Dear all,
Birgit has decided to face winter time and spent entire days searching for the warmest jacket available.
The result: something that apparently feels like a sleeping bag, only shaped as a jacket (is anybody familiar with Meeshalawn or something pronounced like that?). My furry nature does not really allow me to comment on temperatures, but judging by the look on her face and yesterday´s phone-call with Bea she is in "temperature heaven"!
Apart from that, more stories from our household:
-my friend Emilia is happy, apparently there is some studying starting and Olivia, Punica and all the other plants and herbs in the house like the studying. Hopefully B will always remember to make sure that she actually plugs in the headphones when she plays after 10 pm, the neighbours might not be too thrilled about learner sessions in the middle of the night :))))
-Myself, I moved from sitting on Emilia to sitting in the window, observing the snow-flakes dancing outside, watching the lights being switched on and off when it is already dark, thinking of all my furry and human friends, fur-maintenance, past and next adventures with B, my cousin who quite soon will be here.
- We are seriously thinking about getting rid of the sofa, B is bugged about it for a very long time already and if it weren´t for the worry of where people will actually sit when they come to visit. By the way, B wonders: Do you guys have something really practical that bugs you in your house? Does it make sense to get rid of it against all common sense?
- A couple of nights ago, I spent the night in the dormitory chair and Sally the salt-lamp distributed a lot of salt in the air! She descends from salt minery in a mountain very far away and has bulb in the belly, she looks so nice and warm!
- I have yet to tell you so much more stuff but today time is limited, I think I am being taken to the sink for a bath, B is cleaning the house and me. B already took a foto from me "hanging out, I promise to send it to you asap.
Toodles,
Sam
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
it´s snowing in Köln
view from my living roomDear all,
it is snowing! Time for:
- hot vine on the Christmas Market
- little light during the day
- in my specific case, a new, North-pole proofed jacket and a hat at all times
- make sure all the bulbs in the house are working
- a warm blanket to wrap oneself in during the night
- winter skirts and very warm tights
- spicy potatoe -curry-garlic soup
-a warm thought for Schnuckies
- my friends annual advent gathering
- Sam´s birthday ( dear Sam, this year we will keep it in a small circle, but next year there is going to be cocktail-party including a piano session :) )
-Emilia, Emilia, Emilia (we started the Moonlight sonata by Beethoven on Thursday night!)
A big hug to you all! Also from Sam, he thinks snow is fun, it melts on his fur and he thinks it spares him a cleaning ritual :)
B
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Dear Anina...
...
It´s your birthday tomorrow and be sure I will be thinking of you :)
Remember the gift you made me with the autobiography of Hélène Grimaud?
To all of you out there, whenever I listen to the pianist Hélène performing pieces of Brahms, I figure he must be smiling somewhere. We cannot really be sure what he would have liked to hear but in comparison to other interpretations, personally she seems to touch me the most, so please accept my apologies for this strange statement here :)
I had to research a little and look what I found:
A documentary!
Hélène performing Brahms op 79!!
With a big bow around it, hope you will not read this before tomorrow :)
Hugsies, dear,
Bridget
It´s your birthday tomorrow and be sure I will be thinking of you :)
Remember the gift you made me with the autobiography of Hélène Grimaud?
To all of you out there, whenever I listen to the pianist Hélène performing pieces of Brahms, I figure he must be smiling somewhere. We cannot really be sure what he would have liked to hear but in comparison to other interpretations, personally she seems to touch me the most, so please accept my apologies for this strange statement here :)
I had to research a little and look what I found:
A documentary!
Hélène performing Brahms op 79!!
With a big bow around it, hope you will not read this before tomorrow :)
Hugsies, dear,
Bridget
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Emilia´s plan
you might already be familiar with this foto
After nerv-wrecking working days, a little bit confusion on the days without the clear frame that a working day provides, I have started having "concentrated" piano sessions, being at home until the end of November simply having fun with Emilia, my dear piano. Sam usually sits on the piano and the books are in the shelf :)
I have given my beginner pieces to Ray so she might have fun with them in Italy (there are two pianos in her monastery).
Hence, I chose some new stuff and here we go.
The first real piece I am working on is supposedly from Petzold. I had learned it months ago. It´s a small piece and since I thought that my old metronom (older than a hundred years I think), was making fun of the speed I was applying, I bought a new one, much tinier (Samuel-size). So we (Emilia, the precise metronom and me) were quite amazed about having to change the order of fingers that will play the actual notes, otherwise I won´t keep the piece together (don´t know how to say that in English). In German the determination of notes/fingers is called "Fingersatz". Very good pianists might be able to vary the order and find the notes on the fly. I am not. And I believe that the brain has a memory for the procedure of things. And for me, a beginner with Emilia, it is very important to find a way to feel comfortable with one specific Fingersatz so after a while I won´t have to think anymore, not sure if I am explaining well.
So, since my first version of that piece without metronom was different, I am "re-wiring" my brain for the new way. Slowly and in peace, exercising with the right hand, the left hand, both hands synchronized.
It is such an adventure and so good! Thank God I am used to the procedure of learning to play an instrument, so this is far less scary than it sounds. And I think all of you know what I am talking about: there is something rewarding about it.
At some point, some varying feels good, so I also bought piano-pieces from Shakira and am slowly getting into accompagnying songs.
But it takes time and I will not sing at the moment, my voice feels a bit rusty and my brain has enough to handle by coordinating my hands and thank God I don´t have to dance :)
Well, you see, a lot of stuff is going on and I need a goal to work on. So Emilia and me are planning to have a concert in one year. Beginner pieces, cocktails and a frame we will have to define. Do not expect the Goldbergvariations but a happy me.
In the spirit of soonissimo I am keeping you up-to date on this one.
After nerv-wrecking working days, a little bit confusion on the days without the clear frame that a working day provides, I have started having "concentrated" piano sessions, being at home until the end of November simply having fun with Emilia, my dear piano. Sam usually sits on the piano and the books are in the shelf :)
I have given my beginner pieces to Ray so she might have fun with them in Italy (there are two pianos in her monastery).
Hence, I chose some new stuff and here we go.
The first real piece I am working on is supposedly from Petzold. I had learned it months ago. It´s a small piece and since I thought that my old metronom (older than a hundred years I think), was making fun of the speed I was applying, I bought a new one, much tinier (Samuel-size). So we (Emilia, the precise metronom and me) were quite amazed about having to change the order of fingers that will play the actual notes, otherwise I won´t keep the piece together (don´t know how to say that in English). In German the determination of notes/fingers is called "Fingersatz". Very good pianists might be able to vary the order and find the notes on the fly. I am not. And I believe that the brain has a memory for the procedure of things. And for me, a beginner with Emilia, it is very important to find a way to feel comfortable with one specific Fingersatz so after a while I won´t have to think anymore, not sure if I am explaining well.
So, since my first version of that piece without metronom was different, I am "re-wiring" my brain for the new way. Slowly and in peace, exercising with the right hand, the left hand, both hands synchronized.
It is such an adventure and so good! Thank God I am used to the procedure of learning to play an instrument, so this is far less scary than it sounds. And I think all of you know what I am talking about: there is something rewarding about it.
At some point, some varying feels good, so I also bought piano-pieces from Shakira and am slowly getting into accompagnying songs.
But it takes time and I will not sing at the moment, my voice feels a bit rusty and my brain has enough to handle by coordinating my hands and thank God I don´t have to dance :)
Well, you see, a lot of stuff is going on and I need a goal to work on. So Emilia and me are planning to have a concert in one year. Beginner pieces, cocktails and a frame we will have to define. Do not expect the Goldbergvariations but a happy me.
In the spirit of soonissimo I am keeping you up-to date on this one.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
it´s birthday time - it blows....
Hi all,
another guide through life.
Today: how do I get rid of being annoyed about my upcoming birthday, same thing with Christmas (also a birthday so it seems to fit somehow, nah, that logic does not really make sense)? Wise people keep telling me I should celebrate and enjoy, but there are 364 other days to celebrate other things....
Today, I spent the almost entire day on the couch (apart from playing with Emilia and buying the following ice-cream), inhaling mango ice-cream, watching movies.
As if I had seen it coming, aversion therapy :) : put my birthday on skype days ago. Might bring cake to the office, don´t know yet, since I will only be back by the end of the month. Writing this helps, too, though it bugs me a little.
Tomorrow I will go to the philharmonie brunch, the orchestra is rehearsing. Will keep up with Sam´s "buy-day"-party in the beginning of December I guess. Maybe I should have a chat with the actor Ethan Hawke, he was born on the same day as me, does anybody happen to have his number :)))).
Boy, these are luxury problems, reading this makes me already feel better :) could we stick to the happy-non-birthday principle like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland?
Got any other suggestions for this case of birthday aversion? What is the most fun for you guys when it comes to your birthdays?
A big hug to all of you,
B
another guide through life.
Today: how do I get rid of being annoyed about my upcoming birthday, same thing with Christmas (also a birthday so it seems to fit somehow, nah, that logic does not really make sense)? Wise people keep telling me I should celebrate and enjoy, but there are 364 other days to celebrate other things....
Today, I spent the almost entire day on the couch (apart from playing with Emilia and buying the following ice-cream), inhaling mango ice-cream, watching movies.
As if I had seen it coming, aversion therapy :) : put my birthday on skype days ago. Might bring cake to the office, don´t know yet, since I will only be back by the end of the month. Writing this helps, too, though it bugs me a little.
Tomorrow I will go to the philharmonie brunch, the orchestra is rehearsing. Will keep up with Sam´s "buy-day"-party in the beginning of December I guess. Maybe I should have a chat with the actor Ethan Hawke, he was born on the same day as me, does anybody happen to have his number :)))).
Boy, these are luxury problems, reading this makes me already feel better :) could we stick to the happy-non-birthday principle like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland?
Got any other suggestions for this case of birthday aversion? What is the most fun for you guys when it comes to your birthdays?
A big hug to all of you,
B
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
peace :)
It´s that easy:
On the last before your holidays:
-delegate as much as possible so your colleague won´t drown
-shut down the company laptop (and leave it there, too!)
-try to forget the password so you won´t look up things in the company mail via web accessed mail
Then:
-shake off the last weeks by speeding down everything for a couple of days
-look outside your window and smile
-start your piano sessions and smile
-have a nap
-have a tea
-enjoy a free concert in the university of music
-smile
-worry for a second about something at work
-smile
in the meantime:
-watch out for the best food
-your friends
-brush the pink imaginary elephant you have trumpeting in your living room in order to avoid thinking about a colleague
I am happy and thinking of all of you.
B
On the last before your holidays:
-delegate as much as possible so your colleague won´t drown
-shut down the company laptop (and leave it there, too!)
-try to forget the password so you won´t look up things in the company mail via web accessed mail
Then:
-shake off the last weeks by speeding down everything for a couple of days
-look outside your window and smile
-start your piano sessions and smile
-have a nap
-have a tea
-enjoy a free concert in the university of music
-smile
-worry for a second about something at work
-smile
in the meantime:
-watch out for the best food
-your friends
-brush the pink imaginary elephant you have trumpeting in your living room in order to avoid thinking about a colleague
I am happy and thinking of all of you.
B
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