Today, I Went Hiking

Well, after it was canceled at the last moment last week due to rain, I finally got to go. Here are the bajillion pictures I took:

Behind the waterfall, looking through the waterfall into the sun:

Double rainbow!:

This, just from standing behind the waterfall:

If a tree falls in the forest, but nobody's around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Inside a tree trunk!:

It's Done!

After a lot of frustration, iMovie finally became my bitch! :D (Well, so far.)

My Digital story is up now. I need to preface this with ... it is VERY amateur. I wanted to include much more video but the people I contacted didn't contact me back. Awwesome. And also, for the people in Woodstock, when I say "I left my home." I realize the photo isn't of my closest friends, and doesn't actually include any of you who would consider us close... I'm sorry!!! I just couldn't find a really nice picture of all of us (So I'm telling a little fib to my class). But trust me, I was thinking of you when I said it.

Feel free to be as honest as you want. I've recognized all the things I don't like about it, and I won't oppose constructive feedback (this is the same with anything else I post in the future).

Anyway! As I'm too lazy to get the full link, here's my account:

www.youtube.com/AbbyGardnerMusic

Busy Week Ahead

Yesterday I realized how busy my week is turning out to be.

Last night I stayed at the Uni pretty late ('til 11pm) doing what I could to bring my iMovie project close to done. It took me an hour to figure out how to get a video on there, but as soon as I did (and it happened by accident) I was out pretty quickly. I then had planned to wake up at 6:00 to be at the uni by 6:30 so I could record my voiceover and finish it. My body decided to wake up at 5:30, so I got ready and was actually out by 6:30. That felt pretty good. I'm going to go in after I'm done everything today and upload it to youtube. So that link will be coming soon.

After my class today, there is a vocal workshop which I'll be attending. It's 2 hours long. This is every Wednesday and hopefully it's helpful enough that I'll attend each week. After this there is a creative music workshop until 8, however that's a bit late for me. I may do it in the future, but today I ordered pizza that's to come at 7. I'm sure I can make other arrangements, but I won't stress about that today.

Tomorrow there isn't a whole lot going on. My usual morning is laundry and swim and get some sun. In the evening, one of my friends invited me into the studio with him. If the offer still stands I will take him up on that. Even if I don't get time to record anything of my own, it would be good to get in the studio and watch somebody go through the process of recording something. Thursday's also St. Patty's. I have no plans to celebrate, but I'm sure the village will be louder than ever.

Friday I hope I can muster up the energy to go to the shopping center. There's quite a few things I still need to get for my program, as well as for Sunday. Otherwise, it'll be just another day.

Saturday I have my own studio time booked. 3 hours from 6 until 9. I'm hoping it doesn't take me this long to figure everything out, but just in case! I'll be going alone I think. Going to record an acoustic song. Wish me luck on that...

Sunday is quite an exciting day. The Village has organized a hike in Purling Brook Falls. I've been looking for stuff to do on the internet but it's either too far away or too expensive. This is a cheap trip and most things provided! I'll take my digital camera and my video camera. If I don't get too many weird looks I'll even try to get some underwater footage! (We'll see.)

Other than that, not a whole lot has been happening. Starting 2 days ago, every other Monday I'll be taking Spanish lessons put on by an RA here at the village. So far I've learned how to introduce myself, say my name, age, where I'm from, where I go to school and what I study, what I enjoy doing, and how to tell somebody "I speak a bit of Spanish." The structure is very similar to french, which makes it a little easier to understand, although I haven't got the accent down yet. It'll come, I'm sure.

That's all the important things I have to say. But I want to leave you with the experience I had this morning:

I was tired, but I had class at 11, so I woke up again at 9 and had a shower. Because of the incredible amount of bugs around here, I always shake my puff to make sure there's no bugs in there. Showers are generally relaxing, so I was pretty calm. I started to soap up my puff and an inch away from my thumb a little tiny head popped out right below a soap line.
A BUG. WAS IN. MY PUFF. Naturally, I threw it down and just soaped up my hands. Yeesh, my hands didn't stop shaking until I was dressed. I now have to think of a new method of getting rid of bugs in my puff. Maybe close it in a baggie every time..... O, woe is me!

I Met an Old Man

Today and yesterday have been fairly boring. Haven't even really had that much human contact to be honest. There was supposed to be a movie night for people not going to the Uni-Bar Party last night, but when I went down nobody was there and the t.v. wasn't even on. So... not sure what happened there.

Today I woke up early (6:30) to go into the Midi-Lab at the uni. I wanted to go early because I had to record a voiceover for my digital story-telling project and it needed the room (with 20 computers in it) to be quiet. So I spent an hour and a half working on that project, came back, and had a nap. At lunch time there was a fundraiser in the bbq area for Leukemia. I went down to support, and brought $4. One guy shaved his head and another got his legs waxed. Only a few of us actually showed up and stayed, but through all of their efforts they raised $300 or so.

Seeing it was going to be another lazy and unfulfilling day, I took a walk. Not too far, but I found a few things, the most interesting was a pie shop. Go in, order a pie, sit down and eat it. I'm not a big pie fan but it's good to know it's there.

As I was walking away from one plaza, an older man (mid-late 60's I'd guess) stopped his car and got out to ask me if the shops were still open. I hadn't payed attention so I apologized and said I didn't notice. He strikes up a conversation, noticing my accent, and asks where I'm from. "Canada." "Oh yeah, what part?" "The east coast." "Oh okay, so like, Toronto?"

Why does everybody here think Toronto is the east coast? Everyone!

Anyway. We continue to chat. He's French, has been living in Tokyo for awhile but wanted to move to Australia to "slow down" (unsuccessfully). He said something that really resonated with me: "The people here seem to be pretty nice. They seem to be, but deep down they're not as much. They're very cliquey with friends and family. I've had a lot of trouble making friends." ME TOO, BUDDY. I thought I was just going crazy! But somebody else sees, it, too. I smiled and said I totally agree. He then invited me to grab a coffee with him.

I have 2 rules when I meet somebody new: 1) I do not give out my phone number. You can give me yours, and I will decide later if I want to keep in touch; 2) Until I feel comfortable with you (this applies especially if I'm alone), we only meet on my turf. Now, I don't have a whole lot of "turf" here, or places I'm familiar with. I told him thanks, but I was going to keep wandering. He gave me his number and said if I ever want to see more of the Gold Coast that isn't the touristy bits, or grab a coffee, to give him a call.

I guess I'm telling you this much detail because I'm asking if I should ring him or not. My intuition is usually spot on, but lately it's just been static; it can't tell what's up or down. I would feel better if I had somebody to go with me, but as I touched on, I'm lacking in the friend department, and the ones I would call a friend I know wouldn't be keen on having a 60+ year old friend. (Which makes me think... should I, even?)

Opinions encouraged.

Ttfn all

First Week of Classes

Heyy everyone!

My first week of classes is over! I'm sad, kind of. Not sure what to do until Monday afternoon!

They went pretty well. They all explained what to expect, and we got to see just how much work it's going to be. I understand that no, we don't have tests every week and it's not as "intensive" as a Science or Business degree, however, the stressful part in Bachelor of Popular Music, is that there ISN'T tests every week. There is hardly a "guideline" for anything, which will be the best part and the worst part at the same time. Here's an example: In one of my classes there are 2 assignments, one worth 40% and the other, 60%. So it's not like in business where I had the chance to fail the first half but do well in the second and still get a good mark. With these classes it's pretty much hit or miss.

But I'm excited.

Yesterday I met this girl, Leah. We randomly started chatting on a couch waiting for our "Master Class" to begin. Turns out we're going to collaborate! Woo-hoo! I told her I was interested in doing something Evanescence-esque, even though I've mostly been acoustic thus far. She was down and we're going to get together soon to hash out a plan.

This Master Class is also very cool. Every year of BMP students get together in one theater and we're taught a random lecture by guest speakers. Also, at the beginning of each class, which is once a week, the students get the floor to plug a gig, ask for assistance in a song, or just general questions. It's a really pleasant environment. In this class we'll also have to write a journal about each session - that will be super easy for me.

In my first class of the week, we learned of an assignment due in 3 weeks. It's a video assignment about us, our lives, and how music fits in. I've created a new Youtube account just for my music and things that I will be creating while I'm in this program... so you can look forward to a link in the next few weeks of my finished video (No music, just a personal thing).

In another class, we're learning how to work the equipment, how to record and edit and all that fancy stuff. Thankfully I was able to choose a slightly slower-paced class since I know diddly squat about this. I've booked my first hour of studio time (we're allowed 50 hours a semester) on Sunday at noon. I plan to just go in and fool around with our instructor's tracks. Don't worry, he told us to do that. "Touch anything! Hit buttons. Turn things on, up, off, down, whatever. You can't blow anything up, so just get the hang of it and familiarize yourself with it." And that's what I plan to do.

I have a VERY general idea of what does what because I watched Andrew "mix" my recordings for the audition CD. Hopefully that will give my memory enough of a jog so I won't be going "durrrrr" the whole time. But! It's a learning experience either way.

Other than that, there isn't much to say.. I've condensed this week pretty quickly, but then again, it's only been 3 days. Maybe I'll venture out and buy a fan... it's freaking hot here!!

;) ;P