BMC Box Office, This is Liz.

This summer I have been a workin' girl.

My time as a box office cashier at the Brevard Music Center was full of fun, frustration, and soul-searching.
I enjoy my co-workers, and have a wonderful supervisor. However, working with the public can be very emotionally-taxing as any person with customer service experience can understand. If there is any confusion, please refer to this tumblr account for every experience I have encountered in Arts Management...

Liz's Summer Experience

Spending time in the mountains has been bitter-sweet. It is amazing how much I remember from being a camper here so long ago, and how much I don't. For instance, I can remember specific conversations with people in specific places, but do not have any recollection of the cafeteria? My memory is as selective as my hearing.

I miss the beach. period. I am a sea-level, ocean-loving, beach girl. Always have been, always will be. I am not looking forward to being so land-locked next year.

I am really liking the word-word thing in this blog post.

On the up side- ( ^ . ^ ) I have really learned a lot about myself here. I have realized that I have been (in general) a very bad young adult. I need to get my shit together; I need to make something of myself and not rely on others. I have also learned how much of a family person I really am. I have missed my family like crazy, and also my wonderful friends. More than anything, I have missed Leo and my dogs, and our little family that we have together.

I traded in Gustav (my viola) for a smaller viola coined Gustav Jr. It is so much more comfortable, but kind of bright but it really is getting better every day (or every time I play it would be the correct phrasing). I still am not a fan of this bow, but I will live. It works worse with this new viola, if that is even possible. That will be my next big purchase. (Maybe after the Microsoft Surface Tablet)

My goal for next year (Go Hoosiers! Starting to get into the school spirit... not gonna lie) is to practice and rest moderately. Too many times (as a trait of a Libra) I have worked my ass off and crashed afterwards to the point of hibernation. However, I am really scared of being a complete failure at Indiana, and not liking my experience there. I am determined to make the most of it though, but I will always be a Pirate :D.

Pictures of my summer home....

Summer fun..

Home sweet home..

Around the campus

Cabin from my first summer camp EVER

Blue Ridge Parkway

Greetings from Tampa

Finally here and super tired. That trip felt so much longer than it was. Especially since Leo slept the entire 4 1/2 hours I was driving. The dogs were really good though, didn't make a sound.

I will be spending the majority of my time practicing which I am really excited about. My viola sounds so much better now with my new bridge and it feels so much easier too.

Sinfonia

I GOT A NEW PHONE TODAY!!!!

It is a Galaxy Nexus and I really love it. I've only had it a few hours and I don't know how I lived without internet on my phone for so long.

So between my hard drive on my laptop crashing and my old old laptop breaking I have lost a ton of music I have burned over the years. (As in my first 3 years at ECU) So I wrote down some of the music I know I had before but lost and I didn't realize how much I put down because the music library people had to put the CD's in a BOX. A big box too, no little bag for me. I actually feel pretty bad, I wouldn't have wrote down so many if I knew how much it was. Leo went to get them and came back with "the box" and said it took them 45 minutes. I also can't believe they are letting us check out so many. I know one thing, I am turning these in ON TIME. That would be a huge fine.

I am very close to being done with Christmas shopping. I just have Leo's present and his family's. My family is all done and I am relieved. Well except for the CD I am making my mom but that can wait.

I am picking up my viola on my way to Tampa tomorrow and I am EXCITED! I can't wait to play it. I am spoiled by nice instruments.

This break is going to be the break of practicing at all moments of the day. The Hindemith, Kurtag, and Rode' and I are going to get very acquainted. I really hope my viola sounds good.

And now I have Willie Nelson's On The Road Again stuck in my head, however I am currently listening to Menuhin play Mozart concertos so I guess I am having an infamous moment of playing one piece and having another in my head (Aka, Prokofiev String Quartet no. 2 rehearsals).

Next time, I will be writing in 80 degree weather.

A long time I have watched

I am watching Star Wars TRILOGY in my clean and newly decorated apartment and I couldn't be more content.

First of all, I love Yoda, he is awesome. And Luke Skywalker is hot but Harrison Ford is hotter. Second, I love my new wall sconces (which I always pronounce scones) over my dinner table, it is so romantic and quaint. Third, I love my new lamp and seat cover, both of which I would not have gotten without Ryan's astute observations and critique. I also love my new picture that was a bee in it :D Even though Byron said it was ugly.

I had a great weekend with Carolina Philharmonic. The group is good, and the conductor is much more musical than other local conductors which I enjoyed working with. The hotel we stayed in was super nice, and we didn't have to check out until 2 so I had breakfast in bed and watched Sunday Morning in bed. I love Sunday Morning, my mom and I use to watch it every Sunday, which I suppose my mom still does. It reminds me of my childhood though.

I am excited for Christmas, because I am excited about the Christmas presents I have planned for people :D.

I get my viola back tomorrow!!!! I so super excited for my new bridge and sound post adjustment. I realized this weekend while playing on a substitute how spoiled I am by my nice instrument. I think it is going to make a huge difference. I can't wait to get down to business and practice.

Wesley is getting his haircut tomorrow, and then I am taking Wesley and Cadence (who is getting her hairs clipped and teeth cleaned) to take pictures with Santa! I think it is going to be really cute.

Tomorrow I need to buy some Christmas cards, and I was going to make fudge but I don't think I have time anymore which makes me sad. Oh well.

I think I need to listen to more opera.

Tomorrow, when I go to Raleigh, and hopefully get my viola, I will go to Trader Joe's for the first time. I am determined!

Tampa Tuesday, then back to NC for the New Years!

Hylia

I can not believe how much money these colleges make on application fees only. I have spent so much money on my graduate school application fees it is ridiculous. I could have bought a new laptop. Or lots of make-up. OR THE BLACK GUCCI BAG I HAVE BEEN LUSTING OVER!

This all makes me very sad. However I am almost done with my applications, just figuring out audition dates that make sense. Looks the the Chinatown bus is going to be getting lots of business!

Here are the schools so far on my list:
SUNY Stony Brook
Indiana University
Eastman School of Music
University of North Texas
DePaul University
Northwestern University
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
Roosevelt CCPA (possibly..)

I have so much practicing to do, it will be a miracle from God if I get into any of these programs. But I am still hoping.

I really want an eggnog milkshake! I think it is the only thing that will be me through the tedious ear-cancer inducing Suzuki observation videos I am about to watch.

Too bad I don't have time to play Zelda Skyward Sword game, which is awesome but not as good as Ocarina of Time, sorry. "Deal with it."

I have decided to make a really delicious grape salad for the next Four Seasons party, it is super easy and tastes AMAZING! Maybe I will make a pineapple casserole too, these people need some good southern cookin'.

I finally cleaned my apartment; it is amazing how much better I feel when everything is clean and I can actually see the floor in my bedroom. I also scrubbed down my bathroom which was desperately needed. Of course, in the time I cleaned the living room, bathroom and bedroom Leo just cleaned the kitchen...

I found a perfect painting/picture to put over my couch! Although I found it in Bed Bath and Beyond it is completely my style. I am excited, I am going to get it for a Christmas present for myself. Along with a new diet, which is most certainly needed at this point.

Apparently it is illegal to own or sell turtles in North Carolina? I was very disappointed when I heard this because I really wanted a little baby turtle :(.

C'est la vie.

Enabled

I haven't blogged since school started, which has been a very interesting semester. Today I experienced the first pains of missing violin. Listening to Ara play the Prokofiev no.1 violin sonata made me remember all those times I listened to my favorite Prokofiev works and looked forward to playing them someday. Since I switched to viola I probably won't have that chance unless I learn it on my own (which could be a fun summer project or something) and that makes me sad. Oh well I'll get over it. And use Google to see if he wrote anything for viola which is unlikely; according to Ara "he knew better".

I have decided that I need to get my life in order. Time management wise and personally, I feel like I am all over the place. I also have been getting flashes of feeling really really depressed and figured I should stop it while I'm ahead. Although I have been wanting a cigarette lately.

My new viola chin rest smells like a cigar if I sweat a little, and it was distracting me during the orchestra concert. I wonder if some fume from it has caused my migraines the last few days but it's probably my period. Or maybe it's a withdrawal symptom from Advil I have been on 24/7 since spraining my ankle.

Cold weather is here, and I am super excited to pull out all my scarves! I also plan to wear heels more often once my ankle heals. I miss the days I looked nice. I also need to pull out all of Cadence's cute sweaters :D.

Best news of the week: my laptop is finally fixed!!!!!!!!

Galore

I have not dropped my blog, I promise. Leo and I are trying to save the future torment that is the electric bill and keep the super computer off. And it's really annoying to post from an iPod.

I might (I hope I don't jinx it) have a job opportunity soon. At this point, nothing can come soon enough. I have been in a consistently bad mood this summer from the family (-ies) drama and I'm starting to get sick of myself. That's pretty bad.

I've decided that once my pressing financial whatever's are dealt with I'm going to bite the $67 dollar bullet and get a laptop hard drive. I miss it, and it's just sitting there. I can't even sell it, so it needs to be resurected. I'm also tried of clunky PCs.

My parents won't stop arguing about the Casey Anthony trial. My mom joined a Facebook group called boycott all things Casey Anthony- books, movies, something liked that and I am slightly mortified, because those groups are like Facebook tacky spam mail. Why are parents on social networks now? I don't mind a lot but I do feel more confined in the picture and language department. Lord knows we all have those aunts who would call us out. That would be my Aunt Jane.

I have three blisters under my skin on my left hand 1st 2nd and 3rd finger. No fourth as of yet since I avoid it like the plague. I need to get this bridge sanded down ASAP. It's pretty painful.

This week I have decided to make a list of goals (aaaaa I'm turning into my mom with the list making) for next school year. Top ten so far consists of learning to play the C string without pressing or sounding floaty and making my vibrato wider. Also getting out of Greenville will earn a place.

I also have to clean the boat AGAIN because somebody refuses to put a cover on it!!!!!!! Of course this has no consequence to said person since he DOESN'T CLEAN IT, but just tells me I am, not ask mind you. God forbid I give my opinion, apparently I have an attitude problem. He has no idea what an attitude problem is.

I am going to start sewing again, and have earned permission to borrow taylors old sewing machine to make some curtains and pillows. August 1st can not come soon enough.

Done with this summer.