In the beginning...
...I finished grad school.
For a Master's degree inbusiness computer engineering accounting music.
***2015 UPDATE***
So, naturally, I started to blog. Not this blog. My first blog was and continues to be private. I called someone a snatch in there. You'll never be able to read it unless I give you permission. Muahahaha! Mainly because I wrote a lot about coworkers and bosses and snooty rich people I worked for and etc. I may have even written about YOU. But I think maybe I'll gradually move some of those posts over here. This blog I started a few years ago in an attempt to be a completely anonymous blogger. But, as usual, I will probably fail and find some way to give up and just out myself already. Whatev. Follow me on the journey, will you? It's quite a thrilling adventure, I promise. And by "thrilling" I mean "pathetic and embarrassing."
Note: Most of this "About Me" was originally written in 2011. It was an especially bitter year.
I spent, for all intents and purposes, the entirety of my twenties studying to become and struggling to maintain the life of a working musician and educator. And now I'm not certain that that is what I am meant to do. Go figure. That's probably just the unemployment and lack of excessive financial success talking.
In my estimation, the music/acadaemia world is 25% politics, 25% bureaucracy and 25% mutual ego-stroking. Which leaves 25% to actual art. Can you tell I've become bitter and cynical? But, Lord help me, I'm still like, I want to go to there. I still love learning things and teaching things.
No matter how bitter I become from the current effed up state of arts and education, though, I will never lose sight of the fact that the Dvorak Cello Concerto is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever created in this universe. I will still get verklempt when talking about that piece in front of a roomful of college freshmen.
For the past three years, I worked as a university professor. I was effing great at it. Highest course ratings for days. But since I only have two college degrees instead of three, I was only worthy of being adjunct. And because I was only an adjunct, I had to deal with a life of uncertainty and budget-driven layoffs. So I went back to school.
I am a clarinetist. But if someone were to offer me the chance to go back in time and play the cello instead, I would probably do it. But then I would never be a band geek. I rethink my previous statement. Also, I felt like a traitor immediately after typing that. So, I take it back. But I would go back in time and learn the cello in addition to the clarinet. There.
Other things I have been besides a clarinetist and professor: private lessons teacher, executive assistant, professional symphony orchestra services coordinator, corporate music buyer, Star*ucks barista.
I am thinking (hoping?) that by taking a healthy break (It's not you, it's me. But also a little bit you.) from music, I will come back in a refreshed and happier state with a new perspective on and relationship to the world of music.
I live with myperpetual boyfriend of nearly seven years husband. He is the exact opposite of everything I thought I would end up with. I love that. We call him Schmoobs (or any derivation thereof). We've lived a lot of places: Tennessee, Washington, Texas, Kentucky. But I left my heart in California.
We have two of the greatest animals ever: our cat, the President of the Finer Things Club, and our Shih-tzu, the Princess of Team Cuddle.
UPDATE: We miss you, Bela! I am sure you are continuing to judge us daily from your sun patch in the sky. Now we have a new crazy (or "trazy") feline: Tre, short for Andre, of the Double Entendrees, our three (and a half) legged kitty.
I love sugar and I love cheese. But I am trying to eat healthier. I do notice an improvement in my looks and health. But, goddamn, chocolate and cheese is so good. Everything in moderation, right folks?
Relatedly, I am allergic to dairy. Clearly, though, this does not hinder me from enjoying an occasional cream sauce or small milkshake. The sensation of needing to vomit while curled up in a fetal position making low moaning sounds usually doesn't last longer than 24 hours anyway. Totally worth it.
I used to love mystery meat products. Hot dogs particularly. It was my thing. But then one night I watched "Food, Inc." on Netflix and now I am incapable of eating anything that wasn't raised ethically, preferably on a local, organic farm.
I enjoy cooking. Because I like eating. I'm no expert, but I do like reading food blogs and messing around in the kitchen.
In my next life, I am going to be a cellist, a dancer, an Olympic athlete, a marine biologist or an astronaut. Oh yeah, and I will be filthy rich.
I am from California. Right now I live in the South. I miss the ocean and my family.
Things I love:
1. All family, friends, Schmoobs and animals in my life
2. LOST
3. Dvorak Cello Concerto
4. The Simpsons
5. The Daily Show and The Colbert Report
6. Rachel Maddow
7. Cheese ice cream (delicious poisony goodness!)
8. Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen
9. Days that are sunny and reach a high of 84 with zero humidity.
10. Nutella
11. Vodka martinis
12. Boodles gin
13. "'Til there was you" sung by Sir Paul McCartney
14. Terrible reality television on Bravo
15. Big Brother
16. Fitted scoop- or v-neck t-shirts
17. Coffee
18. Target
19. Food and Foodies
20. The Papageno-Papagena Duet from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. It's so cute, I just want to pinch its cheeks and make cooing noises at it.
21. People who CORRECTLY say "addictive" instead of "addicting"
22. Missa pro victoria by Tomás Luis de Victoria
Things I do not love:
1. Glenn Beck
2. Rush Limbaugh
3. Hypocrisy
4. Ignorance
5. Rum
6. Jaegermeister
7. Beatles covers. Leave perfection alone.
8. The song "Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. Barf.
9. Heat and humidity
10. UPS delivery drivers who leave your package at the wrong address
11. People who get a UPS package delivered to them by mistake and then do not bother to give it to the rightful recipient
12. People who steal peoples' UPS packages off their doorstep
13. Not knowing what the hell happened to the birthday present I bought myself last week that UPS claimed they delivered but never got to me even though I was home that day
This blog is about All Of The Above.
...I finished grad school.
For a Master's degree in
Dear 2005 Stubborn Tomato,
What the hell, man. Have fun finding a job.
Love,
2011 Stubborn Tomato
***2015 UPDATE***
...And then I completed doctoral coursework for a Ph.D. in law programming medicine MUSIC.
Dear 2011 Stubborn Tomato,
SERIOUSLY WHAT THE HELL, MAN. Have fun finding a job...while you dissertate.
Love,
2015 Stubborn Tomato
So, naturally, I started to blog. Not this blog. My first blog was and continues to be private. I called someone a snatch in there. You'll never be able to read it unless I give you permission. Muahahaha! Mainly because I wrote a lot about coworkers and bosses and snooty rich people I worked for and etc. I may have even written about YOU. But I think maybe I'll gradually move some of those posts over here. This blog I started a few years ago in an attempt to be a completely anonymous blogger. But, as usual, I will probably fail and find some way to give up and just out myself already. Whatev. Follow me on the journey, will you? It's quite a thrilling adventure, I promise. And by "thrilling" I mean "pathetic and embarrassing."
Note: Most of this "About Me" was originally written in 2011. It was an especially bitter year.
I spent, for all intents and purposes, the entirety of my twenties studying to become and struggling to maintain the life of a working musician and educator. And now I'm not certain that that is what I am meant to do. Go figure. That's probably just the unemployment and lack of excessive financial success talking.
In my estimation, the music/acadaemia world is 25% politics, 25% bureaucracy and 25% mutual ego-stroking. Which leaves 25% to actual art. Can you tell I've become bitter and cynical? But, Lord help me, I'm still like, I want to go to there. I still love learning things and teaching things.
No matter how bitter I become from the current effed up state of arts and education, though, I will never lose sight of the fact that the Dvorak Cello Concerto is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever created in this universe. I will still get verklempt when talking about that piece in front of a roomful of college freshmen.
For the past three years, I worked as a university professor. I was effing great at it. Highest course ratings for days. But since I only have two college degrees instead of three, I was only worthy of being adjunct. And because I was only an adjunct, I had to deal with a life of uncertainty and budget-driven layoffs. So I went back to school.
I am a clarinetist. But if someone were to offer me the chance to go back in time and play the cello instead, I would probably do it. But then I would never be a band geek. I rethink my previous statement. Also, I felt like a traitor immediately after typing that. So, I take it back. But I would go back in time and learn the cello in addition to the clarinet. There.
Other things I have been besides a clarinetist and professor: private lessons teacher, executive assistant, professional symphony orchestra services coordinator, corporate music buyer, Star*ucks barista.
I am thinking (hoping?) that by taking a healthy break (It's not you, it's me. But also a little bit you.) from music, I will come back in a refreshed and happier state with a new perspective on and relationship to the world of music.
I live with my
We have two of the greatest animals ever: our cat, the President of the Finer Things Club, and our Shih-tzu, the Princess of Team Cuddle.
UPDATE: We miss you, Bela! I am sure you are continuing to judge us daily from your sun patch in the sky. Now we have a new crazy (or "trazy") feline: Tre, short for Andre, of the Double Entendrees, our three (and a half) legged kitty.
I love sugar and I love cheese. But I am trying to eat healthier. I do notice an improvement in my looks and health. But, goddamn, chocolate and cheese is so good. Everything in moderation, right folks?
Relatedly, I am allergic to dairy. Clearly, though, this does not hinder me from enjoying an occasional cream sauce or small milkshake. The sensation of needing to vomit while curled up in a fetal position making low moaning sounds usually doesn't last longer than 24 hours anyway. Totally worth it.
I used to love mystery meat products. Hot dogs particularly. It was my thing. But then one night I watched "Food, Inc." on Netflix and now I am incapable of eating anything that wasn't raised ethically, preferably on a local, organic farm.
I enjoy cooking. Because I like eating. I'm no expert, but I do like reading food blogs and messing around in the kitchen.
In my next life, I am going to be a cellist, a dancer, an Olympic athlete, a marine biologist or an astronaut. Oh yeah, and I will be filthy rich.
I am from California. Right now I live in the South. I miss the ocean and my family.
Things I love:
1. All family, friends, Schmoobs and animals in my life
2. LOST
3. Dvorak Cello Concerto
4. The Simpsons
5. The Daily Show and The Colbert Report
6. Rachel Maddow
7. Cheese ice cream (delicious poisony goodness!)
8. Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen
9. Days that are sunny and reach a high of 84 with zero humidity.
10. Nutella
11. Vodka martinis
12. Boodles gin
13. "'Til there was you" sung by Sir Paul McCartney
14. Terrible reality television on Bravo
15. Big Brother
16. Fitted scoop- or v-neck t-shirts
17. Coffee
18. Target
19. Food and Foodies
20. The Papageno-Papagena Duet from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. It's so cute, I just want to pinch its cheeks and make cooing noises at it.
21. People who CORRECTLY say "addictive" instead of "addicting"
22. Missa pro victoria by Tomás Luis de Victoria
Things I do not love:
1. Glenn Beck
2. Rush Limbaugh
3. Hypocrisy
4. Ignorance
5. Rum
6. Jaegermeister
7. Beatles covers. Leave perfection alone.
8. The song "Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. Barf.
9. Heat and humidity
10. UPS delivery drivers who leave your package at the wrong address
11. People who get a UPS package delivered to them by mistake and then do not bother to give it to the rightful recipient
12. People who steal peoples' UPS packages off their doorstep
13. Not knowing what the hell happened to the birthday present I bought myself last week that UPS claimed they delivered but never got to me even though I was home that day
This blog is about All Of The Above.
