Friday, October 27, 2006

Tired...

I've been staying up so late to get homework done. I kinda want to get another calm thing done, just so that's one less thing to worry about...but it's too late. I'll scramble on Sunday. And maybe Saturday, depending on my mood.

So, I got my school situation a little more cleared up, so I'm feeling better about that. I realized that choir camp and Mexico came right after one another...meaning I'd miss two more days of school then I thought. But I got things sorted out, so, hopefully it'll be alright.

Hm...I need to practice more. Or rather, I need to find more time to practice. So...that's been bugging me, since I haven't been practicing nearly as much as I used to.

So, yes...I'm still tired. Although I'm probably going to stay up later to arrange. I'm having fun arranging. I'm excited.

Band camp picture...



There's Chloe again. In her helmet. Cool. =) Geez, you know I'm tired when I can't even comment on band camp pictures...I miss band camp...

~Calminaiel~

'Dougnut eating David, and I'm Ritenuto Robyn.'
'David...Rit...whatever....Robyn...'
'David...something...Robyn...'
'David...Robyn...'

Monday, October 23, 2006

Mondays...

I was so tired today. Crazily tired. And now, here I am, at 11:00 at night, planning to stay up later, even when I have to shower tomrrow. Wonderful. I'm a smart one...

Anyways, me and Randall went to Kelskie's house to finish our english project. We're still not exactly sure how to present it...so we're just hoping another group goes first so we can kinda mimic what they do. In a sense. I'm supposed to print out our info and stuff...I think I'll work on editing it maybe a little...though I'm not sure how...and then printing it out tomorrow morning before school. It's kinda late and I don't want to risk waking anybody up...because my dad will have my head if he finds me up this late...

Hm...I really should have studied for math tomorrow...yay, test. Oh well, I'll live. I hope. I probably should have tried to get social done too, but so much for that. Am I a good student or what?

Funny how I'm more awake now then I ever was today...just goes to show you that I really am a night person. Tomorrow morning will be a completely different story, but we'll worry about that when we get there.

Kelskie got a new mirror in her bedroom. I like it. It likes me too. It makes me look good. =) I like mirrors that like me.

Band camp picture...



That's Chloe on the bus. Chloe looks good in pictures. I envy her...=)

~Calminaiel~

"I'm a rover...can you love me anyways?"

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Babysitting on my day off

Yeah, my dad's friend brought his kids over today. They're babysitter was sick, so I agreed to look after them. It was only for a couple hours anyways. So it was fun. We watched a movie (Shrek) and played cards (Go Fish). Good stuff. And I got to sleep in today, which was nice. I'm still tired, though. One day a week isn't enough to catch up on my sleep. This week's gonna be fun...

I actually attempted to get some homework done. I failed, but I tried.

So...I feel like I should really be doing something productive...but...I also don't really feel like it...and I should be getting to bed...but I'm not. So...yes...

Band camp picture...



There's Chloe. She has a sweet helmet line on her head. I think there's apparently ninjas in that picture too...with Chloe, you can never be too sure.

10 days 'till choir camp...hehe...choir camp...

~Calminaiel~

"Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it hold the world together."

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Honour Band...Done...

Yup, it's done. We had our concert tonight. I went fairly well. We played this new piece, and the composer of the piece actually came and conducted us. I felt really bad, we kinda butchered his piece during the concert. We read it fine in rehearsal...and then the concert came...so that wasn't so good. But...whatever...

I'm so tired. It's gonna be so nice to be able to sleep tomorrow. Mmm...sleep. I've almost forgotten what it's like to do that...I also need to remember to water my plants, because I haven't done that in about two weeks.

My brother was really mad at me tonight. He was going to watch a movie on the computer (yeah, that's right...my family watches DVDs on the computer...) but I got on the computer and started chatting, and I didn't want to get off, so he got really mad at me. After a while I went to his room and explained why I wanted to stay on, and we both apologized and he went downstairs to watch his movie. So...it was really neat. Usually me and my brother just get really mad at each other...so...anyways, enough about that...

Ry said he got a new cat. =) I really want to see it. Like, really...I like kitties...=)...

I also should do homework tomorrow...I should...will I?...Probably not...

I e-mailed my uncle today, telling him about the songs I'm arranging. Or, planning to, in most cases. I asked him what computer program I should get to write the parts out. I figure if I'm gonna get one, I want a good one. I've heard some pretty crazy horror stories from people with bad programs. So that'll be nice. Mom also said that Uncle Chester has a laptop he's not using, and if we could get a program before we go to Mexico, then I could work on my arrangements there. Which would be nice, seeing as Dad won't let me bring an instrument. =) I'm a geek...

Hm...they're watching the princess bride, and it just got to the scene where there's lots of bassoon...=) I love it...

I also talked to Matt today. That was good. I apologized for getting mad at him...hopefully he'll start talking to me again. He can't bring the contra to Banff, which sucks...but I couldn't get mad at him again...I just couldn't. I was happy after that...

Oh, and my dad bought a new car! It's so great, it has a CD player, and now we can get rid of the 15 year old Ford! I'm not sure what kind of car it is...I'm never good with things like that...all I remember is that it's jade-coloured. Sounds pretty. I'm excited. No more old car...

And apparenly All Cities got Mars on Friday. I'm so excited. I love the bass line for Mars. I'm excited...

I should really end this post...I've just kinda been going on...which is always fun...I don't usually have a lot of time to post...usually it's just a last minute thing I do before bed...so...this is neat. I like it.

But I really should end it, because I'm kinda running out of things to say...and then I'll just start blabbing. So...band camp picture...



Those are some of the cabins we stayed in. There were more of course. The one in the middle was mine, the left is Maggie's, and I believe Erika was in the right one. We were sorta out in the corner. But we were close to the bathroom, which was nice.

Quote of the day: "You miss that note, I'll cut you."

~Calminaiel~

Friday, October 20, 2006

And...More Honour Band

Yup...more honour band. Although I probably had the most emotional rehearsal I've ever had in my life. I'll give the readers digest version...I've already told it / discussed it at least three times. Anyways...

So, this percussionist, Veronica, kept making these mistakes in rehearsal. Not really serious mistakes, they just stood out because it's percussion, and percussion always stands out. So Ronnie (our conductor) got really mad at her and said he was two seconds away from kicking her out. So she left.

Afterwards, Graham (the guy who kinda helps organize honour band, and keep everything going smoothly) gave us a talk after lunch. Ronnie had a longer lunch. He told us that we're in honour band, and he respected her honourable decision to leave. He told us that nobody insults his band, and if we didn't want to play for Ronnie, then don't. He said we should play for ourselves, because we're in honour band, and play for Veronica.

He said a bunch of other stuff, but that's mainly the message. He was pretty mad, he didn't agree with Ronnie, and he swore a couple times and was in tears. Then he had us play the slow song, and we played it so well, it was amazing. Then we moved on to the march, but I left halfway through the first page. I wasn't just tearing up like some other people. I was bawling.

So. It wasn't completely a negative experiece I think. I mean, the fact that Veronica left is, but Graham's talk was so neat. It definately made the rest of the day harder, though. By the end, none of us really cared anymore. I think he was really dissapointed in us, but I mean, it was 9:00 at night, and we had just been through such a hard day!

I think I'm going to end up skipping my shower tomorrow. Hm...we'll see. I'll set my alarm early, and I get up, I get up, and if I don't, I don't. I probably won't. Although maybe the fact that I have a concert tomorrow will give me incentive to take a shower. So...we'll see.

I probably should go to bed right now. But I'm chatting to Kate and Randall, and I love chatting with friends. Especially since I haven't seen them for the past couple days.

Band camp picture...



There's a bunch of people on a bunk bed. In Maggie's cabin, I believe. I miss band camp...

~Calminaiel~

Thursday, October 19, 2006

More Honour Band

It's funny. You wouldn't think sitting down the whole day would really make you that tired. But rehearsals are exhausting, especially three of them in a day. I know it's not like all we're doing is sitting...we're not just sitting around being bored, or sleeping or something. But still, it's not like we're running around and stuff.

Anyways, honour band is really fun, as long as my mouth doesn't give out on me. I think I already mentioned a bunch about honour band in my last post...but, I like it. I got hot apple cider from Second Cup when we went for dinner. I love apple cider. I need to tell my dad to buy some. And I love the cinnamon stick that Second Cup throws in it too. =)

So, Andrea said that audtions for the National Youth Band have to be in by November 15th. Which means I basically have to cram, make a recording, and send it off sometime in the next two weeks, seeing as I'm leaving for Mexico on the 6th. So that'll be interesting. It shouldn't be too bad. It's not a live audition, so it'll be less stressful. And I know my Hindemith pretty well. I don't know if I should play another piece...it says two contrasting pieces, but the Hindemith has two contrasting movements, and in the second movement it pretty much has three contrasting sections. So I think that should be enough. Plus, they said we should keep it to about 5 minutes, and I think my Hindemith already goes over that, without even including my scales and stuff.

It also kinda overlaps with our trip to New York with Symphonic Band at Abe. Me and Andrea are going to talk to Paddock (that is, assuming we even get in. We're kinda jumping ahead of ourselves here).

Band camp picture...



That is (apparently) the archery thing at band camp. I've never been there, so this was my first time even seeing the place. Looks fun. I still like horses more. =)

Hm...sleep I think. I'm tired.

~Calminaiel~

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Honour Band!

Honour band is fun. I'm excited. Especially tomorrow, when we have pretty much a full day of rehearsals. It'll be awesome. I like our music. Well, some of the slow stuff isn't so great, but I'm not really a fan of slow pieces. It has to be really super pretty for me to like it. No super great bassoon parts. Solo-wise. But it is fun music. And it's a fun group. Our conductor's cool too.

I got two new bracelets today. =) The Navy Band came today to play for our school, and they brought promo stuff. At least, that's what I call it. So I got a Navy Marine bracelet and an Army bracelet. I like them. That made me happy.

Social test made me less happy, but at least it's done and I don't have to worry about it anymore. At least until Wednesday, when we have our next test, but I'll worry about that after Honour band.

Band camp picture...



That's Seth and Alex with make up. It was one of the things in the scagenver hunt. I really wish I had a better picture of Josh with make up, because he actually looks really pretty. It's funny.

Hm...now I have to attempt to finish some laundry before bed...

~Calminaiel~

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Seriously Confused

Band camp picture...



There's the rest of the bassoons. And that's our teacher at the bottom...it's actually kinda scary-looking...

Bed time I guess.

Night all.

~Calminaiel~

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Calm homework

I just spent almost the last 4 hours doing calm homework. We have a unit due on Thursday, but I know I'll have no time (or energy) to do it, especially with honour band starting. So, I finished it all tonight. So now I don't have to worry about it, and that's good.

I had a lesson with Lorna McGhee today. She's a floutist. Also Irish, I like her accent. Anyways. It was really cool, I had a lesson with her last year, and she remembered me. It was nice, she's a really cool musician. I get to watch a masterclass she's doing tomorrow. I'll also get to hear the flutes in the academy play. I haven't heard many of them play on their own.

I took a 45 minute nap today. That felt good. I had to drag myself out of bed this morning for a shower. I didn't get to sleep in at all this weekend. The most I slept in was 8:15...which I guess is sleeping in at least 2 hours more then on weekdays, but it still doesn't feel like sleeping in. I know I'm gonna have so much social homework...I have to talk to the teachers about missing Thursday and Friday...which means I'll actually have to speak french...yay...anyways...

Oh yes, and that last band picture was me and Ryley on the bus ride home. Everybody was sleeping on the way home. At least on our bus, but maybe that's because we got the bus with the comfortable seats. Today's picture...



Those are the grade 10 and 12 bassoons. From left to right, you have Georgeanne, Maggie, Melissa, and Mikalina(sp?). It's during our clinic. Me and Ryley are beside the grade tens (on the right), but you can't see us in that picture. Our clinic was fun. But that's because I like clinics.

I told my dad I wouldn't be on the computer much longer, but I'm chatting to Kelskie, so...I'll probably stay on longer then he wants me to.

~Calminaiel~

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Ballet

The ballet concert was really neat. I liked the music. I didn't like the clapping-in-between-movements. But there was plenty of bassoon in the last piece. Including contrabassoon. So that was nice. They had a choir, which was really neat. I think the piece that stood out to me the most was The Winter Room. Apparently it was about a winter scene where a couple meet. It was really cool. Like, the beginning made the whole audience gasp. I mean, you could actually hear everybody gasp. I loved it.

I've given up trying to take Saturday morning showers. I just don't have the energy, especially when I get to sleep in two hours more then on the weekdays. So I'll just leave showers until Sunday. Although I do have to be at Mount Royal at 10:00 tomorrow morning. Probably slightly before that. But that's alright. I can take a shower before that.

I'm tired. Band camp picture that describes my mood at the moment...



I'll leave you with that, and let you interpret my mood as you wish...

~Calminaiel~

Thursday, October 12, 2006

U of C Wind Ensemble

I went to a U of C Wind Ensemble concert tonight. It was so amazing. With the contrabassoon, and tuba mutes (which are huge, and hilarious). It was so great. Andrea, Ry, Alistair, and Duncan also showed up, along with Christyne (french horn) and apparently a bunch of people from stampede band. I knew a lot of the people in the Wind Ensemble and symphonic band, which was really cool. I bought two CDs there. So that's good.

I also finished my reed today. It's so pretty, I love it. My teacher will probably tell me ten thousand ways to do it better, and then tell me to make another one, but I still love this one. And I like Kelskie's choice of nail polish colour for my first reed. =)

I also started writing the band camp soap opera today. It's gonna be pretty awesome. I'm looking forward to it, although I have no idea when I'll find the time to do it. I also need to work on calm, and finish all those songs I want to arrange.

Band camp picture...



Yeah, that's me. That was just before we got on the buses to go to band camp. I really like that scarf...I got it in Colorado. =)

Hm...I have to remember to try that other tenor that Paddock found and see if I like it better. And I also have to check bus times to see if I can take the bus to my bassoon lesson instead of walking...I'll do that right after this.

And...I'm also kinda-really tired...

~Calminaiel~

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Reed!

Yay! I made a reed tonight. It's so fun. I need to get a desk or corner or something to make reeds...I did it on my bedroom floor tonight. =) But it was fun. I'm so excited. I just don't have any nail polish to seal it with...so I might not totally finish it for Friday. But we'll see. I'm excited. If Kelskie brings nail polish tomorrow (I e-mailed her) then I might try to work on it during tutorials and lunch. But again, we'll see.

Arg. I'm chatting to Matt on msn. I'm so mad at him. He got into honour band, just like me, and he got all the 2nd and contrabassoon parts. He even said he might actually be able to get his hands on a contra. Then he turns around and says he's not coming. I still don't really understand why, I'm just mad at him. Did I say I was chatting to him on msn? Oh no...I'm yelling at him on msn. He says I'm overreacting...well, he's not reacting enough. It's not only three days...it's three days I might have been able to sit beside a contrabassoon! But oh no, he can't come. Sigh...sigh...

Band camp picture...



That's Brittany on the rock climbing wall. I never went on the rock climbing wall...I went horseback riding both this year and last year. Looks fun. Although, to be honest, I'll probably choose horses again next year...=)

I didn't finish all my social tonight...but neither did Randall. We're gonna work on it tomorrow morning. Kate also called me today, which was nice. Kate's adorable.

Time to get ready for tomorrow...

~Calminaiel~

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Tomorrow...

I can't wait for tomorrow...for no particular reason really, I'm just ready for Tuesday to be done. Plus, I'm taking a break from my homework, which is making me feel guilty...anyways...band camp picture...=)



I apologize Randall, that's not a great picture of you. I'm sure I'll be able to get a better one and put it on here. Anyways, that Randall on her horse. I think she had a really nice horse...he didn't cause any trouble like Adam's...at least I don't think so. Randall will have to tell me if I'm right. I hope I get better pictures of Randall...she's so sweet, I love her.

Anyways, I want to start typing up our soap opera for the band that I'm writing. It's going to be fun. I really should be using this time to do homework, especially as social's due on Thursday and I'm not done it, and basically everybody in the class are way better students...

Anyways, I really want to get started on this soap opera, so I'll talk more tomorrow...probably. =)

~Calminaiel~

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Another relaxing day

I didn't do much today. Again. I woke up late. We had a fire in the backyard and burned a bunch of branched that a friend brought over. Roasted hot dogs. Made salsa. Graham had his friend over. I had an amazing practice, which was good. Like really, my mouth never got tired, and my sound was amazing. I loved it. I also played some piano. And thanksgiving dinner was really good, which was nice.

Band camp picture...



There's another picture of Brittany. She's in her rock climbing helmet. Cool, eh? =)

Stuff do to tomorrow...though I'm still not getting up early for any of it...

~Calminaiel~

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Hockey Night

Stupid hockey. Stupid Flames goalie. But the team looked like they were trying, which makes it slightly better. But not much. I hate the Flames.

Anyways. Band camp picture...



That's Brittany and Lindsay. What they're doing...I'm not quite sure. But Lindsay looks beautiful, wouldn't you agree? Brittany looks pretty in basically every picture she's in.

I had a pretty lazy day. Probably played a total of 2 1/2 hours of DS...give or take. Probably give. I did go out and walk the dog with Graham. We got slurpees, even though it was cold outside. Supid wind. I don't like wind.

I should have practiced bassoon, but I really didn't feel like it...so I didn't. I'll have to practice tomorrow though. I have so many things to do for my grade 8, I really have to start practicing more. Especially working on my high notes.

I did practice piano though, so that's good. I like playing piano, and I don't get to do it much during the week, since I'm so busy. I worked on my Starburst wrapper chain. =) It's pretty. I like it.

And yet, I'm still really tired. Which is weird, seeing as I did next to nothing today. Oh well. Me and dad are planning to make salsa tomorrow. Which is good, because I think my salsa is the only reason I ever get invited to surprise parties. =)

My brother's having a friend over tomorrow. A girl. I know I shouldn't think that's too weird...my brother's always had a lot of girls as friends...but...he's my little brother...anyways, moving on...

I get to sleep in tomorrow again. =)

~Calminaiel~

Friday, October 06, 2006

Friday!

I love Fridays. Today was a good day.

Band camp picture of the day...



That's Adam on his horse. I loved his horse. He kept trying to eat, so Adam had to keep pulling his head up. It was quite amusing. But he was a sweet horse, I liked him.

Anyways, I worked a little on the piece I'm arranging. It's May It Be, from the Fellowship of the Ring. For flute, two clarinets and bassoon. The band room was a happy place this morning. It was Kathleen's birthday. Happy birthday, Kathleen. We ha cake. And balloons. And Miranda smacked Andrea's eye trying to hit a balloon. Now Andrea has a lovely green and blue brused eye. It's beautiful. Although I'm still trying to convince everybody that she's in a long-distance abusive relationship with Bryan.

Since I learned the piano part to one of our choir songs, Kate came over to the piano, and I played while she sang. She has a lovely voice. It's amazing. A bunch of other people joined in, which was fun. Then we had choral, which was even more fun.

I've almost finished my story in english. I kinda like the way it's turning out. I've started over a couple times now. But I think I've found a way that works. I want to get it done for Tuesday.

My lesson even went well, even though I only practiced twice in the past two weeks. All Cities was so great. But it usually is. I love All Cities.

Then Ry, Andrea, Alistair, Josh and I went out for dinner to celebrate the fact that Ry's away from Co-op. Hopefully he has his soul back after tonight. We got sushi. It was cool.

Oh, and today is officially Take-Out Andrea day. Everybody seemed to be doing something to Andrea today. Brusing her. Bumping into her. All that jazz. So, yes.

And I get to sleep this weekend! No practices, no school on Monday. It'll be so nice to be able to sleep again...

~Calminaiel~

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Recovering

Alright, I think I'm almost recovered from band camp. I'm still dead tired at times, and getting up in the morning is awful, but what else can be expected during the school year?

Nobody has sent me any band camp pictures, which sucks. But I got a bunch of Chloe's pictures off her photobucket, so that's good. I'll post them here. Not all at once of course, that would take forever. But I'll post a couple every once in a while.



Band camp picture for tonight: Me, horseback riding. It's not a great picture of me, but right now it's the only one I have. So there you go. I loved my horse. She was so sweet. When you scratch her forehead, her eyes kinda half-close and she just stands still. She's adorable. Her name's Missy. They sold Cowboy (the horse I had last year), to a pasture where he can just graze all day. But he was 27 years old, so...

Oilers totally beat the Flames tonight! It was so fun. I'm so happy that hockey's back. It was very exciting. =)

Choir was fun today. I'm singing tenor for In Remembrance. Which is cool, because it's tenor, but that was the only piece where I knew the alto line almost perfectly and I could always get the notes. So now I have to learn it all over again. But that's alright. I just have to make sure I don't accidentally start singing alto again. So that'll be fun.

I should have done some homework tonight...but I didn't. So...too bad.

Bassoon lesson tomorrow, and I hardly practiced...lovely...but hopefully she's clip my reed so it's not flat anymore...

~Calminaiel~