How do you feel today?

[Menolly]

Kaydene, I believe I've seen you in at least one KW-related group on Facebook. You may want to look into the Ask Esmer group, where a Watcher (currently not much active here) dispenses advice. Some of his advice is a bit esoteric, but it is a start.

Ask Esmer on Facebook...

[Auleliel]

I feel surprised.

[aliantha]

Sorry, CovJr. Relationships suck.

Speaking of advice, we should totally open an exclusively advice section! Or do we have one of those?

I would nominate Cag for overseeing an advice column, if it ever happens.

Oh, MM -- the university programs I was talking about were special events set up especially for Parents Weekend. Altho we did end up going to a couple of things yesterday. The Music Dept. had a recital (one of Magickmaker's friends was performing) and then right afterward there was a carillon concert. It was too cold outside to stay for the whole carillon concert, but I did get to hear the "Carillon" movement from L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1 played on a real carillon. We also saw an exhibit at the campus art museum by a local artist named Betty Branch. Here's a link to one we both liked:
www.bettybranch.com/sculpture/pages/Road_show1.html

Today we saw "Where the Wild Things Are". A very artsy weekend, all in all. Glad to be home tonight and sleeping in my own bed, however -- and I'm sure Magickmaker is just as relieved to have her dorm room to herself again.

[matrixman]

I like whimsical sculptures like that. And you heard a real carillon? That's good. But I'm afraid I don't know that piece of music.

I've not read the book that the movie Where the Wild Things Are is based on, so it means very little to me. Come to think of it, after hearing about so many film adaptations of famous and beloved children's books, it's hit me that I have, in fact, read no children's books. Not when I was a child, and most definitely not as an adult. It's another way in which I feel a bit estranged from Western culture's particular idolization (idealization?) of childhood. Not that I feel anguished about it. To use Cov's favorite word: MEH.

[Kaydene]

I feel like the most important child's book is "The Little Prince" by Antione de Saint-Exupery. It's also for adults.

If you haven't read it, I really recommend it.




On another note,
I checked out the advice page on facebook. It looks cool, I just don't want to ask for advice connected to my real name where my friends and family members can see all of my problems.

I'd be much more comfortable with an advice thread here. Maybe we can make one here where everyone can hash things out together, rather than one person giving advice.

As such a newbie at KW, I don't know that it'd be my place to do such a thing....but I'm willing to start one if people think it'd go over okay and people would contribute.

[Avatar]

I think The Close is the usual place for things of an advicey nature. Feel free to start any thread you want.

--A

[Menolly]

I understand not wanting to use your real name account on FB, Kaydene. Esmer started "Ask Esmer" here, but...well...

Anyway, would you consider generating a second FB account? One only for things of a personal nature like that which you don't tell friends and family about?

[Savor Dam]

Rather than start a second FB account to seek advice there, it might be simpler and more effective to start the Advice thread here, where you have the attention of the dysfunctional-but-trusted Watch family.

Our advice may not be -- nay, surely is not -- professional, but it will always be well-meant and plentiful (busybodies, we has them!)...and we will shield your privacy.

[Kaydene]

I think I'd be more comfortable with that, and I can't be the only person out there who'd benefit from it (that'd certainly be embarrassing anyway). :p

[aliantha]

Sounds like a plan, Kaydene. Av's right that the Close would be a good place for your thread -- but we've got so much random crap here in GenDisc by now that here would be okay too.

MM -- L'Arlesienne Suite is by Bizet. It's music from a ballet, I think, adapted as an orchestral piece. We played a band transcription of it in high school.

[matrixman]

Sure, Kaydene. I like to think I've benefited from everyone's advice that was given to Cov.

So this thread already serves as an ad hoc advice column.

Hmmm...I never got into Bizet's stuff. Ravel, Debussy and Berlioz are the French composers I'm most familiar with.

[CovenantJr]

Don't be afraid to start a thread if you see an opening. And while The Close is probably technically the right venue, I think an advice column is most useful when seen by as many people as possible, so Gen Dis is probably better suited to the thread's function.

[StevieG]

Hmmm...I never got into Bizet's stuff. Ravel, Debussy and Berlioz are the French composers I'm most familiar with.

Bizet's Carmen suite is probably the only opera I can listen to in its entirety - I love it! Others, I like parts of, but not all. But admittedly, that's from my very limited repertoire. I'd be interested in your absolute favourite - so I can check it out?

Oh, and Kaydene, sounds like a good idea (I'm sure Cagliostro will dispense advice freely... ).

[Auleliel]

My mom put in her 3-week notice last week, and today she was hired at a new place. My family is happy.

I hope I am not getting sick. I have a sore throat, a runny nose, and popping ears. No coughing or sneezing yet. If I'm lucky, it's just allergies acting up.

[StevieG]

Congrats to Auleliel's mum!

You think maybe that all the tension and drama relating to your recent victory in composing sonnets has finally caught up with you in the form of a sore throat etc?

[aliantha]

Congrats to your mom, Owlie!

[matrixman]

Bizet's Carmen suite is probably the only opera I can listen to in its entirety - I love it! Others, I like parts of, but not all. But admittedly, that's from my very limited repertoire. I'd be interested in your absolute favourite - so I can check it out?

Whoops, I forgot about Carmen. I've heard some of it, not the whole thing.

Absolute favorites? That's a deep question! I hope you mean classical in general, not just opera...

Respighi: Ancient Airs & Dances -- a beguiling set of Renaissance-era pieces arranged for modern ensemble by Ottorino Respighi. I always play this music at springtime.
Berg: Wozzeck -- post-WWI opera about a lowly, mentally fragile soldier whose belittling superiors and uncaring wife cause him to fall into paranoia and madness. A bleak work, but not that long for an opera (right around 2 hours), and it's gripping from start to finish.
Beethoven: the Symphonies - his 9 symphonies form the bedrock of my classical music listening.
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra -- stirring virtuoso piece that, despite its modernity (or because of it), is filled with warmth and humor.
J.S. Bach: the Goldberg Variations -- my absolute favorite piano/keyboard work. Glenn Gould's inimitable 1981 recording is the only one I really need.
Mahler: Symphony No. 3 -- this "Ode to Nature" is an epic, the longest symphony ever written. Yet the amazing thing about it is its chamber-like transparent sound, its intimate sense of communion.
Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 -- if Mahler loved to commune with nature, Bruckner loved communing with his God. The 8th Symphony is a huge work, and maybe the most ardent expression of his devotion.
Holst: The Planets -- Who doesn't love this? It's an orchestral spectacular. I like to use Mars, the Bringer of War when I'm trying out audio equipment.
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe -- it was technically meant to accompany the ballet of the same name. Whatever. It stands by itself as an intensely rapturous piece of music.
Reich: Eight Lines -- you can call it minimalist or just mesmerizing. American composer Steve Reich, and his rival, Philip Glass, are my favorite practitioners of this style of contemporary music. Indeed, those two more or less invented the form. Reich's Eight Lines is the one I play the most often. It's only 17 minutes long, but it evokes the hustle-and-bustle of modern life, while at the same time a wistful undercurrent expresses a longing for tranquility.

(I think you can tell I really thought about my answer.)

[Auleliel]

You think maybe that all the tension and drama relating to your recent victory in composing sonnets has finally caught up with you in the form of a sore throat etc?

There was drama and I missed it?! Drat.

[Cagliostro]

Sorry to hear it hasn't worked out, Cov. Damn relationship game.

Speaking of advice, we should totally open an exclusively advice section! Or do we have one of those?

I would nominate Cag for overseeing an advice column, if it ever happens.

Hee hee. Well, as that "Wear Sunscreen" thingy that was big a few years ago said, and I paraphrase, "Advice is just a form of nostagia." I like to mull over my old embarrassments, so I'll be happy to share where needed. But if it is something I have no experience with, it's probably best that it's there for everybody to respond to and discuss their experiences.

[CovenantJr]

Sorry to hear it hasn't worked out, Cov. Damn relationship game.

Speaking of advice, we should totally open an exclusively advice section! Or do we have one of those?

I would nominate Cag for overseeing an advice column, if it ever happens.

Hee hee. Well, as that "Wear Sunscreen" thingy that was big a few years ago said, and I paraphrase, "Advice is just a form of nostagia."

The best tip from that song: "you are not as fat as you imagine."