Kathy Reichs, R. A. Salvatore

So I finished my third book in a week today and thought I should list my thoughts on the two different series that I perused:

Break no Bones (Kathy Reichs): Very cool. One of the founding authors of the "CSI" style. Turns out to be a serial murderer mystery involving black-market organ stealing/donating. Interesting turn of plot, but does not compare with the CSI's that I see on TV. Nice change of pace for me though.

Legend of Drizzt Series (R.A. Salvatore): Have read other series of his. Homeland and Exile were character developments of Drizzt, a dark elf who became more popular than his main character in the earlier start to the Dark Elf Series (Crystal Shard, etc.). Very deep conflicts already in his moral psyche. I'm really looking forward to reading more in Sojourn.

Tomorrow's the "with orchestra" trial. Things are looking good. More after tomorrow!

I knew this would be hard to keep up!

Hey All,
Sorry its been so long! I'm in T-town right now and have today and tomorrow off. I thought I'd give an update as to Julie life:

1. I'm in Toronto! Weeee.... awesome city. Great orchestra. Everyone's been very friendly and they have put me up in the sweetest hotel. 2 blocks from the hall filled with Indian, Italian, French, Japanese, and regular old bar and grill foods. 3 coffee shops to choose from. I'm enjoying it a lot, and have a massage scheduled for this afternoon. This guy hit on me in the hotel restaurant for about an hour the first night I was here for dinner. The ring and talk about Tony didn't seem to phase him... tre wierd! Oh yeah, and I left some music on the plane in the seat pocket. Fell asleep and didn't wake up until the flight steward was standing over me and everyone was off the plane. Ooops. Tony's bringing my originals with him this weekend when he comes up for a concert.

2. New Apartment in Portage Park, Chicago (near Montrose and Milwaukee)! The girls have much fun rough-housing up and down the length of the apartment at 3am. They wake us up all the time and then have the gall to look pissed when we wake them up during their naps in the afternoon. Whenever something smells or there is some sort of cat-related catastrophe, they are MY cats, but whenever they are cute, they are Tony's. Don't ask me - I married him for the health insurance :)~

3. Getting more freelancing work with local orchestras and CSO. I was hoping that I would be able to live off of Performance and Teaching by now, but alas, a day job is still necessary!

Sarah has moved to Crete (this summer), and I miss seeing her and Dyan often. They were like my cool 2nd set of parents. The puppies are missed as well. Perhaps we should plan a date to go visit soon...


Hmmm.... Oh yeah! For those ladies who were in the car for a fateful trip to Toronto in Spring 2004 from Eastman, guess what's playing at the same theater again?!! Sweeney Todd has returned for a limited engagement, but the mom from My Big Fat Greek Wedding is not starring as Mrs. Lovett. Such a shame. She rocked it!

I miss all my Eastman Peeps still, and I apologize if I havn't called or emailed in a while. Life never slows down enough, but please bug me and I will write! Much love to you all and I'll update with news whenever I get it!

PAUL POTTS!!!

Go Paul Potts! A cell phone company manager by day, this guy started serious study of the vocal chords in his twenties and although not supremely polished, his opera on the secular "Britain's Got Talent" reality TV show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA) really was a breath of fresh air. Love to him and good luck in his future.

Flattered, but... ewwwww

I understand that some people manage to make relationships work between individuals who are vastly different in age. Personally, I prefer the 5 year-rule - and obviously I prefer Tony, but others are good up to 20 years. Fine, that's great for them. The man who asked me to dinner this evening was more than twice my age. Seriously, older than my father, but not quite grandfather material. (still quite scary) We're talking at least 40 years my senior.

He asked if I was ever available for dinner and (stupid, naive Julie) I asked, "to play or to go out?" Dum, dah-dum-dum! He just chuckled in his old-man-way and said, "To join me." (EEEEEK!)

Now granted, the function I was playing at was one at which the guests were all at least millionaires, so it would have been a viable option had he not been quite as old and I not already been spoken for. But seriously! SERIOUSLY! ewwwwww....

Good News

For those of you who have not heard either from myself or Sarah or KB, I am a finalist for Toronto Symphony's principal harp job. Don't ask me how it happened. I practiced, I flew around the northern half of the continent, and I played. I'm quite excited to go out there next fall and play with the symphony for a couple weeks. I have not been informed as to what the schedule is for when I go or when their decision is made, but I assume we'll know by Christmas or January next year. Lynn is also a finalist (she's so damn good), and a fella from Paris who plays with a group in Germany. Much love to everyone auditioning right now and in the past and future. Its a big pain!

Besides that, I have no concentration skills now that I'm back. My harp studio is having a recital on Saturday and I totally blew off one of the lessons this week on accident. Just wasn't thinking. I just want to sleep for a really long time, but alas, life keeps going!

I want to be a kid again

I have decided that I have gotten old enough and will now be remaining the age of 23. There was this little guy sitting next to me on the plane today going to a national hockey tournament. I wish I could have done that. Not necessarily hockey, but volleyball? sure! softball? Damn Yes!

I am honestly pooped and there was no love for me in the SDS, so I'm off to Toronto. We'll see what happens. All I want is to make it past the prelims. Think good thoughts on Saturday!!! Oooo.... and Tony needs to change his pants - anyone who sees him, please remind him, since I won't be home for a few days.

Here I go...

I've rather mixed feelings about all of this. On one hand, I know I'm a capable harpist. On the other, what are we all thinking trying to learn millions of tiny black dots on a page just so that we'll have a reasonably secure existence? Seriously. Seriously! I'm excited, but a bit anxious too. I leave tomorrow, and didn't have the most awesome lesson today, but I have faith in my playing just as Sarah does. I'll give ya'll updates! Here I go! Here I go...

one week left

For those of you who've kept up with me in the past few weeks, my life is in upheaval. Suddenly, there are not one, but TWO auditions that I am taking - on opposite sides of the continent. Life is certainly hard between practicing for those and concerts and all the other blah-dee-blah that comes with the season of May.

I'm not at the freak-out stage yet, but my heart certainly is beating fast these days and nothing seems good enough. The bad thing is that there's two more weeks until this adventure is over. The good thing is that there's two more weeks until this adventure is over.

Last Day of Classes

Obviously, I can't say its my last day of school (like Kat and so many of my other colleagues), but today did mark the end of my trauma for this semester. I am finally done with my academics (next semester is purely ensemble and mock audition, thank God!)!!!! But on to more juicy info...

I am crazy. Seriously, what possesses someone to take on two auditions in the same week back-to-back? San Diego Symphony and Toronto Symphony are the only two who have major harp auditions announced in the last year, and they put them on the same week? Who's move was that? I hope they are no longer working for the organization so that everyone else is thinking, "what were they thinking?" Geez!! I'm practicing my butt off and still feel like a dope, but hopefully I will make it past the prelims at least one of the times. That's my goal - pretty reasonable, no?

And I have to apply for school to give me more money next fall, because I cannot handle another tuition hike. Its like having a second rent payment every month (and not a cheap one). I think schools should pay us to come! We spend endless hours there, not making money, and more hours outside - trying to make money so we can keep spending hours in there not making it. Come to think of it, why am I doing this? (Oh yeah, so I can make more money some day and give it back to the school) Hmmm.... not doing so well on the positive wagon tonight. Sorry

Britten

It has been a very interesting week for me... Started my second set of Britten opera rehearsals with DePaul (Why two competing music conservatories in Chicago are both doing Britten operas this spring still eludes me) and next week is hell week for the one at Roosevelt. Not that Britten wasn't awesome in his own right - but seriously, this mess is putting a strain on my tonal sensabilities.

Finished a paper for my post-20th cent. music class on Webern's Quartet, op.22. Ouch is all I have to say. Hopefully the prof. is leanient with this one, especially since it was assigned on top of our term papers being due next week. Oh yeah, should probably start that tomorrow.

I miss all my Eastman buddies. Not that I'm bored or lonely, but just miss all the personalities and the atmosphere. Of course, I'm not the best at staying in touch either, but you know what I mean...

Let's get outta here.

two more things...

What is up with how much cats poop? I scoop once a day and there seems to be way more than what two cats should be able to output! dang...

Starting this detox thing that Tony's mom got my on to. We'll see how it goes. I'm a little scared of the flax seed stuff, but I guess if it cleans me out and gets a fresh start its worth while.

New Name, New Life, New Blog

Wow, so I hardly ever posted on my previous blog and thus, I feel a need for change. Here are some updates for those of you who have not been around or updated recently:

New Last Name: Spring (keeping the previous last name professionally for now, so that those who knew me before aren't confused or misinformed as to my identity)

New Life: Married to Tony. Living in small 1br in Chicago with three harps, 6 computers, and two cats. We really need a bigger place. Hoping to move to Oak Park this summer.

The husband knows both how to make me laugh and make me want to scream... We're working on more of the first and less of the second, although the screaming occasionally stems from the laughing depending on how hard I'm laughing.

School and work are taking over my life at the present. I don't want it to be this way, and in fact am pondering what I really want to do after I'm done with the masters degree next fall. Moving back to Rochester is a viable option if I can land a job there. Not too many harp auditions lately, but nor will there be too many too soon. I keep practicing though, and keep my fingers crossed (not while practicing).

The unfortunate thing is that I end up working 80-some-hours/week, but due to demands from school built in there, I only get paid for half of them - and those are underpaid. Its very frustrating, and as Kelsey puts it, "driving for dollars is not much fun." (referring to driving whatever lengths possible to earn a living as a musician - as stated by Henry Fogel).

So that's about all I feel like saying for now.