i'm a regular somewhere

it's something i've always wanted - to have someone start getting what they know you want the minute you walk in the door, to banter casually with the people behind the counter and the other regulars, to have a "seat" somewhere. in some ways, it's perfect, and in some ways i'm totally paranoid that when the girl laughs a little and says my order before i do she is actually judging me for eating the same thing almost every day instead of laughing with me about my constancy. whatever, i live too much in my head and i'm going to stop thinking about it.

yesterday i went to the symphony with my aunt to see jimmy levine conduct mahler's #9. it was INCRED. the first and third movements were kind of an emotional roller coaster, but the second movement was beautiful all the way through. we sat where we could see most of the strings, and they alternated between looking like a field of high grass in the breeze and frantic insects. i wonder if, when symphonies are written, how the musicians will look playing it enters into the composer's mind? or when they will be turning the pages? anyway, levine was amazing - it's clear he's very passionate about mahler - but he drew out the fourth movement a bit more than it deserved, i thought. anyway, if you are going to fall asleep during the symphony, that is the movement to nod off to. the timpanist completely checked out during it and put his feet up on one of the drums. i heard on npr a while ago that in the 19th century it used to be really cool to fall asleep during the symphony, because it meant you were experiencing the music on a more subliminal, ethereal level. well, i'm a loser and i stayed awake.

it was a pretty great experience because first, most of what i know about classical music i learned from books, fantasia, or falling asleep in the car with my grandfather. now i understand a lot more about what going to the symphony entailed for all the characters in all the 18th century novels i've read, although clearly it's a much different experience now. i can't imagine not getting in trouble for making out in the hallway. second, because i always appreciate experiences that remind me that boston consists of a lot more besides the library and my room. i should probably admit right now that this blog details pretty much all of my extracurricular activities. that day i fished the ladybug out of the toilet? yeah, that was the only time i didn't think about school that day. oh well. good thing i like it.