WAAAAAHHH I WANNA TAKE PICTURES AGAIN.
Ahem.
I hope I can take photos again soon.

Hi guys; sorry for the recent absence. I'm pretty much on hiatus from photography until my college auditions are over. The worst part is, I don't even know when that will be, because Curtis doesn't post audition dates until January. (Assuming I get an invitation to audition there, which my teacher expects me to, but I still say it may not happen.) Anyway, I'm being a little different this year and learning how to play jazz. It's a tad awkward at times because I don't know much about it - I had to be shown in front of the class how to hook up my acoustic to the amp - but I'm learning quickly and it's really awesome music. All of my other classes are less awesome, but they're not too bad, so maybe I'll have time to take a few shots on days with less work.

My brother and I made a MLIA-inspired list of things that would magically turn any day into the best day ever. He doesn't plan on doing any of these things, but I do; and I bet I can get about half of my friends to join me. Here's the list:

a) Fill a Windex bottle with blue powerade. Offer some to people who see us drinking it.

b) Sit in the park with a sign that says "Will Eat for Food". Eat whatever we are given.

c) Arrange "Toxic" for string quintet. Invite people over and perform it for an unsuspecting crowd.

d) Make a pillow fort and watch Mulan in it.

e) Propose to strangers with ring pops.

What would y'all add to the list? It's already pretty baller.

It's new journal time.

There's nothing too big going on with me, as I haven't got school again until September eighth. I have, however, come to the realization that I love annoying music. Like, really fucking annoying music; right now I'm listening to Sean Kingston, but earlier I had on Hinoi Team and random Eurodance. (I also came to the conclusion that if someone has an accent or sings in a foreign language, I'm ten times more likely to listen to him/her. Ex: Shakira, Don Omar, Enrique Iglesias, Yuna Ito, Sean Paul, Rihanna and her cute little Barbados accent...)

My friend was telling me earlier how Andy Warhol used to have "happenings". He would write down instructions to come to a certain place at a certain time, and post them all over public bathrooms and the like. Apparently it was just to have a chill time and see what sorts of people would show up. I think doing that would be hella sick! I just might try it, although I'm a little afraid of total weirdos showing up - or no one at all.

I feel so inspired lately, but I have no one to photograph. I have a million ideas buzzing around in my brain, and I'd rather like to let them out. I want to scour flea markets and garage sales for peacock feathers or pretty jewelry. I want to plaster my walls with Annie Leibovitz's images of Natalia Vodianova. Quiero hablar español contigo. I want to dye white clothes with rooibos tea.

I have an idea for a book that I will share with you later, because Papi says it's time for bed.

EDIT: Schedule = Lopez, MacNair, Zynda/Hamilton, Nutting, Stratman, Feldkamp.

Also, my brother is tweeting about me. WTF.

I love photography. It gives me an outlet. My life is really busy right now, by which I mean I have summer school and a whole bunch of music to learn. (Editor's Note: This is turning into a bass ramble really quickly).

Right now I'm starting the Koussevitzky bass concerto, excerpts from Beethoven 3, and more of Bach's first cello suite. I also have the Tchaik serenade for strings, but that shouldn't be difficult. In the fall I get to learn David Anderson's Capriccio 2, which I'm pretty much obsessed with. If you've never heard contrabass solos before, I highly reccomend listening to Francois Peloquin playing the Koussevitzky; it's amazing from the cadenzas straight through to the double stops.

PS: I just realized that it's my birthday on July 27th. Can you fools believe I'll be seventeen? (If you love me you'll draw me a silly birthday doodle )