milestones accomplished

[jaala]

1. Instead of automatically starting on another year of flute-related chronic pain, I had a brief but frank discussion with my flute professor about various possible instrumental avenues I could take this year. I may be looking into a vertical flute headjoint, recorder lessons and/or oboe lessons. Unfortunately, uh... weird headjoints and oboes cost a lot of money.

2. A vocal jazz part went higher than E-flat (my usual comfortable upper note) today, including two high F "shot" notes--i.e. with disjunct leaps or rests before the note.  Yes, that is frightening for a person who normally sings alto. As my bad luck would have it, I was basically singing by myself too; two sopranos were absent and the third was sick and not singing high notes. It was miserable and embarrassing for some time, squeaking away in the presence of all these proficient singers, but once I warmed up and relaxed I was sort of able to do it. Singing soprano still frightens me but at least it doesn't seem quite so impossible any more.

3. I made applesauce from scratch! Again, this is not much of an achievement... unless, like me, you almost never cook anything from scratch.

Comments

[dave-t-lurker.livejournal.com]

I can agree with 3. I cook very little these days. Most of my cooking recently has been of the 'open packet put in oven' variety.

[jaala]

Most of my cooking recently has been of the 'open packet put in oven' variety.

Yup, me too.

[monkeybuttz.livejournal.com]

I never cook anything period, so from scratch make my jaw drop.

[rintheamazing.livejournal.com]

F's frighten me. The female pseudo-tenors of the world salute you.

[jaala]

Heh, thanks. It's weird to think that I sang tenor in the opera two years ago.

[sherbear82.livejournal.com]

How did you do it from scratch? Sometimes I think I make things from scratch but I have a feeling I don't. haha.

[jaala]

It's an extremely simple recipe I got from a children's cookbook:

Peel, core and slice six apples. Cook the apples in 1/2 cup of water until they're tender/squishy (according to preference). Drain and mash with a fork. Add 1/2 cup of sugar (I found this to be too much) and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

A heck of a lot of "basic" or "beginner" cookbooks are way too complicated for my needs. I need actual basics: what terms mean, how to soft-boil an egg, how to cook chicken.... The book that I've heard recommended the most for beginners is Clueless in the Kitchen. I should get that some time.

[kezzamorphosis.livejournal.com]

Homemade applesauce beats the stuff you get at the store anytime. :9

As for my mom's complicated chicken recipe: Put chicken in pan. Cover with melted butter, a little S & paprika, stick in oven at 350F until it's done. (You'll know when you stick a fork into it and its juices are clear.)