Right now, more than ever, I want to go back in time. I want to sit on this rock and enjoy this view, with not a care in the world.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Adele and Joyce rock the Grammys
Some of this year's Grammys was pretty cool, some of it was super weird, some of it was great and some of it was boring as usual. But there were two particular things that I found refreshing and awesome: Adele and an opera singer.
1. For some reason, I don't think I've ever watched Adele sing before. Watching the Grammys last week, it was so refreshing to see a singer who can actually sing. Hmm... what a concept. She didn't need to wear strange costumes, she didn't have an extravagant set, she didn't have 50 background dancers... oh wait, she wasn't even dancing, and she wasn't sing-talking or yelling. She stood in front of a mic and effortlessly sang a beautiful song, pouring out all kinds of emotion without forcing anything... because she's a talented singer.
And the cool thing is that she actually did sweep a lot of the big awards. It was great to see the Grammys celebrating artists who are actually truly good musicians/singers/performers (shout out to Bon Iver as well!!).
2. Today I found out about something else very cool (even cooler, in my opinion) that happened at the Grammys, but it was during the pre-telecast ceremony... so not a lot of people saw it. First of all - I love opera. It's kind of an odd interest that not many young people today share, in a world where opera is just not popular amid all this pop/rap/stuff that our society loves. But I absolutely adore it.
One of my favorite opera singers is Joyce DiDonato, a native of Kansas. Her album of classical arias was nominated for a Grammy (Best Classical Vocal Solo) and she was invited to sing at the pre-telecast ceremony. Turns out, this was the first time a classical singer has sung at the Grammys. Seriously? I mean, I know classical music isn't really "in" with the usual Grammy stuff... but this was the first time??
I think one of the reasons that classical/opera singers feel so out of place at an event like the Grammys is that usually they're not creating new music. Opera is a very old style of music, and these singers have been for the most part singing the same music for hundreds of years! But when you actually watch an opera singer in action, you have to recognize and appreciate that they have amazing control of a huge range of vocal abilities... it's very impressive. And all of the top-level opera singers around the world are this good, but they go largely under-appreciated as singers because the general public is not interested in opera. Turns out Joyce DiDonato won her first Grammy last week and got a standing ovation after her performance. Way to go!
1. For some reason, I don't think I've ever watched Adele sing before. Watching the Grammys last week, it was so refreshing to see a singer who can actually sing. Hmm... what a concept. She didn't need to wear strange costumes, she didn't have an extravagant set, she didn't have 50 background dancers... oh wait, she wasn't even dancing, and she wasn't sing-talking or yelling. She stood in front of a mic and effortlessly sang a beautiful song, pouring out all kinds of emotion without forcing anything... because she's a talented singer.
And the cool thing is that she actually did sweep a lot of the big awards. It was great to see the Grammys celebrating artists who are actually truly good musicians/singers/performers (shout out to Bon Iver as well!!).
2. Today I found out about something else very cool (even cooler, in my opinion) that happened at the Grammys, but it was during the pre-telecast ceremony... so not a lot of people saw it. First of all - I love opera. It's kind of an odd interest that not many young people today share, in a world where opera is just not popular amid all this pop/rap/stuff that our society loves. But I absolutely adore it.
One of my favorite opera singers is Joyce DiDonato, a native of Kansas. Her album of classical arias was nominated for a Grammy (Best Classical Vocal Solo) and she was invited to sing at the pre-telecast ceremony. Turns out, this was the first time a classical singer has sung at the Grammys. Seriously? I mean, I know classical music isn't really "in" with the usual Grammy stuff... but this was the first time??
I think one of the reasons that classical/opera singers feel so out of place at an event like the Grammys is that usually they're not creating new music. Opera is a very old style of music, and these singers have been for the most part singing the same music for hundreds of years! But when you actually watch an opera singer in action, you have to recognize and appreciate that they have amazing control of a huge range of vocal abilities... it's very impressive. And all of the top-level opera singers around the world are this good, but they go largely under-appreciated as singers because the general public is not interested in opera. Turns out Joyce DiDonato won her first Grammy last week and got a standing ovation after her performance. Way to go!
Monday, February 13, 2012
healing
The past few weeks I've been in a weird funk that's really been getting me down. I just keep getting busier and busier and I get so caught up in a whirlwind of school, homework, practice, a new job, trying to find internships and research opportunities, and thinking about the future in general, that I rarely get a chance to finish everything, much less have some time off to relax and have fun. Even the things that are usually fun and help me unwind from time to time, (i.e. orchestra, frisbee), just aren't doing the trick!
That's why this weekend was magical. For just a few short days I got to escape the bustle of the cities life to go up north and stay in a sweet cabin. To unplug, unwind, relax and enjoy the great outdoors with awesome people. And not just anywhere up north, but my favorite place of all... ITASCA.
Itasca holds a very special place in my heart. Last summer I spent 5 weeks at the U's Biological Station in Itasca State Park taking field courses in Ornithology and Animal Behavior. If you've never heard me talk about this before, it was like summer camp for adults (and especially exciting for those poor souls who never went to summer camp as kids... aka me). Half the time I was taking awesome "classes" about animals, learning about science, and the other half of the time we got to frolic around the wilderness. Win-win, if you ask me. It was at Itasca that I first really felt affirmed that I was on the right path (academically), where I fell in love with birds, and where I finally became friends with other like-minded sciencey people!
So when I got the chance to go back to Itasca for a weekend with the U's Center for Outdoor Adventure, I jumped on it. It was like a much-needed vacation: with just a small group of outdoorsy people, including two of my best friends, we stayed in a cozy "cabin," hiked some of the beautiful trails of the park, ate lots of good food, played board/card/word games, made new lumberjack friends, and just chilled! (and I saw a few birdies!) It was so healing to just get away, forget about my hectic life for a few days, revisit a place that I love and just be calmed by the simplicity and beauty of nature.
That's why this weekend was magical. For just a few short days I got to escape the bustle of the cities life to go up north and stay in a sweet cabin. To unplug, unwind, relax and enjoy the great outdoors with awesome people. And not just anywhere up north, but my favorite place of all... ITASCA.
 |
| Itasca Summer 2011 |
Itasca holds a very special place in my heart. Last summer I spent 5 weeks at the U's Biological Station in Itasca State Park taking field courses in Ornithology and Animal Behavior. If you've never heard me talk about this before, it was like summer camp for adults (and especially exciting for those poor souls who never went to summer camp as kids... aka me). Half the time I was taking awesome "classes" about animals, learning about science, and the other half of the time we got to frolic around the wilderness. Win-win, if you ask me. It was at Itasca that I first really felt affirmed that I was on the right path (academically), where I fell in love with birds, and where I finally became friends with other like-minded sciencey people!
 |
| Hiking out to Bear Paw Point |
So when I got the chance to go back to Itasca for a weekend with the U's Center for Outdoor Adventure, I jumped on it. It was like a much-needed vacation: with just a small group of outdoorsy people, including two of my best friends, we stayed in a cozy "cabin," hiked some of the beautiful trails of the park, ate lots of good food, played board/card/word games, made new lumberjack friends, and just chilled! (and I saw a few birdies!) It was so healing to just get away, forget about my hectic life for a few days, revisit a place that I love and just be calmed by the simplicity and beauty of nature.
 |
| Headwaters in the winter |
Monday, February 6, 2012
You know you best
When you're having a bad day, sometimes you are the only one who can make you feel better. For example, only Past Me would have the foresight to buy one piece of Lindt chocolate, put it in my backpack and forget about it... so that days later, Future Me could be surprised and overjoyed to find a beautiful, delicious piece of dark chocolate waiting for me just when I needed it most! After all, chocolate is my go-to problem solver, and I ought to know better than anyone.
So, thanks Past Hannah.
Yours truly,
Present Hannah
So, thanks Past Hannah.
Yours truly,
Present Hannah
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