3 M's are Better Than One

when in Connecticut...

2011-07-04T08:44:00.002-04:00

I just arrived in the burgeoning burg of Norfolk, CT yesterday. My quartet is here for six weeks playing in a music festival run by Yale and the Tokyo String Quartet. I've gotta admit... I haven't exactly been thrilled by this prospect. Don't get me wrong; I am excited to study with TSQ and all, but you need to understand. The town is soooo small. Before arrival I was informed that it used to have a bar. I thought, wow. You've got to be kidding me... a town so small it can't even support a bar!? Don't worry. We spotted one on the way in. Not that i'll be going there. Ever. On the other hand, if I get the sudden urge to buy useless old junk, I did see three antiques shops. So there is civilization here. But really folks, small SMALL town. And small, Small, SMALL festival. I think there will be less than thirty of us here all summer. If the people are cool, (and so far they seem to be) it should be fun. We're all staying in people's homes in the community. So far, I think I totally lucked out there. My hosts are these lovely Brits named Simon and Annette, their son Julian, and their dog Nigel. It doesn't get much more British than that. The best part is that they live in a lovely home, and I'm living in a large guest apartment out back! I have a living room and kitchen and large room, and while there is supposed to be someone in the other room here, they haven't yet shown up. I'm thinking they may be a member of one of the professional quartets coming later in the summer. That would be fantastic, because then I'd have the place to myself, really. So far, so good. There is one puzzling thing though, this sentence from the welcome letter given me by Simon: "we recommend keeping your doors unlocked. Also, keep the outside lights on. Beware the bear!" Hmmm. Should be an interesting summer.

I Love Me Some Bandwagon

2011-05-29T21:28:00.003-04:00

That's right, I'm jumping on. Before you read any further, however, I must ask you: "Are you a fan of delicious flavor"?** If so, then try this. It's from Mel over at Kitchen Cafe. Though normally I improvise a bit in the kitchen, I decided to make this one just as the directions said, seeing as how it looked easy and delicious. So. Blasted. Delicious. I would highly recommend it. I hope you all make it and love it as much as I did. Oh, and definitely make the extra sauce. You'll want to lick that tangy, gooey goodness out of the bowl.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

*Note: if you like extra sauce, double the sauce ingredients - pour half over the chicken and follow the baking directions in the recipe and pour the other half in a small saucepan. Cook the sauce on the stovetop at medium heat for 8-10 minutes until it simmers and thickens. Serve it on the side of the chicken.
*Serves 4-6

Chicken:
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients (below) together and pour over chicken.

Sauce:
¾ cup sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
½ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes so it is evenly coated with the sauce. Serve the chicken over rice.

**10 points if you can tell me what tv show this quote is from.

Haikool

2011-04-28T00:52:00.006-04:00

Cuttlefish

Swimming in the sea,
Crazy three-pronged poison tongues;
Oceans freak me out.

Things You May Not Know About Me

2011-04-28T00:04:00.003-04:00

1. I can never remember the rules for putting 's on the end of words that already end in s. Anyone? Anyone?

2. There's almost always a song (or two or three) in my head. Weirdly, the song that pops in there when nothing else does is "R.E.S.C.U.E., Rescue Aid Society" from that old Disney movie "The Rescuers." This has been happening for years, although I haven't seen the movie since I was a kid.

3. I can't choose a favorite book, movie, band, or song. I don't know why this is... I'm certainly opinionated about everything else. I know what I don't like. Does that count?

4. I have received two thank you notes in the past week from crazy unexpected sources. They're both hanging up on my fridge.

5. I have dated many, many engineers of different kinds. If someone comes up to me and starts flirting, I can almost guarantee that he is an engineer. This happened yet again a couple of weeks ago.

6. I can usually remember and even sometimes control my dreams. When I was a kid, I would watch a good movie or read a book I liked then go to sleep and continue the story. I have also had several random dreams come true within a month or two of dreaming them. I've never shown any other signs of prescience, though. I also have serial dreams. For instance, one summer I had lots of dreams that I was a spy. It was an exciting summer.

7. One of my favorite days ever was going to the Cherry Blossom Festival and National Kite Flying Festival in Washington D.C. with some friends. We flew kites all around the Washington Monument (with thousands of other people) then spent the day doing other things I love... looking at flowers, visiting monuments, and posing for pictures with statues. Yes, I may be nerdy, but I embrace that.

8. I want to go skydiving someday. Until then, I just found this place in Denver that does indoor skydiving, where you put on the suit, step into this crazy wind tunnel, and "fly" a few feet above the ground. I think this would probably be a good first step, because I am also a big fat chicken.

9. One of my goals is to see both Stonehenge and Carhenge. I am halfway there.

10. One of my most revealingly favorite quotes is from "Pride and Prejudice," "What do we live for but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn"? This describes most of my favorite interactions with the world around me. I take delight in all sorts of oddities. In case you couldn't tell from this blog. I also have a reputation as an instigator. I tend to bring out the crazy in my friends, small children, and animals. I am not actually sure how this happens. But I'm really glad it does, because I find it infinitely amusing.

Yo Ho Ho... and You Know the Rest

2011-04-20T17:45:00.003-04:00

I've had quite the fun-filled day. I started it off with class (ba dum bum) and spent the next several hours contemplating a life of crime-- in this case, piracy. I just finished reading Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" for the first time in my life, and I absolutely loved it. It's fun, interesting, well-written, and full of characters I love, from Dr. Livesey to Jim Hawkins to Long John Silver himself.

I decided to celebrate the end of my imaginary sea voyage by going to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to see the traveling National Geographic exhibit- "The Whydah: From Slave Ship to Pirate Ship." Fan.Tast.Ic. It was quite informative in my current state of mind. I learned all about Sam Bellamy and his motley crew hijacking the slave ship in the West Indies, sailing north, and being shipwrecked by a terrible storm. I actually got to touch some of the pieces of eight (treasure) they recovered. Interesting note: this is the only pirate treasure they've ever recovered, probably because most pirates spent their money in drink and women before they could actually amass any wealth. That doubtless would have happened in this case too had the ship not sunk and killed all but two of its crew (who were captured and hung anyway). It was quite a sight to see the treasure all piled in chests.

After visiting the exhibit, I find myself in a moral quandary, which is this: I can absolutely understand the reasoning of pirates in the 1700s. I mean, come on. A regular seaman went to sea, had no rights, was repressed and treated horribly by his commanding officers, and may or may not have ever been payed the pittance he was promised. Conditions were horrible, and disease was rampant. Also, the governments first authorized "privateering," which was basically legalized piracy. It only became illegal when they formed political alliances or lost wars. Pirates grew from the ashes of the program, declaring their independence from any nation. Then take the slave trade. I don't even need to go into that, I'm sure. Those people were absolutely dehumanized, and it is disgusting on every level. Enter someone like Sam Bellamy. Now, I am absolutely aware that he was a thief and murderer. Obviously, I don't excuse this kind of behavior. However, if you signed up to be a pirate, you became a shareholder in the company. Every person on board was entitled to a share of the money. They were large crews, so they had to do much less work. They democratically elected their officers, and they were able to, ahem, remove them if they weren't living up to the code. Also, they voted on the rules from ship to ship and captain to captain. Anyone was entitled to everything, be they European, African, Native American, Jamaican, or any other -an. Bellamy's men actually called themselves "Robin Hood's men," identifying with the swashbuckling hero who stole from the rich and evil to feed the poor. And I have to say, I can't find any tears when it comes to them taking over a slave ship. I'm willing to bet that all on board were treated with a respect and humanity that was never going to be available to them through any other means of the day.

So, are you with me? Or am I just caught up in the romantic haze of sea voyages and Robin Hood?

Favorites

2011-04-15T23:56:00.002-04:00

Here are some of mine at the moment...

Books: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Mitford Series, Anne of Green Gables (all books in the series, except maybe "Windy Poplars"), Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, A Tale of Two Cities (and pretty much anything else by Dickens), Pride and Prejudice, Walter Cronkite's Autobiography

Travel Books: New York City- Free and Dirt Cheap, Way Off the Road by Bill Geist

Cookbooks, etc: Cooking Light Magazine, The Worldwide Ward Cookbook, Caprial Cooks for Friends, various cooking blogs already linked in my favorites to the side of this blog

Composers: Brahms, Beethoven, Mahler, Ives, Mendelssohn, Bach, Gershwin, Bartok, Copland, Piazzola

Old (and some newer) Movies: You Can't Take it With You, Pride and Prejudice (but ONLY the BBC version), Amazing Grace, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anchors Aweigh, Singing in the Rain, The Thin Man, North by Northwest, Rear Window, My Man Godfrey, How to Steal a Million, Tangled, nearly everything by Pixar

TV Shows: Psych, Burn Notice, Monk, Parks & Recreation, The Cosby Show, The Dick van Dyke Show, Arrested Development, Jeeves and Wooster, Poirot

Plays: A Man For All Seasons, Wicked, Charlie's Aunt, Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Noises Off

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

2011-02-23T18:17:00.003-05:00

Hi Everybody! In case you haven't heard from the rest of the worldwide web, my quartet has some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that our colleague, Xian Meng, is leaving us to pursue other interests. We will miss him terribly, but we wish him all the best. The good news is that Michelle Lie will be joining us as the Tesla Quartet's new second violinist in May, 2011. We're so excited to have her join us here, as she's a wonderful musician. If you'd like to know more about her, you can head on over to teslaquartet.blogspot.com. Anyway, it's been an exhaustive process trying to find someone new, but we feel like we've scored big time, so thanks for all your support during the last few months! Here's to the future!

Some Days...

2011-02-22T22:04:00.002-05:00

I have learned many lessons in my life. One big one was the realization that there will always be someone better than me at whatever it is I'm trying to do. That's a beautiful and terrifying thing to know, but it keeps my head on straight. It's always good to recognize that people can surprise you. Anyway, that is why I love this so very much. Victor Borge was a total genius, by the way.

I Can Study In My Sleep

2011-02-10T08:44:00.003-05:00

That's right folks! After twenty-some-odd years of education, I have at last learned the art of sleep study. I fell asleep studying my notes two nights ago, preparing for a test yesterday morning, and I spent the whole night thinking about aspects of Mozart's Piano Concerto in A, Beethoven's "Pathetique" Sonata, and John Gay's The Beggar's Opera. I went flashcard by flashcard in my dreams, and when I woke up I picked right back up where I left off.

This could come in handy.

Here's hoping my new brain powers extend to important life decisions. Wouldn't it be great if I could get ready for the day in my sleep, prepare meals, and travel? I would be so much better rested.

What would you like to be able to do in your sleep?

Re-Instituting FADCF

2011-01-23T16:35:00.002-05:00

which stands for Free and Dirt Cheap Fridays, for those who need clarification. I've written previously about this idea I had while living in NYC. Well, after a month of sickness, lots of stress, and general disgruntledness, I decided to re-institute FADCF for myself. It's more the spirit of the thing, as I actually did it on a Saturday, but it's back and staying.

I celebrated the reinstatement yesterday by driving to Alliance, Nebraska,where everyone goes for fun, right? Well, although it may not be on the same par as Disneyland, it is pretty darn awesome, because it is the home to Carhenge. Like its British counterpoint, Carhenge is a mysterious formation out in the middle of nowhere. Unlike its British counterpoint, it's made out of cars, not large boulders. It is pretty darn awesome, though. Other than that magnificent sight, I also saw the Carnegie Art Gallery (in which the guide followed me around the whole time because she wanted to talk to someone and I was a mysterious stranger), several Mormon Trail markers, and Chimney Rock. It's a rock that looks like a chimney.

All-in-all, a successful road trip.

Another Year

2010-11-07T22:24:00.002-05:00

It's my birthday tomorrow, and I'm waxing nostalgic, so I thought I'd do a year in review for myself. I realize this is self-indulgent, but if there's any day you can get away with that, it's your birthday. So, enjoy my life people!

NOVEMBER:

Wow, looking back, I really did this month right. Actually, I'm kind of jealous of myself right now. I spent my birthday performing with my mariachi band, with my parents there, after church, the day after my quartet's first concert in our series here. Well done, Megan. I then flew to Southern California, where I celebrated Disneyland-style, walked on the beach, played with my nephews, went to a knights and princesses birthday party (and I have the crown to prove it), and ate at Crab Cooker. Next on the agenda was a performing trip to the other happiest place on earth (for me), NYC. True lurve. If that wasn't enough, I spent my first Thanksgiving at home since leaving for college. That's six years, people! It was great, although I have amassed some seriously hilarious stories from Thanksgivings spent in MI and NYC.

DECEMBER:

was also good. I got a new viola!!!!, celebrated National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day, and out-Martha'd myself by planning a no-holds-barred international festival of New Year's Eve fun. Did you know that in some parts of the world they throw buckets of water on each other to celebrate the new year? Hooray for google.

JANUARY:

First winter residency for the Tesla Quartet in Aspen. Weird first impression, because the town was deserted! They had some snow issues, but things picked up towards the end of our stay. Our lovely, elderly hosts were another story. The husband kept mixing Kim up with the dog, and the wife let us know in no uncertain terms that we were not invited to dinner. Bless their souls. We did get in a great concert at the Basalt Library, which was broadcast on local tv.

FEBRUARY:

It may only have 28 days, but I swear, it felt like 29. I soloed with the CU Orchestra, had more quartet concerts in Boulder, then headed off to another winter residency, this time in Vail and Snowmass. The best story there was the woman who hired us and was in charge of shuttling us around. One day we had an early lunch at a local Italian (pronounced eye-talian) restaurant. We arrived before they opened, so we sat there in the car, waiting. As the minutes ticked by, we watched a Domino's pizza delivery guy pull up. Then walk up the door. Then actually deliver a pizza inside! I lost all my faith in our host right there. Of course, this loss was compounded when she ditched us the last day to go skiing. Super.

MARCH:

Disneyland, again.
Trip to Michigan.
Orange County Mormon Chorale concert, with a bunch of my buddies... so cool.
Oh yeah, and Frozen Dead Guy Days.
Need I say more? Probably, but I'm going to leave you to ponder that one. It was a month that rivaled November, which as you've already seen is pretty hard to do!

APRIL:

November was my first Thanksgiving with family in a while. April was my first Conference (and Easter) with family. I was still in California, which also produced another first... my first big earthquake! It was nutso! There was a huge boom, like someone dropped a wrecking ball on the house, then the glass started waving, chandelier started swaying, and my two-year-old nephew got really freaked out. So weird. So, I can now cross that off my list. And good riddance. Actually, since there wasn't any damage, it was pretty cool, in an unsettling nauseous kind of way. We also did another Aspen residency, which was lovely other than the fact that we got a foot of snow during the last week of April. Not cool Mother Nature, not cool.

MAY:

I examined the culinary delights and aeronautical wonders of South Bend, Indiana while my quartet competed at Fischoff. Let's just say, I was hungry. I have previously posted the restaurant motto that summed the trip up, "It's a meal." South Bend, "It's a town." I would have been okay, except that they were determined not to let me out of the state! We flew out of the South Bend airport, but they canceled our flight, and of course there wasn't another one until much, much later. Luckily, my persistence paid off, and I was able to get us rebooked on a flight that same day. Ladies and gentlemen, tears work. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It's even more effective if you go down on both knees, wring your hands together, and wail, "Why me" at the top of your lungs. If you can get past the thought of everyone staring, it's so worth it. I did eventually get home to Utah, and it was a rocky month there. We sadly had two funerals, but I got to see everyone in the family, which was an unexpected pleasure. I also reconnected with my PT buddy, Steve. He and I bonded all summer, but he did his job right! At the end, we were actually kind of sad to say goodbye.

JUNE:

I got to do two of my favorite things in combination: road trip + see my nieces. My parents and I drove up to Minnesota, then my mom and I took my four delightful nieces on a road trip up to Lake Superior. Beautiful vistas and lots of laughter. It was so great getting to know these wonderful girls better! At the end of it, I drove back to Colorado and Aspen, which is where I spent

JULY and AUGUST:

These two months are together, because I spent them living it up Aspen style for the Aspen Music Festival. Kim and I lived in a great condo with an amazing pool and hot tubs in Snowmass Village. Oh, the delightfulness of it all! It was relaxing, but we got a lot done, learned, made some excellent contacts, learned the beauty of Aspen bar menus, and made some important decisions concerning the future. All in all, a worthwhile summer. August does need special mention, though. I learned that I'm "mouthy" and that this is a good thing for radio, and I hosted the family reunion, which was fantastic. We spent time at Garden of the Gods, the Airforce Academy, and Boulder, and my mom stayed a couple extra days. It was great to have the time with her before going back to school.

SEPTEMBER:

was not nearly as exciting as I'm realizing the rest of my months were, although I did host a pretty epic 90's party for my roommate's birthday. And in so doing, I realized that no party stores have 90's decorations yet, although they should. It's okay, I just made my own. In other news, Colorado had a gigantic, scary fire that rivaled California, so we all spent time trying to help. It actually changed my view somewhat of Boulder, seeing everyone pitch in and donate whatever they could. The other view changing came when I met my first Freegan. He opened my eyes to the wide world of dumpster diving. Not that I could ever bring myself to do it. Ew. Germs.

OCTOBER:

I went back to NYC! So delightful, although it started out as kind of a rough trip for me. See, they managed to lose my bag on my one-way flight, so I ended up in Long Island for two whole days without anything. Luckily, Kim's mom took care of me. Unluckily, my contacts had to stay in, as I had no case or glasses, and my eyes flipped out. I spent a day crying my eyes out (much like South Bend, only less actual emotion), while Kim laughed at me. No sympathy, in that one. However, I got my fix of my city, which was fantastic, and I spent three hours in Strand Bookstore without spending money! New record on both counts.

which brings us to...

NOVEMBER:

So far, it's been a less than stress-free month. My solo doctoral recital is coming up in four days, so there will be no birthday celebrating until then. But, my folks are coming, and I've heard talk of the Denver Zoo for Saturday, so I think it will shape up to be a pretty good month.

Thanks for indulging me in this. I realize that probably this is all less interesting to you than to me, but it's been quite a year! It was really the first year of my quartet life, and it's been interesting and wonderful and horrible and inspiring and discouraging and worthwhile. Sometimes all in the same day. I don't know right now what the future holds for that or any other aspect of my life, but no complaints. I'm excited to see what happens next.

The Look, the Feel of Autumn... the Seasons of Our Lives

2010-09-14T01:16:00.003-04:00

I haven't blogged much lately. This is because, although there is, ahem, an awful lot going on in my life right now, I'm not at liberty to tell you all about it. Mysterious, right? Well, sorry. You'll know soon.

Meanwhile, it's getting to be fall, and I'm waxing poetic. I LOVE FALL. I love the smell and feel of the air, how the wind changes, crunching leaves, drinking apple cider, wearing sweaters, and starting the Megan Mason calendar year. Yes, my year still revolves around the fall, because as a friend pointed out, I haven't had a fall without school since I was five. Possibly four. So even though I'd love to be done with my institutional learning at this point, I still am filled with excitement when I walk back onto a college campus for the first time that year. I love the anticipation of each holiday, each semester ending, and each degree I work towards. I've had good years and bad years, but none of them have ever been boring. And I think this will be a good one. I have a lot to look forward to, and I can't wait to see how things sort themselves out. Little (and big) frustrations aside, it's good to be here.

One good piece of news I can tell you is that my quartet was invited to stay at CU for a third year. Certain imminent events will determine the outcome of that invitation, but it's great to have it. Yay for a place to be, plus health and dental and Takacs.

I hope you're all enjoying the late summer/early fall. I'm missing Michigan right now, because it's the scene of cider mills and Halloween parties for me, but I'm trying to create that upper-midwestern friendliness right here in the mountains. And if any of you feel like visiting, cider and donuts are on me.

Freeganism, and Other Ridiculous Boulderisms

2010-09-02T01:40:00.003-04:00

The other night I went out to dinner with some friends. We were in two cars, and my group arrived a little before the other. We waited for what seemed an extreme amount of time, and then my friend Jen came bouncing in, waving what appeared to be a flag of some sort. In reality, it was a scrap of fabric with Freegan mottos written on it in black magic marker. Freegan, you ask? No worries, I'm getting to it.

From my Boulder posts, you probably know by now that it is often appropriately called "the People's Republic of Boulder." In the words of my sister-in-law upon a recent visit, "Wow, I've never seen so many granola people gathered in one place." I concur, but even I didn't know the extent of it until Jen told me what happened when she parked her car. Apparently, as she was turning off the engine, she saw a man pop his head out of a nearby dumpster. If it were me, I would have gone out of my way to avoid eye contact, but one of the girls in the car recognized him for what he was... a freegan. So, we return to freeganism. A freegan, you see, is someone who dumpster dives for foods and only eats what others throw away. The idea is that we humans have a tendency to trash perfectly good food, and freegans want to eliminate all that waste.

Dumpster Dan was thrilled that someone knew what he was doing, and he spent the next twenty minutes explaining his rules for picking out food. He never takes fruit from the bottom of the pile, he never takes meat, and he only takes canned/bottled goods that are less than a few days past their expiration date.

Fascinating. I have to give the guy props, although I find his lifestyle shudder-worthy. If I weren't such a germaphobe, I might even test it out. But, seeing as how I'm nervous to eat a piece of fruit from the local farmers' market without soaking it first, I don't think I'll be taking up freeganism anytime soon.

Viva la Boulder!

Discompliment

2010-08-15T17:12:00.003-04:00

A long time ago, I blogged about what I like to call "discompliments." Basically, these are backhanded compliments like "Wow, you look so much better than usual today," and "You are so much better at that than I thought." Last night, I got a great one...

My quartet played a concert in the small town of Salida, CO. Before it started, we had a q and a session, where we were asked questions by the organizers and by the audience. Apparently my brand of humor worked on them, because I had them laughing a few times.

Anyway, after the concert, we went to the reception, and I was pulled aside by two men from Colorado Public Radio. They said they'd love to have us come down to play on their respective shows. Then they said they unanimously decided they wanted to have an interview with "that mouthy violist."

Mouthy?

Really?

Who'd a thunk.

Awesome

2010-08-03T11:33:00.002-04:00

According to Sylvia Rosenberg, I am a "cracking good" violist. That's really cool if you know her.

I saw a Lotus on the street the other day. Oh. My.

The drive from my condo in Snowmass Village to Aspen takes me along one of the most beautiful roads ever... Owl Creek. It is home to mountain glens and dales, horse farms, and an elk preserve. The other day, I had to stop for several minutes while a herd of elk mommies and babies hopped a fence. One of the babies couldn't get over and was crying. It was heartbreaking and oh so adorable.

XM Radio. 'Nuff said.

I just fell back in love with "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." It is just so full of truth, light, love, and innocence. What an amazing masterpiece.

I've also discovered that Aspen's fancy restaurants have amazing bar menus. Yesterday's masterpiece was scallops to die for. The other day? Alaskan King Crab Legs for $14!!

Like I said, Amazing.

I Guess He Didn't Like the Concert

2010-07-26T00:55:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, my quartet played on a street corner for two hours. Seriously. It is a little classier than you may think, though... we were actually asked to do it by the owners of Paradise Bakery. Well, things were going really well. We had about forty or fifty people watching for a good long while, and they were really getting into it. We tried to mix Mozart with some good old-fashioned classics like The Killers, and people appreciated our fine endeavors. So, imagine our surprise when, in the middle of a particularly beautiful strain of Schumann's "Traumerai" we hear a major crunch behind us, followed by a collective gasp by our audience. We turned around to see that a big hotel van had just nailed a (parked) Escalade. But, the show went on without so much as a pause in our music. Later, my friend congratulated me on stopping traffic.

This incident (super embarrassing, I'm sure, seeing as how it happened in front of the largest collective group on the street) brought up a discussion of our most memorable concert experiences. I have several doozies, but I think the most bizarre was the concert I attended last year at Manhattan School of Music. My friend was conducting the "Pines of Rome," and the last movement begins very quietly, builds up in energy and then blows the roof off. Well, the music began, and the audience leaned in to just make out the sounds of the off-stage brass. Suddenly, the principal second violinist keeled over, hit her head on her stand, and lay there on the stage. The conductor wildly grabbed for, and thankfully caught, her violin, but let's just say the mood was spoiled. Eventually, paramedics arrived, the girl was revived and escorted off stage, and the music began again. There really is no recovery for that, though.

I thought this was a pretty good story until a friend told me hers. Apparently, she was playing trombone in an orchestra concert when a woman got up and ran toward the front of the audience. She began to wildly wave a paper over a man's face. Then she tried shaking him. Then she called an ambulance. Then the paramedics came. Then they took the newly-deceased man out on a gurney. And the music never stopped!

This tale has put things into perspective for me. And given me a new paranoia. I'm sooo not sleeping the night before my next concert.

Just So You Know, I Think You're...

2010-07-19T20:08:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, on my way out of town, I stopped at a gas station to fill up before reentering the enormously overinflated price zone that is the Aspen/Snowmass area. I was standing at the pump when a man rode through on his bike. He was super tan, tattooed, and wearing a knit cap with no shirt. He was also late-thirties to early-forties. He looked at me and said, "You have beautiful hair. You also have a beautiful smile." Then he left without another word. I have to say, it made my day.

While living in NYC, I got hit on... a lot. Now, this has absolutely nothing to do with my looks. It has everything to do with the fact that I am female and alive. When I first lived there, the whistling and catcalls were a bit disconcerting, but over time, they became a welcome dose of self-affirmation. I learned to love New Yorkers for the very trait that upsets most of the rest of the world- their tendency to say whatever pops into their heads.

It definitely wasn't all catcalling, either. One of my best friends came for a visit one time. We dropped her luggage off at my apartment, and then we walked outside. When we reached the first corner, a woman began ranting and raving about how I invaded her personal space (although you'll have to trust me when I say I had absolutely NO desire to enter her personal space bubble). We crossed the street accompanied by the dulcet tones of her shouting, and we came to another corner. This time a truck full of men honked and whistled at us as we crossed. I turned to her and said, "Welcome to the Big Apple."

Lately I've been thinking about my friends past and present. I've noticed that those from my religious background are much less likely to pass along both compliments and critiques than those who are not. This phenomenon, I believe is brought on by the desire in our culture to always be kind but not to lead people on. I'm thinking, though, that the New Yorkers have discovered an opportunity to move past the obvious into actually getting to know a friend. I've decided to take a page out of their book; I'm hereby dedicating myself to a new goal-- be more emotionally honest. It's not that everyone off the street needs to know my current state of mind...chaos would ensue in most states. But, I'm going to be more forthcoming with compliments, more aware of how things affect me and others, and discuss more readily things that upset me so as to actually work them out rather than bottling them up inside, hopefully culminating in a better balance and more zen-like frame of mind.

So, here's to all those New Yorkers who believe in letting people know exactly where they stand (and where they should and should not be standing).

I Just Found Out There's No Such Thing as the Real World

2010-06-17T11:10:00.005-04:00

A couple of years back, my high school sent an "alumni follow-up questionnaire" to assess how well (or poorly) I felt prepared by Olympus High School for the "real world." I did nothing about the form, but somehow it was magically filled out for me. Upon reading the answers, it was painfully clear that my oldest brother had taken the initiative. I'd like to share his answers with you today.

DIRECTIONS: Please read the following questionnaire and respond honestly. We want to improve our school's programs and we need your valuable input. Your help will be greatly appreciated. All information you provide will be kept confidential. Thank you.

PART I-The Preparation You Received at OHS
1. Did you feel adequately prepared by OHS in the following areas:
Language Arts__Not at all, Im fixin to learn soon
Math__Not really, 1+1=4?
Science__Not at all, I learned about gravity, but I don't like it
Social Studies_______

2. Did you feel adequately prepared by the Counseling/Guidance Department at OHS?
__Yes, definitely
**For the Most part
__Not really
__No, definitely not
Comments: My councilor never wanted to date me though :(

3. Did you ever visit the Career Center at OHS?
Career?

4. Did you feel adequately served by the Career Center and Career Planning Services at OHS?
Career?

5. When you left OHS, did you have the skills you needed for your post-high school job, training program, college, or military experience?
**For the most part
Comments: They wouldn't let me join the military. I'll make them pay!!!

6. What skills did you lack that OHS should have helped you develop?
I lack the ability to say no, and I lack small motor skills.

PART II--Your Experience When You First Left OHS
1. When you first left high school, what did you do? Check all that apply.
__Worked
__Job Training
__College/University
__Military
**Other- please specify: Sweat Shop Overlord--Cheap t-shirts!!! Call for rates!!!

2. WORKED. Name of Employer: Granite School District
Job Title: Lackey
Salary or Hourly Wage: Yes
Main Job Duties: Sycophant
How did you learn about the job? MySpace
What was the MAIN reason you took the job? Needed to find myself, and the peace corps wouldn't take me.

3. JOB TRAINING. Name and State of Program: Spammer/ State=Despicable
What kind of job were you being trained for? Supreme ruler of all we survey
Did you finish your program? I am still being trained.
If NO, why did you leave before finishing? Those rats wouldn't accept my dominance.
How did you learn about the program? Telepathy
What was the MAIN reason you entered the program? Want to rule the world.
How did you finance your training? Slave labor

4.COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY. Name and State of School: Ohio State
Major Subject Studied: Remedial English
Did you change your program while in school? Yes, several times
Did you finish? No
If NO, why did you leave before finishing? I wuz smart enough to play football.
How did you learn about the school? matchbox cover
What was the MAIN reason you entered the school? My parole officer said it would keep me out of a career in high school counciling.
How did you finance your schooling? Petty larceny
How would you rate the school in meeting your needs?
Poor, should have gone to Michigan

PART III--Your Current Work/Education Status
1. What are you doing now? Check all that apply.
**Working
**Job Training
**College/University
**Military-state branch: Kansas Navy
**Other-please specify: I beat up old people for money and wrestle kangaroos at Circus Circus.

2. WORKING. Name of Employer: Granite School District
Job Title: Peon
Salary or Hourly Wage: 1 thimble of rice per week
Main Job Duties: try to avoid the whip
How did you learn about the job? the voices in my head
What was the MAIN reason you took the job? hit rock bottom
Do you enjoy your job? Yes, definitely. I've been hit so many times I enjoy it now.
If you would rather be doing a different kind of work, what would that be? Lawyer

3. JOB TRAINING. Name and State of Program: Immigration "Specialist", Mexico
What kind of job are you being trained for? hopping border fences
How did you learn about the program? Tijuana weekend
What was the MAIN reason you entered the program? Lucrative kickbacks
How are you financing your training? blackmail
How would you rate your performance? Excellent
Do you enjoy the program?
Yes, definitely. Border guards are cruel, though.
How would you rate the program in meeting your needs? Excellent

4. COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY. Name and State of School: Olympus Jr. High School, UT
Major Subject: Drama Geek
Have you changed your major? No
How did you learn about the school? State law
What was the MAIN reason you entered the school? The 7-11 clerk told me to get out or he'd call the cops again.
How are you financing your schooling? Voter fraud
How would you rate your performance? OK
How would you rate the school in meeting your needs? OK

PART IV--Your Experiences at OHS
1. What courses or programs at OHS have helped you the most in your life after high school?
swirlies, hazing, gym

2. How did the courses or programs help you?
Fear is a great motivator.

3. If any programs were particularly helpful, what were they and how did they help?
I got REALLY good at loitering.

4. How could programs at OHS have been MORE helpful?
Fire the truancy officers.

PART V--Your Evaluation of Your OHS Experience
1. What was the MOST BENEFICIAL part of your experience at OHS?
Graduation

2. In what areas would you have liked MORE support?
I only needed more support in gym.

3. In your opinion, what do current OHS students need to know that will help them most in life after high school?
Life is hard, and you won't be able to compete with your state-sponsored education.

4. When you were attending OHS, did you give your best effort to succeed in school and prepare yourself for the future?
No, definitely not.
Comments: Attend?

5. Could OHS have done more to motivate and involve you in preparing for life after high school?
Yes, definitely.
Comments: shock therapy

6. If you could go back to your time at OHS, what (if anything) would you do differently to better prepare for life after high school?
If I could go back in time I would go to 1748, not high school! DUH. Maybe 1511... that was a good year too.

7. Please rate your overall experience at OHS in terms of how well that experience prepared you to succeed in life after high school.
Excellent. You've made me what I am. You completed me!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Please use the enclosed envelope to return your completed questionnaire to OHS. Also, if you have an up-to-date resume, please enclose it with your questionnaire.

I kind of want to send it in.

Just Some Thoughts

2010-06-14T00:37:00.003-04:00

Tonight I had the great fortune of visiting my Great-Aunt Bertha. She is one of those people who typifies "salt of the earth," and I'm glad the opportunity of going to see her. She told some fantastic stories, and I learned more about my extended family than I knew before. I hope you'll indulge me while I share a couple that I think are worth repeating:

The first story she told was about her mother's family. Her grandmother died when her mother was very, very young...so young that her only memory of her is looking into her coffin. Soon afterwards, her father remarried, and life went on. Unfortunately, her stepmother didn't get along with one of her brothers, and her brother had a set of grandparents sowing seeds of dissent in his ear. Things really blew up one day when his father was away at work, and the stepmother told him to leave. He packed up his belongings in a red handkerchief, tied it onto a long stick, slung it over his shoulder and left. He was not even twelve. It was years and years before the family had any word of him, but apparently he went to California and made a good life for himself as a machinist in a factory.

Another story Aunt Bertha told is of her grandmother, Sarah. Sarah's mother too died when she was young, and Sarah was the oldest daughter in the family. She had to grow up very fast, and she spent her life taking care of her siblings, father, and eventually, her own family. Her brothers went to college, but she never went to any school. She never learned to read and write. She married a good man, and they had four small children when he was called on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served faithfully, and they communicated through letters read and written by one of their sons.

These stories have made me think about my place in the world. This all happened less than 100 years ago. I am only two or three generations removed from these stories, yet my life is so very different from theirs. I cannot imagine having to be a grownup at the age of 10 or 11. I cannot imagine my life without the ability to read or write, skills that have brought me no end of joy. The blessings of easy travel, instant accessibility to communication, and education have truly changed the world. Of course they bring their own sets of challenges, but I am so grateful for them. I am also grateful for a long legacy of faithful, hardworking people who love the Lord and love their family.

Memorial Day Fail

2010-05-31T18:15:00.003-04:00

Happy Memorial Day, everyone. I guess it's a really happy Memorial Day for the local weatherman who last night showed a picture of people gathering around gravestones in a cemetary, commenting that "this is a picture of people celebrating and doing fun things with their dead relatives."

Here's hoping you all have an inappropriately good day.

Things I've Learned This Year

2010-05-17T00:39:00.002-04:00

As I come to the end of another school year, I'm reflecting back on what I've learned. This has been a particularly interesting year, the first with my quartet, in a new state, with new responsibilities. So here are some pearls of wisdom I've come to know...

1. When life feels out of control, paint your toenails. Things seem just a little bit better when your toes are pretty.

2. Don't eat at restaurants which have what they serve in the title. To be honest, I've known this for a long time, but desperation really drove it home on a recent trip.

3. If you can't say anything nice, leave the room. It's okay to take breaks. Especially if there's a threat of physical violence or emotional abuse hanging in the air.

4. The viola rocks. This is obvious, but I thought I'd stick it in here.

5. If you run into someone you haven't seen for a decade, don't assume they're the same person they were 10 years ago. Let people grow up.

6. Accidents are just that. They're not the end of the world.

7. Road trips are not complete without 80's on 8 and 90's on 9. I love me some XM Radio.

8. If you live in the mountains, you may have to shovel a foot of snow off your car in May. Deal with it.

9. Kids have no concept of age. One kid guessed I was 80. One guessed I was 40. Guess which one freaked me out more.

10. My 20+ years of musical training mean nothing to the general population. For them, it's most exciting when I play Coldplay or do sound effects on my viola. This is okay. You never know who is going to take this and run with it. These things won two little boys over to my side recently. They now want to play the viola. It also makes people think I'm cool. Really, I guess this means fake it till you make it.

Cheers! To life lessons!

It's a Month

2010-05-11T11:16:00.004-04:00

This was my mid-April to mid-May:

3 flight attendants yelling at me that I can't take my viola on the plane, 2 car accidents, 1 cancelled flight, 4 hours waiting for that cancelled flight, 1 failed competition, 5000 things I need to do, 3 things I have done, 1 bout of food poisoning, 1 boy trouble, 1 beloved dog death, 8 million verbal comments I have filtered in the last month, and 11 large boxes waiting for me to pack and move.

In other news, I ate here. This pretty much sums up South Bend cuisine. Sorry it's sideways, but I appreciated the truth in advertising just waaaay too much.

On the flip side: 2 little boys who want to play the viola after hearing me, 1 little girl who told me I'm pretty like a princess, 3 great colleagues, 2 days before I go home, 1 week spent in Aspen, 2 months to look forward to spending in Aspen, 1 beautiful tree outside my window, 2 new recital dresses for an amazing deal, 1 night of good sleep, and 3 amazing series of books to put things into perspective. The world isn't so bad after all, is it?

I would like to end this post with a note of confidence from one of my favorite fiction writers, L.M. Montgomery: "Isn't it wonderful to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" Thank you, Ms. Montgomery, for your years devoted to enriching the human soul. You have inspired millions of little girls to use their imaginations, and you have spoiled us for anyone except Gilbert Blythe.

You're Welcome

2010-04-20T09:28:00.000-04:00

Huckleberry Knickerbocker nicked knick-knacks in unique New York, picked a peck of pickled peppers, sold sea shells by the seashore, seized his knees and sneezed, because he really wasn't fuzzy, was he, at least so Moses supposes.

Hay-Yah!

Effective Birth Control

2010-04-19T10:07:00.001-04:00

The names have been changed to protect the innocent:

"Jimmy, you can either go pick a book to read with Nancy, or you can go to bed." "I choose play games. Or watch a movie." "No, Jimmy. You only have two choices: book or bed." "Or the choices are to play games." "Jiiimmmmyyy..." "Okay, I choose to watch a movie." "Jimmy, it's either read a book or go to bed." "Fine. But I don't like this book. I'll go choose another one." Ten minutes later... "All these books are boring." "Fine, we can make up a story." "Oh, I have an idea!" So then the two read a book. Then he bargained his way into one more book. He was then carried to bed. Twenty minutes later... "Jimmy, why are you up"? "I ran out of juice." "Okay, I'll get you more juice but then you need to go to bed." He goes. Ten minutes after that: "My leg hurts." "Okay, Jimmy. Time for bed or no DS."

BAHAHAHA! People who say kids don't know what's going on have absolutely no idea what's going on. Mothers and fathers everywhere... I salute you!

Bond. James Bond.

2010-04-17T02:10:00.005-04:00

It was a Jonah week. But, things got better for him, right? So, I decided to do something to cheer myself up... and then I was too tired, so I spent the night at home, eating Chinese food and watching Psych. Then, I started thinking about all my favorite tv shows and movies, past and present, and I realized that they definitely run in themes. All I'm going to say is, I may or may not have a hero complex.

I blame it on Psych, Alias, Burn Notice, Monk, Good Night and Good Luck, Hitchcock, Breach, Poirot, Miss Marple, Harrison Ford, and many, many others.

The effect this has had on me is interesting. Musician by day, international woman of mystery by nighttime wanderings. I have definitely been to the International Spy Museum, and Julia Child definitely became more interesting to me when I found out she was in the OSS. I love suspense in all its delicious forms, and if I can predict the ending to a movie or book, it's dead to me. I also may or may not have had upwards of 10 dreams one summer in which I was a spy. Some of you have heard songs from a musical I partially wrote called "How to Be a Villain."

Since I'm actually kind of an open book (or am I), a life of espionage is probably beyond me (or is it?), and that is probably for the best. So, for now I'll pick up one of my favorite Agatha Christie novels and bury myself deep in other people's problems. It will, as always, pleasantly distract me from real life when I read a book in which the person who dies is nearly always universally disliked, people are quirky but loveable, and you never liked the villain anyway.

New Favorite Quote

2010-04-13T16:45:00.001-04:00

"What, you can't be bald and confident?"

"Um... your scalp... is out all the time."

BAHAHAHAHAHA! Classic.

Shimmy, Shake, Make an Earthquake...

2010-04-05T20:05:00.002-04:00

...is what I wanted to title this post, but then I realized I didn't want to quote Shania Twain. Ever. Oh well. It's been a while since I've blogged. I was thinking about this the other day. It's not that I don't have anything to blog about. On the contrary, I've spent the past month doing very blog-worthy things. Hmm.

But I'm back. As the title would suggest, I just survived my first California earthquake. It was a 6.9 down in Baja, and by the time it made its way to us, it was about a 4. Not huge, but kind of long. It was enough to rattle me, especially when we all went outside and watched the neighbors' glass windows rippling and the water sloshing around in the pool. It's definitely the biggest quake I've ever felt, but it was over quickly and didn't do any damage, thankfully. Interesting.

The rest of my time in CA was great. I got to spend Easter with family for the first time in many years, and it was nice to be with them. I also took my four-year-old nephew to Disneyland. We had a great time, and I taught him about April Fool's jokes. His parents can thank me later. :) I didn't, however, shatter any kids' hopes and dreams this time around. (See here.) So, it was a successful outing.

I also got to play in a wonderful concert. My friend Brandon called me to play in a new oratorio composed by his brother about the Savior's visit to the American continent. (This story is told in the Book of Mormon, for those who don't know.) It was a great opportunity, and I think we'll be seeing a lot more of Brett Stewart. Pay attention. He's amazing.

So, Happy Easter/Conference/April Fool's/Spring to all.

School of Rock

2010-03-26T22:01:00.002-04:00

Once upon a time I was dancing with a guy, and he looked me in the eyes, all romantical, and said, "Wow, Megan. You're pretty normal for a musician." And I said, "Um... thank you. ? ." I have yet to decide whether or not that was a compliment, but it's given me something to cling to when I feel the strain of the life I have chosen. I am at least more normal than some people. Of course, this was several years ago, so who knows. Things may have gone down a different path since then.

Being a string quartet musician is a fantastic fate, but after several weeks of rehearsals that almost come to blows because one person thinks that "this cadence needs to expand," and another thinks that "it needs to get bigger," I find it entirely necessary to stop being a snob. And that brings me to my current project. I like to call it "String Quartet Hero." Move over Guitar. We've got moves you've never seen. To that end, I'm taking a blogging break from arranging "Hey Ya!" by Outkast for us to play. That's right... I said Outkast. The idea occurred to me long ago (like, at least two weeks) and it is now being brought into fruition. It is not the first song of its kind to make it into the Tesla Quartet repertoire, and it won't be the last. But seriously, it's freakin' awesome! I'm kind of excited about it.

I've also arranged "When You Were Young" by the Killers, and my 1st violinist arranged "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay. So my question to you, dear blogging buddies, is what would you like to hear the Tesla Quartet play? Here's a proposition for you. If I pick your song to arrange, then I will also arrange to have us play it for you personally. It may be over the phone, but it will be a private concert. So, tell me your ideas, please.

And Now For Something Completely Different...

2010-03-02T11:05:00.002-05:00

If by "different" you mean "weird" and quite possibly "disturbing in a funny, can't miss sort of way..." Yep, you guessed it. I'm going to Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, CO. That's this upcoming Saturday, so if any of you have been wanting to come visit, NOW is the TIME!

What the what!? you ask. Well. It all started with a Norwegian guy named Bredo, who is now affectionately known as Grandpa. See, he got really into the whole cryogenics thing and decided to wait on ice until people could reanimate him. So, he asked to be shipped after death to a cryo facility in CA. He stayed for four years until his daughter emigrated from Norway to the loverly state of Colorado in 1993. Grandpa went there to "live" with her. She promptly stuck him out in the Tuff Shed in the backyard. Well, due to some pesky visa issues and several zoning fights, the daughter was evicted. But they let Grandpa stay. (Goooo Colorado! Good priorities, I say.) So, a new guy named Bo Shaffer answered a want ad and has been trucking in 1600 lbs. of dry ice every month to keep Bredo "alive" ever since.

So, what do you do with this situation if you are living in Nederland (where all the hippies and weirdos go)? Why of course, you turn it into a festival! Duh. So, what do you do if you're me and you read about this festival in a book and then find out it's a mere 20 minutes down the road? Again, duh. You go!!! So, I'm looking forward now to a Saturday full of coffin races and obstacle courses, a hearse parade, frozen salmon tossing, etc. It really should be a, well, interesting time.

No Matter Where I Go...

2010-02-23T18:33:00.003-05:00

So, I'm in Vail. In between the hours I'm staking out Lindsay Vonn's house, my quartet is playing in schools and performing. So, today the woman who hired us took us to lunch at this really great little Italian restaurant in Avon. We sat there waiting for the restaurant to open (yep, it was a bit early) and who should pull up but the Domino's Pizza guy. We thought for a second that he was lost, but no. He was delivering a pizza. To the Italian restaurant. Oh, the sweet irony.

Junkie

2010-02-19T11:27:00.005-05:00

That's what I am... I get way too emotionally wrapped up in the Olympics. Seriously. I realized this was getting serious last summer olympics when Michael Phelps had that unbelieveable race, you know, the one where it didn't look like he touched first? When it happened, I jumped up, screamed my head off (and you know me... not a screamer), and ran around the house. Well, last night I had my worst fears confirmed when I took Evan Lysacek's win over that jerky Plushenko guy as a personal victory. When he was skating, my heart started racing, my stomach clenched up, and my hands were balled up into fists. Is this what actual sports fans experience on a game-to-game basis? I want to know. I also want to know how you're not in the hospital yet for bleeding ulcers.

Now I Know My ABC's

2010-02-12T12:20:00.005-05:00

So, over Christmas, I was playing a game with the fam, and it turned... as it does so often... silly. But it got me thinking; children are our future, after all, and it's about time someone stepped up to educate them. And that person should (not) be me.

Since I've had this epiphany, I've put it into action. So prepare yourselves. I'm talking fuzzy slippers, roaring fire, and a mug of hot cocoa, because it's story time. Sit back and relax and read this fun and educational story I like to call...

Baby's First Political ABC's

A is for absolutism: the awesome exercise of complete and awesomely unrestricted power in government.
B is for Blagojevich: inspiring story really... you can be a total creep and still get a reality show, even if your political career goes down the tubes. Proof that it's good to keep your options open.
C is for California: lots of votes- keep in mind when choosing a spouse.
D is for Camp David: ka-ching!
E is for electoral college: though they say your vote counts...
F is for filibuster: worked for Mr. Smith, works for you. First rule of politics- you don't need to have anything to say. Just keep talking.
G is for gerrymandering: securing votes by changing electoral boundaries to your advantage.
H is for "Hiking the Appalachian Trail."
I is for impeachment: let us learn from Johnson and Clinton.
J is for juggernaut: a massive, inexorable force that seems to crush anything in its way.
K is for katie courick: she may seem innocent, but she has a dark side. Just ask Sarah Palin.
L is for lobbyist: morality is a tricky thing. So is taking favors.
M is for me: which is what politics are all about.
N is for North Korea and nuclear bombs.
O is for outlays: monetary expenditures. See "P."
P is for presidential perks: limo, airplane, helicopter, house, food, billiards, pools, parties, staff, protection, library, retirement... all this can be yours if the price is right.
Q is for quota: some things take precedence over being qualified.
R is for right wing: pick a side and stick to it, unless of course it becomes unpopular.
S is for speechifying: Can I get an Amen!?
T is for think tank- I always picture those guys with big foreheads.
U is for unaffiliated voter: the underdog's best friend.
V is for vice-president: because everybody needs a scapegoat.
W is for White House: Welcome to Pennsylvania Avenue. We've been expecting you.
X is for politics x: Danger, danger.
Y is for youth of America: they're our future. If only we could get them to pull up their pants.
Z is for zoo (a.k.a. DC): where the politicians live.

How Do You Say "I Love You?"

2010-02-10T11:54:00.003-05:00

So, I've got XM Radio in my car. It is one of my most treasured possessions. Seriously. Huuuuge fan. On that XM, I've got the Old Radio channel, where I listen to "Fibber McGee and Molly," "The Shadow," "Burns and Allen," "Our Miss Brooks," and many other old radio gems. I am becoming such a junkie. Anyway, while I was listening the other day, they advertised for what, in my view, is the most ridiculous Valentine's Day website yet... bigplush.com.

I visited the site today, and I found out that you can say "I love you" with a 6-ft. rose that has a little teddy bear clinging to it, a 40 lb. smiling ape, or a 5 ft. tall t-rex wearing a shirt that says, "I ate the teddy bear. Happy Valentine's Day."

Now, don't those sound like heartfelt gestures. The thing is, I'm very, very tempted to buy that t-rex for my friend. I think it would be the funniest delivery ever. But, since you have to shell out serious dough, maybe I'll stick to the classics. I guess if you wanted to go along the same lines, you could buy a teddy bear, draw on some bruises and teeth marks, and put a t-shirt on it that says, "I fought off a t-rex to tell you that I love you. Happy Valentine's Day." Hmmm. Possibilities.

My Favorite Places In The World...So Far

2010-01-21T12:19:00.003-05:00

I'm sitting in Aspen right now, waiting to go teach a bunch of middle school kids. Yesterday my fellow Teslas and I put on an assembly for the third grade class. It went great (other than the unfortunate faceplant by a little girl we asked to come up on stage... no worries, she's okay now), but I keep having to remind myself that I am an adult and old enough to do assemblies and teach middle school. I still feel like I'm ten years old most days. Anyway, this has brought on a wash of sentimentalism, and I've decided to make a list of some of my favorite places in the world. Some of them are more exotic than others, and they aren't in any sort of order, but they're all near and dear.

KUOPIO, FINLAND:

I spent a week here, eating fresh pea pods and strawberries at the amazing outdoor market, dancing down streets (seriously), and laughing. It was my first discovery of another country, and it opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at the world. There were many other amazing stops on this trip, but I remember comfort and excitement here.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NYC:

I went there (for maybe the 60th time) during the last week I lived in NYC. I cried because I had to leave my museums. So sad. I have spent many, many hours in this museum, feeling overwhelmed by the talent and spirit inherent in the place. I love it, partly because I still haven't been into every gallery, and I don't even know how many times I've visited. I have to mention the FRICK COLLECTION while I'm on this post. It is art the way art should be seen.

LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN:

Best. Trip. Ever. Katherine, Elizabeth, Doug, Jon, Jason. Love you all. I've been other times, but that time was priceless. Spooky graveyards, hiking beaches, lighthouses, House of Flavors, Sven the Austrian model, all good.

MY CAR:

Odd choice, maybe, but it is one of my favorites. Cars mean road trips. And those are the best. I have seen a lot of the country by car. Some highlights: the Spam Museum, the Badlands, Craters of the Moon, the Corn Palace, Church history sites from New York to Missouri, Alien Beef Jerky, Pacific Coast Highway, the coast of Maine... and the list could go on and on.

WASHINGTON, MAINE:

I have spent the last two summers here playing for the Medomak Conductors' Retreat. I've made lasting, meaningful relationships, learned a lot about music, and spent a lot of time on the lake. I learned that canoes are my favorites. It's pretty darn delightful.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WY AND MT:

Is that the abbreviation for Montana? Oh well. I love this park so much I lurve it. It was while there a couple years ago that I decided my new goal in life (besides becoming Queen of Bollywood): to visit all the national parks. I have barely made a dent, but it WILL happen!

So, these are just a few of my favorites. But they are meaningful favorites. What are some of yours?

Happy MLK Day

2010-01-19T01:59:00.004-05:00

This was my day:

1) Let's Get It Started, Black-Eyed Peas

2) We Shall Overcome, Pete Seeger

3) Ms. Jackson, Outkast

4) Beat It, Michael Jackson

5) Girl From Ipanema, Stan Getz

6) Hip To Be a Square, Huey Lewis and the News

7) Ma Nah Ma Nah, The Mother Goose Singers

Tried to go to the zoo, found out that the entire population of the USA was there; tried to go to the Science Museum, found out that the entire population of Canada was there; ended up downtown where I really wanted to buy a dress, found out that it cost more than the net worth of the entire population of Dubai. Yet... still managed to have a fantastic day.

Reasons Why

2010-01-12T13:17:00.001-05:00

So, I don't usually do these, but I found this one entertaining. I turned my itunes to shuffle, and whatever song came up answered these questions. Some of them are real thinkers...

IF SOMEONE SAYS, "IS THIS OKAY?" YOU SAY
You May Be Right

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Check Yes Or No

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Stardust

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Cocoon

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Play a Simple Melody

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
It Just Comes Natural

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU
Carried Away

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MOST OFTEN?
Stop This Train

WHAT IS 2+2?
Magnificat

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
One

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Baby, It's Cold Outside

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
String Quartet in E-Flat, Adagio

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Stitched Up

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Don't Be Cruel

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Fix You

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Don't Stop Believin'

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Silver Bells

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Halloween

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
The Beauty of the Rain

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
It's Not My Time

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Sweetest Goodbye

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Farewell Andromeda

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Namouna

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Mexico

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Holdin'

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Sweet Afton

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
The Stranger

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Return to Sender

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Reasons Why

2010

2010-01-11T12:57:00.002-05:00

So I know I'm a little late to jump on this train but...

It's time I make some resolutions for 2010. (P.S. I love saying 2010 because it feels like I'm in a sci-fi future movie.) I recently learned that people have been making New Year's Resolutions since Ancient Babylon, so who am I to buck 6000 years of tradition?

My sister and I decided to go co-resolution this year. We are both going to get over our physical injuries and take to the skies, glider-style. Yup, hang-gliding. I may also fulfill my quarter-life crisis requirement in the form of skydiving. Either one would be a huge achievement for me, as I used to be deathly afraid of heights. But I am bound and determined.

I promise pictures.

Stranger Than Fiction

2010-01-09T01:54:00.002-05:00

Go here. Tell me that I'm not a horrible person for being soooo amused by this. I'm still laughing.

Our Very Own Boo Radley

2009-12-19T17:05:00.006-05:00

The Deseret News reported, "Marty Bone will be sleeping alone."

Every neighborhood needs a Boo Radley. Childhood isn't complete without daring your friends to go past (or into) the scary house on the corner, and the subsequent terror of running for your life, looking back to see whether or not you got caught.

In our neighborhood, it was the snake man. This man had lots of different snakes, but his favorite was an 18-foot-long Burmese python named Julius Squeezer. Marty Bone's amazing python (who apparently slept with him... I'll be up tonight thinking of all the different ways that is soooo wrong) lived to be 43 years old, a record in the python world. Normally, they live to be 20 or 30, and the previous world record for longevity was 33 years. Bone says that "the difference was all the love he gave to the snake."

His mother said, "Snakes are his life." Indeed, he's had snakes named Poly Grip, Alexander the Grip, and Annie Green Squeeze. He hollowed out one side of his couch so Julius (a female, oddly) could sit there with him. This is where he taught her to watch tv.

Bone used to take his snakes out to his front lawn to "exercise" them. Completely unexpectedly, (I am sure) Julius, who is longer than my NYC apartment, escaped...four times. I remember this vividly, as we were all terrified of running into her. Once she was found in my neighbor's back yard. She also escaped from the pound at least once. How did she do this? Well, she could open doors by draping her 220-lb body over the doorknob then slithering inside. Safe. Real safe. As if it isn't terrifying enough to be in the presence of a huuuuge python. Now it can open doors too.

Well, although Bone was charged with 3 Class B misdemeanors following some of Squeezer's antics, he insisted that she was never a danger to humans. He insisted, "Burmese pythons are real lovable. They have personalities and they bind one on one... You could see a smile on her face." Yes, the smile of knowing that you could run but couldn't hide. After all, she could open your door.

So, even though Julius Squeezer was a terrifying, nightmare-inducing neighborhood menace that we used to dare each other to touch, I do after all have to feel a little sorry for Marty Bone for losing his "main squeeze." And for the fact that the love of his life is a snake.

You Know You're In Boulder When...

2009-12-14T05:01:00.004-05:00

I'm taking a 3:00 am break from the magical world of Saint-Saens's symphonic poems to share with you the reasons Boulder is awesome... or at least like being dropped inside a fitness magazine run by Joan Baez.

1. My friend Abby told me that the other day, when we had a good 14 inches of snow, she came out of her apartment at 9:00. None of the streets had been cleared yet. However, the bike path was cleared all the way down.
*That same day, I was driving home through the blizzard, and I saw this 60-something year old man on his bike, looking like nothing was wrong. I beg to differ. There is something very, very wrong.

2. My friend Kristy and I went to dinner about a week ago. We went to pull into a parking spot, and this is what we saw... Yep, unless you are fueling your car with canola oil, you cannot park in that spot. I must say, living here in Boulder is making me feel like a schmuck. It's pretty hard to feel like a good person around 65 year old men who are biking through blizzards just so that they can get to the nearest recycling center then go save some whales. Or penguins, or something.
Oh well. I'm going to go eat some meat now then drive to school so that I can sit around all day and never work out.

Weird Things I've Seen Lately

2009-12-08T02:33:00.004-05:00

So, tonight I went out to eat with my friend, Kim. It was overall a pretty awesome meal. TMI alert: Afterwards, my friend went to use the loo. And this is what she found:

So weird. I mean, it's pretty generally accepted that women flock to bathrooms in groups, but this is just ridiculous. There cannot be any satisfactory explanation for this.

And here, on the right, we have the "Mooflower." Yep, that's a representation of the famous pilgrim ship growing out the back of a...cow. At Plimoth Plantation. For reals. But it has me thinking, what a wonderful world we live in that there is a Mooflower!

I Know What You Did Last Month...

2009-12-03T13:56:00.002-05:00

Warning: this blog post is only for those over 11.

So, apparently I'm a horrible person. But at least I'm in good company... see, last month, I totally ruined a kid. At Disneyland. My sister-in-law and I were standing in the loooong line at the Indiana Jones ride, and we got to talking about how much we love the Magic Kingdom. She mentioned how sad she was the day that she figured out it wasn't really magic. I responded by saying, "Yeah, it's like figuring out your parents have been lying to you about Santa Claus." Well... although we thought we were being quiet, about 5 minutes into this conversation, I saw a VERY traumatized-looking 10 year old boy standing awfully close to us. Yep. Heard every word. My sis-in-law and I realized our mistake at the same time, and she wrapped things up by saying, "Well, at least Santa's real." A noble attempt, but the damage was definitely already done. So yeah, we shattered a kid's hopes and dreams about Santa and Disneyland... all on the same day. Whoops.

Quarter of a Century

2009-11-10T16:13:00.001-05:00

I just turned 25, which, as a friend informs me, entitles me to a quarter-life crisis. Apparently my trip to Disneyland doesn't count, so I need some ideas. After all, it's only three or four times in your life when you are fully justified in acting like an idiot. What do you think my quarter-life crisis should be?

Snow Day!

2009-10-28T23:42:00.002-04:00

Remember when you were little and it snowed a lot and they cancelled school? We used to get up super early and watch the news, praying that we wouldn't be able to get to class. Then, when it was cancelled, we stayed inside sipping hot cocoa, then played in the yard, digging out snow caves, building snowmen, then going inside to watch movies and play games.

Best days ever.

So, it turns out that nothing much has changed for me. I got up this morning, sorely disappointed that school wasn't cancelled. I went to quartet rehearsal and then suddenly, we got the call. Campus closed at 2:00! I promptly went home, put on pajamas, turned on my lovely fireplace, watched Gilmore Girls and ate all sorts of junk food. It was delightful. I'm such a fan of snow days.

I Try So Hard...

2009-10-25T01:28:00.003-04:00

...to stay on the straight and narrow. Tonight= utter failure. It all started when we set up a small house concert for some friends of our teachers. When we showed up at 5:30, my 2nd violinist and I immediately groaned... drat! A cat. We are both super allergic, and so our 1st violinist gave us both an Allegra, which he takes for his allergies. About 20 minutes later, my heart started racing and things got blurry. Then I started giggling uncontrollably. Then I started crying, then giggling again. My quartet-mates began to be concerned when I stopped being able to stand up straight without swaying, and my eyes got really bloodshot. And then we played a concert. For total strangers. And my teacher who I hadn't seen in a month. Who were sitting three feet away. Wow. Then we mingled and I had to answer questions that were barely making sense to me. I really hope I didn't say anything too weird, but I have no idea. As we were deciding whether or not I was safe to drive home, I sobered up a bit and just got really tired. Don't worry, this blog post is proof I made it home. However, everyone in my quartet, as well as my viola teacher and academic advisor, have decided it's rather hilarious that I played a concert high as a kite tonight, so I don't think this will die down anytime soon. Well, at least I stayed away from the champagne!

Inspiration Hits

2009-10-23T00:18:00.003-04:00

From now on, I'm doing things the John Cage way. Who is John Cage, you ask? Well, he was a 20th C composer who is famous for such works as 4' 33", where the performer comes out, sits down, and proceeds to sit in silence for 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Cage also pioneered the experimental composition techniques of flipping coins and drawing things out of hats to see what happens next in the piece. One of his pieces is a continual organ piece written for a small church in Germany. The piece is to last for 100 years, and it consists of someone coming in and pressing a key on the organ every few days. The organ keeps playing that until the next switch.

So basically, John Cage is the Andy Warhol of music, and I am not a fan. At all, really. I have, however, recently decided he was on to something. There are just too many decisions to make each day, and my brain is tired. Thus, I hereby relinquish any responsibility my brain has to make said decisions. From here on out, it's John Cage, baby. Really, I think this could work. For instance, I wake up in the morning: what do I eat? Answer: Open the cupboard, close my eyes, and eat whatever my hands touch first. Another-- where do I go on vacation? Answer: Write "left," "right," and "straight" on 3 pieces of paper. Draw at each intersection and go wherever the fates take you. I've already tested this method several times, mostly with good results. Also, I'm thinking the 4' 33" principle could be applied to many situations: bad dates, boring classes, lessons where I want to appear intimidating.

Yep, it's going to be a whole new world.

Lately

2009-10-03T15:05:00.003-04:00

1. My gmail theme is ninjas. They are awesome.
2. Today I saw a man dressed as a chicken, skateboarding across the street while wildly waving a sign saying "Halloween Megastore."
3. The movie "Babe" came up in two completely different conversations with two completely different sets of people in one day the other day.

20 Years of Musical Training

2009-10-02T04:28:00.005-04:00

Today I spent three hours playing random noises into a microphone while a computer guy manipulated my viola's random sounds on his laptop to sound like other random sounds. I'm so glad I'm doing something good with my life.

Riting Skillz

2009-09-14T11:58:00.004-04:00

So, a few years ago, at the instigation of my good friend Lady L, (you know who you are!) I began writing a musical called "How to be a Villain," based off Neil Zawaki's book of the same name. In it, each character parodies a well-known character from existing musicals, and they sing and dance about to song. Because that's what they do in musicals. (10 points if you can tell me the reference for the last two sentences!) Anyway, my parodies have gained in popularity, as in, now a whole 10 people know and like them, and they've found a proponent in the form of J.A. This summer I received an email from a middle school music teacher, friend to said J.A., asking if she could use my words in her upcoming school concert... in Colorado! Crazy. We struck a deal, and she's going to have her kids sing them sometime this year. I'm even getting paid a little bit for it! That's awesome, because I couldn't actually publish anything without getting sued, probably. So I guess the moral of this particular story is that obnoxious round objects get the attention.

Back By Popular Demand...

2009-08-29T14:45:00.004-04:00

Remember many months ago when I had a series running through the blog of "How to's"? Well, in light of recent events I feel compelled to bring back this series, starting with...

How to craft a disscompliment:

What is a disscompliment, you say? It is the ever-useful, very special art of forming your words in just such a way as to make someone feel complimented and completely eviscerated at the same time. You all have met, I am sure, some staunch supporters of this type of wordcraft. They can be found in every classroom, workplace, and grocery store. Real connosseurs of this type of wordsmithing can carry on the process undetected until later, when the receivers have a strange mix of conflicting emotions to carry through the day.

So here are some prime examples of this subtle syntax:

1. "Wow, you are much better than I thought you were! I wasn't sure how you played when I heard you before, but I'm so pleased! You are so much better than I thought!"
2. "You look so put together today! What is the special occasion?"
3. "You know what I like about you? How comfortable you are with just being yourself. You really don't care what others think, do you? It's great to see someone who can just be weird without caring."

etc.
Any questions? It's now your turn...

Mariachi Mama

2009-08-25T01:28:00.003-04:00

It's official... school is in session, and I am a doctoral candidate. So. Weird. I don't feel nearly old enough to be getting my DMA, and to prove it, I'm planning on spending my upcoming landmark birthday at Disneyland, pretending I'm still six. Shouldn't be too hard, as that's about where my maturity level is these days.

A lot of you have asked me what my program entails, so I will enlighten you. Today I rehearsed with my quartet, met with the dean to talk about art history (I mean... my program...cough cough), chatted in hallways, ate lunch, and then went to mariachi practice. That's right... I said mariachi. What else would provide such a perfect foil for those long hours of Beethoven and Ligetti? The whole quartet is in the class (that's right, I'm getting credit!), so it should be downright awesome. Or, as they say, realmente impresionante. On other days, it looks like I will attend my one class and rehearse with my quartet. Some more. So you see, it's a tough program, and you should all take me very very seriously. See that you do.

On This...My 71st Post

2009-08-15T22:29:00.002-04:00

...begins a new adventure. This is where I live now:

A Generous Gift

2009-08-09T22:47:00.002-04:00

So, I was at Neil's Fish 'n Chips with my dad the other night. This old man walks up to me and says it's so nice to see a young woman enjoying a meal with her father that he'd like to give me a present... a washer and dryer!!! In fact, he liked me so much he gave me two sets! Here's a picture of his generous gift.

A New Haiku For You

2009-08-05T01:05:00.004-04:00

Summer
I have found a dime
And a nickel and penny,
But where is my brain?

Top 10 Things I Saw Last Year

2009-07-30T15:32:00.002-04:00

I'm moving on to a new life phase, and it's been quite a year, (speaking in the "revolves around school" sense), and so I'd like to do a little review...*

10. Niagara Falls. I'd put this higher, but it's the 2nd time I've seen it. This time, it was from the USA side, and we went on the "Maid of the Mist," which was awesome. This is an incredible natural wonder, and I highly recommend it to anyone.

9. I conducted once again in Maine. (sigh, I heart Maine) It was kind of awkward and really pretty hilarious, but it was nice to see the support of those around me. All the conductors got a kick out of my attempt, and I remembered once again that it's cool for me to do that... once a year.

8. I got to spend all sorts of time at the Smithsonian this year. Some highlights included Abraham Lincoln's special exhibit, Julia Child's kitchen, Kermit the Frog, the Star-spangled banner itself, WWII propoganda posters, and Whistler's Peacock Room. I love DC, by the way, and the last trip included the bonus of seeing my friend Alexis get married and seeing my old friends Ashley and Stuart. Pretty great trip!

7. Florida. Oranges off trees. Golfing. Golf carts. Massages. Gourmet cooking. Quartet.

6. Above all else, I will miss the art and the Park in NYC. I spent many, many hours walking through Central Park towards Museum Mile last year. On one of my last days, I went to the Met Museum, and I cried because I had to leave it. I still get monthly emails from the MoMA, and it makes my heart frowny that I can't be there. [sigh]

5. I went to see "A Man For All Seasons" on the second night of the run. My friend got me an amazing ticket, and we both absolutely loved it. Frank Langela was the lead, and it was a stirring, thought-provoking performance. Broadway is one thing I'll definitely miss about NYC.

4. Juilliard Commencement. I'm done. [insert smiles and rainbows here]

3. Tesla Quartet premier recital in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Big doin's, and it was a fantastic experience.

2. Have I mentioned how much I love Maine? After spending three delightful weeks there, I spent another several days traveling down the coast, from Bar Harbor (pronounced bah-ha-bah) to Boston. The coast is amazing, and we saw things like Plymouth Rock and lighthouses and ate lobster and stuff. All good.

1. I kind of really sort of absolutely love my family. So, enter the cheese, they have to go at the top of the list. As much as I travel, I love coming home the best, especially when everyone is there. I'm lucky to have them.

*The order of these things is subject to subjectivity. The order does not necessarily reflect the views of the author or readership.

I'm On A Bus...

2009-07-22T23:47:00.004-04:00

...And I'm blogging. Technology...what will they think of next? I know, I know... join the 21st century, Megan. But, I've been in the backwoods of Maine for the last month, so it's understandably weird for me, right?

Excuses over. Now to the serious business. First, an update. FactMan is now better known as my morally-beklemmt alter-ego. I've seen the softer side of Brawny, now that he has learned to use his words, at least with me. As for the Mouse House... the mice, moths, carpenter ants, and spiders continued to bug us up till the last. Anyone know what kind of spider has a round, black body with a white dot on it? I saw one two days ago, and I'm pretty sure it's poisonous. I decided not to pursue it until after leaving, though.

In the past four days I have seen Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower, Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, Katherine, a sign that says "Unattended children will be given cookies and a kitten," The Pants Family, Boston, and lots and lots and lots of kitchy stores. It was a great road trip!

Next stop, Utah then Colorado!

*Correction: The sign actually said, "Unattended children will be given espresso and a free kitten." Even better.

An Update

2009-07-06T20:05:00.002-04:00

1. Things in the mouse house have gotten furry. There are tails of all-out war. Some have taken the bait, some have not. There has been carnage. There has been cleaning and tenting and mothballing. There have been poop-free periods of rest, and there have been days of gory glory. The mortality rate is high, but still they keep on coming. The bionic mouse leader keeps coming back for more. So far us=4, mice=400. We are determined though... and creative. And slowly feeling a lot less bad for defending our turf. Seriously, it's like the Jets and the Sharks in there.

2. FactMan has a new catchphrase... after he says "and that's a fact!" he says, "Google it." I like it. We're still encouraging Brawny to "use his words, not his fists."

the Maine Event

2009-07-02T09:36:00.003-04:00

Hello from Maine! I'm in residence at the Conductors' Retreat at Medomak right now, and I'm enjoying this lovely state. Or at least I would be if it would warm up. While things rarely go as anticipated, it's been a very...um...interesting beginning to these three weeks.

Interesting factoid #1: My friend Yuki and I are staying in what has affectionately been dubbed the "Mouse House." Sleep has eluded me for a couple of nights because of the scurrying, pooping little critters, and we had two caught in traps this morning. Yuck. Thankfully, our friend Chris came to the rescue and emptied the traps for us. Bless him and his kind soul.

Interesting factoid #2: I have come up with comic-book character nicknames for two of the musicians. They are FACTMAN!!! and Brawny. Fact Man has the brains, and he tells us super fly factoids whenever we ask. He fights the power of his arch nemesis, Brawny the Pumping Iron Man, with knowledge. And that's a fact. Brawny prefers brute strength, but he tends to have 'roid rage, brought on by his addiction to peanut butter (gotta have his protein). There will be more on them later. Trust me.

Anyway, I have to go rehearse. I'm supposed to be practicing right now. Oops?

New News

2009-06-23T11:06:00.006-04:00

So, yesterday I signed away my life and bought... a car. It is a 2009 Hyundai Elantra GLS. Now, don't get me wrong; I love my new car, and I got a great deal on it, and all that. BUT. I have the sinking feeling that I'm never going to finish paying it off. I don't love that feeling, to be honest. Anyway, looking forward, I need to name my car. I would appreciate name suggestions from you all, so here are some pics of my new friend. If you come up with the name I use, then I will be very grateful, and I may even make you a treat.

Ack! Eek! Ewwwww!

2009-06-20T20:40:00.002-04:00

I went by South Davis Jr. High, and on their billboard thing (what ARE those things called!?!), there was a sign that filled me with what can only be described as the heebie-jeebies. It said, "pieces of original gym floor for sale." Yu-uck. Just thinking about the hundreds of stinky, smelly, sweaty, teenage feet that have tromped all over that floor makes me squirm endlessly. Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew.

Ew.

Awwww

2009-06-19T00:24:00.002-04:00

My thirteen-year-0ld nephew told me today that he thinks I'm going to be a good mom. I've been babysitting for three days, so I'll take that as a compliment.

For You Who Have Grilled Me About My Absence

2009-06-10T10:49:00.004-04:00

Sorry I've been absent from writing lately. You see I've been in a real pickle, moving across the country. Traffic jams, airport flight deLays, and hot dog! The chips have been down. I have been playing ant to my nieces, which just fried me. But now that I've arrived in Utah, I've mustard up the energy to ketchup on my blogging once again. It should be a real picnic. But don't worry... I'm not going to get all campy on you. Well, maybe just a little. Anyway, that's the dill.

Graduation

2009-06-02T09:19:00.017-04:00

So, the past two weeks have been pretty important. For one thing, I graduated from Juilliard. For another, I moved away from NYC. Big doin's that I thought I'd tell you about, my dear blogees.

My parents and I took a road trip upstate (that is everywhere in New York besides NYC, for you non-yorkies out there) for graduation, hitting places like Scranton, the Finger Lakes, Seneca Falls and the Women's Hall of Fame, Auburn and the Harriet Tubman house, taking a barge through a loch on the Eerie Canal, important sites of my church's history in Palmyra, and riding the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls. It was a lot of fun, and it held some unexpected pleasures, like getting to see my bff Jessica in PA. Here are some of the highlights:

Transitions

2009-06-02T09:08:00.003-04:00

I've left NYC now, moving on to a new phase of life. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't sad, but I am excited about my upcoming Colorado adventures. Since this blog has been mainly about my crazy New York life, though, I feel the need to wrap it up this summer with more posts about my favorite big city. So, here's a picture of the Indian restaurant my friends and I went to for my going-away party:

It was tough to get a really good shot of the place, but imagine all those chili peppers lit up and all the lights you can see spanning the entire length of the restaurant. Pretty crazy. In fact, if you look up the restaurant, the banner reads, "Panna II- where chili peppers meet Christmas lights!" But that is not all. When you get to the place, there are three Indian restaurants right in a row, and each one has a man outside trying to convince you to come to his. I'm fairly sure they share a kitchen, but it gives rise to some hilarious hijinx none-the-less. All in all, it was a good time, and the food was delicious. Should you find yourself in the NYC area, I would whole-heartedly recommend it.

Now For A Brief Intermission...

2009-05-28T09:31:00.009-04:00

...from my packing. We're just going to call this a "Best of..." I see a lot of weird things. Some might argue that this is because I am "weird." But, I prefer to think of it as adept in seeing and verbalizing the foibles around me.

We have here:
1) people dancing on poles, not to be confused with pole dancing. That is ENTIRELY different. It was more like acrobatic swaying, actually. In any case, it was [high pitched voice] awesome.
2) Drive with Carl. Tee hee. Classic.
3) Real tree... Fake flowers. What IS the world coming to!?! Only in the Upper East Side.

Now back to packing.

Welcome to Trapeze School...

2009-05-16T00:28:00.003-04:00

"New York Trapeze School can in no way be held responsible for physical or emotional injuries or death."

That is what I agreed to in signing the waiver tonight. That's right...you heard me... trapeze school. Something you should know about me...it's physiologically impossible for me to say no to something that ridiculous, so when my friends suggested we take a lesson, I tried and tried but caved and said yes. Actually, I think I squeaked it.

It has been a constant source of trauma ever since. You see, I'm not what you would call "athletic." (Hey! Stop snickering!) I have many stories about "the last time I did [insert sport here]". Like skiing... when a kid cut me off, I hit a tree, fell backwards, and got my skis stuck perpendicular in 6 inches of fresh packing snow. And couldn't move. And couldn't get my skis off. Or the time I went rollerblading head first. That was good. In fact, the idea of me flying through the air held up by a bar and my own strength filled me with an unholy terror.

But. like I said. Physiologically impossible. Must. Be. Ridiculous.

So, I climbed the ladder to the top of the platform. I curled my toes over the edge, leaned forward, and waited as the instructor brought the bar towards me. Three things happened on that platform.

1) Un-ho-ly-ter-ror. I found myself uttering the prayer, "Heavenly Father, please don't let me die or break an arm. I know it would be all my fault, and I don't want to explain it to Mom."

2) The obnoxious thirteen-year-old in me wanted to do Olympic commentary: "She steps up to the ledge, toes curled, a look of stolid determination on her face. This is it, the moment she has been working for all her life..." and so on. I would have done it, but for the distinct possibility that the instructor might actually push me over the edge.

3) I looked out at the amazing sight that is the city at night. Did I mention that the trapeze place is on a rooftop in Manhattan? You can see a lot of the city from there... and hundreds of cars whizzing by. I was actually overcome for a moment with how beautiful the city is. In that moment, I found myself grateful to live in such an amazing city.

And then I jumped. A swing and a miss. Yep, I'm just as good at trapezing as I am at any other sport. And that is the kind of good that is...well...not. Oh well.

Want to know the funny thing? I was even more freaked out when I hit my foot on a stair in the subway and it drew blood. I was much more concerned about what germs were in there than the idea of jumping off a ledge. Curious.

Now Leaving: The Abyss

2009-05-13T11:42:00.002-04:00

I. Am. So. Close.

Seriously... half a take-home and one paper, and I am OUTTA HERE! (in a good way)

On another note: check out my new website: http://www.teslaquartet.com/.

Yep, this is how I feel right now:

It's A Jungle Out There

2009-05-08T21:40:00.002-04:00

I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now...

But instead, I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite unenforced laws in NYC. You see, here in the Big Ap, things work a little differently. Sure, there are rules, as you can see illustrated, but, well, there is also a tacit understanding between cops and civilians that the civilians will blatantly disregard any rule they deem unworthy, and the cops will let it slide as long as no one gets seriously hurt or maimed in some way. Even then, there's a bit of a sliding scale.

For example, one of my fav stories of NYC life comes from a former bishop of mine, who watched a news story about car theft in the mean city streets. A man, wanting to protect his moderately-priced, sensible car, put a sign in the window saying, "No sterio." When he returned to his car later that day, there were shards of glass and a new sign in the window saying, "Get one."

Then there's the jaywalking. I have to admit, this is one of my vices in the city, and after being here for a couple of years I've realized that unless you take advantage of the opening, you're not going anywhere on time. Consequently, I will be lucky to make it out of NYC without being hit by a cab. (Incidentally, my roommate was hit, but it was the cab's fault, and she's okay.) There's also a good story about this unenforced law. Now, I would like to add an aside here that I heard this second-hand and have no way of proving it to be true or false. Either way, it's worth sharing, because it's a perfect illustration of the code of conduct I was discussing earlier.

It goes like this: A few years ago, some high-up city officials decided jaywalking had gotten out of hand and that this law should be enforced. To that end, they ticketed a woman. This woman, being the plucky New Yorker she is, sued the city for harassment (after all, why was she ticketed and not someone else), and WON. Therefore, that law too went to an early grave.

One more example here. I often walk outside and see this:

Ah, the double parking fairies, or as they are really called, the car shepherds. Yes, that's right. This is a real industry that has cropped up in New York. I read an article about it by Bill Geist, and I've been fascinated ever since. The car shepherds are people who get paid by the month to move cars around. You see, there are all sorts of rules about where and when you can park on the street, and since parking is such a precious resource, you could potentially never get to work if you worried about it. So, instead, you hire the shepherds. They get the keys, and you call them when you want your car back. Most of the time, you don't even know where your car is, but they do. If the car gets ticketed, the shepherd takes the fall. It's a pretty good system actually, but it does mean that double parking happens on a daily basis. I guess we should all just be glad the streets don't look like this:

So there you have it, everyone: the law of the jungle. The code of conduct for everyday life in the mean streets of New York City-- "If you don't bother me, I won't bother you. If you do bother me, I'll make sure to let you and everyone around you know. So don't bother me."

Breaking News on the Swine Flu

2009-05-05T23:40:00.000-04:00

WARNING!!!

DO NOT DO THIS:

Dreams Come True

2009-04-29T13:34:00.003-04:00

My hair is red now.
Yay!

Rockin' Hard or Hardly Rockin'?

2009-04-28T11:54:00.003-04:00

The other night I played with an awesome band, Pearl and the Beard. First off, it was a fulfillment of many a childhood fantasy, playing with a band for a packed house in a NYC club. Second, it was with my dear friend Emily Hope Price, who helps me put this whole Mormon-living-in-NYC-being-a-musician thing into perspective. So that was fun too. I played backup on a couple songs with three guys from the band 46ink. They are also awesome, so you should check them out too.

I'm about to do the shameless plug thing and tell you all to check this band out. They're "metal." And, they just released a cd, so go ahead and get it already! I particularly love the fact that Emily learned how to play the accordion for one of the songs. It just happens to be one of my personal faves instruments. It may just be my new instrument of choice, right up there with the digeridoo.

Cell Phone Revisited

2009-04-23T22:30:00.003-04:00

Today my phone switched back to normal. The battery held up, no random switching between speakerphone and regular... it seems to be, well, back. Instead of the gremlin phone of the past post, it now looks like this:

In a way, this makes its behavior all the more creepy. Now that I know it was just messing with me, I may take it in anyway. Ha ha! Recycled! That'll learn it.

**UPDATE: The phone stayed normal for two days, and now it's back to its weirdness. I guess I'll have to get a new one after all. Grr.

Spoooooky

2009-04-20T13:54:00.002-04:00

That's what my phone is. It has recently taken to lighting up randomly, switching willy nilly between speaker phone and regular, running down the battery faster than you can say "running down the battery" (which admittedly would be cool if we were on ships), and laughing at me behind my back. I don't have proof of the last one, but I know it's happening.

In other words, please don't take offense if I don't answer my phone in the next week or so. I'll call you back!

Eat Here Now!!!

2009-04-15T10:29:00.006-04:00

The other night I went to the Whitney Museum with a couple of friends. It was fun, but... shorter than expected. So, we walked out of the museum at about 9, and they both turned to me to say, "Now what?". I hadn't planned on this, so I rubbed my three remaining brain cells together and decided we would walk 20 blocks south. My theory at the time was that if you walk 20 blocks in any direction in NYC you will run into something to do. Keep in mind, this is a well-tested theory. I have put the method to use time and time again. But, I forgot to take into account the "east side" factor. There is apparently a great lack of stuff on Madison Ave unless you are shopping at Gucci or looking into advertising.

Determined, we persisted, and we eventually (after about 26 blocks) struck gold, in the form of the Eat Here Now Diner. I was intrigued by the commanding name (although it could have used an exclamation point or two), so we walked in and sat down. It was kind of old and dingy, and we sat for a while, waiting for a waitress to get us menus. Then we waited for the food, which was alright. Then we waited for a long time for the check. Kind of hilarious, really.

I liked the required CPR sign in there. Most are illustrated and printed in nice colors. This had the homey touch of being drawn in marker the wrong way on lined paper. It also had an air of mystery. It said- CPR Kit behind desk "manager." I wish I knew the thought behind the random quotation markings.

All in all, it was a smashing success. I may even go back one day.

**Note: While writing this post, I am currently on hold with the IRS trying to get my AGI number from last year, because I'm lame and don't know where my 2007 return is, and I need to e-file to get my taxes off on time. Good times. I just listened to the whole Sleeping Beauty Waltz, and now I'm listening to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Oh, and it just went back to Sleeping Beauty... and now I've heard it three times and Eine Kleine twice. Maybe they should work on getting more than two pieces. Hmmm.

Megan the Grouch

2009-04-14T12:05:00.002-04:00

Wow. I kind of hate Tuesdays. Anyone have any stories or jokes that would make me hate them less?

A New Haiku

2009-04-10T18:02:00.002-04:00

This Week

Rain and snow come down
Cherry blossoms cry out
Come on spring! Come on!

You can do it, spring. I know you can.

I Can Be Foolish Every Day

2009-04-01T13:00:00.003-04:00

Today, as I know you are all aware, is April Fool's Day. In honor of the occasion, I've decided to blog about some of my dreams, because it feels like nearly every night my subconscious gangs up on me to play tricks on the saner part of the psyche. Pshaw. JK. Any of you who have persisted in reading my blog know by now that there is no saner part of my psyche. Without further ado, here are just a few more reasons why I should probably not be out walking around.

#1. I dreamed that the first violinist in my quartet wrote a letter to Pres. Obama, telling him how we are a promising new quartet, but if we're going to succeed, we need his support. Obama responded by coming to NYC, with his family. I was at the mall with my mom and brother (duh, of course) and I saw him. I walked over, and he told me how proud he was of me. He said my quartet was great, "almost good enough to make a cd." He then told me to walk with him. As we walked around, it was like the Cult of Obama. He blessed people and was magnificently benevolent. Remember when Biden asked the quadrapalegic man to stand up, and there were jokes about how if it had been Obama the man would have been able to? The rest of the dream was pretty much like that.

#2. Right before my senior prom, I had a dream that also featured a prominent political leader. This one is somewhat less benevolent.
I dreamed that my high school took a group to Iraq for a study abroad. This was apparently a good idea at the time. Anyway, while we were there, I was walking around sightseeing, and I came across a movie set. They needed extras to portray slaves in the fields, so my friends and I volunteered. I got into costume and started working. After a few hours, I noticed that the overseers walking around were really armed, and there was no sign of the work stopping. Then I saw Osama Bin Laden walking up and down the rows. I knew suddenly that I had been duped! They had tricked us into slavery! Well, obviously I had to get away, so I made a break for it. I started running, and Bin Laden and his goons came after me. I ran and ran, trying to get somewhere, and I finally found a building with an unlocked door. I opened the door cautiously. The room was sparsely white and completely empty except for one of those kid's toys in the corner. It was a fabric tunnel that kids can crawl into. I heard voices close behind me, so I ran in, shut the door, and hid inside the tunnel. I heard the door open slowly, and inside stepped my prom date. I was so relieved to see him, and I said, "Dave! You have to help me! Bin Laden is chasing me, and I need to get away or else he'll kill me!" Dave looked thoughtful for a moment, and then he opened the door, stuck his head out, and yelled, "SHE'S IN HERE!!!" I awoke in a cold sweat and went to school. The poor guy could not figure out why I was acting so weird, but it took me a few days before I could look him in the eyes again. I mean, come on! The guy totally Sound of Music'd me!

Stranger Than Fiction

2009-03-31T11:37:00.002-04:00

This post is not about a Will Ferrell movie. Although I liked that movie.

Okay, so today I'm dedicating this blog to a very rare medical condition that some of you may have heard me refer to in the past. Now, to clear this up, I do not sit around checking out WebMD. I have better things to do with my time... like...blog... and...er...other stuff. But that's beside the point. The point is that I lived with a medical student for 2 1/2 years, and we had "Disease of the Day." As a result, she may have been one of the top 3 contributors to the store of useless, and often alarming, knowledge in my brain.

What is this exotic ailment? Alien Hand Syndrome. I am serious. There is no more "scientific" name for this phenomenon. It is, however, sometimes referred to as "Alien Arm" or even "Dr. Strangelove Syndrome." This extraordinary condition is very rare (as in, about 50 documented cases since it was officially recognized by the medical community in the 1970s), and it is very very weird. Actually, it has been portrayed in movies and tv shows more times than the number of actual documented cases.

So what happens? It's pretty self-explanatory, actually. It's a condition where your brain gives direction to your arm to move, but it doesn't take direction from the other lobes about how and when to move. The arm's trigger is detached from your intent, or you might say, alien. Ahhh. [the light bulbs go off] So, you may grab a glass of water without knowing you are doing it. Or, in one or two cases, people have felt their arms creeping up to choke them. That is creepy and weird.

From one unnamed source (in other words, I can't specifically back it up), I have heard tell of an even less common version; in this turn of events, the alien arm will undo everything your non-alien arm does. For instance, if you try to open a door, the alien arm will close it. How rude.

Up till now, the medical community has been surprisingly lackadaisical about this condition. They apparently are more interested in curing cancer than curing alien arm. Since it doesn't actually "do any real bodily harm" they haven't put much into finding a cure. Instead, they advise victims to keep something in their hand to keep it busy. Now, I feel I must take offense on behalf of all the hapless victims of Alien Arm Syndrome out there. Solidarity, humans!

I do have to think, however, that it would be somewhat of a highlight for doctors getting to diagnose this syndrome. Can you imagine how awesome it would be to say, with your best sympathetic frown-smile, "I'm sorry Mr. Smith, but you have... alien arm. [stifled laughter that rises until Dr. Jones runs out into the hall, guffaws, and invites all his buddies to "come see this."]"

A Moment of Contemplation

2009-03-30T13:00:00.003-04:00

Last night, my roommates and I were talking. One said, "Wow, I can still sort of feel on my foot where the pitchfork went in."

We had very different childhoods.

Parading Pachyderms and Other Perplexities

2009-03-24T12:12:00.004-04:00

At 12:30 this morning/last night, I beheld a side of NYC that I had not yet seen. You wouldn't think that things could surprise me anymore here, but let me tell you! It was weird. It was strange. It was oddly exhilarating. What was this spectacle, you ask?

I saw TEN ELEPHANTS walk out of the Queens Midtown Tunnel into Manhattan and across 34th Street. Where were these mammoth specters going? Why, to Madison Square Garden, of course, to the circus! And apparently elephants don't fit in the subway tunnels or on trains. So they walk from Queens to Manhattan. At midnight.

Through the crowded streets, the elephants marched trunk-to-tail. The lead elephant was bedecked with a crimson saddle and an official-looking rider. Clowns ran around, waving at the audience, but people barely noticed them. Yes, the loxodonta cyclotii were the main attraction.

And, might I say, they were AWESOME.

Speaking of Which...

2009-03-23T13:13:00.004-04:00

Have you ever noticed how often the phrase "speaking of which" is used incorrectly? Most of the time, it introduces a previously undiscussed topic of which you actually were not speaking. Also, there is a good chance that this new topic will be unpleasant. Most of the time, people use it because they can't think of any better way to tell you bad news, pin you down on a certain subject, or steer the conversation away from something he or she does not wish to discuss. So, for these sticky situations, here is a little advice on How to avoid the "speaking of which" trap.

1. Pull a double "speaking of which" on them. This is good for those tricksters who try to corner you into a conversation. Observe:

Person A: I love ice cream. Speaking of which, when are we going to finally go out on a real date?

Person B: Dates are expensive. Speaking of which, did you know that dates are the fruit of the palm tree, native to North Africa and the Middle East? When picking them, you should look for plump, evenly colored specimens. Oh, shoot! Look at the time! I've got to go...

2. The "speaking of which" that just keeps coming. This is good when someone is trying to avoid a topic and you feel it necessary to get them to fess up.

Person A: Hey B! How's it going?

Person B: Great! Hey, did you ever finish your part of the group project?

Person A: Wow, group projects are fun. Speaking of which, do you think blondes actually have more fun, or is that a myth?

Person B: Myth. Speaking of which, I am starting to suspect that your participation in our group project is a myth. Do you have it done yet? We need to turn it in today.

Person A: Today, tomorrow, what is the difference, really. Time is all relative. Speaking of which, my mom is coming into town tomorrow.

Person B: Good. Maybe she'll finish your work. Speaking of which, I need that in twenty minutes. Have it there. Or else.

Person A: Fine, I'll leave it in your box.

Person B: Nope, I'll come pick it up from you in twenty minutes. Thanks.

3. Flat out refusal, with a hint of distraction. This is good for those conversations you just don't want to have.

Person A: Today I saw this man getting out of a car with all his posessions. It was sad. Speaking of which, I think you and I need to talk about our relationship.

Person B: No. [smack] [run away]

If you use these techniques, you will be amazed at your skill in steering conversations. Just avoid using them on ninjas and grandmothers. Trust me.

Over the Hill With Mountains to Go

2009-03-19T21:43:00.006-04:00

So, when my dad turned 40, we gave him this little snowglobe. Inside was a middle-aged man, and when you shook the thing, little black hairs floated all around. We thought we were pretty funny. (sidenote: We also thought it was funny when my nephew looked at him and said, "Grandpa, I can see my reflection on your head!)

So, for my 40th post, I've decided on a little self-indulgence. Here are 40 things I've been thinking about. If you have questions, answers, or comments, please pipe in at any time.

1. Has anyone else noticed the irony in Madoff's name? As in... he madoff with my money?

2. How do those ships get into the bottles anyway?

3. Tendency: I will make fun of something enough times (ex. Juilliard) that eventually the Lord will send me there or make me do it (ex. Juilliard). Does this mean that if I make fun of travel writers enough that someday I'll have (get) to do that?

4. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

5. Why is the song "Ma Na Ma Na" by the Muppets so dang addictive? Is it addictive to anyone else, or is that just me?

6. Whoever invented pajamas probably went straight to heaven.

7. Whoever invented high heels probably went straight to the other place.

8. Malarky just might be my new favorite word.

9. Why is Shia Labouf an action hero? Does anyone else have trouble taking him seriously? I see him and think "Even Stevens" and "Holes."

10. "Holes is a great movie. And book. Louis Sachar rocks my socks.

11. What is the wavelength of the spirit? (JK. That's for you Pres. Hedquist fans.)

12. I wonder if I've ever met one of the three Nephites.

13. I don't understand the whole Pluto as a planet/not a planet debate. When I recently read the definition of planet, it made me even more confused. I'm beginning to suspect that we're all making this up as we go along.

14. I love salty. I love sweet. I hate salty and sweet together.

15. Right now I don't have any songs in my head! This is a banner achievement. And weird.

16. I'm going to bet that by the end of this post I will have at least one song in my head again.

17. I have recently learned that I love driving golf carts. I also love to canoe. I wonder what other forms of transportation I would love. Donkey cart? Camel? Surf board?

18. For me, the phrase "It's just like riding a bike" doesn't apply so well. Apparently that's a skill that didn't stick. Just ask Katherine. Although in my defense, I couldn't even walk straight on the day in question. Inner ear problem, I swear.

19. Why does your inner ear affect your balance anyway?

20. This is a really long blog post. I hope people still read my blog after seeing it.

21. I'm accruing more and more m's. By May, I'll be Master of Music Megan Marie Mason. That is cool times five.

22. People tend to have memories of my doing weird things. I do not remember most of them. Either they are making them up, or I'm really good at blocking things out. I choose door #1.

23. I'd like to know where the expression "cool as a cucumber" came from. 10 points if you can tell me.

24... is a good tv show. But I only watched the first season.

25. This is how old I will be in about 8 months. It is also one of my favorite numbers. I love the number 5 and all its multiples. I have no idea why.

26. Babies love me. Toddlers love me. Kids over 10 love me. What happens in between?

27. Why are men from Mars and women from Venus? Why not Mercury and Saturn?

28. Why is "Romeo and Juliet" one of Shakespeare's most famous and beloved plays? When I finally read it, I realized it's not even in the running to be his best.

29. While I'm on the subject of Shakespeare-- some people say Francis Bacon was the actual author of Shakespeare's works and that he was a made-up persona. While I naturally shy away from this sort of conspiracy theory, I can't deny that there is some reason to think something of the sort. What do you think?

30. I found out recently that my roommate totally believes in several conspiracy theories. She is otherwise very normal.

31. I love Dutch art more than anything. Whether you are talking Vermeer, Steen, Rembrandt, or Van Gogh, I can't get enough of it. Why is that part of the world so talented?

32. Why do I despise Andy Warhol and love Miro? I don't get it.

33. Why does oppression make the arts thrive? Take Russia for example. Think about the literature, art, music, and dance that has come out of that part of the world for centuries, during centuries of oppression. It seems like they knew the full range of the human spirit and the cruelties and miracles of which humans are capable.

34. I have three great uncles named Merrill, Lynn, and Monroe. I was the only one in my family who put that together (marilyn monroe). Weird. I would have thought someone else would have caught that.

35. The other day I laughed so hard I cried. I had forgotten how good that feels.

36. Am I the only person who feels like my life path doesn't take me from Point A to Point B but instead goes to Point X? I look back on some of my life and shake my head in disbelief.

37. I have had several dreams literally come true. The other night I was packing and couldn't find my jacket. I dreamed that it was in an inside zipper in my suitcase. The next morning I awoke, looked in that zipper, and sure enough. It was there. Cool, eh?

38. What are dreams, for reals?

39. World War II affects me deeply. I feel connected to all the stories and history of it. I have been to Normandy, and it is hallowed ground. When I learn more about it, I am even more grateful to the brave men and women who fought for life and innocence. I think this war gets to me all the more because it is sort of the most recent where there was a clear picture of right and wrong.

40. There are hundreds of people who have passed in and out of my life. I remember many of them, and they are more important to me than they realize. I wonder where many of them have ended up. Some have popped up in the oddest places, and it has been wonderful to reconnect with them. I hope that I have affected their lives for good as they have mine.

Happy 40th everyone!

Big News!

2009-03-16T21:49:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone! So, it's official. I'll be spending the next two years at University of Colorado-Boulder with my string quartet. We'll be studying with the Takacs Quartet, and I'll be getting my doctorate at the same time. Since we've made it official, I've had John Denver songs running through my head. I guess you could say I'm on a Rocky Mountain high.

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Connecticut

2009-03-14T19:29:00.006-04:00

Ever think "Connecticut" is a weird word? Hmm.

Anyway, today I went there. While I waited for the train, I saw this:

Let me point out the fact that this is the Y2K Communications store. And it "does jewelry on promises." Yes, I think we've found a winner. For the life of me, I can't figure out whether they meant to put "premises" or if they really DO do jewelry on "promises," whathever that means. Again, hmmm.

Once I got to Connecticut (seriously, sounds more weird every time), I found a parade going on. Now, this was your typical St. Patrick's Day parade, albeit a few days early. It had your fife and drum bands and your pipers. It had cloggers and your beauty queen (Miss Connecticut '09). All in all, it wasn't super impressive. Until I saw this:

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Those are indeed very funny hats on silver-haired gentlemen. And they are really teeny tiny cars. To be exact, they are the Stamford Pyramid Shriners, and they're showing the world that there's no recession big enough to counteract the mid-life crisis. If you can't go buck wild and get the 'vette, then steal your kid's go-cart. Same diff.

Rather fruitful day, don't you think?

New Blog!

2009-03-14T16:13:00.002-04:00

Hey fellow bloggers and bloggerettes. Check out my new blog, teslaquartet.blogspot.com. It's all about my string quartet, and it's a great place to find our upcoming concerts, news, etc. Tell your friends!

In The Which I Reveal Another Deep Dark Secret

2009-03-11T14:15:00.006-04:00

I just found out I like golf.

Seriously. I know that's kind of freaky, but I just spent the past two days at the driving range, and I hit five in a row today. I think I actually enjoyed it too!

Here's the rundown of what else I did this week:
sauna, massages (2), eating (soooooo much foooood), eating, eating, quartet concerts (2), eating, cocktail parties, golf cart driving (those are now right up there with canoes on my favorite transportation list), sitting in the sun, swimming in the pool, networking, schmoozing.

On top of it all, I spent the week with lovely people who are crazy wealthy and also incredibly down to earth. They truly believe in investing in the arts, and they went out of their way to make sure my quartet had a wonderful and relaxing time.

Mission soooooo accomplished.

From the Lap of Luxury

2009-03-09T21:20:00.004-04:00

There are many words that could describe my vacation in Florida thus far. I will pick these: golf carts, free, $200 million, gardens, 80 degrees, orange trees, pool house, dinner jacket.

Awesome.

Because That's Just The Way I Am

2009-03-05T21:52:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone! Just another little shout out from DC. What did I do the instant I got off the bus, you ask? What else... I went to the International Spy Museum. Don't pretend you're surprised.

It was actually better than I thought it might be. I learned a lot about spies throughout history, the modern collection of intelligence, and many interesting facts about espionage.

Oh yeah, and I climbed through ceiling ducts, learned how to bug buildings (I have since learned some interesting things in Alexis's apartment), and checked out James Bond's first Aston Martin. Awesome. Hint: some of this information may make it into next week's HOW TO. Anyway, on that suspensful note, I'm going to go now. Er. Bye? Um. Have a good week? Awkward. Boxen.

The Adventure Begins

2009-03-03T23:10:00.003-05:00

Now blogging live from our nation's capitol. (capital? I can never keep those straight.) Yes, the spring break adventure begins, and it looks... promising. After all, my good friend Alexis is involved. Anyway, I'll keep you all posted (tee hee, punintentional I promise!) throughout the next week-and-a-half. See you soon.

Ye Olde Spring Break

2009-03-02T11:06:00.004-05:00

Today doth that fleeting passage come

Which spreads its lovely wings

Above the sick and stressful past

Caused by school and other things.

Two weeks of bliss in which to find

A zen, a break from toil.

To rid myself of viola brain

That causes me to shout "Needs oil."

A vacation by any other word would not smell as sweet. Can we say "timely"?

The Purple Hippopotamus and Other Extensions of the Truth

2009-02-24T11:40:00.009-05:00

This week, I'd like pay homage to the many years I have spent in school, as well as the many more that I will spend (I'm in danger of never actually leaving academia). All these years, with all the papers and the presentations, have taught me something that I would now like to pass on to you, my dear blog readers. In fact, I have been using this skill while writing this blog. In fact, I am using this skill right now. (See how useful it is?)

HOW TO... convince people you know what you are talking about when in fact you haven't the slightest clue.

1. The tone in which you say something plays a crucial role in this process. In fact, it may be the most important step. That is why it is placed in the #1 slot. If you sound confident, that carries over to your audience. I like to use this tone on stage when introducing a piece, in church when giving a lesson, or at an art museum. Especially at an art museum. Tip: Keep your voice low and steady, and don't talk too fast. If you talk too quickly, you sound like you have something to prove or you are nervous. If you speak clearly and slowly, at a medium volume, people will think you are master of the situation. Be careful not to get too loud, as that screams "I love the sound of my own voice and expect everyone else to love it too."
2. Expand your vocabulary beyond two-syllable words. You should be able to use many different words in their correct contexts. A caution should be inserted here though: do not, I repeat, DO NOT use a word if you are not sure of its pronunciation or meaning. Malapropisms will make you sound like a poser. Seriously. And yes, I am aware that I just used malapropism and poser in the same sentence. That brings me to my next point:
3. Keep it light. Add some humor, but keep it on an intellectual level appropriate to your audience. Never use potty humor. Also, sarcasm does not go over well if you want to be taken seriously, and it doesn't come out at all if you are putting your thoughts down in writing. It can quickly alienate or offend those around you. Basically, unless you are Voltaire, steer clear of sarcasm. Puns can be surprisingly appropriate, as they usually imply some level of knowledge on the part of the speaker and listener. Just use them sparingly. (Note: I am fully aware of the fact that I use pun after pun in regular conversation. I love them. In fact, I lurve them. But, I do try not to use them in mixed company.)
4. Grammar counts. Trust me, I hated that class just as much as you did, but it is important. It's surprising (in a bad way) how many people cannot construct a proper sentence. I find that my perception of someone's intelligence when they're addressing a group jumps about fifty points if they don't dangle their participles.
5. You really don't need to know everything. Sounding as if you know everything may be accomplished by simply knowing when to keep your mouth shut. Listen, pick up on verbal cues, and express your opinion when asked, using the methods listed above. If you do this, people will assume you are well-informed. If this makes you uncomfortable, and you have the chance, research a situation a little before going into it. Get to know a few basic facts, and then elaborate on one or two of them. That way you have a base, and you have something real you can contribute.

If you follow these five simple rules, you will be sure of success. In fact, you can even be believable saying something like "The artist photographed "Purple Hippopotamus On an Escalator" at 11:30 pm after a one-month hunger strike. It symbolizes man's search for the perfect sandwich in an unsure economy, and the steps he will take for satisfaction. The escalator rises, anticipating the euphoric feel of a full stomach and a peaceful existence."

Happy truth extending, everyone.

Brady, Something Tells Me This Didn't Work

2009-02-23T21:03:00.004-05:00

Megan needs a vacation... a long one involving many different places.
Megan needs to get Sarah's contact info from Glenda.
Megan needs a theme song.
Megan needs a very quiet home in a place with few or no thunderstorms and lots of sunshine.
Megan needs an editor.
Megan needs to buy me a drink.
The only thing that Megan needs help with at this point is in the area of responsiveness.
Megan needs to work on her gun control.

Megan needs to make as much money as she can based on her looks.

Megan needs to stop showing her alien tendencies and freaky backwards knees.

*For those of you who do not know Brady, he just did the same experiment. The experiment is to go to your favorite search engine, type in your name, then "needs" and see what comes up. Post ten sentences. He chose things that might actually have to do with his life. Me too. JK.

Big Doin's In New Amsterdam

2009-02-20T23:26:00.003-05:00

Turns out I'm not going to be a street urchin after all. At least for the next two years.

Subway Surfing

2009-02-18T12:27:00.014-05:00

I spend a lot of time on the subway. You figure it takes me approximately 8 minutes on the subway to get to school and 8 back, so that's 16 minutes. Times at least 5 per week. That's 1 hour and 20 minutes. Then you factor in other trips: errands, recreation, etc, and I think you can safely add another 4 hours per week. So now we're at 5 hours 20 minutes per week of my special subway time. Times 4 weeks... equals... a lot.

It can get pretty boring.

That is why I'm so happy when I see something amusing. In that vein, here are some things I've seen recently that I would love to pass on:

In case you're having a struggle reading that, it says "Do not lean on poor." Since I am indeed poor, I found it amusing and true.

And also, this one on the right. I found it several months ago, and I haven't yet decided whether it is funny or scary. It may be sort of accurate, which promotes the scariness, but also, I find it to oddly fit in with my belief system. So there you go, there are Sunday School lessons even on the subway.

Update: Today (Thursday) I got on the train and this guy next to me starts doing his ballet warm-ups with the pole. It was so weird. I'm just sitting there, and suddenly there's a pointed toe in my face.

Words To Live By

2009-02-09T01:31:00.001-05:00

Philippians 4:13 for Pete's sake!

That Lovin' Feeling

2009-02-06T17:29:00.005-05:00

So, in this, the month of lurve, [snicker, facepalm], I've decided to do a special holiday edition of HOW TO.

This can apply to all of you out there. Whether you have a crush on someone or simply want to show your loved one that you care, you can accomplish a lot simply by making a really great Valentine. Creativity counts, but if you need to get the juices flowing, here are some ideas of things that are sure to bring joy to your special someone:

1. For the long-term couple. You will need a heart keychain, a silver key, and a black magic marker (thin tip). Attach the heart keychain to the silver key. Upon the key write the words "key to my heart." Awww. This should instantly bring a smile and a tear to your bf/gf's eyes.

2. For the countrified couple, you can make a wonderful Valentine. You will need: scissors, glue, paper, and the John Deere catalog. Cut out pictures of tractors and lawn mowers. Fold a white sheet of paper the hot-dog way. On the front, paste the pictures. Inside, write "I find you mower and mower atractorive every day."

Instant gold.

3. For the city dwellers, a nice piece of artwork says you care. If you're a little short on cash, nothing says romance like papier macher. Or something like that. You will need: lots of wallpaper paste/glue, newspaper or other paper torn into long strips, and gold spray paint. You know the drill. Get to sculpting, turning these mere scraps into a lovely bust of you to put in your special friend's home. When dried, spray the whole thing with gold spray paint, to simulate a fine metal sculpture. It will always remind them of you, and it will serve as a conversation piece for posh dinner parties.

4. For you men: women love a manly man. And who is more manly than the likes of Davy Crockett or Paul Bunyon. The last one is even named similarly to a foot problem... super manly. That is why I propose you go whole hog this Valentine's Day. You will need: a coonskin cap, some sort of leathery fringed jacket, and a banjo. Oh, and probably banjo lessons. Combine all ingredients. Go see your beloved. Let her know just how beloved she is by singing her this song:

I went walking in the woods

To shoot myself a deer.

I turned around and suddenly

In my heart was a spear.

It was your lovely face I saw

Inside that blessed wood.

You looked fine as a porcupine,

Except for twice as good.

That first look took me in real fast,

The second even more.

By our first date I couldn't even

Stand outside your door

Without my heart a-poundin'

And my palms a-sweatin' too.

And so that brings me here today

To sing my tale to you.

If you will only say you will

Be mine for all the time,

Then I'll go shoutin' down the street

And up the farthest climb.

We'll settle in that blessed wood.

I'll love you every way.

So say you'll be my misses now

Upon this Valentine's Day.

So there you have it, folks. Four different ways you can bring a little love to this Valentine's. Don't say I never helped you out!

Filling My Reservoir

2009-01-31T22:48:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I went to the Frick Collection, one of my favorite museums in NYC (although I feel that I say that about every museum except the Guggenheim). It's amazing. It's the personal collection of one Henry Clay Frick, a big steel magnate who was in business with the likes of the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts in the late 1800s-early 1900s. His goal was to purchase art that was "easy to live with," and that really comes through in the viewing of it. There is nothing brash, aggressive, or violent. Although there are many shades of human history, landscapes, portraits, and objects, the pieces inspire thought and reflection, never offense. As my friend Elliot said to me yesterday, "It's like dessert for the eyes."

The collection is housed in Frick's 5th Avenue mansion, built with its display in mind. Frick always intended to leave his art to the public upon his death, and he went to great lengths to arrange the works in an interesting manner. It is a completely unique viewing experience, because nothing is in chronological order, and you will see an ancient Ming vase atop a 16th Century French table, underneath an El Greco, flanked by 15th Century Italian alterpieces. This may seem chaotic at first, but it makes you see the art in a different, more holistic and global, way.

Mr. Frick truly loved his collection. It's said that at night he would go downstairs and stare at his artworks (especially a self-portrait by Rembrandt) for hours. He said, "I only hope that the public will gain even half the enjoyment I have from these works." Well, he certainly touched me. Going to the collection yesterday was the perfect foil for the chaos and stress in my life right now. I found myself smiling, laughing, even crying as I beheld the outpouring of the human soul. It refreshed me for the challenges of the next two weeks, and it enriched my soul.

To me, Henry Frick is the ultimate art benefactor. I love seeing what he chose to include and what he chose to exclude. Whatever his reasons, his spirit and love for the arts, both visual and decorative, shines forth when you have the privilege of walking these halls. I just feel like saying thank you, Mr. Frick, for having a love of beauty and peace and for making that passion available to all those who came after you. This post is dedicated to you and to the wonderful centuries of artists who share your dedication.

For more information on the Frick go http://www.frick.org/.

Some Days You're the Bug...Today I'm the Windshield

2009-01-29T23:22:00.005-05:00

I've had many surprises today. One was bad: I came home, opened the door to the apartment building, and thought "wow, that really stinks; someone's fire alarm or something is going off, and it's LOUD." Turns out, it was mine. And it wasn't something so simple as a fire alarm. Someone had broken our door buzzer, and managed to break it off, and the buzzer was crying out in all its sadness for us to help it. It didn't stop. I called the super and then left the place. Thankfully, he rescued me (he is the SUPERintendent after all), and by the time I got home it was fixed (inside, we still no longer have a doorbell. Awesome.). Bad surprise. It made me feel like this lady. (see illustration)

On the upside, I got a call from my brother-in-law saying he was in town for some work meetings and would I like to meet for dinner. We went to Lombardi's Pizza (America's first pizza parlor or so they claim) and Rice To Riches for dessert (Coldstone but with rice pudding--- only in NYC). It was a real slice [ba dum bum ch]. I never get a chance to talk to him one on one, and we had a great time. Good surprise.

While We're On the Subject of Tofu

2009-01-25T18:57:00.003-05:00

Mystery meatless

White, foamy, rubbery cube.

People eat this stuff?

For the Sporty Crowd

2009-01-22T00:03:00.006-05:00

Now that's a bad way to go.

Somedays you're the toreador, somedays you're the bull.

Either way=horns.