Had the privilege of watching the St. Lawrence String Quartet with Todd Palmer perform at Rice University's Stude Concert Hall.

I snickered before the 3rd piece about something in the program:
"Huh huh, Carol, look, it says 'Todd Palmer, Clarinets'. That's gotta be a typo, right? I mean, what's he gonna do, play TWO clarinets?"

I was so wrong. It wasn't a typo. And he played FIVE clarinets! It was amazing. Wish I had a picture ...

We did get to go backstage and mingle briefly with the members of SLSQ and Todd Palmer. I knew I could count on Geoff to help me out with a good goofy pic. (L-R in both pics: Lesley Roberston, viola; me; Chris Costanza, cello; Geoff Nutall, violin; Todd Palmer, clarinetS [front]; Barry Shiffman, violin; Carol, violin )

Big shoutout to Eric for the classical music hookup - yet again!

Had dinner with a friend whom I hadn't seen in awhile and caught up on life.

Before we parted ways, she said that I wasn't myself anymore, that I wasn't laughing as much as before, that it was as if I was growing up.

Trust me, if this is what growing up is about, if I didn't have to, I wouldn't.

Today's a day where I finally feel like crying.

Damn my melodramatic journal posts.

"It's always great to hear from you.
I feel like you are one of my own children (even though you are now an adult). Love, [name of my high school French teacher]"

How could an e-mail like this NOT make my day? It warmed my heart from its very core, at a time when all I thought was left of it was ice, or even worse, nothing.

Send a sweet "just-thinkin'-about-you" e-mail to a teacher today.

sail your sea
meet your storm
all I want is to be your harbor
the light in me
will guide you home
all I want is to be your harbor

- Vienna Teng, Harbor

I wanted to be that for him. And I hoped he'd be that for me. Another song comes to mind ...

...
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Just hold me close, don’t patronize - don’t patronize me

'Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t
You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t
Here in the dark, in these lonely hours
I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power
But you won’t, no you won’t
'Cause I can’t make you love me, if you don’t

- Bonnie Raitt, I Can’t Make You Love Me

For the most part, I'm aiite. I just like to steep in misery sometimes like a teabag, as if to get every last molecule of bitterness out of me, and then toss out the water later and be rid of it. All this excess emotion gives me added motivation to learn even more cheesy songs on the guitar, so it's not all bad.

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Imma go put on a sweater. Crazy-azz Texas weather - it's December already and it's barely sweater weather. I tend to run on the cold side, so I'm gonna be covered up for the most part - but I think there are still people who are running around these here parts in shorts.

Shaun of ChinatownConnection.com came in today and I got my first ever media interview about acupuncture. Well, hmm, make that my first ever media interview, period.

Ick. I need to seriously cut my hair. Or at least brush it in the mornings ...

Today I went to the rock gym and accomplished one particular route facing both forward and backward! Hee hee. The pic doesn't really show how cool the route was; it basically consists of 2 walls coming together at 90 degrees, and you can shimmy up it.

Food was had afterwards at Taqueria Cancun. I put a quarter into the jukebox and picked out a random song by the band who wore the funniest-looking outfits on the cover of their CD. The best part though, was sitting by the beach and gazing at the sunburnt couple walking along it, hand in hand.

Too bad we stopped to eat at Taqueria Cancun though, cuz just down the street was "The Real Mexican Food". Hahahahaha.

This is something I saw at Target one day. Posting it just cuz it makes me smile, even though the little doggie doesn't look too happy to be slung around like that.

So, since you want to be with me
You'll have to follow through
With every word you say
And I, all I really want is you
For you to stick around
I'll see you everyday
But you'll have to follow through
You have to follow through

- Gavin DeGraw, Follow Through

This Thanksgiving, I have witnessed human depravity at its worst. I'm feeling sick - as in nauseous, both physically and emotionally.

Happy holidays.