orange jess

zomg it lives!

2007-03-19T15:26:25Z

/wave

so I know I'm never around ever anymore, and I'm really bad at returning phone calls. but what can I say ... student teaching + preparing for voice recital = gg.

I'm gonna post this up here in case anyone happens to be around and feels like listening to me sing for a while:

My Senior Voice Recital
Saturday, March 24th, 5:00pm
(that's this saturday)
McEachern Recital Hall

sorry I haven't seen anyone ... my days off are few and far between, and between teaching, putting together my resume and portfolio, and preparing over an hour's worth of vocal music, I just haven't had time for much else. after my recital's over maybe I'll finally have some time to see some of you ... cheer!

General Public Service Announcement

2006-05-07T18:44:18Z

If you plan on giving a recital of any kind at MSU and are thinking of having it recorded through the music department, think again. Or at least make sure you know the person who's doing the recording very, very well.

Due to a "technical glitch" in the "conversion process" (from original format to CD), I don't have a recording of my senior flute recital.

Ever heard of making a backup? Isn't that like Recording 101 or something?

ZOMG IT LIVES

2006-03-21T22:09:01Z

Uh... hi. ::waves::

So let's see... my userpic is still a cropped LL picture. A rather old LL picture, I might add.

According to my biography thing I'm a senior... that's still right.

Did I ever tell you why my username is starlitxalestia?

You see, back in the wee ol days of my freshman year of college, I spent a fair amount of time with a group of gamers.

(Eventually I started dating one of them, but that's a story for another time.)

Anyway, it didn't take long before I signed on for a game of online D&D. I decided my character's name (an elven cleric, if my memory serves me) would be Alestia Silversky. That explains half of my username. The "starlit" part, well, I honestly don't remember. I think I was trying to use it as an adjective, seeing as "starlette" would be more suitable for implying my character was a star. As far as the X in the middle, I was 19 and still under the impression that X's in the middle of one's screen name/username/etc were cool. That, friends, is the story of my LJ username.

Incidentally, I ended up quitting the D&D game after the character creation stage - proof that I'm still not a super-geek.

Heh... my name is still orange jess. That, I'm afraid, is a story you'll have to ask me about in person.

starlitxalestia @ 2005-09-21T17:39:00

2005-09-21T21:41:52Z

How does that Pearl Jam song go?

Oh yeah....

"I, hey, I’m still alive..."

More shameless self-promotion :)

2005-08-24T13:29:04Z

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31st @ The Bloomfield Ave Cafe

Tri State Punk Presents...

Big D & The Kids Table
w/HIT AND RUN, All Star Otis, Hootchi & The Go Get Ems

ALL AGES, Doors@6pm

Contact me for tickets!

LessThanJess0226@aol.com
HITANDRUNBAND@gmail.com

The best way I can think of to cheer myself up is....

2005-07-29T03:21:31Z

....Looking at old journal entries. Posting some stuff for your amusement and mine.

Here is my personal favorite clip:

What am I supposed to say? Oh, hello. I just thought I'd tell you that you have very nice blue, sparkly eyes. When I look into your eyes, it makes me happy. In fact, the only reason I come to this class is so I can look at your eyes. Just thought I'd let you know.

And some quotes from various times throughout the last three years - Ten points if you can guess who said any of these:

1. "nah, you're sweet. like butterscotch. man i'm hungry."

2. Person 1: "There's a song on this CD, that's not there--"
Person 2: "Excuse me....what the fuck was that???"

3. Person 1: "but i still have work..."
Person 2: "quit. you are a rock star now"

4. "What's a ten clef?"

5. "I'll show you yours if you show me mine...wait..."

starlitxalestia @ 2005-07-02T16:57:00

2005-07-02T20:59:13Z

Hit and Run

July 8th Tri State Punk
w/ The Suicide Pact, New Atlantic, & more!
Bloomfield Ave Cafe
$10/doors@6pm
BUY A TICKET IN ADVANCE, GET A FREE HIT AND RUN DEMO!

For more info, ask me!

Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up...

2005-06-02T11:42:07Z

Woke up surprisingly early, considering I was supposed to go to the doctor in two and a half hours. So much for that. No doctor for me.

I can't wait until the Fall. Well okay, I can wait a little bit. I want it to be the 27th so I can start classes. I need work to do. I need to get out.

Hum. Summer job is good, I only have to work Monday-Thursday and I get to decide what times I come in. This makes being in a band a heck of a lot easier.

I ended the semester with one B, nine As, and a Pass. The one B was in Music History though, and let me tell you, I have never been happier to get a B in a class. And it was ONLY because I got an A on the research paper. ::phew:: As of right now I can graduate with honors. I just need four more tenths of a point over the next year and a half (cause last semester doesn't count toward your "graduating" GPA, I don't think), and I can graduate Magna Cum Laude. Which I would really *really* like to do. (Sometime after my freshman year of college, I turned back into an academic geek).

My senior flute recital is Saturday, January 28th at 8:00pm.

I'm singing alto (sigh) in chamber next year because she had 40 billion sopranos audition and only a few altos. This coupled with the fact that we lost nearly a third of the section = me singing alto again. And I'm pretty sure she's STILL short on people, because right now there are six Is and four IIs (?). I don't know.

Speaking of singing, next year will be a flute year for me. I'm only doing three ensembles, so I don't go crazy, two of which are band and wind symphony. Well, assuming I'm in wind symphony. Which is pretty much a done deal because we lost like, the entire flute section, and with Lindsay in Moscow, it's just me and Carolyn. In the fall, anyway. After that it's down to me and Lindsay. It's weird, because I don't know any of the newish flute players, because I wasn't in band or woodwind masterclass. I'm looking forward to being in band again. I missed it. Although I doubt it'll be the same without Kat and Jenn ::sigh::. Anyway, that's the other thing: I'm going to be in woodwind masterclass in the fall. So basically, the only singing I will do will be in chamber and in my lessons. Which is fine, because I need to focus on flute for a while what with my recital coming up blah blah.

So.... yeah. I guess this was a "for those of you who don't keep up with my life, not that you should, because you shouldn't, but here's what's going on" update. Well, I mean besides all the other stuff.

That's all for now.

Europe

2005-05-21T16:19:17Z

So Europe was.....special.

Seriously, I had a good time hanging out with some people. I.e., the "we're stupid and went the wrong way on the trolley" group was a blast. My roommate was cool. The people who are usually really nice in the department were fun too.

Then there was everyone else.

All in all, it was a pretty good time. I'm really, really glad to be home though. Everyone else who "hates america so much especially after being abroad and seeing what it's like in other countries"? Move to another country.

Unfortunately when I got back I found out that the luggage people at the airport in Budapest stole $100 from me. That sucked. Hurray for airport security here in the States. And of course, free refills and NON carbonated water.

Anyway, it was a good experience. I think it would've been better if some of the people hadn't been there, but I guess you can't always pick the people you travel with.

Later

starlitxalestia @ 2005-05-08T12:12:00

2005-05-08T16:13:20Z

Oh.Crap.I'm.Getting.On.A.Plane.In.Two.Days.

..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taking a break from Schoenberg to waste your time

2005-05-03T03:36:46Z

*TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey*
Name:	Jessica Ryan
Birthday:	November 10th, 1983
Birthplace:	Brunswick, Ohio
Current Location:	North Jersey
Eye Color:	green-hazel
Hair Color:	naturally red
Height:	5'5
Right Handed or Left Handed:	right
Your Heritage:	Irish (duh), Portuguese, English, German, lots of other stuff
The Shoes You Wore Today:	vans old skools
Your Weakness:	stuffed animals
Your Fears:	FLYING
Your Perfect Pizza:	hawaiian
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	get done with the semester
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	yeah
Thoughts First Waking Up:	I'm still tired
Your Best Physical Feature:	probably my hair, when i take the time to blow dry it
Your Bedtime:	whenever my homework is done
Your Most Missed Memory:	HS marching band
Pepsi or Coke:	coke
MacDonalds or Burger King:	macdonalds
Single or Group Dates:	single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	lipton
Chocolate or Vanilla:	vanilla
Cappuccino or Coffee:	COFFEE
Do you Smoke:	nope
Do you Swear:	only when I get really really upset
Do you Sing:	yup
Do you Shower Daily:	yup
Have you Been in Love:	yes
Do you want to go to College:	.......
Do you want to get Married:	eventually
Do you belive in yourself:	sometimes
Do you get Motion Sickness:	not really
Do you think you are Attractive:	eh
Are you a Health Freak:	not really
Do you get along with your Parents:	yes
Do you like Thunderstorms:	as long as I'm not in a car with mike and bryan in the middle of the warwick drive in
Do you play an Instrument:	way too many
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	nope
In the past month have you Smoked:	nope
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	nope
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	with bryan
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	not sure... don't think so
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	no, unfortunately
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	no
In the past month have you been on Stage:	yes, too many times
In the past month have you been Dumped:	no
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	no
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	no
Ever been Drunk:	.......
Ever been called a Tease:	I don't know
Ever been Beaten up:	not really
Ever Shoplifted:	no
How do you want to Die:	I don't
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	I'm not grown up yet? The singing voice of animated movie/show characters. I'm not even kidding.
What country would you most like to Visit:	Canada, New Zealand and Australia
*In a Boy/Girl..*
Favourite Eye Color:	whatever
Favourite Hair Color:	whatever
Short or Long Hair:	LONG =D
Height:	taller than me
Weight:	not really thin
Best Clothing Style:	uhh?
Number of Drugs I have taken:	claritin?
Number of CDs I own:	hundreds
Number of Piercings:	I used to have five
Number of Tattoos:	none
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	I try not to...
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Knowing together that we did it all for the glory of love

2005-04-27T03:41:57Z

You know that saying about how some people come into your life for a short amount of time, and yet you remember them forever because they left such an impression on you?

It's so true.

The results are in...

2005-04-23T02:00:07Z

The band is taking a short hiatus, until school's out and me, matt, and bryan get back from Europe. Everything's too hectic right now, and everyone's ready to explode.

In other news, I'm actually looking forward to next semester. Since the Fall course catalogue lied and marching band techniques isn't being offered, I only have 18.5 credits instead of 19.5, which means I get to take band for credit after all. And I only have (drum roll please) 11 classes! This is the first time since freshman year I haven't had at least 12. Not to mention I *almost* have a whole day off (only 2 classes on wednesday). And the best part is that I have a single in Russ, so no commuting OR wacko roommates to worry about. Life is good!

Now if I can just finish this semester and get on the plane...

starlitxalestia @ 2005-04-10T23:45:00

2005-04-11T03:52:54Z

So, it's finally happening. Someone is getting out of Waldwick, for good.

It makes me think, do I really wanna stay here my whole life? I mean, here's one of my best friends whom I've known for what seems like forever, growing up and moving 1500 miles away, to live with the person he loves, and to pursue his dream...

So what am I doing, anyway? Why can my friends do these things, but I can't? Why do I still feel like I'm stuck in high school?

Shows

2005-03-27T20:39:59Z

Hit and Run Shows

Saturday, April 9th
Bloomfield Ave Cafe
1:00pm $7 adv/$10 door
Ask me for tickets!

Friday, April 22nd
Boonton Elks Lodge
Doors 6pm, More info TBA
w/ Too Short Notice, The Miasmics, Boss Relief, The Flaming Tsunamis

"She thinks she's little miss perfect..."

2005-03-04T21:59:13Z

Yay!

We have our first gig at the Bloomfield Ave Cafe on April 9th!

Yes the Cafe is a crappy venue, but we can't book anywhere else until we have a press kit, which should be in another few weeks.

So yay!

starlitxalestia @ 2005-02-20T22:52:00

2005-02-21T03:53:33Z

1.) Copy and paste this into your journal:
<*font color="yourusername"> <*b>yourusername<*/b> <*/font>
2.) Eliminate the asterisks.
2 1/2.) Replace "yourusername" with your user name.
3.) See what color you are.

starlitxalestia

starlitxalestia @ 2005-02-19T17:18:00

2005-02-19T22:18:50Z

It worked out!

To get it all to really work, I'm saying it's not that easy...

2005-02-18T03:40:12Z

Oh my gosh, every bone in my body wants so badly for this to work out.

Well you know what they say, third time's a charm...

starlitxalestia @ 2005-02-13T19:53:00

2005-02-14T00:54:18Z

I think I'm going to do The Willow Song at my (super) senior voice recital.

The one from The Ballad of Baby Doe, I mean.

Because it's pretty.

And sad.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

2005-02-07T05:17:23Z

I'd just like to take a moment here to rant.

I used to think they should make separate slopes for skiers and snowboarders. I hated skiers because they go really slow and get in the way, and they always seem to have a million little kids trailing along behind them.

After six years of research, I have seen the error in my thinking. The problem is not skiers. The problem is AMATEURS. PEOPLE WHO SUCK. People who don't know what the hell they're doing on their snowboard/skiis/skiboards, and end up causing accidents. People who go on intermediate and advanced trails WITH THEIR KIDS TIED ON LEASHES IN FRONT OF THEM. People who, no matter how hard you try to go around them, insist on TURNING INTO YOU so you have no choice but to either run into them or throw yourself to the ground, both of which end with your ass hurting. People who think it's okay to ride PERPENDICULAR to the trail. You'd think that going on diamonds would eliminate this problem. You'd think people are not dumb enough to go on terrain they can't handle. Oh no. No no no. That assumption is unfortunately wrong. People who suck cannot seem to keep themselves and their trail of 4-12 year old kids off advanced trails. What the hell happened to learning on EASY trails? Where everyone sucks, so you're not annoying those of us who actually have some clue as to what we're doing? And what the HELL is up with the 13-year-old snowboarders who think they're awesome lying sprawled out for ten minutes IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREAKING TRAIL? WHAT DOES IT ACHIEVE? You know the ones I'm talking about. They can't actually board, they can only ride either toe-side or heel-side, meaning they can't carve, meaning they CAN'T ACTUALLY BOARD. They think they're the shit. They attempt a diamond, fall on their ass, and then sit there in the middle of the freaking trail laughing about how much they suck for ten minutes with their friends instead of getting up and going down the mountain.

Why can't skiing and snowboarding be like swimming? If you wanna go in the deep of the pool, you have to take a test. If you wanna ride advanced trails, you should have to take a test determining whether you suck or not.

Please, if you wanna ski or snowboard, and you don't really know how, do the rest of us a favor and fall on your ass and learn on the EASY trails. Please. Please please please please please please please....................................................................................

starlitxalestia @ 2005-01-30T22:33:00

2005-01-31T03:36:32Z

"...Al said to me a few days ago that he just thought for the first time in his life. He feels that the last few years were only a waste of time. Yeah, it was always a compromise of what he always felt inside. His declaration, under the orange street light...

He was the one who always did the right things. He was the one who would always listen to everything they say. But today, he's never going back.

And nobody said that there would be days like these,
there'd be days like these,
there'd be days..."

LTJ

Why is it never easy?

starlitxalestia @ 2005-01-23T11:19:00

2005-01-23T16:42:50Z

So this weekend ended up not being so bad. First off, I ended up deciding to put off my teacher ed. application until next semester. I don't want to hand in anything thrown together. Then, yesterday's and today's performances were cancelled due to weather. Bryan ended up getting stuck here. I think this is becoming some sort of yearly ritual. Two years ago I got stuck at his house, last year he was here, and this year he's here again. But yay for snow, because it made my life much more relaxing for a few days.

School is okay. I already hate Music History II. I also already hate Tuesdays and Thursdays because I have no break and I get hungry. Oh, on Tuesday, I learned how to put a flute together. And then on Thursday I learned how to play an F.

***On a side note, I'd just like to say I don't agree with the Essential Elements flute book. It starts beginning flute players on a middle F. I don't know about anyone else, but in elementary school I had a hard time playing middle F, G, A, etc because they're the same fingering as their lower octave counterparts. I didn't have the air support to get up there quite yet, and it was really frustrating ecause I wanted to play "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" etc etc. Most other people/books I know of start their flute players on a C, then go down to (low) G or F, and THEN work on the middle range. This makes more sense to me, since those lower-ish notes require less air support, and the fingerings are basically just putting down the next finger, blah blah etc etc. Jenn, Laura, thoughts?

Anyway, this semester isn't so bad. It's so weird not to have class at 8:30 in the morning on Mondays and Wednesdays. Thankfully, I've still got MUED Practicum at 8:30am on Fridays (note the sarcasm).

I got assigned my first "real" aria, "Batti batti" from Don Giavonni. NOT from the 26/24 Italian Songs and Arias book. NO FREAKING PURPLE BOOK SONGS THIS SEMESTER!!! She gave me three from the Arias for Soprano book to choose from, though I'm starting to wish I'd opted for O mio babbino. But then everything else I'm doing is slow. Oh well, it's all good. Yay for singing!

Oh, I found out something interesting about a certain person for whom I felt very sorry earlier in the year. I don't feel sorry anymore, now I'm just pissed off. Why do people have to lie? And it's even worse when they're lying about something that makes you feel really, really bad for them, because their life is so hard, etc etc. Grr. And please no one get oversensitive on me, it is not an MSU OR WHS person that I am referring to. But please people, for future reference, don't lie like this. It'll really make people hate you.

Another note: American Idol started, and is funny as ever. Bryan knows one of the guys who made the first cut. Jenn's friend's friend(?) knows someone else, the guy with the band. I personally liked the "When Adam met Dirk" segment. Talk about geeks... Bah weep granah weep ninni bong, anyone???

That's about it. Later =D

This is my away message... does posting it here make me a loser? Oh yes. Oh well.

2005-01-19T04:09:12Z

Dear Consumer:

Our company is upgrading! We have 6 performances over the next five days; about 10 classes and rehearsals to attend between wednesday and friday; homework; and an application for the teacher education program due monday.

During the next few days, you can expect whining, distress, and general unpleasantness. We ask that you please bear with us during this exciting, but incredibly stressful time.

Thank you,
--The Management

But... the semester just started.... today!!!!

Oh how I love and hate being a music major. At least I am not alone in my insanity.

Stolen!

2005-01-14T06:55:13Z

Stole this from Smidge...Not really sure why, but, why not? ::shrugs::

Play this game!!

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One quote that reminds you of me.
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And a hint to who you are.