Strings and keys

Went to a wonderful concert (the St. Lawrence String Quartet) last night. It made me excited for all the music I get to experience in Europe! And it reminded me of an organization called the Amateur Chamber Music Players Network, designed for musicians interested in chamber music the world over to meet each other and play together! I sent off a couple of emails to violinists in Paris this morning....

Incidentally, something occurred at the concert that I'm not sure would occur anywhere else in the world. Before the second piece, by Mendelssohn, the first violinist informed us that unbeknownst to the world, this great German composer was once of the first European composers to take up hockey! This was of course leading to his announcement that the Canadian women had just beat the Americans 2-0 for Olympic gold!
Only in Canada...

Split

Like a city straddling a river (think Istanbul), my mind is Split (like the city in Croatia). Half of me wants to ensure I live a meaningful life in the time I have left here in Toronto (just three months and rapidly decreasing!). The other half can't stop wondering about and planning for the tabula rasa that is the future (nothing but a giant, blank void at this point, which is exciting, because my imagination can paint it with whatever it can, er, imagine).

My friends don't really enjoy talking about my plans to leave, while others have already resigned themselves to the fact and moved on. Three piano students (an entire family, whom I enjoyed teaching) have given notice this week. (Which answered the question How early is too early? to advise clients or employers of future plans!)

30 days...or 30 weeks

I've been studying Italian for about six months now (the process is slow, as I don't have a lot of time to devote). I'm beginning to learn important things, such as:  
Puoi repetere piu' lentamente, per favore? (Can you repeat that more slowly, please?);  
Dov'e' il ristorante migliore in questa citta'? (Where's the best restaurant in this city?) and 
Lui e' super bono! (He's really hot!) 
The study continues (Il studio continua)!

I've created a blog. Does that make me a narcissist?

The idea here is to report on the adventures I hope to have and keep in touch (of course) with far-away family and friends. I'm painfully aware that blogs can be quite self-involved and/or boring....but that won't be the case here. And please, let's have dialogues. I've never been a fan of one-way conversations, so weigh in whenever you feel inclined!