Oh, hi again.

It's been a deplorably long time since I posted anything.   It seems only fair to now complete the "update of all updates" and then carry on as if I was a real blogger who knew how to write reasonably lengthen posts.  Fair?

In no particular order, here are things that have happened since September.

MARTIN AND LORA HAD A BEAUTIFUL BABY!!!!

Caroline is pretty much the best person in the world.  I am not even exaggerating in the slightest.  She looks like a miniature snow white, has an awesome set of lungs and the most amazing little fingernails in the history of fingernails.   I honestly had no idea that it was possible to instantly love someone so much as we all love this beautiful little girl.  Clearly, I am about to devote serious energy to spoiling her.

Also, Martin might be the cutest dad ever.  He didn't exactly (see: not at all) give me permission to post this picture, but I'm fairly confident the world needs to see this.

On a side note, Lora looks fantastic, like all the time. Can we talk about this?  Even right after that kiddo was born, Lora looked like she's waltzed out of a salon or something.   Giving false hope to women everywhere, my sister-in-law.   :-)

There will be amazing pictures of this lovely family later, taken by a real photographer (Liz Love), but rest assured, you will not believe the all around cuteness.

I QUIT MY JOB

Yep.  In the middle of an economic crisis, and with "only" degrees in Horn Performance, I quit a stable job with brilliant cohort of students, delightful coworkers, and possibly the coolest boss ever.  

First, let's address the "only" part of that sentence.   I was privileged to attend one of the top research institutions in the world.  This is fact, not just school spirit.  Now, in my time there, I chose to study Music.  At the beginning, I had absolutely no clue why I was doing it, only that it felt right.  Along the way, I flirted with other subjects (linguistics, Italian, art history, theatre and dance) but at the end of the day I loved what I was doing, so I persevered in my academic course.

It pains me when I hear anyone disparage education in the arts.  Though I fully intend to work in my field of study, let's take a moment to pretend that I don't, and examine if I wasted my time.

As a music student, I was required to devote immense hours to tutoring myself, and crafting many approaches to the problem before me.  My experiences in ensembles mandated an incredibly high level of personal accountability (if you don't believe me there, try being a horn player and cracking a note in an ensemble, soul crushing...) that equipped me with a personal standard of excellence and an understanding my own work in the context of the larger product.  I wrote papers, participated in discussion based courses, presented to large audiences and cultivated a stage presence to better communicate with my audience.

When I walked out of music school, I carried a degree and a broad set of skills that many of my peers in other disciplines never experienced.

The onus for arts graduates, then, is not to acquire skills that make them hireable, but rather to showcase the skills their endeavors have afforded them.

Rant over, sorry.

Getting back to why I quit my job.... it was time.  I had a wonderful time, truly, but I knew I needed to do other things and challenge myself, and I just wasn't going to do that in the place I had grown so very comfortable.  

So, now?  Grad school applications are in (DMA, here we come! fingers crossed) and I find myself waiting anxiously for word on prescreening results, etc.   I'm free-lancing as much as possible, and hope to pick up some students for the spring.  We'll see where life takes me, good places, I hope.

I'M ADDICTED TO INSTAGRAM

I don't take very good photos, really.  The filters in this app are designed to help hacks like me feel like artists.  Here is a sampling of my "work," and by work I mean "pictures I obsessively stop and take while I should be doing other things."

THE MUPPETS

I had a chance to catch up with a dear old friend and see the new Muppets.   I'm fairly confident the equation for magical movie experience is

 [(The Muppets) + Jason Segel] x Musical Numbers 

I simultaneously loved this movie and wished for so much more.  Hoping for many more Muppet adventures under the helm of Jason Segel.

I DID NOT WIN A TINY TEXAS HOUSE

After much deliberation, the judges finally announced the winner of an essay competition I entered a while back...'twas not me.  Which is probably for the better, because I don't really know what I would do with my own tiny Texas house.   On the upside, the essay I wrote for that contest got me a part-time writing gig (details some other time). 

I've also entered another essay contest, and am excited to have an outlet to write! 

BAD CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Dear Pop Singers,

Stop slaughtering Christmas classics.  It's upsetting. 

Dear Record Labels,

Please try a little harder to find "talent" that actually has talent.

Dear Majic 95.5

I hate the way you spell your name.  Also,  you need to expand your collection.

Thanks.

and, finally

PRETENTIOUS COFFEE SHOP PEOPLE, A TRANSCRIPT

This morning I ventured to Austin Java to check email, read the news, and have a reason to change out of PJ's before noon.  

I love coffee shop culture.   The delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the camaraderie of increasingly jittery people, the fantastic people watching.

Unfortunately, I seated myself in a corner next to table of gentlemen in the midst of some form of pseudo-intellectual duel to the death.  I have taken the liberty to paraphrasing their conversation, below:

Guy 1) I'm a pretty big deal, but I don't want to just say that outright.  Instead, I will reference my many accomplishments

Guy 2) I have not accomplished as much, but I'm a visionary.  Let me tell you about why everyone else's plan to improve things is not worthy

Guy 1) Oooooh....That's kind of impressive.  I match your smartness by relating my many connections to famous humanitarians.  We're quite good friends, everyone famous and myself. 

Guy 2) I will continue to patronize you with my brilliance.

UGH.  This went on for at least 45 minutes.  At the end, these two fellows were quite impressed with themselves, and everyone else was ready for their 15th cup of coffee. 

Thank you, if you made it all the way to the this part of the post.  You're a trooper.  Really.

Happy Holidays!!!!!