ah, ap testing. fun stuff.
I went to prom this past weekend and it was super exciting. :]





and some vegas pictures...

 

School starts tomorrow. And I'm nowhere near ready to face it.
Especially since my brain is somewhere around 2 pm right now.
Wide awake. No sleep.

But then there's the idea of getting to see everyone tomorrow.
I'm sure that'll get me out of bed in the morning. Hopefully.
New semester, new schedule, new priorities.
I wonder what 2009's got in store for me.








Japan was absolutely amazing.
Spending that much time alone gave me time to think.
And then lots of time not to think.
Almost like I've been refreshed.

It's a good feeling.

m.
 

If I could only show you the reason why I haven`t been writing this semester.
But that would take up a million pages. Maybe more?









So I`m officially a dork.
But a very happy one. :]

Life is amazing.
I`m in Japan; the rest of the family is in New Orleans. I`ve been taking jazz lessons from Mr. Iwazaki.
This semester (and its break included) leads me to conclude to this:

I`ve opened a thousand new doors.
And as the new year approaches, I`m ready to open a million more.

Love always,
midori

 

I found this video while I was looking around on Youtube.
It's an excellent example of making the best out of anything, even when everything's gone wrong.
Although i cringe at some of her words, I still find her to be a powerful woman.


-m

 

(left: George Gershwin; right: Frank Sinatra)

These men are amazing. I can't stop listening to them these days.
I only wish that I could have existed then. :]

 

As of August 15th, Summer is 9 years old.
Happy (halfbelated) Birthday, you!



Eh.
She's so old now.
And so am I. Kind of.
Time's moving pretty fast.



But I've got plenty of time to make lasting memories. :]

-m

Remember Richie from Andover?
Well here he is again. :]

I came up with this idea maybe like five minutes ago.
But I was thinking about all the different pianos I've played on. What's unique about pianos (and what often serves as a disadvantage when it comes to performances) is that you can't lug your own around. Unlike the violin, the french horn, or even the bulky cello, the piano simply can't be moved by one person. So at competitions, festivals, and recitals, there's always a piano provided that everyone plays on.
And then you start thinking.
How many people have touched those keys? Have every 88 of those keys been pushed down? Who's played on it? Where's it from? Who made it? What ensembles have it been a part of? Has it ever been broken? Has it even been repaired? Who owns it? Who should own it?
Like a living, breathing creature, every piano has a story of its own.

So henceforth, (although I wish I had come up with this a while ago) I am going to record and take pictures of every piano that I play on.
I'll start with my own piano, an Estonia (1893).
I named it Toni.
I didn't name it after anyone (so I won't creep anyone out), it's just that you can get the name out of the piano's name.
You know, like Estonia.
I also named my guitar Mario. But that's a different story.



Piano Numero Uno: Estonia (1893)
Type: Baby Grand
Date: 08.19.08 (since ca. 2001)
Purpose: at-home practice, performance, and inspiration

-m

So I thought I'd share this with you:





Am I crazy, or do these Pacific-Ocean-separated snacks look exactly alike?
I saw the Pringles "Sticks" package in my pantry yesterday and I haven't been able to get the thought out of my head since.

School starts bright and early tomorrow at 7:10 am; another start of a long school year.
It feels like I was writing about my nervousness for my first year of high school to start only a few months ago. It's kind of weird not being a freshman anymore. And then again, it's pretty cool. :]
Most of my summer has been spent in school - COC for Spanish 101 classes with an oh-so-Chilena teacher, and back on the high school campus for band camp & band practice.
This summer has definitely opened up my eyes to music - I did SCVYO for two weeks towards the beginning of the summer with the orchestra and a chamber group (with Erica Flores!). And band has introduced me to a new instrument (mallets :]) and a new, intense style of music.

Maybe I would have liked to have spent more of this summer on the beach.
But then again, I don't regret it at all.

Good luck for all of you in the beginning of a new school year! :]

-m

So I haven't posted in a total of maybe...five weeks.
Which is almost over a month.

School's out; freshman year is over. And summer has begun.
Only it's a small, shriveled summer compared to last summer. But I guess last summer was just that amazing.
I've been spending most of my time at the local community college, COC, for music and Spanish classes.
The music classes are now over. I performed with some of the greatest musicians ever. :]
I'll put up our chamber music performance soon.
Or maybe I'll wait.
We might play it in December at the Performing Arts Center and it'll sound much better. Since there'll be a nice piano.
And not a keyboard. Haha.

Today was the fourth of July.
It was pretty fun. I saw the fireworks at our nearby park and we went home and did some partying ourselves :]



And s'mores.
Although I don't see how it relates to the fourth of July.



And mini-fireworks.
:D



I'm exhausted.
From fireworks and summer classes and the absence of...what do you call it, social-ness?

And I must say. Wall-E is the most adorable robot in the world.
Good night.