Today I went to my J.S. Bach Festival, more like a competition to me, to compete with some other people of different ages for a place in the next round. What's annoying about it is that I have to get up at 6:00 in the morning when I usually get up at like 10:30 am. And I slept at about 12 last night.  I knew I wasn't going to be able to get up in the morning but you know when you just HAVE to IM your friend and when you just HAVE to watch this cool music video your friend sent you right at that time. Bad timing I guess but it was soo worth it, at one point.

The other point however was not so cool. I awoke finding myself being flopped all over the bed (well, I guess it was actually my mom trying to lift me up and out of bed to get my dress on) like a fish. That was not fun. When I finally got my dress on I felt itchy and red all over. At the last minute, I said, "Mom this is giving me rashes!" So I changed a dress, now that took 20 minutes of my time already. Yes, I was changing my dress and brushing my teeth when I was supposed to (on regular planning schedule) be almost done of breakfast and getting ready to get some last minute practice on my songs.

I wore a black velvet dress that was pretty comfortable after all the trouble that itchy flower dress has caused me. It was pretty cute. My mom wasn't to happy about my dress pick because she insisted that this competition is FORMAL FORMAL FORMAL. I'm like, "Mom, give me a chance to feel myself please." I ate eggs for breakfast and a bread roll from 99 Ranch Market. Wasn't the greatest breakfast for me compared to my usual ones but it will do. By the time I finished my breakfast, it was 6:40 and we had to go at 6:55. Registration needed to be done 15 minutes before the competition starts which was 7:45. It took 30 minutes to drive to that place.

I practiced my 2 invention pieces which turned out to have each time 2 mistakes but just gave up finally because I couldn't change them. My day so far didn't turn out so good. I wrapped a blanket and clutched a pillow when I entered our Mercedes Benz car. I had to sleep, or else who knows if I was half a sleep when I am playing for the judges? I didn't exactly sleep, but time went by pretty fast. I looked around at the buildings and it reminded me of the old fashion movie settings where there are wood made shops all around you and old people walking everywhere. But inside I was very nervous about my competition. My mistakes I made at home didn't quite reassure me that I would do good. But I calmed myself down when I quietly said to myself, "I don't care about the results. I'm not going to the next round anyway because gas prices are too high for me to go from San DIego to Irvine. To far... to far..."

The next thing I knew, I saw my familiar friend Grace walking up beside me holding up an advanced Sudoku book. "Wanna do it together while we wait for registration?" Good, I thought. Sudoku is a great thing to get things off my mind.  We didn't advance much on that because Grace was called 2nd to go in the chapel. Yes, we were playing in a Methodist Church. I was called 4th. I was about to bring my book in when the registration lady said loudly, "Honey, you can't bring your book in. It's not allowed."  I spun around. Embarrassed, I gave the book to her. But soon after I sat down in one of the seats next to Grace, I clenched my fists till sweat formed on my palms. Without the book, I couldn't remember the notes that I doubted on.  I did memorize the 2 pieces but when you have a lot of doubt you go like, "Wait, what was that note again?"

Well, no surprise really because I'm a virgo and virgos are supposed to be worrywarts. Grace didn't have a ounce of nervousness in her. She actually managed to concentrate and finish a Sudoku puzzle in a few minutes. The competition started. That's when I found out a camera man is taking video tapes of our playing and will send it to our teachers. Oh great, I thought, if I make a mistake back to the lectures for me.  Grace was 2nd and she played beautifully. I gave her a thumbs up sign and a weak smile. I wasn't jealous, no way. I was too busy thinking about myself. I was 4th. I could feel my body shake when I walked up the steps and bowed. I put a fake smile on my face. I started playing. Start soft, start soft, start soft, I repeated in my mind. Ok, now let if flow I urged myself.  When I almost got the wrong note I was terrified but I never stopped. I didn't dare to.

When I rested my hands on my lap and immediately played my next song, I knew I had to be careful with the notes. I had trouble with this piece at home. Some notes dissapeared because I didn't play them out loud but I hoped  the judges and my mom would understand. When I realized I was doing the final chord I was in amazement. I put a real smile on my face for the audience and walked back merrily to my seat. Grace was giving me a thumbs up sign and my mom was smiling. She was proud. The rest of the players were also very good. SOme made mistakes, but that didn't matter. I watched them as they bravely kept on going, blocking out the audience's stares of horror and just flowing with the music.

Oh and did I forget? There were 3 judges, all men. One had a nice hairstyle, and they were all gentleman. Yeah, all famous. Very.

Well, my mom needs my help in washing the toilet, so long!