Over the Hills and Far Away...

Last night I was having trouble practicing. I was not motivated. I was sick of all the pieces I'm working on. I just couldn't take it. So I did what I usually do when I'm feeling like nothing is worth my time or effort; I watched Youtube videos of music that inspires me. After the Saint Saens Organ Symphony (no.3) (which you may recognize if you've ever seen Babe), the finale from Stravinsky's The Firebird, and a little Andre Rieu (even if you don't know anything about music, you should find this funny. Where else in the history of the world can you find an orchestra full of middle-aged women in prom dresses complete with backup dancers?) I realized something about myself.

Lately I've found myself facing the reality that my life is not a fairytale. I read enough Jane Austen and listen to enough Strauss Waltzes to convince myself otherwise, but when push comes to shove I live in Minnesota (or Ohio, depending on the month). I have to practice flute to get better, and just like everyone else on Earth, I worry about paying for everything from my internet bill to a meal at Buffalo Wild Wings. And that is why I play music. Because when I play a piece I experience a story, almost another world. It goes beyond hearing the notes or even hearing changes in color or character. When I hear or perform the right piece, I get so involved in the characters and the story and the place where it's taking place that I actually feel like I'm in a different world. Take for example Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring (granted this is only the most familiar chunk, but it's just an example). Without looking at the slideshow that goes along with the video, just close your eyes and see where the music takes you! I believe more than anything that music is the most powerful imagery device in the world. Not everyone has to see the same scene, but it is near impossible to hear this piece and not feel...something! I am so passionate about music because even in the world of the 21st century, I get to live a fairytale.

Anyway enough of that. I am spending the day getting ready (packing, practicing, you know...) to go to Malibu tomorrow bright and early! In addition to making life-altering breakthroughs in my flute playing, I will be looking fabulous every day. A new section, 'What Hannah Wears' will be added to the blog after this week!

Finally, here are the next ten books on my list!

41. I, Claudius-Robert Graves

42. Invisible Man-Ralph Ellison

43. Jane Eyre-Charlotte Bronte

44. Light in August-William Faulkner

45. Lolita-Vladimir Nabokov

46. Lord of the Flies-William Goldring

47. The Lord of the Rings series-J.R.R. Tolkien

48. Madam Bovary-Gustave Flaubert

49. The Maltese Falcon-Dashiell Hammett

50. Middlemarch-George Eliot

It's Friday!

A trip to my favorite thrift store today was different than I had anticipated; first of all they seem to have jacked up the prices to about twice what they were last summer, secondly they re-arranged the store layout, so it took me a second to get oriented in what used to be such a familiar escape, and lastly I found a couple key items that I have actually been looking for! I suppose the most notable is a pair of Coach shoes (ok, they never have shoes in my monstrous 9 1/2, and Coach shoes? This is only the second pair I think I've ever seen there!) for only $5. They are out of season and the soles show a little wear, but all in all I'm thrilled to finally have a pair of hot heels that aren't black (all of my concert shoes are black...all five pairs of them...)!
I've recently been inspired by the mochila trend that I apparently missed for a couple of years, but thank God J Crew is just jumping on the bandwagon this season! Anyway, I found an awesome (presumably authentic) mochila shoulder bag today that is going to rock everyone else's socks off! I stocked up on a black tshirt and a short-sleeve oxford as well.
Anyway, although my day was probably most exciting to me, myself, and I, I thought I might as well share these finds with y'all who are interested.
In other news, I've been working on my own top 100 book list. I felt like the Modern Library's list was not quite my genre, so I compiled a list from about ten others that I found online. The books I've chosen are the ones that appeared on at least three of the lists. I will be posting it in increments of 10 so as not to overwhelm you, the reader. Enjoy!

1. 100 Years of Solitude-Gabriel Garcia Marquez
2. 1984-George Orwell
3. A Clockwork Orange-Anthony Burgess
4. A Farewell to Arms-Ernest Hemingway
5. A Passage to India-E. M. Forster
6. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man-James Joyce
7. The Age of Innocence-Edith Wharton
8. All the King's Men-Robert Penn Warren
9. An American Tragedy-Theodore Dreiser
10. Animal Farm-George Orwell