(no subject)

[violachic]

Recently I've decided that when I want to write, or at least go through the motions of writing, I'll take my laptop over to Borders and work there. There are far too many distractions at home, not the least of which are IM and LiveJournal. So far, its been working quite well. I bring some CDs and my headphones, and listen to pretty music while I type.

Tonight, a gentleman was kind enough to switch tables with me when we discovered he was sitting above the only outlet in the entire cafe. I've decided I'll dedicate my first novel, in part, to The Nice Guy Who Let Me Use His Outlet At Borders. Do you think that will fit on the dedication page?

While I was waiting for inspiration (read: motivation) to hit, I grabbed a few magazines. I picked up Adbusters, which was the first time I'd had a chance to read a copy cover to cover, and Strings Magazine, which I really should have a subscription to.

I was fascinated to find two people featured in Strings who I was Suzuki brats with, way back in the day. Jennifer, Daphne and I were all buddies for a few years, when we were some ridiculous age, like five and six and seven.

Jennifer Koh broke out really early as a prodigy, performing with the Chicago Symphony as early as twelve, and is still a very in-demand performer and master class instructor. She was bio-ed in this months issue, and although there's no online link to the article, its basically the same as the link above.

But how many violin players in the world can there be named Daphne Chen? I'm pretty sure its her, the photo is so familiar. I hadn't seen her for years, she moved to California when we were around seven, but ran into her at Interlochen seven years later, and now she pops up here. Its got to be her.

How odd. How cool.

I'm sleepy. I think I'm going to crash far earlier than I'm used to crashing.

Comments

[roadkillmary.livejournal.com]

Hey, have you read Bird by Bird by Annie Lamott? Great book for writers. Gives great advice and is really damn funny.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

Have not, but next time I'm wasting time at Borders I'll pick it up :)

[evilhat.livejournal.com]

Do you remember Soovin Kim? Also in the same Suzuki program, also about our age. He teaches at Curtis these days, has a pretty decent career (recording a nice CD a few years ago, worth hearing), and was in some major competition last year, I forget which. Blurb on him in Strings or Strad a year or so ago, if I recall correctly.

(One of my enduring childhood memories is the program's spring competition where Soovin, myself, and Jennifer placed first through third, respectively, separated by a half-point each. I largely remember it because I'd sprained my wrist the previous day and ended up playing anyway, despite not being able to move it without a lot of pain. Now I keep remembering it because the other two actually ended up with solo careers, geez.)

I'll have to pick up that copy of Strings! Which month's issue? I was startled to see Betty Haag-Kuhnke, who I studied with for a bit, get featured in a Strad issue last year. They called her an iron fist in a velvet glove. I sure don't remember a velvet glove...

[violachic.livejournal.com]

It was the Sept/Oct issue, so it should be available still. I don't remember Soovin Kim, but I remember David Kim- any relation? I know Kim is a pretty common surname.

When I read things like this, sometimes I'm tempted to be jealous they have these great careers and I don't, but I know I didn't have quite the motivation, nor the obnoxious stage mother bit to kick my behind.

Betty Haag..... I still hear things about her studio. She's at Roosevelt University now, and from what I hear, I don't remember anything about a velvet glove, either.