celebrating people I admire

I'm going to see one of my childhood icons perform next June!

Monday: I went to the SUNSCAD candidates' forum, which more or less didn't happen, as only one of two candidates showed up.

I then called Dal counselling services to see about setting up an appointment. Turns out, you have to set it up the day of if you want an appointment at the Dal campus.

I spent the rest of the day doing school work. That evening, one of Lynn's kids posted a photo on FB, with a caption talking about all that Lynn has been through in the last year (long story short, a lot) and wishing her a happy birthday. For most of the years that I've known Lynn I've looked up to her (those feelings gradually materialized over the first five or so years), and every so often something will come along that will remind me of said admiration (the best part is that she didn't do anything special to earn said admiration--just live her life and play the violin awesomely) and make me think about how lucky I am to know her. That caption was one such trigger, and I then went in search of awesome music to match my mood, which threatened to overwhelm me. Besides, I wanted to celebrate Lynn's birthday. Here are two of the pieces that I listened to:





These are not the recordings that I rocked out to that evening, though: my source was CBC Music, which is only available in Canada. This is the album that I listened to. If you're reading this in Canada, you can listen to it here on CBC Music. While the only-available-in-Canada factor sucks, it means that both Canucks and non-Canucks get to listen to Kristin Chenoweth's Glitter and be Gay, and who can argue with a voice like that--especially when its owner is so funny.

Tuesday: More schoolwork and prep for Wednesday.

In the evening, the Festival for Better Education arrived at its final stop, which was NSCAD, having marched to all the schools in Halifax and heard speakers at each one. Max Haiven and Sarah Trower (SUNSCAD president--this is her second year in that position) spoke at NSCAD, and I went to that part of the festival.

Wednesday: Once again, it was my group's turn to take the rest of the class through the week's chapter. Afterward, we each had an individual meeting with Adrian. I called Dal again and tried to set up an appointment for Thursday. No such luck. My meeting with Adrian went well--I had some questions, and I wanted to get a second opinion on the white balance of some of my photos (it's one of those things where one number can mean the difference between being too green or too magenta, and I can go back and forth and just about drive myself nuts trying to get the white balance just right). We ended up setting up an appointment for Monday to have a look at my images on the computers in the Photo Dept. computer lab.

Part of the afternoon was devoted to open studio, the other part being taken up by a guest speaker, Alan Griffiths, founder of Luminous Lint.

There was a GA that evening, but it was one of those times where a GA morphed into an info session--I don't even think quorum (four per cent of the student body--in NSCAD's case, that means forty students) was reached. They talked about the violence in Elsipogtog First Nation and what has happened since (neither the aboriginals nor SWN has budged) and about the bus trip some NSCADians took to that First Nation. Since hearing about the violence, I'd been trying to find out how it started, though I stayed away from news sources like CBC and CTV (some sources can be more than a little racist toward First Nations peoples). No such luck, so I asked at the GA. As I'd suspected, the violence was started by SWN trying to force out the protesters (typical, sadly). The closing of the Seeds Gallery was also discussed (SUNSCAD exec has had a really difficult time getting info as have the students in general--ahem--and SUNSCAD's phone calls haven't been returned). The drawing studio and woodshop on the first floor of the Granville Campus have been rented out, which means that classes were moved half-way through the semester, which is a big no-no. Some students have lost access to lockers and student work has been damaged. In other words, one major mistake after another. The higher-ups and those doing construction in NSCAD should know better. This is an art school, which means that there's artwork that students have laboured over for hours. Stuff that was done for school assignments, and I don't know how much of it had yet to be marked. Have any of the people who've done these things stopped to think about how much that would suck?? Okay, I'm done.

Thursday: I called Dal counselling once again, this time looking at setting up an appointment at NSCAD (one of the Dal counsellors comes to NSCAD every Tuesday). I got an email later that day with a time that was available, which I confirmed.

I spent the rest of the day doing work on my project.

Friday: More homework, including fiddling around with the white balance of another set of photos for my project and starting this week's reading. I also bought my first Neil Gaiman book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. However, I had yet to find out just how poor I am right now. It was worth it, though, as I've heard nothing but good things about Neil's work and I'm a huge fan of his wife, Amanda Palmer, to whom Ocean is dedicated (insert fangirl squeal here): "to Amanda, who wanted to know." In fact, it's thanks to her that I wanted to read the book and have been waiting since said book came out for the waiting list to get down to a manageable size in the NB and Halifax library systems. I checked this evening, and said waiting list is finally down to the single digits in NB (eight holds, twenty copies), though as of today all twenty are checked out/in transit/on hold.

That day I discovered that the CBC Music holiday streams, Seasonal Favourites and Classical Holidays (my favourite), are now available, and I've been listening to the latter stream almost nonstop ever since.

Saturday: I continued the reading (though not without having to do battle with the NSCAD proxy server, which was cantankerous even at school--there may have been more than the allotted twelve people on the server), and Mom ordered tickets for both of us to see Raffi in June. When I was a kid, he was one of the musicians whose tapes I played endlessly, and I still have many of his songs memorized, which will come in handy when I see him live (OH, MY GOD!!!!!!!).

When I was little, I didn't think about what he was doing for the world (not surprising--I was a kid). Once I became a big kid, though, he kind of got shoved to the back of my mind, and I didn't listen to his music quite so much. But a year or two ago, I rediscovered him and learned about what he's been doing through his organization, Child Honouring, and my respect for him is now so high it's probably sitting on Mt. Everest. I'm a fan once again, but my appreciation for him has matured: I love his music, yes, but I also admire what he's doing to make the world a better one for kids. If you happen to stumble across this, Raffi (as this is a public blog, you never know who's going to read it), thank you for the music and for everything else you've done. Can't wait to see you in June! As the concert's in between the date when I finish at NSCAD (the last teaching day is April seventeenth) and my birthday (July eighteenth), I'm treating it as a graduation and early birthday present. Thanks, Mom!



If you listen to only one of his songs, make it this one (referenced in the above interview). Fans like me--those who grew up with his music, are now in their twenties and thirties and who've perhaps passed their love for his music on to their kids--are known as Belugagrads, which is a reference to this song. And yes, I still know many of the lyrics.





This is the title track from an album that I used to play a lot (I probably still have the tape somewhere):



When I listened to this song Saturday night, I recognized the melody from somewhere else, but couldn't place it. I went over the melody in my head on the way home and turns out, it's the tune from Arkansas Traveler.





I admit that as I was choosing videos for this post, I was singing along. Yes, I do still have many of the words memorized--which will come in handy when I go to the concert.

Sunday: I finished the reading and edited photos for my APC project. At this point, I'm simply tweaking the colour and contrast--starting on Wednesday I'll be working with the images in Adobe Premiere.

the last concert of the summer

Orchestra

Dedicated to the Passamaquoddy Bay Symphony Orchestra

Sunday was the PBSO concert, which was everything I'd dreamed of and more.

My excitement had been growing and becoming more powerful over the past two months and by Friday I felt like I was about to burst. On Sunday I was dancing all over the place.

I started getting ready midmorning (putting on my outfit and makeup).

Mom and I drove down to St. Andrews (the concert was in the Van Horne Ballroom at the Fairmont Algonquin Hotel) and I had a moment just before I went in where I almost did burst, I was so excited.

I chatted with the harpist, Molly (one of Lynn's daughters, who gave me a huge hug--my feet left the ground), as she tuned her instrument.

I sat in the front row and kept looking around for Lynn (who was playing principle second violin). Then she came in from the room that the orchestra was using as backstage and I jumped up, ran to her and gave her a gigantic hug. We chatted for a bit before she went to finish getting ready.

A few minutes later Alice (the concertmaster) stood, Lee-Ann (oboe) played her A and the musicians tuned. Seconds later Trond (the conductor, who's also a member of two of my favourite music groups) walked down the aisle and took his place at his music stand (I was clapping like mad).

The first piece on the programme was the overture from Preciosa by Weber which I've been dancing to for the last two months. I don't know how I managed to stay in my seat but somehow I managed.

They performed the first two movements of Bruch's first violin concerto with a different soloist for each movement. The second movement was so beautiful that I just had to close my eyes and savour it. I came close to tears several times--BRAVA, MALIKA! **sniffle**

Lynn and Gene (her husband) did a piece together called Clapping Music which is an experimental piece by a guy named Steve Reich. The piece takes a simple rhythm (in this case three claps, two claps, one clap, two claps, and three claps) and plays it up and has fun with it by moving one part (Gene's) around while the other part (Lynn's) stays the same (not easy). Right from the start I thought, "hey, I could dance to this!" For months I'd been concerned about the Preciosa, the Blue Danube, and Thunder and Lightning and whether I'd be able to stay in my seat during those pieces but I should've been concerned about Clapping Music because I could barely stay in my seat. Here's a video of it. It's not the same performance, but it's just as good/cool (and this time I can actually dance to it).

After the intermission they played Fauré's Pélleas et Mélisande Suite, which was gorgeous. I've loved the Sicilienne for years but it was one of those pieces where I didn't know the name--until June fourth (I think I wrote about that at the time).

Then three of the musicians who also play in a fiddle band called Pieces of String (in this case, Rosa Bragdon, Nadine Biss, and Frank Schuth) played a reel called Réel de Montebello which I'd heard previously when the band played in Calais (that time it was Nadine with Sam, Frank, and Henry Schuth).

The orchestra finished up with two classic pieces by Johann Strauss, Jr.: The Blue Danube and Thunder and Lightning. I couldn't keep still during either one and swayed along with The Blue Danube and tapped my hands against my knees in a one-two rhythm during Thunder and Lightning.

Trond played his violin during The Blue Danube and hummed the beginning of one of my favourite parts--and really surprised me. I thought it was so cool and unexpected that I did my own take on that part when I danced to the waltz that night (during the concert I felt that I was wasting it since I was just sitting and swaying along with the beat--and not dancing to it).

Afterwards I talked with Alice, Lynn, Gene and Molly and I finally told Gene that he's one of my favourite composers (Beethoven is the other one) and about the impact that a piece that he wrote, March of the Giant Stumps, has had on my dance and music life. I also told them about how I'd decided to go to the concert the day after my ill-fated PBSO rehearsal.

Then I left to brave the heat back to the car (it wasn't a long walk--only a few metres--but I just about roasted). As soon as I opened the car door I started laughing and didn't stop for several minutes.

seeing Joan Baez

**WARNING: this is a very long post.**

Wow, what a wonderful trip!

Mom and I left on Thursday morning and drove about six and a half hours to Portland, ME (I drove part of the way).

After we got to our hotel (Comfort Inn Airport) we found the Shop 'n' Save, did some shopping and ended up eating our supper there (I was so tired that I accedentally trashed our plans to eat at Olive Garden by agreeing to eat at the supermarket).

We then went to the Maine Mall and had a great time browsing and looking at all the different shops. I had a look in Swarovski (the window on the way to Macy's and a look inside on the way back) and I could probably write a whole post about that store: they say that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but although I love diamonds, I have a thing for Swarovski crystal--it comes with being a fan of the Metropolitan Opera.

I also had a look in F.Y.E. and bought American Idiot.

And I looked in Hot Topic. And PacSun. And Icing by Clair's. And Apple.

But the pièce de résistance was Macy's. Talk about WOW! Mom and I had a look at the bargain section and found a nice long-sleeved blue paisley shirt for $9.99. I plan on wearing it with a long white skirt to another concert later this month (the Passamaquoddy Bay Symphony Orchestra--Strauss and Weber and Bruch and Fauré--oh. MY!). I had a blast looking at the makeup and perfume counters (Burberry, ck, M.A.C., Clinique.....).

And there were the clothes. I came away with a ton of ideas for school (fashion design is one of the things I'll be studying this year). I also tried on the pointiest heels I could find.

Afterwards we went back to the hotel where we had supper part two and some wine that Mom bought (we toasted Joan, the trip, finally being able to drink in the US...).

The next day was J-Day. When Mom came back from breakfast I found out that they had Belgian waffles (she had one), so of course that's what I had (along with OJ, yogurt and--don't hit me--a doughnut).

I hadn't slept well (I'm always like that my first night in a new place), so I was really happy when Mom suggested that we go to Starbucks. We then went to Stonewall Kitchen and I bought a jar of their Wild Maine Blueberry Jam. I'd bought a small jar of it when we were in Camden three years ago and as soon as I tasted it I regretted not getting a bigger jar--if you love blueberries, this is to die for. I also bought a jar each of Mimosa Jam and Horseradish Mustard after sampling them. I almost bought a small jar of the mustard but decided to get the larger one because I love Dijon and horseradish is one of the main ingredients in that mustard.

We had a look in Edgecomb Potters--and I wanted to see everything. We also had a look in a clothing store whose name escapes me.

By that point we were getting hungry so we looked at a couple of places but didn't find anything that looked tempting. Then we had a look at the menu at Flatbread Company and I started drooling just looking at their Coevolution pizza (Kalamata olives, rosemary, red onions, roasted red peppers, goat cheese, mozzarella, garlic, some other kind of cheese, and herbs). We were a few minutes early so we sat and waited for them to open (along with a few other people).

As we ate (outside, right on the water) we watched the boats. The harbour was busy! There were boats coming and going constantly.

Then we went to a liquor store. Mom was looking for some wines that we can't get over here (Bartlett, which is a winery from Maine).

By this point it was starting to rain--so out came the rain coats.

We then headed over to the L.L.Bean outlet where we bought a Boat and Tote (Bean) Bag for when I go to school.

We also went to the Portland Museum of Art--they have an exhebition on Andrew Wyeth on right now.

Now--if only we could find the right bus (the number five) to take us back to the hotel (or close to it). We had to ask several people before finally getting to the right stop. (Yes, we eventually made it back to the hotel.)

Once we got there we kicked back, ate supper (a doggy bag) and started to get ready for the concert.

Since it was starting to rain Mom called a taxi (instead of taking the bus). The guy who picked us up was a very nice guy from somewhere in the Caribbean--he even opened the door for me (awwww).

We arrived before the doors opened so we hung around, signed petitions (Joan has worked with Amnesty International since the '70s), chatted, bought a bottle of water, and waited for the doors to the auditorium to open.

When Joan came onstage I started screaming and clapping as hard and loud as I could--and so did a lot of other people. She sang several songs from her latest CD, Day After Tomorrow (including my favourite, God is God), and some other pieces, including a couple of gospel songs. I kept thinking, "this is live! This is live!" and several times I came close to tears because I was so happy and because her voice and her singing are even more beautiful live than on a CD (naturally--nothing beats live). Sometimes I closed my eyes and savoured the sound, all the while reminding myself that it was live.

Mom had been wondering earlier what Joan's son Gabe was up to these days, and I was curious, too. Well, when Joan introduced her band it turned out that Gabe Harris plays drums (and just about everything else) and sings. So that's what Gabe's up to these days!

There was no intermission.

She sang several encores, including Diamonds and Rust which is to Joan what the Second Waltz is to André Rieu.

Throughout the concert I noticed that a lot of people were singing along--I was, too, but I sang very quietly. It created an interesting sound: Joan with her mic and sound equipment, and everyone else singing along sans mic (though at one point one of the sound techs held up a microphone for us). Mom (who's now seen Joan twice) said that Joan encourages people to sing along as long as it doesn't interfere too much with the rest of the concert.

The set was very plain--just a black backdrop with coloured lights providing variation.

There were several standing ovations.

After the concert I was so giddy (concerts have a tendency to do that).

Mom called the taxi, which took a while to arrive so we waited. Eventually it came and we went back to the hotel.

We spent probably about an hour gushing about the concert, and eating a bit more before turning out the lights at about midnight (EDT).

The next morning I was unbelievably exhausted (and headache-y and grouchy) when I woke up. I had a waffle for breakfast (again) (breakfast goes a long way towards curing me of exhaustion-induced grouchiness) and then started packing.

We then drove to Freeport (home of L.L.Bean), stopped at Starbucks, thought about going to Ben & Jerry's, but they were closed, went to the L.L.Bean flagship store and bought a backpack for when I go to school (the Ridge Runner Day Pack in Dark Blue) and a hoodie that I saw when I was looking for the backpacks (colour: Chocolate Brown) (said hoodie is really nice and warm). And two three-packs of socks. And a water-bottle (all for me).

We also went to the L.L.Bean outlet but didn't find anything there.

Then we drove home (I snoozed most of the way). We got lunch at a Big Stop. Somewhere along the way we stopped at a rest stop where I changed into shorts (it was really hot by that point) and bought a bottle of iced tea (the Poland Spring vending machine was all out of bottled water--guess we know what was popular that day).

We continued on our way and stopped at the Shop 'n' Save in Calais where I bought a couple of Amy's Pot Pies (I was too tired to cook that night).

The line at the Milltown customs was backed way up (and moving very slowly) and it was so hot in the car that when we got close to a tree that had substantial shade I got out and stood under it. The officer was sending almost everyone into the main building but I had a feeling that they wouldn't give us a hard time--we were well under the limit of the amount that we could bring over ($400/two bottles of wine each).

Turns out, I was right.

We drove home and gushed about the trip and the concert to Tom, I showed off my pack and hoodie and unpacked the bare minimum of what I would need for the next twelve hours. We had supper, relaxed, and went to bed.

End of trip.

PS We didn't take any photos during the trip. I tried taking one with my cellphone during the concert but I wanted a close-up--something my cell wouldn't do.