The Boy with the Black Bag

Okay, okay...I know it is a kinda cheesy title, but I thought that it would fit, especially since I just got back from seeing Confessions of a Shopaholic again. I have decided to write a few things that this hilarious but touching movie has made me think up:

What is it that we truly need? Yes, things such as shows, trips, movies, music, clothes and accesories are all wonderful things, but what does one truly need? Things such as shows and trips, in my opinion, are classified under the category of lasting - meaning that they are not just an item of present fashion, it creates a lasting memory that you can always remember and relive when you listen to the soundtrack or play the piano score (in that kinda way) or look at pictures. Buying movies and music are almost at that level, but in a different way. You can watch a DVD over and over again and have a song blasting in your car as you drive with the windows down, but do they create memories? not so much. Clothes and accessories express the individual that you are - Daniel Vosovic stated, "At its rawest, fashion is material sewn together in a sequential method. But it's so much more. Fashion creates a mood, captures a moment. It evokes something that you never knew was inside you. Fashion is one of the most underrated stimulants one can encounter.: However, times pass and they are no longer "fit" in the new progressing world of ever changing opinions. So, what falls into the department of needed? Family? Friends? Education? The simple things in life? When was the last time you drove listening to a song that really touched you and you had the window rolled down enjoying the sounds of the world combined with the breeze washing through your hair against your sunglasses with the emotion protruding from the speakers of your car? Five minutes, max. It honestly is amazing! and one of my favorite things to do in life.

Procrastination: Doing wha you want now and waiting later for what is most important is very tempting. This form of greed comes in many costumes (and don't worry...I suffer from this EVERY day!). The first costume is that of assignments, which is typically associated with the word. Many people, including myself, say that they work well under pressure. It is true that yes, one works better when there is a crunch because they can be focused and can rely on the hard core aspect of it all...but is it worth the stress? I do not think so. It is truly annoying when the computer freezes and you have to type that 10 page research paper over again. I personally feel that it is the greatest feeling to have things finished. It would be nice to work on something over a long period of time and...GASP...finish early. The second design is that of money. Once again many people (my hand is raised as well) think, "Oh, I get paid next Friday so I will have money to pay off this credit card debt, or my friend, or my mother..." When the next Friday rolls around...dang! I have to buy books for school, my instrument really needs new strings, I need to get my oil changed, I want to go do ____, I need to buy food, I need____... when you spent that money and now you no longer have it for the things that you REALLY need because of the urge to actually get what you wanted...therefore you have to reach out to the same people/plastic pal to get the money to buy such and such. Therefore, a long list of paybacks are alligned and you end up to your eyeballs in debt that you have to pay off...then you remember you asked your mother for $100 here for helping you out months ago that you still need to give her, and then...oh yeah, I need to save for the road trip I need to take for my job and that trip to FL I promised my sister I would take her for her birthday. That is why it is important to go back to the first question I posted and ask this question...besides the "What is it that I truly need..." it should also entail "is it worth the sacrifice?" Then, always make sure you have money left over so that when unexpected things come up, your bases can be covered and life can be enjoyable. Dollar Movies/Redbox and Pasta are great substitutes from the expensive things of life that quickly add up on a bill.

Anyways, I have rambled on for a long time...but I just love talking about my opinions, though no one really reads this blog because it is interesting.... hahaha. :)

The Good 'Ol Frank Sinatra Song

Sigh! New York. What an interesting place. As usual, I decided to not do anything touristy besides going to Times Square (all the time) and 5th Avenue. Other various places that I went to were Chelsea, Upper West Side, Flushing, Washington Heights and walking to and from those. I am now an expert when it comes to the subway consisting of the lines 7, A, C, E, 1, 2 & 3.

The red lines (1, 2 & 3) make a very interesting noise when they start up...kinda EXACTLY the intervals of minor 7th resolving down a half step...was Leonard Bernstein inspired by this for his historic West Side Story. Nope... but what an interestingly disturbing tribute to that.

I went and saw 9to5: The Musical (which just broke the record of Drama Desk Nominations with 15!). It was so great! Dolly Parton came and started the show with some remarks, which was a great surprise to the entire audience (who rose to their feet with roaring applause...me included). I always find it difficult to describe a show to someone who has not seen it, especially the sets, lighting and choreography. The Choreography was really sweet and matched the music REALLY well - but not necessarily the time period which is an interesting contradiction. However, look at Wicked - the same thing happens there, but it seems to fit the overall feel of the musical...I don't know, I am just confused about it I guess. I like it though. The sets were great! and I loved the center thing that would unfold and turn into a trap door...pretty sweet. The lighting design was HYSTERICAL! The whole entire show was so crazy, fun and humorous. I do not think that I have seen a show that I have laughed so hard in in my life. Not the GREATEST musical, but for a fun-enjoyable-awesome-acting-time, so good... I got to meet Megan Hilty (again), Stephanie J. Block, Marc Kudish and Allison Janney!!! Yay for all four of them being nominated. In Family Guy, there is an episode where Peter takes a Giraffe from the Zoo and names it Allison Janney. Because of this, Christopher bought one at the nearby Toys-R-Us and had her sign it. :) It was really great! Megan Hilty stole the show with her Office Scene (you know, the famous "I have a gun out there..."). I can't tell you how dead on she was as Dolly Parton. Stephanie's transformation for a shy, insecure girl was believable and Get Out and Stay Out was amazing. Allison Janney was an awesome actress...she couldn't sing very well, but at least it was in tune! Her operatic aria was quite hysterical. Very good. The next day, we saw Blithe Spirit front row!!! Talk about a dream fulfilled (the only thing better would to see her sing, unless of course that is her singing Nobody's Problem or The Age of Not Believing). I did not have the opportunity to meet Angela Lansbury or Christine Ebersole after the show was over, but to have them less than five feet away from me was good enough!!! Angela was down right side splitting when she would dance around the stage during the seance. HAHA! Tony, right there. Watch, I will be right. Then she will tie for most Tony's ever. Pretty awesome for someone who has not one her overdue oscar/emmy... Christine's slapstick was so funny...I loved the one with the chair. What a gimmic. It should not be funny, but it is. Do not know why. I liked the costumes too. You kinda hate Rupert Everett. Is that a good thing or a bad one? I cannot tell, but he was rather annoying. Deborah Rush's timing was off that night, but it did not really subtract from the show. If anything, it just added to her distyness. You know who was so odd and down right amusing? Susan Louise O'Connor. man it was a good show. The costumes were fab...fab fab fab. Christine's drape making her a ghost was not only classy and chic but eluding as well. Oh I loved it.

I also got to visit with my sister, her husband and my new nephew, Brody. They are a joy in my life and I loved every second with them!!! I miss them so much already. It was so great to play games, have fun, watch youtube videos, Suze Orman, AFHV, eat, drive, help the baby stop screaming, die in a heat wave...sigh.

I HATE PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL

Okay, enough is enough. Why is it snowing April 15? What is everyone trying to do? Taxes are do so the whole world is stressed out to the max. BYU is in the middle of finals. Hmm...maybe it should snow to make everyone relax...how about not. It snowed three inches in two hours. I went to target to get some glasses for a party I am having tonight. I was gone for fifteen minutes and I had so much snow on my car I had to use my snow scraper to get it off and sit for five minutes before I could see out my windows with my air on full blast hot hot hot...I started sweating... Then, it took me thirty minutes to get home. You would think that people know how to drive in snow, but I personally think people make even worse decisions when their vision is impared. Why do you think you can swerve from the far right to the far left because you missed a turn? Um...we can't slam on our brakes! And what is this rule about how in traffic, you don't walk behind a car? I almost killed a guy because I was turning and he was walking behind a Suburban... I could not see him with the snow and tinted windows. Then to top it off...he flips me off and starts cussing up a storm. Not only do people here not understand traffic rules of patience and curtesy, pedestrians do not know their rules either (talk about devotional hour...but that is for another time). As I parked my car in the closest BYU parking lot (which is five minutes away from the nearest building at a sprint and includes at least fourty stairs) a girl started screaming at me - she litteraly rolled down her window and said you took my spot you b******. Why in the world was she yelling? there were at least fifteen spots around I could count. Big deal...sorry I didn't see you backing up to take this spot... As I walked down those annoying stairs by the Bell Tower, the clock started BLARING the annoying come-come-ye-saints-out-of-tune-overtones...which of course made me feel like Frollo in the hunchback of Notre Dame because I was deafened by the sound. Then to make it worse, a girl was walking up the wrong side of the staircase with this massive umbrella that could have protected an entire family of 4 and their grandmother trailing behind with a walker. Why was she caring such a massive umbrella? Even Rhianna would have been jealuos of this ella ella ella...She was wearing an ugly all pink velour jogging suit...please! so she gave me a look like uh...get out of my way. Well there was nothing to do because there were four people behind me holding hands with their significant other talking and laughing and being gay in the not typical happy conditions. So she was stubborn and wouldn't walk down the stairs so I hopped to the opposite side of the stairs making me slip and almost face plant it. Then the umbrella hit me in the face as she walked merrily on her way to a camel toe convention. As I finally made it to campus and was walking past the museum of art, another too cheerfully blissed couple was not paying attention and forced me off the side walk into a foot deep hole... because I had been out before it started snowing, I was wearing vans...needless to say they got drenched as did my socks so I am sitting here in the PIVA with my shoes off hoping David Day doesn't come in and chase me with a knife as he did in my dream...

Nevertheless I am having a party tonight. At least I can look forward to something.

Don't sit on a pedestal, you'll embarass yourself

Today started out as a good day. I woke up very groggy and got ready for the typical, monotonous drone of school and work. I did some situps and pushups as usual, but when I was all dressed and gussyed up, I thought I looked good...which is actually quite out of the oridinary for me. I then thought of the brilliant idea to wear a black bandana on my wrist. It would add a nice touch, or so I assumed...but you know what happens when you do such (divide the word assume into three different words). As I was walking from work at the library to my Biology class in the MARB, with my iPod in my ears, listening to Dancing by Elisa, I was touched on the shoulder. I took out my headphones and noticed a middle-aged person standing there. I assume it was a faculty member of somekind.

Blake: Hi.
Faculty: Hi. You need to take that bandana off your wrist.
Blake: Why?
Faculty: You are giving off the impression that you are cutting yourself.
Blake: Um...I don't cut myself.
Faculty: Then there shouldn't be a problem with you removing it.
Blake: There is no need to take it off.
Faculty: You can either take it off or we can discuss it in with the Honor Code Office.
Blake: No where and in no way does it say in the Honor Code that people cannot wear bandanas on their wrist.

and with that, I walked away. Now...generally I am not that blunt and snobby. I would normally comply to what the person asks because they are my superior etc... (rewind to Powley and my hair). However, that was down right hillarious!!! I am glad for once I stood up for myself and kept chuckling to myself the rest of the day. Carrie brought up a good point. What if I in fact had cut myself? Is it against the HC to hide this from the world? What happens if I got a bad burn that morning while eating? What happens if I have a bunch of gauze under there? What happens if I had plastic surgery? What happens if I am just doing it for fashion asthetic appeal? What happens if I just decided to wear a banadana on my wrist that day? It is not against the HC and it does not imply anything. I guess next time I see a person with a bandana on their head (has anyone seen Kenji per chance?) I will ask them to take it off because they are cutting themselves, obvioulsy.

Thunk

Here are some inspirational quotes that I love (they are also located on my facebook):












We all have levels of performance. -- Angela Lansbury

This is a nice quote for us performers. Every time we play a piece, it is different. We could bomb something and in twenty seconds nail it. We cannot expect to be perfect all the time. Another thing is that, especially in music, we are giving a gift of something we love. It does not have to be perfect. However, it has to be from our heart. It has to be us.


















You gotta be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for? --Bernadette Peters

As the lovely diva proclaims, what does the world need with someone who is just like everyone else? Honestly...have you ever been in Mesa, AZ and driven down the streets where everyhouse is the same? Not only is confusing as you wind down trying to find your grandparent's house somewhere off of Power Rd, but you sit there and think of Stepford Wives meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers. We need originality, new ideas, forward thinking and such.













There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost. -- Martha Graham

In relation to Bernadette, Martha (whom Appalachian Spring was written for fyi) dives into it a little deeper. This proclaims that you are YOU and that no one can change that. Learn to love yourself! It is hard at times because all we do is compare ourselves to others...but if I have learned anything from college it is to be yourself no matter what society places on you. Learn to love who you look at in the mirror. If you do not like something, change it.


















A creator has a vision of something which has not existed before this vision. And a creator has the power to bring his vision to life, the power to realize it[...] inspiration and perfection, wish and fulfillment, will and accomplishment coincide spontaneously and simultaneously -- Arnold Schoenberg

Taken from the Music Theory IV packet, this excerpt really emphasizes Martha's statement. We have the power of our destiny...we have the power to be inspired.

















Good things happen only to those who are true to themselves. -- Andrew T. Clement

Andrew said this randomly during a quartet rehearsal... once again truth.

Everything in life happens for a reason. It is the way you take it and the attitude you live which makes you the person you are. -- Blake Allen

This is kinda like tooting my own horn, but I think this all the time. Sometimes we don't get into the school of music of our choice for graduate work or we fail a test we studied heavily for. We do not know why these things happen, but our attitude effects the future. That is the true decision that we live by.
















Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. -- Albert Schweitzer

I look at this quote whenever I am worried about the future as a viola player. I might not make the most money in comparison to Brain C. or my father, but at least I will love every second of what I do. Job satisfaction ratio...

















When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. -- Helen Keller

This is extremely poignant coming from such a remarkable woman. We look so long at the things that do not go our way that we forget to smile and move on with our life allowing other things to take the place of what might have been. Focusing on the past or saying oh if I were 6 when everything was so simple is not healthy. Look to the future and hope for change and the best.


















Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves. -- J.M. Barrie

From the author that brought us the glorious Peter Pan, tells us how to bring happiness into our own lives. Happiness is divine and a gift, but we have to work at it. When we wake up in the morning to the sunlight streaming through the window, we choose to be happy. It is not that we are just given happiness on the plate with the bagel and cream cheese...we choose to say what Hammerstein proclaimed, "Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh, what beautiful day. I've got a beauitful feeling everything's going my way." With this perk of attitude in the morning, it is remarkable how amazing the day can be (that and a few situps and pushups to give you endorphins. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands...)


















Only a life lived for others is a life worthwile. -- Albert Einstein

Albert must have known the two commandments of loving God and loving thy neighbor. Serivce and unconditional love really do make the days seem brighter. These 'things' do not even have to be big. Just be yourself and smile, wave, open a few doors, laugh more, be interested...these are small things that turn into huge diamonds.


















For any of you who are familiar with Grey Gardens, you would know who Christine Ebersole is. For those of you who don't...have you seen Amadeus? If yes, she Katerina Cavalieri - the opera singer that Salieri is in love with who betrays him and goes after Mozart. Anyways, I heard a radio interview with her and she said two very profound things:

In acceptance we find peace.

How simple...but yet, it is still very difficult. When we accept things whether it be ourselves or others or a fact of life, we find peace. Peace is very wonderful. How much are we willing to understand and empathize to obtain peace?? Especially in the trumoils of right now and the equal rights movements. Opinions are opinions...judging is a different matter...

Love God and love life and be grateful every moment for the gift of living.

What else is there? I truly believe this statement whole heartedly. WOW!!!

Angela Lansbury (as most everyone knows is my idol) said something amazing as well that I take to heart:

I am a great believer that we create our own opportunities, our own happiness, our own lives.

With every quote that has been posted here, this kinda sums them all up. We have the opportunity to do what we want with our lives. We control it. We choose how we feel, where we go, what we do. We decided what to believe in, how to treat others, how to live and who we are. We choose to be happy.

I should work for Cosmo

This morning, I was helping a dear dear friend with some relationship problems. Last night after I got out of BFA Senior Showcase (which was fab fyi) I had a text. Here is the conversation:

"So I've been debating whether or not to tell ____ I like him. What do you think?"
"Yes."
"Oh. I was hoping you would say no."
"It is always better to know then to wonder, otherwise maybe he is thinking you do not like him. Do not forget, guys are timid as well."
"Haha. Yeah, but I also do not want to scare away a friend."
"Tell him that too. Tell him that you cherish him as a friend and do not want to lose him as such."
"Oh dear..."
"But you cannot be all sweet about it and be like, '____, what do you think of me?' You need to just be blunt - '____, do you like me?'"

So here is what you do:

"'_____ do you like me?' If he says no, then you say good I was just checking that our wants and viewpoints of our relationship were mutual. If he says yes answer with an I do too - that way you know without the awkwardness."
"Why is that? Oh bother...I hate all this stuff."
"Yes it does stink, but you could either sit and twiddle your thumbs or know."
"I'm good at twiddling."
"You have to be blunt because guys do not think the same way as women. If you say 'what do you think of me?' he will respond with things such as, 'you're cool, good at sports and funny. You may be good at twiddling, but 'Kimmy says, 'if you love someone, just say it. Say it right then, out loud otherwise the moment just passes you by.''"

The big question...does it have to be in person?

"No. You can text him the question of if he likes you, but he might avoid it via text."

The best bet is to do it in person, but this might make the guy feel like he is being confrontated, and frankly, guys do not like this. The best way to ignore the feeling of confrontation is to bring it up when you are both having a good time, but NOT at an isolated location like a restaurant where there is 'no escape.' A telephone call is indirect and is more casual, but not as personable.


Anyways, this is what I think and being a guy and all....


Also, my sister in law had a baby named Kate... adorable. Here is the announcement:

The past two months I have been able to go to two concerts given by the Brentano String Quartet and the Moscow String Quartet.

Brentano String Quartet
Haydn, Quartet in D Minor, Op. 76, No. 2 "Quinten"
Mendelssohn, Quartet in A Minor, Op. 13
Schumann, Quartet in A Major, Op. 41, No. 3

At first it was really difficult to get past the fact that the first violin and violist play very low against the body. Also, the first violin kept stomping his feet...whcih generally is not acceptable. Once the initial shock was over, the concert was rather enjoyable. Their best work on the program was Schumann. This is what stuck with me. The second movement of this was spectacular, and their energy was huge.

Their sound was also amazing, as was their intonation.

After the concert, I had the opportunity to go back stage and meet them. I must say that they are probably the most humble group of musicians I have ever met. The cellist mentioned how she forgot her clothes and shoes, so she borrowed some from the lady in the audience and the second violinst let her borrow a magenta top...when everyone else was wearing black. Every player was gracious and willing to stay and chat, which, as previously stated, just does not happen.












Moscow String Quartet
Borodin, Quartet No. 2 in D Major
Shostakovich, Quartet No. 7 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 108
Tchaikovsky, Quartet No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 30

It was great to hear a Russian quartet play Russian music. The Borodin was fantastic. Their rubatos were in perfect unison. Every bow stroke was in the same part of the bow and they moved at the same speed. Articulations across the board were precise. During the last movement, the cellist did something rather interesting. After the introduction, the cello begins a fugue like passage, but she played it as I have never heard it before...it was short, secco up bows at the frog. Talk about Russian!

The Shostakovich was intense...way intense...

The Tchaikovsky was a little long (as he typically is), but the middle two movements were very enjoyable, especially in the second movement. The energy was great coming from middle aged women. The intonation on this piece was not as precise as the other two, but the emotion was there which in the long is what matters. The third movement, funebre, was the highlight of the entire concert. Such rich, lavish sound.

The violist was SPECTACULAR!!

Rewind via Feb

I have seen most of the movies that were up for Oscars this year, and I thought I would like to share my opinion.

Best Picture:

I do think that Slumdog Millionaire deserves this award...why was it rated R? Who knows - there wasn't really anything bad. No cussing, no sex...uh just someone getting their eyes fried by prongs. I do think that Slumdog did deserve to win every award it recieved (except cinematography which should have gone to Changeling), but a few years down the road... um... I do not think that it will be that spectacular of a movie. I could watch Crash more then I could watch this. That being said, the Reader should not have been nominated for any awards. It was not that good. Doubt should have taken its place in the best picture category.

Best Actress:

In NO way should this have gone to Kate Winslet. Her role was supporting, and was not really that spectacular. Yes she was not attractive in this movie and had an accent...but should this really determine who should win? Talk about Kristin Scott Thomas being snubbed from the nomination list. Sad! I would say that this award should have gone to Anne Hathaway or Meryl Streep. It is really difficult to say because Angelina Jolie was phenominal in the Changeling, but I think she did better in Girl Interupted so... Nevertheless, this year was a year for leading actresses.

Best Supporting Actress:

Without having a biased, Penelope = bleh. I think that this was a sob award for not winning Volver and because it was a Weinstein/Woody Allen movie... It should have gone to Amy Adams, the overlooked. Had Winslet been nominated in this category (um, yes) she would have deserved it and rightfully have won. However, Doubt star Viola Davis stole some of Amy's votes (if not most) and therefore Penelope won.

Anyways, the Oscars were not that big of a shock and if I would have bet money and chosen the obvious results, I still would have lost money due to the fact that everything was exactly as it had been. The only way I would have won is with Sean Penn, who I did say should win and he deserved to as well.

I would recommend renting:
Doubt
I Loved You So Long
Changeling
Rachel Getting Married

This are pretty much the movies I recommend from this year.