Ehemals in Deutschland

Letter to the TN Speaker of the House

2012-01-27T17:24:00.000+01:00

The following is an e-mail I sent to Representative Beth Harwell, TN Speaker of the House. Feel free to share and copy for sending yourself. I'm sick of elected officials embarrassing me and the otherwise-wonderful state I live in. (Do a Google search for Rep. Richard Floyd. Also of "TN Anti-bullying Laws." And also of "TN Tea Party Remove Slavery")

Dear Speaker Harwell,

As a Tennessee resident, I am appalled at the recent remarks by Rep. Richard Floyd to "stomp a mudhole" into a person. According to Urban Dictionary (and common knowledge), this phrase means "to beat them to near death or to otherwise hurt someone to the point that they can not fight back." Sometimes our politicians say things that get them into trouble - they are human after all - but a statement like this is reprehensible and inexcusable for an elected official.

Rep. Floyd should understand that it is a privilege to serve the citizens of Tennessee and residents of his district, and with that privilege comes the responsibility of maintaining a high level of respect for the citizens of his state - regardless of what his personal beliefs are regarding transgender individuals. (The fact is they live here, whether he likes it or not.) He is more than welcome to publicly state his beliefs regarding transgender individuals, but under no circumstances should he be allowed to threaten physical violence upon any person, regardless of outward physical appearance, especially a resident of the State of Tennessee.

I ask that, as the Speaker of the House, you and your members, at the very least, reprimand Rep. Floyd for his behavior. At the most, I ask you to encourage him to resign his position, as I have no confidence that such a publicly violent individual can be held responsible with crafting laws in my state.

Sincerely,

Alan
Nashville, TN

The Final Countdown - 6...

2011-04-01T10:47:00.000+02:00

On the first day of Recitalmas, my true love gave to me, the realization that 1) there are 6 days left until my recital and 2) I clearly failed to write about music every day until my recital. So how about this, each day (hopefully) between now and April 7, I will give a brief preview of each piece that was commissioned. Some of this may be included in my program notes, some of this has been included in my Master's Paper (which is far too academic for my taste), and some of it is in neither. In the words of that beloved Italian plumber, "Here we go!"

6 Days Left

Expectations by Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke
percussion solo for marimba, vibraphone, bongos, temple blocks, small gong, cymbal, triangle, crotales, snare drum, concert toms, bass drum

Yes, that is correct, it says percussion solo! More about that in a minute.
In February of 2008, I performed on the world premiere of Reflections for choir, marimba, and organ, which was performed at and commissioned through the First Presbyterian Church (Bristol, TN) Arts Series Artists' Reflections concert. Five or six local composers were commissioned to write music that was inspired by art from a collection at King College. As my parents are Music Directors at the church (and therefore of the Arts Series), one of the things they informed their composers was that their older son was a percussionist. One of these composers—Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke—chose to write for percussion...and thus Reflections was composed.
As Evelyn was the first composer to have written a piece of music specifically for me (and due to my sincere enjoyment of being directly involved in the creation of a new piece of music), it was a no-brainer to include her in this commissioning process.

So the piece itself is a multi-percussion solo for "gigantic" set-up with "one bazillion" percussion instruments. In all seriousness, the piece calls for lots of different instruments surrounding a marimba. Originally commissioned for a marimba solo, Evelyn inquired about including some other instruments set up around the marimba. Not one to stifle the creative spirit, I said go for it, not realizing that the coming piece would not be a marimba solo with some extra instruments, but a multiple-percussion solo where each of the instruments serve an equal musical role to the marimba. Much of the musical material is based on melodies that have some connection to my musical development...some of it is obvious, some not so much. You'll just have to come hear it for yourself!
Here is a link to Evelyn's website, and a brief preview of her new piece, Expectations.

We thankfully reached the goal of $1k on my Kickstarter project, but if you are so moved, you can still donate, as I will (otherwise) still be paying for a good bit of it out of pocket.

Thanks for reading, hope to see you on April 7!

Alan

30 Days of Writing About Music - Day 3

2011-03-11T17:08:00.002+01:00

27 Days until my recital! Here's day 3 (or 4, depending on if you count the day I skipped or not).

Music & Money

One thing that sucks about being a [fledgling] musician is the lack of money. Sure, I don't play that many gigs, but even so, it's rare that a regular performing musician earns enough money to be able to only perform. I wish there was a way for me to (once I'm done with this degree) ONLY perform, but also not have to worry about paying the rent, utilities, buying food, etc. Even if I played at a different church gig every week, I might make $400 a month. Add in some Friday performance of some kind, and (again, assuming it paid money), I might get $800 a month. That's still not enough for me to live on. (At least, in Nashville, where cost of living certainly doesn't compare to NYC or Chicago...but is also significantly more expensive than cities of a similar size.)

Working at a hotel, I frequently tell my story (the super-brief version) to guests, and am frequently asked if I play studio sessions in town. I would LOVE to. The problem is (at least as far as I can tell) that the handfull of classical percussionists that do that have a strong grip on those jobs. Sure, that's how the business works - if you do a great job, you get called back to do more work, and you get recommended for other work. But it also means that unless you get lucky enough to get called into the one session that happens to have a big producer/engineer/artist in the room...there's almost no way you're going to get any studio work in town.
And that's not a dig on any of the studio percussionists in town - every single one that I've met is incredibly nice, very humble, and (obviously) a stellar musician. It's just, they're going to keep getting called to play the sessions until they die.

But, trying to return to the main point, it's nearly impossible to make money as a performing musician. I've seriously considered (at the advice of other folks, even) attempting to seek out a personal patron. That's what they did back in the "Olde World," when Mozart & Beethoven and the like we're playing and writing, they all had patrons provide them with the money to pay for all the necessities, so the musicians could focus on their music. Is that something that could work in today's world? I don't know...everyone likes a tax-deductible donation, and they like to see tangible returns on their investments. Music, unfortunately (in this case), is an intangible. Sure, with a patron, I could give more frequent performances, more exposure to the music world and the general public, the possibility of published works and recordings: these could all be tangible results of such an investment.

But who would risk such an investment? Would anyone do so in this current "financial climate?" (I don't know how money and weather are related...unless it's going to be raining mad dolla dolla billz anytime soon.) Probably not...but I suppose you never know if you never try.

I haven't had time to seriously consider such a financial patron...but I'm thinking about putting together a presentation or other form of "List of Reasons why You should pay for my Rent and Insurance and Electric Bill." Or maybe I should just set up a kickstarter fund. I'm still considering doing so to help pay for my Master's Recital.

Of course...there's the HUGE discussion of arts patronage, but that's another topic for another day and another 30 minutes.

Peace Love and Drums

30 Days of Writing About Music - Day 2

2011-03-10T18:14:00.002+01:00

Ha. Of course, I can't even hold myself to it for more than one day. Well...in my defense, the time I had scheduled for this got usurped by more important things, so there.
Also, the conversation that I had intended to have about music (prior to the authoring of yesterday's post) never happened, so there again.

Here's my question. Maybe this question only applies to "classical" percussion music, maybe not, I don't know.

How come the best performers don't focus on performing, but on teaching?

Obviously, that entire question is based solely on personal opinion and experience, but there it is. Now for some discussion (or, more aptly named, my garbled thoughts).

Let me start by explaining the basis of these opinions. I consider the "top performers" those individuals that have a true sense of musicianship, how to give a performance (not merely play a piece of music), how to connect with an audience, etc., all with an immaculate 'touch' (sure, technique, though that could be another discussion) on the instrument.

Some of the best performances I've seen were by (in no particular order), Chris Norton (sure, maybe I'm biased here...but he's amazing), Michael Burritt, Tom Burritt, She-e Wu, Mark Ford, Eric Sammut, Marta Klimasara, Chris Lamb, Keiko Abe (duh), Katarzyna Mycka. Each of these individuals (and I probably left some out), while they do perform fairly frequently, are primarily teachers at various institutions around the world. Now, I would never name individuals that I have seen perform...in whose performances I did not see the same outstanding factor that I did in each of those named. (Wouldn't want to alienate any potential colleagues as an aspiring performer myself!) But, I will say that I have been disappointed in performances by percussionists whose primary fame or function is performance, or I have witnessed their instruction on giving performances when [I felt] their own was lacking.

Anyway...I suppose I have digressed from my question. Perhaps the primary reason is that percussion as a solo instrument is still mostly a novelty in the "classical" music world (outside of NYC, of course, where groups like So Percussion are running the show in regards to "classical" music...and rightfully so). If this is the case, what can we do to change this? Should it change? Hell yes it should. Percussion "music" has been around longer than the violin or piano, pretty much longer than any instrument other than the human voice.
Or perhaps they see it as their duty to inform future generations of percussionists how to perform (and/or simply have a passion for teaching). I can't complain about that, especially as the direct recipient of such an individual.

So whose responsibility is it to promote the best possible performances of percussion?
—Sure, in one way, it belongs to the performers. We must promote our craft in many ways...one way being the creation of new percussion music, thus my own Master's Recital is comprised entirely of new works I commissioned.
—Some responsibility also lies with instructors...which, of course, answers my question of why the best performers teach - so they can fulfill this responsibility.
—Some of it lies within the greater percussion community (Percussive Arts Society, etc). I think PAS does a good job of doing this, but in a lot of ways I see it merely as a self-serving institution. In that, it promotes our craft...to other percussionists. Yeah, that's great, and it makes us feel really good about ourselves...but what good does it really do? I want to see PAS sponsor a major, no, a GIANT percussion-centric project that does not happen at PASIC or serve only percussionists. Percussionists already know how great percussion is...let's share that joy with everyone else, okay?
—The musical community at large. Had some ideas to say here, but not sure how to say them yet...

Well, that's more than 30 minutes. Maybe this one will serve for Days 2 and 3...maybe I'll just write a short piece later today. Who knows.

Peace Love and Drums

30 Days of Writing About Music - Day 1

2011-03-08T11:11:00.001+01:00

30 Days until the project that has consumed the past three years of my life is complete. This calls for a blog entry. In fact, I believe I'm going to spend 30 minutes every day between now and then writing about music, perhaps in relation to my recital, perhaps not. You don't have to read it...in fact, I doubt many people will. But this is the internet, the place where blogs were invented specifically for so many people to say so little to so few. Here we go.

My Master's Recital, which will happen on April 7, will feature the presentation of 7 brand new works for percussion. (...Haha, I just got the numerical connection...totally unintentional.) This is a project I have been working on since early 2009, but for which I was inspired a full year earlier, in February of 2008. My entire time as a graduate student (plus the six months between Feb 08 to the time I actually started coursework) has been spent working toward this recital.

The subject of this posting, the past three or four months have been spent writing my recital document. This is important, as I finally finished it this past weekend. Thankfully it was not a full-on thesis, but since my recital was vastly different from most performance majors, I had more material to discuss regarding the actual commissioning, the importance of expanding the percussion repertoire, and the performer's role in all of this. Regardless of the passion I felt for each of these aspects, I have a strong dislike for writing. (But wait, I have a blog? And I'm writing on it?)

I ~~dislike~~ hate academic writing. If I could have written the whole paper in "story-telling mode," I would have enjoyed it much more. In fact, I personally think it (a) would have made more sense as a paper due to the necessity to tell about the commissioning process in first person and (b) would have a much greater chance of being read by future percussionists interested in commissioning new music. I mean, isn't that the point of writing a Master's Document - to (a) best tell us what you learned and why you qualify to get this Master's Degree and (b) provide something that will be read by future students looking for information on your topic? Why should I write something boring that maybe one other person ever might read?

Which, of course, gets into the much larger question of why so much of academia is still a bunch of old and stuffy garbage. I was having a very intriguing conversation with one of my professors the other day, who indicated that it needs to change, and that I may be one of the last of my generation to write a paper like this. I hope so. Society is changing so much thanks to technology...I mean, when I started this blog, the iPhone was still two years away. When I turned 16 and got my first cell phone, the smartphone didn't exist, and very few people under the age of 16 even had a cell phone. In two years, everyone will have an iPad (or Android tablet, for the Google-heads), students will do homework via Xbox Kinect, teachers will take attendance with a QR code...and then the robots will begin their takeover.

But...I'm digressing and my time is running out. Music. This entry hasn't been as much writing about music as it has been writing about writing about music. Here's something about music - to encourage the last push to finish my paper, I downloaded and listened to (on repeat) Daft Punk's Alive 2007 album, because it is super awesome. Anyone listen to a certain type of music while working?

Peace

Trip back to Europe!

2009-05-26T10:42:00.001+02:00

26 May, 2009
1:04 AM
Tallinn, Estonia

So I've been in Europe for almost six days now, and I am loving it once again. I am almost convinced that I was a European born in America. Not that I don't love the good 'ol US of A, but I love it here. Then again, I am on vacation and just generally enjoy traveling, so maybe it's just a "travel high."

Since I haven't kept track of any of our exploits until now, I'm going to try to "write" them down before I forget.

We arrived in Stockholm (later than intended, thank you Hartsfield-Atlanta) on Wednesday, with enough time to walk around the old town, get some dinner, and walk a bit more before heading back to our hotel (which was just across from the old town's island).

We spent nearly the whole day on Thursday (a good 4 hours, at least) in the Vasa Museum - a giant museum built around an old Swedish battleship from 1682(?) that sunk in the harbor on its maiden voyage (it made it about 20 minutes, I think!). Apparently, 95% of the boat on display is the original boat that was preserved in the harbor (until the 1960s, I think, when it was found and resurfaced). It's an incredible sight to see, and alone worth the trip to Stockholm. We also went and heard an excellent concert in a church that night - organ and a capella singers (about 6).

Friday, we went to a Swedish history museum in the morning - though it was mostly centered around the Vikings - prehistory, medieval times, etc. It was a pretty cool museum with lots of neat artifacts and really well-done exhibits. We then went and checked out the Nobel Musuem (having picked it over a music museum, as there are music museums everywhere). It was pretty cool - had a few cool exhibits about the actual Nobel prizes, prizewinners, about Alfred Nobel himself, etc. There was also a very thought-provoking exhibit on freedom of expression and censorship in the "temporary exhibit" section that was quite interesting. Thankfully, everything here was in English, as well as Swedish. Then again, everything in the Vasa museum had English translations, and the majority of the exhibits in the Viking museum did too.

We took the overnight ferry to Tallinn - yay for sleeping in a tiny room on a boat! It was fun to see and hear my parents reaction to seeing the city and the Song Festival grounds, after having been here last in 1993. I think I even noticed some change since I was here in 2006, but not nearly as drastic as it has obviously changed since '93, merely two years after regaining independence. We enjoyed walking around the Old Town (I sort of remembered where things were...), but the following days were probably my favorite part of the trip, and will be very hard to top tomorrow and Wednesday.

That evening, we went to the home of our hosts' older son (family I met last time I was here, and who my parents knew from the times they were here), where we had a humongous meal...though not before spending time in their sauna -- an Estonian tradition (though more so in winter, obviously). Talk about relaxing!

The next day (Sunday), we all - and by all, I mean the four in our family, the older parents (our hosts), and their two sons, one of which has a wife and three kids (two of which were with us) - drove to the southern Estonian city of Tartu (an easy 90min drive, as it's a very small country) - a "college town," as it's home to about 20,000 students at the university there. (Which is about 2% of the national population!) We spent some time (and ate some ice cream) in Tartu, before heading to Hellenurme(?) to visit a nearly 100-year-old, normally-working mill. (Just our luck, one of the axles had broken the day before!) It was cool, the tour guide (and great-granddaughter of the first owner) was very excited to show us around, the lake and surrounding manor was beautiful, and there was a playground that we all played on! Whee!! We then drove on to visit a lake near Otepää, the "winter capital" of Estonia (with another playground), as well as an old Biltmore-esque house nearby, and ate at an interesting restaurant that seemed to have only two people working there (thought it had good food), all before we finally arrived at Taage(?) castle where we spent the night.

We then spent today (or I guess technically yesterday, May 25) driving around southern Estonia some more. We visited the tallest "mountain" in Estonia - at 330(?) meters above sea level, there's not much too it, though the view at the top of the tower that was built on it was gorgeous. Supposedly, it was also the tallest point in all three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania). We drove near Otepää or Voru?, and ate some lunch nearby a winter sports complex. We then made the final drive back across the country to Tallinn to have dinner, before we went our separate ways.

It was fun for all of us to spend that time together - and to feel like we were all one big family. This whole trip has been fun for the four of us to spend so much time together (albeit, perhaps a bit TOO together in the tiny cabin on the ship), but it was also fun for a big group to do all that together like we did. I'll miss them all, but that's just another reason to come back!

Well, time for bed. Actually, it was time for bed a loooong time ago, but oh well.

Ciao!

February Music

2009-03-11T21:37:00.002+01:00

Well, I finally decided on my two February albums. After picking a "pay how much you want (if at all)" album for the first one, I figured that it would only be appropriate (and quickest by avoiding waiting on shipping) to do the same for the second. So here goes.

Feed the Animals by Girl Talk
Apparently, "mash-ups" are the current trend among DJs and various Indie music folk. At least, that is what I have concluded based on my relatively uninformed (as far as DJs or Indie music is concerned) observations. However, this was my first exposure to it, and I have to say it is simultaneously hilarious and brilliant. I did pay a little for it (why not?), enough to have the option to download either the album separated into individual tracks, or one long continuous track. I actually did both, after realizing that some CD players "skip" when going from track to track. But I digress. I would say at least 65% of the album is profanity/obscenity/vulgarity/perversity/whathaveyou. While it does get to me and I can't listen to it frequently (or comfortably with car windows rolled down), I also find such language to be funny in juxtaposition with some of the other tracks - The Train, Jessie's Girl, Jackson 5's ABC, etc. But my favorite section is hands down the mix of Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone with whatever else it's mashed. Not only is it funny - it actually makes the song enjoyable to listen to.
Anyway, if you can get past the language - or realize that's it's used for humor's sake (at least, I imagine it is considering how it's used), this is a great album. And of course, it's free: Girl Talk.

Long Songs by Deathmøle
Now, I have no idea if this could be considered a "real album:" it's the work of Questionable Content artist Jeph Jacques, mostly guitar-sequencer-whatever music, that he has posted on his website and Last.fm just for those interested (mostly QC fans). But, I was interested and he had these compiled into an album, so there. It's certainly not a professional album by any means, but that's not the intent. As per the album title, these are all 6+ minute songs - mostly, if not all, guitar and drums. A few of the songs have a similar sound, but they are otherwise different from each other in feel/tone/meaning. Some of the tracks tend to rock a little harder than others, some are more mellowed out overall. I'm not yet sure which one I like best...that will take some more listening. Maybe "Schizophrenic Sequencer?" (I know it's not "Ice and Sleet" as I have a hard time due to the tempo 'issues' at the front of the song.) Most of the tracks are purely harmonic - not much real melody to be found (that I can remember) in most cases - which is fine. I actually like a lot of the harmonic progressions. Not sure how standard they would be for this kind of music (whatever it might be), but I like it.
Anyway - not sure that I could recommend it (for the 2.5 ppm reading this) for its superb musical genius or anything, but I liked it. And, I mean, it is FREE. Geez, how can you complain about that? Long Songs at Last.fm

Have a few ideas for March, but not certain yet.

-PeasNLuv-

Previous Post: January Music

Pretty Mad

2009-03-09T23:25:00.002+01:00

So I got pretty mad today, something that doesn't seem to happen all that often. I mean, I was really pissed off. Probably the first time in a very long time that I was sincerely mad at several of my friends, though without any great reason.

We were hanging out at the Flying Saucer for pint night after we all got through with our respective jobs, something I only get to do once every couple months or so thanks to my usually-unusual work schedule. Needless to say, I was very happy that I got to be there.

Later on in the evening, a discussion about guns and gun rights eventually came up somehow. I personally am for very strict gun control, and when it comes right down to it, I sometimes wonder if the second amendment is out of date. (Sure, it was relevant and necessary in 1800, but is it still? Maybe, maybe not...) However, I respect my friends for their various opinions and am happy for them to have them. I also don't mind having an intelligent discussion about such topics.

Whether or not the discussion that was being had this evening was intelligent is irrelevant, as I was of the mind to not hear any of it - I just wanted to enjoy the fellowship and my beer without getting into political arguments. Some of the people talking about it were beginning to get stubborn and I tried to see if we could just stop talking about it altogether. But, I was pretty forceful in the way I "suggested" that we change topics, so I certainly wasn't being very persuasive. In the end, I pretty much yelled at everyone at the table and stormed off, thankful I had already paid my tab, as THAT would've been awkward.

I wonder why I got so mad. I could blame it on the alcohol (I hadn't had that much, really), the fact that I was tired, my selfish wish for my one time to be there would be perfect, or the fact that I apparently disagreed with most of the people at the table on the subject (though I didn't voice my opinion in any way). When it comes down to it, there really is no excuse to treat my friends that way. I guess it was time for me to act stupid, it had been a while I suppose.

Peace.

And who knows, if this legislation passes in TN, I could have been carrying a gun with me the whole time, as this all occurred in a restaurant before 11pm. Wouldn't that be ridiculous(ly unsafe to mix alcohol and emotions and guns)? But then of course, everyone else at the table could have been as well, so that if I started to pull my gun out for any reason, surely one of them would have been faster and would have shot me already, regardless of what I was actually doing. I mean, considering I was pretty irate, that would be a legitimate conclusion, right?

January Music

2009-03-03T19:20:00.001+01:00

So, I thought I was keeping at least one of my New Year's Resolutions by purchasing two new albums each month. Unfortunately, I only got one in Feb...though I have an idea what the second one for that month will be. At any rate, here's what I think about the two January Albums I got.

Radio Retaliation by Thievery Corporation
A very cool album. I was not previously familiar with Thievery Corp. (makes sense as that's part of my resolution rules), so I don't have anything else from them upon which to base an opinion of this example of their output. (That sentence was waaay too long.) I really enjoy the cohesive mixture of musical genres - hip-hop, Middle-Eastern/Indian, Afro-Cuban/Latin, reggae, rock, some techno, and some big-band-ish instrumental pieces. Apart from the fact that the "packaging" doesn't provide a safe home for a CD - it's a CD-sized cardboard box with the CD and poster-ized liner notes stuffed in enough to prevent either from falling out - I really do like the way it's packaged and love the liner notes. I just wish they had only put stuff on one side so it could be put up as a poster. I need to listen to the CD some more to really get a good grip on the lyrics, however what I remember (and am currently listening to) is a message of social activism, with a lean to the political left. (Something confirmed by the various quotes included on the liner notes.) Not that I resent this message - to the contrary, it resonates with me personally.
Final verdict - It's a great album that really requires owning the physical product to fully appreciate it, though it's not music I could listen to every day.
Thievery Corporation website

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson - Sings Peter Lieberson, Neruda Songs
To start - this CD is all top notch musicians: singer Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, composer Peter Lieberson, the Boston Symphony conducted by James Levine, plus this was recorded from a live concert. How would I classify this music? 21st Century Romanticism, perhaps. Peter Lieberson set five very romantic poems by Spanish poet Paul Neruda, in a cycle that is quite meaningful. They traverse through love longed for and experienced, and life and death. The music itself is quite beautiful - this is definitely one of my favorite "new classical works" I've heard in a long time. To say that Lorraine sings it amazingly is almost an understatement - she understood the meaning behind each word and note, an accomplishment achieved perhaps partly due to the fact that her husband composed it for her. All this said, (and I really do no justice to the work with my feeble words) the entire work is made more meaningful by the story behind it - the fact that Lorraine was then suffering from cancer, and died a year following. Alex Ross does a beautiful job describing the music and both Liebersons in the liner notes (which also includes paragraphs from both Lorraine and Peter), some of which he also wrote in his tribute to Lorraine here.
This is an immortally beautiful work that nearly brought tears to my eyes the first time I listened to it in its entirety.

As soon as I get my second Feb. album, I'll try to have something up about that. (As if any more than three people read this or care. I'm mostly doing it to record what I thought and to improve my "Music Reviewery.")

I wish - like Lieberson's "Neruda Songs" - that the last word in all human interactions was "Amor."

Frustrated. Or something.

2009-03-01T22:08:00.001+01:00

Why am I not happy with my current everything?

I don't feel like I'm able to do what I love, so much that I feel everything I'm doing currently is hindering being able to do what I love. That, and my wrists suck.

Bad crap that I don't like right now:
My job has weird hours that doesn't let me perform or practice nearly as much as I'd like.
The weird hours also prevent me from hanging out w/my friends very much at all.
My job possibly affects the health of my wrists because of the frequent typing.
Because of my wrist problems, I still can't physically practice as much as I'd like.
I know I have money to pay rent and such but wish I wasn't always worried about how much money I [don't] have.
I'm lonely.
I don't know why I'm in school again or what my second degree will do for me when I graduate.
I'm very lonely.

Good things that should totally outweigh the bad so I don't know why I feel so crappy:
I have a full-time job that's secure and has awesome benefits, among which is included paying for school.
I have great friends.
I'm able to pay for the various costs of living and have a little bit more.
I'm alive.

Huh. There probably should be some more on that list, but I suppose the fact that I can't think of them should tell me something. I'm not sure if I'm going to go to work tomorrow. I suppose I need to, but I don't know. As I was driving here today, sitting at a stoplight, I had to literally talk myself out of pulling into the turn lane to go to the airport just to fly somewhere. I managed to convince myself that flying to San Diego or Austin or Boston or Berlin would not solve any problems. Unless of course I just stayed there...no, I can't do that. I have commitments here I have to keep.

Being the first Sunday of Lent, the sermon at church today was about being in the wilderness. The guest preacher included a story from his life when he was in a "wilderness." I should have taken heart at the fact that God was with him the whole time and eventually led him out. But I didn't. It just made me feel worse. I should take heart now, knowing what I know...I mean, I'm typing it. And now that I've written this down, I don't feel better like I had hoped.

I don't know what I need.

Life, but not as we know it.

2009-02-16T10:54:00.001+01:00

Huh. So in less than two years, I'll be able to teach percussion at a college if I want to. Probably not at a big school or one with a well established percussion program, as those usually require doctorate degrees. I just realized this last night. Not that I think I'll want to - I still want to try to pull off being a near-full-time performer. But, if I feel like I need to get a doctorate degree, I could totally get a gig at a school with the idea that I'll simultaneously work on my doctorate. Although, I imagine most schools wouldn't like the idea that I would probably leave once I finished my degree.

Then again, what's the point of getting a terminal degree to be a performer? Do I need one? Nah, probably not. Just a waste of money and time. Not that I won't go study with anyone else ever again - I'd like to, just in a more private sense than in an academic setting. As of right now, I'm considering three teachers abroad - one each in London, Stuttgart and Paris. I don't know if they'd be willing to teach outside the university setting, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. But if not, they're all at good schools. But then if I go that route, I'll probably add some schools here in the US to my list...as there are excellent teachers I'd be interested in located in Boston, Chicago, Austin and DFW.

Whatever.

Just been thinking about my future a lot. I have tended to dwell on that frequently, for whatever reason(s). I've still got three & a half semesters to get through here first, so I guess I shouldn't bother with it.

24.5 Things

2009-02-05T23:24:00.003+01:00

Apparently, the "25 Things" questionnaire has been passed around the interwebs, be it facebook, blogs, whatnot. I'm not a fan of following the crowd, solely based on principle. However, I don't really care this time since about 2.5 people read my blog every month. (I just made that up, but it's probably true.) And I thought it might be interesting to see if I could come up w/that many [un-]interesting facts about myself.

1. I share a birthday with a rock musician, a rapper, and a scientist.

2. I thoroughly dislike facebook.

3. I want to be a percussionist who gets to travel and perform all over the world for thousands of people.

4. I'm not a fan of country music, but my first two CDs were Some Gave All and A Lot About Livin' and a Little 'Bout Love. (And I still enjoy listening to them.)

5. I wish I could do more pleasure reading, but rarely have time (or the impetus) to do so.

6. I once sung for George H.W. Bush and Cal Ripken, Jr. simultaneously.

7. I've been to the U.K. & the Czech Republic three times, Italy twice, Germany & various parts of Eastern Europe. (And briefly into Matamoros, Mexico.)

8. I have a signed Orel Hershiser baseball card, was friends with his son (Orel the 5th, or Quentin) when I was younger, and was in a Sunday School class taught by his (Orel the pitcher's) mom.

9. I'm not registered with any political party, nor do I agree with either "side" wholeheartedly.

10. I speak [almost] fluent German.

11. No, I don't know if I'm related to Tina Fey. And yes, I'm in love with her. Along with Zooey Deschanel (who just got engaged...curses!), Nicole Kidman (who lives in Nashville and whom I STILL have yet to see) and Miranda Otto (mostly as Éowyn). And perhaps others, but I don't care enough to think about it.

12. I love soccer and baseball, like hockey, (live) basketball, and sometimes football (only on TV). I sort of like racing, but I have to since that's genetic.

13. I recycle.

14. I almost wish I didn't have cable TV.

15. I love Family Guy, Lost, 30Rock, The Office, Robot Chicken, maybe some others. (Those are the ones I watch regularly. And mostly online, so no, that does not conflict w/#14.)

16. I love cars. I used to have a subscription to Road & Track. Dream Car? Don't know, as it changes.

17. I hate questionnaires like this one.

18. I apparently have a thing for dancers. (Although I don't think it's intentional...perhaps subconscious? Maybe just circumstantial?)

19. I have grown up Presbyterian and seem to agree with Calvinism the most. But I mean, Christianity is just Christianity.

20. On that note...I've considered going to seminary. Just to learn more, not to become a pastor or any biblical/doctrinal/whatever-ical scholar.

21. I'm considering letting my hair grow WAAAAY out. We'll see.

22. I don't drink coffee straight. That's why I'm tall. Suck on that, short coffee drinkers of the world.

23. I don't wanna be rich, I just want enough money so that I don't feel like I'm constantly worrying every time I have to buy something (food or otherwise). I mean, I'd love to make tons of money, but just so I could live in a small house (with a family maybe?) and then give tons of money away to various charities/organizations/schools/churches/etc.

24. I'm sarcastic. Though usually not openly sarcastic to people I don't know yet, it sometimes happens. Did I offend you? Oh man, I am sooo sorry, please let me make it up to you somehow! Can I buy you lunch? Something?? ...hah. How about a nice sarcasm sandwich?

24.5 I hate raw tomatoes.

Man, what a friggin' waste of time. Now I feel better.

What? No I don't.

If you read this, please don't do one of your own. You'll just be clogging up the Tubes like me.

Life

2009-01-29T21:48:00.001+01:00

I'm bored.

Ya know what? I'm not going to sit here and write about how I feel like I need to go do something off the wall to at least trick my mind into thinking that my life is interesting right now. That I even have a life. (Which is, being a full-time student w/a full-time job, an impossibility.)

I'm going to at least sit and imagine that I'm going to go do something off the wall. Because I sure as heck know I won't be able to go to bed early like I had hoped.

Peace out.

The 44th President

2009-01-20T19:23:00.001+01:00

Wow. So I don't know what to write, but I wanted to document some of my thoughts on this historic occasion.

I've realized over the past couple days just how important today was in our country's history. I don't have a true understanding of what it means because of my age, yet when my parents were born, it was normal for a man like him to be ostracized simply because of his skin color. God, that's a harrowing thought. I've talked with people my age who never thought they would see this day in their own lifetimes. We've come a helluva long way in 50 years. God Bless Martin Luther King, Jr. and his incredible work and legacy. I'll be honest - I was nervous for much of the ceremony for Obama's safety, but thankfully the Secret Service, FBI, whomever know what they're doing. Unfortunately, his election doesn't mean that "Racism is Over." We've come a long way to have a black man in the most powerful job in the nation (and probably the world), but we have a long way to go as a country.

Unfortunately, that is no more present than here in my own city of Nashville. I'm not going to go on a rant about the English-Only amendment that will be decided in a vote on Thursday, but that's a prime example of how many people don't understand Civil Rights and how it applies to all people. (Even those who aren't citizens of the U.S. - I mean, I believe they're required to be here for 14 years before they can be citizens...but, I digress.) I just hope it doesn't pass.

But Obama wasn't just elected because he's black, but because of the content of his character. Before the election, I believed he would be an excellent president - not just better than Bush (which wouldn't take much), but a great leader. I believed he wasn't just a politician trying to uplift his own views and ideas (even if they're good), but one who believed that the people should be fairly represented and served by its government. After the election, that belief was only strengthened.

His speech today was quite inspiring and hopeful. HOPE wasn't just an excellent choice for a "catch-word" of his campaign, it was and is something he truly believes in. He was respectful of the outgoing administration and all political "sides," though he didn't hesitate to reference the sacrifice of "unalienable rights" for security. (Bush wiretaps, etc.) He advocated and directed the American people to be the change that the country needs. That while he will help to initiate that change in the government, we must also be active in pursuing change.

Now, being the stickler for historical trivia that I am, I must point out that he mistakenly referred to himself as the 44th American to become President. He's actually only the 43rd - Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms, thus he's counted twice in the numberings of the Presidents. (At least, I think this is correct?) But, I think I can forgive him this error. ;)

And the music for the ceremony? Teh Awesomzors. You can never go wrong with Aretha Franklin - she sounded a little bit weary in her performance (I think she wanted to sing higher, but knew it wasn't going to work today), but no less passionate than she ever is. What a woman. And John Williams' piece "Air and Simple Gifts" was absolutely gorgeous and incredibly moving. All of the performers (Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, and Gabriela Montero) were very passionate in their performance of such a wonderful piece of music. I really like John Williams, although I sometimes think some of his music is a bit cliché, but this piece was wonderfully composed. Granted, I love some of his "big" pieces like the Star Wars Theme, E.T. Theme, etc., but I find a lot of his chamber music much more fascinating (like the Catch Me If You Can score). Anyway, both performances were fitting for the ceremony.

I am so very thankful that I was able to witness the inauguration (on TV) and such an historical moment. While I believe the 9-11 attacks were a moment that defined a significant aspect of my generation and will continue to do so (and in no way to belittle that event), I believe that today's inauguration is one moment that will positively affect my generation in ways we can't yet know.

I'm so proud to be an American right now.

Resolutions for a New Year

2009-01-06T16:15:00.000+01:00

Listening to: Samskeyti from Sigur Ros's album, Hvarf/Heim (thanks Pandora)

Okay, so I think I have some resolutions for the new year.

First off, apart from making sure I do my regular hand/wrist/arm therapy/exercises, I need to start exercising regularly. Yes, I need to get back in the habit of running, but perhaps I need to go beyond that. Not sure what that would mean, but we'll see. I'm not off to the best start as it is Tuesday...and I haven't done anything but jog a couple miles on Saturday. Hmm.

I need to be much more intentional about my overall schedule - work, church, practicing, school, the above resolution, etc. I have calendars everywhere -- Blackberry, new Mac, work computer, Google Calendar -- and now that (I think) I have them all synced up properly, I need to make sure I do what needs to get done. On time. Fortunately I have a fairly easy semester this spring, but I still need to be good about my time.

I want to buy two "new" albums every month. And I think I have some of the "requirements" already worked out.

-- I can't own any full album by that artist. (That doesn't include if I have one track on a compilation...of which I have very few, so that shouldn't be much of a problem)

--While I won't rule them out entirely, I will avoid classical, jazz and percussion as much as possible, as I have a decent collection of these types. (Plus I usually buy a few of these anyway.)

--One of the two has to be an artist I have either never heard of or at least never heard a song by said artist.

--One of the two can't be older than 5 years.

I think I'm going to try to have friends recommend some to help out, or at least get me started. Plus, that makes getting one by an artist I've never heard of a bit more possible. :)

Hopefully these are resolutions I can keep for a long, long time.

Sometimes, it sucks to be alone

2008-12-30T23:50:00.000+01:00

Man, I sometimes wonder why I would ever want to live in an apartment by myself. I mean, there are obvious logical reasons (including not having to feel bad if the apartment's dirty), but I'm not usually a fan of being alone. I'm a social person. I need human contact. I wish I could have just hung out at my friend's place all night tonight, catch up with people I hardly see. And people seem to move farther apart the older we get.

I wonder what my new year's resolution is going to be, should I decide to actually make one.

And oh my gosh my birthday is next week. Wow. I remember when I was much younger, (like, seriously, 12 or something) thinking that the year 2010 would be such a milestone birthday of 25. And now it's just over a year away. Wow. Sometimes, I feel like I've accomplished a lot in my life thus far, and I probably have. But I sometimes get down on myself (perhaps unnecessarily so) and feel like I still have so far to go. Maybe it's both. But, I don't feel like being to introspective tonight, as I'm tired and must be at work at 8am. :-P

G'nite

Handel, jobs and comic books

2008-12-19T15:39:00.001+01:00

Listening to: A seemingly random mix that’s playing at Bongo Java.

So I could probably write a bunch of stuff to follow up on the previous blog, but I’m not in the mood at the moment. As in, I’m not in an introspective kind of mood. Which is good for now. :-)

I think last night’s concert at the Nashville Symphony of Handel’s Messiah was the first time (that I remember) that I had heard the whole work live. I want to say there was one instance when I was much much younger (as in, under 9 y.o.), but I’m not positive. I’ve played timpani for the whole thing once. As in, I played on the two movements that have timpani, but last night was awesome. Handel really was a brilliant composer. It was awesome to hear it done by professional musicians – the gig I played on was for a local college…that isn’t really known for its music program. They did a fine job, but it was a student performance and the quality was as such. Last night, however, was amazing. The orchestra, choir, soloists and conductor were all fabulous. It was so awesome to hear people singing in the baroque style – the tenor and bass both had gourgeous voices, I really enjoyed the soprano’s embellishments of the arias, and the alto part was song by a marvelous countertenor!! I can safely say that I had never heard a countertenor in real life. It was funny hearing the surprised reaction of the person next to me when he began his first solo. :-) The conductor’s bio listed him as being renowned for his baroque interpretations, and I would definitely agree. I also thought it odd at first that he was not using a baton…only to remember that conductors didn’t use batons until Mendelssohn in the 19th Century. It was fun – I also got to bring a friend along who’s seen the Messiah done back at her home many a time. I never have a problem going to the Symphony by myself, but it’s always more fun with a friend or two.

I’m excited about going home for the Christmas break. I think I just need a break from everything. I’m still doing a lot of thinking about my future career – my physical issues I’ve had with my wrists, if I really can be a successful solo marimbist/percussionist, what my various “back-ups” will be, etc. I know I don’t want to just teach privately / teach non-college percussion. But I don’t even know if I would want to teach at a college. There are obvious benefits – a steady job, excellent practicing, performing and research resources – but I don’t know how my professor can possibly do everything that he does without going crazy. I am glad (for his sake) that he is getting a sabbatical this year. And what about working in a library? I’ll obviously have lots of good experience in a couple years – I’ve even thought about taking a library science class or two at Vanderbilt (assuming they have any) or somewhere just for fun. And what about church music? I obviously have an excellent background with two church musicians for parents…plus I probably have more Presbyterian music connections than most pastors. It’s possible that two of the things I enjoy most in life are performing music and being a part of a worship service. If there were a way to travel as a percussion soloist/clinician and also be a part of a church music staff, I would totally do it. Unfortunately, both of those activities usually occur on weekends. Obviously, I have a lot of work to do as a percussionist before that first part is even possible, but still.

It looks like there are a bunch of fun movies coming out soon. I went and saw Quantum of Solace the other day – it didn’t get nearly as good reviews, but it was fun. I enjoyed it. I think most people were just expecting it to live up to Casino Royale (which it didn’t), but you have to remember that it’s a James Bond movie. Plus – it had an AWESOME scene that included parts of Puccini’s masterpiece Tosca. Oh man, that rocked. I need to see if that production is on DVD somewhere, as it looked very cool. But I got to see some cool previews – Star Trek (I about peed my pants from excitement), The Spirit, Watchmen, some others that obviously didn’t make quite as big an impression. I’m thinking about getting the Watchmen comic series as the movie itself looks awesome…and I kind of want to read it first. I never read comics as a kid (or even now), I guess because I was usually pretty busy with music and other stuff. Oh well, it’s never too late to start, huh?

Well…I need to go clean up the apartment before I leave. I’m thinking about going late tonight so I don’t have to deal with traffic, but I’m not sure I’ll make it in time.

Peace.

Relationships...are for losers.

2008-12-16T22:35:00.000+01:00

Listening to: Mannheim Steamroller (one of their Christmas albums…don’t remember which one I threw in the player)

I feel like Ben Folds with all this shit I got runnin’ through my brain. (Rockin’ the Suburbs, anyone?) I wonder why I even blog. I mean, I’ve basically been using it as a personal diary ever since I got back from Germany. Which is fine, it’s just I wonder what the point is. Who reads it? Who cares? Why should I waste space on the Interweb with my blather? I mean, I wouldn’t want to clog up the tubes. Whatever.

So I’ve been thinking about relationships for the past three weeks. Among other stuff. But that’s been on the forefront of my mind. I was prompted by a friend’s entry on the topic (which was prompted by a friend of his) to write out some of my garbled thoughts. My girlfriend of nearly a year-and-a-half and I broke up – well, technically she broke up with me, but the fact that we lived 1000+ miles away sure didn’t make it easy on either of us. I had really been struggling with the fact that I hadn’t seen her in six months (nobody’s fault, just the circumstances), reminding myself of how I really seem to long for physical nearness with someone. Man, I can’t friggin write out my thoughts in a concentrated and coherent manner. But I’ve wondered the gamut of things lately. Not the least of which is whether I’ll ever get a girl who’s right for me. I guess I’m learning my “guidelines” for the perfect woman by getting really close to someone only to have it end. I really thought I had it down for this last one – smart, cute, gorgeous eyes, smooth pretty hands, one with whom I could have an intelligent and informed conversation on the performing arts, confident in her faith, very knowledgeable on the Christian religion (she was certainly superior to me in these two aspects!), witty, didn’t mind watching a somewhat obscene tv show/movie if it was also hilarious, e.g., Family Guy, whatever else. To be honest, I thought I really loved her. I still think I do.

That is, if I knew what it meant to love someone. Apparently I have no fucking clue. Sorry. I mean, did I love the girl I was engaged to for a year? Yes. Do I still? Not in that way – we changed during our relationship and realized that we had fallen in love with the old ‘each others,’ people that were no more. Yes, I still love her as a friend, but in the same way that I love all my friends. Did/Do I love this recent girl? I think so. But what the hell does that mean? That we’ll eventually get back together and live happily ever after? I doubt it – that’s the ending to lame “heart-warming” movies. What happens when I finally meet the woman I’ll marry? Will I have to love her more? Will I no longer love any previous love interest? Is it possible to have that sincere love for more than one person? Of course, all these questions only matter if you assume that I really did love this person. Maybe it hasn’t been long enough. Maybe I need more time to have my “20/20 Hindsight.” That’s so lame.

Echoing Viking’s sentiment (the friend from earlier), I’m jealous of all my friends who are getting / have gotten married. I’m jealous of their love for each other, their mutual companionship, their ability to sit on the couch and just be held. Maybe my problem is that for the last 5 ½ years, I’ve been in a relationship for 4 to 4 ½ of those years (that is, various relationships…although one was 2.5, this last one 1.5). God. What’s sad, is that I’ve already thought about some of the people I might try to go on a date with. Fortunately, I’m not even going to consider being in a relationship for a long time. I think. I just don’t know how good I’ll be at keeping me to that. Thankfully, none of those people I’ve thought about meet all of my “requirements.” But what’s it all for? Do I really need to work that hard? Is it something that will just happen?

Sometimes I wish I could just go live in some secluded place for a few years. Literally drop everything and go live in Ghana or Korea or Scotland and start from scratch. Gosh, and not to even talk about all the crap I’ve been thinking about related to my career. Another time. I’m sick of feeling sad for myself…so I’m probably going to go to bed.

Peace out.

Public transit rocks my face off

2008-06-18T14:00:00.000+02:00

What? No, I'm not writing a blog entry at work. I would never spend time here doing anything but work! I mean seriously, what kind of library staff-person do you think I am?

Anyway...this is the third day in a row that I've ridden the bus to work. And why not? It goes right by my apartment and then right by the library. I don't have to spend money on gas. I don't have to look for a parking spot. I don't have to worry about traffic (though there's not that much on the route I'd take anyway). And best of all -- as a Belmont staff member, it's free. I just swipe my ID card and BAM! I'm on the bus.
Of course, the downside is that Nashville's not-that-great transit system only has the bus scheduled to come by once an hour. It's not so bad on the way to work, but I have to wait ~30 min after I get off work. But, you win some, you lose some.

Maybe the system isn't so bad in comparison to similarly-sized cities, I don't know. I've only used public transit in NYC, Chicago, Atlanta (used MARTA once, if that counts) and various European cities. Obviously, the Europeans have us beat by a long shot, but I have hope that that will change with the serious increase in gas prices and the trend to move back into the hearts of cities. Nashville actually isn't that much bigger than Dresden, though I would say it certainly is more spread out. I think. I know a tram system would probably not even be close to worth the cost, since many of the roads aren't wide enough to accommodate trams, but it might be nice if they increased the bus frequency and routes. I mean, I think all of the routes come from downtown and spread out -- no way to get from one part to another without having to transfer downtown. I doubt I'll ever take it to the airport because I'd have to plan for a couple hours trip to transfer downtown...if both buses are running when I'd need to go anyway.

But, enough complaints. Public transportation is awesome.

Peace

Deutschland vor, noch ein Tor!

2008-06-17T14:53:00.001+02:00

Go Germany!

A King and His Throne

2008-06-04T15:30:00.001+02:00

Listening to: Russian Piano School, Vol. 6: Sviatoslav Richter

I have my own bathroom. I have my own bathroom. I have my own bathroom!!! I don't think I could have guessed that I would have been quite as thrilled about this fact as I actually am, but it is indeed pretty cool. We (my roommate and I) moved in on Monday and I got some stuff for MY bathroom yesterday. We still don't have any actual furniture yet. Which is odd...last night when we got back with our sizable grocery store plunder, we couldn't think of anything to do except go to bed -- no cable/internet, no tv, no tables, no chairs on which to sit and drink a beer, even. But, whatever.

I also went bed shopping this morning -- kind of interesting. I guess I should get used to never being able to justify buying lots of nice furniture and stuff. I guess as soon as I get everything moved in, I can start practicing 6-8 hours a day like I should if I really want to be the next Evelyn Glennie (or better). And maybe then I can charge $50,000 for a three-concert weekend as a soloist and have a home in Scotland. (Or just to be able to live there would be fine, too.)

Such is life.

Peace

I hate kissing butt.

2008-06-02T18:33:00.000+02:00

No, seriously. The only time I might willingly brown-nose would be if it provided me some professional gain.

I really do love the job I have, but in dealing with college faculty, I sometimes have to not only act nice, but stretch rules and policies to keep certain people happy. I mean, don't get me wrong - I generally try to be nice, even with unhappy, stubborn professors. Being nice is just an all-around good idea. But I'm not a fan of people who feel they are above rules. I'm not exactly compromising my morals or principles or anything like that, but when I say one thing to a whole group of people and then allow "just this one time" for one specific person, I feel like what I said originally didn't even matter. Thankfully more often than not, other college professors aren't going to drop to a child's level and say - "But he/she got to do it that way, why can't I?" or "Why did he/she get special treatment?" One day, when I'm older and have at least one more degree, I'll be able to address these issues directly: "No, sorry, those are the rules and if you have a problem following them, you can build a bridge and get over it. And if you feel like it, you can then burn the bridge for all I care."
Mark that down as one more reason I don't want to teach for a living: some college professors can be real pricks. Even the good ones.

Well, I don't feel like I've vented enough, but oh well.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-- Albert Einstein

"Too much democracy..."

2008-05-22T22:37:00.001+02:00

Wow. Go Nashville.

It's stories like that that make me wish "Christians" were actually more Christ-like.
And wonder why churches like this even exist.

Bah.

YouTube rules

2008-05-21T00:22:00.006+02:00

My favorite YouTube video in a long while. Combines the magical powers of the Numa Numa song, the Star Wars Kid, Angry German Kid and a special cameo towards end. (Although perhaps the A.G.K. video was staged...)

Update 5/21/08 8:45am: I found this late last night and was perhaps a bit enthusiastic about it at the time. I should clarify in saying it is my favorite silly/pointless YouTube videos in a long time. Partly because it combines some of the "great" silly/pointless YouTube videos in one magical package. By the way, dibs on "Magical Package" if it's not already a registered (TM) to anybody.

Bad vs. Good

2008-05-20T09:39:00.000+02:00

I've seen two movies that were based on television anime series in two weeks. Speed Racer and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Now it wouldn't be entirely fair if I compared the two just as they are - Speed Racer is simply the Wachowski bros. derivative of an older anime, whereas Cowboy Bebop was created by those who made the TV show. So I suppose I'll discuss them separately first.

Speed Racer -- Only two words: Sucks. SUCKS! Yeah, the movie critics were spot on - this movie is terrible. The plot is taken from the overarching storyline of the whole TV series, but the Wachowski bros. manage to screw even that up. SPOILER ALERT: If you don't want any part of this movie ruined and haven't seen it, don't read this. Because Andy and Larry - in their infinite wisdom - decided that even though they kept the 'Racer X is Speed's older brother, Rex Racer' storyline, they decided the Racer family didn't need to know that in this movie. (Now, if you say "Racer X" very quickly...it sounds kind of like "Racer Rex"...duh...) But anyway, the one and only redeeming quality to this movie is the execution of "filming" the races. I told a couple people after seeing it that if the sport of racing was anything close to what it is in the movie, I'd be a racecar driver, hands down. Everything else about the movie sucks - the lack of visual continuity, the terrible and predictable plot, the mediocre acting. I'm not sure if I liked much of the music, though I will say that what I remember matched the movie. I'll have to watch it again sometime for that, because Michael Giacchino is usually awesome.
Now I have to say, I haven't seen the original anime in a long time - it's next on my Netflix - and so it's quite possible that much of the 'badness' was in tribute to the original.

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie -- And excellent film. I would probably say the one major part of it that I didn't like was the music. Not all of it, but much of it didn't seem to be similar to the original series - I felt like I missed out on all that good bebop. I actually thought it must have been a different person, but after just checking, I see it was not. Oh well. The rest of the movie was excellent. A good story with a fascinating meaning/philosophy...to the extent that I understand such big words like philosophy. :) I suppose I was partial to this movie, having really begun to appreciate anime after watching the entire TV series this past year. (I don't count having watched Speed Racer when I was younger...)

Hmmm...I seem to have become distracted and therefore lost the plot. I started writing this entry in my head last night after I finished Bebop...but was too tired to write anything then. And now I don't remember the entire purpose. Whatever. Cowboy Bebop rules. Speed Racer drools.

Peace

Moving Out

2008-05-18T23:40:00.001+02:00

Listening to:
Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound performs Aphex Twin

So this is the beginning of the end. Tonight marks the first night that both of my roommates are now sleeping at each of their new places. They've still got a bunch of stuff here, but you might say I'm the only one here now. Though I haven't really been here by myself for more than 5 hours or so, I kinda wonder if I really would have wanted to live by myself, like I had considered. I'm not sure. I mean, this isn't bad, I just like being around people. Whatever.

I have been gradually packing/moving stuff out - I took the first load to storage the other day, only to realize how small my storage space is. But I think I can probably fit everything in there. It's kinda been weird packing stuff up. I mean, I've only been in this room for a year, but I've been in this apartment for two. I'm currently avoiding taking down my posters, because I'll know then that I really am moving. Not that I don't want to move...it's just a hassle and a lot of work. Actually, the task I'm looking forward to least of all is packing up the dishes. But, whatever.

I guess I'll try to have most of my room stuff packed and out tomorrow before (or after) going to the Saucer. Yay beer!

Peace

Thoughts on a blog

2008-05-14T10:30:00.000+02:00

So I guess I'm going to spend some time (at work) every now and then to write on here. Maybe it'll become more regular. Or maybe I'll just do this for a spell and then not post anything for about 4 months like I usually do. But what's the point of a blog anyway? I mean, when I started this, it mostly served as a journal of my time and travels in Germany (I mean, the title used to be "Studiere in Deutschland," roughly Studying in Germany...now it's in the past tense), but I've used it off and on since then to talk about other escapades or just to get some thoughts out. I still don't really understand the whole blogging sensation yet...I read a few blogs regularly, but they're all different purposes -- some personal blogs, one that is written specifically about her new life in marriage, a music critic's blog, some others I remember to check every three weeks or so, and of course Postsecret.

I guess blogs are different things for different people. An outlet to express feelings in certain ways, a "public diary" of sorts, a daily log of activities, etc. I guess what sometimes surprises me is when I learn something totally new about a friend; something deep that could totally change my perspective on a person. Is that because I'm not a close enough friend to be told that in person? Or is it just stuff that nobody knows firsthand? Or maybe I'm just too naive and don't realize what someone is going through while everyone else does and addresses it/rushes to help/whatever.

Not that I haven't posted my share of such things. Between my last post and some posts about my previous engagement (I think...I haven't gone back and read old posts in a long time), I know I've posted some things on here that I just don't talk about much...mostly because I'm not very good with the spoken word. I usually feel like I can express myself a little bit better when writing something, but that's because I have time to think about what I'm saying (usually) and can go back and change anything if necessary.

Oh...got to do some actual work...I think I still have a bit to say so I'll try to came back to this later...mabye...
...So I'm back.

I am simultaneously excited and a little bit nervous/sad about moving out. Excited that I get to move into a new place - sort of like hitting the Restart button - and a new roommate. And of course the fact that there's a pool right next to my apartment is freakin sweet. I am kind of sad about leaving my current apartment -- it's so close to work (and in the fall, school) that I hardly ever drive, and I've had a LOT of good memories in this place with roommates from this year and the previous. I'm also kind of worried about all the various details I have to get down - electric, etc. - plus moving all my stuff to a storage facility for the couple weeks in between the move. And the fact that I have to move most of it this weekend sucks!

Like I said, blogs are funny. I mean, I suppose it's a sort of release to "write" all this stuff down...maybe? But why do I have to write it for the entire world to see? I mean, i guess I don't personally feel like that's the case, but I do it nonetheless. Not that I get hardly any traffic on here - which is just as well, the people who I don't mind reading this are probably the few who even know it exists. But blogs are funny because I was about to write down my thoughts on a website/movie/marketing scheme called "The Secret" when I read a couple other blogs and totally got sidetracked and decided to blog about blogs. Man, that's pretty sad. :)

I guess I should have blogged about the awesome worship experience I had last night, but that just goes to show...uhh...whatever it goes to show. (Where the heck was I going with that??)

Peace

Musings on stuff and things that may or may not be happening at some point

2008-05-06T09:51:00.000+02:00

...I wonder if I could be any more vague...

So it's been forever since I've sat down to type anything. Not like I haven't had time -- I spend 37.5 hours a week in front of a computer for the past 6 months, and it's not like I'm always busy doing work-related stuff. Because I'm definitely not. I guess I just never really got into the whole "blog-culture" type thing. I mean, it comes and goes in phases for me. Not that I don't read other people's blogs, I just don't really spend much time on mine, mostly because I know hardly anybody reads it. (Which is just fine, as it's mostly for me at this point.)

So I'm moving into a new apartment [fingers crossed] next month with a new roommate. It's kind of sad, because I've been living in the same place for two years now -- the most I've lived in any place since I graduated from high school. Not that I don't like my landlord -- he's been a pretty good one, though he sometimes flies off the handle quickly, that characteristic is compensated by the fact that he co-wrote the song "You're Still the One." Yeah, the one that's in all the commercials. But I am glad to be moving into a place run by an association...and that has a pool.

But I've never lived with any person for more than one consecutive year. And my new roommate as of June will probably be leaving Nashville after a year. If it wasn't expensive to live by one's self in Nashville, I'd probably do that. But it's not that I've ever had a terrible situation with any of my roommates, that's just how it's worked out. I mean, there's one or two people I probably would've lived with for 2-3 years, had I not gone to Germany my junior year. But anyway...on to other stuff.

So I'm much more conscious about what I'm eating, drinking, how I'm exercising and my weight/physical appearance. Not that I'm doing anything to change it, I'm just more aware of all this stuff, now that I have a job where I'm mostly sedentary for eight hours a day. And not that I'm "fat", but I have gained some weight, which may or may not be good for a skin-and-bones guy like me. Although I believe some of this will be remedied by my new apartment, since instead of an 8-minute walk, I'll now have a 2.5-mile bike ride to work. And with gas where it is, the only way I won't ride my bike is if I take the bus.

I have to say, I'm kind of sad that I'm going back to star on my Master's this fall, though I'm also glad to be getting back to regular percussion lessons/reasons to play/etc. Of course, I have no idea what I'll do after that, but that's a long time from now. Right? Two years is a long time, isn't it???

I've got a pretty serious (somewhat-long-distance) girlfriend right now, who's graduating from college this year and looking for a job. It'd be amazing if she could find one here in Nashville, but we'll see. Being in a relationship like this makes me wonder -- what will we each (separately or otherwise...) be doing in two or three years? I know one of her "in the next five years or so" goals is to dance with a modern dance group in Ireland...I mean, I love Ireland...it wouldn't take much to convince me to go over there. Though I have no idea how I'd make a living, apart from bartending. (Which I think I actually might enjoy in Europe more than I would here.) And my ideal (and extremely lofty) goal is to be performing solo marimba/percussion with orchestras, in recitals, giving masterclasses and such. And the fact that attaining that goal by starting in Europe may actually be easier than here in the states is not lost on me.

Here's the thing that I know both of us know -- we're both serious about this relationship and would like to see it continue (far) into the future, which obviously includes the M word. And I know that someday, I want to do that. I just wonder - when is the "right time"? Will I know? I sometimes wish my previous relationship "experience" didn't make me hesitant about some of this, but that's all part of it. Could I see Autumn and I living together (and performing together?...that would be sweet!) for the rest of our lives? Definitely. Does she? Maybe...we haven't talked about that exact topic necessarily. But when is the right time? I obviously don't want to hinder her dance career in any way, and I really do want to get my Master's done as soon as I can, so that I can...umm...do whatever a performing percussionist does after getting his Master's degree.

And so what the hell is love anyway? I mean, I know what God's love is...in so much as it's something I'll never fully understand until I die. But is that what "love" - the married kind - should be? Unconditional? I mean, just as there are so many different intelligences (book smarts, creative, logical, practical, linguistic, etc.), I think there are also different loves. Love for a person's personality, a person's strengths and desires, a person's physicality (yes, I mean to have the hots for someone's body), and whatever else there might be. Should a marriage (Oh my God, I actually used the M word!!!) involve all of these? Should it be best out of three (out of five, seven, whatever)? I have no freakin clue.

And add to all this post-teen, post-college Angst (yeah, German-word-usage for the win!) the serious desire, and almost need to get a tattoo on my right, inner forearm. Not because I'm a rebel, or punk, or emo, or whatever demographic gets tattoos these days. Because I feel like I need a constant reminder that I should be trying my best to be a "man of Christ," a "Godly person;" someone who tries to do everything for the capital-g Glory of God. No, this isn't a rash decision -- I've been mulling this over constantly for a solid year. And I still know exactly what I want. And I'm not really worried about what most people will think (really just what Autumn would think, to be honest). Not that I don't care -- I do. But I think it will provide the chance for me to talk about my life and faith with people who ask about it. (If, no, when I get it, it'll be a Celtic cross with the words "Soli Deo Gloria" in a circle around the middle) And there used to be a time when tattoos didn't mean you were a good-for-nothing youth who rebelled against society or didn't care about anything -- they were symbols. I think they still are for people in the armed forces, and in other countries, and in some cultures. And I think that time may be coming back eventually. (Maybe.)

Gosh. I've got to stop or I'll go on for another hour. And I do have some actual work to do...here at work. :)

Peace

Audio-/Videophile

2008-01-21T01:00:00.001+01:00

So...I just finished testing out my new turntable (something that plays LPs, not something used by DJs for sound effects) with my new sound system I found on Craig's List. And man does it sound good. I popped in a little Beethoven and probably got even more excited than I did when I bought the sound system. Maybe it's because LPs are more physically and visually "interactive" than cassette tapes or 8-tracks were, but for whatever reason they're making a comeback, I'm glad to be helping said comeback. I'll have to find a comparable store here in Nashville, but I spent a good bit of money on some LPs at a store back home that mostly sells used CDs and LPs. Plus the collection of the complete works of Beethoven that I basically got for $10. 16-box set, with 4-5 LPs per box. And some others I've acquired here and there. I also can't wait to transfer them to digital files, as the turntable came with software and a USB cable with which to transfer the music.

I have recently been watching several movies. I think since Wednesday night, I've watched four and a half movies. Trainspotting, Russian Ark, The Bourne Ultimatum, part of Basic Instinct, and Run Lola, Run.

Trainspotting was a great movie, I just chose the wrong time to watch it (10:30pm, right before I went to bed). It was fairly messed up at times, but then it was a movie about heroin addicts. Ewan McGregor was incredible.
I had heard about Russian Ark, so I bought it on a whim. It's pretty much a concept movie. The concept is great and achieved beautifully, but the "story" is seriously lacking.
Obviously, The Bourne Ultimatum is awesome. I mean, I saw it when it came out anyway, but I hadn't gotten around to purchasing it until this past week.
Haven't finished Basic Instinct, so I'll pass judgment later...but it's kinda crazy so far.
And I've seen Run Lola, Run (or Lola Rennt) a few times already, but seriously needed to own it. So I watched it again tonight. In German without subtitles, of course!

Goodnight

Stupid

2008-01-11T23:56:00.000+01:00

Well, it probably wasn't a good idea to have thought about a lot of this (what follows) in the car, as it's never a good idea for me to drive angry.

I knew it would happen. I knew, back in November when I started my new job at the library. I was using the excuse -- for my own self -- that I wasn't regularly practicing yet because I was getting used to my new schedule, which was probably partly true. And then came Thanksgiving break, a couple weeks more and then Christmas and then New Years. And I knew that I would get back from Maine, not really practice for a week as I return to my work schedule and then realize I have less than a month to get ready for this concert. Not that I can't do it -- I learned one of the hardest pieces in the repertoire in three weeks last year. It just means I have to kick into overdrive and forget what it's like to sleep for 7-8 hours a night. I knew it would happen.

It makes me mad (and therefore made me mad as I was thinking about all this in the car) that I really want to be a performing marimbist on the level, if not above the level of Evelyn Glennie. Not that I don't admire her or respect her talent. I'm just saying. (I actually have a ticket to see her in Nashville with the symphony and am SUPER-PUMPED.) Like I was saying, it makes me mad that somehow I expect to achieve such a musical level, and spend much of my "free-time" doing other crap. Including playing way too much video games. Though DDR doesn't count, that's my exercise.

Plus, my girlfriend (which is funny to type, though I think we've decided that's what we are now...) is a dance major, who I know is working her butt off and I'm just dicking around. And then of course there are all the other college percussionists who are trying to do the same thing I am. I actually found a statistic (in the music library, of course) that in 2005, 201 people graduated from accredited music schools with a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance. Maybe 50-70 of those were mallet focused with the intention to go on? Anyway...I've got my work cut out for me and I just do jack shit. Sorry if I've offended anyone, I start cussing when I'm mad. I mean, I'm not sorry for saying it, since I mean it. Just sorry that you had to read it.

But I was also thinking a little bit along the lines of my future. I don't think I have to be super-awesome right now. Or even in 2 years. But then of course I hear stories of people like my professor who are seemingly the best in the world. (No really, he finished second in an international marimba comp. in 95...above all of the more-well known performers of the current day...) Anyway...my point is, if I'm 30 when I hit my "percussive-peak," as it were, that is probably okay.

If I could afford it (and could find such a place), I think I would get my own place that was just one big bedroom plus a kitchen and bathroom. That would pretty much force me to practice every free second I have since I don't own a television. Maybe I just need to somehow remind myself everyday to get my butt in gear. (I have seriously been considering a small tattoo on the inside of my right arm for a year or so now...but obviously haven't gotten it. Plus that wouldn't be the only reason if I did)

Anyway...I'm probably going to go to bed soon since I work in the morning...or maybe I'll practice some?? Nah, I think the combination of tired and pissed would not make it worthwhile. I've tried before.

Be good...

Musings on the new year

2008-01-10T21:26:00.000+01:00

It was weird going "home" to my parents over Christmas -- it really was like going on a vacation, since I only spent a few days there. I think Nashville really does feel like home to me at this point, which is why I'm glad that I'll probably stay here for at least a couple more years. I also visited my "lady-friend" up in Maine, which was pretty cool. Actually, it wasn't too cold but there was a TON of snow. Which was awesome.

I don't think I made any New Years resolutions. I mean, it is the start of a new year, but there's no more reason to resolve to do something on Jan. 1 than on Mar. 27. (which is a purely arbitrary date.)

However...I was glad that I had not yet registered to vote in Davidson County. I had planned to do so before I went home for Christmas, but never got around to it. Which is good, because this happened. Yay for Tennessee state officials. What a wonderful state I live in. I know, I just mentioned how Nashville is becoming my new home. Well, I love Nashville. Tennessee...that's another story. And here's another story about it from the Nashville Scene.

Now I'm not sure I feel so comfortable registering here. I guess I will have to at some point...but I'm going to make sure they're not idiots about it this time.

Peace

New job and such

2007-12-20T18:29:00.000+01:00

Man, it's been forever and a day since I wrote anything. The previous Dec entries don't count as they were actually written in September...I just finally got around to typing them up.

I've got an awesome new job that I really love...I just have to get used to it. I'm not really the kind of person who enjoys sitting for 8 hours at a time. I'd rather be on my feet for that long. And since I have my very own computer and at my very own desk, I have to force myself to not spend the whole time staring at the computer screen. Not that I don't have actual library-related work to do...I just don't have much right now, seeing as school got out a week ago and NOBODY is here. I think we've averaged maybe as much as 1 person per day in our section this week. Fortunately, I work in the media center = cds, dvds, etc.
I decided about three weeks ago that I would listen to the first CD in each box in the stacks, listening to at least one per day. And the 10,000+ CDs are in about 400 or so boxes. After I realized that, I've tried to do more than one a day. And my personal stipulation is that only if I've heard that exact recording will I skip to the next CD in that box. While the CDs are mostly "classical" CDs, we do have a very large collection of "popular" music CDs. Although it seems the library didn't really start collecting those until more recently...and since they're cataloged in the order we received them, I haven't gotten to much of those yet. But I've listened to music from Bach cantatas to a Bernstein opera (A Quiet Place), Sondheim's Into the Woods to 20th Century works for solo recorder, Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson, Mozart's choral works, and am currently listening to Milton Babbitt's piano works, performed by Robert Taub. (My 37th CD)

I'm also in the middle of applying for grad schools, with auditions in February, preparing for three different concerts in the Spring, thinking about a couple competitions, all while trying to relearn my four-mallet marimba technique. And I thought it was a good idea to take a year off from school. AHHH!!!

I recently joined the church I've been going to here in Nashville, Second Presbyterian. (and now I'm back from a lunch break and from doing some work.) I had been considering joining soon, seeing as I plan to stay in Nashville for a few more years when I was asked to be on a newly formed Discernment Task Force for the church. While I wasn't entirely certain what that might entail, I did agree to be a part of it, and therefore felt I should go ahead and join the church.

Tonight is the first meeting of the task force (that I'll be at, though they've only had a few meetings prior), and I'm not really sure what to expect. I don't know that I've ever done any intentional discernment for my own life, much less the life of an entire church. I suppose I have prayed specifically to have God show me how to make decisions impacting my future (college, relationships, churches), but I don't think I've ever just listened to see what God might be saying to me. From the way I understand it, that's sort of what this group's purpose is. I know they asked me to be a part of it partially because I'm young and I'm so new to the church that I have no biases/opinions about previous staff and I never attended before they opened the new facilities after the fire. (I was told that I never "suffered from the post-fire trauma," which would obviously have a serious impact on how someone views the life of the church.)

I guess I'm just worried that I'm going to be that one guy that doesn't really do much or contribute much. My personal prayer life, historically, comes and goes in phases, and I've recently been in the "don't-really-pray-that-much-unless-I-need-something" phase. I know I should pray regularly anyway, if I want to improve my relationship with God (which I do) or find out what the heck I'm supposed to do with my life. And I really do yearn to pray every day, I just don't make good on that yearning. I'll blame it on my self-diagnosed EDD (Easily Distracted Disorder). I felt like the opportunity to join the task force was God's way of saying "You want to be more involved in the church? Here you are, help determine the church's identity and future." What a sense of humor. Maybe it's also God's way of getting me to go to him more often, as I already feel I'm going to have to be doing that a lot more as a part of this group.

Man, I thought writing out how I felt about this DTF would help me become less nervous about the meeting tonight...and now I'm even more nervous. Whatever...I'm gonna finish this Milton Babbitt CD and then put on some John Rutter.

Peace

One last entry...

2007-12-03T16:57:00.000+01:00

Sept. 11, 2007
3:30 pm

After I finished venting about my room-and-board situation I was too tired to write any more at the time. But I've found some tables and chairs in a park, with what I think is a parcheesi board made into the table. Or some board game.

I'm still trying to figure out what I think about Frankfurt. It seems to be an actually very beautiful city, one that has done a good job of mixing the old with the new. I do like the skyline as seen from the Main, and really enjoy the skyscrapers themselves. Much, much different from Dresden, but attractive in its own way.

As much as I love the Frauenkirche in Dresden, I find some of the churches here more beautiful, more moving; I feel a stronger personal connection to the St. Katharinenkirche then to the Frauenkirche or many of the Italian churches I recently saw. I find it more meaningful to have rebuilt the churches, but in slightly different styles. I also like how many of the churches here have mixed old artworks with newer, more contemporary works. Maybe the Calvinist in me prefers the lack of Renaissance or Baroque styling inside the church.

One aspect of German churches that I much prefer over the Italian churches is the organ. (As a side note, I think I'm watching a drug deal...) Huge cathedrals (I use that term freely, though I know it has some technical meaning in the Cath. church) like St. Peter's have organs smaller than some small churches in the U.S.! (...continuing the side note, I believe it's something that requires a tourniquet) But I suppose the Germans have much more of a heritage of organ music than the Italians.

Well...I believe I'm going to stop here as I don't want the "druggies" to think I've been watching them. Though they're certainly not in a concealed location...

Alan

What a trip

2007-12-03T16:44:00.000+01:00

Sept. 11, 2007
Frankfurt am Main

Well, it wasn't until I wrote it down that I realized what today was. Anyway...I'm tired.

After flying from Rome to Berlin and taking the train from Berlin to Frankfurt, I had a small problem. I couldn't find my hostel. I followed the listed directions, slightly surprised at the lack of warning that I had to walk through what appeared to be Frankfurt's red-light district, only to find either a casino or a differently-named hotel that must be reached by first going through an adult video store (there were no numbers on either, but one should have been the address I was looking for). As I had no intention of entering either of these locations, I went back to the train station to hope for some information. I also called what should have been my hostel, to find it was a hostel in Köln. The receptionist there (once I explained my problem) was kind enough to search for a service number for the company through which I booked it to find -- of course -- nothing. After I checked a couple more times to make sure I hadn't missed it -- and passing all the strip clubs again in the process -- I checked the train station's "hotel monitor" or whatever it's called -- a list of various hotels w/lights to indicate vacancy. Just my luck, no vacancy. I went to the only other hostel I'd seen -- all full. Thankfully and finally, the Best Western had one room left, and it was available for two nights. When the receptionist told me it was going to be four times as expensive as the hostel, I was a little disappointed, but too tired to care. It was too late when I realized what she had told me was per night. Whatever - I doubt I could have found much better last minute. But I'm hoping for a refund for the cost of the hotel, minus what I would have paid at the hostel I had booked.

Anyway, it's not too cold, so I'm going to enjoy the rest of my day in Frankfurt.

Tschüß!

Alan

[Dec. 3, 2007. Note: I still have hardly had any progress with the booking service - HostelBookers.com. If anyone else out there in cyberspace had the same problem -- I know I'm not the only person who booked a room at the Hostel Les Amis in Frankfurt in September -- let me know if they told you anything or refunded your money.]

Back again...

2007-12-03T16:35:00.000+01:00

Sept. 9, 2007

Well, I thought it'd be fun to end this Italian journey where I started. I'm outside at the very restaurant where I first ate dinner and journalled the start of said journey. Well, it wasn't as much intentional as when I first came here I didn't know where I was, and I just happened upon it this afternoon as I was leaving my hostel.

Now that I'm done w/my pasta, I'm just waiting on the worst waiter in the world (compared to European standards, not American) to come buy so I can finally eat some tiramisu -- something I have not yet done the whole twelve days I've been in Italy. Though as it's been 10 minutes since I signaled him to come over.

Well...after I finally got it, it was delicious. But, I have to pay and go sleep. I guess I'll write more about the trip tomorrow on the plane and/or train.

Alan

Not this time...

2007-12-03T16:18:00.000+01:00

Sept. 6, 2007

Well, at least I got a trip to Italy. And yes, it was a very good experience. I didn't make it past the first round this time. I was actually a bit surprised at the final score, though I knew my last piece didn't go as well as I had hoped. Next time I come here (two years, maybe?) I'm going to be more well-prepared so that I at least make it to the final round (of three), if not win. Ambitious? One has to be if one expects to one day tour the world performing with orchestras such as the Gewandhausorchester, the New York Phil, and to be giving solo recitals. (And to somehow make a living doing this!)

Anyway, I had fun and have met a lot of people and made some friends. I am looking forward to speaking with Mark Ford about his piece and "comparing notes" as it were. I'm pretty sure I was the only one who played it, thought I don't know because I didn't listen to anyone else. That's the thing -- I didn't want to listen to anyone before me because many people were playing the same piece. I didn't want to listen to five different versions of a piece and then have to play it! And since I was last, I didn't hear anyone after me. It worked out alright since I can't say "How did they score higher? I played better than them!" because I don't know how "they" played.

Well this hasn't cleared my mind of all the various negative thoughts I'm having right now, so I've got to go do something else. Someone once told me that I can "Solve all my problems with beer," sooo...just kidding. Italians aren't really known for their beer anyway.

Ciao

Fermo, Italy

2007-10-11T17:11:00.000+02:00

Sept. 3, 2007

Well, I'm sitting on my hotel room's porch at basically the highest point in Fermo, Italy. I'm sorry I won't be staying here throughout the entire competition, especially because it's a five-minute walk (downhill) to the Conservatorio.

I had some real anxiety for a few hours after I got here -- and I'm sure the trip itself contributed to that -- partly because I'm just nervous, having never participated in a competition like this before, and partly because not everyone speaks at least a little English, like in Rome. But, I got some practice time in, registered for the comp., more or less, and then hung out with three Italians who are also competing, though in a different category. Only one of them can really speak English, so he sometimes did translation. But I also tried to listen carefully and was able to pick out some words here and there.

So the only things that are still gettin' me down are the fact that I'll be in this hotel one more night, and the fact that I can't write at length without my wrist and finger muscles tightening. And this is one week I really don't want to hurt my wrist.

Ciao,

Alan

...oddly enough, this is now the fourth consecutive journal entry I've typed up on here, so I'm going to stop at this point to keep from hurting my hands. :)

Eating again...

2007-10-11T17:05:00.000+02:00

August 31, 2007

I suppose while sitting and waiting for one's food is as good a time as any to write. Of course, I managed to find one of few German restaurants (=non-Beck's German beer). Though I suppose it's location is partly due to the nearness of the "Casa di Goethe"

(food's here, I'll finish later)

So anyway, I enjoyed visiting where Goethe stayed while he was in Rome -- a lot of the sketches of a Rome of nearly 200 years ago -- an unexcevated forum, a Capitoline hill without the Vittorio Emmenuele II monument, and so on. Yesterday, I did a self-guided "Ancient Rome" walking tour that took most of the day and covered the Roman forum, the Pantheon (one of my favorites), the imperial forums, the Piazza Navona and some old temples and churches.

I forgot how much fun it was to people watch over here ("here" being tourist places in Europe). Americans are usually the easiest to pick out, and I can, with a fair degree of accuracy, pick out Germans as well. I'm starting to learn how to discern Italians, Brits and the French as well, though I'll give the excuse that I haven't (yet) lived in any of those countries. My first judgement is based on the shoes (95% -- this is how I find Americans), then below-the-waist clothing -- shorts, jeans, slacks, capri (women & men), skirts, dresses, etc. -- then hairstyle, above-the-waist clothing -- especially if it has text of some kind -- and then sometimes facial structure, though even in Europe -- where a German family is possibly 20th generation German, etc. -- that doesn't always work.

A new journey

2007-10-11T16:55:00.000+02:00

Aug. 29, 2007

Rome, Italy

Well, I seem to make a habit of "journaling" when I go eat somewhere. I'm going to wait and see how I feel at the end of the trip, but I very well may come to the conclusion that traveling alone -- for sight-seeing purposes -- is over-rated. Don't get me wrong -- I'm having fun and I know I will the rest of the trip, I just think it would all be more exciting with a friend or two or three.

Of course, the competition will be very different from my time here in Rome...but that'll be another story.

I'll be back later,

Alan

Chicago

2007-10-11T16:51:00.000+02:00

July 15, 2007

Well, here I am in Evanston, Illinois. Just north of Chicago, I'm here visiting Northwestern Univ./participating in a week-long seminar at NU. I just got here today and actually really like Evanston so far. And just because I'm still baffled that you can have sandy beaches and endless water in the middle of the country doesn't mean I enjoy it any less -- at least in the summer... (dinner's here)

And, I never finished writing that entry or wrote anything else the whole week. I was pretty busy. What, with going to seminars in the mornings and afternoons, plus hanging out in Evanston and Chicago...PLUS finishing reading Harry Potter 5 & 6 before 7 came out the Friday night before I left. Yep, I had reserved a copy of HP and the Deathly Hallows at a bookstore in Evanston. Though I didn't read any after I picked it up (I had to finish book 6 first...for which I fell asleep around 4 that morning), I read the first 250 pages that day between plane flights and bus rides. Then I sat down on Sunday around 6pm and stood up three times -- once to eat dinner, once to answer a phone call from a "lady-friend," and once to go to the bathroom. I finished the book 5am on Monday morning. :)

Anyway...I'll be posting some entries from my trip to Italy/Germany today and soon...along with some pictures, I believe.

Spring Break in the Mountains

2007-03-10T06:19:00.000+01:00

March 5, 2007
Boone, NC

So the last time I took a few days to just travel and relax, I was several thousand miles away, specifically in Austria. I had also "planned" to watch the sunset from the castle at the top of Salzburg, just as I had "planned" to watch the sunrise today from an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt. Pisgah in North Carolina. (Food's here...and now I'm done.)

I guess it was about 3pm yesterday when I decided to spend today driving around the Blue Ridge Mountains. I had previously decided that I wanted to spend a couple days just driving -- and to avoid interstates as much as possible. To be honest, it was partly inspired by the movie "Cars", which I saw over Christmas.

Due to the late hour at which I finally left yesterday, -- ca. 7pm, Central time -- I did drive on I-40 to get to the truck stop where I spent the night in western North Carolina. From the time I left the truck stop -- 5:15 am -- to now, I've intentionally avoided interstates and even major US-Highways.

So after I left this morning, I drove forty-five minutes or so to the entrance onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, only to find that it was closed due to weather. (And thus, the "problem" alluded to in the first paragraph is resolved -- I did not see the sunset in Salzburg because it was too cold and started raining.) Driving towards Asheville, I found an entrance onto the Parkway...that lasted about four miles before I was re-directed onto I-40 (ugh). The detour was supposed to stay on the highway for 30 miles -- I exited after ten miles and have spent the rest of the day going back and forth between the Parkway and two-lane, switchback highways. Though I was slightly disappointed that the Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor's Center was closed, I spent at least an hour on various trails along the Parkway.

Well, I'm sure the waitress is tired of me taking up her booth, and I want to get on the road shortly so I can spend the night at home before I drive back to Nashville tomorrow -- on smaller roads, of course!

Signed, Alan

Finally!

2006-10-30T02:56:00.000+01:00

So, I finally got a date! This journal entry has been a long time coming – not in that I’ve been working on it for months, but that it’s been months since I sat down to write something that wasn’t for a class. And the fact that I got a date seemed to merit an entry.

Yes, I’m back in the States. And I’ve been here for about three-and-a-half months. I flew home a week after my last journal entry, and went straight to work. After working three band camps (each a week long) starting the day after my flight home, I finally got a couple weeks to relax. And by relax, I mean do nothing. Yes, nothing. I didn’t even unpack my stuff from Germany until the week I had to return to Nashville – and then I of course had to repack stuff to move here into my apartment. Somewhere in there was the ending of an engagement, but I’ve come to realize that God has other plans for me. If she really is the one, God’ll put us back together when the time is right, and if not, I’ll find the right one eventually. Or maybe I could just be a bachelor forever…heh heh heh…

But anyway, I’m totally stress-free right now thanks to the fact that we just had our percussion ensemble concert last night – which went awesomely well. Classes? What are those? I have a test tomorrow, but I’m not worried. Classes aren’t what’s important in the college experience. Especially as a music major. I can’t wait until grad school when I’ll be able to practice eight hours a day…I wish I could do that now. But that’s what I’ll be doing over Christmas break, to get ready for my senior recital.

And one of my roommates and I have been trying to casually date for the past couple months. He’s been successful, I haven’t. Until today. He’s 2 for 3, I’m 1 for 10. We weren’t originally keeping track, but getting the first date – a concert by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra at the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center (incredibly awesome if you haven’t been yet) – was somewhat of a fiasco. My roommate got his date on the first try. After six girls, I still didn’t have one. Though it wasn’t that they didn’t want to, they just had already planned something for that night. However, the worst part was that my backup date (a guy friend of mine who had said he’d go if I didn’t get a date) assumed I would get one and actually made plans for the evening. So after six girls, and a backup date, my backup backup date (a fellow percussionist) was able to go. Naturally, I’m thrilled that I finally have a date. We’ll be going swing dancing, and maybe dinner or something else fun.

I’d love to write in here more often, and I may just do that as the semester winds down. Which is crazy to think of, since it’s my last fall semester as an undergraduate. And I say that with excitement and satisfaction.

Peace

“I never let my schooling interfere with my education.”
— Mark Twain

Ich fahre nach Berlin!

2006-07-11T13:01:00.000+02:00

July 9, 2006
07:15
Train to Berlin

Well, I wasn't about to press my luck any further. For the fourth time in my 21 1/2 year lifetime, I've been in the same country as a World Cup Finale. Granted, I was only nine when the 1994 World Cup was in the States, but in both 1999 & 2003 was the Women's World Cup in the US. So here I am, on the way to the Fan Mile in Berlin to both celebrate the German win and to watch today's game. After last night's game, it seems like the German land is back to its "normal" football-crazed self. Although there weren't quite as many people on the streets last night as I had expected (and seemingly fewer than after the game against Argentina), there certainly where people partying in the streets. I was even asked by someone if they could have my German flag so they could party too. And since I'm just too damn nice sometimes, I gave it to them. It's not a huge deal -- it was cheap, and the bottom stripe was very orange, instead of gold. Though I imagine I'll find one somewhere before noon. That's when the German team shows up at the FanFest. Well I'm going to see if I can get some rest amidst the clinking beer bottles (yes, at seven in the morning on a Sunday) and two airhorns I've heard so far in the train.

1990 + 1974 - 1954 = 2010.

Das deutsche Land schweigt...

2006-07-05T01:07:00.000+02:00

Fourth of July -- 2006
24:20 (ok, it's 00:20 on the 5th, but whatever)
5th Floor Window Sill
Listening to: the few Germans who still have the spirit to sing. (Or maybe they're Italians...)

Well, on the 230th anniversary of the founding of my native land, I felt less like an American and more like a native German. I had been meaning to write about how the spirit of the World Cup and football in general had really got a hold of me. I didn't realize just how "die-hard" I was until this evening. I have naturally been rooting for Germany the entire time: I've actually seen at least half of the first two matches and every entire match that they've played since then. Though I certainly didn't know much about football -- in Europe or the US -- I've learned very quickly and grown to love the German team -- especially Lehmann, Klose, Neuville. Jürgen Klinsmann, however, has my utmost adoration. Of all the coaches that I've seen in this World Cup, he is by far my favorite.

Which all brings me to this: when the Germans beat Argentina, I thought it was a little much when I saw the fans in the stadium crying. However, had I been in the stadium in Dortmund this evening, I probably would have shed a tear or two for the German team. I didn't know what it meant to be a football fan before this year -- and now I am one. It was somewhat tragic this evening as I walked home wearing the German flag around my neck, flags on my face and the only black red and gold shirt I own. Instead of getting honked at, waved at, yelled at and sung to, I managed to get one weak smile.

Well, I believe I truly have done my current home country pround, but it's time now to sleep off this sadness.

--Peace--

Tallinn and...well, who knows.

2006-07-03T23:21:00.000+02:00

29.06.2006
18:00
Dorm Bed
Listening to: Kronos Quartet play Philip Glass

So, I spent last weekend in Tallinn and Helsinki, right? It's not that simple. I'll see if I can get all the important details down. We spent the first day being shown around Tallinn by the son of the people we stayed with. And "we" is Brandon & I -- I didn't want to go all by myself. After getting the brief tour of the Old Town, we had a drink in Estonia's first pub. Though that's not exactly an incredible experience, as it's eight years younger than I am -- It opened after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1993. We then went and hung out with our "tour guide" and some of his friends. It was nice that we were staying with an Estonian family and got to hang out with 'real' Estonian people. Much more openly-friendly thatn the Germans (not really hard to accomplish). Not that I don't like German people, they just keep to themselves much more if you don't already know them (and sometimes if you do).

Well, that was as far as I got. Laundry, hunger, boredom and unwillingness stopped me from moving forward with the trip. I just haven't really felt like writing about it. And I don't feel like writing about travelling and meeting people from foreign countries, my reaction to how dull Helsinki is (in comparison to places like Tallinn or Prague), or about the World Cup craze and how I will most likely travel to Berlin for the final match.

That's it for now -- I don't know how many more of these will appear before I disappear from the European Continent. A sad thought, but there it is.

--Peace--

7 & 7

2006-07-03T23:17:00.000+02:00

Sunday, June 25, 2006
13:05
Boat on the Baltic Sea
Listening to: "Girl from Ipanema" by crappy 'Live-band' (who has an added drum track apart from the drummer)

Well, I'm currently on a boat going back to Tallinn, Estonia from Helsinki, Finland. I never thought I'd visit so many countries in so little time, but here I am. Before August of last year, I had been to 7 countries (with Engl. & Scot. as two and counting the Vatican separate from Italy). Since then, I've been to seven more. This is the last trip I'll take before I head back to the States. I sometimes feel like I've been in Europe for ages, sometimes like it was only a month ago that I got off a plane in Munich. It's quite bittersweet, actually. I am very excited to go home to be with my friends, family, and dog. Yet I will miss Dresden -- the friends, the school, the city, the cheap (but very good) German beer. I don't know when I'll be back -- though I hope very soon -- but I know I will never be able to do anything like this again in my life.

Well, this started out as a description of this trip up to this point, but it's evolved a little differently. I'm going to stop before I get too emotional.

--Peace--

The hills are alive...

2006-06-08T18:24:00.000+02:00

5.6.06
Festung Hohensalzburg (a castle) overlooking hills
6:00 p.m.
Listening to: Church bells of Salzburg -- including the famous glockenspiel (as in orchestra bells) excerpt from Mozart's Magic Flute.

Well, I just finished listening to the hills being alive with music. Though I wonder, if Rodgers & Hammerstein called some of these bad boys hills, what would they have called a mountain?

I don't know why I never sat down and wrote before this year. It's especially relaxing when on a whirlwind trip through Austria. It helps that I'm sitting in a castle overlooking the city, and that I have done absolutely no planning for this trip (except for transp. & housing). But I don't know that I would have had as much fun if I had planned to go to various museums, churches, castles, whatever. I don't care that I spent, at the most, 23 hours in either Vienna, Graz or Salzburg. Half the fun really is in the journey itself. Hmm...and it's beginning to sprinkle, so I'll put this away for now.

Well, that didn't last very long. So, I'm back, trying to figure out what to write, though I don't necessarily have to write anything.

One thing I've learned since I've been here is that we all need a time of peacefulness for ourselves, and the different ways in which I achieve that for myself. One of them is sitting outside, enjoying both God- and man-made creations, not doing anything. You notice so much more of your surroundings when you do this, and you have plenty of time to think about one thing at a time -- or about nothing at all. Well, I've got two more hours up here before the sun goes down, and the church bells are ringing again to tell everyone to come to 7pm Pfingsten Montag (Pentecost Monday) Mass. So I'm done for now.

Peace.

p.s. -- I only stayed up for another 30-45 minutes. It was too cold and I never saw an end to the clouds. Which was good -- it started raining as I got near the bottom of the hill.

Travelling through life

2006-06-08T17:55:00.000+02:00

5.6.06
12:05
Train to Salzburg

I love travelling. If I had things my way, I would travel all my life. I get to see new places and meet new people. Most importantly, I have lots of time to think about stuff. (If I feel like thinking.) I've been trying to figure out what I'm going to be doing in a couple years when I 1. get my Bachelor's and 2. get my Master's. One thing I have decided, is to start a chamber ensemble that performs primarily new music. After spending the last eight months playing new music written by composition students at the Hochschule for small ensembles of 9 musicians or less, I would love to continue doing that on a regular basis. I already have the scores to several of these pieces I played -- to perform them well, you have to know what's going on in the other musicians' parts as well. I would love to play some of these pieces from German and Korean (studying at the Hochschule) students, from students in Nashville, and to commission works as well.

Aside from this, I think I may take further conducting lessons either next year or while I complete my Master's. I've really enjoyed taking it here in a small group environment and I really think I would enjoy conducting an ensemble. I don't know that it will ever be my end goal, but I would like to have the knowledge, should the opportunity arise. Well I'm enjoying my seat next to the huge window to much to keep writing. I didn't think I'd ever see mountains better than those in Scotland (though granted, I've never seen the real Scottish Highlands up north), but I think I like these in Austria a little bit better.

Peace

Two additions now that I'm typing it up.
1. After thinking about it more, I think the reason I liked the Aust. mtns. better was partially due to the typical Austrian houses that pepper the landscape.
2. After being in Salzburg for a brief time, I realized why the name "Bad Gastein" had stuck out to me when we passed through it on the train. It is assumed that Franz Schubert wrote part of his Symphony No. 8 in C (mentioned in the previous entry) in Bad Gastein. How even more appropriate that I was studying it on the train.

Viennese Coffee and Composers

2006-06-07T12:25:00.000+02:00

4.6.06
Vienna, Austria
Hotel Sacher Café

Well I don't know that I'll write about the concert I saw in the Wiener Musikverein last night. Wiener Mozart Orchester -- 19€. It was arguably the worst concert I've seen in Europe. Thanks Vienna, the Home of Classical Music. But, like I said, I won't be writing about it. I'm currently enjoying a piece of the world famous Sacher Torte. It's definitely more than worth the 4.50 Euros. I was debating whether the seven-euro Sacher Kaffee (coffee) was worth it or not, but after finishing the shot of Sacher Likör (liquor) that comes with it, (the waiter only poured half of it in the coffee) it's most definitely worth it. That's the only kind of alcohol I've ever had that's better than Bailey's. And the atmosphere & courtesy of the wait-staff is even better than described on the Internet. I was going to study for my conducting exam some more, but my pencil ran out of lead. But what better place to study a Schubert symphony (No. 8 in C) than in Vienna, Austria?

So I realized yesterday, that I'm not necessarily all that different from composers & performers from a couple hundred years ago. (Well, sort of) I always thought, "It's so cool that they all wrote about their travels and such, how come nobody does that anymore?" Duh. Granted, I'm no compositional genius, nor am I a virtuoso performer, but I'm travelling around Europe writing about both musical and non-musical experiences. Well, I'm about done with my torte, and I need to catch my train to Graz in about an hour, so I'll end this here.

The beginning of a whirlwind...

2006-06-06T18:52:00.000+02:00

Saturday, June 3, 2006
11:32 p.m.
Vienna, Austria; hostel

Well, today was interesting. The cheapest way to travel within & to & from Germany is with mitfahrgelegenheit.de, a carpool organizing website. It's also often faster than taking a train. But not always...

So I was going to be picked up by people coming from Leipzig at 7:00 am. They had said that they'd call when they where half-an-hour out, and that they might leave earlier. So, having taken a shower the night before, I woke up at 5:30. This would have given me enough time, had they called at 6:00. Well, at 6:30, I decided to go ahead to the mtg. pt., even though they hadn't called. Well, at 7:00 am, [This is where I fell asleep, so the rest was written the next day] they called and said they were 20 min. away. Well, I don't know if there are other ways to get from Dresden to Prague, but the first hour & a half was spent on backroads -- much of which was mountains. We had a average speed of 40 miles per hour.

Day Trips in Europe

2006-06-06T18:16:00.000+02:00

21.5.2006
Much too early for a Sunday a.m.
HfM Aula
Listening to: Live rehearsal of Wolfgang Hufschmidt's Meißner Te Deum.

Well, I didn't wake up at 7:30 just to hear a rehearsal, I just don't have to play at the moment.

At the end of last week's episode, Alan and Brandon were on a train halfway between Hamburg, Germany and Tønder, Denmark. If you remember correctly, our two heroes had been delayed by evil train engineers and train schedules. However, these setbacks had not affected their resolve to spend a day in Denmark. Ähm, so anyway, we eventually got to Tonder at about 2:15. Oh that's right -- we took a bus from Niebüll to Tonder, which apparently drove by the school. Except for the driver, we were the oldest by at least five years, and ten years older than the average age.

15:26
Well, I was going to say we "made a pause", then I realized no one says that in Englisch. We took a break, and then I had to play the rest of the rehearsal. And now I'm in the middle of a break for another rehearsal, so this is all I can write for now.

12:25, Montag
--Well, it's already the next day, and I still haven't finished writing about Denmark. Like I said, we got there at about 2:15 p.m. We went and got some lunch, wondering why the town was so empty. Well, turns out that we had picked a Danish national holiday to visit Tonder. (And reh. almost over, so I still can't finish. However, I'm not going to write when I'm doing this anymore -- that'd take half the journal entry.) So we walked around the very small town of Tonder, visited the museum (the one thing that was open), and then went back to Niebüll to get dinner. The best part of the vening was when our waitress and another at the café hit on us. Not that we were interested, but it was reassuring that somebody in Germany thought we were strapping young men.

The point of writing this journal entry was to write about "Day trips in Europe," right? Well, two weekends ago (it's now 3.6.2006), I took a day trip to Switzerland and Russia. And Austria, Italy, Portugal, Greece, etc. . . Ok, I went to Europa Park in Baden-Württemberg. It's a lot like Epcot in the fact that it's got sections on all the Eur. countries, a geodesic sphere with a (real roller-coaster) ride inside, and a mouse for a mascot. (not even joking.) So any, I don't feel like writing all that I had originally intended. I just want to start the next one.

It's not about where you're going...

2006-05-16T00:07:00.000+02:00

12.5.06
Zug nach Niebüll (Train to Niebüll, small town in northern Germany)
11:09

Well, this is already the trip to top all trips. We left Dresden yesterday on a train to Hamburg that was already ten minutes late. When we arrived in the Berlin Ostbahnhof, we were told that somebody had jumped on the tracks in Berlin-Spandau (on our route) and that we didn't know how long it would be before we left again. Thirty minutes, a free water and a free orange juice later, we started up again. Shortly after our stop in Wittenberge, we received word that a second person had jumped on the tracks somewhere ahead of us. We drove very slowly for about twenty minutes. Since we were so late and it was so late at night, we made two extra stops for passengers who wouldn't otherwise be able to get where they were going. One more free drink and a voucher for twenty percent off a ticket puchase later, we arrived in Hamburg sixty-five minutes after we were supposed to.

What I find interesting is the reaction or rather, the non-reaction to the fact that two people killed themselves. The reaction in our train car was either nothing, or a bit of exasperation at the fact that the train would be delayed. It's not that the German people are mean and inconsiderate, they've just become conditioned to people committing suicide on the train tracks. Then of course, there was laughter when the stewardesses (what are they called on trains?) made the same announcements in English. "We have a people on the line" and "There is a crazy person on the tracks."

As for now, we're on our way to Tønder, Danmark. (No, that's not a typo, that's how the country is spelled in Danish.) We were supposed to take a train at 8:20 to Elmshorn, switch trains to Niebüll, then a bus across the border and into Tønder. I had assumed we'd be able to buy tickets on the train like I've done before -- since we were cutting it close on time. Well, not on this train. One hour and some breakfast later, we got on the Hamburg-Kiel train. After we got off at Elmshorn, we found that our next train didn't come every hour, but every two. One hour and a little tour of Elmshorn later, we left Elmshorn -- thirty minutes before we were originally going to arrive in Tønder. Though if it weren't for the fact that tickets weren't sold in our intended train, I never would have seen how much Elmshorn looks like my hometown in east Tennessee. The combination of turn of the [19th-20th] Century (and older in Elmshorn) buildings and buildings from the 50s and 60s is quite unique (at least to me), but it looked just like home.

So, one hour and one journal entry later, we still have ninety minutes before we reach Tønder. Didn't somebody famous say something like "It's not about the destination, but the roads you take to get there"? I'll find the real quote when I type this up.

Tschüß!

P.S. -- Just a quick addition: We just made a longer stop than normal in Lugen so the police could escort five young, drunk guys off the train.

P.P.S. -- I'm writing this "now" -- as in, May 15. There will hopefully be at least a little bit more about the trip.

Lost Causes

2006-05-15T23:56:00.000+02:00

Monday, May 15, 11:54 p.m.

Well...so much for writing about all the different movies I saw 5 weeks ago. Just for fun, here they are.

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2. This Is Spinal Tap
3. The Incredibles
4. Breakfast at Tiffany's
5. Lola Rennt (Run Lola, Run)
6. Schindler's List

They're all marvelous movies. I'll say something brief about each one.
1. This movie was lots of fun to watch -- the story is still great, even if it's way different from the book.
2. Simply hilarious. I don't know tons about British rock music so I imagine there were a few jokes that I missed...but it was still just absolutely hilarious.
3. GREAT film. Like David Carridine's character in Kill Bill 2 said about why the story of Superman sticks out above the other superheroes -- it's great because these people were born superheroes, always are superheroes, and will die superheroes. They're not some rich guy like Bruce Wayne whose secret identity is Batman. Rather, their alternate identity is their everyday characters, their Clark Kent, if you will. Ok, I just got all serious and deep on a Pixar film...it's just a great movie.
4. Um, so I'm in love with Audrey Hepburn. 'Nuff said.
5. There aren't a lot of movies where you have to stop and pick your jaw up off the floor. This is the only one I've seen that makes you do that twice. It really is an adrenaline rush.
6. Wow. Talk about some serious stuff. Though I must admit, it wasn't until the VERY end when the tears began.

Ok, now it's time to type up my other journal entry that I wrote this past weekend. Enjoy!

Six Films in Seven Nights

2006-04-04T20:47:00.000+02:00

Well, this will be a brief entry (and not like my previous "short" entry).

Along with the various junkmail I got last week, there was a flyer about the video store having a special where every DVD costs only €0.50 per day. (Normally 1.00, 1.50 for new releases...though that's still not that expensive). The deal lasts from April 1-7. Well, I have decided to take advantage of this deal. Since they weren't open on Sunday (and I didn't think to get another one), I'll have (hopefully) watched six films by Friday night. And I think I'm going to only watch movies I haven't seen before. As I go along, I think I'll be writing my thoughts about each one I (have) watch(ed). Here's how it looks so far.

#1 -- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (I only saw it in German...so that didn't count as having seen it).
#2 -- This is Spinal Tap
#3 -- The Incredibles
#4-7 -- To Be Announced.

And I probably should have posted about my family visiting me...but I've been busy, and just haven't felt like writing in general.

Well, I couldn't decide between these two quotes, so I'll put 'em both in.

"Most of us do not consciously look at movies."
--Roger Ebert

"There are two things you can't argue in film: comedy and eroticism. If something doesn't make you laugh, no one can tell you why it's funny, and it's difficult to reason someone out of an erection."
--Roger Ebert

2006-03-12T15:10:00.000+01:00

Sunday, March 12, 2006
3:10 p.m.
Dorm room

Well, this will be a short entry. This is actually the first entry in a long time (or maybe ever) that I've written straight into the "New Blog Entry" form. I mostly wanted to post the joke that you'll find at the bottom of this entry. But aside from that, I suppose I could talk about Venice a little bit...

It was lots of fun. We were only there for two nights -- really just a day and a half -- but it was still worth it. Our hostel wasn't too expensive, but more importantly, it was located in the actual main part of Venice, just a short walk from the Venezia S. Lucia train station. We did the typical touristy stuff: took the "bus" all the way down the Grand Canal, went into St. Mark's Basilica, went to the top of the bell tower in St. Mark's Square, fed the pigeons in St. Mark's Square (without being pooped on, somehow!), ate italian pasta and tiramisu, and rode on a gondola. (That's where the above picture was taken from.) We of course did some touristy shopping and stuff and just walked around the city. It was awesome.

The one crappy part about it was when we went to lunch -- the place we went to looked like about mid-range prices, but it wasn't too expensive considering it was right on the square. Before we ordered our main food, the waiter asked if we wanted anything for appetizer -- he said they had a plate of king prawns that was good. Though I didn't ask how much it cost (and should have) I figured since it was only one plate and an appetizer, it couldn't be too expensive. And besides, it's not everyday you go to Venice, so it won't hurt to indulge a little more than normal. Well...he brought out two plates of big shrimp -- one for each -- and a basket of bread. Since he only brought one basket of bread, I figured they had simply split the plate of shrimp into two since there were two of us. Boy was I wrong. When we got the check at the end, I found out that we had apparently ordered two plates of the appetizer -- which cost a whopping €15.50 each. Well more than our individual entrees. We obviously didn't order dessert, nor leave with a smile on our faces. But, you live and you learn, right?

So that's it for now. (Turned out longer than expected...like usual) LiveJournal user sanuyegrey has a link to what's probably the best blonde joke I've ever seen.

It's a small world after all...

2006-03-03T15:42:00.000+01:00

Thursday, March 2, 2006
4:28 p.m.
Listening to: Wir sind daheim, Moritz Eggert. (what I’m playing tonight)

Normally I don’t title my blogs until after I’ve copied and pasted them into the form here at blogger.com. Mainly because I don’t think about it, but also because the title entry box is separate from the rest. But this one came to me earlier as I was thinking about all the stuff I will be writing on, and it just fits. Which is also why I’m listening to something as crazy as Eggert’s chamber opera – anything to get that other song out of my head. Let’s see, where to begin…

The world has been gradually getting smaller, and I’m realizing that to an intense degree. And it’s all to blame on the Internet. Thanks Al Gore, for inventing it. Seriously though, I’ve become parts of many different online communities while over here. It all started last October before the semester had started here. I really didn’t have anything to do – I didn’t know how I went about getting into practice rooms, so I couldn’t practice. I didn’t know but 5 people – two of which were in the same position as myself (as in lost exchange student), three who are from Germany and were exchange students back home.

So anyway, I spent time wandering the streets at day and wandering the internet at night. After I began posting some of my pictures of Dresden on Flickr, I found some Dresden groups, and even added a few of my pics into these groups. I somehow managed to be invited to a Blogger meeting on the first Sunday in Advent, although I was invited because of my Flickr account, not my blog. Anyway, I went and enjoyed meeting other Dresdners and even spoke a little German. Since then, I’ve gone to two solely Flickr meetings with many of those people. Lots of fun. And while I don’t usually say very much – because I’m naturally shy, plus couldn’t carry on an intelligent discussion about the technical aspect of photography in English, much less German – I do enjoy being able to listen to the language and try to soak up what I can. There’s actually another meeting this evening, but depending on my performance, I may or may not be able to go. However, if it weren’t for the internet, I know for a fact I never would have meet any of these people – people with whom I expect to keep up contact at least through Flickr once I return to the US. Aside from this group of Dresdners, I’ve also gotten to know a few other people through pictures. Someone from Toronto, Canada, someone in Nottingham, UK, someone from middle Tennessee, and some of the best photos I’ve ever seen from someone from Iceland.

So anyway, what else have I been doing online? Well, back in October, I was looking up stuff on the release of Harry Potter und der Feuerkelch (Goblet of Fire title over here, of course), and ran across some website that was holding an online competition. I figured since I didn’t have anything better to do at the time, I’d sign up. Turns out it was an entire forum on Harry Potter stuff – the movies, the books, fan-fiction (I didn’t even know what that was before this site), role-playing (not my cup of tea, really), and some other forums. I eventually stumbled upon a section where mostly adults and other mature-minded people were having serious discussions about the books, movies, etc. That was where I really got involved. It was nice to not have to worry with all the 13-year-olds saying how Dan was hot, or anything like that.

Unfortunately, the kiddies eventually decided to start acting like they could join in the mature discussions, and things went downhill. Then one of the adults got the idea to start a separate, invite-only forum where the members would discuss the books piece by piece, an online book club. Three chapters a week – I figured that wouldn’t take too much time, plus it would give me a chance to go back and re-read the books in German and improve my reading skills some more. Well, I’ve really gotten to know a lot of the people in there, and feel like I have a whole ‘nother group of friends. Sort of made up for the time that I would normally spend with friends back home. It’s been especially useful lately when everyone is either gone for the vacation, or the few people who are here still have tests to study for. So anyway, thanks to the internet, I’ve gained friends in people aged 16 – 40. (And maybe older, I don’t know everyone’s age.) People from the US west coast, Midwest, the South, Florida (since it’s not really part of the South…), New England, Olde England, Scotland, all parts of Canada, Romania, and Australia. From a mother who studied the exact same major that I am to an undergraduate studying Classical Studies; from a young Romanian theology student who speaks better English than I to an [I am now back from my concert…at 12:31 a.m.] […and now I’m done talking to my fiancée…at 1:01 a.m.] Australian mother of two psychology major who is stricter about grammar than many English teachers; from an independent horror film producer to a medical student at Duke University.

[ok…I’m going to have to put this entry off until tomorrow or something, I keep dozing off.]

[it’s now Friday at 2:43 p.m.]
So, where was I? Don’t have a clue, even after rereading everything. At any rate, I would have never imagined having a community of friends from around the globe that began on the internet. And I certainly didn’t imagine two communities!

I must say, it would make for an excellent sociology or psychology study, groups like this. I certainly would not have thought that you could actually build trust between people over the internet, but apparently you can. (Actually, I do know that people meet online and some eventually marry – and have a happy marriage.) I wouldn’t have thought I’d have given my address to someone I met online either…but when I made an offhand comment about not having Girl Scout cookies over here, one of the fellow book club members offered to send me some. Though I tried to convince her that I was only joking, she insisted to take the money and time to send me boxes of Thin Mints and Peanut Butter cookies. Or whatever, those are called now. Oh yeah, Tag-a-longs. Anyway, I couldn’t say no for very long, and so a mother of three in the middle of moving into a new house made the effort to send me two boxes each of Thin Mints of Tagalongs.

This just proves that true friendship can be nurtured on the internet. Well, I don’t mean true friendship just with that one person or because she sent me cookies…hmm, I guess I shouldn’t put that sentence right there. Oh well, I think I’ll leave it. At any rate, I guess I just want to say that life is always full of surprises. At one point in January, I stepped back and was surprised to realize that I had become close friends with people through the internet.

And don’t worry Mother & Daddy, I don’t spend more time than I can afford doing this stuff. I practice as much as I can and study (when I have to), and then spend time online, if I don’t have anything better to do in Dresden with the friends that I’ve made by now. You’re not paying tons of money for me to sit in my room online all day. :-)

Well…I tried to find a quote from the movie You’ve Got Mail about the internet, but they were naturally all quotes about falling in love and other sappy stuff. I just wanted something about being friendly. Oh well. Ah! Found something better…

“Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.”
—Henry David Thoreau

Sure, why not?

2006-02-24T00:41:00.000+01:00

23. Feb. 2006
11:42 p.m.
Drom room
Listening to: “Sunrise Serenade” performed by Frankie Carle (at the moment…iTunes is on random, like usual)

Well…I’ve had a rather busy week! At the end of last week, I was asked to perform for a chamber opera by Moritz Eggert, Wir sind daheim (We are at home). Hesitant at first – the percussionist plays drum set the majority of the time, with various other small toys – I decided to agree to do it. I was reassured the drum set part wasn’t very hard. Aside from that, it was all basically written out, so I’d just be reading the part from the music. Granted, the person telling me this probably didn’t realize how little drum set background I have. But, being one who has a hard time saying no, I figured I’d be able to handle it. Plus, I’ll be getting paid, and more than that, it can go on my resume.

Anyway, having received the score on Tuesday, I realized I had essentially bit off a little more than I could chew. Well, almost. I guess I should say that I didn’t expect to be spending five hours a day practicing drum set. However, I don’t regret it at all, it’s been lots of fun. (Except for the five hours spent sitting on just a stool.) I’ve got until Monday (the first rehearsal) to learn the part and get comfortable with it. I get three days of rehearsal, then performances on Thurs, Fri, Sun and Mon. THEN, I get to play for the CD recording session of the work on Tuesday. That is what I’m really excited about. Well, a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

So this morning, as I’m getting ready to leave my room to go to the school and practice, I get a phone call, asking if I’d play a composition student’s piece in April on some composers’ recital. Why not? That day is completely empty as of right now, as are the five days before it, so I shouldn’t have to worry about having time to practice. (Disregarding any possible classes I might have…) So I told her I’d meet her at the school around lunchtime. Which I did. As it turns out, the piece is for solo percussionist. Meaning, I’ll be the only one playing anything for at least five minutes (or however long the work is). A little intimidating at first, but I think it’ll be fun. So after she goes back to where she was sitting, one of the guys who had until this point been sitting at her table came over to talk to me. Apparently, to ask me if I’d play percussion on a piece of his for the same concert. Sure! Why the heck not? Ok, I don’t mean to be sarcastic, I really enjoy performing, otherwise I would’ve said no. I just thought it was awfully funny. So what do I have coming up in the way of concerts? Hmmm…

March 2-3, 5-6: Wir sind daheim, Moritz Eggert. Kleine Szene
March 29: Composers’ Recital – Der Turm (The Tower), Michael Jordan (not joking, that’s his name); Jahresende (Year’s End), Torsten Reitz. HSfM Aula
April 9: some orchestra concert in the Semperoper
April 26: Composers’ Recital – A (so far nameless) suite of five pieces for solo percussion, Yoon-Hee Suhmoon; für Klarinette & große Trommel (for clarinet and bass drum), Jae-Hyun Park. HSfM Aula
May 4: some orchestra concert somewhere…Deutsche Hygiene Museum?
May 27: Meißner Te Deum, Wolfgang Hufschmidt. Meißen Dom
July 2: Carmina Burana, Carl Orff. Schloß Albrechtsberg (?)

Well, that was kind of fun! So anyway…not much else has happened –oh wait, yes it has!

Well, I successfully bought airline tickets to Milan the other day. Why go to Milan, you ask? Well, it’s cheaper to fly into Milan and hop on a train than to fly directly into Venice. Haha, yep, my fiancée and I will be traveling to Venice within the next couple weeks! Ok, other than that, I don’t think there’s anything else. It must be bedtime.

…searching for a quote of some kind…

“Ohne Musik wäre das Leben ein Irrtum.”
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche

Peace, Kindness and Wizards

2006-02-17T19:38:00.000+01:00

17. Feb. 2006
17:56
Dorm bed
Listening to: Philip Glass’ String Quartet No.5, performed by Kronos Quartet

Well, I’ve been thinking a little more about the whole war thing. And it’s much more complicated than I might have made it sound previously. I was tooling around on Wikipedia, and looked up some stuff on Hitler. Specifically the Munich Agreement. I remember that my first reaction when I learned about this event in whichever history class that would have been was “What? Why did the Allies sign that thing?” They had, of course, signed an agreement that said Hitler could keep everything he just stole, as long as he didn’t steal anything else. See anything wrong with that? Of course. But then I got to thinking, was this their attempt to preserve peace? It had barely been twenty years since everyone had been involved in what was then called “The Great War.” There had never been a war fought on such a scale, and I don’t think anyone wanted another one to happen any time soon. So what were the results of an attempt at peace?
Another war.

I guess what I should be promoting, instead of anti-war, is worldwide kindness. If we achieve that, then there of course would be no reason for war.

So, where does all this anti-war/war to rid the world of dictators like Hitler/war to protect our homeland/war to get rid of people because somebody doesn’t like them stuff fit into today? I don’t exactly know. At least, not where I stand on it. Iraq? Isreal/Palestine? Don’t know. Saddam – why did we attack a country to get rid of one person? From what I’ve read/heard, Saddam committed atrocities on the level (of atrociousness, not necessarily by number, though I really don’t know that statistic) of Hitler’s Holocaust. Naturally, he’s not a guy who should be in power when he wants to persecute people. So what do you do then? Remove him from power, of course. How? In my mind, the best option does not include bombing a nation. Is there a peaceful way to remove him from power? (Just as a reminder, I know I’m writing this in the present tense and am well aware that he’s been removed from power…just go with me.) Well, instead of killing tons of citizens, we could just kill Saddam and his important men, right? Sounds like a job for the CIA’s Super-Covert-High-Level-Government-Official-Assassination-Squad! Seriously though, even that, how can you justify killing someone? Ahhh, it’s all a part of war. Yes, sadly it is. But would there have been a way to remove him from power peacefully? Realistically, I don’t know.

So what about Israel and Palestine? How is it right for Palestinians to blow up innocent Israelites? It’s not, of course. But neither is it right for the Isrealites to deny Palestinians a home. I don’t (nor do I want to right now) claim to be on one side or the other, but I think they just need to learn to share. Hasn’t Israel only been a country for some 60 years now anyway? Ah yes, but God gave them that land. Well, instead of going the way I was going with this in my head, I just need to stop. Otherwise I’m going to say some things that I’m just not well enough educated about to provide intelligent commentary. Granted, I only have a vague idea about what’s going on in Iraq as well, but nonetheless. Plus, like I said, I still don’t know where I stand on the Israel/Palestine thing.

In other news, I recently learned I would be playing for a chamber opera entitled “Wir sind daheim” (We are at home) where I would get paid! Talk about cool stuff for a resume...Freelance percussion work throughout the US and Germany. Heck yeah. But then again, I’ve got all kinds of cool stuff to add to my resume since I’ve been here. Studying in a foreign country, regular performances in the Semperoper, performed with members of the Sächsische Staatskapelle and the Dresden Philharmonic. Well, that one’s sort of a stretch…some of their members came and performed with the Hochschule Ochestra in a recent concert, but still. Though I have told my professor that if there are concerts/operas/performances of any kind that require lots of percussionists, I am available. We’ll see what happens there though.

Oh—for those who have tried to comment on the blog, I recently realized that it was set to only members, or something. It’s now set so that anyone can comment. I think. I hope.

Well, that’s all for now.

“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?”
—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, spoken by Gandalf

Of War and Glaciers

2006-02-15T02:52:00.000+01:00

February 14, 2006
*Valentine’s Day*
16:02
Cafe Novelle
Listening to: Chatter & overhead French-type cafe music

Well, I’m sort of continuing from my last entry. Only sort of because I didn’t have the notebook (as in paper) with me that has my last entry.

But continuing on the ‘culture-binge’ theme, I’ll be going to hear a friend play in a jazz band tonight. And who knows what else is to come. I am (ok, just finished eating, but now I’m back.) indeed living in the “Florence of the Elbe.” Though personally, I’d rather be here than Florence. I’m hoping to make it to at least one of Wagner’s Ring operas – all four of which will be presented. And Peter Jackson thinks his “Ring” his long…if each of his movies were six hours long, the total time would be close…

But anyway, this was not the point of what I wanted to say.

For several years since WWII has ended, Dresdners have gathered at the site of the Frauenkirche to remember the tens of thousands that died on Feb. 13, 1945 and to pray for an end to war, racism and violence. (I want to say this started in the 70s, but I don’t remember.) Last night was the first time this candle-lit ceremony happened in the Frauenkirche. I know I won’t be able to do the ceremony justice with any description, but I’ll try. (Plus I’ll link to some photos that might help. But those are coming later...since I haven't posted some of them online yet)

I arrived in the Neumarkt around 9:15 p.m. A few people already had candles lit, though not many. There were a few tables around the church where people had already placed candles, and they gradually appeared on the statue of Martin Luther as well. At a quarter to ten, the bells of the Frauenkirche rang for a hauntingly glorious fifteen minutes. Thanks to pictures I had just seen at a display in the Altmakrt and the vividly eerie descriptions provided by Kurt Vonnegut in Slaughterhouse-Five, I could somewhat imagine the moon-like wasteland (as Vonnegut put it) instead of all these nice, new buildings. Up until the bells rang, the entire city was eerily quiet. It’s hard to imagine the dead silence (and I mean that quite literally) that emanated from the ruins after the bombing stopped.

At 10:00 p.m., the church opened for the continuous service of song, prayer and readings. For three hours, one of these occurred every quarter hour. At the top of each hour was choir led singing of the canon “Friede sei mit euch” (Peace be with you). On every :15 was a reading of some kind. For example, one of these was a quote from Mahatma Gandhi. On every :30 was a prayer. And on every :45 was a reading of scripture that had been reworded. For example, one of these was rewritten by Erich Kästner a battle--if I understood it correctly, the Battle of Verdun. As you entered the church, you were given a candle (if you wanted one) that you then placed at the front. (sorry – no pictures here. wasn’t allowed and I wouldn’t have anyway) You then sat down for as long as you desired. In between each designated event was music performed by the choir, the organist or the cellist. This was also very beautiful.

(ok – another break. Dessert is here and my hand needs a rest)

Now for my part. After waiting in a huge mass of people, I decided to go take a few photos and just wait until the line died down. I eventually went in a few minutes before 11:00. I placed my candle at the front and sat down in the front row. The rest cannot be justifiably described. Actually, it started as I came in. The church was silent except for the choir singing, a capella, Dona nobis pacem. I was overwhelmed with a feeling that I knew to be the Holy Spirit. It is one thing to see pictures of the destruction of war, and although I’ve still never seen it in person, it was heart-wrenching for me to know that only 13 years ago, I would’ve been sitting on a 48 year old pile of rubble. Not only was the entire city of Dresden destroyed, it was destroyed for absolutely no reason other than to ‘flew the Allies’ muscles’ This entire evening made me realize just how stupid and useless war is. “It’s not that simple.” Fine. I know it’s not, but how stupid and useless war is. I also know that we live in an imperfect world. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

During my two hours of thinking, listening, singing and praying in there, I saw the most beautiful thing. It was the closest thing to a ‘vision’ I’ve ever had. No, I didn’t “see a light” and everything around me didn’t disappear. It was entirely in my imagination, but it was as vivid as the hundreds of little flames that were before me. I saw everybody – and by that I mean everybody – standing together singing “Dona nobis pacem” with arms around each other, smiling. I know that what I saw was heaven, but it is my vision, rather, my goal for earth. Will it happen to such an extent? No – this is an imperfect world. Will I try to bring such a peace and joy among the peoples of this earth? You better believe it. If we all try to live in such peace, it can happen. “But I’m an American Protestant, I’ll never be able to relate to an Iraqi Muslim.” Pardon the language, but the only proper response is Bullshit. You both were born, you both will die, you both have to live on this earth. Why make it a crappy life? “But they don’t believe the same thing I do.” And? I don’t like raw tomatoes, but I’m not going to hate you if you like them.

I don’t even want to hear about this “holy war” garbage. Yeah, there were holy wars that God himself encouraged. In the Old Testament – which was before Jesus came to die for the imperfections of man, in case you forgot. That’s what pisses me off about Christians even more than the arguments within the church.

I think I’m going to stop where I am. It’s now 6:45 p.m.…ugh.

Needless to say, yesterday evening [as in Mon. evening] was one of the most emotional events for me. And this has certainly been the most emotionally driven and draining thing I have ever written.

…and here’s a somewhat contrasting quote…

…he raised his eyebrows and inquired, “Is it an anti-war book?”
“Yes,” I said. “I guess.”
“You know what I say to people when I hear they’re writing anti-war books?”
“No. What do you say, Harrison Starr?”
“I say, ‘Why don’t you write an anti-glacier book instead?’ ”
What he meant, of course, was that there would always be wars, that they were as easy to stop as glaciers. I believe that too.

Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five

Drifting off...

2006-02-14T20:08:00.000+01:00

Tues. Feb. 14, 2006 (V-Day!)
02:45 (yes, that’s right)
Bed
Listening to: sounds of radiator & pen against paper

So, where to begin. Well, I really have been on a “culture binge” lately, and the climax was tonight but more about that later.

I saw Sir Colin Davis conduct a Mozart concert, but the best part was the public interview he did beforehand. Let’s see…ahh yes. The Hochschule is celebrating its 150^th Anniversary this year. The official fest-week was last week, which started with a bang. Sunday morning (as in the 5^th) was a concertant version of Carl Maria von Weber’s opera Oberon. Appropriate, since the school is named after Weber. That evening was the “Musentempel” (Temple of Muses) held in the school. Then I decided to hit up another organ concert on Wed. Don’t remember all that was on the program (I think Bach, Vierne, some others), but I do remember that the Marcel Dupre Variations on Noel was the finale. This past weekend, a group called “The Forsythe Company” performed four choreographies. No, not dances, choreographies. The first two were without music, aside from that created by their feet, hands and breathing. Really a great show. Plus, they used every single joint in their bodies in every way the physically could. And physically couldn’t.

Saturday evening, I spent with other Dresden Flickr users. After/Although [I apparently wrote both, though I can’t tell which one was the one I wanted] I finally showed up almost an hour late (from being confused by my own directions…) the meeting continued much longer, so I didnt feel like I had missed much. Everyone had their cameras, it was lots of fun!

Finally, this evening. (Though technically last evening, that’s too bad.) It was on a February 13, 1945 that Dresden was bombed by allied airplanes. I managed to get a ticket for a concert in the church. [Here, I meant the Frauenkirche] It was Bach’s Kreuzstab Cantata and Durufle’s Requiem which both sounded marvelous.

*And I’ll get to the specifics later. I’ts sooo late here. I wish I had a scanner, I almost fell asleep *when I wrote the word late so the letters are all “caddy-whompus) I’ll be back f ir ok, do need to go to bed sine I keep drifting off. (did it agam

[Well…after typing that up, I almost wish I had expounded on more of that stuff, but I didn’t want to change what I had written. Though the couple times that something appears in these [ ], I added that into the entry. And that last paragraph is exactly as written, minus the completely incomprehensible words. Yes, I even wrote those stars in. And I’m really glad I wrote the next entry during complete consciousness.]

What?! No Internet?

2006-02-06T12:45:00.000+01:00

(I had planned to put this post up sometime last week, but things got pretty busy around here. Another post will be coming soon as well...i think.)

28. Januar, 2006
11:01 p.m.
Dorm Room—gov’t issue chair
Listening to David Hall play Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra by Ney Rosauro (Saudação—David Hall)

Well, today certainly has been fun. Since the internet went out last night, (yes I’m writing this by hand again) I’ve spent the day doing lots of fun things. I spent about four hours practicing percussion and piano. Somewhere in there I tried out a new Asian restaurant and tried to buy concert tickets to see Colin Davis conduct. Rather, Sir Colin Davis. The ticket counter apparently isn’t still open at 2:30 p.m. on a Saturday and yet they will be open tomorrow (yes, a Sunday) from 10.00 – 13.00. How odd. At any rate, I got back here in time to find out the dorm internet guy is gone for the weekend. So, what have I done to fill my time?

Well, first I moved over to the bed because it’s much more comfy. I didn’t really feel up to ice skating tonight—though tough to turn it down—so I just “hung out” here in the dorm. Also turned down an offer to see Sophie Scholl—already seen it. So I did some ‘redecorating’ of my walls—aka random cards & flyers that look interesting—wrote five postcards, ate, read a lot from Fit To Be Tied and Slaughterhouse-Five, played some computer solitaire & minesweeper and wrote this journal. Ah yes – I also decided to work on my ‘sketching skills,’ so I drew a corner of my room. Kinda fun actually, but I definitely plan to stick to music.

Ah, that’s enough for now. My hand’s tired.

Auf Wiederschreiben

“That’s one thing Earthlings might learn to do, if they tried hard enough: Ignore the awful times, and concentrate on the good ones.”
—Tralfamadorian zoo guide, Slaughterhouse-Five

Recap and Random thoughts

2006-01-19T19:27:00.000+01:00

January 19, 2006
6:48 p.m.
dorm bed

Well here I am again. Finally. I think it’s been almost two months since I wrote in my journal. Which means that lots has happened. I hope I remember everything.

Let’s see, I saw Richard Strauss’ opera Salome exactly 100 years after it premiered here in Dresden. My fiancée arrived for a three-week visit. The two of us got cheap 2^nd row tickets to see the Sächsische Staatskapelle (Saxon State Orchestra) and choir perform Mozart’s Mass in C-minor. We had a Christmas dinner of chicken & pasta alfredo, veggies, a salad w/feta cheese & fried eggplant chips and a plum pie. We celebrated New Years on the Augustusbrücke (Augustus Bridge) over the Elbe. Fireworks are in no way illegal here, so the fireworks ‘display’ was put on by anyone who had fireworks with them. Which was about three-fourths of people who were there. [by the way...there are a couple of those pictures on my flickr...just look over on the left-hand side] We went and saw Petruschka and The Firebird (ballets by Igor Stravinsky) put on by Ballett Dresden. (By the way, the opera, concert and ballet were all in the Semperoper.) We spent two nights in Prague for sight-seeing and shopping. We celebrated my 21^st birthday in Berlin the night before she left. I got sick. Yesterday evening, I went to hear an organ concert in the Frauenkirche. I got there somewhat early so I could buy a ticket. Well, the guy at the door I went to said they had one more ticket and handed it to me. Without asking for any money. Even when I so obviously had my wallet out to pay for it. Although I was glad I hadn’t paid – my seat was off to the side where I couldn’t see any of the organ. Although I could care less about seeing the organist or organ, I didn’t hear the music coming from the organ directly. Rather, I was hearing what went into the middle of the room, bounced around some and then found its way to my ears.

As far as music goes, I seem to be on a search for the ‘perfect’ piece. I am unbelievably unsatisfied with what I have been listening to as well as playing. I don’t know if I’m after the ‘perfect cadence’ or chord sequence of some kind, but I have yet to find it. This problem is costing me money, seeing as I bought two albums yesterday: Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass and Bruckner: The Masses. I almost stopped in the music store today to look for something else to buy, but I was able to stop myself. I checked out some marimba music by Keiko Abe from the library, thinking I possibly just need some new music to practice. We’ll see what happens. I’m also in the middle of deciding if I should try to actually write a piece that I began a week or so ago.

Well, my arm is killing me. I’ll type this up later to post online.

Peace...

“Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.”
—Anonymous

Thanksgiving Friday

2005-11-27T00:42:00.000+01:00

Sat, 26. Nov. 2005
7.56 pm
dorm

Well, another Saturday has come and gone. Sort of. the day’s not quite over yet, seeing as I plan to go visit the Weihnachtsmarkt here in a half-hour or so. From what I heard, the one in the Altmarkt is the oldest one in Germany. This year is the 571^st running of the “Dresdener Striezelmarkt.” So I’m looking forward to that.
Thanksgiving. What a wonderful, American holiday. emphasis on the word American. Yeah, I even had class on thursday. I just chose not to go. I had actually planned on cooking thanksgiving dinner with two other Americans--one from my school, one on Fulbright--but the Fulbright student had to work, so we did it last night. It actually was lots of fun, and even felt a little bit like real Thanksgiving. We had a little German-influenced turkey...went with “Turkey-schnitzel,” which was basically lightly breaded turkey breasts. And we had mashed-potatoes (sweet pot. are hard to come by here), steamed broccoli, corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and apple crisp and some jello-yoghurt stuff for dessert. Oh yeah, and some “Tastycakes,” which are evidently a Philadelphia specialty. (of course, they had been sent over by a mom!) An awesome meal. The only non-Thanksgiving part about it was that there weren’t any leftovers. Don’t get me wrong, we were all stuffed after eating, but we didn’t have anything left. I guess that’s all for now, cause I think we’re about to go downtown.
Happy late Turkeyday!

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving."
--H.U. Westermayer

11 000 meters oben

2005-11-27T00:37:00.000+01:00

Friday, Nov. 18
Time: uhhh...my watch says it’s 20:30, but it still looks about like 15:30 outside
Place: 37,000 ft. above the Atlantic

Well, it’s already been a long day of travel. I woke up at 0400 GMT +1 (what my watch says), and I still have 6 ½ hrs of travelling left. Had a five-hour trainride, 6 ½ of a 10 hr flight, and another 1 ½ flight after that. Plus the total 4 ½ hrs btwn trains/planes.
The train is by far the best way to travel. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy driving, as well as flying--for some reason I love airports--but a train is the best. Lots more personal space--you might find that much room in a first class plane seat, but even then, the plane feels smaller because of the low ceiling and tiny windows. Huge windows, no really, huge windows to see the entire countryside. And, you not only don’t have to wear a seatbelt, but there’s (therefore) no seatbelt sign or attendant telling you to sit down.
So obviously, my first real train ride was a good one. Well, I started out at 6, before the sun was up. I was a little disappointed that my seat was on the north side--although a window seat, I’d still miss the sunrise. Well, fortunately the Leipzig Bahnhof was one where the tracks didn’t continue through, but stopped and went the other way. So for the remainder of the trip, I was on the south side, AND facing backwards. Somewhere in Thüringen (i think), it became obvious the sun was going to rise very soon. And just at the edge of the horizon, a tiny sliver of orange-red appeared. The sun slowly creeped
WHAT?!
Where did that hill come from?? Oh, yep. There’s the sun. Oh well. Well somewhere maybe in Nordrhein-Westfalen (My German geography is still not very good) [and I’ve since found out that it was most likely in Hessen, not N-W], I looked up from my book, and there was snow everywhere! That was cool, finally got a taste of winter.
Aha! That was successful. I've now made it another half-hour without realizing it. Well, I think I'll leave it at that for now. My hand's tired--not exactly a good writing table, these tray tables. Only 6 more hours to go!

peace

Die Sächsische Schweiz

2005-11-05T22:54:00.000+01:00

Saturday, 5. November
21:19
Dorm room, tired

Well, I forgot one more thing that I didn’t mention in the previous post, to include in my list of “things-I’ve-done-since-I-last-wrote-on-this-forum.” I saved my entire building from catching on fire. It was so honorable, that the mayor presented me with a key to the city. Now I can get into any building I want, even if they’re closed. ok, so maybe it wasn’t that dramatic. however, everyone on the hall was eating together—there were meats, cheeses, crackers, peppers, tomatoes, chips, pretzels, beer, water, etc. And candles. of course…why not? Well, there were about 6 of the 10 or so people sitting around just chatting, and of course, I was staring off into space. Fortunately for the entire city block, that space happened to be right inbetween a plastic chip bag, and a candle. Well, you can imagine what happened. The entire table caught fire, and I—using my non-Boy Scout technique that I didn’t get a badge for—immediately began pouring the water onto the table, while at the same time clearing off the non-burning objects and organizing the rest of the people into an assembly line to get water from the kitchen, while ripping off my clothes to use as a fire blanket, while dismantling the legs of the table so they didn’t add fuel to the fire, while finishing my meat-cheese-cracker sandwich, while reciting the opening of Goethe’s Faust (in German, of course) through a dummy while I was drinking water. Of course, everyone else thought the dummy was actually reciting it. …well, maybe just the bag caught on fire. But nobody else noticed it until I had already knocked over two glasses and was finishing putting out the bag. so they were surprised about that.

update—22:27

yeah, couple people called…fiance, parents, then I got distracted w/a couple things, then my computer decided that between the times of 10:00 and 10:15 pm, it would run 1000 to 1015 times slower than normal. so the whole point in this post (when I started it) was to talk about my wonderful hike today.

Well, the train left the station at 9:30—so of course we had to get up exceptionally early for a Saturday, but I figured it’d be worth it. And I figured I’d be home by 3 at the latest. Ha. What did I know. well, when we finally got to the starting point around 10:30, the train station was literally in a valley, in the middle of the forest, with no way of reaching the station except for hiking trails. No exaggerating. So we hiked for a while…relatively nice rolling hills. We went through a quaint little village that had lots of vacation rooms/apts. for rent. We stopped for a lunch break (eating our own food, we were in the middle of the Sächsische Schweiz—oh yeah, that’s where we were hiking. guess I haven’t said that yet), and then continued on. Around 1:15 or so, we took another short break. We could see some really cool rock structures way above us, and this one path that went up in that direction. Oh yeah, that was the path we took. There were so many really steep parts, and it was hard to climb on all the wet and mossy rocks. Fortunately, at any section that was really hard, the rocks had formed with footholds or handholds, and some even with handrails. it was crazy. but after about an hour later, we made it to the top of those rocks. And man was it worth it. the pictures I posted on my flickr.com page don’t do it justice. you just have to be there. well, so after we spent a while up there, we finally started to head down…thankfully not the same way we came. we were told this was a much shorter way. Jokingly, I mentioned something along the lines of the fact that we’ll probably get to a part where we have to jump 300 feet down, and that’s what cuts our time off. literally. haha, i’m such a joker. well, I wasn’t too far off. We were following the path, and all of a sudden it stopped. And here was this staircase going waaaaay down the side of the cliff. like, I’d say it was probably at a 75-80 degree angle with the ground. seriously. Well, after several different sets of stairs like that, we finally made it to...the wooden stairs, that were easier to walk down. and finally after that, we reached a level section. I, the person who has an annoying habit of counting stairs (not out loud) whenever i use them, did not think to count them. I was too worried not trying to focus on the view if i looked through the stairs, just to focus on the stairs. However, I estimated about 750 stairs. give or take 150. after walking even further, we came to a quaint little village situated on the Elbe, and took a ferry across to the train station to take us back. It was kinda cool, because as we looked south (upstream), we were looking at the Czech Republic, not Germany.
Estimated travel distance, according to leader: 15-20 km. = 9.3-12.4 mi.

Wow, so now that I’ve written far too much, I have to go to bed. my legs are still very much hating me right now, and I’m just plain tired anyway.

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
– John Muir

Die Weihe der Frauenkirche, u.a.

2005-11-04T00:17:00.000+01:00

Thursdaz, 2005-11-03
23Ö12,
mz room...

well, as zou can see, something is awfullz wrong w-mz computerö or kezboardö or something like that. actuallz, it looks like Iäve just changed a few of the letters on the kezboard around. zeah, sort of. I mean, yeah, sort of. It’s funny, when you type in English on a German keyboard, you realize just how much you use the letter ‘y’. and you realize about the letter ‘z’, when doing it the other way around. (yeah, these two are switched on a German keyboard. and ‘ is replaced by ä, ; by ö, and so on)
ANYWAY…

Let’s see, it’s been three weeks since I last entered something, but not that much has happened since then. I played two semifinals and three concerts with the orchestra for an int’l piano competition (one of which was in the Semperoper…truly awesome); I finished the first Harry Potter in German (and have started the second); I witnessed the re-dedication of the Dresden Frauenkirche after approx. 11 years of rebuilding it; and I bought a round-trip ticket to go home so I can see my fiancé play the lead role in the upcoming univ.’s musical theatre dept. production. (relatively cheap, of course, thankfully).

I could probably write a ton on each subject, but I think I’ll mostly concentrate on the Frauenkirche. Well let’s see, it was destroyed in February (?) of 1945 when the Allies bombed Dresden—not really any military purpose to this, but they did none the less. I don’t remember when the church was originally built; I believe somewhere in the 1700s. regardless, it remained in ruins as a symbol for just short of 50 years, when in 1992-93, they began to rebuild it. It is also a very important symbol for the reunification of Germany. It was at the ruins of the Frauenkirche in the 80s that people met together with candles and such. This is considered (if my minimal German history is correct) one of the catalysts for the reunification/tearing down of the wall. The basement of the church had actually been open for a while, and was used for regular church services—it’s a Lutheran, not Catholic church, even though it’s the “Church of our Lady/the Holy Mother.”
They had the Festgottesdienst (festival worship service) on Sunday, Oct. 30 in the morning. This was only by invitation (to get to go inside), as most of the people were dignitaries or otherwise important, including German and British religious and state officials. I went w/a few other people, and by the time we met, and got there, it was probably about half-way through the service. Oh yeah…we stood outside and watched the service on one of the (at least) three giant screens they had set up for the thousands of people that were there to see. yes, there were thousands.
hmm…just remembered I have some dishes in the sink…must clean those…will return
ok, well, got distracted by some of the other folks on the hall, so I’m finally back. and it’s 00:00 precisely. or 24:00. anyway, I guess to wrap up the Frauenkirche thing, the group tried to go back that evening to go to the 6:00 service—which was lead by the Bishop of Coventry Cathedral. –There is naturally a partnership between these to cities because Coventry Cath. was also destroyed by bombs in WWII. However, they chose to keep the ruins, and build a new cathedral next to it. anyway…we didn’t get in. You had to have tickets (even though they were free), and all the tickets had been long gone, and there had been a line of about 5,000 people to get tickets for the Monday morning service (Reformation Day). I thought about going to tour it Sunday night, since it was open to the public between 22:30 and 05:00. but, I chose sleep instead. speaking of which, I’m afraid it’s time for bed. and this is probably already my longest journal entry yet. Well, it’s at least taken up a page and a quarter, single-spaced on Word.

Bis dann

oh yeah—check out my flickr page (link is "My Photos" up there on the left) for many pictures of the Frauenkirche.

my first exposure

2005-10-14T15:11:00.000+02:00

Friday, 14. Okt.
9:43

Well, now i’m writing from the orchestra reh. hall. We’re not rehearsing the piece i’m playing on for this concert, but I wanted to come listen to see just how good they are. I was told that they were as good, if not better, than most regional symphony orchestras in the U.S. That’s about right. i haven’t heard any musicians play w/tone this good (in the u.s.—cause I saw the Prague Chamber Orch. while here) since I heard the Nashville Symph. play in Feb. I don’t know how hard Mozart’s Piano conc. #25 is (the orch. parts, of course), but it already sounds marvelous, and this is the first wk. of rehearsals. I think the second reh. on this particular piece. I’m glad i came though – i forgot that European orch. play a little behind the conductor, not exactly with his beat. Not too hard for melodic instruments to switch to, but when you have one cymbal crash, you don’t really have any room for error. guess i’ll be alright though.

So I went to two classes yesterday: a music hist. from 1900-1950 class, and one on instrumentation of microtonality in “contemporary” music. I won’t be going back to the second one—w/three other classes in German, plus a german class, one more would be crazy. I was glad to finally have a class though. I mean, back home, they’re already on fall break, and I just had my first day of classes.

well, i guess the only other interesting thing going on for me is that i’ve kinda been on a harry potter, uhhh, craze isn’t exactly the right word...oh—trip. I’ve seen all the trailers online—u.s., u.k. and the german ones! For some reason, “Harry Potter und der Feuerkelch” comes out on Nov. 17—one day before it does in the U.S. And i’ve since found a theatre showing it at 00:01 on Nov. 15. Yeah, it’d be in German, but it’s not like I don’t know what’s goin on anyway. I’ll probably go back and see it in English, or at least wait till it comes out on DVD. I have, however, purchased the first book in German. It’s taken me 3-4 hrs. to get through the first two chap., but I’ve enjoyed it, and I’m learning German at the same time! I think once I finish this, I may just try to find bks. 2-4 in Engl. in a library and remind myself what happens before I see the movie. We’ll just have to see.

Well, I’ve been writing for a while, and my hand’s pretty tired. (Reminder – I’m writing by hand and will transcribe this online later.)

Until next time...here’s an interestingly relevant quote from the 4^th book.

“Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”
~J.K. Rowling, "The Beginning," Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, spoken by Albus Dumbledore

Productivity and Travel

2005-10-06T01:10:00.000+02:00

Wed., no Thurs. 6. Okt., 2005
0043
[yawn]

Well, it's late, but I feel like writing. After a long weekend--Monday was Tag der Deutscher Einheit (German Reunification Day)--I finally got some stuff done yesterday and today. I talked with my percussion prof. yesterday on the phone, and set up a 'meeting' for today. Well, first, I went and opened a bank account. I did it all in German, but it was relatively einfach (simple), and the guy knew i was a student, and spoke slow enough and in easy enough words for me to understand. And he did clarify a couple things in English when i needed it. But, I was thankful that he didn't just immediately switch to English like some people have done. I understand that some people do that so they can practice their English, but when I have spent over a year and a half and a good deal of money trying to learn the language, I would like some respect shown so that I may continue to practice using the language. Ok, let me get off my soapbox now. After the bank, I went to my "meeting" with my perc. prof. Well, I had expected to speak w/him about various aspects of taking lessons and other stuff, but he had obviously expected to give a lesson. Well, I wasn't opposed to that--well, maybe a little bit--but I didn't have any of my sticks/mallets/music w/me. So, i felt kinda stupid and unprepared, which is one of my worst fears/most embarrasing thing--being unprepared. But, it went pretty well actually, and i got a lot of stuff figured out. And we both learned some musical terms in each other's language! I would say his english is at around the same, or somewhat better level than my Deutsch. But anyway, I made it through, and then after a brief stop at a Bratwurst stand, i made it to get student health insurance. So, overall, a very productive day.

Now, I just have to practice my butt off. But i'm ready to do that. And i'm pretty sure that i'm gonna have way more time to practice here than I ever would back home. I mean, this is pretty much a conservatory, so they don't care at all about liberal arts (and i don't that much either), and they just want you to be able to practice, if performance is your thing. That's actually pretty much the one reason i regret not going to a conservatory--every person there knows and understands that to be successful, I have to practice 4-6 hours a day. but anyway...

Now I understand what it was like at the language institute for non-english speakers. There are a lot of people in my dorm that i've been hanging out w/that are french, plus a guy on the hall who's German, but his mom is french. It's kinda cool though, to just be somewhere where i can just listen to a language that i don't understand. especially the french language, it's so lyrical and relaxed. I don't know to what extent it'll happen, but it'd be kinda cool if i came away from this whole study abroad thing learning a little bit of french too. But, we'll see. i mean, i'd like to still go to S.Korea and Ghana to study the music there. and i think probably Turkey too. and maybe somewhere in So.America. I guess i could be an Ethnomusicologist, and then i could travel pretty much anywhere, and it'd just be a part of my job. Man, that would be tough. haha. it would require me to be some sort of an academic though, although i guess thats not all that bad. i'd still have to be able to perform a bunch though, so we'll see. i still don't know what i'm gonna do when i grow up, but i figure that i've got 40 years or so to figure that out.

Well, it's now 0101, so i think i'm goin to bed.

here's a relevant quote i found...

"People who don't travel cannot have a global view, all they see is what's in front of them. Those people cannot accept new things because all they know is where they live."
--Martin Yan

Die erste Woche in Dresden

2005-10-01T17:59:00.000+02:00

Saturday, 1. October
17:46
Dresden

Well, I've been here for almost a week now. haven't done a whole lot, which has been nice. It was fun doing all that cultural stuff in munich, and going and hanging out a lot, but i'm glad i've just been able to sit and relax now. As much as I don't like to be a loser and just sit at my computer or in my room, it has been nice to not do much of anything lately. I'm actually a little "ashamed:" I've been spending way too much time on Facebook lately, so much so that i created my own group. it's been kinda cool though, cause i've looked up a bunch of people from texas, with whom i haven't really talked to in six years. I still hate that i haven't ever made it back since we left, but it's all good.
I tried twice to go see Madam Butterfly at the Semperoper, but both times it was sold out. Oh well, i'll see something eventually. I can't wait until the spring when they do a bunch of Wagner's opera, INCLUDING the entire Ring cycle. I'll just have to make sure i get tix to all four, i don't wanna miss one. It'll be good to see some Mozart stuff here in Germany--plus they're doing one of Weber's opera's--he was from Dresden (i think). Anyway, I forgot that the banks close extra early on Fridays, so i wasn't able to open an account yesterday (which i have to do before i can get health insurance), and Monday is a bank holiday--something like German Freedom, or something. I don't remember. Oh no--i think it's German Unity (the word for freedom is Freiheit, unity is Einheit). I guess that's when the wall came down? Maybe? I'm such a dumb american, I should know these things. Oh well. I will say one of the "RA" people in Munich was especially surprised that I knew who their chancellor was. Well, I guess he's not their chancellor anymore. Actually, i don't know who it is, and i don't think the germans do either. Something about it being a really close election, and the way elections work here...i don't know.
Well, I think i'm gonna go get some food, and then a student from dresden, who did an exchange thing w/our school in the us, is gonna take the three of us (the three who are all here w/the same exch. prog.) to some cultural thing downtown. Hopefully there's food, but if not, i'll have already eaten, just in case...

ciao

In Dresden

2005-09-27T23:47:00.000+02:00

Tuesday, 27. Sept. 2005
11:18 p.m.
Dresden, Saxony

Well, I made it here in one piece. And now i'm settled into a room. In which i'll be living for 10 more months. The story about getting here, is a wee bit interesting. When I arrived in Dresden, I took a cab to my hostel. Now, I had booked a room here a week ago, and had received confirmation of said booking. Well, when I arrived, there was no booking under my name, and there were no more rooms. The person working looked it up, and they had indeed received my online booking, but the person who was working at the time didn't bother to see that e-mail and put down my reservation. Fortunately for his sake, the guy working while i was there was very nice and understanding. He called another hostel, booked me a room, and paid for a cab to take me there. Well, now that I have internet connection, the first hostel is going to get a piece of my mind at the very least. And it's not like it would take a whole lot to actually go over there. I mean, i pretty much live here now.

Well, I guess i got most of my living situation worked out, i don't think i have anything left to do in that regard. However, there's about a million other things i have to do before school actually starts here. I think that's all i'll be doing this week, is working out stuff related to being a foreign student. And the German here is definitely different. The best place i've experienced hearing the Saxon accent so far was the taxi ride from the bus station. Having been taught "Hochdeutsch" [high-german: very clear and easy to understand, and what is normally spoken in Hamburg and other parts of northern Germany] as well as living in Bavaria for a month, trying to understand the Saxon accent is like someone from Montgomery, Alabama trying to make sense of someone from Boston, or northern Minnesota. I'm not sure why the accent is the way it is, because it almost sounds like it has French influences, when it is almost as far away from France as possible, and is next to Poland and the Czech Rep. and it was in the hands of the Russians no more then 16 years ago.

Regardless, I must awake early enough to get many things done tomorrow, so I am off to bed. Dresden awaits me!

Peace

. . . and still riding

2005-09-27T21:01:00.000+02:00

Still Monday, 26. Sept.
later that day...

Well, I'm still on a bus to Dresden. I've gotten super bored now, especially without having anything to eat except a snickers bar. Although, they do offer food on the bus, but i don't feel like paying for it. it's just two hot dogs without buns, and it probably costs way more than its worth. But whatever. And i have my laptop fully equipped with WordPad, iTunes, and Solitaire.

Ok, so i didn't notice it that much in Munich, but the sun sets way too early up here. I do remember my dad mentioning that Dresden was on the same latitude as Calgary, or somewhere in Canada. Fortunately, it doesn't get nearly as cold here, but the sun'll probably set at 5:30 or so in january. So this has been a kind of fun trip. However, I found out after I had bought my ticket about the "Schönes Wochenende" (Nice Weekend) ticket that lets you travel anywhere in Germany on Die Bahn for only 30 euros. Unfortunately, to go from Dresden to, say, Cologne would require changing trains 4 times or so. But, that'll be nice for weekends to Hamburg, or Nürnberg, or Köln (oh yeah, that's Cologne) or wherever. Ok, well, this distraction has worked to get my mind off my stomach for a while, but now i'm hungry again. Time to keep the music going, and switch to a little solitaire. Then i'll finish my snickers bar.

Chow, i mean Ciao
. . . oh man, i ust be hungry . . .

Nach Dresden (to Dresden)

2005-09-27T20:59:00.000+02:00

Monday, 26. Sept, 2005
afternoon
somewhere in Bavaria

Well, I'm currently writing while i am riding on a bus to Dresden. I've been waiting to finally get up there and get things started for real. Munich was fun, I'm gonna miss it, and the people, but I'm ready to start school, and be completely immersed in the German language. I've a little bit of anxiety after hearing an example of the Saxon accent, and after a German told me that it's the worst accent of them all. But, I'm sure i'll figure it out.

Last night was a little bit nerve-racking, but everything worked out. Myself and two other people had checked out of our respective dorms on Friday (when we were supposed to), and had been crashing on floors since then. There really was no reason to get a hostel for just a few nights when we had friends who didn't care that we slept on the floor, and it would've been way expensive to stay somewhere because of Oktoberfest--if we could find one. Regardless, we were not exactly supposed to be sleeping on the floor, but it seemed to work out. Until last night--as a big group of us were getting ready to leave for dinner, one of the "house-masters" walks through the hall and sees the tons of luggage in one person's room. Well, as we are literally walking out the door, she and the guy who basically is the RA for the dorm stop us to find out what's goin on. Long story short, we explained we were staying somewhere else, and just using the one person's room to store our luggage because we didn't want anything to happen to it. It worked--they didn't actually have any proof of anyone sleeping there, and when they saw us, it was still visiting hours. Needless to say, we were all relieved, especially the person who was keeping all our luggage: she could have been kicked out (if they had proof of course), and she's supposed to stay there for 3 more months!

Anyway, I'm enjoying watching the German countryside and the various little villages along the way. I've got a hostel tonight, and I should be able to get into my dorm tomorrow...yay! That's all for now.

Oh yeah--i have posted some pictures on flickr.com I think it's under TNDrumGuy. If that's not it, i'll post a comment to this post correcting it.

Peace

Distractions

2005-09-23T02:07:00.000+02:00

Mittwoch 14. Sept. 2005
Munich
16:47

Well, we tried to get tix. to Venice and/or Rome, but nothing under € 120. We tried some other options such as Vienna, Zurich, etc., but also too expensive. problem is that that's still during Weisn (what the locals call Oktoberfest). it's no problem leaving Munich, but getting back is kinda hard. I think we're going to just try to go somewhere in central Germany. that'll probably be cheaper, and then those of us who aren't going back to munich can just travel to wherever we need to go. That wouldn't be so bad.
I

Well, it's now Thursday, 22. Sept. 2005 around 6:28pm Munich time
I began writing a journal entry a week ago, and then I obviously got distracted doing something. Since then, the plans have changed even more. Some people are leaving tomorrow (today was the last day of class, :-( and then some of us are staying the weekend before we go to our respective locations. There's plenty to do in Munich other than Oktoberfest, so i'll figure something out. Regardless, I really am going to miss a lot of the people here, but many of them are just going other places in Germany, so I'm sure i'll get to meet up with some of them at some point. I am excited about actually getting settled in and starting school--that means getting into a routine. I've had fun here, but i've had enough 'vacation' per se, and i need to have a regular schedule.
Well, I went to Oktoberfest on Saturday (when it opened) and saw that parade, then went and had a beer--that was fun. then on Sunday, we went and saw the big parade, but then went back home cause it was too darn cold. I went back Monday night, and this time we got into a tent--specifically, the Hofbräu tent. I had heard that that one was where all the tourists went, and was the wildest one. I didn't pick that we went there, but it was the only one we could find a table. It was definitely the craziest one, and I didn't really have that good of a time, being one of about 4 sober people in a group of about 15 or so. I didn't wish that I were drunk, I just didn't wanna be there--I wasn't particularly happy about pulling random drunk guys off of the girls in our group, because some of the girls were too drunk to realize what was happening. I'm definitely gonna go back to Oktoberfest, just not at night, when EVERYBODY is there, and is "drunk off their asses" as the saying goes. And i'm not gonna go with a group where most of the group gets that drunk. And I probably won't go back to the Hofbräu tent. I will say this: the beer here in Munich tastes way better than the beer that I've had in the states (which isn't that much, but regardless), and the special "Oktoberfest Beer" is even better.
WELL . . . I think I'm going to have to stop here, before i get distracted again.

Ciao

Praha, Česká republika

2005-09-12T16:25:00.000+02:00

Monday, 12. Sept.
Munich again
15:31

Well, what a weekend! It's time I went to bed, but I'm going to stay up and write a journal entry. I'd hoped to write one while i was in Prague, but no dice.
In a nutshell, we took the night bus to Prague, got in around 5:30, went and slept in the hostel lobby for an hour, then toured the city. We saw all the important sights--the castle, the bridge, the boulevard, the old, older, & oldest (those aren't the names) towns, the Jewish Quarter, and i guess that's about it. We went and saw an awesome concert by the Prague Royal Orchestra--a chamber group of about 15 strings. They played Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, Dvorak, and Tchaikowski. It was awesome.
Sunday we spent the day wandering around town and shopping. Good times had by all. Then of course, we took the night bus back from Prague, and we crawled into Munich around 4:30. Somehow, we all made it to class on time this morning! Well, now we just have to prepare for Oktoberfest, or Wiesn--as Bavarians call it.

Viel Spaß!

Prag

2005-09-09T14:48:00.000+02:00

Friday, 9. Sept.
2:30 p.m., Munich

Well, spontaneity strikes again! We attempted to buy tickets to Venice for this weekend, but we got rejected. No tix left. So, we decided to go to Prague. It's a lot cheaper, and it was the most obvious choice, after we gave it some serious thought and discussion for about 2 minutes. But, I've heard it's beautiful, and it will definitely be an adventure.
Stammtisch was fun last night. I was glad that we didn't go to a diskotek after the pub though, I was pretty tired. It was fun hangin out with everyone.
i still kinda wish I was going to Venice this weekend, but that's ok. The only reason i'm a little bit hesitant about going to Prague is that I'll be so close to it in Dresden. It's ok.
oh man, I went to the Alte Pinakotek on Wed. i think? It was the museum for art from the Renaissance and before to the very early Baroque period. It was really cool. Our guide spoke only in German, but since I went with other students, we had our own guide who was kind enough to speak slowly for those of us who don't speak as well.
Well, I just noticed my head has been gradually leaning more and more as I type, so i think i'm going to take a nap. I am going to prague this weekend!

Tschüß!

The Fairytale Castle

2005-09-04T22:23:00.000+02:00

Sunday, 4. Sept., 2005
Munich--dorm room
21:45

Well, today I got up extra early to go to Schloss Neuschwanstein. It was a lot of fun to go to the castle, even though it wasn't really a castle. Well, not in my book at least. I mean, it was built when telephones and cars were around. And it wasn't even finished by King Ludwig II. Evidently he was a nutcase. Oh--we also went to Schloss Linderhof (which most certainly isn't a castle) and the Wiesekirche. they were having a special mass this morning--the childrens first mass--and so it was still going on when we got there, and so i didn't get to see the organ. It was a really cool church though, cause it was built in the Rococo style, and was very bright and colorful.
Linderhof and Neuschwanstein were cool though, cause I got to hear (in German) a good deal about Wagner; evidently he and Ludwig were close friends . . . if not more. Some of the rooms in Linderhof were based on Wagnerian Opera, and all of the rooms in Neuschw. were based on his operas. I really, really wanna go see a Wagner opera after that, and I'm in Germany for pete's sake!
Ah yes, the joy of spontaneity...I think I'm going to Venice this weekend with a group of people! We still haven't figured everything out, so I'm not sure what's gonna happen there, but I really hope it works out! Although i like being in this dorm, I'd much rather live in the other one, mostly cause of the people over there are a bit more my type. And I wouldn't have had to shell out 50 euros for the internet. Or the 133 since i'm in a nicer dorm, for that matter.
I still can't find my cord that goes from my camera to my computer, and I really need to find that, cause i've got a lot of good pictures that I want to download pretty soon, so I can post them online and not worry about having room on my camrea.
Well, I think I will call Jaymi, and then go to bed. Ah! I must first write at least 2 post cards.
Tschus!

Die Erste Nacht in mein Wohnheim (apartment)

2005-09-04T22:20:00.000+02:00

Tuesday, Aug. 30, 10:57 p.m.
Goethe Dorms, Munich
Well, I was able to move into my room on Arcisstrasse for the Goethe Institut today. I also took the placement test, and thought I maybe only did ok. I never saw Ivy or Erin at any point today, and they're obviously staying at one of the other Goethe dorms. I know that I was thinking about staying here for a week after my course is done, but i'm seriously giving that a second thought...Munich's expensive. At first I thought maybe it was just cause the dollar has a bad exchange rate, but in talking with one of my 'Zivis' (like an RA), he said that Dresden is much cheaper than Munich, partly because it's much smaller and partly because Munich is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. At least I have my chance to enjoy it this way.
The stupid internet costs 50 euros here. Fortunately, I'll get 25 of that back when i'm done, but that's still a lot of money. I just wish I could talk to Jaymi whenver I want. Well, I still won't quite be able to do that, but it'll be better than paying a buttload at that int'l calling place on Senefelder Str.
In my various walkings around yesterday and today, i've found that most of the big churches have organ concerts regularly. I think i may check some of those out. I also stumbled upon the Viktualienmarkt today, and had some goooooooood fruit juice today! That made me feel a whole lot better.
Well, for dinner, I went to this little place near my dorm and had a pretty good pizza. It was a 'music pub' or something like that, but they played a bunch of American music, as well as other stuff. It ranged from "The Thong Song" to that song where every second line is "I think I'm in love." Then they played some song called solataire, or solatary, or something, and i started to get a tad bit lonely (partly since i was the only one in the place) and hurried up and left. After our Zivis told us about the dorm, I went to an internet cafe, and then came back and found a bunch of the students (as i thought i might) at that same bar. I had my first Muenchner Bier. It was a Koelsch (or something like that). Not bad actually, and it was only 1,30 euros. Well, class starts tomorrow, so I think i'm going to have to go to bed. Especially since I'm planning on showering tonight.

Die Erste Nacht (the first night)

2005-09-04T22:19:00.000+02:00

Monday, 29.Aug, 8.45 pm
Muenchen, Deutschland

Well, the flight was mostly uneventful. I think I might have slept for 20min at one point, but I don't think i did. I thought I'd sleep after the movie (Miss Congeniality 2--fun, but kind-of 'cookie-cutter'), but they turned that thing back on where they show where the plane is, how many miles left, how fast and high we're going, etc. For whatever reason, I was interested in seeing how we progressed over the atlantic. Pretty boring now that I think about it. and at that point, the flight was half over. We didn't still have 4 hrs left, but we had reached the halfway point. (the trip was 8hrs long total...)
At any rate, it was cool to see the movement of the big dipper, since I had a window seat and the dipper was on that side of the plane. but It really got cool when we approached Ireland. I didn't realize how close we were to it (i hadn't checked the video for a few of its cycles) until I saw it. It was most definitely night, however I could see the lights of all the little coastal towns in the Galway area. I think it took us, at the very most, 20 min to cross Ireland. We then crossed Wales (I think) and England, and I could actually see Nottingham out my window. At this point, the North-Eastern horizon was starting to shimmer. As we reached the other side of England, it was neat to see all the shipping boats that were out on the water. After crossing the channel and Holland, we made it into Germany. from about Frankfurt south, almost the whole countryside was covered in mist and fog. The coolest view of the entire flight was saved until the very end. As we were approaching munich, the pilot turned us however he needed to, and in the process, I could see out my window: a few of the tallest buildings in Munich poking above the quite literal blanket of fog; a couple planes - one landing, one taking off - from the airport, and just beyond the fog were the Bavarian Alps! It was an incredible view, and if I had had my camera out, and the window hadn't still had ice on it, i definitely would have taken a shot of it. We had a mostly smooth landing, with a twist. as we were descending through the fog, it was naturally a little bit bumpy on the airplane. But just as I could we were finally just below the fog . . . the back wheels touched the tarmac! Yeah, that was a little weird, coming out of fog expecting several hundred feet between me and the ground, and finding out it was right there.
Anyway, i managed to haul both of my suitcases in the airport to the train, and then to my hostel (strategically located one block from the Hauptbahnhof--main train station). I walked and rode the subway over much of the central part of Munich, and although I still don't think I have any idea how to get there from here, I imagine I'll at least have been somewhere.
Well, I only slept an hour-and-a-half since Saturday night in Charlotte, (32 hrs) and I want to get up early enough to make it to the Goethe Institut. Hopefully I'll write these every now and then.

Die Erste 'Post'

2005-09-04T22:11:00.000+02:00

Well, this is the first post on this blog. Therefore, I must make a few explanations first. I am an American student studying in Germany for one year. I have already written a few journal entries, however I only decided to create a blog to post these entries today. Therefore, the following three entries will have the almost the same entry time, however the date and time they were actually written will be posted with in the entry. I will actually continue this trend, in case I am not able to access the internet when I write. I will eventually post many of my pictures online, and will announce where they are located when I do so. One last thing: There may be instances where I will edit some information that I don't want the entire world to know (for example: street addr. where i'm staying, etc.) -- in these cases, there will be two elipses (i don't know the plural for that). For example: "And today I went to "Jack's" apartment on . . .
. . . and after we practiced, we went down to the pub."
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen