What, in your opinion, is the biggest issue that is dividing people today?
Post your comments below (anonymous if you like)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Five Love Languages
Have you ever heard of the five love languages? There's a book about it by Gary Chapman, which I actually haven't read. But you can do a quick test on the official website. You can take it here.
Basically, Gary Chapman says that there are five basic ways that we express love. Each of us has a primary way (or maybe two) that we use the most. The five are:
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch
It's interesting to know what your primary one is and the primary ones of those around you, so that you can best show your love in the way that matters most to them.
I just took the test and these were my results.
Your Scores (Out of 30 questions)
10 Words of Affirmation 8 Quality Time 0 Receiving Gifts 5 Acts of Service 7 Physical Touch
Interpreting and Using Your Profile Score
The highest score indicates your primary love language (the highest score is 12). It’s not uncommon to have two high scores, although one language does have a slight edge for most people. That just means two languages are important to you.
The lower scores indicate those languages you seldom use to communicate love and which probably don’t affect you very much on an emotional level.
So as you can see, my primary love language is Words of Affirmation, followed closely by Quality Time and Physical Touch. And check out my score for Receiving Gifts. Ha. Now these scores obviously don't mean that you don't use that language at all, it's just not your primary love language.
You can read more about the languages here.
Anyway, I strongly encourage that you check it out, take the "test" and encourage your family/friends to take it too.
Oh, and if you're comfortable, post your results in the comments below! I'm interested in knowing. (But no pressure)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
About the name of this blog
I don't think that I've ever posted about why this blog is entitled Musings of a Liber Boy.
Liber is a Latin word that means free. It originates from the name for tree bark which was used in ancient times for writing on. Those who were free (and not slaves) were usually fortunate enough to be able to read and write, and so the "educated", or free folk were called liber.
I feel so fortunate to be truly free, both in mind and body, and so I put that in the title as a reminder to myself of what a blessing it is to be a free person.
The other part of the title is simply what this blog is about: musings. It's a place for me to write my thoughts, and my musings for other people to read. They might be just a couple thoughts, or they might be some formalized paragraphs, but they are always musings from a free, young guy (that's me).
Enjoy!
Liber is a Latin word that means free. It originates from the name for tree bark which was used in ancient times for writing on. Those who were free (and not slaves) were usually fortunate enough to be able to read and write, and so the "educated", or free folk were called liber.
I feel so fortunate to be truly free, both in mind and body, and so I put that in the title as a reminder to myself of what a blessing it is to be a free person.
The other part of the title is simply what this blog is about: musings. It's a place for me to write my thoughts, and my musings for other people to read. They might be just a couple thoughts, or they might be some formalized paragraphs, but they are always musings from a free, young guy (that's me).
Enjoy!
January 2nd, new year's resolutions, etc.
Today is January 2, the second day of the new calendar year. Of course, the year doesn't begin just because we say it does. You could really start the year at any point in the Earth's rotation around the sun. Regardless, the New Year is seen as a kind of "new beginning". People make all sorts of New Year's resolutions, which usually crash in the first month or two.
I think the reason for this is that although people get really excited about the idea of starting over, they simply aren't willing to change their behaviour, or they don't realise that they have to.
Our culture is so in love with the idea that "this year is going to be different". As if the change between December 31, 2009 and January 1, 2010 makes a difference at all! We should be making goals and "resolutions" the moment we think of them, rather than waiting for the New Year to change us.
In my opinion, the way to change behaviour is a day by day thing. Instead of focusing on this year, (which is a pretty long stretch), we should focus instead on this week, or today. It's much more practical and much more achievable.
By all means, set yearly goals, but then don't just expect that you're going to achieve them unless you plan and work towards them on a day by day (or week by week) basis.
Anyway, all that said, here are my goals for 2010.
In 2010, other milestones that will come up for me is that I'm doing my final Suzuki Piano recital (a solo recital!) on February 13. I'm majorly excited for that!
Also, on September 22, I turn 18, which means that in Canada, I will no longer be a minor and I will have all the legal rights, which include drinking (not applicable), smoking (not applicable), and voting (YES!!). Crazy. This year, people!!
Happy New Year!
I think the reason for this is that although people get really excited about the idea of starting over, they simply aren't willing to change their behaviour, or they don't realise that they have to.
Our culture is so in love with the idea that "this year is going to be different". As if the change between December 31, 2009 and January 1, 2010 makes a difference at all! We should be making goals and "resolutions" the moment we think of them, rather than waiting for the New Year to change us.
In my opinion, the way to change behaviour is a day by day thing. Instead of focusing on this year, (which is a pretty long stretch), we should focus instead on this week, or today. It's much more practical and much more achievable.
By all means, set yearly goals, but then don't just expect that you're going to achieve them unless you plan and work towards them on a day by day (or week by week) basis.
Anyway, all that said, here are my goals for 2010.
- Increase the quality of this blog. I'd like to improve my writing, and delve "deeper" into topics of interest. Maybe this year, I'll do some writing about politics, religion, faith, etc.
- Continue exercising regularly. In 2009, I got into a habit of using our Elliptical for an hour every second day at an increasing difficulty, and so I'm keeping that up.
- Begin writing a musical. I'm planning to write the script+lyrics/libretto during Script Frenzy in April, and then work on composing the music during the summer. I'm theoretically working on plot outlines now (actually, I do have ideas). I'm excited.
In 2010, other milestones that will come up for me is that I'm doing my final Suzuki Piano recital (a solo recital!) on February 13. I'm majorly excited for that!
Also, on September 22, I turn 18, which means that in Canada, I will no longer be a minor and I will have all the legal rights, which include drinking (not applicable), smoking (not applicable), and voting (YES!!). Crazy. This year, people!!
Happy New Year!
Friday, January 1, 2010
On playing Bach and Mozart
I adore playing the music of Bach and Mozart (especially the Bach! It's glorious!), but at the same time, it makes me feel so inferior as a pianist. You see the wonderful thing, and the thing that makes it so difficult to play well is that it's so transparent. If you make one wrong note, or misplace the weight of your finger by an tiny degree, it stands out, and it sounds wrong. In short, you have to play it perfectly. When you're playing something really Romantic, like Chopin, you can get away (if you have to) with a slip, here or there, and most people won't notice. Not so with Bach. You have to be precise. And that precision, is precisely what makes it so wonderful to listen.
*sigh* I'm not there yet.
*sigh* I'm not there yet.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Snow!
Attn: Humans.
(Are you human?)
I love the snow. All the time. I love driving in it, I love hiking in it, I love tobogganing in it, I love shovelling it, I love skiing in it. I think it is gloriously beautiful, and I don't complain about it. I mean, for a third of the year, we have beautiful, fresh, clean, intricate crystals of water falling from the sky and coating our little world in pure white. It's amazing, it's incredible!
And then when I express my joy on various social networking mediums (including face to face), people constantly say, "Oh, you wouldn't like it if you had to..." or "just wait, you won't like it after..." Gosh darnit people! Are you suggesting that my alternative is to spend four months of our year complaining about the beauty around us?
I won't take it! So complain all you like, but please do not try to tell me that I "wouldn't like it if I had to drive in it" or that I wouldn't like it if I had to shovel it. Actually, I do all of the above and I LOVE IT.
There are some things in life that we can not change, and the weather is one of those. We can either take it, appreciate it, accept it and love it, or we can complain about it. I choose the former.
(Are you human?)
I love the snow. All the time. I love driving in it, I love hiking in it, I love tobogganing in it, I love shovelling it, I love skiing in it. I think it is gloriously beautiful, and I don't complain about it. I mean, for a third of the year, we have beautiful, fresh, clean, intricate crystals of water falling from the sky and coating our little world in pure white. It's amazing, it's incredible!
And then when I express my joy on various social networking mediums (including face to face), people constantly say, "Oh, you wouldn't like it if you had to..." or "just wait, you won't like it after..." Gosh darnit people! Are you suggesting that my alternative is to spend four months of our year complaining about the beauty around us?
I won't take it! So complain all you like, but please do not try to tell me that I "wouldn't like it if I had to drive in it" or that I wouldn't like it if I had to shovel it. Actually, I do all of the above and I LOVE IT.
There are some things in life that we can not change, and the weather is one of those. We can either take it, appreciate it, accept it and love it, or we can complain about it. I choose the former.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Book Review: Starclimber
Hi everybody! So, I haven't had a book review in a while, so here it is. I just recently read Starclimber, by Kenneth Oppel! It's the third book in his Airborn series. They are fantastic books. They follow the adventures of Matt Cruse, and his romantic interest Kate de Vries. The books are full of excitement, energy, suspense and really great characters! I don't want to give much away in the book, but it's the kind of book that you don't want to put down!
Here's a brief overview from Amazon...
"It is the beginning of summer in Paris. Matt Cruse is looking forward to spending time with Kate de Vries and piloting an aerocrane for the Celestial Tower--France's great project, which will allow the nation to be first in outer space. But Matt and Kate's idyllic time is shortlived. Matt narrowly survives an attack by fanatics who are opposed to humans reaching the heavens, while Kate is summoned back to Lionsgate City by her wealthy parents. It's time she began to think about getting married. But things look up when the Canadian government makes an exciting offer to both Matt and Kate. Canada wants to reach space first, and the Canadian Minister of Air wants Kate to join the first expedition as an expert in aerial zoology. There's a place for Matt, too--if he can pass the gruelling tests to become one of the world's first astralnauts onboard the incredible ship Starclimber. The third book in Kenneth Oppel's bestselling Airborn series vaults readers into another thrilling adventure, with all of the exciting twists and vivid imaginings that Oppel's fans have come to expect--and a little romance, too. From Paris to Lionsgate City, from the Pacificus Ocean to the depths of space, Starclimber is an exhilarating ride from an author who soars to rare heights."
(From the Amazon product review)
Anyway, Starclimber is a fantastic read, and stands on it's own (but you owe it to yourself to read the first two, Airborn and Skybreaker first. You don't want to miss them.). So that's my pick of what to read! :)
Here's a brief overview from Amazon...
"It is the beginning of summer in Paris. Matt Cruse is looking forward to spending time with Kate de Vries and piloting an aerocrane for the Celestial Tower--France's great project, which will allow the nation to be first in outer space. But Matt and Kate's idyllic time is shortlived. Matt narrowly survives an attack by fanatics who are opposed to humans reaching the heavens, while Kate is summoned back to Lionsgate City by her wealthy parents. It's time she began to think about getting married. But things look up when the Canadian government makes an exciting offer to both Matt and Kate. Canada wants to reach space first, and the Canadian Minister of Air wants Kate to join the first expedition as an expert in aerial zoology. There's a place for Matt, too--if he can pass the gruelling tests to become one of the world's first astralnauts onboard the incredible ship Starclimber. The third book in Kenneth Oppel's bestselling Airborn series vaults readers into another thrilling adventure, with all of the exciting twists and vivid imaginings that Oppel's fans have come to expect--and a little romance, too. From Paris to Lionsgate City, from the Pacificus Ocean to the depths of space, Starclimber is an exhilarating ride from an author who soars to rare heights."
(From the Amazon product review)
Anyway, Starclimber is a fantastic read, and stands on it's own (but you owe it to yourself to read the first two, Airborn and Skybreaker first. You don't want to miss them.). So that's my pick of what to read! :)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A quote...
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." ~Mahatma Gandhi
I came across this quote, and really liked it, as I can see the truth in it. Forgiveness takes strength because it requires seeing past, and letting go of each other's weaknesses and mistakes and loving them in spite of it. And of course, forgiveness isn't limited to other people. Forgiving yourself can be the toughest thing. But it does take strength. The great thing? We're all strong enough.
I came across this quote, and really liked it, as I can see the truth in it. Forgiveness takes strength because it requires seeing past, and letting go of each other's weaknesses and mistakes and loving them in spite of it. And of course, forgiveness isn't limited to other people. Forgiving yourself can be the toughest thing. But it does take strength. The great thing? We're all strong enough.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Beethoven, and Wagner and me, oh my!
I just came back from a mind blowing symphony concert. Katherine Chi playing the Beethoven Emperor Concerto (Piano Concerto No. 5) and Die Meistersinger: An Orchestral Tribute (Arranged by Vlieger).
Katherine Chi played the concerto magnificently, every note just perfect. The first movement was just exquisite. Ahh. Gosh, I just love this concerto, and this being my first time hearing it live, it was pretty darn fantastic.
*A side note: Okay, between movements, if you ever attend the symphony, you've probably noticed that people tend to cough between movements. It confuses me, but I tolerate it (what can ya do, anyway?) Well tonight, the audience positively erupted with coughing. It was thunderous. I just don't get it. When I get a cough, I can't usually control when I cough, so I try to do it quietly. But it seems that for the majority of symphony goers, they can hold in their coughs and spew them forth at every possible break. Weird, imho.
Anyway, the Wagner. Oh my goodness, the Wagner. It was heavenly. I could live on it. The orchestration was so lush, and rich and delicious and beautiful that I just wanted to shout with joy. I didn't. As much as I adore the Beethoven (it's one of my favourite concertos), the Wagner was the highlight of the evening. Just glorious. The musicians were evidently loving it too, and I saw of number of them with happy grins on their faces at certain places. It was exquisitely, beautiful, satisfying, nourishing, exhilarating. My goodness, it's good stuff.
All in all, a brilliant concert and one that I shall remember for a very long. Anyway, thanks for reading, and stay posted for more posts!I have a bunch coming up. It feels great to be back blogging.
Katherine Chi played the concerto magnificently, every note just perfect. The first movement was just exquisite. Ahh. Gosh, I just love this concerto, and this being my first time hearing it live, it was pretty darn fantastic.
*A side note: Okay, between movements, if you ever attend the symphony, you've probably noticed that people tend to cough between movements. It confuses me, but I tolerate it (what can ya do, anyway?) Well tonight, the audience positively erupted with coughing. It was thunderous. I just don't get it. When I get a cough, I can't usually control when I cough, so I try to do it quietly. But it seems that for the majority of symphony goers, they can hold in their coughs and spew them forth at every possible break. Weird, imho.
Anyway, the Wagner. Oh my goodness, the Wagner. It was heavenly. I could live on it. The orchestration was so lush, and rich and delicious and beautiful that I just wanted to shout with joy. I didn't. As much as I adore the Beethoven (it's one of my favourite concertos), the Wagner was the highlight of the evening. Just glorious. The musicians were evidently loving it too, and I saw of number of them with happy grins on their faces at certain places. It was exquisitely, beautiful, satisfying, nourishing, exhilarating. My goodness, it's good stuff.
All in all, a brilliant concert and one that I shall remember for a very long. Anyway, thanks for reading, and stay posted for more posts!I have a bunch coming up. It feels great to be back blogging.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Questions!
So, a while back, Raine posted some questions in the comments. She asked:
1. If you listed your favorite Shakespeare plays in a particular order, what would it be?
Hmm... That's a really hard question. I'm going to think on it more and see if I can get it into a list... Really, really, tough.
2. "And I think you would enjoy Elijah Bossenbroek, he is a pianist/composer"
At your suggestion, I googled him and listened to some of his stuff. I liked it a lot, and very beautiful! Where did you hear about him?
3. When you listen to music do your fingers play along with the music? As if you were playing it on a piano?
All the time! And as if I was playing the flute too, no matter what position my fingers are in! But yeah, my fingers are always moving!
Post your questions in the comments below! They're fun to answer! :)
1. If you listed your favorite Shakespeare plays in a particular order, what would it be?
Hmm... That's a really hard question. I'm going to think on it more and see if I can get it into a list... Really, really, tough.
2. "And I think you would enjoy Elijah Bossenbroek, he is a pianist/composer"
At your suggestion, I googled him and listened to some of his stuff. I liked it a lot, and very beautiful! Where did you hear about him?
3. When you listen to music do your fingers play along with the music? As if you were playing it on a piano?
All the time! And as if I was playing the flute too, no matter what position my fingers are in! But yeah, my fingers are always moving!
Post your questions in the comments below! They're fun to answer! :)
Back into a schedule
Ahh, bliss. After getting H1N1 (which really through me off my normal schedule) and then getting into the really intense period of rehearsals and performances, I finally feel like I'm back on my regular schedule of things.
My normal weekday schedule looks something like this.
0700-0800- Read in bed, eat breakfast, check email etc.
0800-1100- Practice piano
1100-1200- Practice flute
1200-1300- Lunch, email,
1300-1500- Math
1500-onwards- French, reading etc. It really depends. I have supper around 1730/1800 and then every 2nd day, I use the ellipticle for an hour, and stretch etc. And then I spend the rest of the evening unwinding, etc. And then I'm in bed at 2230.
It works really well me, and when I stray off that schedule, I tend to get grouchy and feel useless. It's a fairly loose schedule, and with lessons and other appointments, I never get 5 days just like that in a week, but it puts some form to my days and makes me a lot happier. So it's nice to get back to my happy, little schedule.
What do you do to ensure your general sanity?
My normal weekday schedule looks something like this.
0700-0800- Read in bed, eat breakfast, check email etc.
0800-1100- Practice piano
1100-1200- Practice flute
1200-1300- Lunch, email,
1300-1500- Math
1500-onwards- French, reading etc. It really depends. I have supper around 1730/1800 and then every 2nd day, I use the ellipticle for an hour, and stretch etc. And then I spend the rest of the evening unwinding, etc. And then I'm in bed at 2230.
It works really well me, and when I stray off that schedule, I tend to get grouchy and feel useless. It's a fairly loose schedule, and with lessons and other appointments, I never get 5 days just like that in a week, but it puts some form to my days and makes me a lot happier. So it's nice to get back to my happy, little schedule.
What do you do to ensure your general sanity?
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Tempest!
Hey everybody,
I'm back to posting! The Tempest is over! Yay! I mean, I have mixed feelings about it. I'm sad it's all over, but it's nice to have the weight off my shoulders. How did it go, you're probably asking? It was fantastic! Okay, I'm pretty (extremely) biased, but honestly, it really went well. On the marketing side, we had everything together (dates, advertising etc.) way sooner and that was really nice. As a small little theatre company, we're constantly improving and growing and learning, and this was definitely our best production. Hands down.
*The following section is unbiased*
We had a killer company too. First off, we had Nicole, who was a stage manager/lighting/understudy and general on-top-of-everything kind of person. Honestly, five days before opening, we found out that our actor playing Gonzalo couldn't make one of the performances. So we called in Dorothy, who was playing a spirit/mariner and asked her to play Gonzalo for that performance (the Saturday matinee) and in five days, she had Gonzalo's lines solid, all the blocking learned and the acting was all there. And then because Dorothy was now Gonzalo for the matinee, we asked Nicole if she would stand in for Dorothy. At a rehearsal, we went to run through the dance in Act II with Nicole, and gosh darnit, Nicole didn't even need that runthrough, because she already had it all perfect. I was honestly in awe. I've never understudied, but from what I've heard, if you can understudy, you can do anything, because when you understudy, you're not only learning your part, you're learning somebody else's! And for the record, the matinee was practically perfect and Dorothy and Nicole were fantastic! Yay Nicole and Dorothy!
And then we had Josh, who was brilliant as the grief-stricken King Alonso. Josh, you were really great in a really dramatic role! And Calla, who played Ariel, was totally fantastic as Ariel. Lots of energy, but perfect at pulling out the dramatic moments and hope in Ariel. Everybody else was great too, but as they don't have blogs to link to, they don't get reviews. :P
*Okay, unbiased section ends*
But we heard lots of great reviews for the production and I (personally) think we really did it justice. Now, I'm all sad and I miss it.
Anyway, this is getting long, and it's getting late (for me), so I'm going to end it here. I'm going to get back to my daily posting, now that I have more time, so you will actually get a post tomorrow!
-Daniel
I'm back to posting! The Tempest is over! Yay! I mean, I have mixed feelings about it. I'm sad it's all over, but it's nice to have the weight off my shoulders. How did it go, you're probably asking? It was fantastic! Okay, I'm pretty (extremely) biased, but honestly, it really went well. On the marketing side, we had everything together (dates, advertising etc.) way sooner and that was really nice. As a small little theatre company, we're constantly improving and growing and learning, and this was definitely our best production. Hands down.
*The following section is unbiased*
We had a killer company too. First off, we had Nicole, who was a stage manager/lighting/understudy and general on-top-of-everything kind of person. Honestly, five days before opening, we found out that our actor playing Gonzalo couldn't make one of the performances. So we called in Dorothy, who was playing a spirit/mariner and asked her to play Gonzalo for that performance (the Saturday matinee) and in five days, she had Gonzalo's lines solid, all the blocking learned and the acting was all there. And then because Dorothy was now Gonzalo for the matinee, we asked Nicole if she would stand in for Dorothy. At a rehearsal, we went to run through the dance in Act II with Nicole, and gosh darnit, Nicole didn't even need that runthrough, because she already had it all perfect. I was honestly in awe. I've never understudied, but from what I've heard, if you can understudy, you can do anything, because when you understudy, you're not only learning your part, you're learning somebody else's! And for the record, the matinee was practically perfect and Dorothy and Nicole were fantastic! Yay Nicole and Dorothy!
And then we had Josh, who was brilliant as the grief-stricken King Alonso. Josh, you were really great in a really dramatic role! And Calla, who played Ariel, was totally fantastic as Ariel. Lots of energy, but perfect at pulling out the dramatic moments and hope in Ariel. Everybody else was great too, but as they don't have blogs to link to, they don't get reviews. :P
*Okay, unbiased section ends*
But we heard lots of great reviews for the production and I (personally) think we really did it justice. Now, I'm all sad and I miss it.
Anyway, this is getting long, and it's getting late (for me), so I'm going to end it here. I'm going to get back to my daily posting, now that I have more time, so you will actually get a post tomorrow!
-Daniel
Thursday, November 12, 2009
My life
After my last post, I took all of my own advice, (which really is good advice, honest)...and promptly got sick. Very unpleasant. Without getting a swab, it's pretty tough to tell exactly what it was, but it's looking like I had H1N1. I had like, all the symptoms. Honestly, I went through the list of symptoms and I had every, single one. Almost funny. Almost. But now I don't have to get the vaccine because I have the natural immunity. Yay?
Anyway.
The long and short of it is that I've missed three rehearsals that I should have been at, a piano lesson, a piano masterclass, a cello class (that I am supposed to accompany on piano), a flute lesson, a voice lesson and who knows what else. So I'm grumpy. Grrr. But I had a good music rehearsal today with the musicians for the Tempest. Actually, with only 3/5 of them, and then I had to play the other two parts on the piano. But it was good, and we went through all the pieces with the script and worked them in where they should go.
That's all for now.
Anyway.
The long and short of it is that I've missed three rehearsals that I should have been at, a piano lesson, a piano masterclass, a cello class (that I am supposed to accompany on piano), a flute lesson, a voice lesson and who knows what else. So I'm grumpy. Grrr. But I had a good music rehearsal today with the musicians for the Tempest. Actually, with only 3/5 of them, and then I had to play the other two parts on the piano. But it was good, and we went through all the pieces with the script and worked them in where they should go.
That's all for now.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
How to avoid getting H1N1
So wow, this H1N1 thing is getting pretty crazy everywhere. Everywhere I look, people are getting sick (even if it's not with H1N1). So here are my tips for staying healthy. They've all been said before, but they bear repeating and they've kept me healthy so far!
1. Drink lots of water/herbal tea. Lots and lots and lots. It's good for you.
2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. So eat more then one. And other fruits and veggies. They are also good for you. (Duh)
3. Get exercise, keep in shape. This is also important, as you need to be active in order to sustain a strong immune system. So walking, running, dancing, whatever. We have an ellipticle trainer that I hop on for an hour 3-4 times a week.
4. Wash your hands! Every time you shake hands with someone, before you eat, after you use the washroom, and at least once an hour!
5. Take Vitamin C + Echinacea. And possible ColdFX. That's what I take.
6. Cut down on/eliminate sugar. Freeze the rest of your halloween candy, until the flus have past.
7. Stay warm! Don't let your body get cold or your body will spend it's energy on warming you up, rather then fighting viruses. Put on a sweater, or run around the house.
8. And get lots of sleep!
1. Drink lots of water/herbal tea. Lots and lots and lots. It's good for you.
2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. So eat more then one. And other fruits and veggies. They are also good for you. (Duh)
3. Get exercise, keep in shape. This is also important, as you need to be active in order to sustain a strong immune system. So walking, running, dancing, whatever. We have an ellipticle trainer that I hop on for an hour 3-4 times a week.
4. Wash your hands! Every time you shake hands with someone, before you eat, after you use the washroom, and at least once an hour!
5. Take Vitamin C + Echinacea. And possible ColdFX. That's what I take.
6. Cut down on/eliminate sugar. Freeze the rest of your halloween candy, until the flus have past.
7. Stay warm! Don't let your body get cold or your body will spend it's energy on warming you up, rather then fighting viruses. Put on a sweater, or run around the house.
8. And get lots of sleep!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Honens
So, about a week ago, I had the great fortune to be able to go the Esther Honens International Piano Competition. Actually, I had great company too, as I went with my wonderful mother and my great friend Josh. Hey, speaking of Josh, why don't you hop over to his blog and remind him that he hasn't posted since March and that he should get back at that?
Anyway.
In short, it was just fantastic. Totally inspiring, and very exciting. It's an international competition, and the level of performance is incredible. We spent almost the entire time listening to concerts by the quarter-finalists, or master classes taught by the jurors to Alberta piano students, and heard a lot of great music. We all got kind of music-ed out. Wait, no, forget that. That's not really possible. But we did get a little exhausted from sitting in the performance hall just listening. By the end of it, my fingers were just itching to touch the keys. I couldn't wait to get home and practice. But yeah, very inspiring, and hopefully I'll be able to go to the next one (in three years from now).
Anyway.
In short, it was just fantastic. Totally inspiring, and very exciting. It's an international competition, and the level of performance is incredible. We spent almost the entire time listening to concerts by the quarter-finalists, or master classes taught by the jurors to Alberta piano students, and heard a lot of great music. We all got kind of music-ed out. Wait, no, forget that. That's not really possible. But we did get a little exhausted from sitting in the performance hall just listening. By the end of it, my fingers were just itching to touch the keys. I couldn't wait to get home and practice. But yeah, very inspiring, and hopefully I'll be able to go to the next one (in three years from now).
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