I found Christina's xanga... one more for the stalker list. ^_~

Today the Tall Ships came by our house. Tall Ships has been a really big deal in Tacoma. They were ok, I guess, they were ships and they were tall. One was Russian, there was a Mexican one and one was flying the Jolly Roger so that was my favorite. Did I mention I feel like such a lazy slob this summer?

I also found Rohan's website. stalker points.

Browsing the Margaret Cho website

"African Americans have Clarence Thomas and Condoleeza Rice. There's a new race traitor on the block, and her name's Michelle!" ~Margaret Cho on an Asian-American conservative.

Jesus christ Margaret... so people of different races can't hold their own opinions now? Clarence Thomas is an idiot who doesn't belong on the Supreme Court, but that doesn't prove her point - Condoleezza Rice knows exactly what she believes and why, and she's black, and so what? I can't believe people say these sorts of things and get away with it. Tolerance is about learning to live with people whose views directly challenge yours. Without that uneasy coexistence, tolerance is an empty idea.

Jews make up 1.8% of the US population, and 14.1 percent of American physicians... whoa.
I could make my family so happy by deciding to become a scientist or doctor. I'm not, but if I was, they'd be happy. Le sigh.

Note to Self

Don't hold cats or other furry animals. No matter how cute they look, they will make you sick. I know it's hard, but restrain yourself...

And Damnit! I'm developing a crush on George Clooney, aaaaaaaaargh!

Eh. Violin. I'll never be good. grr... so confused, about what to do.

Ah well. Coldplay's new album isn't as good as the last one, but I don't like them as much anymore because Chris Martin's falsetto is getting really annoying. We made a big Italian dinner for father's day last night, and my parents and their friend were very complimentary about the tiramisu made by me, Liz and Sinclaire. It grows on you - the soggy bottom layer and dry top layer sort of cancel each other out. Yum.

Old friends that I haven't got in touch with but should: Jenny. Susie. Need to do this. Also, was thinking that I won't obsess about lack of romance in my life. I'm ok without it. If something comes along that looks promising, that would be nice, but as it isn't, I'm not going to be disappointed that it's not there. Better a relationship that feels right when I'm mature enough to handle it is better than one of those awkward eeper crush things, and it's not like 17 is old enough to start worrying about being a spinster, is it? Guess we'll just see what happens. God, I just want a guy who is nice and friendly, talkative and sympathetic. Yeah, good luck to me, then.

Emma Sarah Grunberg's Aliases

Your movie star name: Guacamole Joseph

Your fashion designer name is Emma London

Your socialite name is Emutchka Dublin

Your fly girl / guy name is E Gru

Your detective name is Otter TS

Your barfly name is Tortilla Chips Martini

Your soap opera name is Sarah Stadium

Your rock star name is Chocolate Snake

Your star wars name is Emmeis Grucol

Your punk rock band name is The Odd Toaster

The Amazing Meganame Generator

An Israeli Hip Hop Violinist!

How cool is that? That's awesome!! Her website is here - miriben-ari.com, and you can hear samples of her playing at amazon.com, on the page for her CD "Sahara."

Lazy week it's been.

UPDATE: miriben-ari.com => media => video: EPK #2 => fast forward to 4.05. Best recording online.

I'm updating this blog from Liz's house, which is weird, given she's the only one who reads this blog. So just for kicks. Hi Liz! Except Sinclaire knows about it, so if you're reading this, Sinclaire, Pah! on you for ditching us for your grandmother, I mean really, so... considerate... :D

Yes, so I'm typing Liz's words into an IM conversation with Tyler about his failing relationship with Lindsey. Tyler doesn't know about this third pair of eyes on the conversation. In addition, I am congratulating myself on my MAGNIFIQUE score in the BBC online French lessons. Indeed, I am magnifique. Boo Yaa!

Dreams

2 straight nights in a row, I dreamt about disastrous violin performances. In the first one, I was in NY with the orchestra again. But this time, everyone hated me. I was miserable. We all had to perform on a big stage for Julliard people. I was shaking and trying to calm myself down. I woke up before I went on stage. So it wasn't the performance itself, but the anticipation of it, that left me sweating and unnerved. Then the other one I can't remember anymore. Also last night I had a dream about the new Harry Potter book. In the dream ,it sucked. It was really long and even more boring than the fifth one. Melissa at theleakycauldron.com submitted a news article that was a really bad review of the book and I was very disappointed.

So maybe this is a good sign. Instead of worrying about important things, my most deep and hidden anxieties are stage fright and the quality of Harry Potter 6 - is that it?

Goals for the Summer

Violin
1. Get a violin hickey
2. Develop a wrist vibrato
3. Prepare Mendelssohn 3rd movt. for audition August 8th
4. Learn Mozart Sonata & perform at Sharon's church
5. Work on intonation on Bach Partita #3, Preludio

UW
1. Develop plan for remaining 2 years of school
2. Find 3 possible internship opportunities for next year. Investigate.
3. Take interesting class this summer.

Other
1. Earn money.
2. Learn how to make Spaghetti Puttanesca, Tiramisu, Quick Bake Lasagna, & other things. Improve general cooking skills.
3. Exercise?!?!

i've had 4 days to study

why do i have everything left to do now, at 9.15 pm, the day before my finals? why am I so laaaaaaaazy?!

In other news I had a hella good violin lesson today. My teacher said my technique was gorgeous on the recital and I did ok on the Mendelssohn and she said I could start Havanaise!!! even if only to sightread. so that's pretty cool. every word I write is delaying facing all the studying I haven't done... oh shit. I am so screwed... how late will I be up tonight?

In other other news I applied to be a barista.

I miss Youth Symphony. I really do.

Maybe my emotions are telling me something. Maybe I should do it again next year?

In any case, to avoid the rueful feelings, I need to stop listening to classical music. But I can't.

Trip to Vancouver. I must start planning. After finals.

Sophia, my stand partner, and Jade, one of my roommates, on top of the Empire State Building 

Sophia chugs the Hershey's (Times Square) 

My scarily exuberant but very understanding violin teacher 

This isn't from NY, it's from my violin teacher's formal recital yesterday night. From L to R: LaShawnta, Beverly (one of the best student violinists I've heard, our co-concertmaster), Racheal, Rozanna, Me (looking stoned), and Jessie Char, a cellist. Missing: Annie, Maggie 

NY Pics

I have some more of me & people that are not online, because my mum's scanner is not working. So, those will be posted when we get it to work.

Hyatt, again. This is the only partial view of the fountain. I need to find a good pic of the fountain, it was awesome 

Jin chugs some Hershey's 

And the outside of the Hyatt 

Grand Hyatt once again 

The Grand Hyatt - arriving for the first time on Thursday 

Annie & Jin, jammin it up backstage at Carnegie Hall 

We saw this as we entered NY on the coaches 

At Newark Airport, just landed, waiting for our stuff at baggage claim. L to R: Jessica, Stefanie, moi 

The Grand Hyatt, yo! 

Stefanie and Dannel. In the hotel "mentally preparing for the concert" 

Recieving a five-curtain call, immediate standing ovation. Very happy. 

The stands at Carnegie Hall during our concert. Pretty full! 

A wider view: the TYS at Carnegie Hall 

The orchestra playing the Tender Land, Johnson conducting, during the concert. I'm two to the left of the redhead violist. You can see the top of my head if you squint. 

Ann, principal flautist, exiting Carnegie Hall after our concert w/ Dr Cobbs in the background 

Carnegie Hall from a wider angle 

Rozanna exiting Carnegie Hall after our concert 

Maggie 

Central Park. L to R: Theresa, LaShawnta, Maggie, and Racheal (last three are Mrs Marsh's students) 

The Dakota seen from Central Park. "Site of John Lennon's Passing." 

Don't we look happy in Central Park? From L to R: Emily, Laura, Helen, No idea, Dr. 'Darth' Cobbs, Jade, Kathryn, Me, Kristin