One By One All Day

The more reading I realize I need to finish by 6pm, the more gmail chat boxes open up on my screen. And the opening is all by me. Please help me procrastinate!


And coffee. Coffee would be nice and with an hour and a half to go, I'm thinking I have time to go get some.


XO,
SVR

Class

This is my new ranking system for classes:

From favorite to least favorite...

1. No Class
2. Summer class with professor who plans many online classes and lets us out early each week.
3. Summer class
4. Fall/Spring class with professor who plans many online classes and lets us out early each week.
5. Fall/Spring class
6. Online class

With the exception of #1, since no class beats rock, paper, scissor, world peace, and maybe even puppies, I'm a little surprised at how I am ranking things.


I was excited and relieved to finally have an online class this semester. Survey of Special Education EDSE 531. Sure, the number is really big, but it's ONLINE, it should be cake, right? Wrong. It's not cake. I am sitting on the floor right now next to my printer waiting for about 50 pages to print out of powerpoint handouts and assignment guidelines. And then later, after this is done and I get ready, I will go to the campus library to watch a video for this class. "You mean watch a video online, right Scarlet?" Oh no, this is a ghetto VHS I have to check out from the library and watch while in the library. Don't worry, you are totally with me if you're thinking, "Shouldn't everything be...online?"

And is it just me or is it weird to have powerpoint slides when there is no lecture? Isn't the purpose of powerpoint to serve as an aide for a speaker/lecturer? Don't they teach you in PP101 not to put all of your information on the slide? It's supposed to provide the framework for what you are talking about and it serves as a way to show visuals and charts and graphs and stuff. Am I right or am I right? Am I asking too many questions in this paragraph? When was the last time I used a declarative sentence?

I guess, since it's entirely possibly my professor could read this, I will give her the benefit of the doubt that she had these slides prepared from a non-online course and it's easier just to give them to us that way than to reformat them some other way. I guess I'm still just bitter from the $100 book.

I really don't like classes.

Static On Channel 4

After two years together, I thought I could trust you. I thought you knew me and what I needed out of our relationship and I never in a million years thought you would do this to me.


How on earth could you not tape Gilmore Girls, TiVo?!


I get home from orchestra rehearsal and settle down with my dinner to enjoy an hour of Stars Hollow wit and banter and what do I get instead? Channel 4 news?? It pains me to even type out the words. And taunting me with the episode's summary. That was low, TiVo. Really low.

And what really shows me that our relationship is in trouble is the fact that you were taping Boston Legal when I got home at 10pm. Really? Do I watch any lawyer shows now that The Practice is over? No, I do not. Do I have William Shatner on my keyword list for shows to tape? Oh no no no, I do not. To tape Boston Legal and not The Bourne Identity, which was on at the same time, really shows me how little you know about me.

You've been warned, TiVo. Shape up...or else.


~SVR

Paper Bag

I'm not working today and, instead of telling you why, which would turn into a long, expletive-filled bitch fest, I am instead going to talk about my weekend*.


Friday in the wee hours of the morning, Allie, Serena, and I headed north to Philadelphia to begin the celebration of her turning 23. And because narrative will put you all to sleep I will now, in list form, tell you what we did:

+We ate.
+We drank.
+We walked.
+We laughed.
+We took pictures.

Saturday, after working all day, the group headed to Hard Times in Herndon for what turned out to be an awesome happy hour where I had 4 beers for $4. Granted, one was poured by mistake and I got it for free and another one was purchased for me because I'm so pretty, but at at rate of $1 per beer, that's a steal I will not say no to. Plus, after two I wouldn't have said no to much. I kid, I'm a kidder. Do you really think I'd be drunk after two beers? At about 1030pm, we parted ways with those under 21 and headed even farther north to the Wonderland Ballroom in DC. I don't think any of us had ever been and the last time we passed by it didn't look too crowded. Well, Saturday night it was overflowing with people! I had a good time there (4 beers plus some probably helped) where I learned how to dance like Elvis and warned people about the vomit on the stair railing.

The weekend left me seriously exhausted though since it was like going out mid week for me since I don't have Saturdays and Sundays off. It was worth it, though. And please go look at my pictures...and leave comments.


XO,
SVR




*Do you like how many commas I used in that sentence? Wow. Comma whore. And probably a stupid comma whore.

Thinking Of A Dream I Had

It's like my blog has turned into a place for me to report my dreams and horoscopes. I haven't checked today's horoscope yet (I usually forget to), so I'll have to tell you about my dream. After getting minimal hours of sleep the past three nights, I was dead to the world from almost the moment my head hit the pillow last night. I'm surprised I can remember what I dreamt...

Basically a male friend said to me, "Do you have a boyfriend?" to which I used my favorite reply, "No, do you?" He said no and asked if he could be mine. I said yes and there we were, together and happy. It was nice for things to be easy in that regard for once. Later on in my dream I had to go back to my old job to pick up some things and that's where it got difficult. Just confusing and frustrating.


In real-life news, the weekend was a lot of fun and jam-packed. I haven't uploaded any pictures yet so I'll just leave you of one that Allie took because I like it:








XO,
SVR

February Stars

According to my daily horoscope calendar I got for 50% off at Barnes and Noble, Wednesday was supposed to be a really good day for me. The little 2"x3" square has the heart, money sign, and the stoplight next to the date. Even though I have no idea what the stoplight is representing, I was pretty pleased with my horoscope when I read it just a moment ago. Yeah, I know I'm a day late, but it's tough to remember to check the little thing daily. There are many things I'm supposed to do daily that I sometimes forget to do*. And even now, as I try to remember what daily activities I sometimes forget to do, I am having a little trouble remembering anything I do daily.

Where were we? Oh yes, my horoscope from yesterday (or two days ago if you're reading this on Friday, which is most likely since I bet I don't hit publish until then.) So it says to focus on my ultimate goals and then to use my inherant grace, political skills, and powers of persuasion to "negotiate arrangements for achieving them." Negotiate? That seems weird. But what if the things I want can't be achieved through persuasion? I'd rather substitute in charm there. So, I will be using my inherant grace and charm to get what I want. (Yeah, I sorta paraphrased and left out some other words, but it sounds better that way and requires less effort on my part.)

So, what do I want? It seems like the stars wouldn't go to all this trouble for something I obviously want (like, a high-paying job where I sit around and listen to music all day) or something that is impossible (like lambs being a different animal than sheep**.)

So we've got the heart, which obviously means love and lust and everything in between. Do I want that? Was that a rhetorical question? (<----Was that one?)

And we have the money sign. Holy hell do I want and need some more money, but so far in my 26 years and 11 months***, I have yet to get money from anyone other than my grandmother solely for my grace and charm. Getting offered money in exchange for..well, things while walking past Camelot**** doesn't exactly count and no I did not accept the offer.

And the stoplight. I'm really at a loss with that one. Does it mean I always want to have green lights at intersections? Because really, I don't. Red lights are when I text***** and check my email (Yes, I'm that girl.) Does it mean I want to be a dragracer? Um, not so much.




So what, exactly, are my grace and charm going to get me? Because I've got a lot of it and, like my horoscope said, if I focus on whatever my ultimate goal is, I'm so going to get it.




*Flossing is NOT one of them, Dr. Swann.
**Dammit!
***That's right, bitches! My birthday is NEXT MONTH!
****It's a strip club in DC and I guess we can all pretend like you didn't already know. *wink*
*****Verizon? Verizon? Anyone? Bueller?

A Movie Script Ending

Maybe I'm a Black and White girl who doesn't like gray areas because I'm sitting here, trying to figure out which part of my personality caused me to read, open-mouthed and in awe just a moment ago. Is it because I'm a hopeless romantic? because I'm appreciative of words and efforts? because I like to know I'm not alone?


What I know I like is when I read something that sounds like it came from me. Like someone hacked into my own brain and extracted my thoughts for their own use. Hot damn do I love that. There is nothing like reading someone else's words and understanding and getting it all. Just nodding in agreement even though the author may never know.


It's like when a song just hits you because it's perfect. If only I could copyright my thoughts...I'd be a gazilionaire.

Laugh

I think I am a funny person*. Not funny Haha, she doesn't realize her skirt is tucked into her panty hose funny, but more like my mind is constantly making connections among things and once it finds a good one, I say it outloud. At times, this happens too quickly and I say something that should have been kept inside or something that is just too obscure and makes me sound weird. These are times when it's just me and the crickets.

I wish I was better at being funny in Blog Land. Maybe I should start doing more audioblogs where I capture my friends and I having full conversations of:

Serena: "abluba du dagabu?"

Allie: "Habby rubaghau diska"

Scarlet: "Ik! Rakabulabooo!"**

Because in writing it's not funny, it's just weird. But if you had been there when it happened? You would be laughing, too.

I'm going to go do more research at my favorite blogs that make me laugh on a regular basis: Dealing In Subterfuges, I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Wino, and Antedisestablishmentarianism. I admire their comedic writing. Shall we ever meet in person, though? Bring it!


XO, SVR




*And modest, eh?
**True story

Love Cats

Love Cats by The Cure came on XM last night and it reminded me of one of the things I miss most about college*, WMWC. I guess it was the first half of my sophmore year when my friend and I auditioned for a show. Not knowing the station was actually pretty lax, I was really nervous for our on-air try. I remember putting on a song from the Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication that was on the play list and introducing it by talking about their tour. I thought that was going to show I knew what I was talking about;) Then we had to play a record and I picked one up randomly, which turned out to be wicked long and pretty bad. We got the show, of course, and for the rest of the year it was The Violet And Scarlet Show where we played unoriginal music and flirted with guys from another show (who we later learned were gay.)

The next semester, I did the show by myself because my friend couldn't and I was already hooked. Junior year I think I did it by myself the first half of the year and then teamed up with Brian for Sunday evenings for the spring. We teamed up thinking we would split the two hours, but after a couple of weeks of that, we began doing the show together and would have guests all the time. Usually our other friend, Brian who would be obnoxious on air, but sometimes Ben and/or Andy who had the show before ours and were both in bands. Brian and I were big fans of ALL/Descendents so about 40% of the shows were either of those bands or another band they were associated with. And I think I made him play Bad Astronaut's cover of Needle In The Hay every week.

Senior year I signed up alone, but then Vanessa would come hang out with me and we started having our Hour Of Dedication shows. These were AMAZING and another day I will post some of our track lists. I have every show I ever did on tape and while I don't listen to them much anymore, it would still make me nostalgic to hear the voices and song choices that would come up.

And why did I title this Love Cats and why did the song remind me of my show? Because my last year there, I was blaring Love Cats from the station and these two guys came up to tell me how cool it was that I was playing that song. They scared the crap out of me, but it was still pretty cool.


This is wicked long. Oooops!



XO,
SVR







*I am not one of those people to sit around missing college. I don't miss college. I parts of it, like All-Day Breakfast, Orchestra, living within walking distance of all my friends, care packages, etc. I do not miss classes, work, roommates, or haunted dorm rooms.

Stuck With Me

I was working yesterday when it started to snow and, like the kid I can sometimes be, I ran to the front windows to get my first glimpse. It was gorgeous, of course, but I never thought it would stick so when my mom called a few hours later to say she had just called 911 for an accident she saw, I knew that driving home* was either going to take hours or would be an invitation for disaster with my little Elantra.

So with my sister living just a few miles from work, I headed there at 15 mph to spend the night so I could head home in the morning. I hate it when people not from this area say, "Everyone freaks out when it snows around here!" and "NOVAners don't know how to drive in snow." because both statements are ludicrous. I do freak out when it snows, but not because I am scared of it or worried about getting my bread and milk, but because I absolutely love it. We were never the type of family to stand in line at the local grocery store to stock up on things when the weather forecast included snow and ice. We were more the type to head out in a few feet to check out the conditions, hit up whatever store was open and then do doughnuts in the parking lot. But that was in my dad's big work truck and not in an adorable little car like the one I own now**. And I think I need tires because I definitely wouldn't have written home about my amazing traction last night on the extremely covered side roads I was driving slipping on. And the cunts trying to get me to go faster last night? Those are the ones who don't know how to drive in the snow. Leaving roughly five feet between our cars just doesn't seem like a good idea, does it? Decrease speed, increase following distance-it's not too difficult.


Anyway, so I spent the night at Ali's and we had a good time. She made me dinner and homemade cookies while I used her internet to enter the DCist photo competition and talk to stalkers (jk). Then, when we were ready to get into bed/floor, we put on a movie. Ali is crazy and watches stuff like 28 Days Later and Dawn Of The Dead to lull her to sleep so, since I was her guest, I put the latter on. I guess with old age comes wussiness, because even though I have seen the movie (I even own it!), I was so scared by the opening scenes. I was watching it through tiny slits in hands that covered my eyes! What is wrong with me? Haha! So we turned that off after I made her pinky swear to not try to scare me and tried to go to sleep.

*Silence*


Ali: So, what do you think of .....?

Scarlet: Well, .....

Ali: Yeah.


*Silence*


Ali: Did you hear about...?

Scarlet: OMG, yes!

*Silence*


Ali: You asleep?

Scarlet: No. Let's talk about our trip we're taking.

Ali: OK!


I love how that always happens. It never fails that when the lights go off at a sleepover, the talking continues for at least an hour. Ladies, you know what I mean, right?


Thanks for letting me stay over, Ali!


XO,
SVR

Morning Glory

I'm so going to need my work pump up song today.


Last night was spent doing recon work. None of which I can talk about here:) Birthday Secrets!



Xo,
SVR

The Employment Pages

If there is one thing I am not good at, it's finding a job. My last real job was one I got because I knew someone and actually, same with the sub position I had, too. I get freaked out by job descriptions. I see "phone" and I shudder. I see "works closely with" and I think about past coworkers who were a handful in that kind of position. I see " [fill in the blank] years experience" and decide mine won't count. It's ridiculous! I not only have a college degree, but I almost have a masters degree and I have office experience and a buttload of customer service experience. I'm smart. I like math. I know computers. I'm a joy to work with. I rarely miss work.

And then I think about my location issues. I don't want to commute for a job that's not worth it. I have to be able to get to Fredericksburg by 6pm on Wednesdays. I have orchestra on Tuesdays. I actually don't want to have to quit my bookstore job because it's a really nice safety net for not only extra cash but insurance, too.

But Scarlet? Aren't you going to school to be a teacher? Why don't you apply for teaching jobs? Well, to be honest, they actually scare the crap out of me and yes, I know, that's a bit crazy. I saw this link for "elementary, middle and high school music teachers", which yeah, is ideal, BUT did you see how they said, "elementary, middle, and high school..."? I think I could do middle school. I'd have to be a Nazi, but I could do it. Elementary? I don't even know what elementary music teachers do. I can see myself disappearing midway through the year and sending an anonymous note that "Miss Rose has entered the Witness Relocation Program...sorry for the inconvenience."

I don't know what to do and it's sort of making me freak the fuck out.

No One Knows

Tagged by the lovely DCCeline, I have been asked to tell five things you don't know about me. I may be the only person on the interweb to actually enjoy being tagged, so here we go!


1. I am allergic to raw apples and pears. I can eat them cooked, but when they are raw they make my mouf itch and it's really uncomfortable. This is a common allergy and I read it's to an enzyme or something, which explains why I can eat them cooked because, of course, the enzyme will not withstand the heat. Duh.

2. I got my first computer/email address/AIM name in 1998 when I went to college. I think I spent most of my first night there trying to decide on the handles to use, much to the amusement of my roommate and her friends who already had e-experience.

3. In total NYC clicheness, I've been on the Today show twice. The one time, my poster read, "I Have A Dream And It's To Be On The Today Show." Hahhahaa, so dorky. Oh, it was on MLK,Jr. Day.

4. My Music senior seminar was on Shostakovich's "From Jewish Folk Poetry" and I tried to show what makes a piece sound Jewish. I never did really, but I think my presentation was good. And who doesn't love Shosty!?

5. I have never been farther west than Pittsburgh or farther east than how far out I've swam in the Atlantic Ocean. The farthest north I have been is to Montreal and the farthest south is Puerto Rico.


XO,
SVR

P.S. I'm not tagging anyone.

Yellow

For the record, here are my Australian Open hopes:

Men:

Andy Murray

Andy Roddick

Marat Safin

Roger Federer**



Women:

Maria Sharapova

Elena Dementieva

Martina Hingis***

(Do NOT want Mauresmo to win and I'm glad Henin* isn't playing.)


*I assume she's dropping the Hardenne (sp?)?
**Unless he loses an arm he's going to win. And I'm not sure if I want him to win because people who dominate the game (love you, Pete) can make it boring at times, but I do like him as a player because...well, he's amazing.
***I'm not sure how I feel about her winning. Actually, it might be kind of cool. I hated her when she was dominating (see above), but it's cool she came back.

Tell The Truth, Parts I And II

Ant tagged me for this and since he's Scottish, I'll do anything he says;)

So, five facts and one lie. You pick the lie, ok?

1. When my college orchestra played at Carnegie Hall in 2001, I'm about 97% sure I fell asleep on-stage during the hour long symphony we played because I didn't play for about 30 minutes of it and it was extremely slow during those parts.

I did play in Carnegie Hall and I did fall asleep during that wicked long piece. We went out the night before and have rehearsal early in the AM. Then, I was barely breathing while on stage because I was nervous and was sitting on the edge of my chair. I totally did the head-nod thing. Ooops!

2. I was the captain of my high school's Winter Guard and played the part of Maria the year we performed to West Side Story.

It's true. Cindy forgot I was in that in high school and Serena didn't follow the link to see that it doesn't involve singing. Basically, I was the last person on the floor for the routine and was like Maria.

3. I have felt a man's prostate...on a cadaver. cough cough

I so did this and it was awesome. My anatomy class went to MCV and I felt a cadaver, held a kidney and pulled on tendons to make fingers move. It was awesome. That night I went to see the Foo Fighters at the (old) Black Cat and told the bartenders about it, haha.

4. During one of my early morning shifts at the pool in Richmond, an old man doing laps started having heart pains while swimming and I had to call 911 and get him to the side of the pool.

LIE LIE LIE! I did work early morning shifts at the pool in RVA, but I never had to save anyone. When I worked at the summer pool I did have to jump in a few times, but I have never had to call 911 while guarding.

5. When I was in 4th grade, my class went on a field trip to the Old Jail Museum in Warrenton. I sneezed on an old artifact and it wasn't a dainty sneeze. I was mortified.

Unfortunately true:( Why would they have a field trip in spring? Don't they know I have allergies then!?

6. When I was in Puerto Rico, I lost an earring in the Phosphorescent Bay.

Very true and I would have been upset, but I figured hey, it's Puerto Rico, who cares? I went there in 2001.

Sooooo, what do you think?

Is CBK the only one who got it correct? Good job! And to the wankers who didn't play-you suck!

XO,
SVR

Daysleeper

My sleep schedule is totally effed up. It seems to have started after last Monday when I worked from 7am to 3pm and then headed straight to Barnes and Noble to work from 4pm until midnight. I was tired to say the least and that night when my head finally hit the pillow, I didn't set an alarm in an effort to get what sleep I needed the next day. I actually didn't sleep as late as I had expected (only until about 1030am), but it started the horrible pattern I am in now. Wednesday I did get up at 6am, but then that night I was out until 2am with friends so getting to sleep at about 330am resulted in...you guessed it, sleeping late again*.

I try to get up early everyday, but lately I've even been turning my alarm off in my sleep. If I know I don't have to get up for something, my sleepyhead takes over and turns off my three alarms I have set up**. This morning was no exception. I somehow turned off the first alarm set for 7am and when the 730am went off, I decided "just a few more minutes!" And I stretched out and found that extra comfortable spot and just could not let it go to waste so I let myself fall back to sleep for a little longer.

Tomorrow, though, there are no excuses. I'll be up at 7am no matter what getting ready for work=/ I guess it's the shock my system needs? I guess we'll find out on Wednesday morning, eh?


XO,
SVR




*My work schedule is v. weird right now. There is no pattern to it and my days off are during the week usually.
**Three. I know. It stems from me being so worried I'll miss work and if I'm worried I won't get up, then I won't sleep well.

2/4

To watch 24 or to not watch 24. You all know the question.

PROS:

• It's a good show. I watched the first season and enjoyed it.
• I'll know what everyone is talking about the next day.
  
• A few of my faves are no more (or will soon be no more): Alias, The OC, etc.
  

CONS:

• It requires my attention. It's not a show I can multitask during.
  
• I'm going to get sucked in and will have to watch it every week.
  
• It's the type of show I want to "figure out" like Alias and Lost, but I don't have time to read summaries online and rewatch episodes for clues. (Not that I do that. Seriously. I only rewatch Gilmore Girls each week:)

So should I watch?

Blizzard

Maybe the lack of snow really is affecting me. I'm seriously considering getting a Blizzard from Dairy Queen for lunch.

Snow (Hey Oh)

Dear Mother Nature,

Thank you. I'm loving the temps, but I've heard a nasty rumor about some more above-normal temperatures and that is just unacceptable. Where the hell is my snow? You teased me with it the other night and I was beyond ecstatic to finally see those gorgeous white flakes. It's 11 January and you have me a little worried that you won't get your act together quickly enough for me to enjoy a long, cold winter. SHAPE UP, MOTHER NATURE!


XO,
SVR

Word Of Mouf Freestyle

In yet another effort to bring Barnes and Noble down from the inside, I tell you of their current DVD sale. Buy any TV Box set that is $29.99 and above, and get another one for free. FOR FREE! Buy one, get one for free. And you can use your member discount and those annoying coupons they send you in the mail!


Today I bought Melrose Place and Dawson's Creek Season 6 for what ended up being not much money at all. I know this sounds like free advertising for their sale, but I'm here to tell you to combine those coupons and get all you can! I know the overhead has to be a lot on these box sets, but still, they're literally giving away DVDs. It's insanity.

I kind of want to go back and get Family Guy Volume 4 and Grey's Anatomy Season 2. Stay strong, Scarlet. Resist.

Milk & Honey

"There are two hot peppers in there...watch out."


I thought he was kidding! The baked ziti was amazing until I felt the pain and had the sudden (and then intensifying) feeling that I had found that second pepper I assumed was a joke. I have now, at least, gotten my daily fill of calcium as a result of the what seemed like gallons of milk I just downed in an effort to stop the burning. I can't even handle the mild Taco Bell sauce, so biting into a real pepper was Hell on Earth for me for about twenty minutes. How and why do people voluntarily eat those things?

12 Hours It Takes Sometimes

I think I broke my ANTM* marathon watching, um...problem. I just voluntarily turned off ANTM and put something else on. I think my freakish obsession weakened enough for a break once it was all episodes I had seen recently. My new problem is what I happened to put on for while I do some computer work for my dad...Gilmore Girls.


*sigh*


I know, I know. How many times can you watch the same episodes, Scarlet? I believe the answer to that question is somewhere in between 543,890.4 and "When I have watched it so much I am sucked into the TV."



*America's Next Top Model

How To Save A Life

I probably should have mentioned that Fredericksburg is also flooded with memories and as one of the most sentimental people around, it can make for an interesting night to go there with any sort of expectation for the evening. I should have been prepared when, on the way, I remembered the last time I was wearing the jacket I chose for tonight. And then I chose to play Pan-fucking-tera on the jukebox. And jeger bombs. And seeing people with whom I texted on New Years Eve who now don't want to continue our fun tradition of kissing for the New Year. Mmhmmm, yeah. It's okay, though, it's not my loss.

And don't ever take the scenic route.

My Little Town

We're going to Fredericksburg tonight. I know what you're thinking: "Fredericksburg!?" and then either "What's that?" or "Why?" Well, to answer the first question, Fredericksburg is in Virginia, off of I95, between Richmond and DC and just so happens to be the citytown I went to college in. I had a grand time in college (save for the classes, papers, and tests) and I owe a lot of that to Fred'burg or Fred, as I so lovingly call it. Once my friends and I were 21, we got into the routine of going to our favorite places: Hard Times for college night on Wednesdays, usually a show in DC on Thursdays, and then Spirits or a party on either Friday or Saturday. To anyone who goes to UMW now and is thinking, "There are no parties there!"...oh, my friend, there are. You just need to find them. Anyway, tonight we're going to Spirits, which is a bar in the downtown part of the citytown that I just adore. It used to be the place to go and even after I graduated I continued going there with Vanessa where we would meet up with all of our hott, Fred'burg friends. In the past few years the UMW crowd has migrated over to some of the other newer bars in the area, but that's just fine with me since I am not in college and do not need to be hanging out in that crowd anymore.

I have a lot of memories from that place. Some I've shared and some that won't be shared on this PG-13 blog, but I will always get excited to go back. I love it so.

We're also going to SONIC tonight, which is a pit-stop that has me equally excited. You know what goes together really well? Cherry limeaide and rum. Huzzah!

Have a great night!

XO,
SVR

Make This Go On Forever

If VH1 doesn't stop the madness that is the ultimate America's Next Top Model 81 hour marathon, I am never going to get anything done ever again. I promise you I have not watched the whole thing, but when the TV has been on in the past couple of days, it's been on VH1. I've got it down to a science of skipping the beginning summary of the past show, watching the photo shoot, skipping the house crap, and then watching the judging. During the skip times are when I'm getting things done. Or fast forwarding if I'm catching it on TiVo or late. It's tough to step away, though. I need a 12-step program.

Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

I saw this over on Nobody Listens To Techno, and while it's technically a meme and therefore something I should put on Room For Answers, I figure it will work out better on here.

If you want to participate, go through your archives from 2006 and post the first sentence from the first post of each month.


January:

Excited for the start of 2006 for many reasons (what, 49 days til my birthday?) but the one we will focus on today is this: This Book Will Change Your Life Again!.

February:

Looking for something to do this Friday night?

March:

When I started my "real" job last January I really struggled with having to be to work at 8am every single day.

April:

The Zach Morris cell phone has haunted me all weekend.

May:

What I learned at my doctor's appointment, aka my 3.5 hour lunch:

June:

My Blogogaphry or, Scarlet Is Hogging The Internet:

July:

I have my laptop back.

August:

I had one of my awesome moments today where I said something before I really thought about it.

September:

It's 12:22am and I have to get up in less than six hours and Agassi just will NOT put this match away.

October:

Sundays are weird.

November:

My mom and I went out for the day today to hang out, relax, and have fun.

December:

Dear Mother Nature,
Quit being a psycho woman with hot flashes and give us season-appropriate weather.

Doesn't that just say it all??

Coming Back For More

After a seven month hiatus*, I finally was back to orchestra rehearsal last night. Even though I complain about it sometimes, I had missed it immensely and was extremely happy to be back. I was neither disappointed nor did I disappoint as it can be tough to get back into playing after such a long break, but after the first movement, I was back on top of the music.

We are playing, among other things, Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition, which is 1) Russian**, 2) pretty well known, and 3) fun to play. It is also half in A clarinet (instead of Bb, which is what the traditional clarinet is made for) requiring me to transpose as I play since I don't own an A clarinet. I did well at the transposing until I was reading notes in the stratosphere that are just not normal to play so with the added need to play them 1/2 a step lower, I did skip over a few measures until the notes came back down to normal.

Clarinet playing, besides being a little dorky (ha!), is just like any sport or other activity that requires practice. When I have been playing a lot I totally get into the zone where I don't have to think as much about what I am playing. At a certain point my eyes just become decoders that run over the music while some link that goes from my eyes to my brain to my hands makes it all happen. And it all happens instantaneously- I don't think about it, it just happens. Hiccups come when there are difficult rhythms or accidentals that require actual thought. At these points I either just flub it until it comes, or I actually have to practice the part on its own. And it's interesting how I have found myself recognizing patterns in music more and more. For example, now that I have to transpose so much, I have noticed that there are times I just know what to play even though the notes I'm playing are not the ones I am reading. A run*** comes and as long as I know the first note and how it fits in, I just play it. It's actually pretty cool. I hate to admit that my teachers were correct all those years about scales...ha!

I'm so happy to be back. I wish I could join 43294032.3 orchestras and just play classical musical constantly.


XO,
SVR



*I had to take a class that was only offered on Tuesdays!

**And therefore awesome.

***A bunch of notes in a row.

Color Bars

Colorgenics

You are trying to prove to others that nothing can really affect you. You are pretending to be stoical - indifferent to pain or pleasure and indeed even superior to any form of weakness. As a result, more often than not, you unfortunately act with undue harshness or severity by adopting an autocratic and self-willed attitude.

Being a likeable person you get on well with neighbours and friends. You don't need anything to 'Rock your boat'. You want to 'love' and to be loved'.

Many people will consider you egotistical and full of your own self importance. On the surface you could well give this impression and perhaps the reason for this complacent attitude is because at times you indeed have that 'short fuse' and are quick to take offence.

You pretend that you are a carefree individual and that nothing really bothers you - that you are so self-sufficient that whatever problems beset you they simply flow off you as water flows off a ducks back. You are experiencing considerable stress, trying to conceal yourself from the rest of the world. In actual fact - deep down, you are not at all happy. You feel lonely and you need someone with whom you can 'Let your hair down' and share your hopes, dreams and high standards. You are imposing unnecessary self restraint on yourself. You would like to demonstrate the unique quality of your character to all and sundry.

You are presently worried about your future and you feel that whatever you do will go wrong. At this time you are your own worst enemy. All the disappointment that you have experienced, coupled with the fear that there is no point in formulating fresh goals, have led to anxiety. You would like recognition and a position of trust but you are concerned that these hopes and dreams may not be realised. You are very argumentative and insistent that you are right - maybe you are - but you are pushing too hard. Take it easy, let go, and smile. Smiling and agreeing with people works wonders - try it and see.

Little Thoughts

At one of my classes last semester, one of my classmates did a presentation on the Challenge program she had seen on Oprah. I missed the show the first time around, but it's on today and since I am too tired to do anything else*, I'm paying attention. Plus, it's Lisa Ling and I have loved her ever since Channel One in high school. And as a sidenote, who doesn't love Channel One and how could anyone not like it? I always liked it and found that those little snippets on current events really kept me in the know. When I subbed at the high school a few weeks ago I will admit that I was a little excited to get to see Channel One again.


So this Challenge thing is kind of weird. It's purpose, to bring people together and break down barriers, is a good one, of course, but it's also super cheesy and it's hard to believe a roomful of 64 high schoolers would take it seriously. I know I would have been sitting there make funny comments on what was going on the whole time. And the whole, "We're going to play a game!" and the students yell back, "YEAH!"...seriously? Maybe I'm just too cynical, but since I really am not cynical, it's hard to believe this program works in high schools.

Maybe they gave everyone veritaserum.


XO,
SVR




*Not sure why. I'm just super tired!

Oops I Did It Again

"That was boring! Do it again! TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE...HAPPY NEW YEAR (again)!"


That's right, I made everyone count down for a second time because the first time was a bit anticlimatic. There was no kissing! It was so odd. We got to "one" and I looked around, ready to take note of any pairings up and everyone just stood there. So I made them do it again. At least the second time people broke out into "Auld Lang Syne".


Happy New Year to all! I hope you enjoy putting up your new calendars, which is really all that is exciting on Jan 1. I've got a Scotland one and a Bad Dog one to get up oh, and my daily crossword puzzle one. Fun stuff!


XO,
SVR