alright, i know it's been quite a while. this past semester has been killer. there really hasn't been enough time in the day to get done what i need to get done, so the blog hasn't been my biggest concern. i talked with some friends who have gone through the education program at my school before, and they have assured me that the next semester (which is my student teaching) will be easier than this past one. so i've got that going for me, which is nice.
i just got back from a trip to chicago. this was my first time in the city, and it was amazing. i was there for a music educators convention, and it was amazingly educational, inspirational, and just plain fun. it was really great timing, since after this past semester did everything to ruin my optimism about my future career, this convention comes around to lift me back up. i'm really happy that i went. highlights include lectures by weston noble (who is one of the most respected music pedagogs today and who coincidentally called a woman in the crowd retarded) and jamey aebersold (one of the top jazz theorists today, and a really funny guy) and many concerts, including the chicago symphony orchestra playing berlioz's "symphonie fantastique". it was amazing, one of the best experiences of my life. i really wish i had been able to go the past 3 years now.
i'm student teaching next semester, which will be fun. my cooperating teacher this last semester was a psycho bitch, which is actually toning down how i usually talk about her. i'm really looking forward to working with a sane person for a change, and apparently the music program at this school is really good. i'm also performing my senior recital on january 25th, which is open to the public, so if anybody happens to be in my town (unlikely) you are more than welcome to attend.
that's about it for the updates. i'll try to be a bit more consistent in the future. happy holidays.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
back to school
so, i've moved back to my college town. first off, it's kinda boring, although i did just run into the RA group and got lots of hugs and such, which was fun. but the town is kinda dead. most of my friends aren't here yet or if they are they are busy, so i'm mostly left to sit around and watch tv. i need a wireless modem for my computer so that i can get internet access in my apartment, so i am doomed to walk to campus if i want to use the library computers (like i am now). i already ordered one, i just have to wait a little while until it comes.
i'm feeling a little nervous about this school year. that usually doesn't happen. i think it's because it's my last year, and if i screw something up i don't have much of a buffer zone to make it up. before this, if i needed to make up a class or something, there was always next year. but this year it's now or never. i guess that has my nerves up a little bit.
a few more idea-careers that i've thought about:
1) camera man, minnesota twins: what could be better than getting paid to watch the twins? and camera operator would easily be more appreciated than being an umpire.
2) research and development, dungeons and dragons: alright, i'm a nerd. but this would be a fun job. i've been reading the blogs and articles written by the guys who already have this job, and it seems like (aside from having really long days) they mostly get paid to sitting around playing d&d, plus they have access to new products before they are released and get a ton of free shit. this would be extremely fun, if slightly self-indulgent.
3) music journalist: taking a page from mr. rob gordon of the movie "hi-fidelity" on this one. this job combines two of the things that i am best at: listening to music and complaining about music (ok, maybe it's not that simple, but it's gotta be close). touring with bands, discovering new music, yeah, i think i'd like this one.
i think that's about it.
i'm feeling a little nervous about this school year. that usually doesn't happen. i think it's because it's my last year, and if i screw something up i don't have much of a buffer zone to make it up. before this, if i needed to make up a class or something, there was always next year. but this year it's now or never. i guess that has my nerves up a little bit.
a few more idea-careers that i've thought about:
1) camera man, minnesota twins: what could be better than getting paid to watch the twins? and camera operator would easily be more appreciated than being an umpire.
2) research and development, dungeons and dragons: alright, i'm a nerd. but this would be a fun job. i've been reading the blogs and articles written by the guys who already have this job, and it seems like (aside from having really long days) they mostly get paid to sitting around playing d&d, plus they have access to new products before they are released and get a ton of free shit. this would be extremely fun, if slightly self-indulgent.
3) music journalist: taking a page from mr. rob gordon of the movie "hi-fidelity" on this one. this job combines two of the things that i am best at: listening to music and complaining about music (ok, maybe it's not that simple, but it's gotta be close). touring with bands, discovering new music, yeah, i think i'd like this one.
i think that's about it.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
foolishness came by and when downtown
god damn it, i have to write on here more often. maybe it should be a once-a-day thing...
alright, i get the sneaking suspicion that my last post was somewhat like this one (i'm too lazy to look back at it), but i feel good today. i was at work, doing some tedious shit as always, and i just got a good smile. i was wide awake even though it was 6 in the morning, i was listening to my music, and i just realized how good i've got it, and that i have to realize that more often. i like where i'm at, and i've gotta stop feeling like i need to do more of this and more of that. i thought to myself that i could probably die today, and i wouldn't have many regrets about my life. i've been places, i've achieved...achievements, and i've lived my life trying to be as good a person as i can be. i feel like i am thoroughly satisfied with where i'm at in my life.
that being said, i'm gonna go in the opposite direction and state a few jobs i think would be cool to have (just because i've been thinking about it a lot).
professional caddy: don't ask me why, but i love lugging around a huge golf bag. honestly, to be payed to walk around and watch some of the greatest golfers in the world would be amazing.
dj: i liked dj-ing my residence hall's dance this past year. i forgot how fun it is. to use someone else's music in my own way just seems too perfect for me. i need more dance music...
pool hustler: it's a dangerous job, and one that revolves around lying and provoking people to pretty much hand you their money. regardless, i think it'd be fun to just hop on a motorcycle and hit the road, earning my fare as i go.
quantum physicist: this one is pretty self explanatory. (only thought of this one after an interesting discussion at work)
and i had more, but can't really think of them. anyway, i still think i'm gonna love teaching, but regardless...i like these ideas too. yeah...
alright, i get the sneaking suspicion that my last post was somewhat like this one (i'm too lazy to look back at it), but i feel good today. i was at work, doing some tedious shit as always, and i just got a good smile. i was wide awake even though it was 6 in the morning, i was listening to my music, and i just realized how good i've got it, and that i have to realize that more often. i like where i'm at, and i've gotta stop feeling like i need to do more of this and more of that. i thought to myself that i could probably die today, and i wouldn't have many regrets about my life. i've been places, i've achieved...achievements, and i've lived my life trying to be as good a person as i can be. i feel like i am thoroughly satisfied with where i'm at in my life.
that being said, i'm gonna go in the opposite direction and state a few jobs i think would be cool to have (just because i've been thinking about it a lot).
professional caddy: don't ask me why, but i love lugging around a huge golf bag. honestly, to be payed to walk around and watch some of the greatest golfers in the world would be amazing.
dj: i liked dj-ing my residence hall's dance this past year. i forgot how fun it is. to use someone else's music in my own way just seems too perfect for me. i need more dance music...
pool hustler: it's a dangerous job, and one that revolves around lying and provoking people to pretty much hand you their money. regardless, i think it'd be fun to just hop on a motorcycle and hit the road, earning my fare as i go.
quantum physicist: this one is pretty self explanatory. (only thought of this one after an interesting discussion at work)
and i had more, but can't really think of them. anyway, i still think i'm gonna love teaching, but regardless...i like these ideas too. yeah...
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
how tommy got his groove back
yes, i almost used my actual name for that title on accident. although i'm pretty sure that the only people who read this know who writes it, i still prefer to remain anonymous simple because i want to invite other people to get to know me without knowing who is really writting. by the way, if anyone aside from my two "fav bloggers" off to the side reads this, feel free to holla at me, i'd love to know who's reading.
i've been trying to get my shit together (hence the title). i've wanted to lose some weight for a while, and so i went to the mall and bought some "running" shoes (i'm still not really sure if they're meant for running, but they work damn well for it). so far, i've been running every day, except for the weekend, and i don't anticipate running tomorrow since i'm gonna be golfing and i don't wanna be sore for that. i'm liking the running thing. normally, i suck at running because it makes my asthma go crazy, and that's not gonna go away any time fast. but i'm pushing myself, and i hope to be able to running three miles at a decent pace by the end of the summer. i also hope to drop two inches (at least) from my waistline (i have give up on losing weight since i am destined to be a big guy, so i'm just trying to get skinnier and gain muscle...again).
my next goal is to start practicing my music for at least an hour a day again. during the school year i usually practice 2+ hours, but i'm gonna start with one hour which honestly will never be near where i stop; once you get going with the music you just gotta keep on going. i have been practicing my music, but not nearly as much as i should. my goal is to get an early start now and get comfortable with my music for my senior recital (which is 40 minutes worth of music).
so, to recap, i get home from work at about 2:30 in the afternoon. i run for half an hour, then i'll shower, practice for an hour (or more) eat dinner and i have time in the evening to hang with friends. the problem with the friends thing is that some different hours then me (ok, the vast majority work different hours then me, since no one likes going to work at 6 am). i really want to spend some quality time with the guys (and girls) but sometimes it's difficult. i'm also craving a party sometime real soon.
oh, and yeah, i got a venus flytrap today. i've named it furious george.
i've been trying to get my shit together (hence the title). i've wanted to lose some weight for a while, and so i went to the mall and bought some "running" shoes (i'm still not really sure if they're meant for running, but they work damn well for it). so far, i've been running every day, except for the weekend, and i don't anticipate running tomorrow since i'm gonna be golfing and i don't wanna be sore for that. i'm liking the running thing. normally, i suck at running because it makes my asthma go crazy, and that's not gonna go away any time fast. but i'm pushing myself, and i hope to be able to running three miles at a decent pace by the end of the summer. i also hope to drop two inches (at least) from my waistline (i have give up on losing weight since i am destined to be a big guy, so i'm just trying to get skinnier and gain muscle...again).
my next goal is to start practicing my music for at least an hour a day again. during the school year i usually practice 2+ hours, but i'm gonna start with one hour which honestly will never be near where i stop; once you get going with the music you just gotta keep on going. i have been practicing my music, but not nearly as much as i should. my goal is to get an early start now and get comfortable with my music for my senior recital (which is 40 minutes worth of music).
so, to recap, i get home from work at about 2:30 in the afternoon. i run for half an hour, then i'll shower, practice for an hour (or more) eat dinner and i have time in the evening to hang with friends. the problem with the friends thing is that some different hours then me (ok, the vast majority work different hours then me, since no one likes going to work at 6 am). i really want to spend some quality time with the guys (and girls) but sometimes it's difficult. i'm also craving a party sometime real soon.
oh, and yeah, i got a venus flytrap today. i've named it furious george.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
sad songs and waltzes aren't selling this year
so, i know it's been a while (as most of the people whose blogs i actually read have been seeming to say lately). summer has been fun so far, but it's been crazy busy, so much so that i barely have time to catch my breath. so far i've hung out with friends, played a few rounds of golf, tuned most of my drum set to what i want it at, and just in general been running around like a 6th grader. that coupled with the fact that i have to share my families computer with my sisters makes it difficult for me to sit down and vent to you lovely people.
sorry to start off a blog on a depressing note, but it this is the reason why i'm hear anyway, so i don't care. the other day i was at work (as a maintenance worker at a local golf course) when my boss asked if it would be ok for me to be bumped up from my regular position of odd jobs (which pays about $10 an hour) to mow some of the course for a day (which pays about $15 an hour, this is a position i am qualified for but have not been permanently promoted to because of my status as a college student and the months that i am not at work because i'm too busy studying). obviously i accepted, and the day consisted of me driving around the edges of the golf course on a rather clumsy mower and listening to such musical geniuses as cake, alkaline trio, and death cab for cutie (7 albums covered the day for me).
as i was mowing along, i started to think of my present girlfriend. i like her, but i'm not sure if i can fulfill what she needs. she calls me and i'm busy or asleep or something. in fact i think we've only had 2 conversations on the phone since we left school. she was in town last tuesday, staying for a night in a hotel so that she could catch a plane for where she's going to be working for the summer (veeery far away, that's all i'll i need to say). we met, got some dinner, walked around the mall for a while, which was nice, but at one point she made a statement that i should come visit her sometime this summer. i don't know if she was joking or not...but i laughed. it would cost a lot for me to go out there (which i don't think she realizes all to well) and we haven't been together long enough for me to feel obligated to do so. i had pretty much already made up my mind before she had even asked: no, i will not visit her as long as she is further than a 3 hour drive from me, which i don't think is all that unreasonable.
all in all, the issue i wanted to bring up is that i don't know if i am who she wants (or needs) me to be. she's fairly clingy, which is fine, but i don't want her to fell lonely or anything just because of me. however, one of my new policies is to not assume that i know what is best for others. maybe she's not crushed when i don't answer my phone (in fact, in all likelihood she isn't, but i like to exaggerate). the best i can do is hang in, and if she really has a problem with our situation, she can discuss it with me (and hope that she doesn't stumble across this blog).
i also got a chance to think about my previous relationship before this one and how i screwed it up. i was talking with my pal gringo while he was visiting my school about this relationship and said that i could not recall the real reason that we broke up (well, i know why i made the final call; she pushed me while we were having an argument, and any violence however small should not be tolerated in a relationship). gringo, in his very sage-like way, said that even though i don't remember the reason, there was a reason there when we broke up.
i think i have realized the real reason, though: i was only half-committed to the relationship. she was a rebound, no matter how much i didn't want her to be. the summer before i came to college, i broke up with the girl i had been together for over 2 years. she had found someone else and didn't want to admit it, so i made the call and broke up with her. 2 weeks later, she had already slept with the other guy. but i figured there's plenty of fish in the sea, and that's what college is for anyway: drinking and getting laid (completely forgetting that i am not the one-night-stand kinda guy). i went off to college, and after many failed attempts at finding a girl, i found one in february. she was just as nerdy as me, mostly into good music, and very attractive. now i can look back and see that i was always comparing her to my high school relationship, that i just went along with it when she said that we should stay together through the summer, and that i didn't really respect her as much as i should have. this is why i was so ready to break up with her; i was never really attached. it's taking me about a year and a half to realize that i was happier with her than i really believed, and if i had just gotten over my high school relationship sooner i maybe could have stayed with something good.
i just hope i'm not setting myself up for more disasters. i'll post more when i can.
sorry to start off a blog on a depressing note, but it this is the reason why i'm hear anyway, so i don't care. the other day i was at work (as a maintenance worker at a local golf course) when my boss asked if it would be ok for me to be bumped up from my regular position of odd jobs (which pays about $10 an hour) to mow some of the course for a day (which pays about $15 an hour, this is a position i am qualified for but have not been permanently promoted to because of my status as a college student and the months that i am not at work because i'm too busy studying). obviously i accepted, and the day consisted of me driving around the edges of the golf course on a rather clumsy mower and listening to such musical geniuses as cake, alkaline trio, and death cab for cutie (7 albums covered the day for me).
as i was mowing along, i started to think of my present girlfriend. i like her, but i'm not sure if i can fulfill what she needs. she calls me and i'm busy or asleep or something. in fact i think we've only had 2 conversations on the phone since we left school. she was in town last tuesday, staying for a night in a hotel so that she could catch a plane for where she's going to be working for the summer (veeery far away, that's all i'll i need to say). we met, got some dinner, walked around the mall for a while, which was nice, but at one point she made a statement that i should come visit her sometime this summer. i don't know if she was joking or not...but i laughed. it would cost a lot for me to go out there (which i don't think she realizes all to well) and we haven't been together long enough for me to feel obligated to do so. i had pretty much already made up my mind before she had even asked: no, i will not visit her as long as she is further than a 3 hour drive from me, which i don't think is all that unreasonable.
all in all, the issue i wanted to bring up is that i don't know if i am who she wants (or needs) me to be. she's fairly clingy, which is fine, but i don't want her to fell lonely or anything just because of me. however, one of my new policies is to not assume that i know what is best for others. maybe she's not crushed when i don't answer my phone (in fact, in all likelihood she isn't, but i like to exaggerate). the best i can do is hang in, and if she really has a problem with our situation, she can discuss it with me (and hope that she doesn't stumble across this blog).
i also got a chance to think about my previous relationship before this one and how i screwed it up. i was talking with my pal gringo while he was visiting my school about this relationship and said that i could not recall the real reason that we broke up (well, i know why i made the final call; she pushed me while we were having an argument, and any violence however small should not be tolerated in a relationship). gringo, in his very sage-like way, said that even though i don't remember the reason, there was a reason there when we broke up.
i think i have realized the real reason, though: i was only half-committed to the relationship. she was a rebound, no matter how much i didn't want her to be. the summer before i came to college, i broke up with the girl i had been together for over 2 years. she had found someone else and didn't want to admit it, so i made the call and broke up with her. 2 weeks later, she had already slept with the other guy. but i figured there's plenty of fish in the sea, and that's what college is for anyway: drinking and getting laid (completely forgetting that i am not the one-night-stand kinda guy). i went off to college, and after many failed attempts at finding a girl, i found one in february. she was just as nerdy as me, mostly into good music, and very attractive. now i can look back and see that i was always comparing her to my high school relationship, that i just went along with it when she said that we should stay together through the summer, and that i didn't really respect her as much as i should have. this is why i was so ready to break up with her; i was never really attached. it's taking me about a year and a half to realize that i was happier with her than i really believed, and if i had just gotten over my high school relationship sooner i maybe could have stayed with something good.
i just hope i'm not setting myself up for more disasters. i'll post more when i can.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
News
Here's so new things that have come into my life.
new haircut:
my friends and I have a little video scavenger hunt every year, which pretty much consists of us do stupid shit on camera (such as breaking broomsticks over each other's backs, getting a phone number from a member of the opposite sex, eating a pizza in less then ten minutes, etc.) for a designated point value for each of the tasks, with the winning team being the one with the most points (and the least shame). this year, i decided i'd shave my head (35 points) for my team. the results: good. i don't look as goofy as i expected, and it's really low-maintenance (short showers rock). so i think i'm gonna stick with it for a while. yes, friends who read this, i'll have photos on facebook soon so you can judge how it looks for yourselves.
new music:
i've finally download two complete collections from two musicians that i have admired for a long time: stevie wonder and joni mitchell. i've been in love with joni since i first heard "the circle game" in the third grade, and i've loved stevie for i don't know how long (he tends to have that effect on people). the combined collections took over 5 gigs on my computer, which is a substantial-enough hit to my 200 gig hard drive, but it's worth it.
new girlfriend:
i've been seeing a girl for a bit now, and we're pretty much officially a couple, which is cool. i've been single for more than a year now, so it's about time that i find someone to make out and cuddle with. the two of us are kinda different, but that's cool in it's own way...yeah, don't have too much more to say on the subject...or anything else.
new haircut:
my friends and I have a little video scavenger hunt every year, which pretty much consists of us do stupid shit on camera (such as breaking broomsticks over each other's backs, getting a phone number from a member of the opposite sex, eating a pizza in less then ten minutes, etc.) for a designated point value for each of the tasks, with the winning team being the one with the most points (and the least shame). this year, i decided i'd shave my head (35 points) for my team. the results: good. i don't look as goofy as i expected, and it's really low-maintenance (short showers rock). so i think i'm gonna stick with it for a while. yes, friends who read this, i'll have photos on facebook soon so you can judge how it looks for yourselves.
new music:
i've finally download two complete collections from two musicians that i have admired for a long time: stevie wonder and joni mitchell. i've been in love with joni since i first heard "the circle game" in the third grade, and i've loved stevie for i don't know how long (he tends to have that effect on people). the combined collections took over 5 gigs on my computer, which is a substantial-enough hit to my 200 gig hard drive, but it's worth it.
new girlfriend:
i've been seeing a girl for a bit now, and we're pretty much officially a couple, which is cool. i've been single for more than a year now, so it's about time that i find someone to make out and cuddle with. the two of us are kinda different, but that's cool in it's own way...yeah, don't have too much more to say on the subject...or anything else.
Monday, April 7, 2008
random thoughts that have come to mind recently
first of all, i have to continue on with my writing in all lower-case. it's something i did in high school (as a way to take the focus off of certain words, like "i" or in that case any other name, not that i don't like the people that i write about but i feel that there are more important things than our titles). plus, i'm too lazy to use a shift key (which just compromises my previous statements, but i'm too lazy to erase it).
i need to go out more often. i like going out and conversing with friends, whether it be through a drunken haze or in between bites of a good dinner. i like the parties where i'm at; they're small enough to feel intimate, but crazy enough to have me wake up in the morning and say, "well that was interesting."
i need more techno in my music collection. well, to state it honestly: i need techno in my music collection. my punk-rock is strong as every, hip-hop is moving pretty strongly and my jazz is very respectable, but i've really been in the mood for something dance-able, and i don't even dance. if anyone has any suggestions for solid artists, feel free to let me know. i'm also considering asking for some CDs from one of my professors who was a techno dj in germany (and i know CDs breaks my no-caps rule but i'm sorry, cds just looks weird, like a grocery store name or a std).
i need to practice more music. and i know, i'm busy already and i work hard, but i keep feeling like i suck when i go to practice. my problem, as i see it, is not that i suck, but that i could be so much better if i just tried harder. and part of that is that my university's jazz festival was this weekend and i went to a lecture by one of the guest artists (a very famous trumpet player) who talked about self-discipline, and it really got me thinking that i could practice more. so that's a goal of mine.
i need to go out more often. i like going out and conversing with friends, whether it be through a drunken haze or in between bites of a good dinner. i like the parties where i'm at; they're small enough to feel intimate, but crazy enough to have me wake up in the morning and say, "well that was interesting."
i need more techno in my music collection. well, to state it honestly: i need techno in my music collection. my punk-rock is strong as every, hip-hop is moving pretty strongly and my jazz is very respectable, but i've really been in the mood for something dance-able, and i don't even dance. if anyone has any suggestions for solid artists, feel free to let me know. i'm also considering asking for some CDs from one of my professors who was a techno dj in germany (and i know CDs breaks my no-caps rule but i'm sorry, cds just looks weird, like a grocery store name or a std).
i need to practice more music. and i know, i'm busy already and i work hard, but i keep feeling like i suck when i go to practice. my problem, as i see it, is not that i suck, but that i could be so much better if i just tried harder. and part of that is that my university's jazz festival was this weekend and i went to a lecture by one of the guest artists (a very famous trumpet player) who talked about self-discipline, and it really got me thinking that i could practice more. so that's a goal of mine.
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