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Category: Me

Stuck

Published by Iris on Thursday, February 1st, 2007

Today was one of those days… But now, even though I’m finally all set to go home, I’m sitting here at my desk reveling in the sounds of a new CD.

I’ve been looking and looking for an old, out-of-print CD of Itzhak Perlman playing Mendelssohn and Prokofiev. It’s one from my short list of all-time favorite CDs, and I finally found a good copy. It arrived today, and right now I can hardly move from my seat as he plays my favorite piece from this CD, the Andante movement of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto #2 in G Minor, Op. 63 – 2. I don’t think there’s ever been a more beautiful piece of music composed, and it has certainly never been better performed.

This is the only piece that the director of my dance academy ever forbade me from choreographing to. The reason? She had already done it, and it was one of her favorites.

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It Shouldn’t Have Been This Hard

It Shouldn’t Have Been This Hard

Published by Iris on Friday, January 26th, 2007

So, I ordered my iPod, but then FedEx couldn’t find my apartment. After a night spent on the phone trying to explain where I live, and that you can find me on ANY mapping software, they finally delivered my incredibly tiny gadget. Meanwhile I’ve learned that FedEx customer service will hang up on you when they think they have what they need (even when they don’t). I’ve also learned that even if they don’t believe you that the address you gave them is your correct address, they won’t let you change it to something easier unless you contact the sender and get them to send through a re-direct order (which could take a day or two). What’s more, I’ve learned that Apple (which has very kind and helpful customer service people who do not hang up on you) can’t change your delivery address either unless that address is listed as an alternate shipping address with the credit card you used to purchase the item. And finally, I’ve learned that you can’t get “alternate” addresses added to your credit card unless you actually, physically call the card company. And online form would be too easy…

And now, long, long after I would have been in bed after any other 10-hour day, I’m sitting here waiting for iTunes to convert and index all my music. I’ve been at it for hours, but I can’t stop it in the middle of it’s process. (I had no idea I had so much music on my computer! So far I could listen for almost 2 days and nights without hearing the same thing twice.)

So is it worth it? YES! I was able to listen to the first bit of a wonderfully funny book as I worked out today, and the whole getting-fit experience was quite a bit less torturous than usual. I almost can’t wait for tomorrow when I’ll be taking a walk in seriously cold temperatures just so I can hear the next installment of the book.

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Continuing My Entry to the Late 20th Century

Published by Iris on Monday, January 22nd, 2007

Last summer I finally got myself a digital camera (which has revolutionized the way I document my life and communicate with my family). Today I finally caved to another of my secret desires and ordered an iPod Shuffle. I am now the proud owner of a receipt, which will hopefully morph into an MP3 player by the end of the week. Amazing how that happens.

I’m having trouble keeping in shape during these dark, cold, long Minnesota winters, and I thought that if I could listen to audio books, podcasts, or music I might stick to my exercise routine a little better. At least, that’s the justification I’m using.

I don’t like it that the Shuffle doesn’t have a screen of any kind, but since this is primarily for my exercise schedule I decided that the size and clip design outweighed the lack of a screen. It’s also more affordable.

My only regret is that I didn’t spring for faster shipping…

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Cold

Published by Iris on Wednesday, January 17th, 2007

I’ve been enjoying our winter so far, as much as anyone can enjoy the lack of green things and sunshine. But this week it suddenly got cold. Yesterday it was -5 when I got to work. It hurt to breath. And I know, I know, it used to be SO much worse. Everywhere I’ve ever lived the long-time residents have regaled me with tales of hotter summers and colder winters. But -5 is still pretty cold.

Today it got up to 20-ish, which was nice. But in among fumbling for keys and papers with be-mittened hands, I started pondering the strangeness that is my reaction to temperature. Why is it, I wondered, that I notice a distinct difference when the temperature changes from 70 to 90, but not so much when it goes from 0 to 20?

I have no answer to these cold-induced musings. If I felt like it, I could probably spend time looking for an answer. But I prefer to go on bundling up and dreaming of the day when I’ll be able to pick up my keys without negotiating through numb fingers and double-layer mittens.

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