tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335723992024-02-07T14:20:06.028-08:00~Exactly AbbiGal~Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-31483336791724914762011-06-30T14:17:00.000-07:002011-06-30T14:25:23.243-07:00Comptine d'un autre étéAnd here's the finished project!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comptine d'un autre été: l'après midi</span><br /><br />Composed by Yann Tiersen<br />Performed by Abbi Traaseth<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(My blog layout seems to cut off the side of the video; my apologies for that! If you click on the video after it's playing, you can go to the original YouTube source, and watch the full thing there. :) )</span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jDGgXG8STrw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-67781502722763254642011-06-25T09:48:00.000-07:002011-06-26T19:30:12.186-07:00The Note's SongThis is something that I've been thinking about for a while, and I figured I really ought to write a blog post about it, because it's far too extensive for a Facebook status update and I really want to convey what this means for me.<br /><br />I play piano. I love playing piano. If you've read here before you probably know this, but I'll sum up my experience anyway. I took one lesson in my life, and found that the teacher and I didn't get along. But I didn't want that to stop me from playing. Fortunately, I have a fantastic ear for music and notes, and I could always figure out the melody of any song I wanted just by fooling around until something sounded right. But I wanted to learn notes, I wanted to enjoy the piano to its full potential, and most of all I wanted to play songs that I liked and that I felt moved by. So I printed out a little piano sheet that looks something like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTuKJPZjaNeMqqTKRDledAH58_M_IeC0Oqbdr8URQFl4zfOVnf9g7CWXQ5ICP5OIlncCG_rxfhagXcKMe0igK8FVOyRZ1wWYbVxhBAYGHQ-WtLaUsIKiTmm_6cglS_bDxsPk1_A/s1600/piano_keyboard_picture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTuKJPZjaNeMqqTKRDledAH58_M_IeC0Oqbdr8URQFl4zfOVnf9g7CWXQ5ICP5OIlncCG_rxfhagXcKMe0igK8FVOyRZ1wWYbVxhBAYGHQ-WtLaUsIKiTmm_6cglS_bDxsPk1_A/s320/piano_keyboard_picture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622201118873564450" border="0" /></a><br />Yep, that's right. That's my deep, dark, piano-playing secret. I printed out an image like that, and set it up on my piano next to my sheet music. I used this to slowly, deliberately decipher every song I was curious about, and then commit it to memory. Several years later, I've gotten better (and worse, as the frequency that I play surges and wanes) and can now for the most part read sheet music, but I always keep the page for reference to make certain that I'm reading it right.<br /><br />Like I said, I memorize my songs. Once I decipher them, like I outlined above, I'm then able to toss out the sheet music, and play. But how do I remember them? I amaze myself constantly to find I can play immensely long and complicated songs straight from my head. What I've found is a lot of it is muscle memory, for one; I know the feeling of my fingers on the blacks, between the blacks, crawling over one another, et cetera. I know the flow and the pacing of the song.<br /><br />But sometimes that isn't enough either, so how do I remember the notes? What if I forget the flow and draw a blank and can't think of what comes next?<br /><br />I find stories in the notes I play for every song. I discovered when I was little that I did this unintentionally when I learned songs, and I still do it now. I won't notice it until I'm finished and playing through, and I need to remember what comes next, and it comes to me as something like "Oh, this is when <span style="font-weight: bold;">D</span> gets pissed off and goes sharp, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">G</span> make a cage around it so it can't cause any trouble."<br /><br />I didn't realize that this was maybe unusual (or maybe it isn't?) until I was telling my mom about it and it was interesting to her. I thought everyone did it. I'm sure there are others who do, but either way, I now have the most fun figuring out what each song is telling me when I play it. I also learned that it helps me tune in with the song and feel the emotion behind it. I can't say whether this emotion is what the composer originally intended for it, but it's definitely what I'm pulling out of it.<br /><br />I'll give an example of my most recent song, called Comptine d'un autre été: l'après midi. It's from <span style="font-style: italic;">Amelie</span>. Here's a video for it:<br /><br /><br /><center><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-ZJDNSp1QJA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe></center><br />I already got that this was a very emotional song from this video, but listening to the notes gives it even more of a tie to its core for me. I'll do my best to explain what I mean.<br /><br />The left hand is constantly going through a steady loop of notes throughout the entire song. There are four patterns. It goes: <span style="font-weight: bold;">E+E, B, G+E, B, E+E, B, G+E, B</span>. The next is: <span style="font-weight: bold;">D+D, B, G+D, B, D+D, B, G+D, B</span>. As you may have noticed, the most frequently repeated note descended one step, from <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">D</span>; this gives it a lower sound. Next is: <span style="font-weight: bold;">D+D, B, F-sharp+D, B, D+D, B, F-sharp+D, B</span>. Again we've lowered another note from <span style="font-weight: bold;">G</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">F-sharp</span>. This gives it a little bit of a cryptic sound. Finally, we go to: <span style="font-weight: bold;"> D+D, A, F-sharp+D, A, D+D, A, F-sharp+D, A</span>. We've taken one last step downward, the one note that stayed the same the entire time: the <span style="font-weight: bold;">B</span>, to <span style="font-weight: bold;">A.</span><br /><br />What does this mean? It's a steady, gentle, repeating pattern that's nice on the ears. What does this mean to me? These soft, happy notes of <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">B</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">G</span>, slowly and surely fall into the depression that is <span style="font-weight: bold;">D</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">F-sharp</span>. And they do it <span style="font-style: italic;">over</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">over </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">over</span>... And not all at once. I always watch from the <span style="font-weight: bold;">B</span>'s perspective, and it's so sad to me how first it's the most influential note (<span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>), and then, <span style="font-weight: bold;">B</span>'s closest friend, <span style="font-weight: bold;">G</span>, before finally giving in herself.<br /><br />The melody of this song is all about the higher notes attempting to reason with the lower ones. They try to convince them that life is worth living up at the top, but by the first time the loop resorts to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">F-sharp</span>, already the melody is also makes the turn to use an <span style="font-weight: bold;">F-sharp</span>.<br /><br />As the song goes on, you hear the use of chords, and the pace quickens; this conveys an air of desperation. <span style="font-style: italic;">"Please please PLEASE don't go to the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">F-sharp</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> again!"</span> They always do, but I like to think that by the end of the song, the final chord is <span style="font-weight: bold;">E-G-B</span>, meaning we finally made it back to a place of happiness.<br /><br />Anyway, if any of that made any sense, that is what goes on in my head without any sort of preconceived attempt made on my part. This flows from the notes to my mind back to my fingers again as I play through the song as if I were also part of it.<br /><br />Once I know a song, there's also a certain amount of knowledge on my part that assures me that I <span style="font-weight: bold;">can't</span> mess it up, because the song isn't mine to mess up. The song is going, and all I can do is finish it. Fittingly, if and when I do mess up, you'll find that it's as if a spell was broken and as I look at my fingers, and can't even remember what I was doing before some wrong note was hit and I was thrown out of my story.<br /><br />But we'll just assume that that happens less frequently than just playing and being a part of the magic of the song happens.<br /><br />So that's how it works for me, from the most complicated song to the least. They all have a story; a reason for going the way they go. I can't wait to continue learning more songs and finding out about them. I don't know what will be next, but I know it'll have something in store for me.Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-26075980827661237592011-02-23T11:57:00.000-08:002011-02-23T12:07:26.819-08:00Moved by the Music<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">O gentle sound, from the slow and sweet piano make,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The heart and soul within my chest are forever yours to take</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">O passionate heat, from the quick and fired piano stirred,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Do drive me on, it is from you that it has been incurred</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">O stringent song, from the depths that have brought you here.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sing me to sleep, and I in turn, will only you, revere.</span></div>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-67484933714982528212010-08-30T18:15:00.000-07:002010-08-30T18:34:52.272-07:00To Exist.I just read a book set in the future. Everyone has their own feed - posting pictures and blogs and videos - everyone is always connected, everyone wants everyone to look at them. To be famous is to get what you want, no questions asked. Not too different from the world as we know it now, is it? But it brought to my attention a certain question: what if you unplug, and no one is looking at you anymore. Do you still exist?<br /><br />The answer is yes, of course, but the frightening truth behind the question lingers: most (if not all) people want to be acknowledged, to really prove their existence to the world. They want to leave something behind, to be remembered. But it's also a question of security. Do you still feel comfortable in your skin, doing what you're doing, if you're the only one giving yourself approval? Or do you feel you need the eyes of the world on you, nodding, giving you a pat on the back?<br /><br />A rough quote from the book is, "Don't worry, you'll still exist, even if you don't have a camera pointing at you."<br /><br />There are so many people I know and look up to, all of whom are confident and happy and secure in who they are as people. But I still can't help but feel bad for the people out there that think they need to be showered with attention to feel alive, and as soon as there is no one looking at them, think they're alone. That doesn't seem like a happy or fulfilling "existence" to me, if it can be called one.<br /><br />So here I write my own philosophical inquiry:<br /><br />If you do something and no one knows, did you do it? If you did something only so someone would know, was it worth doing?<br /><br />If you're alive but no one knows, do you really exist? If you live only so people know you exist, is it a life worth living?Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-11797914326683815942010-08-18T11:42:00.000-07:002010-08-18T12:03:29.926-07:00ScarletWhat has Abbi been into, lately? What has been keeping her attention, what is teaching her patience and tolerance, and what is getting her psyched about the future?<br /><br />Her brand-new black and red, glowing, <span style="font-style: italic;">shiny</span> Gateway FX6840-03E.<br /><br />As I'm constantly looking out into the world and searching for passions that excite me, my interest has always been drawn back to electronics. I don't know what it is about gadgets, but I love them. Starting with my jogger's CD player (it didn't skip if it was bounced around!), to my Zen Creative (hand-held, hello?), to customizing a hand-me-down desktop, to my own pink laptop, to my iPod Touch, and finally, a completely up-to-spec Gateway desktop. I love it all! (The one thing I never cared that much about is a cell phone, go figure.)<br /><br />What has me most excited about this computer, now? It started off with me needing a computer that was capable of playing the new Final Fantasy MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, and extended to "hey, I never had a really good computer for myself that would allow me to play on it when I want, and do more demanding things like Sims 3 or World of Warcraft raids."<br /><br />Eventually, it lead to me doing it <span style="font-style: italic;">all, </span>and with a giant grin, too. I did the research on the processors, the graphics card, the ideal RAM and hard drive space, and then compared the prices. I found the best one that would suit me, the deals that would be coming in the future, the monitor that I would want to accompany it, the keyboard, the mouse, the chair. (Computers can be really pricey when it comes to all the little things. I still don't have speakers covered.) I learned so much, and didn't realize just how giggly I could get about something mechanical.<br /><br />And now? I have her. She's fast, she's red, she's silent, she has rotating wallpapers (this is my first Windows 7 computer) and she can hold everything I'll ever, EVER need. Her ATI HD Radeon 5770 graphics card is gorgeous, too. I played with the idea of getting the 5870, but maybe that'll be later, when the price is lower.<br /><br />The power this thing has, it's mine! And, if you can't tell, I am thrilled. I'd be lying if I said the experience was without its frustrations, ex. where do I put it, why isn't Sims loading right, what if I delete this, etc. But most - if not all - of that is sorted out now as I finish the final touches. Now, with Alec's help, I understand the ins and the outs, I know what I'm putting on it... it won't get bogged down with stuff that I didn't need before. All of my pictures will be in their appropriate, organized folders, all of my bookmarks are relevant to me and labeled correctly... there are no broken links, and everything is orderly. When FFXIV comes out (Sept. 30th) she'll be prepared to tear it APART. This computer has me so happy every time I see it it's ridiculous. And yet, here I am, proud to say, she belongs to me and I love her.<br /><br />Oh, and if you were wondering... her name is Scarlet. ♥Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-50895010355279415322010-07-09T08:31:00.000-07:002010-07-09T08:47:50.816-07:00These are a few of my favorite things...Throughout my life - as I'm sure others have also done - I've continually found sounds that I love hearing... here are a few simple pleasures that make my ears sing.<br /><br />The crunch of a crisp pine cone.<br /><br />A finger's perfect snap.<br /><br />Gentle, dripping waterfalls.<br /><br />Harsh, storming waterfalls.<br /><br />Babies giggling.<br /><br />The crunch of a crisp autumn leaf.<br /><br />Freshly-baked, crackling almonds.<br /><br />Fingers typing quickly on a keyboard.<br /><br />That one high, pristine note on a harp.<br /><br />A slow exhale.<br /><br />That clack, when someone snaps their tongue in their mouth.<br /><br />The crunch of a thin layer of ice on the side of the road.<br /><br />The build-up, and eventual high screech of a tea kettle.<br /><br />Birds chirping.<br /><br />The rustle of leaves outside.<br /><br />And finally, complete, utter silence... silence, eventually to be cleanly sliced through by any one of the aforementioned sounds.<br /><br />Sharp, clear, focused. Such clarity is rivaled only by...<br /><br />Relaxation; wispy, dreamy. Calm and gently at peace, enjoying the serenity within one's own mind, and bathing in the simple sounds all around us.<br /><br />This how I like to live my life, and this is how I like to hear it.Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-87659622937934551722010-06-29T07:29:00.000-07:002010-06-29T07:57:34.117-07:00Acting CampThis summer is going to be pretty busy for me; busier than most years, anyway. I'll be attending three different camps: <a href="http://sssmommy.blogspot.com/">Laura Bowman</a>'s <a href="http://etusc.com/">ETUSC</a> in August and Vermont Session 3 <a href="http://www.nbtsc.org/">NBTSC</a> in September being the later two. But the one that's the most risky personal leap for me, is the two-week intensive acting course with the <a href="http://www.gashakespeare.org/">Georgia Shakespeare Co.</a> It will take place Tuesday - Saturday, July 20 - July 31, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.<br /><br />My actual acting experience is extremely limited. I had small dancing parts in the Paul Bunyan Playhouse productions of Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan, and I fell in love with plays. The behind-the-scenes, the make-up and costumes and props, the coordination mixed up with improvisation, and the amazing, creative people behind it all. I've tried out for a couple other plays since, but after moving to Georgia, it's slipped my mind and I haven't pursued anything.<br /><br />Still, I've always loved memorizing and performing monologues. I performed V's introductory speech (from V for Vendetta) at the 2006 Live and Learn conference, and more privately memorized Helena's heart-ripping accusations toward Hermia as Lysander and Demetrius both proclaim their love for her (from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 3, Scene 2). I also worked on a few of Lady Macbeth's soliloquies.<br /><br />So, as I said, I'm finally pursuing this interest again by attending this camp (through no small part from <a href="http://barn-raising.blogspot.com/">Madeline Rains</a>, to whom I am most grateful.) It's the first time I've ever taken part in an intensive course, but I'm really excited. And anxious. And nervous. I have no idea what to expect, except that I plan to jump in head-first and do my best. I know that I didn't get a few acting roles in the past because I was too caught up in having fun and being silly - at the time I was between 8 and 10, so can you really blame me? - but I really want to take this opportunity seriously this time, and really learn from the actors that are here to help me. (For more information on the camp itself: <a href="http://www.gashakespeare.org/camps">http://www.gashakespeare.org/camps</a> I'll be attending the "High School Conservatory".)<br /><br />I suppose the last thing I'm left with is the wonder if I should prepare beforehand, or just continue with my days as I have up to this point, and just enter with an open mind. Like I said; I'll be present, listen for advice and constructive criticism, and just... be all that I can be! I won't worry about needing more until I'm there, and if it does call for something I'm lacking, I should be set to take care of it <span style="font-style: italic;">then</span>.<br /><span class="df" style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#7f7f7f;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#7f7f7f;"><span class="df" style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#7f7f7f;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#7f7f7f;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#7f7f7f;"><span class="df" style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#7f7f7f;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-84311712955724971952010-06-25T06:39:00.000-07:002010-06-25T08:56:59.971-07:00Been a while, eh? Recap!Hello, Blogger. Remember me? Yeah... some couple, six months ago or so, I said that I would write here more often. So, uh... so much for that. But there's no use dwelling on what I failed at doing! What I can do <span style="font-style: italic;">now</span> is write a little recap! "What has Abbi been up to?" some of you may be thinking? Or maybe you aren't actually thinking that, but you're willing to read on anyway? Maybe you don't care in the slightest and you're right now typing into the URL space I Can Has Cheezburgers? Either way, this what I've been doing! Or... what I can remember doing.<br /><br />In May, we drove up to Minnesota for our family reunion, and general family and friend visity stuff. It was a very, very long drive, but Alec and I bought the new Pokemon games for the ride so we were entertained for quite some time. Well, actually, the entire way up felt like a couple minutes, and the entire way down, I was reading. So I guess it'd be more accurate to say it felt to everyone <span style="font-style: italic;">else </span>like a very, very long drive; I'm lucky to be able to zone out into a book or a DS game while in the car, which happens to make things go quite a bit faster. The trip itself was a lot of fun, too, but we were all glad to be home when we got back.<br /><br />A little further in May (or before the trip, I'm not sure) we had a conjoined birthday party for Kyra and Sierra in Johnson City at a roller rink. I'd never rollerskated before (or I had, once before, at the same location and only a couple weeks prior to the party) so I was very inexperienced. I was lucky to have only fallen over a couple times. It was a lot of fun!<br /><br />Almost a week ago this month, the "Big Four" of Metal went on a tour together in Belgium. The Big Four are Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. This is the first time they've played together, even though they've all been around for over thirty years. To sum the exact... "effect" these bands had on the music world, they practically invented metal, as well as revolutionized it over the years of their fame. So needless to say, the tour was <span style="font-weight: bold;">huge</span>. So huge, it was being broadcast to theaters all over the world! Alec and I went to it in Cumming, and it was pretty... epic, for lack of a better word. Four hours of metal that went from 7:30 to 11:30. Very enjoyable, but left me extremely wiped. Now what I want most is to go to a Dream Theater concert, but Alec assures me that that won't be for another year or so, at the least. Boo.<br /><br />And finally, most recently, Kyra, mom and I have been playing with felting projects! I made a circular color-ball, two little... cartoony face things, and a giant Poliwag! Pictures coming soon. Maybe.<br /><br />I guess the last little details would be the TV shows that we've been watching- Buffy and Angel! ...that's right, Buffy and Angel AGAIN! I'm watching Buffy for the third time and Angel the second, this time with Kyra. I'm still in love with both series, so they're as fun as ever.<br /><br />Well, more details on my life coming up later, and in more detail, as they occur to me. Maybe I'll write more about the events these last couple months, or maybe some later stuff... either way, I'm glad to have at least brief across this little life of mine that had gone un-blogged about for so long!<br /><br />See you soon, and I'll try my best not to forget about you next time.<br /><br />No, really. I'll try.Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-67784691030155568172010-01-07T07:50:00.000-08:002010-01-07T07:54:21.879-08:00My first Unconscious MutteringsWeek #362<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.lunanina.com/">here</a> if you want to play.<br /><br /><ol><li>365 :: Kittens </li><br /><li>Tombstone :: Crypt</li><br /><li>Dumb :: Dumber </li><br /><li>Intrusive :: Cruel </li><br /><li>Fat :: Phat/Cool </li><br /><li>Axe :: Handle </li><br /><li>Planned :: List </li><br /><li>Spike :: (Hot) Vampire </li><br /><li>Bleach :: Color</li><br /><li>Shopkeeper :: Service </li><br /></ol>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-40442423686326931472010-01-06T08:13:00.001-08:002010-01-06T08:25:39.456-08:00PiercingHmm~. I was going to get a tragus piercing. That's the little cartilage knob right in front of the ear. I have thought for years that a little silver stud there would be adorable, and I've planned to get it ever since. I had no specific time frames, so I was content to just wait until the urge really overwhelmed me. There were a few occasions where we were going to go out and get it done, but every time something else happened. Eventually mom convinced me to research them a little more before making my full decision. As I said, I wasn't in a huge hurry, so that was fine. In fact, I only just got around to it last night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*If you're a bit squeamish, you might want to skip the next paragraph.*</span><br />The tragus is considered an "exotic" ear piercing. You are most likely going to be asked to lie down on your side while they pierce it, because the needle takes a bit more pressure to puncture the thick cartilage, and that way your head has the most stable position and won't move. It doesn't, however, hurt as much as everyone thinks, because there are very few nerve endings within it. Blood is almost always inevitable, even for the first couple hours after.<br /><br />It is suggested you clean it two to three times a day, and because it is more prone to infection (thick cartilage), it is suggested that you swap out a clean pillow case every three or so days.<br /><br />After reading all of this, I was still convinced that I wanted the piercing. I was talking with some friends about it, and jamming to my Avenged Sevenfold music, listened through my brand-new, highish quality earbuds that I got for Christmas. It was then that the thought occurred to me... that I wouldn't be able to wear earbuds or headphones for the first ten weeks after the procedure. I'm not sure if I'd be able to fit them in correctly at all afterward, with the stud's clasp in the way.<br /><br />Whelp, that idea's out! As I said, I still love the piercing, but I'm not sure if I'm quite willing to pay for something that's aesthetically pleasing, but affects the functionality of my entire ear. I guess I'll have to think of something else... a cartilage piercing for my right ear, perhaps? Another lobe piercing...? I am DEFINITELY getting a tattoo when I'm legal to!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:</span><br />Naive you are / if you believe / life favours those / who aren't naive. -Piet Hein, poet and scientist (1905-1996)Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-49259215773082288112010-01-05T06:30:00.000-08:002010-01-05T06:49:09.959-08:00CalendarI've really never used a calendar all the way through the year. I've always bought the really cute ones, with the horses or the gardens or the art posted right under each month's name and right over the days, but I never got past February. Then it would end up folded or bent, collecting dust in my junk drawer with the rest of its discarded kind. By the time I finally remembered it, it would be past the year that it was meant for, and all of those pretty pictures would go to waste. Saddened by their loss, I would resolve to go out, buy a new one, and make use of it this time! ...well, rinse and repeat. By February...<br /><br />Eventually I wore out of this, and just stopped buying them. I mean, why have them hanging around? Mom has her wooden calendar hanging in the kitchen, and I have a laptop that tells me what time/date it is at any point in the world (currently 3:45PM in Paris, and Wednesday, 1:45AM in Sydney), so why would I deliberately pay money for something disposable that leaves a hole in the wall, and just tells me things I already know?<br /><br />The answer that I came up with to that question is the reason I haven't had a calendar since I was nine. The reason I have one now, is because of <a href="http://sssmommy.blogspot.com">Mrs. Laura Bowman</a>. I saw the calendars that she had on her wall, and they were pieces of art! They were almost like scrapbooks, or a variant of a journal! With little hearts and stars on days that were particularly good, people who came and how long they were staying, events they were going to... all <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> ever knew about how to fill out a calendar was the rudimentary way of crossing out each day until there were 365 X's!<br /><br />To sum it all up, with Laura's piece of inspiration to create a wall-journal of my life throughout the entire year, I now have a "365 Days of Kittens" calendar leaning against my desk in my room. I plan to fill it out with love, colorful sharpies, and maybe even a sticker or two. As mentioned in my previous post, I want to be able to look back on it in a couple years, and take the time to remember decorating it and think about what I did that year!<br /><br />Is it unusual that I seem so adamant about cataloging my life? Maybe, but I'm enjoying it, so maybe that's just the kind of person I am. Here's to the calendar!Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-37856244912696759182010-01-04T06:57:00.000-08:002010-01-04T07:16:57.475-08:00JournalsHappy New Year everyone!<br /><br />I've come to realize lately, that I like recording my thoughts. Be it blogging, journal-ing, Facebooking, creating personalized calendars, or even vlogging a little bit, I want other people (my future self included) to know my thoughts on things. I tend to be a very opinionated person, and I'm also very interested in the way a person changes over time, so maybe this is all just an experiment to see if I still agree with myself in ten years. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. But I know that when I read it, I'll remember exactly where I was all that time ago (like right now, sitting in a warm house on a cold morning, wrapped in a blanket that is way too big for me), and I'll remember what I was feeling, what I was thinking. I'll take myself back ten years... and I'll see if I'm still the same person.<br /><br />Because of this interest of mine, I have been writing in a journal. I had been going on and off since I was about eight, but as of the last... maybe about ten months, I've been doing my best to make frequent entries. I still enjoy reading back. I still enjoy experiencing the changes. What had seemed like a slow progression and evolution different thoughts through the months, can be read in a matter of minutes. And my opinions certainly DID change! "I love World of Warcraft!" "The internet is so great!" "I think I'm going to write a book!" "I don't like the book anymore." "I'm done with the computer for now." "I'm really excited to go to [insert location here]!" "I'm feeling sick now, I don't think I can go." "Healthy again! It'll be a blast!"<br /><br />I also like recording little pieces of information that I would have long forgotten about in later years. It reminds me, again, what I was feeling in that particular moment. I don't think that inconspicuous memories should be lost just because they're small. It brings me down to earth a bit, I guess, to remember what my favorite cereal was at the time, or my favorite song.<br /><br />In a way, these entries are like tethers to my memories. Sure, there is a chance that I would have remembered all of these details without the need to remind myself... but with them, I can really pull them in again, if they were lost. They're physical evidence of how I felt. A little piece of that moment that I have with me in the future.<br /><br />Anyway, I think I was going somewhere with this. I may start blogging more. Recording those small, little thoughts for other people to read too. My journal is personal, but sometimes I feel like I want to share it. So, as a compromise, I'll share them here! Let's see how I do.Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-85641093993044120182009-08-27T14:01:00.000-07:002009-08-27T14:04:14.537-07:00Filler ThursdayWell today I'm tired and my eyes hurt and I just want to sit and watch movies and read books and play WoW and recording a vlog isn't included in that so here's a filler episode with Alec and me riding on a fun ride in Legoland I hope you enjoy and I'll see you next week.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hc5KIX_scDo&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hc5KIX_scDo&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-77005621880053604692009-08-21T06:45:00.000-07:002009-08-21T06:47:49.038-07:00Aquarium Thursday!We spent last Thursday at the Haworth's, and we went to the aquarium! We got this amazing footage from it, and I am wholly satisfied. It was a lot of fun and I'm so glad I was able to make this great vlog!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fFdYQ-xTkkw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fFdYQ-xTkkw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><br />Vlog stuff aside, I also spent about three hours dancing with Mindy at her belly dance classes! That was also a lot of fun, and I feel like I learned so much. Thank you Mindy!Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-67771723875981657882009-08-18T05:41:00.000-07:002009-08-18T13:28:07.464-07:00Music~ a poem<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Listening and playing the piano often inspires me, filling my head with words bursting to come out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Music</span><br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Like angel's lips to my ear do the sounds so gently kiss</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And lull me into a tranquil trance of everlasting bliss</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My heart goes to you now without remorse or regret</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">So take over my will and senses, I do so now let</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Now dance and sing forever in my open, flowing heart,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Where the music never ends, and we shall never part</span><br /></div>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-79193726052305048982009-08-14T06:18:00.000-07:002009-08-14T06:21:35.548-07:00Raiding Thursday!<div style="text-align: left;">I'm sorry about missing Week Twenty Four, and I'm sorry that I didn't post Week Twenty Five. I'll explain what happened to Twenty Five in the vlog; but, I finally got Alec's raid! Here you go!<br /></div><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0SZavwbis9g&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0SZavwbis9g&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-3393483411946354792009-07-24T05:40:00.001-07:002009-07-24T05:41:37.085-07:00Mastermind Thursday!<div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Aa4yLuUiwiM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Aa4yLuUiwiM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><br />It turns out I'm not as good at this game as I would like to be. Maybe with some practice (and patience, and more thinking) I'll get better.<br /><br />Thank you, Alec, for being here and creating the humor in this vlog with me!Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-60227108027603437212009-07-16T13:38:00.001-07:002009-07-16T13:38:39.255-07:00Another ThursdayPretty simple vlog today, but we had fun. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/voCd8_DL3zc&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/voCd8_DL3zc&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-37520595830675945382009-07-14T06:59:00.000-07:002009-07-14T07:15:36.510-07:00Belly dancin' awayI cannot stop dancing! We turn on music at home, and I just start twirling and kicking and letting my groove out. I don't really know what it was. I think Laura inspired me a little bit, dancing whenever she hears music (I've always felt that way, but have always felt a little conservative about dancing wildly by myself with other people watching me.) We've also watched a few episodes of <span style="font-style: italic;">So You Think You Can Dance</span> for the first time, so I suppose that's also part of it.<br /><br />But anyway, I've felt interested in maybe getting some lessons, or learning about different dances. I was in ballet when I was pretty young, and tap dancing. I was also in Just for Kicks for a couple months, but that never spanned out. I didn't like the competitive nature to it.<br /><br />We visited the Haworth's for the 4th of July! <span style="font-style: italic;">Mindy</span> is a <span style="font-style: italic;">Tribal belly-dancing teacher</span>. I was finally able to ask her the questions that had been burning inside me about belly dancing, and other dances. She taught me so much about it! From the idea of belly dancing, drills and moves, to isolation and the strict discipline required to perfect each lift, drop, and twirl.<br /><br />I've been doing pilates for the last several months, so I already have the core strength needed to do basic undulations and belly rolls. I've been really excited about getting better at it. The style I'd be doing is just solo work. I may have to just teach myself, or practice by myself until I meet up with Mindy again, because as far as we've searched, there are no belly dancing teachers in our area.<br /><br />Unfortunately we also don't have any full-length mirrors in our house, which makes it difficult to watch myself perform; it's important for me to be able to see my hips, knees, and where my feet are placed, so I can correct my posture, experiment with different contractions, etc. We are planning to buy a big sheet mirror to put down on one of the basement walls from Home Depot (or some place like that) though, so that should work well.<br /><br />I've also been looking up some YouTube videos about belly dancing, to see what the professional solo workers look like when they're doing it. This woman, Sadie (whose last name remains a mystery to me) blows me away, every time I see her. She is absolutely incredible.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YamDoDK71Ds&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YamDoDK71Ds&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><br />Maybe some day I may look forward to being able to perform at least somewhat as well as her!Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-38238679907182737552009-07-10T08:05:00.000-07:002009-07-10T08:07:25.174-07:00Thursday with the Haworths!Alex stayed at our house for the last couple days, when we came home from Chattanooga for our 4th of July celebration. Mindy, Ella, Max and Sophie came over yesterday to pick him up, and I managed to get it on the camcorder!<br /><br />We had a great time playing Warioware, Bananagrams, and eating cookies.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zlMUeCS4poE&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zlMUeCS4poE&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-92183376955717478082009-07-03T06:04:00.000-07:002009-07-03T06:08:43.748-07:00Hair Thursday!This week we were doing our hair, and it happened to fall on Thursday, so it worked out for my vlog!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1EKFPyO-GkE&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1EKFPyO-GkE&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><br />What's NOT included in the video is the end result, and my mom's hair. She ended up putting in some "Crimson Storm" a couple hours after the video was finished.<br /><br />Fortunately, though, we're going up to Chattanooga today, and for the rest of the weekend! It should be a lot of fun, and we'll get lots of pictures.<br /><br />I really like my hair, Kyra really likes hers, and ditto for my mom. Very cool!Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-63994175933867280682009-06-26T04:52:00.000-07:002009-06-26T04:57:37.561-07:00THIRD Thursday!...which was yesterday, but I never got around to posting a blog about it.<br /><br />Caars.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sGTbmdvGPCY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sGTbmdvGPCY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><br />V. R. 1. CORVETTE.<br /><br />I feel like I wish I could have been "smarter" in the video... but as soon as I turn on the camcorder, I just start babbling. There are a lot of facts I wish I could have pointed out that didn't even enter my train of thought at the time. The Mustang is a lot cheaper, the Mazda Miata is EVERYWHERE here in Georgia, the Corvette (and most of them) gets terrible gas mileage- although I guess most of those are commonly known. I didn't even get to touch all those beautiful Ferrari convertibles!<br /><br />Ohh well. Enjoy.Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-5918674806018533712009-06-18T12:22:00.000-07:002009-06-18T12:24:52.068-07:00Second Thursday!Yay, I was able to use the camcorder! The quality is muuch better. Good, good.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aQ8nelTld7w&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aQ8nelTld7w&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-88700873708496328682009-06-12T05:49:00.001-07:002009-06-12T05:52:19.975-07:00Thursday! Which means...Abbi's first Our Seven Cents video!<br /><br />So, I had fun doing it... I feel a little silly about it afterward, but I guess that's okay. I'm sorry about the poor quality; it took me two hours of playing with different computers, webcams and programs to finally get the sound to match up with my voice, and the lighting to be right.<br /><br />I'm also sorry about how it's hard to hear my voice. It sounded clear and fine when I was listening back to it in Windows Media Player, but when I uploaded it to YouTube, it degraded a bit. Hopefully next week I can use my camcorder.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iCcQt6Cec-c&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iCcQt6Cec-c&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572399.post-4501433811227797202009-06-07T07:45:00.001-07:002009-06-07T07:52:02.690-07:00The Seventh CentHeyy, everybody! I'm really excited about this new opportunity... I'm not sure if all of you are aware, but about seventeen weeks ago, seven Unschoolers got together to make vlogs together, titled "Our Seven Cents". Each Unschooler is assigned their own day, and together, they're entertaining people all through the week.<br /><br />The Unschoolers and their days are:<br /><br />Friday - Dagny<br />Saturday - Jesse<br />Sunday - Andrew<br />Monday - Jessica<br />Tuesday - Logan<br />Wednesday - Chris<br />Thursday - Wendy<br /><br />Unfortunately for them, as of recently their Thursday vlogger, Wendy, has decided she's no longer interested in doing Our Seven Cents, which means they have an open position. They've asked me if I'd be willing to take part in their vlogging, and being very excited with the idea, said yes!<br /><br />I have yet to make my own vlog yet, but this coming Thursday, watch out for it. I may end up posting it here on Blogger, in addition to YouTube.<br /><br />If you're interested in looking more into Our Seven Cents, the URL is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/OurSevenCents"><span style="font-style: italic;">www.youtube.com/user/OurSevenCents</span></a>. Everyone is really cool, so please check it out! I'll see you Thursday!Abbi Traasethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234583481306661017noreply@blogger.com1