Big siiiiggghhh...

My senior recital is in a week and a half. Am I ready? Nearly. I need to go over lyrics to a few of my vocal songs and come up with a few more motions and expressions, but all of my piano stuff is ready to go. Well, nearly. There is one run in Chopin's Berceuse that I CAN NOT get right. It's driven me to tears twice. I can't even practice it as much as I'd like because after about four or five tries, my arm begins to feel like there is fire running through my veins and my wrist begins to ache terribly.
So, I sit here typing with one hand (which is both annoying and hard because I'm not left handed) while my other hand lies incapacitated at my side with an ice pack covering it. I'm going to try use my arm, wrist, and hand as little as possible in the next week and a half; little to no computer mouse work and little to no writing. Just as I was feeling inspired to work on both my fantasy novel AND a new, secret story idea, too. I guess they will just have to wait until June.
There is one thing that I can do easily without using my right wrist and that thing is reading. And watching Star Trek. But since I already watched Star Trek tonight, I think I shall leave you so I can go curl up with a good book. I'm going to start The Three Musketeers. Or, perhaps Catching Fire. Or, perhaps both, though that would bring my total of books currently-being-read up to five... or is it six? Maybe I should finish the books I'm reading already before starting new ones.
I will leave with with Arturo Beneditti Micheangeli (isn't that a fabulous name?) playing Chopin's Berceuse:

Live long and prosper.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

Flying Fingers by Robert D. Vandall

One of my recital pieces.

Live long and prosper.

For Unto Us a Child is Born

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son in given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:1-8

Merry Christmas!

The Minute Waltz

I don't play it in a minute, though.

Live long and prosper!

Children's Corner, by Claude Debussy.

This was one of my recital pieces. Enjoy!

Live long and prosper!

I feel like I need to post something.

I had all these great post ideas... and now I can't remember any of them. So I guess I'll talk about books.

Right now I'm reading two really great books.... One is Emma by Jane Austin and the other is Crater by Homer Hickam. I'm going to be doing reviews for both of these as soon as I finish them. I'm hoping to finish Crater by Sunday... Because I'm going camping on Sunday and bringing Ender's Game along and I don't want to be reading two sci-fi books at the same time.

Tomorrow I'm gonna go to my friend's house to watch Tintin on their projector screen! That's going to be very, very fun.

Have some Christmas in July:

Live long and prosper!

Wayfaring Stranger.

My recital piece.

In other news....
Ah, editing.
I just had an idea to make my bad guy's motive more "real." The only problem? I'm afraid it won't seem very original. Plus it will effect some things that happen later on in the novel... So now I have to decide whether I write it in or not. I think I shall and see how it goes.

One of the things I like about being a writer is all the "mwahahahaaa" moments.

They come (at least for me) when I kill a character or write something really clever.
Example (which I just wrote):

He was deathly pale, as if he had just awoken from a peaceful night’s sleep in his coffin. 

Of course... no one in my book is actually a vampire. And no one has a coffin (like Queequeg from Moby Dick). But... mwahahaha.

 

Well, back to editing.

 

 



It's a slow day in the neighborhood....

Last week my blog erupted in posts. This week has been slow... But I do have a piano song for you.
Sonata in G major by Haydn.

Live long and prosper!

Snowfall! (And castles!)

This morning we woke to this....

 

Snow! I love snow. It always makes me think of the Peanuts and this song.... it is my favorite winter song, entitled (you guessed it!) Snowfall! I played it for my recital last month and it is one of my favorite piano songs to play.

Of course, all the snow is melted now....

I strongly dislike research, especially if I have to do it on the computer. And especially if it has to do with something I'm writing. I had rather make everything up.... But of course, that is not allowed.
I am, however, doing some research I enjoy for once. I am googling pictures of old castles because the King in Defenders of the Realm has to live somewhere!
There is a picture of the castle in the board game... Although I believe the picture is actually of the city itself, not just the castle. So, the castle is left to the imagination.... The first scene of my Defenders of the Realm story takes place in the high tower of the castle. But I need something to base the description of the tower off of....
I was having trouble deciding between my two favorite castles when I found out they were actually the same castle!
This castle is Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, which, I think, is the blueprint for every castle.

Although I'm not sure if I want it to be that big in my story.
Another castle I really like is Craigdarroch Castle... Though it is smaller and doesn't have any towers.

I have been to this castle, though not inside. My dad took piano lessons there when he was little (although really, he hid in the bushes until his mom came to pick him up).

Live long and prosper!

The most powerful wizard since Amarak.

I have a question to ask you.... Remember the Defenders of the Realm board game I told you about a few blog posts ago? The one that I'm basing a story off of? Well, I need a little help from my friends!
I need a name for the wizard. Everyone else has a name... But the wizard.
This is what he looks like (except with a gray beard and hair [this picture has been taken from BoardGameGeek]):

I've narrowed it down to a few that I like (I kind of stole them from Tolkien... Heh heh....):

Darzin.
Isengrim.
and Gerontius (which is actually Old Took's first name, I learned) are in the front running.
My mom liked Aldabert.
Gamwich is also kind of wizardly.
Which is your favorite?


Last month for my piano recital I played C.P.E. Bach's Solfiggietto.
Here it is:

 

Live long and prosper. 

'Tis the Season.....

'Tis the season of what?? Our pastor asked the congregation this question on Sunday morning. People shouted out, 'Peace!' 'God!' 'Stress!'
Our Pastor's answer was, 'tis the season of waiting!
How true. Mary had to wait nine months for Jesus. And today we still wait. We wait for stores to open on Black Friday so we can get the best deals.... We wait in traffic, this year we wait for The Hobbit movie (more on that later) and, just like Mary, we are waiting for Jesus to come back.

As well as the season of waiting, December is also the season of extreme business! There's Christmas shopping, and the tree, and decorations, and parties, and recitals! On top of regular schoolwork and eating and sleep.
December is, perhaps, the busiest month of the year this year around. Every weekend I have some sort of recital or concert (except the last because I will be in Canada).
This past week I had a choir concert, piano recital, and our church Christmas program! It was a very busy weekend.

Here is a video of me playing "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" arranged by Phillip Keveren.

Without further ado... I am going to go back to the subject of waiting. Mainly, the subject of waiting for The Hobbit!
My dad has bought us tickets to see The Hobbit in IMAX 3D on Saturday morning. I AM SO EXCITED!!! We are seeing it in IMAX 3D because at select IMAX 3D theaters across the globe, the first 9 minutes of the next Star Trek movie will be playing (only in front of The Hobbit)! Our movie theater is one of them! Which makes me even MORE EXCITED!!!
And because I'm so excited I am going to do something Hobbit-ish.
On one of the blogs I follow (Story Girl) posted a Hobbit Blog Party thing. (Here is the link to the blogger's blog who is putting it on. HERE!)

 

Now, I have never taken part in a blog party before..... From what I gather I just answer a bunch of questions. Soooo... Here are the questions!

1. How did you first hear about The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings?
My dad grew up reading Lord of the Rings (and Tintin) and he always read to me when I was little, before I went to bed. I'm not exactly sure when I first became conscious of Lord of the Rings.... I remember seeing the Veggietales version, Lord of the Beans, at Costo and saying to my mom. "Look! There's Daddy's favorite book in Veggietales! Let's get it for him for his birthday!" So we did. Then, shortly after, my dad suggested that he read one of his favorite book series. We started reading The Hobbit and then moved on to Lord of the Rings!

2. How many times have you read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, if at all?
I have read The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring twice, The Two Towers almost twice, and The Return of the King once.

3. Would you name your child after a character from it?
I don't know, maybe. I especially like the name Eowyn. Someone in my friend's church is named Galadrial (her daughter is named Eowyn).

4. What are your thoughts on Tom Bombadil? Should he have been in the movie?
I must admit, Tom Bombadil is one of my favorite characters from the book. I think Peter Jackson made the right choice, excluding him from The Fellowship of the Ring movie, but I do wish they had filmed his part in the book - as a special featurette or something.

5. Do you have a favorite piece of poetry from any of the Tolkien books?
Yes! I really like the "That's what Bilbo Baggins hates" poem/song thing from The Hobbit.

Chip the glasses and crack the plates!
Blunt the knives and bend the forks!
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates -
Smash the bottles and burn the corks!

Cut the cloth and tread the fat!
Pour the milk on the pantry floor!
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat!
Splash the wine on every door!

Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl;
Pound them up with a thumping pole;
And when you've finished, if any are whole,
Send them down the hall to roll!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
So, carefully! Carefully with the plates!

 

My absolute favorite, though, is "The Road Goes Ever On and On."

 

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

 

6. Have you read any other works by Tolkien?

Yes! I started reading The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien with my dad but we didn't finish it.

I have also read Roverandom which is an adorable little book Tolkien wrote for his young son who lost a toy upon the beach. The story follows the toy's adventure. It is a really sweet book.

Mr. Bliss is another book Tolkien wrote for his kids. He illustrated it as well!

 

7. Can you write in the Tengwar?

I had to look it up to see what it was! It turns out that Tengwar is the Elvish script Tolkien made up. Yes, I can write in it.

 

8. Were you disappointed that Prince Imrahil wasn't in the movie?

I had to look him up too. Even after reading a bit about him, I can't remember from the books... So I guess I don't mind he wasn't in the movie. Which movie?

 

9. What would happen if you and Denathor were put face to face?

Well, I'd grab a fire extinguisher for one....

 

10. Would you rather reside in Edoras or Minas Tirith?

Hmmmm..... That's a hard decision. Probably Minas Tirith. I'm more of a city girl than a country girl and I wouldn't want to smell like horse all the time.

 

11. What think you of Eomer's armor?

It's cool! I love his helmet.

 

12. What do you think of Boromir?

After re-reading The Fellowship of the Ring I must say that I like Boromir more than I remember. He's a good character and served his purpose well. He's not my favorite, but he's not horrible either. And he's played by Sean Bean. (No wonder he dies). And he has a cool horn.

 

13. Which is your favorite Lord of the Rings couple: Sam and Rosie, Aragorn and Arwen, or Faramir and Eowyn?

Faramir and Eowyn all the way! I have always loved them the best and I'm not even sure why. Maybe because they go together so well.

 

14. Did you shed any tears when Thorin died?

No, although it was sad. I rarely cry when reading books or watching movies. I always thought Thorin's death was really really sudden though.... Along with Fili and Kili's. What was Tolkien thinking? "Oh, no one except the bad guy's have died yet... Let's kill some of the main characters so everything doesn't end completely happy!"

 

15. Which is the most terrifying of the following: Orcs nabbing you in your sleep, giant spiders crawling out of dark tunnels and forests, Nazgul standing right over you while you are hiding, or a ghost army that doesn't like you very much?

The giant spiders, most definitely. I HATE spiders.

 

16. How well would you enjoy life as a Hobbit? Would it be preferable to being something like, say, an Elf? Or a Ranger?

Being a Hobbit would be really fun! You just sit around and eat. Sounds good to me! However, if I had to pick any race in the Lord of the Rings, I would probably be an Elf.

 

And there we have it! Feel free to steal, just give credit to Arda Nessimava who is putting on this blog party. (Link above).

 

Live long and prosper!



Day by day, and with each passing moment....

....Strength I find to meet my trials here; trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or fear.

Those who have been around since my first month of blogging may remember THIS post about my first day of school.
I thought I'd do a post similar - about the curriculums I am currently using.

In science, I am studying biology with Exploring Creation with Biology by Dr. Jay Wile. I have been using the "Exploring Creation...." curriculum for almost my entire student life. They are very good books, though sometimes dry and boring, like all science books can be. I am enjoying biology a lot more than physical science, which was the last book.
And off to the left is my self-decorated amazing science notebook.... complete with Paul McCartney, the Beatles, a Star Trek logo, the TARDIS, the Ninth and Tenth doctors, and a picture of my piano.
And above the Beatles is a quote by Benjamin Franklin: "Never leave that for tomorrow which you can do today."

In math I am grade or two behind... So I'm trying to get caught up in that.
So far in algebra we've just been doing review... All the easy questions are throwing me off! I expect them to be hard, over think them, and end up getting the wrong answer. Sigh....
Teaching Textbooks is a good math curriculum for those who don't understand how math works (that would be me!). It explains things very well and you can buy an explanatory CD for the computer that helps you along as well.

My mother is the teacher of my writing "class" made up of me and two friends. We are learning how to write good essays using The Lively Art of Writing by Lucile Vaughan Payne. I am learning lots of good things! I only wish the author would cut back on the examples!

I'm learning cursive for the first time....

And I'm still learning Dutch with Rosetta Stone.

The literature course I am currently going through is Excellence in Literature the American literature study. The books to read include, Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin, Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper, The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

Then of course there's music..... I'm in choir and ensemble where we are singing very very fun songs!
I also started singing lessons! Very very exciting... I'm sing the Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) currently... Maybe I'll post me singing it when I get it worked up.
There's saxophone:

And piano! Right now I've got lots of piano on my plate.... scales, Hanon excercises, a Handel Gavotte, the Solfeggietto, Beethoven, Christmas jazz.... Lots to work on.

And here is me playing "Day by Day" arranged by Mark Hayes. I playing this in church on Sunday.

Live long and prosper!

Two songs for you.

The song is called "Vuevlo Al Sur."
I'm playing both the saxophone and the piano accompaniment. No, I haven't sprouted two extra arms to play both instruments at the same time.
First I recorded myself playing the piano accompaniment and then I recorded myself playing the saxophone and put the two together. I think it turned out rather well, if I do say so myself.

And here is me playing Prelude in C by Bach.

What I really do.

What my piano teacher thinks I do:

What my parents think I do:

What the rest of the family thinks I do:

What the neighbors think I do:

What my dog thinks I do:

What I think I do:

What I really do:

A fun DIY project!

What's this sticking out of my science book?

Is it.... is it...? Yes it is! The TARDIS has materialized inside my science book!

 

If you're like me, you read a lot and frequently run out of bookmarks. Sure scraps of paper or tissue or even the dust jacket serve as an O.K. bookmark... But they don't look nice and rip easily.

Today I was reading my science and decided that I needed a bookmark. I began to reach for a piece of scratch paper but then decided against it. Why not make my own bookmark? And why not make it the TARDIS?

So I went to Google images and typed in TARDIS, chose my picture and printed it out. But paper by itself is very flimsy and foresaw the bookmark ripping after a few chapters of use.... I started to think, what would make my bookmark more stable? Cardboard taped to the back? Maybe, but then it would be very bulky. I know! Tape!

I pulled out the packing tape and wrapped the TARDIS in it and behold, I have a bookmark that won't break easily!

Have I mentioned how much I hate packing tape? Well, now I have. That stuff is impossible to work with! But it makes nice bookmarks if you can get it to come out right. Sadly, my bookmarks have fingerprints and wrinkles in them due to poor taping... Oh well, they still look cool!

I had so much fun with the TARDIS that I made four more bookmarks.

 

 

Now I have a sonic screwdriver bookmark, a TARDIS bookmark, a Star Trek logo bookmark, a Klingon logo bookmark, and a Star Trek Original Series communicator bookmark!

If you are in need of stylish bookmarks, try making your own! It's very fun and easy and quick. =D

 

Today I did something that I thought would be impossible on the first try.

In piano, I do scales to warm up and I also do Hanon excercises which are just that. Excercises to warm up the fingers and hands.

 

 

That's the first Hanon excercise. They get progressively harder as the book goes along. There are 20 in each book and each excercise has a repeat sign to indicate that one should do it twice.

I recently finished the first book and my piano teacher challenged me to do all 20 in a row (no easy task - your wrists get VERY tired). Well, I did 20 in a row. Then I decided to do 20 in a row with repeats. Basically that's like doing 40 Hanon excercises in a row.

I tried it tonight.

Sucess!

I did all 20 in a row with repeats!

My hands still hurt and that was over an hour ago!

I got sore in places that I didn't know you could get sore in from playing piano (shoulders and feet).

But I did it! I can't wait to tell my piano teacher. It's definitely a great excercise if you can stand the pain.... 

 

In other news.... I love Star Trek.com.

Under their "videos" section, they have ALL the Original series episodes!! For free! Complete!

They also have all the Animated series episodes.

AND all four seasons of Enterprise (I don't recommend Enterprise until you've seen all the other Star Trek series {Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and of course Original} it isn't very good in my opinion).

Star Trek.com also has picture galleries where members can upload pictures of various Trek related things (costumes, props, etc.).

I had fun looking through the "art" gallery which had a lot of funny pictures.

 

 

Hahahahaaa.... I feel kind of sorry for the red shirts. They always die. I wonder what they would say if they found out that in Next Generation they switch the colors and gold is security and red is command?

 

Live long and prosper. =)



Day 8: My goals for the upcoming year.

1. To read the Bible and pray everyday so I'll grow grow grow. I would really like to spend more time reading my Bible and praying each day.
2. To spend less time on the computer and more time studying.
3. To finish my math book and the next one.
4. To finish my science book and the next one.
5. To practice piano for more than an hour everyday.
6. To write a bit everyday.
7. To read at least a chapter a day if not more of whichever books I happen to be reading at the moment.
8. To play more board games with Dad.
9. To take better notes.
10. Whether I eat or drink or whatever I do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

While my family was walking in at my Grandpa's memorial service, my mom and I played a piano/saxophone duet of I Need Thee Every Hour and Abide With Me. I have been meaning to post it on my blog for Grama to here so here it is!
My mom is on piano and I am playing saxophone.

The auditorium type room we were in had AMAZING acoustics! It sounded like we were in a concert hall. It was beautiful. I would definitely play there again! The piano was really nice to play on as well! I love grand pianos.

What are your hopes and dreams for the upcoming year?

So long and thanks for all the fish!

A song for you

Sorry that occasionally you can't hear the B below Middle C.... The humidity is making the key stick!

Something to lbog about

Yesterday I was pondering what to blog about. We are at Grama's house for a few days before heading home on Sunday.
I haven't been doing anything since arriving two days ago. Just reading, writing, playing piano, watching TV and videos on youtube - including a "how to play fife" video. I think I know basically what I'm supposed to do.
Now I have something to blog about.
I've gone and done it.
I've broken my glasses on vacation.
All I can say is THANK YOU LORD that it did not happen at the beginning of the trip!!!
I was cleaning my glasses while out and about thrift store shopping today when the lens popped out. My glasses have a small band that holds the lens in place. This band snapped. Tomorrow we are going to go to an eye doctor to see if he can fix it. Grandpa thinks my glasses are unfixable. I really do not want to get a whole new pair of glasses, especially while away from my own eye doctor. But I really don't have another choice, if my glasses are unfixable. I can't even see what I'm typing (so I apologize for any spelling mistakes). I can only see if I get about 5 or 6 inches from the screen, squint, and strain my eyes. Everything is a blur.  I'd rather be blind than deaf any day.
We just called the eyedoctor. Hip hip! They said that any eye place could fix this [roblem easily. I guess life is still pretty boring. Oh well, boring is good sometimes.

I mentioned that I have been playing piano. I thought it was probably time to show you all what is known as "my signature piece" by my friends.

I give you, the Peanuts Theme Song. (played on my Grama's Mason and Hamlin piano - great for playing theme tunes and ragtime!):

Puzzling over Piano

Being at Grandma's house meant that I could practice piano. I brought my piano books along in case we found a retirement home or a piano store along the road that I could stop and practice at. But what about when we can't find anywhere to practice? What about when we're too tired to stop somewhere, or if we're too busy?
No fear, Paper Piano is here!

This morning while I still had access to Grandma's piano, I taped a few pieces of paper together and made myself a paper piano which I can practice on when I don't have access to a real piano. It's real sized and looks pretty cool! I tried it out with Sonatina in C by Bertini and it worked well enough! I'm not about to stop practicing just because I'm on vacation!
Today we drove and drove. There were about a million little flies in the car and we were shooing them out all morning. I think we finally got them all, though.
I got about three and a quarter pages of my novel re-written. I was writing practically all afternoon. I'm getting into the part of my novel where heavy heavy (HEAVY!) editing will be required.... I remember thinking while I was writing it, "I gotta get 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo! I'll just write this part really fast and then add all the description/character building scenes/everything else when I'm re-writing...." Now that time has come and I fear I will be re-writing for a loooong time. Oh well, I have good music and good company and a 10(ish) hour drive in the car tomorrow.

Right now Mom, Grandma, and I are in a VERY nice (and cheap!) hotel. There are two TV's in our room and a small sitting room. I have never been in a hotel this nice.

Tintin is enjoying the nice soft bed:

He wanted the whole thing to himself. I haven't told him that he's sleeping in my bag yet.... Oh well, he slept in worse places in the books.

Ta ta for now!