Finals= Over, Life= Still Busy

Finals officially ended on Monday night. I went straight from my English final to my piano final (I was still contemplating Ayn Rand while performing my Bach minuet). So glad finals are over, and that I have a break from school. I really do believe I needed one; I was starting to write essays in my dreams (none of which helped me with my schoolwork though, they were mostly compare and contrasts on fruit of all things). And I feel as I am having a "finals" hangover. Is such a thing possible? Thinking powers are low, I am physically exhausted, and want to sit in the bookstore all day reading superfluous things. I don't feel as I am free yet, I don't feel as if any restrictions have been lifted. Maybe this is because I have a lot I have to accomplish over the summer. I am still glad to be away from the classroom for a little bit. However, I miss my teachers, and I will probably want to be back in the class room within three weeks.

Now, I am focusing more on my piano and violin. Oh, and there are essay competitions to be attended to, and some photography to have fun with. Did I mention how much I missed my creative writing? Lots of things to do still, but I get to create my schedule, and there will be no test anxiety! I will not conduct myself by the judgment of others, I am the only one to judge my work.

Some Relief

I am honestly ready for finals to be over. I'm tired of writing essays on overplayed topics. I'm tired of "playing ball," so to speak (funny that "so to speak," is used after a colloquial term to show that your using a colloquial phrase, but it's a colloquial phrase itself). But the good news is I seem to making steady progress on these essays, and I will finish them in time with perfection.

Bad news is coffee and chocolate are failing.... my usual conduits for revitalization. Feeling a little better tonight though. Being extra careful about what I eat (no meat at all, no processed chemically food, and of course no wheat), seems to finally be helping some.

Piano piece is coming along nicely. The only thing I have to worry about is getting nervous when playing in front of my fellow students. Something I seem to have no control over, even if my mind is calm my hands start shaking, and if my hands are calm my mind goes blank. I am determined to move pass this. Perhaps try to do some other performances?

Oh, and I need to start looking for private piano teacher. Excited! This summer will be the ultimate summer of improvement. Great things will happen.

Tomorrow morning is violin lessons. Super happy about this, as it is a very nice way to start the day. :D

Busy Schedule, Busy Mind

First off, I have finished my first final. Math= demolished. I finished the test an hour early, and so did the problems again, and then figured out different ways to do them.... and then figured out different ways to prove them. I still left early... happy and relieved! My professor could have designed the test so that everyone would fail.

A funny thing that happened, is I finally talked to this other student who I had noticed the whole semester. He was quiet throughout the whole semester, but was always taking notes or working out problems that the teacher had put up on the board. Turns out he is a very smart 16 year old that can carry on a conversation than most people, which I didn't totally expect. It's nice to talk to intelligent people. :)

I'm about ready for this semester to be over. I will miss my teachers a lot (who else is going to listen to my, as my sister calls it,"geek talk"?), but I'm so physically exhausted. I'll still be busy with all my essay competitions and music lessons when the finals are finally over, but I'll probably have more time to focus on the needs of my body, instead of just the needs of my brain.

Much more going on, but just too tired to write it.

Morning.... no Morningish (a brilliant word)

I have violin this afternoon, instead of tomorrow morning. Schedule change doesn't cause a problem, and there is an advantage, which is that I can practice before I see my teacher. A nice warm up; my muscles might actually do the proper thing while in class.

I think violin is actually a whole body and mind workout. Fingering must be right, and then shoulder must be relaxed, and so must the arm (this concept has always annoyed me, because you are using the arm to bow, so muscles must be engaged!). But I'm actually starting to understand this whole muscle engaged-but-relaxed thing, and the hindrances of being a beginner violinist are fading--I am actually starting to play pieces! A goal that I have permitted myself to feel gratified upon reaching. It is actually non-instant gratification, something I approve of.

And now I'm learning the same piece on the violin and the piano.... slightly excited about it.

Besides violin and piano, I have been equally busy with schoolwork, if not more busy. I am going to be engaging myself in the exciting process of writing essays! Sarcasm? Slightly. I have found myself enjoying my essays, but I'm starting to get bored of the topics I have been given. I must have an original idea on the subjects given, but have to find research to back up this original thought. Paradox? Catch 22? Irony???? All of the above. But I can play this game. :)

At least I will be able accomplish math without much effort, if any at all. My teacher told me I could fail the final and still get an A in the class. A tempting thought.... Joke.

My demanding day shall begin with these pieces:

1. Symphony No. 5 In D Major, Op. 107 by Mendelssohn

(I don't believe I have to explain the reason for my choice)

2. Sonata in D Major, Op. 1 No. 13 (HWV 371): II. Allegro by Handle

(Energized much? Well now I am)

3. Pachelbel's Canon in D Major by Pachelbel

(Always found it weird how is name is in the title; I'm sure it wasn't there originally, and I'm sure our culture is responsible for this mutilation. Either way, I know this piece is , cliché but don't judge. We all go there sometimes.)

4. Waltz in C sharp minor by Chopin

(Romantic, but not so Romantic that I get distracted. Serious... like it.)