I've always thought it would be a good idea to read the news. I made some valiant attempts in recent years, subscribing to magazines like The New Yorker and The Economist, bringing them proudly with me onto the airplane or train and tackling each article the way one tackles each successive item on a To-Do list. I never read more than two issues of any news magazine, and in the end, I settled with taking in current events through Yahoo news while checking email, and skimming the newspaper in my search for the daily crossword.
About a month ago, I randomly downloaded a BBC app on my iPod. Since then, I have been reading the news every morning...politics, business, health, even technology. It's interesting and fun, and I was really happy that I've finally gotten around to being a somewhat-informed citizen of the world.
Then, I realized that the only factor that had stood in my way was the convenience factor. Not interest, awareness, time...convenience. Once I found an easy, fast way to do it, everything was solved. Is this how a lot of things are nowadays? Should I feel terribly ashamed about how pathetic this is?
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
It's good to be home.
***
Me: Mom, I need help. New World called the other day asking me to sub in the middle of October, so I checked my school schedule and think it'll be okay, but if I go, I might have to miss 2 orchestra rehearsals, and I know our orchestra manager won't let me do that...so I'll probably have to call in sick. Then again, I might not be put in that specific orchestra. But if I say yes to New World and end up having to back out, I'll have to reimburse them for the plane ticket. So do you think I should take the chance? I really want to go to Miami...
Mom: Mm. I don't know. SO! I was thinking of making zucchini bread today.
Then I go look for my dad to ask his opinion and find him lying belly up on the couch, snoring with his mouth wide open. It is a strange, surreal day when my little sister is the voice of reason in this household.
V: I saw your car parked, and I was thinking, "Is that Jennifer?" Then I saw one of the wheels on the curb, and I went, "Yep, that's Jennifer."
Dad's friend: So your daughter goes to New England Conservatory?
Dad: Yes. Wait, no. Wait, yes.
*phone rings*
Mom: Hello?
Mei: Jennifer?
Mom: ...no, this is Jennifer's mom. Who is this?
Mei: Oh, hi Mom. This is Julianne.
Me: Mom, I need help. New World called the other day asking me to sub in the middle of October, so I checked my school schedule and think it'll be okay, but if I go, I might have to miss 2 orchestra rehearsals, and I know our orchestra manager won't let me do that...so I'll probably have to call in sick. Then again, I might not be put in that specific orchestra. But if I say yes to New World and end up having to back out, I'll have to reimburse them for the plane ticket. So do you think I should take the chance? I really want to go to Miami...
Mom: Mm. I don't know. SO! I was thinking of making zucchini bread today.
Then I go look for my dad to ask his opinion and find him lying belly up on the couch, snoring with his mouth wide open. It is a strange, surreal day when my little sister is the voice of reason in this household.
V: I saw your car parked, and I was thinking, "Is that Jennifer?" Then I saw one of the wheels on the curb, and I went, "Yep, that's Jennifer."
Dad's friend: So your daughter goes to New England Conservatory?
Dad: Yes. Wait, no. Wait, yes.
*phone rings*
Mom: Hello?
Mei: Jennifer?
Mom: ...no, this is Jennifer's mom. Who is this?
Mei: Oh, hi Mom. This is Julianne.
Instructions on Falling in Love
If you're going to fall in love...
Try to fall in love with an artist. A girl who can stare for hours at one tree, and the way the wind rustles through its leaves, how the green twinkles and winks in the sunlight. A girl who pulls away from a kiss to scribble half-formed bursts of inspiration on the back of her hand, so as not to forget. A girl who listens to Mahler 2 alone in her room with her eyes closed, because it makes her feel bigger than life...who laughs while watching opera, cries while watching the sunrise, and has a continuous soundtrack of songs playing in her head.
Try to fall in love with a pragmatist. A girl with common sense and a good head on her shoulders. A girl who collects coupons, reads the news, and knows when to say no. A girl whose advice you seek and value, because she understands how to stay unbiased, walk in someone else's shoes, and glimpse the bigger picture. A girl who knows the value of money, education, family, and good health.
Try to fall in love with a nerd. A girl who has practically memorized Paradise Lost and reads poetry in her spare time, underlining favorite metaphors in pencil and dog-earing pages to share with family and friends and passersby...anyone willing to listen, basically. A girl who brings her chess board to camp, watches Ted Talks, finishes a New York Times crossword without so much as a furrowed brow, and bookmarks the Kenken website...who can always figure out how much each person owes at group dinners, plus tax, plus tip.
Try to fall in love with someone who really lives. A girl who will go skydiving, Rocky-Mountain climbing, 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu. A girl who has traveled five continents and whose dream is to see the Northern lights. A girl who lets out a huge burst of laughter in the middle of a silent room...who isn't afraid to sing in public, knows how to dance salsa and tango and bhangra, and loves to move her body.
Try to fall in love with someone who does the right thing. A girl who spends forty minutes waiting at the ATM machine, hoping the guy who forgot his debit card in the card slot will come back to claim it. A girl who drives the speed limit, stops at every stop sign, eats her daily fruits and veggies, and doesn't know the difference between marijuana and cocaine. A girl who says, "Sorry, I can't," because it's getting late, almost time to call Grandpa, and she really should study the next morning. A girl who bakes cookies and gives them to her bus drivers, mailman, and gardener; after all, they deserve it, and it may make their day.
If you're going to fall in love...
Fall in love with someone who loves you, someone who moves you. Fall in love with a girl who drives to your house because you were talking on the phone with her while at the wheel, and then the reception died, and then your phone ran out of battery, but she didn't know and thought there was the tiniest of chances that you might have gotten in a car crash. A girl who surprises you with your favorite homemade sandwich on random mornings, and who makes a list of funny things from her day that she wants to share with you...who tells you to take care and be good, who texts you at 1am to remind you, do you have a designated driver to take you home from the bar? Fall in love with a girl who has a dream...she pursues that dream and chases it through thickets and thorns and dark tunnels and seemingly impossible mazes...and watching her makes you jump up and start chasing your own dream. A girl who brings tears to your eyes when you see tears in her eyes. A girl whose smile makes you smile.
A girl who does to you what spring does to cherry blossoms.
If you're going to fall in love...
fall in love with someone you deserve, and someone who deserves you.
Try to fall in love with an artist. A girl who can stare for hours at one tree, and the way the wind rustles through its leaves, how the green twinkles and winks in the sunlight. A girl who pulls away from a kiss to scribble half-formed bursts of inspiration on the back of her hand, so as not to forget. A girl who listens to Mahler 2 alone in her room with her eyes closed, because it makes her feel bigger than life...who laughs while watching opera, cries while watching the sunrise, and has a continuous soundtrack of songs playing in her head.
Try to fall in love with a pragmatist. A girl with common sense and a good head on her shoulders. A girl who collects coupons, reads the news, and knows when to say no. A girl whose advice you seek and value, because she understands how to stay unbiased, walk in someone else's shoes, and glimpse the bigger picture. A girl who knows the value of money, education, family, and good health.
Try to fall in love with a nerd. A girl who has practically memorized Paradise Lost and reads poetry in her spare time, underlining favorite metaphors in pencil and dog-earing pages to share with family and friends and passersby...anyone willing to listen, basically. A girl who brings her chess board to camp, watches Ted Talks, finishes a New York Times crossword without so much as a furrowed brow, and bookmarks the Kenken website...who can always figure out how much each person owes at group dinners, plus tax, plus tip.
Try to fall in love with someone who really lives. A girl who will go skydiving, Rocky-Mountain climbing, 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu. A girl who has traveled five continents and whose dream is to see the Northern lights. A girl who lets out a huge burst of laughter in the middle of a silent room...who isn't afraid to sing in public, knows how to dance salsa and tango and bhangra, and loves to move her body.
Try to fall in love with someone who does the right thing. A girl who spends forty minutes waiting at the ATM machine, hoping the guy who forgot his debit card in the card slot will come back to claim it. A girl who drives the speed limit, stops at every stop sign, eats her daily fruits and veggies, and doesn't know the difference between marijuana and cocaine. A girl who says, "Sorry, I can't," because it's getting late, almost time to call Grandpa, and she really should study the next morning. A girl who bakes cookies and gives them to her bus drivers, mailman, and gardener; after all, they deserve it, and it may make their day.
If you're going to fall in love...
Fall in love with someone who loves you, someone who moves you. Fall in love with a girl who drives to your house because you were talking on the phone with her while at the wheel, and then the reception died, and then your phone ran out of battery, but she didn't know and thought there was the tiniest of chances that you might have gotten in a car crash. A girl who surprises you with your favorite homemade sandwich on random mornings, and who makes a list of funny things from her day that she wants to share with you...who tells you to take care and be good, who texts you at 1am to remind you, do you have a designated driver to take you home from the bar? Fall in love with a girl who has a dream...she pursues that dream and chases it through thickets and thorns and dark tunnels and seemingly impossible mazes...and watching her makes you jump up and start chasing your own dream. A girl who brings tears to your eyes when you see tears in her eyes. A girl whose smile makes you smile.
A girl who does to you what spring does to cherry blossoms.
If you're going to fall in love...
fall in love with someone you deserve, and someone who deserves you.
Monday, August 8, 2011
From The Kitchen 2
More videos and photos from our glorious kitchen. Don't get too hungry! :)
Chicken pot pie with our own cheddar biscuit topping and egg wash.
Monte Cristo sandwiches, made without a recipe, because we've so surpassed the need for recipes.
Mmmmmm...quiche.
Baked mushrooms stuffed with cheese, bread crumbs, spices etc.
Homemade potato wedges, regular and sweet!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Politics 2
"One of a conductor's most important jobs is to figure out how much his orchestra needs him or doesn't need him." -David Robertson at today's rehearsal
There is so much truth in that statement. I thought about it all day.
There is so much truth in that statement. I thought about it all day.
Monday, August 1, 2011
:) 3
This being the first summer that both my sister and I are away for an extended period of time, I think my parents are feeling unexpectedly lonely with only each other for company. Of course they'll never admit it, but the fact is that they definitely call me more often these days, and they have a lot more to tell me when we talk. Usually they don't even call me unless I call them first. From today's phone conversation with my dad:
"Jennifer! I was going to tell you something interesting that happened."
"What?"
"On Thursday, I and Mom went to see a movie at 1:00pm, and then when it was over, we just walked out of the theater and saw that another movie was starting. So then, we went in to see that movie, and we didn't have to buy another ticket! So we saw 2 movies, all for only $7! Pretty good, huh?"
"Oh, so you went movie-hopping?"
"What?"
"Never mind. Well, good for you!"
"Yes, it was quite exciting, and then afterwards we went to eat at a Korean restaurant."
"Mm. So what movies did you see?"
"...I don't know!"
Ha.
Meanwhile, this afternoon I took the bus home and when we arrived at the bus station, I trotted off merrily, forgetting my purse on my seat. I was striding along the streets, listening to my iPod and in my own little world. Only 2-3 blocks later did I realize that the bus driver had parked his vehicle and been running after me all that time to return my purse. Such a nice guy. I'm thinking of getting him a pastry or something from the bakery next time I see him. :)
"Jennifer! I was going to tell you something interesting that happened."
"What?"
"On Thursday, I and Mom went to see a movie at 1:00pm, and then when it was over, we just walked out of the theater and saw that another movie was starting. So then, we went in to see that movie, and we didn't have to buy another ticket! So we saw 2 movies, all for only $7! Pretty good, huh?"
"Oh, so you went movie-hopping?"
"What?"
"Never mind. Well, good for you!"
"Yes, it was quite exciting, and then afterwards we went to eat at a Korean restaurant."
"Mm. So what movies did you see?"
"...I don't know!"
Ha.
Meanwhile, this afternoon I took the bus home and when we arrived at the bus station, I trotted off merrily, forgetting my purse on my seat. I was striding along the streets, listening to my iPod and in my own little world. Only 2-3 blocks later did I realize that the bus driver had parked his vehicle and been running after me all that time to return my purse. Such a nice guy. I'm thinking of getting him a pastry or something from the bakery next time I see him. :)
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