The Usual, and Flying Squirrels

An interesting weekend thus far. That said, I say that pretty darn often- often enough that it must not mean much at all. So take that for whatever it's worth: it's aconvenient, if silly, way of starting off these entries.

SHabbat was nice, if filled with random awkward momements. Services were nice- for once we got some variation in tunes (thanks tovah623, and in the morning guy-whose-face-I-know-but-name-I-don't). I do miss last year's musical variety. Also the chance to sing at least some during Psukei d'zimra, but that's a different kvetch entirely. ALso one I did some thinking about this Shabbat, but oh well...

Dinner started off what seemed to be the pattern for lots of my social interactions: a very nice time with friends, but things just didn't quite cohere. A lot of people were on edge to a greater or lesser extent there, which made it hard to have solid and interesting interactions. I'm not sure what was going on, but it seemed to be in the air. So I tried to figure out what was going on and calm people down rather than singing after dinner... Afterwards, I headed to a party being held in chinchillama's common room, which was nice and very pleasant, but where I was constantly over-aware of myself and the surroundings, rather than getting wrapped up in conversation, for the most part. Some days I'm just not good even with small crowds, I guess. I had a nice time, but didn't stick around for too long, for that reason, and also as I'd promised my presence elsewhere. (Gee, that sounds stuck up. But it isn't intended that way. Just trying to make it sound nicer than "I promised to hang out with someone else too.") So Dave and I headed over to thevortex's, which was just him, the two of us and pallasrosalind, making for a varying set of two conversations, mostly extremely geeky or relating to minyan politics and issues. (And fleurdelis28, pallasrosalind is the LJ name you wanted.) Shabbat afternoon had similar dynamics. I suggested an after lunch walk, which numerous people said they wanted to join me for, but then insisted on going to wait for a guest to arrive (reasonable) beforehand. So we waited, he showed up- and we all kept waiting. It became my turn to be angsty, and felt very left out and socially inept. Eventually, I ended up going for an actual walk with Selig- the rest of folks eventually also took a real walk, but I was feeling impatient. uthat I decided to walk with Selig- I'd just been annoyed with him for a random comment. But that's not unusual. Can't take those too seriously after kvetching about them once. Afterwards I took a nap that lasted an hour longer than I meant it to, and so missed most of mincha. (Yes, the only girl who is on time for Shacharit almost without fail, but occasionally sleeps through mincha. Go figure.)

Saturday night, I went to sophiesphilo's birthday party. I'd intended to walk, but when I called for directions, she offered me a ride, so I took her up on it, but therefore forgot the pictures I'd wanted to bring her and other folks. Some of them got them later- some didn't. But the party was nice, and we did indeed discuss squirrels: flying, blue or otherwise. Ahh, no matter how I may run from teh squirrels, they do find me. (Reference to high school, junior year, in which every joke seemed to come back to squirrels. I dubbed it the 'Year of the Squirrel' at one point. Unfortunately, the next year lacked a suitable following name, although at one point I was trying the 'Year of the Cut Thumb'.) It was a lovely party, and a nice chance to see folks, and it all worked out very nicely. ALthough I had a moment's disorientation upon entering the apartment: it's the same layout as zachkessin's was last year, but well, it's clean and a living space for a very different set of people. Of course. But well, I'm not used to apartment buildings I guess. Funny, because it never bothers me with dorm rooms.

Random thought: why does breathy flute sound mystic? Or why is that the association we're supposed to have with it? And why do I like it in that context when in orchestral stuff, breathy flute makes me bonkers?

The Usual, and Flying Squirrels

An interesting weekend thus far. That said, I say that pretty darn often- often enough that it must not mean much at all. So take that for whatever it's worth: it's aconvenient, if silly, way of starting off these entries.

SHabbat was nice, if filled with random awkward momements. Services were nice- for once we got some variation in tunes (thanks tovah623, and in the morning guy-whose-face-I-know-but-name-I-don't). I do miss last year's musical variety. Also the chance to sing at least some during Psukei d'zimra, but that's a different kvetch entirely. ALso one I did some thinking about this Shabbat, but oh well...

Dinner started off what seemed to be the pattern for lots of my social interactions: a very nice time with friends, but things just didn't quite cohere. A lot of people were on edge to a greater or lesser extent there, which made it hard to have solid and interesting interactions. I'm not sure what was going on, but it seemed to be in the air. So I tried to figure out what was going on and calm people down rather than singing after dinner... Afterwards, I headed to a party being held in chinchillama's common room, which was nice and very pleasant, but where I was constantly over-aware of myself and the surroundings, rather than getting wrapped up in conversation, for the most part. Some days I'm just not good even with small crowds, I guess. I had a nice time, but didn't stick around for too long, for that reason, and also as I'd promised my presence elsewhere. (Gee, that sounds stuck up. But it isn't intended that way. Just trying to make it sound nicer than "I promised to hang out with someone else too.") So Dave and I headed over to thevortex's, which was just him, the two of us and pallasrosalind, making for a varying set of two conversations, mostly extremely geeky or relating to minyan politics and issues. (And fleurdelis28, pallasrosalind is the LJ name you wanted.) Shabbat afternoon had similar dynamics. I suggested an after lunch walk, which numerous people said they wanted to join me for, but then insisted on going to wait for a guest to arrive (reasonable) beforehand. So we waited, he showed up- and we all kept waiting. It became my turn to be angsty, and felt very left out and socially inept. Eventually, I ended up going for an actual walk with Selig- the rest of folks eventually also took a real walk, but I was feeling impatient. uthat I decided to walk with Selig- I'd just been annoyed with him for a random comment. But that's not unusual. Can't take those too seriously after kvetching about them once. Afterwards I took a nap that lasted an hour longer than I meant it to, and so missed most of mincha. (Yes, the only girl who is on time for Shacharit almost without fail, but occasionally sleeps through mincha. Go figure.)

Saturday night, I went to sophiesphilo's birthday party. I'd intended to walk, but when I called for directions, she offered me a ride, so I took her up on it, but therefore forgot the pictures I'd wanted to bring her and other folks. Some of them got them later- some didn't. But the party was nice, and we did indeed discuss squirrels: flying, blue or otherwise. Ahh, no matter how I may run from teh squirrels, they do find me. (Reference to high school, junior year, in which every joke seemed to come back to squirrels. I dubbed it the 'Year of the Squirrel' at one point. Unfortunately, the next year lacked a suitable following name, although at one point I was trying the 'Year of the Cut Thumb'.) It was a lovely party, and a nice chance to see folks, and it all worked out very nicely. ALthough I had a moment's disorientation upon entering the apartment: it's the same layout as zachkessin's was last year, but well, it's clean and a living space for a very different set of people. Of course. But well, I'm not used to apartment buildings I guess. Funny, because it never bothers me with dorm rooms.

Random thought: why does breathy flute sound mystic? Or why is that the association we're supposed to have with it? And why do I like it in that context when in orchestral stuff, breathy flute makes me bonkers?

Regardless...

I may not be in any sort of decent practice on trombone anymore, but back row of the orchestra habits hold. I found out just before rehearsal that it wasn't happening, so I went to the Company B concert instead, with Dave, and proceeded to fall directly into my old habit of little critical remarks about everything. Dave thought I hadn't enjoyed. And while a capella is not my favorite sort of music, much of this was very good, quality-wise. But a capella audiences don't behave like ones in more formal musical settings, which makes me impatient. That sort of thing. Some habits just don't fade. And it is amusing- and I rather think it surprises people: it's not how I usually talk, I don't think. I'm sort of disappointed with myself for missing almost all of brass ensemble this semester, but other things just seem to have outstaged it in the priorities department. I enjoy it, and at least it's some musical activity- but it was pretty lackluster last semester, and this semester wasn't shaping up to do much better after the first couple of weeks, which happened late because until I started agitating to start rehearsing, no one else scheduled a rehearsal. I'll probably try again in the fall, but somehow I don't feel like making it my baby, with Sol-etc gone. Unless that group gets an injection of good and enthusiastic freshmen, it isn't going to go anywhere at all next semester. And I think I'll have my hands full with BORG and dance stuff, since Matt and I want to start doing some IFD on campus. That very well might be enough for me as far as things that are my first priorities.

I've always wondered at how a capella seems like its own little culture. It's got it's own personalities, codes of behavior both for the performers and the audience... I guess any performance form becomes that way. But I've never understood a capella- it's such a college phenomemnon. It's such a big deal on campuses, and elsewhere it isn't very much at all, as far as I can tell.

Regardless...

I may not be in any sort of decent practice on trombone anymore, but back row of the orchestra habits hold. I found out just before rehearsal that it wasn't happening, so I went to the Company B concert instead, with Dave, and proceeded to fall directly into my old habit of little critical remarks about everything. Dave thought I hadn't enjoyed. And while a capella is not my favorite sort of music, much of this was very good, quality-wise. But a capella audiences don't behave like ones in more formal musical settings, which makes me impatient. That sort of thing. Some habits just don't fade. And it is amusing- and I rather think it surprises people: it's not how I usually talk, I don't think. I'm sort of disappointed with myself for missing almost all of brass ensemble this semester, but other things just seem to have outstaged it in the priorities department. I enjoy it, and at least it's some musical activity- but it was pretty lackluster last semester, and this semester wasn't shaping up to do much better after the first couple of weeks, which happened late because until I started agitating to start rehearsing, no one else scheduled a rehearsal. I'll probably try again in the fall, but somehow I don't feel like making it my baby, with Sol-etc gone. Unless that group gets an injection of good and enthusiastic freshmen, it isn't going to go anywhere at all next semester. And I think I'll have my hands full with BORG and dance stuff, since Matt and I want to start doing some IFD on campus. That very well might be enough for me as far as things that are my first priorities.

I've always wondered at how a capella seems like its own little culture. It's got it's own personalities, codes of behavior both for the performers and the audience... I guess any performance form becomes that way. But I've never understood a capella- it's such a college phenomemnon. It's such a big deal on campuses, and elsewhere it isn't very much at all, as far as I can tell.