My NROL Experience

[dillytl]

Originally Posted by nutbar

I have to chime in here since I'm one of those weirdos who listens to music while reading.

I constantly have music going through my head, as far back as I can remember. Sometimes, there are even a couple of songs/melodies going at the same time. It's so much that I often cannot read because the interior music is too distracting. When I turn on some "real" or "exterior" music, it draws the musical part of my brain's attention ("Look! Shiny, sparkly things!"), leaving the inside of my head in calm so that I can again concentrate on my reading material. I still hear the (exterior) music but it's so much less distracting than the music in my head.

I don't always need to do this. Sometimes the interior music fits well with what I'm reading or is enough in the background that it doesn't distract.

My pitiful excuse for a brain is like a dog chasing its tail. It just keeps going round and round and round 24/7 with 30 different trains of thought going on at the same time. Music allows me to escape the madness. Once in a while, when the kids are outside with hubby, I sneak a little uninterrupted music time. I'll put on something that is capable of consuming me, and, voila, peace! All thoughts are stopped, all whirring is settled, all chaos is left behind. I leave my brain and enter the music. It's the only time I experience mental quiet. So cool.

Music is good. (And now you all know for sure that I'm insane.)

Ummmm.......we already knew that!

[Kirjava]

Originally Posted by stingo

Out of curiosity (not judging, just asking) - do you ever sit and listen to the music without doing anything else? If not, try it sometime - you might be surprised as to what you'll hear. That said, if you like Vaughan Williams, give his 5th Symphony a go. I like Previn's recordings best so far - his original on RCA, or the newer digital one on Telarc are quite good. I too have Gould playing Bach's Goldberg Variations, but I actually prefer Pierre Hantai and/or Celine Frisch's recordings a lot (both on harpsichord).

Hmmm--Have to check out those alt. Bach recordings. Thanks for the mention.

I am not good at sitting still and just.....listening. I LOVE going to concerts for that reason, because it allows me to really enter the music in my head. During the day I am too much of a busy bee to just do that.
I do love listening to music when I'm sitting and drawing/painting. That is a nice combo.

Every once in a while I will get in the mood for something and CRANK the stereo and dance like crazy around my living room--this can be to music of any genre. My dog also enjoys that kind of musical appreciation.

But I thank you for pointing that out because I think I need to remember to do it more often. Just sit. And listen. That's it!

[stingo]

Originally Posted by Kirjava

Hmmm--Have to check out those alt. Bach recordings. Thanks for the mention.

I am not good at sitting still and just.....listening. I LOVE going to concerts for that reason, because it allows me to really enter the music in my head. During the day I am too much of a busy bee to just do that.
I do love listening to music when I'm sitting and drawing/painting. That is a nice combo.

Every once in a while I will get in the mood for something and CRANK the stereo and dance like crazy around my living room--this can be to music of any genre. My dog also enjoys that kind of musical appreciation.

But I thank you for pointing that out because I think I need to remember to do it more often. Just sit. And listen. That's it!

To bring things full circle - I believe Alasdair Fraser runs a school in your neck of the woods (Nova Scotia). His music is grand for the dancing (if you're into that sort of dancing that is).

[nutbar]

Originally Posted by stingo

Well it's good to know that the voices in your head don't have to be a capella. What do you listen to that puts you in the calm state?

Blues, jazz, bluegrass, and, yes, classical. I love country music and listen to it the most but it doesn't do that to me like the aforementioned three do. I'm an expert on none of those three but they just take me away. (Yeah, like I'm not spacey enough.)

[stingo]

Listening to Medeski, Martin, and Wood - via Rhapsody. Sounds good - I'll have to listen a bit more to see if I'd buy a CD.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by nutbar

Blues, jazz, bluegrass, and, yes, classical. I love country music and listen to it the most but it doesn't do that to me like the aforementioned three do. I'm an expert on none of those three but they just take me away. (Yeah, like I'm not spacey enough.)

One country artist I like (and who is on my Ipod) is Robbie Fulks - his CD Georgia Hard is very good.

[stingo]

Spinning last night was good - a full class too as all the bikes were being used. I strongly suspect it's because we're going out as a group for dinner today to a bar that serves good steaks and a smattering of Cajun food. In case I've not mentioned it before, the diet is out the window pretty much this week, as every other day I've been eating out. Saturday was a beer tasting that was a lot of fun - unfortunately all the foods served were heavily carb based, with little protein. The beer was very tasty (what I had of it, as I had to drive home) and the company was good. Monday was the weekly book club meeting at the chinese restaurant. Today is the Cajun/steak place (though I'm thinking a good steak and veggie dinner would be just fine.) Tomorrow I'll be driving down to my cousin's near Philadelphia, so I'm not sure what I'll do for food then. Friday is the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the Philly Museum of Art (yes, I'm very much thinking of doing the run up the steps) followed by drinks at Tria and then dinner at Roy's (Hawaiian/Pacific Rim fusion). Saturday will be Thai food (the Thai place is BYOB) followed by a Philadelphia Orchestra concert. Sunday, the Philadelphia Flower Show is a possibility, though it's my cousin that wants to see that, not me, so I might head out earlier. And then Monday is back to the Chinese place again... Fun, yes, but my waistline will probably expand.

As a side note, I woke up with a headache today. Aspirin seems to be holding it at bay for the most part, but I hope I'm not coming down with the nasty bugs that seem to be going around.

[Kirjava]

Originally Posted by stingo

To bring things full circle - I believe Alasdair Fraser runs a school in your neck of the woods (Nova Scotia). His music is grand for the dancing (if you're into that sort of dancing that is).

Interesting! Thanks for the mention.

[dillytl]

Here's hoping it's JUST a headache, and not the crud!! Sounds like some interesting and YUMMY eating this week!!

I've always wanted to do the "Rocky Run" up the steps!!!! One of these days......

[stingo]

Originally Posted by dillytl

Here's hoping it's JUST a headache, and not the crud!! Sounds like some interesting and YUMMY eating this week!!

I've always wanted to do the "Rocky Run" up the steps!!!! One of these days......

Thanks - it's pretty low grade at the moment whatever it is, so it's tough to tell. But the fact it is persisting this long seems to indicate that it's crud-related. Just have to keep fingers crossed and see.

[LWilson212]

It sounds like you have an awesome rest of the week / weekend planned! Have fun. I'm trying to stay disciplined since our pictures / stats are coming up so drink some beer for me.

[Littlemermaidklb]

That workout looks insane! Maybe when I'm done with NROL4W I'll give it a go :-)... that is if I can find the stamina to do all those reps... dang!

[Willie]

Originally Posted by stingo

Tomorrow I'll be driving down to my cousin's near Philadelphia, so I'm not sure what I'll do for food then. Friday is the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the Philly Museum of Art (yes, I'm very much thinking of doing the run up the steps)

As a side note, I woke up with a headache today. Aspirin seems to be holding it at bay for the most part, but I hope I'm not coming down with the nasty bugs that seem to be going around.

This sounds like a blast! My college roommate used to be a curator at the Philly Museum of Art, and for awhile I got to visit the museum (and run the steps!) every spring when my team had a race in Camden, NJ or Philly. The museum is right at the end of the famous Boathouse Row, which are all the really old boathouses (think, early 20th century) on the Schuykill River.

Have fun, and I hope your headache goes away-- I was sick all weekend and then woke up with a headache today too. Blech.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by LWilson212

It sounds like you have an awesome rest of the week / weekend planned! Have fun. I'm trying to stay disciplined since our pictures / stats are coming up so drink some beer for me.

It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it. I might even start tonight.

Originally Posted by Littlemermaidklb

That workout looks insane! Maybe when I'm done with NROL4W I'll give it a go :-)... that is if I can find the stamina to do all those reps... dang!

It's quite a workout - the key is to find weights that are challenging enough but still do-able for that many reps.

Originally Posted by Willie

This sounds like a blast! My college roommate used to be a curator at the Philly Museum of Art, and for awhile I got to visit the museum (and run the steps!) every spring when my team had a race in Camden, NJ or Philly. The museum is right at the end of the famous Boathouse Row, which are all the really old boathouses (think, early 20th century) on the Schuykill River.

Have fun, and I hope your headache goes away-- I was sick all weekend and then woke up with a headache today too. Blech.

Yup - I've seen Boathouse Row from the Surekill all lit up at night - very nice, particularly with the art museum in the background.

[tcoy777]

I think I just gained 10 pounds reading the log!!! Have fun.