Wet Rag Strikes Again

Kumar's Halloween Corner

2009-10-31T23:54:00.004-05:00

Well it's about time! I haven't spoken in years! (Yet I remain my twelve year old self. Ponder that thought...)
Anyway, Halloween has FINALLY arrived. It took for-EVER for it to get here again. Ever since the last Easter chocolate mousse peep went down my throat, I've been looking forward to the next holiday sugar rush. And boy, does Halloween ever pay off in bulk!
I've been debating my costume for months now. It has to be the perfect costume. I absolutely HAVE to beat Timmy Walters at all cost. He dressed up as SpongeBob last year and was the "it" kid on Fifth Avenue.... I'm NOT going to lose to that bed wetter this year... Sigh.... I get a little worked up sometimes. Besides, it's not like Walters is going to amount to anything.
Where was I? Right! My costume! It's fool-proof for the most amount of candy action. I'm going as a wall street broker. It's perfect, right?!? I'm going door-to-door in my sharp little vest with matching Prada loafers, and I'll yell out, "Bailout pleeeeease!!!" It'll be perfect because I'll get massive amounts of candy and eat it all in one sugary, diabetic-inducing binge. There's no way that I'm going to share any of my candy or learn from my previous binge experiences... It'll be SWEET!

The Coolness factor

2009-10-28T14:02:00.004-05:00

A lot of people will come up to me and say, "HEY REED!... How do you stay so cool?..."
And I respond, "...Music..."

That's right. And if you want in on all the coolness I've accumlated, take a listen to some of these cool repositories.

St. Vincent's new cd Actor has reminded me a lot of Sufjan Stevens with hints of rock riffs and minimalist interludes reminiscent of Steve Reich. I know what you must think, "What? Minimal music and rock and roll? They can't blend together!" And I say that they can, good sir. My favorite song off of the cd is Marrow, which best exemplifies what I've been saying.

Next is Wicked. I can hear it now.... People up in arms saying that Broadway is uncool. Well, you can shut your bearded pie holes. Wicked has some fantastic stand alone music, and I've been in a Wicked mood considering one of the Broadway tours are here in town. That's a major factor of why I'm listening to it at the moment. Defying Gravity is just a standard. Period.

Some singles of the week that I've truly enjoyed as well are Raindrops, Sweet Disposition, and Big Bird in a Small Cage.

Now that I started this post, I've thought of a lot of great songs. But they'll have to wait for a later post. Also, if you think you can rival the coolness that I've listed, don't hesitate to let me know. Also, if you feel sick of the high pitch male falsetto singing, then find me something that doesn't have that, and then we'll talk.

The idea of friendship

2009-10-18T22:16:00.003-05:00

Here's a really odd question. How can you start a friendship with someone without seeming weird or intrusive?
I seem to have issues with starting friendships with other guys.... Period.

I've really wanted to start some friendships with some other guys that I've seen come into work all the time. I have been trying to show them respect by giving space, just a couple of comments, smiling and saying hi... But I don't really see these guys that often to where I could feel comfortable just asking to hang out.
My problem is the aftermath. The awkwardness of seeing that person who rejected you again and again.... and again.
I almost wish I could get some feedback on me, and if they are just as interested in starting a friendship. I just want them to ask me to hang out with them. That would be so much easier.
But I'm an awkward fish, and the fish always flops first......
Just roll with me on that phrase.

AND THEN, I never thought that I would find myself in this situation, but I'm finding myself really interested with someone's writing. I have been regularly following Patrick Klepek's articles at g4tv.com. He just has been making some great insights into video games and movies, and I really enjoy his writing. I'll even check out his twitter page. I know! It's weird.
On the other hand too, it's weird to know so much about a person without even meeting said person. (I guess I'm feeding the flames to that problem, but STILL!...)

Needing to talk. Let's talk.

2009-10-10T02:51:00.003-05:00

I haven't blogged in such a long time, but there was just such an overwhelming need to blog that just surged up inside of me.... at 2:52 in the morning....
I do have to say that creating this post right now has already had a calming effect. Just to be able to get some ideas off of my chest seems very therapeutic at the moment.

Anyway, it seems the question of the moment is "Reed, what are you going to do with your life?" And the honest question is that I don't know. I feel like an old pocketwatch where the gears turn slower and slower in its repetitious routine. Tick.. tick... tick.....aaand you get the point. I am completely sure that a move will be in my future, but to where? There's Seattle. (Nathan and Katie simultaneously raise eyebrows.) There's Wisconsin. (Amber thinks, "Is he actually gonna come?") And then there's also just here in Wichita. (Meghan and Milissa rejoice.)
But another oppotunity popped up for me. Kim brought up the other day at Unit Convention that the registrar position at Louhelen was available. At first, I scoffed at the idea, but then I really thought about it. Michigan is an area that I would like to be heading towards. (Maybe, I haven't truly experienced snow like that in Michigan. So I have no idea about up north.) It would give me some time to use as a stepping stone to bigger plans, and I would be of service as well.

What's keeping me back from persuing these options? Well, mainly me. When I move, I want to have some sort of battle plan (ANYTHING) about what to do with myself. Because I do not want to end up like the pocketwatch in a different environment.
So here I am with my floaties on, skimming the top of the water, and I struggle to dive deep. I need to get rid of some baggage before I can continue. More on that later.

Dear World,.... I'm Not Dead Part Five (three, sir) Three!

2009-01-19T22:09:00.009-06:00

9. Seriously, I'm not dead..... I'm just out of commission.

So,... the spider bite on my hand had been giving me a problem for about a week. It's been a never ending sore, and then on Wednesday, I found another "bite" above my elbow. Needless to say, I had to go to the doctor's office. There, they told me that my "spider bites" was a virus. A culture was taken to the lab, and I'll know the results on Friday. (In other words, they didn't know what the heck I have, but they'll know if I'm contagious.) Because of the unknown factors with these sores and the possibility of being contagious, I can't teach or work for three days.

Great.

10. On the one hand, it is kind of nice to catch up on other things. I've been able to practice (or putz around on) my bass, and I started an abstract watercolor painting. Right now, it looks kind of ridiculous, but as I add more layers, my ultimate dream is for it to become a translucent Jackson Pollock-esque painting. We'll see...

11. Brass instruments are ridiculous.... Blasted embouchures.....

12. I have fallen in love with the music coming from the dear human known as Andrew Bird. He reminds me of Sufjan Steven with a little more of a rock beat. Right now, I'm really loving "Yawny At The Apocalypse", which actually is airy and more meditative. Although it's a stretch from his main style of music, that song just pulls at my emotions if I allow it. Like a dying rose petal, I curl up and slowly fall away into the sound of the unknown...
That's my schmultzy line of the day....

On a side note, can anyone tell me about Santogold's album? Has anyone really liked it? (Does anybody know what I'm talking about?)

Dear World, I'm not dead... Part II

2009-01-14T18:12:00.005-06:00

5. I definitely have related to the title of this blog entry way too much. All I have to say is.... student teaching. Actually, there are way too many thoughts in my head, since I have just started the program a little over a week ago. I will tell you that it has pushed me in every aspect of music that I have learned. In one day (like this Friday), I'll have zero hour jazz band, symphonic band, orchestra, theory (composing/arranging), then fifth grade samba band, third grade singing, first grade singing/Orff Instruments, fourth grade recorders, and THEN back to high school for two basketball games with the pep band.
I'm pooped.

6. I do have to say I'm getting ready to do some REAL teaching. I got a taste today with the band and orchestra. My cooperating teacher was recruiting at middle schools around the area with the jazz band and top orchestra, and I had to teach the students left behind about sixteenth notes and how to count certain rhythms. I have to say... I kind of tanked with the band. I just didn't have gumption, and you NEED gumption with that group. Don't get me wrong. I got the job done, but I got sucked into "Hurricane Band" with its F4 winds. I have to say.... I recovered well. I definitely had gumption with the orchestra, and I had them (pretty much) in the palm my hand. But then again, orchestra kids generally want to follow directions. It's a proven theory. Of course, they tried to push the same buttons that the band did, but I was ready and prepared. I just wish that my cooperating teacher was there to see it.

7. I had my first spontaneous hug from one of my elementary students this week. He is a first grader, and he is so PRECIOUS! I've really enjoyed my time with my elementary students. Sometimes, they can be just as bad as my high schoolers, but when they focus on music, it is solid gold. (That was for you, Nathan.)

8. On a side note, I'm going through audiobooks like none other. Since I'm in my car all the time, I've appreciated the wide selection of books on CD from my local library. Right now, I'm in the middle of the book What is the What, and I have to take breaks from it! It's based on a real -life story of a boy from Sudan. Although the actual story is fictitious, most of the events actually occurred in some capacity with the boy. It's rough. Flat out rough. The situations that this boy continually faced on a regular basis seems like it came out of some modern-day epic poem, except the hero is just struggling to survive. I keep forgeting how YOUNG the boy is in the story. With all the harrowing experiences that occur, it's hard to imagine that this is happening to just one CHILD. It's very disheartnening. It's a good story, but I have to take breaks.

Dear World,.... I'm not dead.

2008-12-28T01:49:00.004-06:00

Hello, everyone! Yes, it is true. I'm coming at you live and in color. I haven't given up on the blogging world. (It just wasn't at the top of my to do list....)
SO! I thought it would be good to kill two birds with one stone by talking about the past... three?... (really?...) months with the sixteen random thoughts Chuck asked me to do on facebook. That way, I can appease Chuck and the masses who want to know about me (all 2 of them). Here we go:

1. I survived this semester. I got A's and B's with the exception of one C (, but we WON'T go into that hot mess because I want the water to go under the bridge). I'm so glad with how the semester turned out. Now, could they have been better, yeah. But considering I had two jobs, teaching private lessons, and school, I'm DANG proud of those grades! I do have to say that I was dead from the eyes down.
2. Chicago was amazing. For that small time I was there for the Baha'i convention, I was so glad that I could go. Originally, I wasn't planning on attending because I was so busy with school and work, but then Nathan and Katie came back from pilgrimage and said how one of the International Teaching Center counselors compared this conference to those of the Ten Year Crusade in the 1940's (or was it 1950's... oh gosh...). So, I just HAD to go! I couldn't miss this opportunity. Anyway, it was there that the idea solidified that I'll be doing a year of service after I graduate in May. I feel really good about this. (It makes me feel optomistic about my future! Weird.) Not only would it be good to reflect on what I want to become, but I will also be focusing on furthering the Baha'i Faith as well, which is so much more important!
3. I think I'm going to switch to macs instead of pcs after my laptop kicks the bucket. Don't get me wrong. My laptop is doing ok. It's just that I'm finding myself frustrated with each pc that I get. While my laptop runs smoothly in one capacity, it has to have something else go wrong. Allllways. Besides, I like how macs come with video cameras in them for video chatting. That's a huge perk. So once my laptop fizzles out (or gets thrown out a window....), I think I'll switch to macs. (Right now, all the mac people are cheering...)
4. I've come to the conclusion that I can't do sixteen random thoughts.... in one sitting. There's too much to talk about and in such little time. So, I'll break it up into four different sections. That way, I won't kill myself trying to write down everything, and you won't have to look at an obscenely long post. It's a win-win!

and.... BREATHE!

2008-09-26T16:11:00.005-05:00

Well..... Hello!

It's a lovely day in the neighborhood.

That is... Whatever kind of day it is.... it's lovelier day than some of the days I have had recently.

I've just been burnt out from school. As in toast. Black toast. Stale burnt black toast, left in the toaster from yesterday morning..... toast... I was just struggling to get things done.

But now, I think I'm taking a turn in the right direction. At least, it's forcing me to face a lot of problems in school. It feels like I'm getting out of the Okefenokee Swamp.

I really haven't seen a day like this in a while.

Coming up short

2008-08-28T00:00:00.002-05:00

Well, I took the Wichita Symphony Orchestra audition,..... and I didn't make it. I just had too many little mistakes. It was disappointing, but I learned a lot. I found that I couldn't get into my usual groove. My left arm felt like strectched taffy after a while too. Also, all of my senses were super sensitive: the touch of the strings, the feeling of dense humidity on my skin, the smell of the black curtain wall. It wasn't until the very end where I lost some of my focus, and that's probably what sealed the deal for me.
Thanks for all of the love and support.

While the audition was going on in Wichita, I missed A-John's wedding reception in KC. Not only would it have been awesome to see him again, but so many of my other great long-distance friends were there as well. I bet it was phenomenal with all those amazing souls in one place.

I guess it's just hurting me a little more right now, because another good friend of the family was in town for a couple weeks...... and I had no idea. Usually, we get together, but I just found out today that he's leaving tomorrow.

I can't help but feel really crummy after missing these two rare opportunities. I've just been really missing old friends and catching up face-to-face. And once again, I'm just here, and they're over there. And it hurts.

If it couldn't get any crazier,....

2008-08-16T02:21:00.004-05:00

.... I then decided to sign up for the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (WSO) Audition. My amazing bass teacher and principal of the WSO e-mailed me on Thursday telling me how this substitute string bass position just openned up. So, not only did I hurriedly run around sending in the application, but I also have to work up some really challenging excerpts in a week. A WEEK! Half of the music, I'm familiar with.... the other half.... HOLY CRAP! It's going to be really difficult, but this will be a great first step into the auditioning process. Whether or not I make the substitution list, I'll come away from this with some valuable experience...... Or at least I keep telling myself that...

I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful...... I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful.....

Random Non Sequiturs

2008-08-06T22:31:00.004-05:00

I just recently went to Music Theater of Wichita's (MTW) production of Les Miserables, and it was AMAZING! It has to be one of the best productions that MTW has ever done. Every moment was captivating, yet so busy. All the actors had to move props in and out, move around the stage, and belt out these amazing songs FOR THREE HOURS! As well as the music, the show visually was great. It's hard to believe that they fit all of those scenes into the show and in an artistic way. (It stinks that I can't go again when my extended family comes down. Seriously, even my cousins from OHIO are coming just to see the show.... not us... but the show..... Thanks.... ; )...)

With all the reports in the news about Bin Laden's Driver being convicted, I couldn't help but think of Annyong from Arrested Development. Everytime the reporters would say Hamdan, I would just yell out, "HAMDAN!" You should try it. It's very fun.

I'm not excited about school.

At work, we're doing a month long Olympics. All of the events center around selling new memberships, and everybody is seperated into four countries: Patrikistan, Brandinavia, Jamesylvania, and The People's Republic of Clearence. (They're the names of the merchandise managers.) The "games" started last Sunday, and it's going to get UGLY! There are some REALLY competitive people in the store! Sure, all of the pokes and disses are just silly, but there are flags... There are chants.... There are mascots....

A couple of friends are getting married soon, A-John and Dangerboy, and I definitely wish them the best. I just wish I could be there for their receptions, BUT wedding spatula gifts will be sent.

Since I thought of Arrested Development, I found this.

After Seattle

2008-07-17T14:00:00.005-05:00

Since coming home from Seattle, it's been a WEE bit crazy. The dreaded Montezuma curse came back with my car, and my car was in the shop for a while. (It's ridiculous! My car has been such a lemon!) This time, it was the computer, head gasket, and a slew of other things... So now, my car needs to last me a very VERY long time. But knowing Montezuma, he'll be back to haunt me. He better not touch my bass, or I swear I'll be the one cursing HIM!

So to pay for Montezuma's curse, I've been working.... a lot! I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I'm so thankful for the people I work with. It's not like just a fraction of the people at Barnes & Noble; it's nearly the entire crew! They're really funny and everybody is (pretty much) on the same wavelength which is AWESOME! You can't get that with a such a large crew. We're going to see movies soon. More later on that.

I just had to include this picture of Elsa and me.... BECAUSE I CAN!

Seattle

2008-07-13T23:30:00.002-05:00

It's been a while. First off, SEATTLE!

I am so glad (I am SO glad) that Dad and I got to see Nathan, Katie, and Elsa for a week. Seattle was amazing. The weather was phenomenal! For Nathan and Katie, it was pretty warm, and I can understand that. But when a gentle breeze blew by and Nathan said "Man! It's so windy!", I gasped! He has become a weather pansy, AND HE CAN'T DENY IT!

I got to meet some great people like Arman and Lindsay (Lindsey?), Carolyn (Yo... soy... David Bowie.), and Kirby (and her amazing laugh).

I miss the daily walks. Even if most walks went to the grocery store, I loved every step of that rose-scented path. I enjoyed every minute, whether it was in a park, at a fantastic sushi restaurant, or losing every time with Settlers. Also, I saw Dale Chihuly's house.... very quickly... but that's FINE! I got to see Elsa stand up all by herself, and that was priceless. She is SOOOOO BIIIIG! (So big you can't deny it!)

Seattle was amazing. It's just too bad that it's so far away. Hmmm....

Perspective of 1993

2008-06-22T01:29:00.005-05:00

As my good friend, A-John, wrote recently in his blog, time has gone by incredibly quickly. With him, he remembered Jurassic Park coming out, and that happened 1993.... Fifteen years ago... At first, it doesn't seem like quite a shock to me.... But then the idea just looms there in the back of my head.... Fifteen years.... I would have been seven, going on eight...

And then that peaked my curiosity, what else was going on around that time in my life?

Czechoslovakia split into two... That was huge for me, because I had to memorize another capital in my geography crazy world. Seriously, I knew... geography....

Michael Jordan retired from basketball for the first time.... And that was devastating. More so for my brother than me, but we were big NBA basketball fans, especially Chicago Bulls fans. (It's amazing to see how Michael Jordan has still stayed such a huge force in the basketball world. Fifteen years later, and nobody can truly touch him.)

And... hello? POWER RANGERS! That was HUGE! I even remember the first episode! I had a Goldar doll and a Baboo doll. Actually, I saw that they were playing a power ranger movie on tv just recently, and it was so nostalgic. Did I watch? No. But I smiled and thought back to how everyday after school I would run home and watch Power Rangers.

Now, unlike A-John, I'm not thinking that I feel old. Actually, I'm glad that I'm not seven years old again. I made a lot of stupid choices, and I'm glad that I learned from them. (Well, I'm still learning,... but none the less!) It's just funny to think how getting home before 4:00 to see a new Power Rangers episode was absolutely CRITICAL. It was the most important part of my day. Now, fifteen years later, it's STILL the most important part of my day! haha (If only...)

Assurance and Uncertainty

2008-06-19T23:08:00.003-05:00

Over the past weeks, I've really had to come to terms with art in my life. Some events have occurred where my artistic ideas have been fleshed out. Right now, for example, I'm getting some drawings ready for Baha'i Publishing. Jenina Lepard, a dear friend of the family, is getting her book published through these publishers on stories about some of the Hands of the Cause in the Baha'i Faith. For the illustrations in her book, Jenina asked if I could draw them. So now, I'm really trying to create some good illustration samples, so the publishers can see my work. I've really been struggling lately because of lack of time and that the illustrations need to be in ink. I have such a hard time with ink! I'm so used to pencil where you can blend... and erase... and not worry about the process being PERMANENT! So that has been a huge adjustment for me lately. I've just had such little practice with it... on a realistic level. I like it in abstract contexts to explore chaos (basically free flowing) ideas, but when I'm trying to work on the detail in a face,.... ink can be so AGRIVATING!
What I have noticed is that, in the small moments I have with the drawings, I'm focused... I'm learning... I feel like the cogs are turning again, like I just hopped on that bicycle again and just flew.... I hadn't felt like that in a while. Conscious. Sure I get that feeling when I play my bass, but there's another completely different aspect about this focus, and I need to capture that more often.
What exactly does that mean? I'm not quite sure, but these illustrations are affirming that I need art in my life.

Twilight Saga... Once you get bitten

2008-06-15T21:13:00.003-05:00

A couple of months ago, if someone would have said "Twilight", I would have just said, "....... Huh?" Then a month ago, I would have been able to tell you that it was a teen series, and that there was a table set up over in a corner at Barnes & Noble.

Now..... it's all over. This series has literally exploded. People are continually picking up the books because their friends swear by them, and it has grown immensely popular in such a short amount of time. Although the series started in September of 2006, it just seemed to have come from nowhere in the last month. So much so, that Barnes & Noble is having a "Midnight Dawn Prom" party for the release of the last book in the series Breaking Dawn. Knowing that I would be working that night, I don't want to be there and have no idea about it. So, I started reading it. At first, it was EXCRUCIATING to get through the first book. It just seemed to be in this endless cycle of " I love you- I love you too- But I'm a monster- I don't care- I love you." D'AH! IT WAS DRIVING ME CRAZY! Nothing was pushing the story along. There was no momentum.... Just a lot of potential and establishing characters. What did keep me reading was the really great natural dialogue occurring with Bella and Edward. Yes, they definitely kept up the endless cycle, but it didn't feel like a broken record with the same phrases and words repeated over and over. If that was the case, I would have chucked the book in the first hundred pages. (And believe me, I was close.)
But then, in the last 150 pages,..... eureka!... a dilemma occurs! And the book ends with you wanting more... Dang it.... I got bitten... The first book, Twilight, took me almost two weeks to finish, and I finished the second book, New Moon, in four days! Thank goodness the second book kept the story moving right off the bat. Otherwise, I probably might have put the book down. Today, I got the third book, Eclipse, and I can't wait to get into it. I definitely recommend this series, but it definitely takes some time before Stephanie Meyers (the author) gets the ball rolling. After that, it's a fun ride, even for straight males..... Well... not all testosterone guys will appreciate this series... If you're not into getting lost in somebody's eyes, this is probably not the series for you. But it's a fun series, and I wonder how soon I can snag the fourth book....

Oh.... Hi, guys...

2008-06-11T22:08:00.003-05:00

So, it's been a while.... And there's been a lot that has happened..... But what has surprised me the most is that..... it's summer again.

I can't believe that it's been a year. I'm so glad that the school year is over! This year has been so hectic for me. And now the spring semester is over..... I'm just looking around for Ashton Kutcher to come out of the bushes saying I got punk'd.

Seriously, even writing this out right now, I'm stunned that it's summertime!

But on another note, I loved seeing my extended family in New Mexico. It was Grandma and Grandpa Willard's 60th (that's right 60th!) wedding anniversary. It was so nice to see (most) of my cousins and Nathan and Katie and Elsa! (And Elsaaaaaa!) All of the babies there were just adorable! AND! Get this! I'm related to another bass player who wants to go into bass performance! He's the grandson of my grandpa's cousin..... So... I'm guessing he's my fourth or fifth cousin... (Does anybody know how he would be related to me?) But it was good to know that there was another crazy bass player in the family.

I'll write more sooner than later...... as in.... Sooner than two months.

Taxed

2008-04-13T23:40:00.004-05:00

Sure... I really didn't feel the federal and state tax squeeze this year, but I have just been pooped otherwise. I am hoping that I can find some energy in these last few weeks to end the school year with a smile.
Work was crazy yesterday. We sold more books than a normal Christmas rush day, AND there were only two people at customer service (me and another guy), AND there was a nationwide network breakdown, making searching for a book RIDICULOUS. Fortunately, the managers helped as much as they could, but it was nonstop.
I'm really worried about my string bass jury at the end of the semester, too. I feel fine about my part of the Hindemith sonata, but my accompanist.... She was assigned to the bass studio as part of her accompaniment class, and my teacher thought she would be great for me. I was totally on board because I wouldn't have to pay a cent..... But as I have practiced with her, it's pretty obvious that she hasn't TOUCHED my piece, which is horrible. You can't shrug off Hindemith, ESPECIALLY the accompanist line. It's coming down to the end, and I'll just be so frustrated if we can't get this sonata together.

Blasts from the past

2008-04-05T22:41:00.003-05:00

Since I've been working at the new Barnes and Noble, there have been so many people coming in that I haven't seen in forever. First, there was Jess,..... who I hadn't seen since..... last.... winter? Then I heard that she was coming down to Wichita, and I was so excited. But it seemed every possible time to get together was shut down because one of us were busy. So, on the opening night at Barnes and Noble, I'm just going about my biznass, and then I felt this hand on my shoulder. I turned around, and "JeeEEESS!" It was so good to see her!

THEN! Mrs. York, one of my teachers from Wichita Montessori, recognized me. (Background-Wichita Montessori basically saved my life. Period.) It was amazing seeing Mrs. York again and to hear how the teachers were. I couldn't thank her and the school enough for the education that they gave me. Everything was going great, and then she told me that the teachers remember me by this embarassing story. Apparently, I had threatened to pee on a kid if he told on me.... Yeah... I was a vagrant when I was a kid.

I'm just wondering who ELSE that I'll run into at the new store. I'm kind of excited and nervous.

Role Reversal

2008-03-31T11:01:00.006-05:00

I am turning into my parents WAY too quickly, and last night was proof of it.

So, here's Mom and I watching Simon Schama's Power of Art on Vincent Van Gogh. (By the way, if you guys haven't seen it and are remotely interested in art, it's AWESOME! Andy Serkis does a fantastic job bringing life to Van Gogh's letters to his brother.) Usually, I'm the one who has to keep Mom awake while watching movies that I like. Case and point: any Hayao Miyazaki film! OR! Mom totally won't even pay attention to the movie and would work on her laptop! (You can't deny that with Paris, Je t'aime, Mom! Not even for a SECOND!)

But no! Here Mom was the one keeping me awake last night. I just could not stay awake, even to see a movie that I had been waiting so long for. At first, I was alright. But then twenty-five minutes later, I was basically gone. The next thing I know, Mom's getting up, and the credits are rolling. "Gosh dangit... I pulled a Mom" was the first thought in my head. (To be fair, Dad falls asleep in movies just as much, if not more, than Mom does.) In any case, the moment I now go horizontal, I just fall asleep. I'm becoming my parents.... Dangit.

Small Reflections of myself during the Fast

2008-03-07T15:05:00.003-06:00

I realized how hungry I was when I started drooling over the public school district's lunch menu.

The Food Network is sweet, sweet torture.

I find myself biting my hands and my fingers a lot. Even a while after biting myself, I can sometimes still make out my teeth marks on my fingers. Maybe I shouldn't bite down TOO hard....

My sense of smell has been heightened incredibly. I am smelling smells way before others around me-perfumes, shampoos, body odors, and I can ESPECIALLY smell food, almost with an increased intensity. Whether I'm in the car or passing by people, I KNOW what they're eating before I even see the resteraunt or the lunch somebody brought. (Well.... usually.... I'm like at 7 out of 10 with my nose.)

I've excepted the fact that I will have at least one spit take at the drinking fountain each year. I don't intentionally want to get a drink, but every time I pass a drinking fountain, it just becomes second nature to take a sip, even though I realize a second later and water goes spewing all over the drinking fountain.

I can't pull any all-nighters during the Fast. I become horribly sick and exhausted the next day. It's not a pretty sight.

I fell in love with honey roasted peanuts.

KMEA

2008-03-01T11:13:00.004-06:00

It was amazing. That is... the concert was amazing. The WSU orchestra played a few of our pieces from our February concert. (We played a newly published piece Red Line Tango by Mackey, the third movement from Weber's bassoon concerto, and Capriccio Italien by Tchaikowsky.) It was definitely a weighty roster for just 30 minutes, and we weren't even the main event. We had to play before the KU men's glee club.... The glee club... Don't get me wrong. They sounded great, but we were doing Capriccio Italien. That's like going to the Super Bowl, and then turning around and watching a high school homecoming game. And it was basically like that. We did a great job. It wasn't phenomenal, but we did such a great job musically. At the end of the concert, nearly the entire audience was giving us a standing ovation before Dr. Laycock (the conductor) even left the stage. AND! Dr. Laycock came back on stage not once or twice, but THREE times to take a bow and recognize the orchestra! And it wasn't like the crowd wasn't half-heartedly clapping either; they were the most energetic crowd that I've ever experienced! People that were coming in to hear the KU glee club started looking around because the audience wouldn't stop clapping. Later, we heard that people in the audience were so blown away and were saying "Where did these guys come from?!?" We were the first orchestra group to play in four years to play the Friday evening concert, and we blew everybody's expectations away! Actually, the MENC national president was there too, and she had said that, out of the 33 music educators' conventions, we were in her top five performances, AND she said that we had the most intensity and focus that she'd seen so far. That says a lot about our orchestra if the MENC president says we're in her top five performances. So cool!

I'm such a dork... and you sould be one too!

2008-02-19T22:25:00.002-06:00

OK.... I know that I'm dork. This has been known fact for quite some time.

But lately, I've been showing my true colors.

Thanks to going to Meghan's birthday party, I know how to do the Time Warp, which was pretty hilarious. Here I was with two other girls, and we were making such a ruckus with the dance that people downstairs came up and wondered what was going on. (Don't worry. They were just some of Meghan's roommates, coming up from their basement.)

Also, my friend at work, Juli, is letting me borrow this Canadian series Slings and Arrows. Now I know what you may be thinking. "Canadian?!?" That's right, and it's (surprisingly) awesome. That is..... if you're a Shakespeare nut and an actor... Although a lot of the humor from trying to stage a play and ba-jillion quotes from Shakespeare may seem off putting to most, it's such a brilliant series. Whether or not you consider it a comedy or light-hearted drama, the story is really well written and keeps you enthralled. (Well, I can't promise enthrallment. I just wanted to use the word. But I really like the show.) If you have a chance to get it on Netflix or..... somewhere else..., then you should definitely check it out.

OH! And even if you're not into fashion that much, now would be a good time to check out Project Runway. I'm REALLY excited to see how the last four designers will create their 12-piece collections for New York Fashion Week. The final four are the most talented final group out of the past four seasons. Before there was always some bad apple in the group that just disappointed or squeezed their way through. Like I said, the final show will really be something to watch. I'm excited!

TWO MILES!!

2008-02-11T19:20:00.000-06:00

My brother lives two miles away from Dale Chihuly's studio. DALE CHIHULY! I can't believe it! Nathan called me the other day with that news!

Dale Chihuly's personal home/studio is right down the street!

Well.... not RIGHT down the street, but TWO MILES!

OK! So, here's the plan... Nathan and I drive by his place; I get out; Nathan takes a picture of me doing a Mary Tyler Moore, and then bolt out of there before security/police catch up to us.

It's fool proof!

I can't get sick. I can't get sick. I ca... Dang it.

2008-02-07T18:09:00.000-06:00

I finally bit the dust today. I had been fighting this bug (or virus or whatever) off since yesterday with ibuprofen, but I guess it was inevitable. I knew things were going to be worse today as I woke up hacking. At least, I was able to go to my important classes this morning, before I REALLY got knocked off my feet.

AND I WAS DOING SO WELL, TOO!

Dad first got this bug on Sunday, and I thought I was avoiding it well enough. Sure, I wasn't doing so hot yesterday, but I thought I was on top of this. I was going to nip this in the bud. Well.... that plan didn't work out so well. Now, my voice is so low and scratchy. I sound like the guy from the beginning of Law and Order. "These are their stories.... KUNG KUNG! Bada ba-dum booow!"
Oh man. I'm out of it.

DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM!

2008-02-05T12:56:00.000-06:00

Man! The Super Bowl on Sunday was amazing! There was so much excitement and yelling. My throat was really feeling it afterwards. Plus, being with good family and friends was especially fun, at least for me. It just seemed like my schedule was school, work, sleep, rinse and repeat, and so going to a social event with those close to me was AWESOME! Even the fam was noticing how excited I was about this... "It's just the Super Bowl, Reed...."
But it's so true! I was so glad to go relax with the FBI family. I just have been feeling the pressure lately from school and work. I felt like I couldn't do much with friends. But then, I got this e-mail from Megan that was so encouraging and thoughtful. It really meant a lot. I definitely feel this rejuvenated hope that I can accomplish some of my own personal goals. Who knows? Maybe I can make shirts on a regular basis.... or hang out more with friends.... or even have a youth devotional meeting. Those would be awesome.

I think I'm going to call it Poo-sday...

2008-01-30T16:59:00.001-06:00

I think my Tuesdays are cursed.... It's probably from the fact that both Cultural Diversity AND Choral Literature and Techniques are on the same day. No matter what, something has to go wrong. Whether it's complications with the university computer system or horrible luck with sightsinging.
Also, I came to the conclusion that I need a planner. I've just been so disheveled, and especially this semester, I NEED to keep track of all of my assignments. I haven't needed a planner since high school, and it's kind of weird that I need an organizer again. In the last four years of college, I kept track of everything so well, but now I feel like a freshman in high school again. Getting some things hastily done at the last moment, scrambling around with my head cut off.
So then, the next step after getting a planner... is getting some new colorful pens! I need some not as expected colors, too, like yellow (or gold), orange, and brown. If you guys know where I can find a teal color pen, that would totally rock my socks!

Tuesday... Bloody Tuesday...

2008-01-18T15:55:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that school starts next Tuesday.

It's really hard for me to accept that it's coming so quickly. I've just been so busy with work, and this break has flown by. I'm so exhausted, and that's the LAST thing I wanted to be going into the new semester. Also, I feel like I haven't had time to really relax and go at a slower pace this break. Sure, I've been able to do a couple things. I read the Spiderwick Chornicles, which are really enchanting! And I was able to finish two shirts for Adam and Tom before they left, but even then, I felt rushed to get them done. BAH! I'm just not ready for another semester, especially if it's going to be like last semester. I can't go through another one like THAT any time soon. I think I'm still recovering from it...
Although I'm more optimistic about this semester, I'm really dreading what will happen. Even with my work load being lighter, I feel like somehow my free time will be sucked away AGAIN from me, and I don't know what I'll do when that happens. I don't want to say I'll go postal, but I'm at a breaking point. I'm on a really high wire, balancing myself on a unicycle with an umbrella, and all I'm getting are bright spotlights blaring on me and stupid kids in the crowd screaming, "FALL!"

I'm really not looking forward to Tuesday..... Crap....

YES! IT DIDN'T WORK!

2008-01-13T23:02:00.000-06:00

FINALLY! My computer did not work at the right time! For all my long-time readers, they know about my curse with the three C's: conversations (see last post), cars, and computers. This time with my computer, my disk drive was not working. I couldn't play my computer games or even burn a CD without my computer freezing up. It's been so frustrating.
AND THEN! When I first called technical support about the situation, they wanted me to replicate the problem. So, of course, I get a CD that makes me twitch everytime it fails to burn, and almost right on cue.... it starts burning at a faster rate than before the problems.... THEN, I get out my ace in the hole, Call of Duty 2- it ALWAYS freezes on me, and.... boom.... suddenly I'm transported to Germany.... without a hitch...
I was beside myself at this point, because I have this curse where problems won't appear when I need them to. Especially with cars. "No really... there IS a problem here... Can't you see it?..." I seem to have this Ghost complex. That's right everybody. Everytime I try to show people Patrick Swayze, no one can ever see him... (He just wants somebody to see him... Sniff...)
EXCEPT FOR LAST NIGHT.
Thankfully, the technician wanted to try out the game one more time, and then..... nothing..... It was beautiful. From that point, I wasn't crazy anymore.... Rock.
Bascially, two hours later, I'll be expecting a new disk drive in the mail in 1-2 business days.
I am PUMPED!

People are people.... right?

2008-01-11T15:45:00.000-06:00

Lately, I've had a real issue with social interaction. It seems I can't make friendships with other guys, no matter how hard I try (or want it to happen). On the other hand, I have almost no problem starting friendships with women. I've got that DOWN. But when you throw a Y chomasone in there, it's a whole other story. I almost seem to push guys away from me just by hanging out with them.
I can't stand it how gender stereotyping has become such a social norm. My issue is that I want to talk to PEOPLE and not switch between "girl talk" and "guy talk" depending on who I'm talking to. It's ridiculous. Sure, there are some cultural issues, but I don't want to play tricks on somebody or make fun of something with other men; I don't want to gossip and just talk about frivolous things with women. Of course, these are extremes, but there is a difference between conversations amongst men and women that's only fueled by others. YES, it's alright for guys to open up. YES, women can be strong and independent without being cold-hearted. I'm SO sick of all these gender roles which really constrict people.
I realize that there are still issues with me when trying to create friendships with guys, but I feel like this trout that's always pushing so hard to get upstream against this forceful amount of pressure.

Why is it that...

2008-01-04T14:33:00.000-06:00

Why is it that I ache more during my days off of work than when I'm actually working? Especially these past two days, I've been really exhausted and aching all over..... I hope I'm not coming down with something.

Why is it that gossip and needing to pry into others' business are so popular? There are a couple people that I know that, I kid you not, every other sentence starts with "Hey... I heard that...." Then, all of the paparazzi magazines go to such lengths to get their "shots", and SO many people buy that stuff! I didn't really grasp how many people pay attention to that stuff, but to be honest, it's everywhere: news, radio, internet, TV....

Why is it that I can't buy a 30GB ipod anymore? I'm going to the apple website just to look at prices, and they only offer the ipod classic in 80GB or 160GB.... 160GB.... Holy crap! That's more GB than my laptop! Who would honestly need a 160GB ipod? By that point, you have no idea what the heck you have!

Why is that I have to plan out my summer almost to the day? If I want to visit anybody at all this summer, I really need to figure out NOW when I could do it. So, if you want a visit from me, please let me know pretty soon.

Resolutions

2008-01-01T11:51:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year, everybody! I hope you've all had a good break. At the beginning of the week, I was thinking about resolutions for the upcoming year. Sure... there were the usual thoughts.
Exercise more often. Push myself harder with music. Find more time for art. Try and connect more with friends. Read more books. Find a better balance with work, school, and rest....
But a real obvious resolution hit me just recently that I should really work on first and foremost, and that is detachment. Whether it's my own thoughts or others', I need to work on my actions and not jump to any sudden decisions. With me, I need to step away from insisting on some of my personal thoughts. I have to be more accepting of others' outlooks, even though I don't necessarily agree with them. Also, in those moments of disagreement, I need to prevent myself from provoking with situation by doing something rash or divisive. Fortunately, I was able to stop myself twice this week with a couple of events. One was just trying to make sense of the spiritual and material worlds and has a hard time with both. The other really doesn't know me, and I don't have to prove myself to him.
Of course, this isn't just confined to a new year's resolution and that I should be striving for this the rest of my life. But I think this will be a great goal for me, especially in my education where an open mind and detachment are vital for success.

Whoa... what have iBecome?

2007-12-20T16:44:00.000-06:00

As I was working today, I noticed how OFTEN that I'm on the computer,.... which in the end doesn't surprise me. When I can stream my favorite TV shows, shop online, and correspond and play games with friends, who needs a life?
I'm totally joking about this last point, because I'm finding myself.... fading.... into this completely dependent iLife. Yikes. How are people avoiding this vegetative epidemic? It's so EASY to get caught up in the Web because of its instantaneous accessibility.
While I still want to all that I mentioned, I definitely will try and do LESS of it.

Happy Birthday

2007-12-18T23:56:00.000-06:00

Today was my birthday, and it didn't feel like it was anything special. Most of the day was spent running around between preparing and playing my string jury and renewing my license. I went into the jury just wanting to get it done, which was all I could expect out of myself. It's not like I gave the performance of a lifetime, but I certainly gave a "unique" performance. I think I had one of the worst beginnings in my juries that I can remember. It was embarrassing, but I came back later. Actually, I ended well with my violin etude, which went over really well with the violin professors. So now it's official. I am done with school this semester. Period. Finito. And now I'm scheming of ways to see long lost friends. If people have ideas, call me!
Right after my jury, I went straight into need-to-get-license mode. (First off, the phone book's "helpful numbers" weren't so helpful.) The place that I first went to turned out to be just the tag office, and I had to go to the west side of town. Once I got there, (surprise!) it was jam packed. What I found really odd was the clerk was entering info like... an online game. At one point, he speedily typed between what looked like Ctrl and the right arrow keys. I almost asked him what level he was on. I do have to say my picture turned out alright. I've learned how to properly (try to) smile in front of a camera since my last driver's license picture.
So, my birthday wasn't the usual one, but I gave myself two good gifts: a passing grade in music and a good license picture that I don't wince at every time that I pull it out of my wallet. Woo.

Transitions

2007-12-17T10:34:00.000-06:00

Hey, everybody! I've managed to survive the end of the semester. That's right. I juggled with chainsaws AND kept all of my appendages! But I definitely had some miracles happen that helped me out along the way. One of the blessings that happened just recently was the "ice" storm. There was a big scare of this "ice" storm, and everything shut down. The reason why I say "ice" was because the impending threat of a horrible ice storm turned out to be a lot of cold rain. But because of the scare, my meteorology final was canceled, and my string bass performing jury was postponed. Mother Nature definitely gave me a breather, and I was so thankful. High five, Mo Nat! (Actually, if the temperature was two or three degrees lower, the storm would have been disastrous.)
Since I've started the job at Barnes & Noble, I really hadn't had time to study and practice, let alone SLEEP! I had to pull off some all-nighters in the last couple weeks of school, and I was a hot mess. And by hot mess, I mean Frankenstien-"Putting on the Ritz"-mess. I was stepping up my game, but I was still pretty brain dead. Going between school and work at WSU and then to Barnes & Noble definitely sucked the life out of me. My family and friends are wondering if I'm even alive.
Now that school's done. I'm gradually getting into the idea of winter break. I'm still working both jobs, but the only projects this time are my art projects. And I'm fine with that.