Oops, I did it again

I judge myself for using that refrain as a title, but it is apt my friends. Oh, it is apt. (Apt...should have used that word when I was losing to Kristen at Bananagrams last night. Blimey. Oh well.)

You want to know what I did again - oopsily speaking? I signed myself up for something, wished I hadn't until the moment I'd arrived for said something, then ended up having the time of my life and wanting to do it again. Now, this generally happens to me with any sort of volunteer opportunity (few and far between unless you count the little kiddies at church) or musical obligation. I'm all trying to get involved and stuff and then I'm all, why the heck did I sign up for this again?...cause I'd rather be sleeping. Well, yesterday I drove out to the city-town of Reston, VA, after a trying morning with the pre-K kids. (It's never fun when someone pees on you.) I had my violin in hand, ready for an afternoon of Brahms' String Sextet #1 with some people I'd never met from the meetup.com group - DC Chamber Music Players. I really was not looking forward to this. I assumed I would be underprepared and would just really stink up the place, figuratively speaking, with my hideous rendition of a piece I'd only listened to on YouTube. Never mind that I could have practiced a lot more than I did. (Don't jump to conclusions. I DID practice...just not that much.) Anyway, I was nervous. It's never easy playing with a bunch of new people. I always underestimate my skill level (it's not that high, but never as low as I tell myself it is) and I didn't want to make a fool of myself in front of seasoned chamber players.

NO WORRIES! We started off with some encouragement. The Violin I player, Joe, said "I'm just warning you all that there are mutliple lines in here I can't play. I'll just play whatever notes come out." He was met with a chorus of, "It doesn't matter" and "We're just here to have fun." Yes! That's what I like to hear! I knew right then that I would enjoy myself. Plus, I was well prepared for the read-through. I knew my part and I only got lost a couple times :). Plus, the music is great. Have you ever heard that sextet? Youtube it, if you haven't. It's SO good! I was playing my little heart out. Everyone was so encouraging of the others and constructive with their musical suggestions. It was just pure fun. So yeah, I'll be doing that again. Plus, it was the most gorgeous day we've had all month - and that's saying something cause we've had really nice weather here lately - and I had the most fun driving between church and Reston and home. Windows down, music blaring, traffic light. (No, not traffic lights...traffic was light.) Perfection.

So it will probably be another month or two before I get together again with a chamber group. They have a couple meetings this month and next that I can't make as I'll be in Tulsa when they happen - woohoo! But one of the violists told me I should pick a piece I want to play in which i would play the first violin part. He said to pick a piece and let them know so we could all play it. I was like, alright! Any suggestions? Any beautiful chamber piece will do.

In other news, I will now update you on the new rug situation. Remember the rug? Quick refresher - K and I were carrying a rug to our house after we picked it up off the street. We caught the attention of some neighbors (who told us to look out for bed bugs) and subsequently made tentative plans to get acquainted. Well, in our perpetual state of silly K and I decided to invite the neighbors over for this past Saturday night. We had no contact information for them so we wrote them a note and dropped it off. The silly part comes here - the note said that we were inviting them over to celebrate our new rug and that they should R.S.V.P. via pigeon post by September 12, 2010.

...

We heard nothing for two weeks. I was convinved that my brilliant pigeon post comment had frightened them off forever. However, we decided we would be prepared for company on Saturday night just in case they chose to show. On Saturday afternoon we heard a knock at the door. On our front porch was a bottle of Resolve and a note that said "See you tonight." Clever, no? So feel free to tell strangers to reply via pigeon post when you write them notes. It doesn't scare them off. In fact, it will facilitate witty gift giving. Now we have some new friends in our neighborhood. Yay!