Home and Cold

I am back home in Chicago right now. Its 37 degrees right now...which isn't too cold for Chicago, but it is pretty cold for me! The thing that surprises me every time I come home is at night when I brush my teeth, the water is sooooo freezing out of the tap. For some reason in my building in Houston, the water never gets very cold, the coldest it gets is a few degrees under room temperature, which really disturbed me at first, but after a year and a half I got used to it. Now I freeze my mouth whenever I brush my teeth while I'm at home. One benefit is that I don't usually need to put ice in my water. I'm not really sure where that came from. Maybe because I just brushed my teeth.

I really wanted to watch the final disc of Season 2 of Big Love tonight, but my neighborhood Blockbuster didn't have it in! I asked the guy if someone had recently returned it and he said, "Yes! I just saw it!!" and then he went back to get it, and turned around and said, "sorry...its actually something else." I was very sad. I rented Ellie Parker for the 3rd time (I've rented it twice before and never watched it...3rd times the charm right?) I haven't watched it yet...oops.

Carter Sonata

So...my Carter Sonata performance last night was a bit 'interesting' in a first performance kind of way...we probably hadn't really rehearsed enough to be playing the 4th movement in front of people...but that didn't stop us and we kind of futzed our way through it...and had kind of a meltdown backstage afterwards...good times...

For those of you wondering...I am back in Houston now...have been for a few days...and its cold here...I keep accidentally wearing my checker scarf with my checker shoes...oops...I think I'm going to not play in studio today...mainly because I feel kind of tired and won't play well...that means I have to next week...or else...

I think I will get a haircut today.

I Like Today

It is very cold and rainy today and it makes me feel like we actually have seasons here...of course that will all change when it gets hot again and it becomes apparent that we actually don't have seasons at all. But I will enjoy it while I can and carry my umbrella around and wear a sweatshirt (outside!!).

Some of you may know that I've been having some headache problems lately...things got better over the weekend and I've made some (temporary) lifestyle changes...no caffeine, no alcohol, and mostly organic food. It was very fun to go shopping at Central Market over the weekend searching out all the good organic stuff (although it is a little pricey...but whatever). I'm happy to be back in business and getting things done (since that didn't happen very much this past week). Last night was an apartment cleaning, so now everything is tidy and in its place and ready to go for the week...I should make it a tradition to always clean up on Sunday afternoon/evening...its makes getting up on Monday much easier.

I saw the University of Houston's production of The Breasts of Terisias (Poulenc) and Gianni Schicci (Puccini) yesterday. Both great operas and great production with lots of stunning performances from Eastman grads (featured as leads in both operas). Its always great seeing the operas there...they spare no expense and put on huge lavish productions.

Trio recital this Saturday at 8pm in Duncan...Brahms: Trio in B Major/Schumann: Trio in D Minor....you should be there!!!