This is the Title of an Uncreative Violinist.:)

Last night Ryan and I met up with some friends and went to see The Haunted Hoochie , supposedly one of the top scariest haunted houses in the country.  I was dreading this for the past two weeks and kept changing my mind as to whether I would go or not.  I am the world's biggest wuss--I fear EVERYTHING!  I don't remember always being this way, but I'm finding that the older I get, the less tolerable I am of things that frighten me, even if they aren't life-threatening.  I'm scared of roller coasters (I used to love them as a kid), haunted houses, heights, airplanes--I don't know, maybe I've just watched too many Final Destination movies or something. Anyways, Ryan's friend bought the tickets for us, so I HAD to go.  We arrived and fortunately didn't have to wait hours in line since we got VIP tickets (tip: if you ever visit the Hooch, get the VIP tickets, otherwise you will be waiting in line for at least 2 hours).  As soon as we walked in, I clun...

Karen from Dreamer frequently posts "10 Bits of Magic" and taking a cue from her, here are a few of my own: 1.  Going back to music learned long ago and re-discovering something new each time. 2.  Driving around with no particular place to go on a warm Fall weekend. 3.  Discovering a great family owned Italian hole-in-the-wall restaurant with your husband for your 5th wedding anniversary. 4.  Stopping whatever you are doing to just watch your dogs play with each other. 5.  Watching your students experience seeing their first concert with a world class violinist and introducing them to her backstage after the concert.  [The look on their faces was priceless!] 6.  Jeni's Bourbon Butter Pecan ice cream (made right here in Ohio!) 7.  Filling your entire day with only rehearsals and concerts. 8.  Not feeling up to a workout or a run, but being glad you did it right afterwards. 9.  Knowing that there will always be a spooky ...

I think most people have been told at some point in their lives that they resemble--either closely or somewhat--some celebrity or character.  For instance, when my best friend met my husband (then boyfriend), she told me he reminded her of Jason Schwartzman from the movie Rushmore .  He really didn't like that comparison and I can understand why [although, to side with him, I don't think he looks like him either]. My celebrity doppelganger(s) run the gamut from flattering to insulting to nearly downright racist!  Here they are: 1. Flattering:  Eva Longoria- actress This comparison has been made a few times, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's because I happen to be both petite and my name is Gaby, like her character on "Desperate Housewives". 2. Insulting: Tera Patrick- former porn star When I first looked her up after someone told me I bore a striking resemblance, I was flattered when I saw her face; then I scrolled down, realized what she did f...

This IS my blog, and typically, people write about what they like on their blogs...so I feel totally ironic chronically apologizing for sporadic negative tones throughout some posts.  But on the other hand, I can't say I'm truly sorry because I need an outlet sometimes.  And I'm noticing that since I haven't been running or exercising at all in almost a month, my negativity has gone WAY UP.  I spend too much time on FB and get pissed off; other people piss me off way too easily, whereas in a completely normal situation, it would fizzle and I'd forget it in a second.  What is wrong with me?!  People are weird.  I'm weird.  End of story.  End of rant.  No need to go into detail about anything specific that's pissing me off, because typing it out and seeing it would remind me of how utterly petty it actually is.  And then all you people would know how truly insane I am! Ha! I still don't really know who reads this thing, as I can't always...

Yesterday, I met with a potential beginner violin student.  I knew ahead of time through the office manager that it was a young (4-5 yr old) child, and I was a little pessimistic about it because I don't do very well with especially young children.  Typically, their attention span is very short and their focus is all over the place.  They bounce off the walls, and I end up feeling more like a nanny then a teacher.  This cute kid came in and his mom had two other siblings with her, so she stayed outside while I had a chat with him in my studio.  As soon as he walked in, he was asking a million random questions, and my attempts to have him sit still while I showed him my violin were futile.  He kept getting up trying to touch the instrument, or pick at the cushion covers on the bench, etc. etc.  After 15 minutes, I thought I had made up my mind and decided to get the mom in to let her know that I couldn't take him as a student as he was too young for my ...

I am fully aware that my blog is missing major appeal factor without pictures to accompany my posts--what can I say?  I'm not on top of it.  But perhaps it's better that I don't have tons of pictures of myself to plaster all over this blog.  That might turn readers away! ********************************** My students crack me up.  One of them--a 9 yr old--came in today and told me he had played the violin at his great aunt's wake yesterday, and he was surprised that for the first time, his "hands weren't sweaty!"  And we both observed and agreed that playing for a funeral versus playing in a recital are two very different atmospheres, so it's only natural to have those nerves come or go. A couple students later, an older student (maybe he's 13 or 14) came in and played through some of his youth orchestra's excerpts for a seating audition next week, and he handed me the list of pieces he was supposed to play. At the top I noticed he had wr...

Today is the quintessential Autumn day; the colors of turning leaves are noticeably vibrant, it's not quite cold yet, but there is still a lukewarm breeze in the air, and the sights of hardy mums and pumpkins/gourds are everywhere. I had a hair appointment this morning and left early so I could stop at Starbucks for a pumpkin spiced chai, only to emerge back into traffic that was at a complete standstill.  Apparently, last night there was a gas explosion after a tanker rolled over on one of our main highways in Central Ohio.  Yes, traffic was extremely annoying--but I couldn't help but think about the driver of that truck and how his family must feel right now. One man is dead and the rest of us who are still here are bitching about being late for work. Yesterday, a piano student of mine came into her lesson and sheepishly announced to me: "I've made my final decision."  By her tone, I knew what was coming next:  "I decided to take a 'break' from l...

Yesterday afternoon, after I came home from a studio recital and a pit stop at another student's performance at an Indian festival, I felt a little wiped out.  I was starving, so I ate lunch plus a little more--and then I felt a tickle in my throat and thought, "uh-oh": I was getting sick.  I hardly ever get sick and was just starting to feel a little proud of my no-sick streak when this bug hit me.  I tried to attack the symptoms with salt and cayenne pepper mixed in some water to gargle, but the sore throat got worse into the night.  Fortunately, I was very tired and a sore throat wasn't enough to prevent me from getting a good night's sleep.  Once I woke up, my body felt pretty good--just the darn sore throat! I just find it really interesting that whenever I've gotten sick in the past, I've always had an immediate craving for really healthy foods; I start salivating over salads, deep green veggies, clear liquids and lots of fruits.  I hardly ever eat ...

...since I've taken a break from running. It's funny how when I'm not running, I feel like I have nothing to write or talk about.  I came so close to feeling like a legit runner, and then I had to go and hurt my foot:(  I feel like I'm back to square one and am still waiting for the right time to go for another run. But with the lack of exercise comes more practicing! [One day, I'll find a way to balance both, but for now, it seems to be one or the other:(]  The program for the next concert we're playing is Bernstein's Candide Overture, Brahms' Symphony No.1 and Beethoven's Violin Concerto, Karen Gomyo, soloist.  Brahms really wears me out, so I've had to spend a little more time with that.  It's a small orchestra in my town, but I really love it.  I just love orchestral music, in general.  I wish I could do it all day long. In other news, I'm a bad wife:  tomorrow is my husband's birthday and I haven't planned a thing!  I mean...