Well, my technology fiasco continued today. I'm telling you...someone is just playing a huge joke on me.
Long story short...I spent most of my morning in the service center, and even stumped the "techies" a few times because the equipment wasn't working. We finally (and I mean after a lot of problem solving, and running around in between rehearsals, etc...) got the proper segments of my tape onto a flash drive. I brought it home tonight after practicing to edit(at around 11:30pm), only to realize one of the solos was cut off too early! This means I have to go get the video camera, PROPER cord, keep Johann's laptop, and pretty much start over tomorrow. lovely.
I ran to the grocery store mid-afternoon (no food at home = bad nutrition decisions = grocery run was necessary) and bought a bag of candy for the service center guys. I will keep bribing them to be nice to me as long as I have to (which will be until I step off of swedish soil)!
11.2.10
10.2.10
Electronics + Maria = Disaster
I’m a smart girl. Give me a computer or small electronic device, and I can usually noodle around with it enough to figure out how it functions. So, when I found out I needed to make a DVD for the summer orchestra audition, I thought…no sweat!
I obviously sought out help when it came to the actual recording process (I am comfortable with the fact that I don’t know much about microphones!), but knew I could handle the actual editing part. I’ve made videos before…and even took a “technology in Music” class at Eastman and learned all about the video editing process on a Mac computer.
Regardless of my knowledge, this process has become such a headache! Yesterday, I borrowed a video camera (that came with the attachments) from our school’s service center and arranged to borrow my friend’s Mac in the evening. I planned all my practicing earlier in the day to be able to spend the night editing and getting some other work done.
But, after an hour of pushing buttons and searching various tech-help websites, I realized that I didn’t have the correct cord to link the camera to the computer. They only gave me a USB. Wonderful. Then after some complaining and searching for help via Facebook, I found out that a friend had a firewire cable I could use (Johann, the same guy who let me borrow his computer)
I thought we had it figured out…but, nope. This cable didn’t work either. The whole process what really making me upset, so I decided to drink a glass of wine and watch the lasted episode of “Grey’s Anatomy”. I was still frustrated, but at least then I was a little tipsy and entertained.
I went back into the service center today. I asked for a cable to use with a PC, but they didn’t have one, so I took one that is compatible with a Mac, and hoped that I could borrow Johann’s laptop again.
This evening I was busy until 10:30pm, and luckily Johann was home to help me. I went up to his place and we tried to import the video onto his computer. After about 20 minutes of fiddling with it…no luck. The computer was now recognizing the camera itself, but was only uploading a blank screen.
It’s days like this that I really miss my brother, who is amazing at this kind of stuff. And, it also reminds me to add “is good with all things electronic” to the list of traits that must exist in my future husband. :)
Tomorrow morning I’ll have march into the service center, flirt a little, and hopefully get this whole mess figured out!
I obviously sought out help when it came to the actual recording process (I am comfortable with the fact that I don’t know much about microphones!), but knew I could handle the actual editing part. I’ve made videos before…and even took a “technology in Music” class at Eastman and learned all about the video editing process on a Mac computer.
Regardless of my knowledge, this process has become such a headache! Yesterday, I borrowed a video camera (that came with the attachments) from our school’s service center and arranged to borrow my friend’s Mac in the evening. I planned all my practicing earlier in the day to be able to spend the night editing and getting some other work done.
But, after an hour of pushing buttons and searching various tech-help websites, I realized that I didn’t have the correct cord to link the camera to the computer. They only gave me a USB. Wonderful. Then after some complaining and searching for help via Facebook, I found out that a friend had a firewire cable I could use (Johann, the same guy who let me borrow his computer)
I thought we had it figured out…but, nope. This cable didn’t work either. The whole process what really making me upset, so I decided to drink a glass of wine and watch the lasted episode of “Grey’s Anatomy”. I was still frustrated, but at least then I was a little tipsy and entertained.
I went back into the service center today. I asked for a cable to use with a PC, but they didn’t have one, so I took one that is compatible with a Mac, and hoped that I could borrow Johann’s laptop again.
This evening I was busy until 10:30pm, and luckily Johann was home to help me. I went up to his place and we tried to import the video onto his computer. After about 20 minutes of fiddling with it…no luck. The computer was now recognizing the camera itself, but was only uploading a blank screen.
It’s days like this that I really miss my brother, who is amazing at this kind of stuff. And, it also reminds me to add “is good with all things electronic” to the list of traits that must exist in my future husband. :)
Tomorrow morning I’ll have march into the service center, flirt a little, and hopefully get this whole mess figured out!
8.2.10
week recap
I'm pretty amazed with how busy I became this week. I don't mind it, of course...and am actually feeling more like 'me' than ever before!
A lot of time is being sucked up by rehearsals because of all the performances coming up. (3 Midvinter concerts and SMASK..more on each of those later...I dare you to do a You-Tube search on SMASK...it'll make you laugh, and you can see what I just spent my entire weekend doing!!) Plus, I'm planning a solo recital for March 2 in the Black Box at the Acusticum. After tonight's awesome practice session I'm starting to get really exited about it...again, more on that later.
The highlight of this past week was recording my audition for the Baltic Youth Philharmonic (click for the website). I asked the same sound guys that did my recording before Christmas to help me out. I'm lucky to be able to count on them for these kinds of projects. Plus, we all have a lot of fun together, and I feel like I can be myself around them (meaning, I can embarass myself every 5 seconds and not think twice about it!) As a 'thank-you' I made them a treat....Swedish chokladbollar (chocolate balls). They are similar to the no-bake cookies my mom make, and they are super fun to make. So, I don't know which was most fun...preparing for the recording session by making treats, goofing off during the recording session, or actually making the music for the auditon. Hum. Whichever, it was a well spent few days!
A lot of time is being sucked up by rehearsals because of all the performances coming up. (3 Midvinter concerts and SMASK..more on each of those later...I dare you to do a You-Tube search on SMASK...it'll make you laugh, and you can see what I just spent my entire weekend doing!!) Plus, I'm planning a solo recital for March 2 in the Black Box at the Acusticum. After tonight's awesome practice session I'm starting to get really exited about it...again, more on that later.
The highlight of this past week was recording my audition for the Baltic Youth Philharmonic (click for the website). I asked the same sound guys that did my recording before Christmas to help me out. I'm lucky to be able to count on them for these kinds of projects. Plus, we all have a lot of fun together, and I feel like I can be myself around them (meaning, I can embarass myself every 5 seconds and not think twice about it!) As a 'thank-you' I made them a treat....Swedish chokladbollar (chocolate balls). They are similar to the no-bake cookies my mom make, and they are super fun to make. So, I don't know which was most fun...preparing for the recording session by making treats, goofing off during the recording session, or actually making the music for the auditon. Hum. Whichever, it was a well spent few days!
Making the chocolate balls! I was excited to use my hands to mix the dough! Diana, Anna, and Lou were amused!
yummmmmmy! and since I'm a Buckeye, I put peanuts in some of them...just a little Ohio flare in the Swedish recipe!
Anders, Jakob, Linus (who took some awesome photos for my next recital poster!), and Alex showing me their awesome marimba skills. I think they look like the Swedish version of a Mexican Marimba Band (look it up if you don't know what I'm talking about!)
After the recording the audition video. I owe them big time!
I was very relieved to be done recording the video, and enjoyed the stress and the social time the rest of the week. On Thursday night, Sara, David, Johan, and Conny cooked me an amazing meal...MOOSE! After my recital last term, they gave me a note saying that they wanted to cook me a 'congrats dinner', and well...it finally happened. Along with some amazing food, we spent about 4 hours chatting about anything everything! A lot of the conversation revolved around American and Swedish perceptions of each other, stereotypes, etc...which is really interesting to discuss...especially with people that I am really comfortable around and can be totally honest. I hadn't hung out with them much this month, so it was great to be able to just sit and talk. I really want to have more dinners like that!
Speaking of dinner, last night Lou made another great dinner for Anna and me...salmon, sweet potato mash, and risotto. Wow. I'm definitely not deprived of good food and good company!
Alright, I think I've killed enough time waiting for my laundry to be done. I need to get my bed linens out of the dryer so I can go to bed! It's about 1:30am (I'm missing the Super Bowl!) and I have a busy busy week ahead of me, followed by a weekend in Stockholm! Plus, I have to make some "what to do anout the future" decisions soon. sigh!
Earlier when I was skyping with my parents I asked them why the heck I chose to get so involved in music...such a hard career path...and they said that they know I like the challenge, and that it may be hard, but I'm doing what I love. Ugh! I guess they are right! Don't ya hate that!!?! :)
3.2.10
fake out!
Well, a ton has happened the past few days, but I am just too exhausted to write! I've been taking a lot of pictures and mental notes about what I want to share, but I'm afraid if I try to write now it will just be a bunch of random-ness!! So, I'm going to bed...but with a big smile on my face!
1.2.10
Sunday Whubbles
I spent a lot of time with some great gals this weekend. Friday night we decided to have an official "girl's night out". Anna, Lou, Hilma, and I started off at Anna's for dinner and to get all dolled up. We splurged for a cab (it was snowing, and we really didn't want to freeze in our heels during the 30 minute walk to town!) and met Venla, Nathelie, Lisa, and Anna at Challenge. We had a great time just sitting around and chatting, dancing, and having some very interesting conversations with some locals. It's nice to have some great girls to go out with and have fun!
The dinner was wonderful! Great conversation, great people. But then…a tragedy occurred...the zipper on my left boot broke! Oh no! Mira is so nice though, and is letting me borrow a pair of hers until I can either get mine fixed or buy a new pair (hummm....may have to use this as an excuse to go shopping!).
After the meal Mira, myself, and a girl named Eleonora went over to a friend's apartment for a "living room concert". I can't really describe the show, besides saying it was amazing! My friends Lisa and Rasmus were 2 of the 4 in the group...and I had no idea that the music, "elekroakustik pop", would be so unique and catchy. Check out their myspace page: SO.SO. very cool!
This morning I had to wake up early to study for my Swedish exam! I went to Helena's at 11am to take the test that I missed back in December when I left for home. Helena has a great apartment in town and after I took the test we had lunch and chatted for another 2 hours! She is originally from Lithuania and knows 6 languages. This was the first time we had the chance to get to know each other outside of school, and I hope that we get to hang out again...I'll have to invite her to the next girl's night!
I spent the afternoon at school practicing, and ran into Anna (of course!) We sat in the foajé and made fun of my yellow coat and huge, red gloves that say "Ohio State". Then we got out our planners to compare schedules for the week...it's so nice to have someone to count on and plan silly daily activities with! She also came over tonight for tea and a chat. I told her to bring over some work, because it's nice to just have someone around while studying/doing work. We had a lot of laughs, and got a lot done too! It's just like having a roomie!
While chatting, she taught me about the "Sunday Whubbles"...which is evidentially the uneasy feeling you get on Sunday nights when you're planning out the week ahead. I like that I'm busier now than when I first got here, and now that I'm trying to decide what to do next, I definitely am suffering from some uneasy feelings! So...here's the Sunday Whubbles and another week in Piteå!
pretty ladies!
Lisa and Venla
Anna S. and Hilma
Anna and Me!
We went back to Anna's after the night out and had an innocent little girlie sleepover! We were pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself. Minus the alcohol in our system and some racier conversation, it was just like we were 15...munching on chips and salsa, talking about boys, watching silly TV shows, and sleeping on the floor. In the morning we continued to be lazy and goofy until I had to leave for a rehearsal with the salsa band at 3pm.
The rehearsal was fun because we are feeling more comfortable around each other and having fun with the music. I've been getting to know the singer of the group, Mirjana, a lot better lately and ended up having dinner with her and her boyfriend that evening! The dinner was wonderful! Great conversation, great people. But then…a tragedy occurred...the zipper on my left boot broke! Oh no! Mira is so nice though, and is letting me borrow a pair of hers until I can either get mine fixed or buy a new pair (hummm....may have to use this as an excuse to go shopping!).
After the meal Mira, myself, and a girl named Eleonora went over to a friend's apartment for a "living room concert". I can't really describe the show, besides saying it was amazing! My friends Lisa and Rasmus were 2 of the 4 in the group...and I had no idea that the music, "elekroakustik pop", would be so unique and catchy. Check out their myspace page: SO.SO. very cool!
This morning I had to wake up early to study for my Swedish exam! I went to Helena's at 11am to take the test that I missed back in December when I left for home. Helena has a great apartment in town and after I took the test we had lunch and chatted for another 2 hours! She is originally from Lithuania and knows 6 languages. This was the first time we had the chance to get to know each other outside of school, and I hope that we get to hang out again...I'll have to invite her to the next girl's night!
I spent the afternoon at school practicing, and ran into Anna (of course!) We sat in the foajé and made fun of my yellow coat and huge, red gloves that say "Ohio State". Then we got out our planners to compare schedules for the week...it's so nice to have someone to count on and plan silly daily activities with! She also came over tonight for tea and a chat. I told her to bring over some work, because it's nice to just have someone around while studying/doing work. We had a lot of laughs, and got a lot done too! It's just like having a roomie!
While chatting, she taught me about the "Sunday Whubbles"...which is evidentially the uneasy feeling you get on Sunday nights when you're planning out the week ahead. I like that I'm busier now than when I first got here, and now that I'm trying to decide what to do next, I definitely am suffering from some uneasy feelings! So...here's the Sunday Whubbles and another week in Piteå!
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