"Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start..." (name that musical)
Monday - CLASSIC jazz. I'm a traditionalist so I was delighted when my friends and I went to a jazz orchestra concert at Bohemian Cavern (2nd time there :)) and they announced the night's program would be a tribute to influential tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Ooh baby
I'd deliberately eaten dinner beforehand so I could resist spending money on food, but their Southern menu is really quite irresistible. So to save money but still sample the luscious fare, we shared 3 sliders (beef, turkey, & crab) and a brownie sundae. Next time, I'm not eating dinner beforehand and ordering 3 crab sliders haha - so good!
Had us a swingin' ol' time :)
Tuesday - BASICS of piano. Last week, I gave my first piano in about 10 years. It was so fun! I'm so grateful my piano teacher so diligently drilled music theory and good practice methods into me (I took lessons 5th-11th grade) because I find I am still able to recall everything to my bright student, Andrea :)
Wednesday - CLASSIC cinema. A group and I went to the National Portrait Gallery for their monthly free movie showing.
I'd heard great things about the 2011 Oscar Best Picture winner and modern silent movie, "The Artist", but I did not expect it to thrill my heart so!
In case you didn't know, I'm a huge old movie buff (1920s-1960s). I spent most of my teen years obsessively watching and studying them. Most modern audiences probably saw the movie as enjoyable but predictable fluff, but to me it was a beautiful tribute to such greats as "Singin' in the Rain" (1952 - favorite musical ever), "Sunset Boulevard" (1950), "A Star is Born" (1954), and "Citizen Kane" (1941)...and the whole era in general, and it was the French who made it!
Also, I'm moving along in my main New Year Resolution of reading meaningful books instead of watching TV or Facebooking (as much). I finished my 1st book 6 weeks into 2013 (The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter--And How to Make the Most of Them Now - highly recommend it)! I just started another one this week called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking and it's FASCINATING. I'm learning so much about myself and really starting to embrace my introvert side :)
Thursday - CLASSICal violin. Cory M. had 3 free tickets to a National Symphony Orchestra concert at the Kennedy Center and I was one of the lucky 2 who got to go! As I walked there after work, cursing the freezing winds, I was greeted by the magnificent sight of my favorite DC monument lit up in Northern lights for their "Nordic Cool" festival. It literally took my breath away and helped distract me from the cold.
I was excited to go in the Concert Hall for the 1st time. It wasn't as grand as the red and gold Opera House but had an interesting hexagonal motif and lights made of what looked like jars.
The talented orchestra played Henze (opera), Mendelssohn, and Brahms.
It was a wonderful cultural experience but I realized that I prefer participating in classical music (playing it on piano or dancing to it) vs. listening to it.
Friday - Funny story that I feel really stupid about: I'd bought tickets over a month ago for Jess and I to attend the National Symphony Orchestra concert at the Kennedy Center. I didn't pay attention to what was being played and when Cory invited me to Thursday's free concert, I thought it couldn't be the same one. But I checked on Friday morning and it was! I felt SO STUPID. I liked it but not enough to see it twice, especially when I was exhausted and super behind on homework. So I called to apologize to Jess and she tried to find someone to go with her last minute. That person couldn't come so I asked Jeff, who'd wanted to come on Thursday but couldn't. I prayed so hard that he would be available, and God answered my prayer! Jeff and Jess got to enjoy the concert (since Jess already paid for her ticket, I paid for mine and got my concert, Jeff wasn't gonna pay Thursday and didn't have to on Friday). God is awesome.
Saturday - BASICS of social dance. Last December, I donated several services to the ward auction. Tali (who had taken the 180 class @ BYU years ago) bought my dance lesson and we finally found a time to do it this weekend. I minored in Ballroom Dance at BYU and TA'd 3 social dance classes. Cory M. happened to be in my 280 class and graciously agreed to come help (from student to TA, not bad!). It was so much fun and I'm so grateful for the skills I learned at BYU, especially in the "Methods of Teaching Social Dance" class. I brought my dance book and we reviewed 3 dances: 1) East Coast Swing
2) Foxtrot
3) Cha Cha
So proud of my students :)
Later that day, I got to present at my first conference! I did my poster on "Balancing Motherhood and Tenure" for a class last semester and brought it to GW's Educational Symposium on Research and Innovation. It's always fun talking about your interests with others who are attentive and engaged :)
Rushed home, curled my hair (it takes forever so I only do it 3-4 times a year), scarfed down some cereal, and went to help with the ward dinner (I'm on the Activities Committee). A million decorations and about 160 ppl later, I'd say it was a success. There was good food from Olive Garden...
Some talented men provided the entertainment. There was music...
...there was juggling!
...there was magic! (tricks, that is)
...I had photo booth duty, and took some silly ones of my own...
Cory H. had the brilliant idea to use the mustaches as expressive unibrows haha
Sunday - CLASSICS/BASICS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Church! Never gets old :) Praise the Lord for the day of rest cuz this week - as fun as it was - took alot out of me. They say you can only do 2 out of 3 things as a student: 1) study, 2) socialize, and 3) sleep... The semester's half over. Hip hip hooray!
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