So – I’ve been keeping pretty busy. Full-time job. Writing program/writing tutor (haven’t done much of that yet though). Drum lessons. Orchestra. Volunteering for a local shelter at the Petsmart Cattery. I can usually keep all of these things neatly contained in their own blocks of time, but sometimes – like the last two weeks – everything hits at once and I get a wee overwhelmed. JUST A WEE BIT.

But, I turned my packet in yesterday, I slept for over eight hours, and I have my first orchestra concerts today and tomorrow. Thankfully, the next couple of weeks should be a little slower (though not work. HAH. HAH HAH HAH. HAH HAH HAH HAH). What I’ve been learning about myself is that I’m a perfectionist – but not the “keep doing it until you get it right” kind, but the “if I don’t think I can do it right, then I won’t do it” kind. Which is not great.

I’ve been trying to let go of disappointment in myself – who cares if I didn’t practice for my drum lesson today, or if I struggle with shifting in fifth position? Why do I need to be good at something to do it? Isn’t just HAVING INTEREST in it enough? That being said, I really need to get into violin lessons again. I’m okay with people a third of my age being better than me, because that’s life. If you compare yourself to other people, then you’re never getting anywhere. I played violin for just three years (1995 – 1998) and got pretty good without access to private lessons (I switched to viola between 1998-1999 before quitting orchestra altogether). But now I’m trying to learn violin again as an adult and I KNOW that I can be a better player than I am. If I can shift into fifth position and play the scary high notes on the E string with confidence, then I’ll feel a lot better about my abilities as a player. Oh, and if I could learn vibrato, too, instead of the fake vibrato that I did back in middle school. Thanks.

I am proud of myself, though, because though there are DEFINITELY passages in the music selection that are really challenging for me and that I can’t play, I’ve worked really hard at what I could! My favorite song in the program is Arturo Márquez’ Danzón No. 2, and while I can’t play the passage I’ve linked here perfectly, I can at least keep up with everyone, and that’s progress.

ANYWAY. Let’s get into some pictures.

I need to start getting ready for the day, but I’ll end this post with a photo of me and the girls that Husband took yesterday. We have a tradition – Mittens leads me to the craft room when I get home so she can get pet, and Moon Pie always follows when she knows there’ll be scritches. BUT they basically flop on the carpet across the room from each other, and I’m just trying to be a GOOD CAT MOM AND SHOW THEM EQUAL ATTENTION. But they make it hard.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!