Feb. 15

15 Jahr alt

Since I'm not anticipating a huge amount of Valentine's gifts this year, I decided to treat myself with some chocolate fudge cake. Mmmm! Ya know, every once in a while, you just gotta reward yourself. You may not be doin as well as ya once did, but the circumstances are different. Even through all the blunders and bad choices, Ashley, you're still doin alright. You're doin alright.

Ich bin nass.

:(

Goodbye, good grades.

Don't you know that the things you do
Make a difference to the world?

Brain: Ash, you are stupid.

Well, I'm back from LaGrange. It was a pretty exciting trip as far as Georgia goes. It was a good group of people to be with, I think. Everything went pretty smoothly. We drove there in four hours, had just enough time to eat, practice a little, and get a good night's sleep. The competition was...well...eh. It was a very welcoming atmpsophere, and you could tell that the people running it love to put it together, but I don't think any of the three of us (from FSU) were super excited about how we played.
Personally, I knew as soon as I finished that my performance wasn't going to be good enough to place at all. But that's okay--this competition is a point on the line to my ultimate destination, that is all. I had a feeling coming into this that I wasn't going to be the best person there. I never seem to do well in competitions with other instruments involved, for some reason. Anyway, after we all played, we ate and made the 4 hour trek back to Tallahassee, and that was that. A 28 hour trip in all, with much experience gained and much money lost.

Some interesting observations:
-Everyone in Georgia has a southern accent--even the kids.
-No parking in Georgia. ANYWHERE. EVER. Those no parking signs are all over the place.
-I think we must have passed three John Deere factories/stores on the way there.
-One time, I went 80 mph in a 15 zone. Oops!
-Georgia was REALLY COLD!!!

We played the 20 questions (or, as I play, unlimited questions) game on the way back, and that always gets a good laugh or two, especially with questions like "Does it have things sticking out of it?"

I don't know what I am going to do tonight. I feel like being useful, but at the same time I just feel like going to sleep and not waking up until tomorrow.

Hey, I am blogging...
in GEORGIA.

And there are many people running around the hotel.

The end.

Me: "I have two tests tomorrow that I should be studying for, but instead I am sitting around, eating cookies, and checking facebook."
Craig: "That's just as good."

Tomorrow: two very important tests and four hours of driving.

Saturday: a competition with 15-minute memorized program...and then four more hours of driving.

Sunday: the homework for the weekend and a three and a half hour Sweeney rehearsal.

Bring it on, Life.

Contrary to popular belief, lightning very commonly strikes the same place twice.

It's a happy time in the life of Ashley. I'm finally doing well in (and enjoying) my classes, I finally have a couple of knockout ensembles to play with, I've caught up on sleep, I have enough to practice to always keep me moving forward, always keep me on edge, always thinking that I sound okay but that I can reach higher (I can always reach higher), and of course, always always my friends are amazing. Near and far, you know who you are. Thank you all for your love.

Ah, but what would that all be worth if I didn't have this fire inside me?

Gosh, this life that I have been given, how about this life, eh? I don't have much to complain about, I'll tell ya that. I say, I'll tell ya that.

Unrelated--today a couple of students were going door-to-door rasing money by selling magazines. At one point when they were talking to me, they were wondering how old I was. They were like, "how old are you...23? 24?" I said I was ninteen and the guy was like
".......oh. well, you act mature."
okay, what??
1) I act mature???
2) I look 23 or 24???
I can't remember the last time someone has mistaken me for being older than I am. Most people think I am at least three years younger than my age.

Just thought I'd share.

Oh yeah, and I made $40 tonight for playing in a musical rehearsal for three and a half hours, and yes, I think I will rub it in. I'm gonnna be rich!!

I just came to a conclusion:
I am really lame.

Have you ever met someone and learned about him bit by bit? And the more you learn about him, the more, you realize, there is to know. And you end up wondering...you have to wonder...who IS this guy? What is his story? What makes him tick? Why does he do what he does?

What crazy set of circumstances could create such a person?

You know, I haven't practiced my excerpts...

...and I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those meddling studio classes!!

Hey, in the past three days, I've had 12 and a half hours of rehearsal, and it's AWESOME. (I'm being serious). The musicians here that I work with are so gooooood. It's exhilerating. Really. I love my job.

Okay, well. Blogger MADE me transform my account into a google account, so now my template is all messed up (the kitty is gone!) and the archives are missing. STUPID BLOGGER.

I'll try to fix it.

All you need is love.

Hey guess what...I'll be playing for Sweeney Todd on Valentine's Day this year. Sweet!!

Well, everything is finally coming together and settling down. I knew it would happen eventually. I just had to trust.

First Sweeney rehearsal tonight 7:00-10:30

Yup.

I am friends with Sweeney Todd on facebook, lol. I am so glad I get to play for it. It's gonna be great. In addition, I know the four most main characters--Sweeney, Ms. Lovett, Anthony, and Johanna. Three of them were in the conducting class I just left. I feel special. Even if this is a college production, there is some amount of stardom.

yay Sweeney Todd <3
(we'll see if I'm still saying that in a couple weeks)

It's really coming down! Luckily, I brought an umbrella to school today. Still, I had to step in a puddle as deep as my ankles. My sneakers are completely soaked. It's just like I said...

February makes me think of the happenings of long ago. I can't help it. That pre-spring scent is inescapable.