The good, the bad, and the ugly

The good news is I got a B+ on my Chemistry test.

The bad news is that my score was 60 out of 90.

The ugly news is that the class average was a 45 out of 90.


You gotta love Bell curves!

More junk food woes

You know, I don't even consume all that much junk food. Just some occasional candy. But apparently the powers that be do not want me to enjoy my glucose elevating experience. Here's a note I just sent to the Twix people:


I would like to start off by saying that Twix is my favorite candy bar and I normally consume about two bars every week. My experiences had always been wonderful until recently. The only reason I decided to write was that both negative things occurred within the same week and concerns me. The first was that I purchased a "limited edition" version of Twix that was not to my liking. The wrapper was of similar color as regular Twix so even though it did say "limited edition" on it I figured it had to do with some sort of contest or a historical wrapper of sorts. Well much to my dismay when I opened it I realized it was a dark chocolate version of Twix. I don't like dark chocolate at all and neither did any of my friends, so I was forced to throw it out. Then yesterday I bought a new bar, checking carefully to make sure it wasn't a special edition. I was eagerly anticipating the familiar Twix taste. However, though the expiration date on the bar isn't until June of this year, the bars were both stale tasting. Actually, it was as though they had been frozen at some point. The caramel was not tender, instead it was tough like a taffy. The cookie was too crumbly and a bit bland. And so I was dissapointed yet again at not being able to enjoy my favorite bar. I feel badly about not having written earlier to say how much I enjoy Twix. But as a fan I felt it necessary to make you aware of possible quality problems and possible confusion regarding the limited edition version. I think that for something as radical as using a completely different type of chocolate coating, the wrapper should be VERY different from the original. Maybe it should have been a black wrapper. Something more blatant than the small blue box may have worked better.

Thanks for listening and am looking forward to your response.

Stupid newscasters

Last night I had either CBS or ABC on as background noise while I worked on some Chemistry problems (for that damn test tomorrow). They were talking about a case of a cat being kidnapped in a posh Manhattan neighborhood. The owner thinks it's somewhere in the building. She received an anonymous note saying that the cat had bonded with an autistic child so the kidnapper couldn't bear to separate the two. She will never see her cat again but can rest assured that it would be well taken care of.

Then the reporter mentions how the cat has a microchip between her shoulder blades and so next time kitty goes the vet, the vet will immediately be able to tell that this is a missing cat and alert authorities.

Now that she blabbled that on TV do you really think that the poor kitty will ever get a check-up again?

STUPID!! What the hell was the point of saying that?! That required more than one person's lack of foresight.

As my Dad says: "It's idiot country out there. "

For the land of the freeeeeeeeeeeee

Sorry to anyone who's reading this. I've been a bit busy. But I do mean to make some updates in the next few days (once I'm done with this upcoming Chemistry test).

In the meantime I have been cheating on this blog with my new blog. Because I don't want to saturate this one with my oboe and other classical stuff I've created a new blog that is all about that. If you're very bored check out Dominican oboist.

I hope to make a post about my job soon. One that will answer once and for all the "what is it that you do at work?" question.

About me

1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A SECOND HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
Since I probably couldn't build a house in NYC, I'd have to say in DR then.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING?
My Legolas t-shirt. And my "cool cat" one (cat with a saxophone).

3. THE LAST CDs YOU BOUGHT?
Oboe Obsession (Allan Vogel) and Classical Underground (Imani Winds)

4. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
7:45. After a few snoozes.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?
Hmm, I have a large collection of kitchen appliances, but if I had to pick a favorite I'd pick my vegetable steamer. I rarely ate veggies before I had it.

6. IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I've found my dream instrument already (oboe). Some day I'd like to play it and the English Horn very well. But if I had to play another one entirely I'd pick either the French Horn or the Double Bass.

7. FAVORITE COLOR?
The dark blue hues of the sky at dusk.

8. WHICH VEHICLE DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR, MOTORCYCLE, OR SUV?
My favorite car right now is the Infiniti FX35 which I guess counts as an SUV.

9. DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE AFTERLIFE?
Yes.

10. FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK?
I was into Judy Blume and "Choose Your Own Adventure" books during grammar school. But from about 6th grade on my favorite books were the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
Late Spring/early Summer.

12. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?
No tattoos, but I admit that at times I've wanted to get one of an anhk.

13. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Flying would be cool. Or invisibility. Or how about "tomorrow I wake up as a wonderful concert musician even though I didn't start playing at 4"? Actually I just thought of one! Turning back time!

14. CAN YOU JUGGLE?
Nope and never really felt the desire to.

15. ONE PERSON/PEOPLE FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK TO?
Any of my grandparents or my cousin Gladys.

16. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED?
Amazingly, nothing.

17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DAY?
Friday

18. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?
I hate sushi. I've tried it several times already and still hate it. I hope I never have to eat it again. Give me a bacon cheddar cheeseburger anytime instead.

19. FROM THE PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY READ YOUR BLOG, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
Not sure anyone is really reading this.

20. ON WHICH BLOG DID YOU FIND THIS MEME?
Terminal Degree's. Just discovered her blog today through oboeinsight.

21. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER?
Iris. Oh, and orchids.

23. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL?
I feel like this one is in every quiz. Rice, black beans, fried steaks, and maduros (fried ripe plantians).

24. DESCRIBE YOUR PJS.
I like to wear cotton nighties.

25. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST?
Hmm. Maybe french toast with bacon. Or an English muffin accompanied by a white chocolate raspberry latte.

26. DO YOU LIKE YOUR JOB?
Not one bit. But I am not any closer to finding one that I would like.

27. WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB?
Part-time physician, part-time musician.

28. WHAT AGE DO YOU PLAN TO RETIRE?
Who knows. Maybe never at the rate I'm going.

29. WHERE DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
At church :-)

30. SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT YOU HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE.
Play in a symphony orchestra. Go to Europe. Quit this job and not come back.

Limited Edition Twix

Some of you may know that lately I've been craving chocolate. I wasn't into it much before but for some reason (hormones) I know crave chocolate on a monthly basis. Most of the time I get my fix from Twix.

Last Wednesday I decided to allow myself one and ate a small lunch in order to save up some calories for my treat. I ran to the vending machine right before class and noticed that the wrapper looked different. I figured they decided to update their look. When I get to class and am opening the bar I noticed that it said "limited edition" and "DARK chocolate" on it. Sure enough when I open the bloody thing the bars looked like two turds! And they pretty much tasted like that too.

I HATE DARK CHOCOLATE!

Say "no" to this nasty Twix impersonator too!

Say "no" to J. Ho!

I liked her when she first came out but haven't liked her for a while and this just makes me like her even less.

Be warned: the video on that site is EXTREMELY graphic. I myself didn't see it because animal cruelty upsets me very much but my husband saw it and was appalled.

I'm in!

After loving Classical music from the sidelines all my life, I think I can now, finally, say that I have penetrated its inner sanctum. Having grown up with a pretty severe inferiority complex, I never deemed myself worthy of being a member of that clique. When I finally began my music training in college it was with much trepidation. I felt like I was stepping on hallowed ground. I was in it, but more as a spectator. It was as though I was auditing my entire music major. I could learn about it but never really be a part of it. Never be one of those beautiful people lugging their instruments around as though they were natural appendages. I thought I simply did not have the talent nor the discipline. But I was content to approach as a brain game. And for a while that sufficed.

But as I've matured (it's about time) I realized that there is no secret password. There are no rites, no selling of your soul to the devil. All you have to do is really want to be a part of it. To really, truly cherish the music. To feel it coursing through your veins and burning your heart. To want to participate in it with every part of your being. And then you have to work towards it with love, patience, and diligence. Don't worry, it starts paying back dividends of happiness and peace immediately.

Every day I am more and more thankful and honored that I've been given the chance to became a part of it all. Better late than never.