1. It's crazy taking 2 history classes and a theory class in one semester. All that on top of a doctoral recital. I just can't keep track of what's due when.
2. Teaching the same two MUS 121 music appreciation sections. Poor kiddos had to deal with faculty changes three times in a matter of 7 days.
3. I didn't know I give killer tests until one test came back with blood on it! Dr. H at WSU would be proud and amused. Less than 10% flunked :)
4. Trying also to get the contra dance group to get off the ground and I will probably invest in dance shoes pretty soon.
5. Learning to sell football tickets and my precious junk by posting flyers. I don't think I've given out my cellphone no so randomly before.
6. There's one more piece of paperwork for me as a teacher this semester. Hopefully this increase is only one a semester.. so I'll look forward to 3 more pieces. What's the redtape all about?
7. Health insurance is paid for starting this year, so that means a pay raise of about $1000.
8. Facebook is like the official unofficial notice board. I hate it!
9. Moving is no fun but a good way to trim junk.
10. I now actually do sleep with my computer and my piano library. They're all in the bedroom... nightmarish huh?
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Sunday, September 3, 2006
The Malaysian Review Part II
Here are the ones about me & the Chinese etudes:
"We thought you were playing four instruments up there."
"I never thought the piano could sound like that... so many instruments."
"We've not heard pieces like that before and seen the piano treated this way."
I'm glad I accomplished what I wanted to communicate to the audience. Those were the remarks I was hoping to hear. Maybe there is a chance for the piano to be loved in Malaysia, not just played for exams.
"We thought you were playing four instruments up there."
"I never thought the piano could sound like that... so many instruments."
"We've not heard pieces like that before and seen the piano treated this way."
I'm glad I accomplished what I wanted to communicate to the audience. Those were the remarks I was hoping to hear. Maybe there is a chance for the piano to be loved in Malaysia, not just played for exams.
Friday, September 1, 2006
Going to the Taiping Zoo
Now, now.. yes.. I've not been to this zoo since I was five. And for good reason too, the last time I was there, a monkey attacked me. Funny, yeah yeah!!
Sheri: Going to the zoo with you guys is like walking into a grocery store. How many things do you guys eat? (Yes, we did point at all the animals and plants that we'd eat given the chance and given a chef.)
Highlights at the zoo include:
1. Annoying a king cobra so much that it flared its hood. No one likes to be woken up rudely!
2. Being approached by a lovely deer, begging for some attention. Bright eyes and a lovely coat. This was some Bambi!
3. The sun bear showed us how well it could balance itself by pacing to and fro .. maybe about only 6" wide before it'd fall into the little moat in its enclosure.
4. Orang utans are smart animals. One of them put on a great show for us, by waving a leaf and then getting her partner to join her.
Well, after all maybe the animals found us to be just as or more amusing. Silly humans!
Sheri: Going to the zoo with you guys is like walking into a grocery store. How many things do you guys eat? (Yes, we did point at all the animals and plants that we'd eat given the chance and given a chef.)
Highlights at the zoo include:
1. Annoying a king cobra so much that it flared its hood. No one likes to be woken up rudely!
2. Being approached by a lovely deer, begging for some attention. Bright eyes and a lovely coat. This was some Bambi!
3. The sun bear showed us how well it could balance itself by pacing to and fro .. maybe about only 6" wide before it'd fall into the little moat in its enclosure.
4. Orang utans are smart animals. One of them put on a great show for us, by waving a leaf and then getting her partner to join her.
Well, after all maybe the animals found us to be just as or more amusing. Silly humans!
Malacca, July 23
We arrived in the historic city of Malacca and were hosted by Dr. Francis Yip. We found out that the sanctuary in Malacca Wesley also had pretty good acoustics. We were visiting when it was also Youth Sunday so they were in charge of the worship service as far as all the music was concerned.
Our hotel was in the historic district and it was quite an experience to walk around that area. We saw an iguana swimming in the river and I guess, it probably thinks of the vehicles that pass by as its lunch cart. There was a night market in the next street and they sold some pretty interesting items.
Performing in the sanctuary.
Dinner party and informal performance at Dr. Yip's home.
Mr. & Mrs. Taylor presented with a painting by Malaysian artist, Jehan Chan. A gift from Francis and Gillian Yip.
We had an unfortunate event in Malacca. Our borrowed Merc had a window that was smashed and a document folder was taken. However, nothing of value was stolen and we had to deal with a slight inconvenience of replacing the window. Then, on the 24th we were off to Penang Island.
Our hotel was in the historic district and it was quite an experience to walk around that area. We saw an iguana swimming in the river and I guess, it probably thinks of the vehicles that pass by as its lunch cart. There was a night market in the next street and they sold some pretty interesting items.
Performing in the sanctuary.
Dinner party and informal performance at Dr. Yip's home.
Mr. & Mrs. Taylor presented with a painting by Malaysian artist, Jehan Chan. A gift from Francis and Gillian Yip.
We had an unfortunate event in Malacca. Our borrowed Merc had a window that was smashed and a document folder was taken. However, nothing of value was stolen and we had to deal with a slight inconvenience of replacing the window. Then, on the 24th we were off to Penang Island.
Travel Tips - NO Liquids allowed!
Alright.. it was awful to travel under those restrictions as it changed a week before I was supposed to come back to the USA. I had to do some repacking and figure out how to take care of myself for that 36-hr journey.
No toothpaste allowed? Bring this instead, Listerine Pocketpacks & toothbrush.
No gel deodorants? Solids are fine, talcum does the job too.
No facial cleansers/moisturizer? Ponds or Olay Daily Facials.. they are dry. Check to make sure it's alcohol-free if you have dry skin. I actually used a plain fragrance-free, dye-free lipbalm as a moisturizer. It worked!
No liquid lipgloss, that included Blistex & Carmex jars? Solid lipgloss.
No antiseptic or anti-itch creams? I was attacked by mosquitos as you can see in my earlier posting.. I found 24-hr anti-itch insect bite patches made by Hansaplast, Germany. Thank goodness for those, I survived my journey without scratching.
For the latest travel announcements & what you can and cannot bring, check out the TSA website. Here's to air travel of the 21st century!!
No toothpaste allowed? Bring this instead, Listerine Pocketpacks & toothbrush.
No gel deodorants? Solids are fine, talcum does the job too.
No facial cleansers/moisturizer? Ponds or Olay Daily Facials.. they are dry. Check to make sure it's alcohol-free if you have dry skin. I actually used a plain fragrance-free, dye-free lipbalm as a moisturizer. It worked!
No liquid lipgloss, that included Blistex & Carmex jars? Solid lipgloss.
No antiseptic or anti-itch creams? I was attacked by mosquitos as you can see in my earlier posting.. I found 24-hr anti-itch insect bite patches made by Hansaplast, Germany. Thank goodness for those, I survived my journey without scratching.
For the latest travel announcements & what you can and cannot bring, check out the TSA website. Here's to air travel of the 21st century!!
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