them. And stands. And so much hallway to move them down.

And then, when it's all over, they have to go back.
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Sunday, March 27, 2005

Arghhh ...
So ... yesterday, at archery, I bruised my arm good, only I don't remember if I said this already or not, so I'm saying it again, because it sounds pretty traumatic and impressive to wound yourself at archery, except it's really nothing but the result of stupidity and the desire to tough it out.

And on Friday, we went to B&N, and I spent a $20 gift card I'd had since Christmas on Ray Bradbury collections, because I ran out. I have been in a mild state of trauma since I ran out, and I feel much better now that I'm all stocked up again. However, they didn't have the next volume of Fushigi Yugi, or the new Diana Wynne Jones novel, or (that I could fine) Citizen Tom Paine. See, cuz I don't feel bad buying tons of stuff when I have a certificate to justify spending gobs of money, I wanted to get the manga, another paperback, and an expensive book, because that's what I do, in addition to my gift card spent on Ray. Only, they didn't have the stuff I wanted and I forgot to look for Gone with the Wind.

But it was still a satisfying trip.

And I was looking at Sara's myOtaku account thing, and she mentioned The Martian Chronicles, which reminds me of one of my more horrible bookstore experiences.

"The Naming of Names" is honest to God my favorite story ever. It is contained within said Chronicles, so when I saw an unabridged copy, I was so happy.

CURSE YOU, BALLANTINE BOOKS, WHO KNOW NOT WHAT "UNABRIDGED" MEANS!

Cuz the thing is, there were, in a couple stories, ellipses. Which made me angry, but only a little, since it was only a few. I mean, Usher II was in tact, so I was okay.

Except that the entire part of "The Naming of Names" where they become Martians was abridged away.

I could really just cry.

But anywho, today was Easter.

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it.

Apparently, some synogogues hand out tickets for holy day masses, to make sure that the people who go to temple every week get a seat on the holy days.

My dad thinks that Catholic churches should too, and I agree. My family and I go to church every Sunday, so why are we the ones in teh back row of a balcony in back where we can't see, can barely hear, and don't have missals or hymnals?

I mean, really, if you don't care enough to go every Sunday, why should you care enough togo on Christmas and Easter?

I don't mean offense to anyone who does, since I know there are a lot of you, but really, it's ridiculous, the way that faith only applies to the holy days for so many people.

Star Wars Life is a quality game.

My aunt gave me a crocheted poncho for Easter. Nothing says cool like a crocheted poncho. I am only wearing it because I am cold, and thanks to clumsiness, it smells like Sunny Delight.

I just spent all of dinner feverishly taking notes on articles on To Kill a Mockingbird, thinking they were due tomorrow. Of course, they aren't, and I realize this only just now.

But overall, today didn't suck ... that's always good.
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Saturday, March 26, 2005

"I mean, I like him just fine, except that he's my least favorite person in the world right now."
Of course, we refer to Chris. That is not his real name, but before we met him, we had to call him something. He doesn't know this yet, but all my friends and we in the low woodwinds section feel more comfortable calling him Chris than his real name.

Now, if you were to ask the kid from concert band that you need to help out covering parts the question, "Do you play first or second on these?" and he says, "First, mostly," and you rehearse the second parts, you'd think you'd be okay, right?

Of course not.

Because you will arrive at the first rehearsal that includes the kids from symphony band to help cover parts for the pathetic and tiny concert band, and being playing the second parts. You will then realize that you are not hearing hte first parts. You will turn to Chris and ask, "Are you playing first on this movement?" He will say, "Second." So you will quickly switch over, and flub through the first part that you didn't rehearse, except on low, long notes, which you have discovered that Chris does not play if there is a more easily played note inteh first part.

And on every movement in the piece? "Are you playing first?" "Second."

And you are beginning to hate Chris.

So, anyway ...

After all that, we have a competition this weekend. And yesterday, we had to work for someone who was daytripping, and today, we beat up our arm at the archery lanes, because we are too stupid to get an armguard beforehand.

ARGHHH!

However, we have relieved a great mental load from myself, and feel much later.

And Arsenic and Old Lace is wicked quality.
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Sunday, March 20, 2005

Wednesday, March 15, 2005 - Sunday, March 20, 2005: Makeup work.
And lots of it.

When you miss 5 straight days, it adds up.

So, today, before lots of anime and makeup work, which makes the anime seem shorter and the makeup work seem longer, we had to go drop off plants for shut-ins for the church, which was scary, because old people are scary. Thank God we didn't have to talk to any.

Okay, our religious education is over forever as of now! YAY!

And, we're all caught up on makeup work now, and we got a few new T-shirts!

So, with all that recap, we're all set now!
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Monday, March 14, 2005 - Tuesday, March 15, 2005: Flu.
What more can we say? The whole stupid band was sick, the other bands were sick, was it avoidable?

And boy, did we feel gross.
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Sunday, March 13, 2005:
Right ... so, we drove home. And this time, we got there in only 18 hours, at 12. Unshowered, and very gross.

But we were home, and that was good.
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Saturday, March 13, 2005:
And he was dead serious when he said that. Which was dead funny, because it's been accumulating like crazy beack home, but over there, it snowed but it wasn't cold enough to stay.

So ... we heard more bands, we went shopping ...

The mall sucked. It was tiny. But they had a Doubleday, so it was all okay.

They also had the hugest Sam Goodie we've ever seen in our life.

And closing ceremonies lasted forever.

So did the honors orchestra and honors band.

And we were tired.
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Friday, March 11, 2005:
As we walked down to our master classes after breakfast and a short break, a very tired looking guy from our band was muttering to himself, and he happened to look up and say that ... and it was so true, it was funny.

We had to watch 2 concert bands, have lunch at this awesome Italian place, watch the Indiana Symphony, and then see 2 perscussion ensembles that day.

The bands were good, the ensembles were okay, the Boston Symphony is better, and if you're ever in Indianapolis, go to Bucca di Beppo's.

Their sign says they do anniversaries, birthdays, and bowling parties.

Bowling parties? Why put that on the sign?

But seriously, that day was the low of the trip. The chaperones conducted an open-bottle sniffing session before the percussion, so we knew that someone had gotten caught, as happens on these trips occasionally (The getting caught, sadly, not the possession), and so, by the end of the percussion, we'd all figured out who it was, and by the next day, there were more conspicuously missing people from band activities, and that meant a lot of angry and disappointed people and lectures. We weren't affected though, so it wasn't that big a deal for us.
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