Exhaustion and Exhilaration
As I havn't posted on here in a really long time, i've pretty much given up on livejournal. Its served its purpose and now will serve a better one... an account of trips I take. Starting with Ontarion Youth Choir 2007!!
------------------Friday August 17th------------------------
Journey's begin. I woke up this morning shortly before 5:30 after not much sleep due to last minute packing. After dashing out of the house with the parents and going over to pick up Nadia, we made it to the train station at about 6am. The train boarded shortly there after and I was waving Goodbye to my parents and my girlfriend at 6:30. The first leg of my journey was from London to Toronto, most of the way I grogally read a book and sipped a coffee that i bought on the train. I snapped a few shots on the way there, but there really wern't any good views until after Toronto when I was on the other side of the car.
I arrived at 8:30 at Union Station, I got a bit of a glimpse of what my dad has been upto in surveying the construction around there. After arriving, I disembarked and headed into the Panorama Lounge. My dad was nice enough to upgrade the second leg of my ticket to first class, which gained me access to this lounge. I sat in a nice comfy leather chair for a good 40 minutes and then boarded for the second leg of the trip. After about an hour long wait I was on my way again and being somewhat pampered. You get what you pay for. I was fed with an incredibly good halibut au gratin with a white reisling wine and a chocolate nut bar for desert. This was all topped off with a chocolate and a cup of coffee.
Another major perk to first class is the added leg room (when your tall you really appreaciate it), the quietness comparied to coach and the power outlet. This ment that i could work on my laptop for a solid 4 hours without draining the battery. Most of the trip was spent either doing that or reading Microserfs by Douglas Coupland. I ended up restarting the book and i'm now mostly done.
I arrived in Ottawa a bit behind schedual (the train was delayed twice) but to make up for it i got some fantastic photo's from the train of the lake and scenery (i'll try to post later). I made it to the campus after a short taxi ride and signed in to OYC. Then the fun began. Right of the bat i met my roomie Matt W. Cool guy, 17, from stratford. And of course immediatly ran into people i knew. Maureen Fergeson was helping with registration, shortly after I ran into David Keyes, and then Marla Kishimoto and Katy Harmer. After this i set up my laptop and got the internet working. It appears that my laptop is going to get a workout in the guest account with people checking their e-mail et al.
The first thing after depositing suit cases and lock up, was a quick sectionional to determine divisi's for pieces. No surprise i'm high T1... but the big surprise... i managed to hit a freaking Bb above without doing much warm up. B freaking flat!!!! And too boot, it was loose, it wasn't clenched at all.
Next stop was dinner. about all i can say... its res food. its not great, and there isn't huge amounts of it... tomorrow morning's breakfast will determine if its going to turn my stomach or not. About the only upside, its free.
Post dinner came another break to get settled in, and then into a rehearsal. Rehearsals are tight. Not only does the group sound well balanced and blended after maybe 5 minutes of singing, the music just seems to amplify the energy. This is all supercharged by Bob Cooper. I have never been in such a quick, well run rehearsal. We ran through over 12 pieces in 2 hours with a break... and we actually rehearsed them, not just sight read. If this is just the beginning of the week, the concerts are going to be something not missed.
After this was a quick get to know event (standard.. my name is, my age is, i'm from, something interesting) and then we headed down to the Market where we picked up ice cream.
I've already met atleast 3 people who i didn't realise i knew/forgot from a while ago, or that are good friends of friends. Not to mention the 1 or 2 people that are going into the music faculty next year at UWO.
This is going to be one hell of an amazing week.
And on that note, i have to be up in 7 hours and i'm exhausted from travel.
Good night!
------------------Log closed for the day-------------------
------------------Friday August 17th------------------------
Journey's begin. I woke up this morning shortly before 5:30 after not much sleep due to last minute packing. After dashing out of the house with the parents and going over to pick up Nadia, we made it to the train station at about 6am. The train boarded shortly there after and I was waving Goodbye to my parents and my girlfriend at 6:30. The first leg of my journey was from London to Toronto, most of the way I grogally read a book and sipped a coffee that i bought on the train. I snapped a few shots on the way there, but there really wern't any good views until after Toronto when I was on the other side of the car.
I arrived at 8:30 at Union Station, I got a bit of a glimpse of what my dad has been upto in surveying the construction around there. After arriving, I disembarked and headed into the Panorama Lounge. My dad was nice enough to upgrade the second leg of my ticket to first class, which gained me access to this lounge. I sat in a nice comfy leather chair for a good 40 minutes and then boarded for the second leg of the trip. After about an hour long wait I was on my way again and being somewhat pampered. You get what you pay for. I was fed with an incredibly good halibut au gratin with a white reisling wine and a chocolate nut bar for desert. This was all topped off with a chocolate and a cup of coffee.
Another major perk to first class is the added leg room (when your tall you really appreaciate it), the quietness comparied to coach and the power outlet. This ment that i could work on my laptop for a solid 4 hours without draining the battery. Most of the trip was spent either doing that or reading Microserfs by Douglas Coupland. I ended up restarting the book and i'm now mostly done.
I arrived in Ottawa a bit behind schedual (the train was delayed twice) but to make up for it i got some fantastic photo's from the train of the lake and scenery (i'll try to post later). I made it to the campus after a short taxi ride and signed in to OYC. Then the fun began. Right of the bat i met my roomie Matt W. Cool guy, 17, from stratford. And of course immediatly ran into people i knew. Maureen Fergeson was helping with registration, shortly after I ran into David Keyes, and then Marla Kishimoto and Katy Harmer. After this i set up my laptop and got the internet working. It appears that my laptop is going to get a workout in the guest account with people checking their e-mail et al.
The first thing after depositing suit cases and lock up, was a quick sectionional to determine divisi's for pieces. No surprise i'm high T1... but the big surprise... i managed to hit a freaking Bb above without doing much warm up. B freaking flat!!!! And too boot, it was loose, it wasn't clenched at all.
Next stop was dinner. about all i can say... its res food. its not great, and there isn't huge amounts of it... tomorrow morning's breakfast will determine if its going to turn my stomach or not. About the only upside, its free.
Post dinner came another break to get settled in, and then into a rehearsal. Rehearsals are tight. Not only does the group sound well balanced and blended after maybe 5 minutes of singing, the music just seems to amplify the energy. This is all supercharged by Bob Cooper. I have never been in such a quick, well run rehearsal. We ran through over 12 pieces in 2 hours with a break... and we actually rehearsed them, not just sight read. If this is just the beginning of the week, the concerts are going to be something not missed.
After this was a quick get to know event (standard.. my name is, my age is, i'm from, something interesting) and then we headed down to the Market where we picked up ice cream.
I've already met atleast 3 people who i didn't realise i knew/forgot from a while ago, or that are good friends of friends. Not to mention the 1 or 2 people that are going into the music faculty next year at UWO.
This is going to be one hell of an amazing week.
And on that note, i have to be up in 7 hours and i'm exhausted from travel.
Good night!
------------------Log closed for the day-------------------