I am ecstatic. For the first time in my life, I had the privilege of fiddlin' around with a banjo player (banjoist? banjoer? -never mind)! I had brought my violin to a graduation party, hoping to be able to offer some music by way of congratulations. Well, it turns out the esteemed fellow is also an accomplished musician with considerable skill at playing various instruments. He disappeared for a short while and reappeared with that glorious moon-shaped drum of the steel strings, and we set to making some bluegrass happen.
I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I have always loved listening to down-home hoe-downs or foot-stomping fiddle tunes, and have watched those talented fiddlers' fingers fly on numerous occasions, but as yet I have not had the opportunity of studying this fascinating genre for the violin. I know from whom I'd like to learn, though. He's a local master of the instrument, and his fiddling gives off sparks - and that's what I'm talking about. The ability to sound like a train whistle. Well, to be fair, not only that. Also the ability to play incredibly complex runs of eighth notes on two strings at the same time!
So can you imagine my elation upon the offer to jam with a banjo? My friend plucked away at some great melodies, re-tuning his banjo a few times to switch songs, and we lost track of the hour as we threw in a few tricks here and there, a few discordant notes that made it interesting, and raised our eyebrows in appreciation. Other folks at the party stopped by to listen, clap along, possibly jig a bit - and one picked up a guitar to join us, easily following the simple chord patterns. If there is one thing I love about improvisation, it's this: I get to play whatever I feel! I can start and stop playing whenever I want, and generally goof around while the accompaniment instruments duke it out with their complex arpeggiated chords and inversions.
The icing on the cake was that one of the guys remarked, "I would pay to see you if you ever have a show," as we were winding down. Hello out there? That means I might have a future in bluegrass! ...a face-splitting smile and a shake of the head for that one. Oh, and profound thanks. Music is such a wonderful gift!
Life is far too short to die.
Hello, world!
This is more than just "carpe diem"... not a mere reincarnation nor a reinvention of self but a true journey of discovery. Join me as I delight in the little things in life on my quest to LIVE each day with all its joys and sorrows.
Dominum Optissimum Maximum!
Dominum Optissimum Maximum!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Hair Again
Hello, folks!
It has been quite the busy week. My latest exploration yielded some fascinating results. I have always been the kind of girl who tries to do something different with her hair almost every day... since it is such a versatile medium and, honestly, it's fun! I was intrigued by the intricate hairstyles of the past, woven in twists and braids, with ribbons and pins attached. Though hairstyling and braiding is only a hobby for me, it is a livelihood for others. I was able to find several clear, user-friendly tutorials on YouTube for some chic braided styles that seemed quite doable. I also found some that seemed near impossible, or simply ridiculous, and had a good laugh.
For one, I learned how to make a five-strand braid, which is actually easier than it sounds, provided you have five fingers on each hand which are extremely nimble and coordinated. The trick is in repeating, "Over, under," to yourself under your breath as you twist the strands of hair and tighten them every so often.
I also learned how to make an upside-down French braid and attach it to a high ballerina-style bun, a very classic and formal look. That particular style I attempted yesterday with wet hair, and it served me well throughout the day.
The most intricate design I found was a YouTube video in Russian that simply showed a woman braiding a model's hair by tying a series of overhand knots and linking them together into a sort of headband on each side, then braiding the tail and curling it around to form a spiral at the back of the head. It's a bit outrageous and very showy, but I think I'd like to try it, if only to say I could make it look reasonably good on the first attempt.
In my own experimenting, I have gradually become skilled with the placement of just a few pins to hold a hairstyle in place - they really are helpful if you know just the way to twist them in. I am interested in incorporating silk flowers into my hair designs, when I get the chance. I have preliminary sketches for a few hair ornaments, and I'd like to try chopsticks, as well - a coordinated set, that is. But let me not get ahead of myself.
Today I tried a trick with a challenging tool that is supposed to make hairstyles easier - the Bump-it. I borrowed one from a friend and parted my hair at the crown like you're supposed to do, then arranged the hair over the "bump", but found it didn't look all that attractive - so I took strands of hair that framed my face and wrapped them around the base of the bump to disguise it, sweeping my bangs back with a bit of mousse and pulling some twisted strands back over the top, hiding the ends with an artificial rose flower. In the end, I looked like a cross between an Asian elf (because I had long, soft curled strands of hair hanging in front of my ears) and a Polynesian princess (because of the flower). It was fun to create, but I don't think I'll be wearing a Bump-it again anytime soon.
Meanwhile, my brain has been suggesting all sorts of outrageous and fun ideas for home design, furniture and gadgets. I'm fond of patterns and coordination, but I am also intrigued by those little surprises that make life interesting and exciting. After all, life is too short to die, so I have to get back to keeping up with my imagination!
It has been quite the busy week. My latest exploration yielded some fascinating results. I have always been the kind of girl who tries to do something different with her hair almost every day... since it is such a versatile medium and, honestly, it's fun! I was intrigued by the intricate hairstyles of the past, woven in twists and braids, with ribbons and pins attached. Though hairstyling and braiding is only a hobby for me, it is a livelihood for others. I was able to find several clear, user-friendly tutorials on YouTube for some chic braided styles that seemed quite doable. I also found some that seemed near impossible, or simply ridiculous, and had a good laugh.
For one, I learned how to make a five-strand braid, which is actually easier than it sounds, provided you have five fingers on each hand which are extremely nimble and coordinated. The trick is in repeating, "Over, under," to yourself under your breath as you twist the strands of hair and tighten them every so often.
I also learned how to make an upside-down French braid and attach it to a high ballerina-style bun, a very classic and formal look. That particular style I attempted yesterday with wet hair, and it served me well throughout the day.
The most intricate design I found was a YouTube video in Russian that simply showed a woman braiding a model's hair by tying a series of overhand knots and linking them together into a sort of headband on each side, then braiding the tail and curling it around to form a spiral at the back of the head. It's a bit outrageous and very showy, but I think I'd like to try it, if only to say I could make it look reasonably good on the first attempt.
In my own experimenting, I have gradually become skilled with the placement of just a few pins to hold a hairstyle in place - they really are helpful if you know just the way to twist them in. I am interested in incorporating silk flowers into my hair designs, when I get the chance. I have preliminary sketches for a few hair ornaments, and I'd like to try chopsticks, as well - a coordinated set, that is. But let me not get ahead of myself.
Today I tried a trick with a challenging tool that is supposed to make hairstyles easier - the Bump-it. I borrowed one from a friend and parted my hair at the crown like you're supposed to do, then arranged the hair over the "bump", but found it didn't look all that attractive - so I took strands of hair that framed my face and wrapped them around the base of the bump to disguise it, sweeping my bangs back with a bit of mousse and pulling some twisted strands back over the top, hiding the ends with an artificial rose flower. In the end, I looked like a cross between an Asian elf (because I had long, soft curled strands of hair hanging in front of my ears) and a Polynesian princess (because of the flower). It was fun to create, but I don't think I'll be wearing a Bump-it again anytime soon.
Meanwhile, my brain has been suggesting all sorts of outrageous and fun ideas for home design, furniture and gadgets. I'm fond of patterns and coordination, but I am also intrigued by those little surprises that make life interesting and exciting. After all, life is too short to die, so I have to get back to keeping up with my imagination!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Repetition
Howdy, I hope you folks have been well!
I could use every cliché in the book to describe the various patterns that life can take - as a journey, with twists and turns, separations and reunions; as a circle that never ends; as a chalkboard upon which to be written, as a book with empty pages to fill; as a test to complete or a promise to fulfill. However, none of these analogies can fully encompass the reality of life. Philosophers have mused for millennia about what life is, its meaning an direction. Some say there is no direction, after pursuing it and coming up empty-handed. There are those who focus on the present moment and those who are trapped in their memories, those who are so busy with their "heads in the clouds" that they miss the experiences of the present, those who are looking so far down the road that they run into a barrier. We use so many approximations to describe our lives as a whole, or in little pieces, segments, characterized by events, people, experiences...
In a sense, we miss the point.
Life is about love. And learning, as I pointed out last week. Learning to love, learning what love is, learning to receive love. The late Pope John Paul II wrote to a young woman named Teresa, "It is not enough to give love; one must also be able to receive love." We spend so much time chasing after this and that, ideals of "success", things we want to have or accomplish. Sometimes we try to become a better version of ourselves, and sometimes we try to become a different person entirely. The general consensus is that being genuine, "true to oneself" is the best modus operandi, but that requires a thorough knowledge of oneself. The first ingredient then would be to engage in self-reflection which would enable integrity to flourish. As human beings who are neurologically wired for relationships, we need each other and learn from each other, imitating those we like or admire. If we pay attention to our own hearts, we will learn what we like and dislike, what brings us joy and sorrow, learning from our mistakes to be empathetic with others.
As a fallible human being, I fail quite often. It is said that the important thing is to get back up when you fall. From experience, I would say that this is true. Each new moment, each new day, is another opportunity to love, to choose to try again to do our best and serve others. The old acronym I learned in Sunday school as a child still applies: JOY =Jesus, Others, Yourself (in order of importance). I have wrestled with my melancholy side for a while now, and I am beginning to see that the real fight is in acceptance and choosing to wield the "attitude of gratitude" against the temptations of negative thoughts. Instead of focusing always on my weaknesses, I should acknowledge them and then seek to find ways to maximize my strengths as well as my weaknesses in the service of others and (indirectly) betterment of myself. All this, of course, in the context of praying constantly for the appropriate humility and grace to persevere as God wills.
Life is too short to always be thinking of death, and in so doing, dying without having lived. No, we must live even as we are dying...
I could use every cliché in the book to describe the various patterns that life can take - as a journey, with twists and turns, separations and reunions; as a circle that never ends; as a chalkboard upon which to be written, as a book with empty pages to fill; as a test to complete or a promise to fulfill. However, none of these analogies can fully encompass the reality of life. Philosophers have mused for millennia about what life is, its meaning an direction. Some say there is no direction, after pursuing it and coming up empty-handed. There are those who focus on the present moment and those who are trapped in their memories, those who are so busy with their "heads in the clouds" that they miss the experiences of the present, those who are looking so far down the road that they run into a barrier. We use so many approximations to describe our lives as a whole, or in little pieces, segments, characterized by events, people, experiences...
In a sense, we miss the point.
Life is about love. And learning, as I pointed out last week. Learning to love, learning what love is, learning to receive love. The late Pope John Paul II wrote to a young woman named Teresa, "It is not enough to give love; one must also be able to receive love." We spend so much time chasing after this and that, ideals of "success", things we want to have or accomplish. Sometimes we try to become a better version of ourselves, and sometimes we try to become a different person entirely. The general consensus is that being genuine, "true to oneself" is the best modus operandi, but that requires a thorough knowledge of oneself. The first ingredient then would be to engage in self-reflection which would enable integrity to flourish. As human beings who are neurologically wired for relationships, we need each other and learn from each other, imitating those we like or admire. If we pay attention to our own hearts, we will learn what we like and dislike, what brings us joy and sorrow, learning from our mistakes to be empathetic with others.
As a fallible human being, I fail quite often. It is said that the important thing is to get back up when you fall. From experience, I would say that this is true. Each new moment, each new day, is another opportunity to love, to choose to try again to do our best and serve others. The old acronym I learned in Sunday school as a child still applies: JOY =Jesus, Others, Yourself (in order of importance). I have wrestled with my melancholy side for a while now, and I am beginning to see that the real fight is in acceptance and choosing to wield the "attitude of gratitude" against the temptations of negative thoughts. Instead of focusing always on my weaknesses, I should acknowledge them and then seek to find ways to maximize my strengths as well as my weaknesses in the service of others and (indirectly) betterment of myself. All this, of course, in the context of praying constantly for the appropriate humility and grace to persevere as God wills.
Life is too short to always be thinking of death, and in so doing, dying without having lived. No, we must live even as we are dying...
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
All About Learning
Didactic, pedagogy, study, observation... these are some words that we use to describe teaching and learning, which are in reality two sides of the same coin. You see, learning is not just about memorization - it is also about applying the concepts and ideas we learn to our lives, attaching meaning and significance to the knowledge and skills we gain through the learning process. Learning sometimes happens as a result of another person teaching the learner, but it can also happen when the learner teaches someone else information that has recently been acquired. Some people prefer to learn by observing their surroundings, self-directed in their pursuit of knowledge - or skills; there are countless books in the do-it-yourself (DIY) sections of libraries nowadays.
...you can probably tell I've been sequestered in academic seclusion for the past few weeks. But hey, it pays off, eventually. We're down to the final crunch, the last few class sessions before final exams begin this Saturday. I have really enjoyed learning about so many things and interacting with my fellow classmates, discovering new capacities in myself and developing that potential towards my goals. Currently, I'm reflecting with increasing frequency on my life and who I am becoming. After all, since life is too short to die, I must focus on living, and developing myself to be the best person I can possibly be, to serve others and share in their lives. So much of life is about learning, from the time we are tiny budding cells, to holding our heads up, to taking our first steps, and even until old age when we might have to use a cane to walk. Sure, some of us are self-directed learners, but none of us - none of us - can say we did it all alone. So here's a toast to all the teachers in our lives - parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, foster parents, adoptive parents, mentors, schoolteachers, coaches, directors, best friends, and spouses, even children and the strangers we meet in our day-to-day journeys - here's to all of you. Thank you for deepening our experiences and understandings of ourselves and our surroundings. Thank you for loving us and helping us to learn and grow and live.
...you can probably tell I've been sequestered in academic seclusion for the past few weeks. But hey, it pays off, eventually. We're down to the final crunch, the last few class sessions before final exams begin this Saturday. I have really enjoyed learning about so many things and interacting with my fellow classmates, discovering new capacities in myself and developing that potential towards my goals. Currently, I'm reflecting with increasing frequency on my life and who I am becoming. After all, since life is too short to die, I must focus on living, and developing myself to be the best person I can possibly be, to serve others and share in their lives. So much of life is about learning, from the time we are tiny budding cells, to holding our heads up, to taking our first steps, and even until old age when we might have to use a cane to walk. Sure, some of us are self-directed learners, but none of us - none of us - can say we did it all alone. So here's a toast to all the teachers in our lives - parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, foster parents, adoptive parents, mentors, schoolteachers, coaches, directors, best friends, and spouses, even children and the strangers we meet in our day-to-day journeys - here's to all of you. Thank you for deepening our experiences and understandings of ourselves and our surroundings. Thank you for loving us and helping us to learn and grow and live.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)