A Day in the Life #39 + August Wrap Up

 

First, I just wanted to send out a big thank you to everyone who has commented on the blog, (or sent me tweets!)  Every message from you guys is always such a huge boost for me, and I have had some really lovely conversations with you guys over the past few weeks.  Last Tuesday I found out that two of my colleagues died, one of whom I had been fairly close with my first year in grad school, and it was just such a help that you guys have been so open and friendly, and really your comments just carried me through that (even thought none of you knew anything about this).  Sometimes I get to feeling a bit cursed, because short of people who have survived war or natural disaster, I feel like I've had more friends and family die in my lifetime than most of my other friends (my age) combined.  Which is really a self-pitying way of putting it seeing as I'm one of the lucky ones who has gotten through life this far, and being surrounded by so many positive people both in person and online snaps me out of that nonsense pretty quickly because I really have had such a lucky life.  But these two have been in my thoughts constantly over the last couple weeks, and every time I listen to a CSO recording of Tchaikovsky 4, I will almost certainly think of Alex.  

 

So, basically the past couple weeks have been INTENSE.  I had an audition tape due on Tuesday, but had planned on finishing everything by Monday night to submit it.  There were a series of problems:

1. I couldn't get the link for submitting to work

2. It was a video/audio audition tape and while I had the audio....I accidentally deleted the video.  Because I am dumb. But it was a good lesson to know.

3. When I DID get the link to work they said they weren't accepting submissions anymore even though the deadline. 

So basically I didn't sleep (and Monday and Tuesdays I work at two jobs so I have loooooong days) and spent my first four hours awake on Tuesday anxiously awaiting an e-mail saying whether they'd let me submit or not, only to realize that when they did say it was ok that I literally had 45 minutes to get a take of my concerto. So basically I cycled between despair, elation, and exhaustion haha.  The good news is that I got a good take on my second try which is AWESOME because the Mozart is super not my forte.  Unfortunately, the likelihood of me ever being called for this group is slim since I only found out about the audition two weeks ago and they're kind of doing a first come first serve which has been open since June and there's only ever going to be one oboe position open (also assuming they even like the tape I sent in).  BUT it was definitely well worth doing.  It didn't cost me any money, and it really jump started me on the Mozart (which I usually procrastinate on working on since I have such a hard time with it).  It also means I have video recordings saved up for the next time a video recording comes in on short notice which is an investment in and of itself!

So it was a rough, stressful time I've been spending away from the blog, but it definitely hasn't been all bad.

Bookish Discussions

Yash shares How Fan Art Affects My TBR Pile.
Iowa barber gives haircuts to children in exchange for them reading stories to him
Mark lists 5 Things Dystopias Get Wrong About Dictatorships.
Catherine wrote an article on What I Learned Sending My Novel Out Under a Male Name.
Kelley designed another Tarot of YA Lit: 2. The High Priestess.
Abby explores The Psychology of Fandom: Why We Get Attached to Fictional Characters.
Christina wonders about TRANSLATED AND FOREIGN EDITIONS OF BOOKS, LANGUAGES, AND YA.
Jamie talks about Perception, Reality & Our Super Reader Community.


Specific Authors/Books

Amy rants about Casual Sexism in Fantasy & The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace.
Emily says that James Potter Didn’t Change So That Lily Evans Would Marry Him.
Cait asks WHY DO WE CRITICISE AUTHORS FOR “WRITING TO MAKE MONEY”? (As a musician, can I just say...YES. YES TO ALL OF THAT)
Heather went to the Jane Austen Center And The Fashion Museum (and I am so jealous!)
TAMORA PIERCE IS DOING A REDDIT AMA. I REPEAT: TAMORA PIERCE. REDDIT. AMA. September 22. Save the date!
Amy talks about Why We Need More Girls Like Rose Hathaway. (Yes!! So much yes!)
Theresa talks about why Clive Barker is amazing, influential, and just all around incredible.


Bookish Fun Stuff

18 “Game Of Thrones” Moments Improved By “Monty Python And The Holy Grail” Quotes - These are PRICELESS.  I'm torn between #16 and #18 being my favourites haha!
La La talks about her Tell Me Tuesday feature (which you should all do because it is fun!)
There's a Gentleman Bastards readalong going on (in case you wanted to join in!).  I've been crazy busy so haven't been able to reread the series as I'd planned, but I've enjoyed the posts analyzing what's going on, as well as fun ones like Kritika's favourite quotes so far! (Edit: I think it might be over now actually...this is what happens when I get behind on sharing posts!)
Gillian wrote up another YA Sorting Hat: Book Boyfriends Part II.

Nonbookish

Amanda Palmer shares her concerns as an artist and soon-to-be mother in No, I Am Not Crowdfunding This Baby.
Stephen Colbert outlines Why He Thinks Women Should Be in Charge of Everything.
Jeff says No, It's Not Your Opinion. You're Just Wrong.
Sarah and Nicole posted a guide on How To Tell If You Are In A Korean Drama. (HAHAHAHA.  But...yeah...it's pretty on point.)
Daniel writes an expose: People who should be released from jail are dying there instead.
Sara talks about Villain Soundtracks.

Mari Ness analyzes The Last of the Classic Disney Greats: Sleeping Beauty in a way I never would have thought of on my own, and it's very interesting.