Lost and Found (sorta)

Well, I got my phone and wallet stolen today by some punks. Yes, some punks. I was pretty angry about it because they came in the school of music and left in a jiffy. I just went to the bathroom for about 2 minutes and when i came back to my practice room my backpack was gone (along with my phone and wallet). So i scurried around upstairs looking for my things in other practice rooms imagining that someone was playing a cruel joke on me. But didn't have any luck. So...i went down to the front desk and called public safety and let them know about it. Meanwhile, Jim, the receptionist at the school of music brought me over to the surveilance cameras where we were able to see the guys who took my stuff. Well, it turns out that they ditched my bag down a back stairwell and made off clean (or so it seemed) with my wallet and phone. Punks. But! we were able to see them on the camera. But that was about it. Thankfully i had just stowed away a ten-spot that i had made earlier from accompanying Alli Bach in a voice rehearsal. Thanks Alli! Anyhow...I went down to café roma and ate a cookie and talked with a spanish tutor of a friend. I mean, what else was I supposed to do? Right? I at least had my bag with books etc...and they didn't even take my ipod. Dolts. So i cancelled cards etc... as well. The rest of my day was spent practicing and just practicing some more.

My initial response to this whole thing was "Aww man, i want to hurt these people! Aww, man!" I knew it happened for a reason (as i believe all things do). So tonight before i went to bed I asked my roomate if I could use her phone to try calling my phone. So she did and I did. And....someone with a really scraggly voice answered who spoke in brief sentences. I immediately said "Please give me my wallet and phone back"
"I don't have your wallet, i bought your phone for $30" - sketchy voice, he continued "i'll give it back for $30"
Me - "Why in the world would i pay $30 for MY phone, i want it back, who did you buy it from? tell them i want my wallet back"
Sketchy guy - "I'm not gonna snitch! You're not a punk and i'm not a cheat. Meet me at the Fred Meyer's off River Road and i'll get you your phone back"
Me - "What?!?!?! I'm not gonna buy my..."
Kathy - "Say yes. At least you won't have to buy another phone and you'll have all your numbers."
Me to myself "Hmmm...you're very right. And being peaceful about it is a good thing to do"
Kathy - "Let's go."
Me - "Right on."

So we arrived at the Fred Meyer's after Kathy spotted me $30 from an ATM. And then called the guy who said that he was actually at the Albertson's across the street. So we went over there. I got out and proceeded to where the coke machines were and the sketchy guy standeth. I ask if i just called him and begins to say.

"Come over here...CANCEL YOUR CARDS and give me fourty dollars and i'll give you your phone."

Me- "No! I already cancelled my cards and all i have is $30."
Sketchy guy - "Ok."

I now have my phone.

Me - "If you see the guy you bought the phone from tell him that I would really like my IDs back."
Sketchy guy, really drunk acutally "Cancel your shit man, i know these people, they ruin people's credit"
Me - "I believe you."
SG - "If you take me down to Washington-Jefferson Park I can get you your stuff back, cause i think you're and okay guy. These are my group of people that have your things."
Me - "I'm kindof scared when you said that they will mess me up." (eventually) "OK."

So he gets in my car and off we go to the park where Kathy and I wait in the car while he (donny) goes to bicker with his friends to try to get my stuff back. He jets off on a bicycle and returns after a few minutes with a beer in hand. "I have to call him because he's not here." He calls him and no answer. So...we take him back to Fred Meyer and he says to me that he will get me my "shit" because he knows what it's like to lose your stuff. He told us stories of how his girlfriend doesn't let him sleep at home anymore and that his nephew just died in a house fire. Rough life.

So, I gave him my number which used to be his number which used to be my number. And so I hope to hear from him tomorrow. I have his girlfriend's number. So things are looking up. I could care less about the $30 and the cash that i had in my wallet.

I learned, though, that being peaceful and honest with people works. My first intention was to lay the smack down, when in reality i probably would have never gotten anywhere with that. But now look at me, i gots my phone back and maybe my ID.

Who am i kidding? I was really luck to get my phone back and would be infinitely lucky to get my ID. I shall keep ya'll posted.

Thanks for reading!

Dear Peoples,

Some "dude" looking people stole my wallet and cell phone today out of a practice room while i went to the bafwoom. So....

I will keep ja posted as to a new phone number possibly. And i will post also the Wienermobile picture that I saw on interstate 5 this weekend.

Rice

In a moment of clarity this evening, while i was playing a Bach slow movement, I thought to myself...

"It's just music, and I GET to play it. It's NOT life or death. It's a privlege to get to spend time making music/do something you enjoy. And you SHOULD enjoy it."

Some people take it sooo personal if you play wrong notes or uneven phrases or what not. The matter of the fact is that it ain't too shabby to study something that is not a matter of life and death. My shoulders got a good bit looser when i realized that. Then...I stopped practicing for the night and came home to make some rice.

A shot of me after i got my bike back from the repair man. sort of.

Well, my bike (Petuna) is better now. I called up a friend of a friend who runs a bike repair shop...on wheels. He comes to your house and then swings open the back of his what-seems-to-be-converted-icecream-truck and mounts your injured bike inside. And he's cheap too! Kinks Bikes is the name of his company. I wanted to tip him but he refused! What a guy. He drove 25 miles from Brownsville down to Eugene just for my bike. He got to have a cupcake that was leftover from my roomate's bake sale products (for the UO club swim team). And now my bike is ready to go. And it's looking like the rain might hold off a bit this week too! Por favor! And I am proud to say that I matched the number of friends of my roomate with the number of friends of mine at a wine and cheese gathering held here last night. Its good to be around people. Too much practice = too much practice (not enough LIFE).

Burn fat, Not oil

(a sticker i saw on a bike this morning)

Balance

It is 11 oclock and i actually have energy. And i think i know why...because i did stuff outside of the music school! Well first I went home to gather my things and then drove over to Springfield down Mill to the Salvation Army where i volunteer for FOOD for Lane County. There I served biscuits, gravy, mashed potatoes, and pork chops. Then washed dishes a plenty. Such a good time to be had. Good people too. Although, i don't think that enough adults eat their salad. What's up with that? Then I went down the road a bit to Springfield Lutheran church where i had an interview to be their accompanist/pianist/organist/janitor. But the janitor part is negotiable. jk lol! the interview went wonderfully. Such good down to earth people, i tell you. Then i went to the school of music and played for about a little less than an hour. Then i went to a great ice cream joint called Prince Pucklers. D-lish. Now i am eating supper. And i didn't even spoil my apetite with the large helping of cookie dough ice cream. Thankfully, Miss Celia's husband, David, does NOT have a cancerous tumor on his spine. YAY! It was a scare. I think also what made my day a good bit better than the others this week is that I had a cup of coffee from Cafe Roma off 13th next to campus. Their coffee is like crack (or so i'm told). It makes you feel really good, and all you need is the $1 small and you're good to go. I had one at 12:30 p.m. and i'm still feeling the effects i think. Anyhow, I hope all is well with you. If you're reading this then I miss you very much, unless you are someone that I don't know of course.

O and i cut my hair. You can't see it but don't worry...I still have a long skankified mullet. May the opera director ever wish that I cut it!

How in the world?

How on earth did I end up in Oregon? (I ask myself) I mean, I like it alot, but it's weird how you get caught up in things and don't even remember how you got there in the first place. Aha! I found a pencil on the desk to my right. I think Tim Mcintosh is a'coming this weekend for hanging out and food. Groovy.

Me looking real skanky holding my popped thera-band. There are a lot of people in gradschool who talk like they are saying something really profound. Lord help me not to go there! I don't have a clue. And (maybe they don't either?)

It is legal to walk around topless in eugene. (the downtown area)

Unexpected Visitor: Part Tres

Together with the sun coming out today, my hernia decided to make a cameo appearance. It's back! (i think)

Updates:

-My bike has had three flats in the past two weeks due to glass punctures ;(
-My theraband snapped in half, but never fear for the health center here had a huge roll and sold me a nice long one for $3.60
-I think i'm getting better at the piano
-There are alot of professors at the school of music having babies, I'm told this is because the days are really short in the winter (sun doesn't come up until around 8 or so and it's dark by 4:15 p.m.)
-The opera director at school told me in a round'a bout way "Shave your beard, cut your hair, and wear a tie and nice clothes." I could use a trimskie but I think the tie may be going overboard. He's twice-and-a-half my age for crying out loud. And we're in Eugene for pete's sake, laid back capital of the world. But don't get me wrong. I really like the guy.
-Making friends