All Jazzed Up
The concert went great! I was enjoying it so much (thank you reed for working...) that I wanted to do the whole thing over again when it was done! I received some positive comments from some other musicians that made me feel good, especially after having a really hard year getting used to the new materials and adjustments in reeds and playing. For so long last year I felt like I couldn't even play oboe anymore. So it was just a really good experience and I hope it's not too long before I get to play again.
My friend Jan came and brought his parents. He sat in the side balcony and took pictures the whole time. I met his parents after the concert and Jan presented me with a bouquet of flowers which was a really nice gesture. After that I hung out with the other musicians in the Concert Hall's bar; every concert hall here has a bar where musicians and concert goers can hang out in afterwards and get discounted prices on drinks. It was fun to talk to people and get to know a few new people from the orchestra.
At one point I went up to the counter to order a drink and the American jazz prof./conductor was standing up there with someone waiting for the cashier to come back. He insisted on buying my drink and after ordering for us and leaving 5 euros on the counter, he ran off to change out of his suit. So I took his change and kept my eyes open for him after that to give him his change back. Awhile later I found him and set off to return his money. We chatted for awhile - he's really warm and friendly - and he told me just how busy he is: he flew to America 18 times in the course of a year! Plus he conducts the BBC orchestra pretty often in London, and flies from where he lives in Bonn, Germany, to Berlin every week to teach at our conservatory.
After leaving the concert hall at close to 2am, some of us from the orchestra walked to the night bus. The other 3 were going in the opposite direction as me, so I kept an eye open for my bus stop. Then I saw my bus stuck waiting behind a car which was apparently not moving for whatever reason. We all watched as the bus driver came out and shouted at the woman to move her car or she'd be paying the Berlin Public Transportation for lost time. Then he summoned some men from the bus to help push the car to the side. I asked the driver if I could get in and sat down and waited. And waited.
About 20 minutes had gone by and we were still stranded there, but I didn't see the car ahead of us anymore, and it became apparent our bus was having problems of its own moving. Finally the bus driver asked us all to get off the bus. As I stood there waiting in the cold, I looked at the bus' destination a little closer. Turns out it wasn't even my bus! *hitting forehead* It was the right line, just opposite direction and I had confused the two "T" names. With a sigh I went to the next bank to get out money for a cab. At that point I didn't have any more desire to search for and wait for a bus that wouldn't even take me to my door. So I got money out and as I was leaving the bank I ran into the last group of stragglers from the concert hall's bar. After I explained the situation and they saw the poor bus stranded in the snow, we all said good bye and I hailed a cab and finally got home safe and sound.
In other news, always getting back to news of the obnoxious screamer from next door, the unwanted neighbor's son came back last weekend. After having filled out a police report and being informed that this time the police would, indeed, be able to take him away, I waited till the shouting got loud enough for me to not be able to sleep over. I finally called the police and made absolutely certain that they would NOT come to my door this time (no more answering the door at 3am in pjs, please), and to take him away this time!
Well, the good old idiotic German polizei struck again. Twenty minutes later I got a ring and buzzed the men in uniform in downstairs, which I was expecting to do, as the old lady doesn't buzz them up for obvious reasons. However, this is where the police were supposed to take over and NOT come to my door. What did they do? Rang my doorbell, of course. So I dragged myself out of bed and in pjs opened the door, quite annoyed. Rudely, one of the policemen said there was no noise and asked what was I complaining about. I informed them that, first of all, they were not supposed to come to my door. Secondly, it is obvious he's going to shut up when he knows the police are there. He always hides himself till they leave again.
After I told them I was not happy that they came to my door, partly out of fear the man next door will learn I'm the one summoning the police, and partly just because I don't want to be disturbed, I said "this is not okay," and shut the door after a curt goodbye. They didn't even bother to try ringing next door and just left.
I angrily called the police back and explained the situation. And you know what they said? Totally disregarding everything I'd been told earlier by the police about taking him away, etc., I was informed that this was a case for the Ordnungsamt, the city ordinance bureau. Huh?? Why does everyone keep changing their story!? Anyway, I told the dispatcher that it was only a matter of time before he started up his screaming antics again but to not waste my time by sending more police that night to do nothing again. After hanging up, I shoved some ear plugs in my ears and tried to sleep, which ended up working, luckily.
And keeping to the theme of police, I happened to catch a sort of "police highlights" show taken from hidden cameras in police cars in America. One clip showed a police in southern state pulling a man over who, in a very high, excited, southern-accented voice, had a million explitives for the cop after learning he had to pay a ticket. Then he threw some money out of the car. It was then re-played, followed by the German narrator's voice responding by saying, "Pretty strange behavior by this man, but he is, after all, from America, the country where some of the biggest weirdos stumble around." I just shook my head when I heard that. What is THAT supposed to mean?? I tell ya..
My Turkish friend Ulas just go back from Turkey yesterday after taking and winning an audition for first oboe of the Ankara (Turkey's capital city) State Opera. Wow, a true professional from the studio, and now of course everyone back here is expecting him to treat us to dinner since he's making the big bucks! I can only dream of such days!
My friend Jan came and brought his parents. He sat in the side balcony and took pictures the whole time. I met his parents after the concert and Jan presented me with a bouquet of flowers which was a really nice gesture. After that I hung out with the other musicians in the Concert Hall's bar; every concert hall here has a bar where musicians and concert goers can hang out in afterwards and get discounted prices on drinks. It was fun to talk to people and get to know a few new people from the orchestra.
At one point I went up to the counter to order a drink and the American jazz prof./conductor was standing up there with someone waiting for the cashier to come back. He insisted on buying my drink and after ordering for us and leaving 5 euros on the counter, he ran off to change out of his suit. So I took his change and kept my eyes open for him after that to give him his change back. Awhile later I found him and set off to return his money. We chatted for awhile - he's really warm and friendly - and he told me just how busy he is: he flew to America 18 times in the course of a year! Plus he conducts the BBC orchestra pretty often in London, and flies from where he lives in Bonn, Germany, to Berlin every week to teach at our conservatory.
After leaving the concert hall at close to 2am, some of us from the orchestra walked to the night bus. The other 3 were going in the opposite direction as me, so I kept an eye open for my bus stop. Then I saw my bus stuck waiting behind a car which was apparently not moving for whatever reason. We all watched as the bus driver came out and shouted at the woman to move her car or she'd be paying the Berlin Public Transportation for lost time. Then he summoned some men from the bus to help push the car to the side. I asked the driver if I could get in and sat down and waited. And waited.
About 20 minutes had gone by and we were still stranded there, but I didn't see the car ahead of us anymore, and it became apparent our bus was having problems of its own moving. Finally the bus driver asked us all to get off the bus. As I stood there waiting in the cold, I looked at the bus' destination a little closer. Turns out it wasn't even my bus! *hitting forehead* It was the right line, just opposite direction and I had confused the two "T" names. With a sigh I went to the next bank to get out money for a cab. At that point I didn't have any more desire to search for and wait for a bus that wouldn't even take me to my door. So I got money out and as I was leaving the bank I ran into the last group of stragglers from the concert hall's bar. After I explained the situation and they saw the poor bus stranded in the snow, we all said good bye and I hailed a cab and finally got home safe and sound.
In other news, always getting back to news of the obnoxious screamer from next door, the unwanted neighbor's son came back last weekend. After having filled out a police report and being informed that this time the police would, indeed, be able to take him away, I waited till the shouting got loud enough for me to not be able to sleep over. I finally called the police and made absolutely certain that they would NOT come to my door this time (no more answering the door at 3am in pjs, please), and to take him away this time!
Well, the good old idiotic German polizei struck again. Twenty minutes later I got a ring and buzzed the men in uniform in downstairs, which I was expecting to do, as the old lady doesn't buzz them up for obvious reasons. However, this is where the police were supposed to take over and NOT come to my door. What did they do? Rang my doorbell, of course. So I dragged myself out of bed and in pjs opened the door, quite annoyed. Rudely, one of the policemen said there was no noise and asked what was I complaining about. I informed them that, first of all, they were not supposed to come to my door. Secondly, it is obvious he's going to shut up when he knows the police are there. He always hides himself till they leave again.
After I told them I was not happy that they came to my door, partly out of fear the man next door will learn I'm the one summoning the police, and partly just because I don't want to be disturbed, I said "this is not okay," and shut the door after a curt goodbye. They didn't even bother to try ringing next door and just left.
I angrily called the police back and explained the situation. And you know what they said? Totally disregarding everything I'd been told earlier by the police about taking him away, etc., I was informed that this was a case for the Ordnungsamt, the city ordinance bureau. Huh?? Why does everyone keep changing their story!? Anyway, I told the dispatcher that it was only a matter of time before he started up his screaming antics again but to not waste my time by sending more police that night to do nothing again. After hanging up, I shoved some ear plugs in my ears and tried to sleep, which ended up working, luckily.
And keeping to the theme of police, I happened to catch a sort of "police highlights" show taken from hidden cameras in police cars in America. One clip showed a police in southern state pulling a man over who, in a very high, excited, southern-accented voice, had a million explitives for the cop after learning he had to pay a ticket. Then he threw some money out of the car. It was then re-played, followed by the German narrator's voice responding by saying, "Pretty strange behavior by this man, but he is, after all, from America, the country where some of the biggest weirdos stumble around." I just shook my head when I heard that. What is THAT supposed to mean?? I tell ya..
My Turkish friend Ulas just go back from Turkey yesterday after taking and winning an audition for first oboe of the Ankara (Turkey's capital city) State Opera. Wow, a true professional from the studio, and now of course everyone back here is expecting him to treat us to dinner since he's making the big bucks! I can only dream of such days!
posted by Heidi at 8:32 AM
3 Comments:
Hey pooch,
Saw you updated your blog again. I just updated mine too (it's my monthly/yearly update).
Glad to hear things are going well other than with your neighbor and the police. Any way you could hold the phone up to the wall when you talk to the police so they could hear what was going on?
That's a good idea but the German police don't have much power to do anything anyway. The ones who have actually gone in their apartment know how much of a looney he is but he's well protected under the law for whatever reason so after they tell him to be quiet they just leave. argh. I'll check your blog! :)
heidi,
you always have the funniest craziest stories!! i kind of miss my wild days to have something interesting to report but of course i'm a very bored person now! well i do hope one of these days that boy can settle himself down a bit and you won't have to get involved..would hate to hear something happened to ya girl! well have a great week miss ya
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